he Talon Gripping News

Volume III Issue IV Onteora High School Boiceville, NY 12412 May 2021

New Learning Spaces at Onteora

By Sophie Frank

While students spent the past several months adjusting to pandemic life, the Mobile furniture allows for different set‐ school library went through an extensive ups for different kinds of learning. he renovation. new furniture includes wingback chairs, high-top tables, and study carrels. With he renovation has been in the works for everything being mobile, the library is a a while, with middle school Principal Jen more active learning space, one that will O'Connor wanting a more organized always be growing and evolving to serve space and librarian Amy Weisz wanting students' needs. a professional circulation desk. But the project was deemed too expensive and In addition to being a space for teaching put on the back burner until recently, and studying, the library is a place for and audiobooks for those who prefer cared for and loved. when it was inally approved and com‐ fun, and it now has a Nintendo Wii to be reading digital books over printed ones. pleted last summer. used during free periods. Ms. Weisz said her favorite part of her he library unites many aspects of workspace has always been students, and he renovation updated the furniture Also, Onteora has a subscription to Ea‐ school life, such as learning, having fun, she said that she has "been waiting in an‐ and layout of the library. Everything is gle Crate, a book subscription service, and coming together--the new design re‐ ticipation of sharing the new and im‐ mobile: including tables, chairs, and and a new Online Public Access Catalog, lects those aspects. proved space with our students and shelving units. his was done so that which makes it easier to access the li‐ staff." classes using the library could arrange brary's online database. Learning and comfort are the two most their space as they see it. important things that were taken into As life gets back to normal, the library he Catalog helps the library become consideration when planning the reno‐ will be there for students as it always has, Additionally, classes will ind new mo‐ more inclusive. It allows students to vation, and the new space helps address but with some wonderful updates. bile teaching spaces scattered through‐ search for certain kinds of books such as and bring together these two important out the library. LGBTQ+ themed books, iction books, considerations. and noniction books, as well as eBooks he space is "sleek, modern, and efficient," Ms. O'Connor said. It's more conducive to learning than the old li‐ brary, as it was designed with active learning in mind. Both Ms. O'Connor and Ms. Weisz say that the space is now more cohesive, and they mentioned the merit of having active learning spaces.

Additionally, the new space takes into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic and people with disabilities. he Wii al‐ lows students to have fun together while being socially distanced, and the new furniture and organization of the space is compliant with regulations designed to help people with disabilities.

When asked what her favorite part of the new library is, Ms. O'Connor said she loves that when students walk into the li‐ Courtesy of Amy Weisz brary they ind a beautiful space that is 2 May 2021 LGBTQ+ News Roundup

By Elijah Salazar-Garris state, or depression and other mental health conditions. Many of us are aware of legislation around the country targeting transgen‐ On top of that, those already on treat‐ der people, but there is more LGBTQ+ ments will physically suffer from the news going on that not many people are negative and sudden change of chemicals discussing. Here is a round-up of global and hormones in the body. news regarding LGBTQ+ people. In Florida, a bill has been passed to allow genital inspection if they suspect a fe‐ Transphobic bills: male athlete is trans. his is a bigoted and disgusting invasion of privacy. here have been a scary amount of anti- trans bills introduced and passed that are And for those thinking "But what about threatening the wellbeing of so many physical exams?" those are to determine trans people, youth included, in this if it is safe for an individual player to country. play a sport. he genital inspection is trying to exclude trans women from Arkansas has made it illegal for trans sports. Florida claims that they are try‐ Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Sadly, there are more bills out there af‐ "We deserve to exist regardless of what fecting trans individuals. I highly en‐ Texas: courage looking into this issue to see any law says." what is happening across the country A few months ago, a gay student in Texas and what you can do to help. was suspended for painting his nails. Re‐ teens to get hormone treatment, puberty ing to even out the playing ield, even cently the policy was changed to be more blockers, and more. though there is no proof that trans ath‐ inclusive by allowing males to wear letes perform better than their cisgender Russia: makeup and nail polish. his is a win for he suicide rate among trans people is peers. self-expression and LGBTQ+ students. already disproportionately high com‐ In Russia, same-sex marriage and trans‐ pared to the rest of the population, and In Arizona, schools will now allow par‐ gender adoption was banned. A com‐ twice as high as the LGB in LGBTQ+. ents to opt their children out of discus‐ mercial showed a boy being adopted by Kellogg's: he ability to medically transition and sions about sexualities and gender ex‐ two men, one dressed up in poorly ap‐ use hormone treatments has been pressions. his bill also prevents discus‐ plied make-up, which was clearly a he popular cereal brand released a rain‐ proven to lower the risk of suicide in sion of HIV and AIDS, a largely LGBTQ transphobic portrayal of a trans woman. bow heart shaped cereal featuring mas‐ trans people. + issue. Removing these topics from the cots from Frosted Flakes, Rice Krispies, classroom discussion will make LGBTQ I can only imagine what it must feel like Fruit Loops, and more. For every box he state claims these bills protect the + students feel excluded and unimpor‐ for gay people in Russia right now. Imag‐ bought, $3 will go towards GLAAD, an youth of the trans community, but this tant. ine not being allowed to marry the one organization that works for inclusive me‐ will only lead to more suicides in their you love. Putin says that the country is dia entertainment and the rights of doing this for "religious reasons." LGBTQ+ people. Alaska: Conclusion:

In Alaska, same-sex couples will now get It's clear the negative LGBTQ+ legisla‐ equal beneits from their employers. tion and representation greatly out‐ hey have been excluded from employee weighs the positive steps right now. his beneits for a few years now, so it's about shows the ight for equality is far from time that's changed. his is a positive over. step. For those who wonder why we need a pride month, this is why. We deserve to Ukraine: exist regardless of what any law says. We go through unnecessary struggles and Ukraine has a history of being a very ho‐ hate everywhere every day to be our‐ mophobic country. However, it is now selves. We deserve a chance to shine and allowing gay people to donate blood. we will get it no matter what.

To understand why this is so big, you Editor's Note: his article is part of a se‐ should know that here in America, gay ries of articles written by Gender and people can't have intercourse for 3 Sexuality Alliance club members. he months before giving blood (lowered GSA seeks to provide a safe space for from 1 year in 2019). his is obviously a LGBTQ+ students or allies, and we work reaction to HIV/AIDS, but to force peo‐ to make our school a safer, better place. ple to alter their behavior before giving blood because of their sexuality is deeply wrong and dehumanizing. he fact that Courtesy of Tahlula Potter Ukraine took this step is huge. May 2021 3

spread and inevitably kill individuals We are reaching the home stretch of When Will who may not be vaccinated or are too Covid-19's pandemic status, but we must susceptible to infection. It's completely not allow that to inhibit our ability to act true that as herd immunity is with diligence and cognizance towards Covid-19 be established, life will begin to feel normal. Covid-19 and other diseases, many of However, our society will never fully re‐ which have the potential to become a Over? Experts vert back to resemble pre-pandemic life. pandemic, in the future. Instead, annual Covid-19 shots, more say: Probably frequent trips to the doctor, and wearing masks during a hypothetical "Covid-19 season" may become commonplace in a Never post-pandemic/endemic society. Gender

By Shane Stackpole We have been living with endemic dis‐ eases for our entire lives, so while this Inequality in As thousands of Americans roll up their answer may not resemble the one we had sleeves and hints of normalcy begin to anticipated, it's actually more hopeful Sports glimmer into view, health experts are than you would think-Covid-19 will just providing answers to the question that simply be another disease that we learn has been looming over our heads for to live with. By Ori Grady over a year now: "When will Covid be over?" Take the lu, for example. his endemic It's the middle of the Men's NCAA Bas‐ still poses a serious threat and kills thou‐ ketball Tournament, and the eyes of the Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons While there is no right answer to this sands of vulnerable individuals each majority of the country are looking at question, as so much of a post-pandemic year, yet it has run its course for so long their tournament brackets. said that he is "really tired of seeing [fe‐ world is unforeseeable, health experts that many don't even bother getting a lu male athletes] complain about the lack of have agreed that the most realistic, yet shot anymore--the same may go for Even with Covid, each team in the tour‐ pay, because they're doing themselves a daunting answer is that Covid-19 will Covid-19. nament gets to practice in huge gyms disservice by just complaining." he rea‐ never really end. that have more than enough weights and son they're complaining, Draymond, is It seems weird that even with the ad‐ conditioning tools to keep themselves in because men get paid 15% to 100% more "We've been told that this virus will dis‐ vancements of science and technology shape. compared to women in sports. hat appear. But it will not," remarked Dr. and the rapid distribution of vaccines, number is unacceptable. William Schaffner, a professor at the we are unable to fully eradicate However, many people are not paying at‐ Vanderbilt University School of Medi‐ Covid-19. However, the hypothetical en‐ tention to the fact that the women ath‐ People argue that it's because the rev‐ cine. Before going into a state of alarm, demicity of Covid-19 will have little letes are also in the midst of their tour‐ enue of women's leagues is far less due to it's imperative to break down exactly bearing on our ability to create vaccines nament, but they don't have anywhere its unpopularity compared to men's what Dr. Schaffner means. with speed or suppress outbreaks near the amount of equipment as the sports. Yes, that is a reason, but is that through epidemiological protocol; men. In fact, just a couple of yoga mats the only reason? Maybe if owners of the As we ste a d i ly appro a ch he rd rather, it is a result of the nature of and weights make up a gloomy room league put in a larger percentage of their immunity--the point at which enough SARS-CoV-2. that wouldn't be recognized as an NCAA income to the teams and listened to ac‐ people develop immunity against illness gym but rather a room for someone who tivists such as Rapinoe, this wouldn't be of Covid-19 either through natural in‐ SARS-CoV-2 mutates with efficacy and is just starting to lit. Why is this? How the case. fection or vaccination, thereby making it at a very fast rate, making it very difficult on earth did this go unnoticed until Sab‐ very difficult for the virus to spread-- for humans to catch up to new variants rina Ionescu, a superstar player from hey have to try to igure out something there is telling evidence that has prompt‐ that emerge. Oregon, posted a picture of the room on that at least doubles the amount of pay ed scientists to believe that the current Twitter? women earn in professional sports. pandemic will transition into what's Even if the virus could transmit and mu‐ called an endemic. tate at a slow rate, there will always be It's because it is clear that there is in‐ Lastly, to all the people who are at home individuals who have not been vaccinat‐ equality in sports between men and and oppose the pay gap between men An endemic is a disease that is present in ed, resulting in little clusters or pockets women. Sadly, this has been an issue that and women in professional sports, you society at all times without causing ma‐ in the population where Covid-19 will has been around ever since the start of can help too. You can help by watching jor obstructions to everyday life. Some circulate. As a result, trying to eliminate women's sports leagues. and attending the WNBA, NWSL, examples include the common cold, the Covid-19 completely would be like play‐ Women's Tennis, and even the LPGA lu, and malaria. ing a game of cat and mouse: nearly im‐ World Cup winning soccer player, Tour (if you're a fan of golf like me). possible. Meghan Rapinoe, has been a leading ad‐ Health experts speculate that in a post- vocate for gender equality in sports for If you want to go the extra mile, do your‐ pandemic society, most of the strict his is by no means the only hypothesis years now, and she hasn't slowed down. self a favor and buy the incredible mer‐ Covid-19 regulations will be dampened as to what the future of Covid-19 will She was very upset ater the news broke chandise each league has to offer. Why? or lited. look like, but it is certainly the most out about the comparison photos be‐ Because at the end of the day, sports are plausible. he point at which Covid-19 tween men's and women's facilities in a form of business. he more people who In an endemic society, for example, mask achieves its endemic status is, like every‐ the March Madness tournament. watch the games, the higher the ratings. wearing will most likely not be required thing these days, uncertain. What is he higher the ratings, the more the in public gatherings; likewise, it's proba‐ known, however, is that rapidly distrib‐ Rapinoe stated that "To say that you val‐ league owners make. In turn, the more ble that social distancing will no longer uting vaccines and continuing to follow ue your student-athletes and to have the athletes earn: a perfect example of be enforced to the extent that it is today all CDC guidelines and protocols will your women's players show up for one the domino effect. because Covid-19 will circulate at low shorten the timeline to reaching a post- rack of dumbbells is just completely un‐ levels and will no longer serve as a major pandemic world. acceptable." his sparked a social media Of course, this isn't the only factor of hindrance to going about our everyday outcry from many people who con‐ this wage gap. he fact that women have routines. As SARS-CoV-2 settles in as an indei‐ demned the images revealed. been mistreated since the Neolithic age nite inhabitant of our environment, or at is the more signiicant one. It's our job to Like the lu, the key component of least for the next few years, it's impera‐ However, a portion of men and even make change. Now. Covid-19 being in an enduring state of tive that we continue to place our trust male athletes had other things to say, in‐ endemicity is that it will continue to in science and health experts. cluding NBA star Draymond Green. He 4 May 2021

trips around charging, such as stops for he Future of meals.

Ms. Nelsen's lifestyle is well-suited to Electric EVs. She doesn't drive more than her range allows (and neither does the aver‐ Vehicles age driver, whose mileage is just 29 a day). Nevertheless, Ms. Nelsen is okay with planning her trips a little more By Caleb Frank carefully to suit her charging needs.

For all of our lives we have been riding However, Mr. Via's lifestyle is less well- in gas vehicles, but an electric revolution suited since he frequently drives more is coming. he consequences for not than an EVs range would currently switching from ICE (internal combus‐ allow. A potential solution for someone tion engine) vehicles to electric ones are who wants an EV and sometimes drives drastic. more than an EV's range permits, is renting a gas vehicle on those days; how‐ Recently, the climate crisis has been ex‐ ever this is more difficult and expensive. acerbated due to the increase in CO2, 33% of which is due to ICE vehicles. Some companies have devoted them‐ Electric vehicles, EVs, can be run off of selves to EVs, while others have held Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons renewable energy such as wind, solar, or back. For instance, school bus leets are hydroelectric. being converted to electric. President $14,395.00. he cheapest EV? he Mini technologies will create more than 40 Electric, at $29,900,000. But there are million jobs, according to the In‐ offsetting factors. EV's have numerous ternational Renewable Energy Agency. tax credits which, depending on the state in which you live and the car you We are moving forward. We are getting choose, can give back almost $10,000 off closer to the future. We are making the the purchase price. In addition, gas is decisions that will help save our ailing much more expensive than electricity planet. However, we aren't moving fast and EV's need less maintenance than gas enough. We need to speed up the rate of vehicles. hough the purchase price is progress. Many different parties involved higher on EV's, monthly costs are lower. can help.

On top of cost being a barrier, another EV companies need to continue innovat‐ potential issue with EV's was brought up ing to make these vehicles the best they by Toyota, which argued that a timeline can be. he government can help with such as "zero emissions by 2035" is not subsidization and emission mandates. beneicial since there is currently not Lastly, consumers can help by switching enough infrastructure to support such a to electric. transition. hey argue that if everyone's car suddenly became electric, the grid We are the agents of change. Sacriicing would not be able to handle it. quality of life is not the solution, but we must look seriously at the situation at While this is true, we are not going to hand. Our very lives are at stake. It may make the switch suddenly; it will happen not seem urgent in our day to day life, Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons relatively slowly. We will have time to but it truly is a matter of everything we put infrastructure, such as charging sta‐ have ever known. We must make this Automakers are aware of these advan‐ Biden's Build Back Better plan has a goal tions, windmills, solar panels, and hy‐ change. he world is in our hands. We tages, and they are making strides to of all American made buses being zero droelectric turbines, in place. An added just have to choose what to do with it. switch their lineups to electric. For in‐ emission by 2030. In the upcoming beneit is that the construction of these stance, GM pledged to make 30 electric years, it is very possible that we will see models by 2025. his progress is what we electric school buses in our own district. need. However, many people are unsure whether an EV will suit their needs. Another major player in the automotive industry is the USPS. Currently, they use Two teachers at Onteora High School Grumman LLVs that are decades old. have differing takes on this issue. Science hey are gas-powered, inefficient, and teacher Scott Via does not currently own don't have airbags or air-conditioning. an EV and says that the biggest limiting Electric seemed like a good option for factors are charging stations, how they mail trucks, and Joe Biden has pledged aren't ubiquitous enough, it takes too to move the federal leet to 100% long to charge, and the range (miles you electric. hings were looking good, but can drive on one charge) is too low. when Oshkosh Defense landed the deal, we learned that only 10% of mail trucks French teacher Christi Nelsen-Epstein will be electric. he reason for so few does own an EV. To combat the scarcity EV's? It would be 3-4 extra billion dol‐ of charging stations she usually charges lars to make more of the trucks electric. at her house and uses Tesla's built in nav‐ igation system to ind external charging his is indicative of the biggest issue stations when she needs them. Not to EV's face: cost. he cheapest gas vehicle mention, she plans out breaks on road for sale in the U.S. is the Chevy Spark, at Courtesy of PublicDomain.net May 2021 5

and live more freely. But in many rural A Complicated areas under strict Taliban control, the lives of women have barely changed.

Move: U.S. Even with all these justiications, people are getting tired of ighting in Af‐ Pulls Out of ghanistan. American soldiers being killed in a far away country for a twenty- Afghanistan year war on terror is starting to taste a little sour. Americans wanting to leave these forever wars and return to a more By Emily Peck isolated existence contributed to the rise Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and eventual election of Donald Trump, President Biden has announced that all a surprisingly anti-war Republican. weigh its opinion too heavily, which is a sive against the U.S. or the Afghan gov‐ American troops will be pulled out of Trump vowed to leave Afghanistan, and major step in disentangling U.S. foreign ernment. he Taliban could overwhelm Afghanistan by September 11th, 2021. he made a deal with the Taliban during affairs from the U.S. military industrial the Afghan government, which won't his is almost 20 years ater the War in his last year in office that all U.S. troops complex. Biden also has credibility in the have the technical ability or irepower to Afghanistan began and ater 2,312 U.S. would leave Afghanistan by May 1st of matter because his son served in the war hold them off. A dangerous power vacu‐ soldiers have died in Afghanistan. Some 2021, all NATO troops would leave on in Iraq. um could also be created with control of people applaud the decision as a move to the same date, and the Taliban would Afghanistan up for grabs. get out of a forever war, some are ap‐ tamp down efforts by Al-Qaeda to attack It is also important to recognize that the palled by the U.S. leaving the Afghan the U.S. U.S. is not abandoning Afghanistan. Even though Biden is trying to portray people under the control of the Taliban, Funds will still be funneled in to prop up the withdrawal as planned and but most people are quite conlicted. But there were many terms detailing that the Afghan government and its military. measured, it is similar to Vietnam in that if violence escalated or if the Taliban and he move is even seen by some as largely the U.S. is leaving a weak and ill-pre‐ America originally sent troops to Af‐ Al-Qaeda grew more connected, the U.S. symbolic, as most U.S. soldiers have pared government to ight a threat that ghanistan ater 9/11 to root out the Al- could back out. Most experts agree that been training Afghan soldiers instead of even the U.S. can't defeat. Ater America Qaeda presence. here were some suc‐ the terms of the agreement have been engaging in conlict for the past couple evacuated Saigon, the South Vietnamese cesses, such as the assassination of broken, but the speciics of Trump's years. Withdrawing could send a mes‐ regime quickly fell. Some see America Osama Bin Laden, the founder and irst agreement are not nearly as important as sage to the world that the U.S. is trying leaving Afghanistan as throwing away leader of Al-Qaeda. He was killed in Pa‐ the opportunity he opened up for Presi‐ to end its forever war. the hard work that has been done to sup‐ kistan in 2011 by the U.S. Navy SEALs. dent Biden. Biden can now tell U.S. allies port the Afghan government, as it will that he is fulilling the promises the U.S. It should also be mentioned that the U.S. likely fall once the U.S. leaves. he U.S. has also justiied its continued made by withdrawing all troops by Sep‐ has largely accomplished what it went occupation of Afghanistan by preventing tember 11th. But Biden's agreement is into Afghanistan to do: heavily diminish Comparisons can also be drawn to when the Taliban--an Islamist fundamentalist different from Trump's in many ways. Al-Qaeda's power. Many people thought the Soviet Union withdrew from Af‐ militant group--from taking major pop‐ that it was essential to go ater Al-Qaeda ghanistan. he USSR entered Af‐ ulation centers. he effectiveness of this For one, the terms of the withdrawal de‐ ater 9/11 because they orchestrated the ghanistan in 1979 and immediately took campaign is debatable as the U.S. was tail that it is unconditional. No matter attacks, the group was so explicitly anti- all military and political control. hen never successful in occupying all of Af‐ what, the U.S. will completely pull its American, and they were making clear they withdrew in 1989, leading the Com‐ ghanistan, and the Taliban is closing in troops out of Afghanistan by September plans to conduct other terrorist attacks munist government they had propped on a lot of cities. he U.S. does not want 11th, and those forces will be moved to on the U.S. Now Al-Qaeda has been up to completely collapse. Another pos‐ to stay indeinitely, and there have been nearby bases to continue to monitor ter‐ heavily beaten back. It has been a long sible ominous tale of what's to come. efforts to train the Afghan military. rorism in Afghanistan and help build the time since they have been powerful However, the Taliban have been getting Afghan government. President Biden is enough to even come up with a viable It is clear that pulling out of Afghanistan stronger and stronger, and the govern‐ also planning a very meticulous and or‐ plot to attack America, let alone had the was not an easy choice to make. here ment of Afghanistan is no match for ganized withdrawal with the hope of resources to implement one. are strong arguments on both sides, and them. promoting stability in Afghanistan. according to a 2019 Gallup poll, Ameri‐ Other terrorist groups in the region, like cans are split almost 50-50 on whether America has also justiied its presence in Many people have championed this ISIS, are also very diminished, and they "the United States made a mistake send‐ Afghanistan as being a ight for women's choice. hey cite the growing power of were always more interested in internal ing troops to ight in Afghanistan in rights. In the 90's, the Taliban ruled Af‐ the Taliban and the miniscule impact of politics than in anti-American plots any‐ 2001." he future right now is unclear. ghanistan, and they interpreted Sharia American troops on the lives of Afghan way. What's more, the Taliban is at odds here could be a bloody civil war in Af‐ law to give women very few rights. people as reasons to call it quits. he Tal‐ with many of these terrorist groups. So if ghanistan, the Taliban could assume Afghan women were not allowed to leave iban has also changed since American the U.S. leaves, the Taliban won't neces‐ control, or a combination of the two their houses without a male escort, could troops came to Afghanistan in 2001. sarily make Afghanistan the haven for could occur. not go to work or school, and had to hey are more moderate than their pre‐ terrorism that many people fear. cover everything except for their eyes. decessors in their interpretations of he U.S. is also at a point of reckoning LGBTQ+ people and ethnic minorities Sharia law, and they are willing to nego‐ here is also a very strong case to be with its foreign policy. For so long we also suffered harsh treatment. his treat‐ tiate. hey also claim that they will share made for staying in Afghanistan. he have been an anti-terrorism nation and ment was seen as incredibly unjust by power with the Afghan government, but gains made for women, while small com‐ intervened in countries around the many people in the western world, and of course that remains to be seen. pared to other countries, are momentous world in the name of ighting terrorism. Americans believed they had a duty to for the women they impacted. Many It seems like withdrawing from Af‐ better the lives of the women in Af‐ Additionally, President Biden is follow‐ Afghan women have been reaching out ghanistan could be a step towards a ghanistan--whether the women wanted ing through on the promise of President to the international community and ask‐ more isolationist future, but this is not their lives changed or not. Trump, which is important to the credi‐ ing people to not forget about them, necessarily true. bility of the United States. Biden actually which it appears to them the U.S. has But the truth of the matter is, women's pushed back on the Pentagon's desire to done. Biden is looking to set up bases in more rights in Afghanistan have not improved stay in Afghanistan, and a President go‐ countries in the region, even as terror‐ that substantially, even ater 20 years of ing against the military's goals is uncom‐ But when the U.S. withdraws, it is not ism is in decline in many places. It is U.S. "occupation." In some areas of Af‐ mon in foreign affairs. he military oten just the lives of Afghan women that will clear that the U.S. is still very involved in ghanistan that are not under Taliban has a large role in international affairs get worse. here are already many signs the Middle East and will be for the fore‐ rule, women do have the right to work decisions, but Biden has decided to not that the Taliban is planning a large offen‐ seeable future. 6 May 2021

early decision acceptance rates are oten feel for Ivy League schools." ceptance rates while "reaches" are highly he Early much higher than regular decision rates. selective "dream" schools. his is because schools get fewer early She ultimately "gloriied" the school she decision applications and can review applied to in an unhealthy way. "It's fun‐ hough both Natalie and Emily men‐ Decision them more in depth. ny," Natalie said of her feelings towards tioned their regrets about the process, the school she applied to, "in those they both stressed the fact that, in Emi‐ Experience Finally, an early decision application, in months being smitten… I knew that they ly's words, "applying early decision is some cases, can help a student even if didn't have an actual ilm program- helpful if you 100% know you won't have they are not accepted. Early decision ap‐ which was what I wanted to major in-but any regret about going to the school you By Nelson Del Tufo plications are oten deferred to the regu‐ overlooked it as an insigniicant detail." apply to." lar decision round when not initially ac‐ She went on to say, "I was compromising For those who decide to attend a four cepted. he early decision application my own passion in exchange for the A former Onteora student, Lila Ressler, year college following high school, the not only demonstrates interest to the grandeur of the school." who was accepted to the school which application process can seem inter‐ school, but it helps to make a good im‐ she applied to early decision, explains minable. pression, which might help upon a sec‐ Emily's experience with the process was that she applied because "ater visiting… ond inspection. somewhat different. She was accepted I was like wow, this is really somewhere You spend years researching schools, where I could see myself thriving and months writing a dozen essays, and long being super happy. I was like okay, if I nights illing out an endless array of got into all the schools I applied to, byzantine inancial aid forms. where would I be most excited to go?" She knew the answer and applied, and Finally, when all your hard work is done, since being accepted, noted that she has you then spend another several months been "way less stressed out than every‐ waiting for replies. But eventually, those one else" and said that she has "felt super replies come. It is somewhat of a right of weirdly motivated to do all my assign‐ passage for seniors to spend April of ments." their senior year frantically touring col‐ leges, asking their teachers for advice, I myself applied early decision and was and weighing options before making a i‐ accepted to my top school: a small liberal nal decision. arts college in Massachusetts. It's acade‐ mically rigorous, cosmopolitan despite While this is the popular image of col‐ its picturesque rural surroundings, and lege admissions, this is not the experi‐ will undoubtedly give me an excellent ence of every student. For a few, the education. timeline is contracted, and the months of apprehensive waiting come to an end Nonetheless, I have no way of knowing if signiicantly sooner when their early ac‐ I would have been accepted regular deci‐ tion or early decision results come back sion to this school, or anywhere else I in December or January. might have applied. And that's the dan‐ ger of applying early decision and being his is the case for students who apply to accepted. college early through a binding process known as early decision and are Ever since early December, I have been accepted. he binding nature of these given ample time to imagine my future decisions are such that a student accept‐ life on my future campus, along with my ed "early decision" is contractually oblig‐ future life at a dozen other schools which ated to attend the school to which they I will not be attending. I did not think I applied, and due to this, their college ap‐ would be accepted to the school which I plication process is at an end. applied to early decision, and while lov‐ ing the college, I think my lack of coni‐ his is not to be confused with "early ac‐ dence caused me to put less thought into tion" applications, which are non-bind‐ where I was applying than I should have. ing and similar to regular applications in that regard, but different in that early ac‐ Courtesy of Natalie Horburg I only came to this realization once my tion decisions are released months be‐ application was accepted, and I was fore regular action. Early decision applications, however, are regular decision to the school from bound to go to my future alma mater, not uniformly happy affairs. I spoke with which she was deferred in the early deci‐ that I may have (key word is may), have here are several reasons why someone two seniors who applied to schools in sion round, so she doesn't feel like she been accepted to a number of compara‐ would decide to apply early decision to a the early decision round and were both placed her school on too high of a ble schools. Now I will never know what school. First of all, there is the obvious rejected, and though their college appli‐ pedestal in the same way that Natalie my options truly could have been. fact that being bound to a school by Jan‐ cation journeys both ended happily, their did. uary, as opposed to May, takes a large retrospective views on their experiences Someone who is accepted early decision weight off of one's chest. do reveal the negative aspects of the hat being said, even with the beneit of will never have the closure afforded to process. hindsight, the deferral was still a tough them by choosing between accepted Armed with deinite knowledge about experience. "I would honestly advise schools. I am very excited by the thought their future, a high school senior can be‐ Both Natalie Horberg and Emily Peck people to apply early action to safeties of attending my college in the fall, but I gin to plan for their post-high school life applied early decision to Ivy League instead of early decision to a reach," she am also, despite myself, preoccupied months early and can devote themselves schools because, in Emily's words, "I ap‐ told me over text, because "then you get with the ultimately unresolvable ques‐ to their high school studies--instead of plied to a competitive school to shoot my a couple wins instead of a possible big tion of what might have been. their college applications. shot." Natalie expressed similar senti‐ rejection." ments, but noted that, "looking back," Another reason that someone might the reason she applied was, "rooted in "Safeties" in this context are generally choose to apply early decision is because the common awe and intimidation we less competitive schools with higher ac‐ May 2021 7

upon unfathomable amounts of pressure Onteora Senior's Art Exhibit: and unrealistic comparison? I couldn't A Hot Take on make any art because in the recesses of h my brain, I didn't think I was good Growing Up rough enough to. Hot Sauce

'YOUTH' (temporary) By Sophia Roberts

If you have never had the pleasure of By Natalie Horburg In the months that followed, excitement tasting the most delicious, lavorful, shited into anxiety. I felt inadequate in spicy-but-not-too-spicy hot sauce, you When I irst followed the artist Yoshito‐ the face of such an opportunity, unde‐ have my sincere apologies. I am, of mo Nara on Instagram, I couldn't believe serving and regretful-as though Nara course, talking about Cholula. his year I that he, my hero, had been on social me‐ had made a mistake in considering me was fortunate enough to experience dia all this time. A bridge was suddenly to be anything near an equal. Without Cholula in a whole new way-out of a visible between us, and the prospect of warning, I suddenly stopped being able mini 7.5 mL packet. being able to directly message him was to produce any new art. as intimidating as it was thrilling. It was As we all know, everything this year was January of 2020 and sitting alone in my As I continued correspondence with uprooted by the pandemic. However, the room, realizing I had nothing to lose, I Nara, the initial, somewhat supericial he thing about self-awareness is that it lifestyle options the pandemic forced decided to reach out. awe I felt every time we texted morphed inally allows you to move forward with upon us (namely the purchasing of way personal growth. Once I recognized more take-out food and greater concern where my anxieties were coming from, I about sanitation) led me to one very im‐ was able to smash the golden pedestal, portant discovery. simply feel thankful for my unbelievable luck to even be in the show, and inally When local restaurants became more create. concerned with the idea of hundreds of customers handling the same hot sauce Today, YOUTH (temporary) resides in bottles over and over, they turned to new the Yutaka Kikutake Gallery in Tokyo, options: Cholula Hot Sauce packets. where only a couple of masked visitors may enter at a time to experience the in‐ For me, these packets quickly became a timate world that I, Nara, and the bril‐ new obsession, a life-style changer, and a liant artists Shozo Taniguchi, Yoichi Christmas git idea. Immediately, I Camimura, and Masao Nakahara poured bought a pack of 50 off of Amazon to our hearts into. save as a present for my friend. When Christmas rolled around, I gited the Working on YOUTH (temporary) has packets and received my own from a sincerely changed my life. Nara, Yutaka, family member. hroughout winter, the Satoko, all the artists in the show, and Cholula packets were ever present. My every other person who was involved in friends and I stashed them in our cars, the process, through their humility, gra‐ wallets, and bags to be readily available ciousness, and immense wisdom, for an on the road egg sandwich or some showed me that obsessing over where take-out fries. you rank in the invisible hierarchy of tal‐ ent or intellect is pointless. hey led me he pandemic limited the ways my Courtesy of Natalie Horburg to truly see others and myself in a more friends and I could socialize, so we oten realistic, loving rather than comparative got take-out and ate it in a park or ran‐ On that miraculous snowy night, a casu‐ into something more wholesome. He lens. dom parking lot. Cholula packets made al correspondence which would morph was no longer just an idea in my mind, our outings more exciting by adding into a professional relationship, and even but my friend. To reduce Nara to simply Furthermore, I now understand that the spice and lavor to our food. We felt a creative friendship, was born. a celebrity, I grasped, was to overlook his true genius of Nara is not only in how he great sadness and even anger if no hot humanity and lose my own sense of self. lays paint on canvas, but in the way he sauce packets could be found. I felt star-struck, in disbelief that he opens doors for young artists, collabo‐ would actually ever respond to my mes‐ For so long, I had placed him on a gold‐ rates with complete strangers, and em‐ hough the bitterness, boredom, monot‐ sages. Queen lyrics ran through my head en pedestal. Now that I was working braces their similarities and differences ony, and sadness of teenage life during a again and again: Is this the real life? Is alongside him, I thought I had to prove I wholeheartedly. My thanks to them for pandemic cannot be understated, Cholu‐ this just fantasy? belonged on that pedestal too. But how these lessons are ininite and everlasting. la Hot Sauce packets brought my friends could I ever amount to this construct of and I some joy and respite. Yet life grew more surreal. greatness when it's very basis was built To anyone who has ever dealt with feel‐ ings of inadequacy, I'd like to end with hat autumn, ater some months of this: here is no higher plane inhabited friendly back-and- forth, Nara invited by geniuses that you should hide from me to participate in a group exhibition at out of fear or embarrassment. Own your the Yutaka Kikutake Gallery in Tokyo, talents and don't ever think you're unde‐ Japan. He and Yutaka, the gallery direc‐ serving of the love or validation or tor, had looked through my art style on recognition that comes with them. Instagram and felt it would tie in nicely with the show's theme of youth. He put You have every right to be around people me in contact with his wonderful as‐ you admire, to befriend your idols, and sistant Satoko Hamada and from there to stand alongside your heroes. we began communication about the ex‐ hibition. Courtesy of Zach Calinda 8 May 2021 Clawsnaps: Can you relect on your experience this school year during the pandemic? Bridget Allison, Courtesy of he Talon By Emily Peck Jessica Morra, Courtesy of he Talon Staff Staff

Bridget Allison, English Teacher: Furthermore, the Ulster County Depart‐ demic would last this long. I never ex‐ mote and hybrid learning model was as ment of Health would then make the pected our chorus room to be empty for smooth as possible. I have also gained "When I relect on the year of the Pan‐ guidance speciic to our corner of the a year. Just before we closed down for experience with Google Classroom and demic, it is with a new perspective. I am world. School guidelines are even more our '2-week' shutdown, I recorded the Google Meets, both of which I plan on reminded that we are learners of life and speciic, and then there are different choir singing one of our spring concert using in the future to supplement my life-long learners and that learning is not guidelines for school sports! So, process‐ pieces. It's now this memento from a teaching practices. limited to a classroom. We are a global ing all of the information has been a big happier time. A time when music illed society, and when we lead with love, not challenge. the choir room, where friends sang to‐ In terms of me personally, remote learn‐ fear, we live what Maya Angelou wrote gether and made music together. It's a ing has been an exhausting experience. about in her poem "Human Family"--the he most difficult part however, has been memory of our graduated seniors, of our Everything takes so much more time to truth that "we are more alike, my friend, the concern for our students and the toll chorus as it used to be. Now we are say‐ do: grading papers on-line, reworking than we are unalike." he pandemic gave that the COVID shutdowns have had on ing goodbye to another senior class and I lesson plans to it the slower pace of the the earth a chance to heal and people an them: missing school, missing celebra‐ never thought that they wouldn't have a courses, converting iles to forms that opportunity to pause, relect, reinvent, tions, getting sick, being quarantined, spring musical or senior song at their i‐ students can access on their devices, try‐ and show a resilience like never before in feeling isolated, and possibly feeling nal concert. Although we are trying to ing to be lexible with students' personal my lifetime-all together." hopeless. Onteora's staff of caring teach‐ make it work, chorus just isn't the same situations which usually causes more ers, social workers, school psychologists, online. I think if we had known that all work on my end, and inding the time to Sarah Turck, Guidance Counselor: guidance counselors, principals, and of those experiences were our last, we meet with students individually. his se‐ nurses are here for you! We are feeling would've truly made them count. mester I teach six different courses and "So much of what we do in counseling is more hopeful now--positive COVID test managing all of them at once is chaotic dependent upon non-verbal cues and rates and hospitalizations are down and I have surely learned to not take any‐ at times. recognizing emotion. It has been incred‐ safe, effective vaccines have been devel‐ thing for granted. I miss all of my stu‐ ibly difficult to gauge students' needs oped and are available locally, for free, to dents so much and can't wait until the Watching students struggling emotional‐ through virtual meetings and even hard‐ anyone over the age of 16. Soon, the vac‐ day we can all be together again, laugh‐ ly is also very difficult for me. I have lots er to establish a rapport with new sev‐ cines will be available to all. We can and ing and singing and making memories of my students for multiple years in a enth graders. Even the simplest tasks are will get through this together--and will together here at Onteora. " row and seeing them struggle weighs on now twice as complicated and time con‐ be stronger because, or in spite of, the me each day. On the other side of that, it suming. experience." Jessica Morra, Math Teacher: has been weird teaching students for al‐ most a year whom I have never met and What I miss most is the student who Sabrina Blakely, High School Nurse: "Teaching the past year has been a rain‐ also don't know what they look like be‐ drops in without an appointment be‐ bow of experiences, mostly because of cause their cameras are never turned on. cause they need a moment to talk. I can't "Over this past year, the COVID-19 pan‐ the diversity in courses that I teach. Aca‐ It is a surreal experience. Lastly, sitting in wait to have those moments again." demic has forced us to innovate not only demically, remote learning requires that front of a screen for prolonged periods as individuals, but also as a community. students are intrinsically motivated, or‐ of time is not healthy for anyone, and so, Karen Hansen, Middle School Nurse: he complexities of our lives are ever ganized, and have the ability to work I am looking forward to returning to changing. As a school nurse, my job is well independently. My older students normalcy hopefully in the near future!" "School nursing during a global pan‐ doing the right thing to ensure the safety have adapted well to the changes. Atten‐ demic--what a roller coaster ride!--or of my students-even when it isn't popu‐ dance and participation have been con‐ Mark Castle, English Teacher: maybe more like Tilt-A-Whirl?--or lar. With ongoing reminders about mask sistently good and their work shows bumper cars? You know--the kind of wearing, temperature checks, social dis‐ great effort. My younger students have "he pandemic exacerbated the division ride that makes your head spin and you tancing, and quarantining, this role was struggled for obvious reasons. in our country. he challenge is to toler‐ want to throw up, but is also exhilarating one I didn't see coming. ate and respect one another despite our at the same time. As a teacher, inding the balance be‐ differing beliefs (even if it requires ig‐ Finding the balance between safety and tween a student's social-emotional noring facts). he latest insanity is the COVID-19 is a new virus, so we knew learning has truly had its challenges. health and their academic success has random attacks on anyone with Asian nothing about it last December. All With those challenges came strength and been challenging. Every student has a features. he absurdity of it all is as fasci‐ healthcare providers have had to stay in‐ endurance. We are stronger than we unique personal situation and every stu‐ nating as it is sad." formed in order to maintain the safety of know when we are pushed to our limits, dent has been struggling to some degree. others in their care, and the information and with that emerges a new day for an‐ Knowing how hard to push a student Steve Stanton, Custodian: was just emerging and evolving daily. other discovery. THINK POSITIVE and during these times to keep them feeling he CDC would provide very general‐ NEVER GIVE UP!" successful without overwhelming them "here has been a lot more work, but ized safety guidance in the U.S., but then has been a common theme for me. when you guys (the students) were all the New York State Department of Brittany Carroll, Chorus Teacher: gone from March to November, there Health would further reine the guide‐ I am grateful for the technology the dis‐ was also a lot of uncertainty. We didn't lines for our state, hit so hard by the "he past year has been...quiet. Call me trict has provided me during this pan‐ know if we were getting laid off or when virus early on. naïve, but I never expected that the pan‐ demic so that the transition to the re‐ people were coming back. here have May 2021 9 just been a lot of big question marks. David Nelsen-Epstein, Social Studies I have two small children at home and he ending of last school year (2020) was Teacher: they were my main priority-- keeping certainly bittersweet- while I believe Paul Colevas, Social Studies Teacher: them physically healthy as far as the most wanted it to just be over, there was "I miss my students. I miss seeing them Covid risk. hen as the physical health also a bit of a loss. We didn't get to have "In keeping it brief, the past year has re‐ in person. I know some of them are concern tapered off, I began to see that our usual send off with the 8th grade inforced my belief that luck plays the struggling and I want to help them. " the lack of social interaction, the missed group (although- I did like our solution supreme role in the lives of us all. Other structure of the school day, and the ques‐ here with being able to see a few people than that, I cannot make much more Michael Rushford, Health Teacher: tions and worries from my children set as we delivered lowers!) I feel in a way sense of my thoughts on all of this. I can in-- the whole situation was deinitely that we missed out on an important part only refer to the words of Kurt "One word to describe this past year- in‐ manifesting into mental/emotional and of our Health classes- and there was Vonnegut: describable! social health concerns as well. missed information here too!

'Tiger got to hunt, bird got to ly; So much changed so abruptly, initially it I have to say though- we had far more I do know that many have experienced was confusing, scary, and a bit over‐ good days than bad! We made the most loss during this time and I realize how Man got to sit and wonder 'why, why, whelming! I think of myself as someone of our time together! We would build in difficult that must be. I am in hopes now why?' who adapts to change pretty easily and I activity and exercise time in the day, though, we can move forward and learn am usually a person who can 'go with the tend to our animals (dog, cat, chickens, from this unprecedented time. Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land; low,' if you will, but things were so un‐ ducks), did some projects around the certain. Everyone had questions, and yard (planting lowers, built a duck One thing I have learned is to be Man got to tell himself he understand.' seemingly no one had answers; everyone house and enclosure), and spent a lot of grateful- for family and friends, and for had concerns, but seemingly there were time creating and cooking new meals! simple things in life... because, in an in‐ -Cat's Cradle" no solutions. (hat was my favorite part) stant, change happens."

Courtesy of Natalie Horburg 10 May 2021

Once again, it is the system that we must An Exposé: he examine--the system that sees no issue in the way that we are taught informa‐ tion; the system that spoon-feeds us pro‐ Ethics of paganda in every class; the system that refuses to give every kid equal opportu‐ Cheating and nities. So, the question must be asked: is it more immoral to cheat the system or the Education to lean into it? he educational system is classist to its System very core. Starting with the obvious, rich parents have enough cash to send their By EJ Martello rich kids to rich schools where they'll be tailored to get into rich Ivy Leagues With online school being pretty much where they can meet their rich spouses the worst thing ever, a big question and make more rich kids. looms at the forefront of many of our minds: Is cheating really immoral? he But even on a smaller scale at Onteora, answer: probably not. classism is alive and well. Only some parents can afford to get their kids better Before we continue, it's important to equipment, better resources, and better note that this article is in no way, shape, tutors, while many kids don't have any or form encouraging cheating. hat is so equipment, resources, or tutors at all. not the point, and if that's all you get Courtesy of Pixabay.com from this then some self relection may he AP tests cost about one hundred be in order. dollars apiece, and even the reduced cost And so the cycle of poverty continues wrong certainly changes the situation with no end in sight. enough that another wrong is on the ta‐ i ble. "We can't pretend we have a ghting So what's the bottom line? Assistance isn't enough. What we're looking at is an Another take is that cheating could be chance at 'reforming' a system that was institutional problem so pervasive that it considered an act of civil disobedience. ff calls into question the legitimacy of our Civil disobedience is basically just refus‐ built to give economically well-o system. Is the system so deeply lawed ing to follow laws that you think are un‐ that it can no longer be respected? just as a form of political protest. And people a clear advantage." while that certainly won't free you from In fact, I'd even make the argument that the consequences of your actions, it's he pandemic has been rough for teach‐ can be a lot for a family living paycheck participating in our system as it stands is something to think about. ers and students alike, but its inluence to paycheck. But guess what colleges are essentially no different from playing a on students' futures has added much looking for on your transcript? Exactly. ridiculously high stakes game of he No matter how you slice it, our system is more stress. On top of the added pres‐ Sims (if he Sims was fundamentally a sinking steamboat, and we are the coal sure, students have been dealing with If it's difficult for a kid from a low in‐ racist, classist, and ableist and a couple being thrown onto the ire. work up the wazoo, isolation, and an come family to get into college, it may be people started off with 5 million uptick in mental health crises. However, more difficult for them to get a good job. simoleons and some started off with We can't escape the capitalism in our it deinitely isn't the teachers that are to With this added difficulty they won't nothing). system--our system is capitalist. We can't blame for these issues. have enough money to get their kid the pretend we have a ighting chance at "re‐ resources they need to succeed either. Good on you for not using the mother forming" a system that was built to give load cheat, but if you did use it, not economically well-off people a clear ad‐ much would happen. vantage.

While cheating may make doing inde‐ he system is working as intended. pendent work more difficult, there aren't here's nothing "broken." What is bro‐ any foreseeable moral issues other than ken is our lack of resolution to rise up perhaps the feeling that other students against it. Abolishing and rebuilding is who aren't cheating don't have a fair the only way to break ourselves out of shot. these chains.

Luckily, unlike our educational system, So should you cheat? Absolutely not. everyone has an equal opportunity in the However, maybe educate yourself on and cheating game, whether or not they participate in safe acts of civil disobedi‐ choose to take advantage of it. ence when something is institutionally unfair. No matter what, there are ex‐ While cheating is certainly a form of ly‐ treme changes that need to be made if ing, we are all being lied to each and teachers really want the cheating to stop. every second of each and every day that we are alive. At the very least I implore you to look critically at authority igures and learn to Many of us still believe and lean into the advocate for yourself. You deserve an ex‐ fallacy that this system is working for us, tension every couple of weeks, or even as which it clearly can't be if the situation is needed. Ask your teachers for what helps so dire that we feel the need to let go of you. he worst thing that could happen any integrity we once held. And though is them saying no. Courtesy of Zach Calinda two wrongs don't make a right, this one May 2021 11

selves because their body doesn't look Toxic Diet like that. hough there is more body- I Got positive representation in the media to‐ day as opposed to when I was 11, there is Culture and still a lot of work to be done to create an Vaccinated: environment where growing kids can Media love themselves. Here's What Some may ask, what are eating Happened! By Clara Mead and Kelly Wen disorders? Eating disorders are serious Courtesy of Flickr mental illnesses related to unusual eating Growing up, my female peers oten fol‐ behaviors that negatively impact one's By Sophie Frank almost painless.) lowed inluencers like Kylie Jenner, Som‐ health, emotions, and ability to function mer Ray and Gigi Hadid on social in their daily life. "his is so the start of every zombie Ater, I was instructed to go to the inal media. apocalypse movie," I murmured to my and biggest section--a group of chairs In accordance with the rise of diet cul‐ mother as we lined up outside the Best scattered between the nurses stations I would watch my friends pull back their tures, there is an increase in the presence Buy in Kingston. he joke was about and the exit--and wait for 10 minutes in shirts in the mirror to see their igure of eating disorders. he demand of keep‐ how the place looked: the logo sign was case any side effects developed. None and hate what they saw. hey were grow‐ ing a slim shape at all times produces a gone and every blue-vested employee did, and before I knew it I was blinking ing 11 and 12 year olds, and they were community that goes to the gym every and piece of tech had been removed, giv‐ in the sunlight outside. already so hyper focused on their natural day. ing the store an abandoned feeling. and healthy bodies. However, in recent weeks it's been hum‐ he only side effect I suffered was slight ming with activity again. It's now a tem‐ achiness at the injection spot. I was also hey craved the tiny waist and long legs porary vaccination site. very thirsty--when they tell you to drink that these Instagram stars had. hey lots of water ater, do not take this were told that these beautiful but heavily When I entered I was greeted by a volun‐ lightly. edited individuals were the standard of teer and sent to another line that wound beauty, and if you didn't look like them its way past registration tables, the vac‐ I didn't know how being vaccinated you were unattractive and unwanted. cine station, and a waiting area. he vol‐ would feel. I was thinking short term: unteers had the process down to a sci‐ being able to see friends, going to a How are kids with developing bodies ence, and the line moved fast. movie. But since getting my irst shot I've supposed to feel when society deems had something I didn't realize I'd been their body type undesirable? "Cut that he irst stop was a table staffed by a vol‐ missing: physical safety. belly fat!" "Lose inches off your waist!" unteer, who gave me a form to ill out about my medical history. We've been living in fear for so long that Kids today are growing up in a world the chance to protect ourselves and help where through social media, we are con‐ he next stop was the shot itself. he get life back to normal has become the stantly exposed to others' lives, habits, process was so fast I didn't even have alien feeling. However, it's a very good and passions. Impressionable minds are Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons time to wonder what it would feel like. feeling. consistently shown videos of what others (Answer: like a tiny, momentary pinch, eat in a day, workout routines, diets that Some may call themselves bodybuilders will supposedly make you go down two or athletes. But in reality, they are oten pants sizes, the list goes on. exercise addicts resulting from eating disorders. his niche of content can be incredibly toxic. hough some people may use ba‐ Individuals with an exercise obsession sic exercise videos available to them spend hour ater hour on weight liting through Youtube as a simple self better‐ and aerobic exercise to the point that can ment technique, many of these videos burn out their body. hey count calories contribute to the toxic nature of diet cul‐ and cut out certain types of food groups ture. hey are titled with eye-catching that are high in sugar, fat, glycemic index (and false) narratives ("I LOST 20 LBS (GI) and/or glycemic load (GL). hey of‐ IN TWO WEEKS!!") and consist of an ten feel the need to stay in a certain individual raving about some diet pill or shape such as having abs or the hour‐ life-sucking workout regimen they en‐ glass shape. Compulsive exercising is the dured to lose that unrealistic amount of only way to satisfy their need to feel weight. good about themselves.

So what happens as childhood transi‐ he lifestyle of someone who obsessively tions into adolescence and appearances exercises is unhealthy to both the mind are more heavily scrutinized than ever? and the body. he focus on the shape of their body dominates their mind every he same friends that hated their bodies second of the day. at 11 years old are still pulling their shirts tight in the mirror, disgusted at "Everyday I would make sure I ran be‐ what they see. hey resort to eating only fore I ate, sometimes this would be very a bag of frozen blueberries on certain late in the day. To break the fast on a dai‐ days of the week because they are so ter‐ ly basis was only Nature Valley bars. I riied of gaining weight. would weigh myself so much I could regularly guess my exact weight before hey scroll through countless videos and the numbers popped up," said one pictures of people launting their anonymous student from Onteora. picture-perfect bodies, and hate them‐ Courtesy of Tahlula Potter 12 May 2021

sweaty people, and it only takes one song A Relection on associated with a memory, person, or A Guide to a event to realize just how "everywhere" it Music in my really is. Fun Summer in Our listening experiences are so much Life more than sound to ill the air--they are the Catskills! representative markers of the thoughts, feelings, and emotional states we've ex‐ By Mikayla Stock perienced throughout the entirety of our By Laura Craig lives. In the grand scheme of this trivial In a last effort to convert all Talon read‐ existence, how lucky are we to have Summer is almost here, and many of us ers to avid music listeners, I will leave something that's always accessible and are wondering what we will do this sum‐ with you a inal list of recommendations always there as we and everything mer during the pandemic! Here are a and a inal personal anecdote. around us is in a state of constant few local attractions and activities that change. So for one last time, I leave you you may plan to partake in this summer. Allow me to preface this story by saying with a brief list of some of my favorite that I do not know what was wrong with songs to accompany some of your most You can explore the many small busi‐ my tiny self, and at this rate I don't think human experiences...whatever that nesses such as antique stores, home I ever will. Patrick Watson, Courtesy of Wikimedia means to you. goods stores, art galleries, etc. here are Commons also many attractions local to our area Before the age of eight, I could not have 1. "Good Looking" - Suki Water‐ including he Ashokan Rail Trail, he disliked music more. Every time my cause the beauty of it lies in its subjectiv‐ house Empire State Railway Museum, Opus 40, mom turned on the car radio, her ac‐ ity. Everyone can love it, everyone can 2. "mood ring baby" - Field Medic Rail Explorers and many other attrac‐ tions were immediately met with back‐ hate it, and regardless of that some of it 3. "THE LIGHT" - BROCKHAMP‐ tions. Now you may be wondering what lash from a mini me who would stop at will probably be playing on the radio TON other activities you could do that are no lengths to ensure that the godforsak‐ every 30 minutes for the next six months 4. "Fly Out West" - Yot Club easy and pleasurable. You could go ish‐ en radio was silenced for good. until *insert pop artist's name here* re‐ 5. "Ater Dark" - Mr.Kitty ing in the Esopus Creek or swimming in leases something new. 6. "So She Goes" (Acoustic) - Geskle one of the many swimming holes. By some stroke of luck I am a changed 7. "Melody Noir" - Patrick Watson gal, and now it's gotten to the point 8. "Re: Stacks" - Bon Iver If you are not a water person, that is al‐ where if I don't have control over the 9. "Big Parade" - he Lumineers right because we have plenty of hiking music in the car, then I might as well just 10."10:37" - Beach House trails for you to conquer! here are be staying home. I'm not sure what it 11."I Exist I Exist I Exist" - Flatsound countless campgrounds for you and your was that altered my perception for the 12."Escargot Blues" - Guantanamo family to enjoy the warmth of a ire and better, but I'm willing to bet that it was Bay Surf Club a round of cornhole. most likely Gotye's 2011 release of 13."untitled" - Rachael Jenkins "Somebody hat I Used To Know." I've 14."Today" - RICEWINE Ater all of your exploring you must be certainly made up for the lack of listen‐ 15."Ketchum, ID" - boygenius hungry, and that is no problem because ing in what was almost the entirety of 16."LowerhanLow" - BONES there are a bunch of restaurants and my irst decade of life, and I'm vaguely 17."midnight love" - girl in red eateries that would love to help settle certain that I've gathered at least a 18."Never Wanna Leave" - Hate your hunger. heaters are starting to per‐ smidgen of valuable information sur‐ Drugs form shows via Zoom, so grab a blanket rounding music's signiicance along the 19."Lilo" - he Japanese House and some snacks because you are going way. 20."Goodbye Weekend" - Mac De‐ to want to see some talented people at Marco work. First of all, music is absolutely every‐ where. It's playing in the grocery store, Happy listening… or sad listening. Or Sports are having clinics all around our CVS, the gas station, Marshalls (AKA just okay/mediocre listening. Whatever area so grab your phone and text your the land of Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours"), the case, whoever you are, wherever you friends to sign up! Now that you know and practically everywhere you've ever Girl In Red, Courtesy of Wikimedia are, I wish you all the best today and all we have to offer, I hope that if you exchanged a piece of green paper for Commons every day to follow. ind yourself bored this summer you get something else. Some music is objective‐ up and explore all our area has in store ly bad, but no one will admit that be‐ Once you've passed the level of grocery for you. store and radio music, you'll come across music that some may deem "under‐ ground" and discover your own music taste. Eventually, everyone's taste settles, or perhaps it never does. But there's something especially wonderful about remaining open to everything that meets your ears, and I will always encourage such a perspective.

No matter where you get it from-- whether you have one or one hundred beloved songs, or if you never know what to say when someone asks the im‐ mensely burdensome question of "what's your favorite album?"--it's hard to deny the value of music within all of our lives. Mac Demarco, Courtsey of Wikimedia It only takes one concert to realize how a Commons person's art can unite an entire room of Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons May 2021 13

also chill and respectful and quiet when Some Heartfelt Relections of others are speaking." Black Lives Still Senior Talon Staff Members Matter: Police

By Shayne Durkin ixed rules and laws (like math). I will Brutality in deinitely take this lesson with me to col‐ What a year it's been. his was deinitely lege and push myself to join a variety of 2021 not how senior year was pictured in our different clubs (especially newspaper)." heads, but we've all managed to make the best of it with what we've got. Instead Nelson DelTufo, Layout hand, Copy By Ella Williams of relecting on this school year as a hand, and one of everyone's favorite whole, let's take some time to acknowl‐ Journalists: he Talon staff would like to express its edge something pretty important: Six of support of the following statements is‐ our Talon staff members are graduating "My favorite memories are deinitely the sued on behalf of Onteora's Human this year, including our fantastic Editors- old in person layout meetings that would Rights Club: in-Chief. While they've written their last well into the evening. hey were just own farewell, I thought it important to the right mix of hectic and productive. Since the renewed support of the Black include some words from a few of our Lives Matter movement in June, justice other graduating staff members this year. My favorite article that I have ever writ‐ has been cried for and police brutality ten was my article on the Ulster County Eva Donato has continued. I asked the following questions: What's DA race because I think local politics are your favorite memory from our meet‐ incredibly important and under I'll give in my own two cents: he Derek Chauvin trial began on ings? What's your favorite piece/pieces reported. March 29, 2021 in Minneapolis and in‐ that you've written for he Talon and My favorite memory from one of our volved convicting Derek Chauvin for why? What has been your biggest take‐ meetings was in November or December murdering George Floyd on May 25, away from this experience? of 2019. Ms. Conroy, our staff adviser for 2020. he trial, which lasted for 14 days, he Talon, had two huge tins of Jingle- resulted in Chauvin being found guilty Simon Rands, Copy Editor: Jangle, a jar of animal crackers, tea, gra‐ and convicted of second-degree uninten‐ nola bars, and pretzels. All of our desks tional murder, third-degree murder, and "My favorite memory from my time in were in a circle, and we brainstormed for second-degree manslaughter. the newspaper club is crowding around a couple of hours. here was a lot of the one layout computer for hours on laughter being thrown around with all of In the midst of celebrating the achieve‐ end, sharing a 3 gallon bucket of animal our ideas, and it was just a great time. ment of justice for George Floyd, the joy crackers, hoping to inish the paper on switly subsided when 16 year-old time. I think my favorite piece that I've written Ma'Khia Bryant was fatally shot by a po‐ was my article about our amazing cafete‐ lice officer on April 20, 2021 in Colum‐ My favorite piece that I've written for ria staff and how they were feeding fami‐ bus, Ohio. Bryant called 911 when her he Talon is the Chanukah edition of lies during the pandemic. (hat was also and her sister Ja'Niah Bryant were being Rands' Recipes. It was an excellent ex‐ my irst front-pager!!) It was really im‐ attacked and felt unsafe. When the police cuse for me to make a ton of latkes, and I portant to me that they were recognized arrived, the officer yelled at Ma'Khia to was really excited at the idea that some‐ for all of the work that they do, because "Get down!" and shot her four times one would experience latkes for the irst Nelson Del Tufo they're such an integral part of our com‐ without hesitation. time because of me. munity. Lastly, newspaper has taught me And what I have learned from he Talon so much in terms of collaboration, com‐ Another murder unfolded during the tri‐ My biggest takeaway from my time at is the importance of committing yourself munication, editing and writing skills, al on April 11, 2021 just outside of Min‐ he Talon is the value of trying new to what you're passionate about. I only and responsibility. neapolis. 20 year-old Daunte Wright was things. When I joined in tenth grade, I started taking an active role in the paper pulled over due to a traffic violation. It thought I would just go to a couple in junior year, and never sought a leader‐ On behalf of myself and my fellow grad‐ was then brought to the officers' atten‐ meetings and try it out. But I had no ship position, but in hindsight, I wish uating staff members, thank you Ms. tion that Wright had a warrant for his ar‐ idea how much I would enjoy working at that I had started going to layout meet‐ Conroy and Mr. Edelman for making rest. he officers attempted to detain the paper. I formed some incredible rela‐ ings and editing articles earlier because this possible. We have all learned so Wright as he went back into his car. he tionships with the other members, and I the paper is important to me, and I ap‐ much. police had a momentary struggle with also realized that I loved grammar for its preciate the experience so much." Wright, causing an officer to allegedly use their handgun instead of their taser, Eva Donato, Layout Editor: shooting and murdering Daunte Wright. It was later revealed that Wright was ac‐ "I suspect everyone else will say the tually pulled over due to his completely same, but my favorite memory of news‐ legal air fresheners hanging from his paper, and of high school in general, was rear-view mirror. Protests sparked for buzzing around the layout computer, lit‐ three nights in support of justice for tering popcorn crumbs everywhere and Daunte Wright and were viewed as un‐ ighting over who gets to do what. So lawful by local authorities. much chaos. he Black Lives Matter movement is When I was a sophomore I wrote an arti‐ continuing to ight for justice for the cle about music in the 60s and 70s and Black lives lost to police brutality and how it relected societal changes at the racism. time. I just thought it was super cool. I think that while being a part of the Simon Rands newspaper I've learned that we're all able to be strong-willed and opinionated, but Shayne Durkin 14 May 2021 May 2021 15

and our community is the Onteora stu‐ t Letter From dent population. It has been so reward‐ Onteora Teacher Set to Retire A er 30 ing to see how excited students are when h we pass out papers during lunch periods. Years of Teaching: ¡La Reina Elena! e Editors Ater everyone in he Talon has put in so much work, it is one of the most incredi‐ Dear Talon Community, ble feelings to know our work is appreci‐ By Shayne Durkin and hopefully travel to Italy and practice ated. there. I want to try to ind my second Being the Co-Editors-in-Chief and part he end of this year brings graduation calling, because I don't want to stop of he Talon has been such an honor. We I think it is also important to remember and new beginnings on the horizon for working. I don't know what life will have been members of he Talon since how much fun we've had together and many. It's an exciting time for one per‐ throw my way, but I believe that every‐ its creation. Part of creating a newspaper that it's okay to goof around even when son in particular: Elena Garcia- thing will come together." out of thin air is establishing processes there are things to get done and tight McWhinnie, or to most, Señora Garcia. that carry over from issue to issue to en‐ deadlines to meet! One of the most icon‐ She's well-known throughout the build‐ Finally, I asked Señora if she had any ad‐ sure the longevity of the paper. We have ic Talon scenes is of Talon members sit‐ ing for her fabulous outits and love of vice for the incoming teacher that would revised these procedures countless of ting in the computer lab, shoving hands singing. Ater 30 years of teaching she's ill her spot. times, and future Editors-in-Chief will into bags of snacks, laughing, and talk‐ decided to retire at the end of this school keep changing them. ing, all while trying desperately to meet a year. "As a teacher, especially a new teacher, deadline. We would end up being some it's very easy to get caught up in all of the When Covid struck and Mr. Edelman of the last people in the building, all be‐ I had a brief interview with her to ind rules and regulations. It's important in said he would support us if we continued cause we wanted to inish a page of lay‐ out more about her thoughts and plans. order to develop relationships and con‐ making a paper virtually, it seemed al‐ out or make sure an article had been Here's that interview, or rather, the best nections with your students that you're most an impossible task. However, the perfectly proofread. In those moments, parts: not always such a rule-follower. So yes, I excitement and determination from everyone's commitment to producing would say to anyone new coming in, My irst question was one that she's been don't get trapped so much by the rules." asked many times before: Did the pan‐ As an aspiring foreign language teacher, demic have any inluence on your deci‐ I made sure to listen well. sion? Señora carries with her much of the wis‐ "It was actually the contrary, because it dom of Don Quixote, and an outlook on showed me as a message from the uni‐ life that we can all learn from. She's al‐ verse that even though it's hard to let go ways optimistic, and eager to learn and and to change ater 30 years of doing the grow as much as she can. same thing, I will be able to adjust and move on into a new chapter. My hus‐ Her teaching extends beyond the class‐ band has been retired for many years, room and into the hearts and minds of and my mom is an elderly woman living many students, myself included. She's in Mexico, and I think that having the been my teacher, club advisor, and all- freedom to spend more time with both around positive inluence. She's oten of them is another inluence. But I en‐ said that she's graduating with me and joyed what I learned in the pandemic, my classmates, and I think that state‐ and it gave me ideas for the future." ment suits her. It's not so much an end‐ ing as it is an exciting new beginning. She had to think for a while about my next question, because there were proba‐ In the words of Miguel de Cervantes Emily Peck (let) and Sophia Roberts (right) bly a lot of different answers. I asked her: Saavedra, "La ventura va guiando nues‐ What is one of your fondest memories tras cosas mejor de lo que acertáramos a everyone in the club made the transition the best quality paper possible was evi‐ from being at Onteora? desear," or, "Destiny guides our fortunes relatively easy. Even in these crazy times, dent, but the environment was still fun more favorably than we could have ex‐ we have continued to produce a paper instead of stressful and overwhelming. "One of my favorite memories I think pected." that has been enjoyed and appreciated by was actually when we [Spanish Club, the community. Now we are coming to the end of our ca‐ myself included] recited the poem 'No reer at he Talon. We know that when we Te Rindas,' and decided to learn all the None of this would have been possible leave, he Talon will continue to lourish movements and use props. hen we pre‐ without the collaboration of everyone in in the hands of the two new Editors-in- sented it at the talent show, and at the the paper and the support of the com‐ Chief, Sophie Frank and Shane end everyone was cheering and they said munity. All he Talon members work so Stackpole, and in the hands of the staff I should go up and run across the stage, well together, and we are so appreciative members who have been with us during so I gave everyone high ives. hat was of all the hard work that they have done. this crazy year. We have so much faith in my stage moment, I almost felt famous." and excitement for what they will do. She laughed as she recalled this story, An important part of creating a quality and I told her that she really is famous. paper has been expanding he Talon We want to thank the academy, of community. We do this by continually course. But we also want to give a huge My next question was kind of a no- recruiting and training new people. Ater thank you to Ms. Conroy for her never- brainer: What are some of your plans for students pour their hearts into articles, ending enthusiasm and support, to our ater this year? he Talon staff help them ind their voic‐ fellow seniors and other staff members es through supportive editing sessions for all their hard work over the years, "I want to stay active," she said. "I really and group meetings. Watching new and to Ben Johansen for his vision to love to study, and I'm interested in spiri‐ Talon members and younger students create the paper we care so much about. tuality, psychology and theology. I'm en‐ grow has been incredible to witness. rolled in a class that explores the ways Emily Peck and Sophia Roberts, Editors- that an author from 500 years ago used One of the other important goals of a In-Chief, he Talon the same ideas as are in modern Elena Garcia McWhinnie, Courtesy of newspaper is to inform the community, theology. And I also want to learn Italian he Talon Staff 16 May 2021 On he Fly

he Talon Staff:

Editors-In-Chief: Emily Peck and Sophia Roberts

Managing Editors: Shane Stackpole and Sophie Frank

Copy Editor: Simon Rands

Layout Editor: Eva Donato

Assistant Editor: Shayne Durkin

Graphic Designers: Natalie Horburg, Tahlula Potter, and Zach Calinda

Secretary: Laura Craig

Photographer: Bella McHugh

Copy Hands: EJ Martello, Caleb Frank, Shayne Durkin, Ella Williams, Clara Mead, Nelson Del Tufo, and Jonimaya Huber

Layout Hands: Laura Craig, Caleb Frank, Bella McHugh, Ella Williams, Nelson Del Tufo, Kelly Wen, Jonimaya Huber,

Student Journalists: Sophie Frank, Eli‐ jah Salazar-Garris, Shane Stackpole, Ori Grady, Caleb Frank, Emily Peck, Nelson Del Tufo, Natalie Horburg, Sophia Roberts, EJ Martello, Clara Mead, Kelly Wen, Mikayla Stock, Laura Craig, Shayne Durkin, and Ella Williams

Courtesy of Kelly Wen Staff Adviser: Elaine Conroy

Track Practice, Courtesy of the Onteora Facebook Page Karen Hansen (let) and Sabrina Blakely (right), Courtesy of he Talon Staff