Celebrating the life and work of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “The Notorious RBG,” (1933-2020), an icon who expanded the rights of all Americans

 Alexandra Scott
Editorial Assistant

When the word feminist comes to mind, countless individuals might associate the word to people along the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt or Gloria Stenem. However, one woman that stands apart from the rest and has left the biggest footprint of all goes by the name of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Recently, her name has been circulated in the press due to her death that occurred this September. While many might have heard her name, her story goes beyond what the headlines can cover…
  Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1933, Ginsburg grew up in a place and time where women were treated unequally. She worked hard to earn a high school degree, and even when her mom passed away the day before her high school graduation, Ginsburg didn’t let it stop her from pursuing a college degree. Instead, her mother’s death motivated her to succeed and take action - and so that’s what she did.
  By 1954, Ginsburg had attended Cornell University, a top ranking Ivy League, and later enrolled at Harvard Law school where she worked alongside her husband Martin. Between having to take care of her own child and her husband who had become sick from cancer, Ginsburg was stretched thin as she tried to balance her academic and personal life. Even though Ginsburg’s early life was stressful, it helped shape her into a strong and determined woman who was willing to fight for what she believed in.
  Over the course of her life Ginsburg transferred from job to job, acquiring new skills and experiences that helped her land a position at the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1980. Eventually though, her life would forever change when, in 1993, she was nominated by President Bill Clinton to the Supreme Court. There she crafted revolutionary rulings that helped bridge the gap between genders and reduce inequality for all. One of her most recognized cases involved the Virginia Military Institute and its admittance of men only. With an admirable perseverity, Ginsburg was able to change the male-only admissions policy so that women could attend the Institute, too.
  All in all, the Notorious RBG still stands to this day as a revolutionary female judge and activist who fought for women’s rights. Although she recently passed away this September from pancreatic cancer, Ginsburg’s rulings  that she fought so hard to write still stand strong to this day. She has inspired countless women all over the world to take action and to pursue their dreams, as well as to keep their head held high even in a room full of males. Thanks to Ginsburg, women all across America are closer to achieving equality and justice.

Wildfires rage unchecked across the American West

Rex Fowler
Staff Writer

2020 has officially gotten even worse. Wildfires have plagued the West Coast since August and according to Cal Fire, there have been over 4 million acres burned in just California. This is more than double the acreage burned in 2018. Most Americans are blaming the surge in fires because of dry conditions due to global warming. The New York Times claims that over 20 people have lost their lives, and dozens are still missing. These fires have devastated many communities on the West Coast. So far, Firefighters have only managed to contain around 50 percent of the fires. Firefighters are working non stop to try to contain these fires and to protect communities.
  Firefighters use various proven methods in an attempt to stop these blazing wildfires. Some of the best-trained firefighters called “smokejumpers” will jump out of airplanes and land on the edge of the fire. This is one of the most dangerous firefighting jobs because they jump into some of the most isolated locations and have to camp near the fire for days on end. The most effective way to stop the fire on the ground is to do controlled burns or to dig a fireline. Firefighters use controlled burns to burn all of the brush in front of the fire so that when the fire gets there, it has nothing to catch on to. They also dig trenches called firelines to stop the fire from moving on the ground. The most effective way to stop the fire would be to use aerial firefighting. This method uses aircraft to dump a large quantity of water or fire retardant, on or before a fire.
  Fires still burn as firefighters struggle to control them. Wildfires are hard to put out because they are very unpredictable and have an unlimited amount of fuel that they can burn. Hopefully, as winter nears these fires will start to die out and communities will start to re-build.
 

How other schools are handling Covid-19

Olivia Harrison
Editor-in-chief

2020 has not been easy for many people around the world. From the wildfires and bush fires across the West Coast and Australia to the stock market crash, and even the upcoming election, there have been lots of things that have made headlines in the news throughout the year. However, one thing has definitely stood out: The Covid-19 Pandemic. First identified in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, as a respiratory disease in the SARS family, it wasn’t made out to be a huge concern for the world, and especially the United States. Eventually, through means of travel, Covid-19 spread its way around the world becoming a Global Pandemic.
  The United States has been one of the hardest hit countries with over seven million cases and over 200,000 deaths.  Business all around the world and the US ceased operations and schools closed their doors for the remainder of the school year. To avoid and stop the spread of Covid-19, the CDC, WHO, and various world leaders recommended mandatory protocol such as social distancing, quarantining, staying six feet away from others, staying home if you felt ill, and wearing a mask, as Covid is spread primarily through air droplets.
  Now, with all these precautions and new protocols, life seems like it won’t be back to normal for a while, especially our school system. This fall, there are many concerns about sending students back to school. Questions abound:  Will desks be socially distanced and six ft apart? How will they be able to tell if someone has contracted the virus? What if we don’t have the resources to learn at home? and Should we be doing online instruction, a hybrid model, or totally in person classes? These are just a few of the concerns parents and educators have expressed in the recent months. Throughout the country, governors, school districts and communities have been trying to tackle these concerns. Some schools have opened full time, others are doing hybrid, and others have opened totally online for a small portion of the year or even a full year.  
  Our school, New Hope-Solebury has decided to do online learning for the first marking period before hopefully being able to resume in person classes for the remainder of the year. However, I was interested to know what other schools in various states were doing when it came to reopening. I was also interested in what fellow students thought about the reopening of schools, and how they’ve been handling online learning. I spoke to two of my friends who are juniors in high school,  Jonas Stinziano of Fayetteville/Manlius, New York, and Ethan Ingham of San Tan Valley, Arizona. At the beginning of the pandemic, upstate New York was a Covid-19 hot spot. As of July 17, Arizona was considered a hot spot for the virus, and has an increasing number of cases.
  From what I gathered, it sometimes depends on the state, or the individual district to decide on how to open the schools. However, students still have a choice whether they want to do virtual learning for the whole year, or return to in person education, whether it be full time or hybrid. Jonas said, “We’re [Fayatteville/Manlius High] doing the hybrid model so there’s two cohorts (groups). Cohort A goes Monday and Tuesday. Cohort B goes on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday is a cleaning day. There is a cohort C but they are all online.”  
 In Arizona, the governor mandated at least 180 days of education whether it be online or in person. However, there are a lot of concerns about going back, especially full time.
  Ethan states, “Kind of, but not so much about me getting Covid because I have the common sense to distance myself, but I'm concerned about the fact that like other people are probably going to get it.”  
  Ethan started his junior year off online and is due to go back to school full time while Jonas  has been doing the hybrid model.  I asked them how online learning has been going, especially with the pressures of eleventh grade and from what they said, it’s not ideal. Ethan said,  “It's hard for me to stay focused when it's online work...I’m not doing that well”.
  Jonas said, “When we get work online it’s definitely harder to manage, especially with AP classes. In person it is much easier to manage.”
  With these student concerns in mind, and the ability to manage online classwork, educators have been finding it complex to make decisions on how to completely give students a proper education. For now, until Covid-19 ends, or we get a vaccine (currently in phase 3 of development), everyone will have to learn to adapt to the new norms of education.

The Police who killed Breonna Taylor are not charged by Grand Jury

The police who killed Breonna Taylor are not charged by grand jury

Brendan O’Boyle

Staff Writer


The court has reached a decision about the police officers that shot and killed Breonna Taylor and the world is outraged. A Kentucky grand jury found none of the police officers responsible for Breonna Taylor’s death; however, one officer will be tried on charges unrelated to her murder. Brett Hankison, one of the three officers involved with Breonna’s murder, was the only one indicted.

Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment and was earlier terminated from the force for alleged “extreme indifference to the value of human life.” This is a lesser felony charge of the first degree, and he was not charged with killing Breonna Taylor even though much of the world believes that all three of the officers involved should be. Hankison has already been released from Shelby County detention center as of Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 23, after being arrested only a half an hour earlier. His attorney declined answering questions after his release. Hankison’s bail was apparently set for $15,000.

Breonna Taylor was killed after three police officers entered her flat in Louisville using a no-knock warrant for a drug search on March 13, 2020. When the police entered the apartment, Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire because he believed that it was a home invasion. Breonna was caught in the crossfire as police returned fire at Walker.

Breonna Taylor’s story has been one of the grievances aired at many of the recent protests across the country, centered around police brutality. Many have already spoken out about how disappointed they are in the findings of the grand jury and how they feel like the legal system has failed not only Breonna, but African American women everywhere.

The quote “She deserved better” is now appearing on signs held by protesters and on the social media accounts of many Americans in hopes that people will help contribute to the cause. Athletes have also started wearing shirts with six bullet holes on the back of it in honor of Breonna Taylor. This is because during the incident where the officers fired a total of 20 bullets, Breonna was hit six times. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear was the reason that the information about the grandy jury is available to the public. He felt that people should be able to make up their own minds and said that “The public deserves this information.”

Wildfires Plague Entire West Coast

 Rex Fowler

Staff Writer

2020 has officially gotten even worse. Wildfires have plagued the West Coast since August and according to Cal Fire, there have been over 4 million acres burned in just California. This is more than double the acreage burned in 2018. Most Americans are blaming the surge in fires because of dry conditions due to global warming. The New York Times claims that over 20 people have lost their lives, and dozens are still missing. These fires have devastated many communities on the West Coast. So far, Firefighters have only managed to contain around 50 percent of the fires. Firefighters are working non stop to try to contain these fires and to protect communities.

  Firefighters use various proven methods in an attempt to stop these blazing wildfires. Some of the best-trained firefighters called “smokejumpers” will jump out of airplanes and land on the edge of the fire. This is one of the most dangerous firefighting jobs because they jump into some of the most isolated locations and have to camp near the fire for days on end. The most effective way to stop the fire on the ground is to do controlled burns or to dig a fireline. Firefighters use controlled burns to burn all of the brush in front of the fire so that when the fire gets there, it has nothing to catch on to. They also dig trenches called firelines to stop the fire from moving on the ground. The most effective way to stop the fire would be to use aerial firefighting. This method uses aircraft to dump a large quantity of water or fire retardant, on or before a fire.

  Fires still burn as firefighters struggle to control them. Wildfires are hard to put out because they are very unpredictable and have an unlimited amount of fuel that they can burn. Hopefully, as winter nears these fires will start to die out and communities will start to re-build.

Bidding Farewell to The Man Who Helps You Stay Dry

Jackson Cane

News Editor

 

If you have ever gone running in the rain, hiking during a storm, or caught in some showers and didn’t get wet, it was most likely because of Robert Gore. 

  While working for his father's company in Maryland as a chemical engineer, Gore invented one of the world's most efficient and renowned fabrics to ever surface: Gore-Tex. He created a new form of polymer, a substance of repeating sub-units to build a chain and ultimately one product. This fabric is fully water-proof and something inventors and engineers likewise, have sought to create. In fact, there was another discovery before Gore’s of the same thing. Yet the man, John Cropper, chose to keep it a secret and Gore got it patented immediately. 

  Gore-Tex is seen on many products today: jackets, boots, sneakers, pants, hats, and pretty much anything else you could imagine. Since the invention, Gore-Tex has also been used on medical equipment, usually tools for internal operations. This prevents the tools from having human tissue grow into them, and keep them dry for the process.

  Robert W. Gore died Sept. 17. The company announced a press release soon after, discussing his legacy and impact as a designer. Throughout his career, he had been awarded nine patents, elected into the National Academy of Engineering, inducted within the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006. Gore-Tex today can be seen on jackets of Patagonia, The North Face, and many other numerous renowned brands. Without him, rainy days would be the worst thing in existence. 

What is Going on Right Now?

Victoria Platonov
Staff Writer

Two months ago, my life took an unexpected and terrifyingly quick turn. I was a normal teenager with normal priorities, goals and aspirations. My days were filled with studying, going to school and hanging out with my friends occasionally. And although I forget a lot of things, I will never forget the day my life changed forever and I will never forget what happened after it.
  It was a Friday. I decided to miss a day of school due to needing a break. Afterall, it was a normal day and I had so many more ahead of me, one missed day wouldn’t kill me and I could really use it. Little did I know that would be the last day of my freshman year and the last day anything would be normal again. Later in the day, I had learned that school was being shut down for two weeks. Days went by, students and teachers anticipated the day everything would be back to normal, wondering when this whole mess would go away, being certain it would be short-lived and gone in two weeks. A few weeks later, school shut down for good this time and panic struck America. Malls, beaches, restaurants and businesses following soon after, closing until it was over. My life became boring, depressing and socially isolating. The economy was crashing, people lost money and jobs, people lost loved-ones and once-in-a-life-time events. The class of 2020 would not have a proper graduation; some schools cancelling completely, people would not get married and some people would not see their family members ever again. It felt like the world was falling apart. Days blended together, my life seemingly becoming a sad repetitive routine. I was scared and I knew everyone else was scared too.
  A few weeks later, things seemed to mildly calm down. It seemed like things were bound to go back to normal eventually, even if it took months. Countries, corporations and billionaires started to invest money into COVID-19 vaccine trials and therapies, beaches in Florida reopened, restaurants stationing social distancing guide lines on fogged windows, pasting drive-through food service signs not too far from the previous ones. As things got better, so did everyone else. For a while I was content with how things were going, how I could remember what day of the week it was, how I had so much motivation to do the things I loved. Even though people were in a bad situation, people were optimistically looking at the positive outcomes. This pandemic has ruined someone’s summer, graduation, vacation, business, and life seemingly out of nowhere. However, what many did not see was how united this situation has made us: doctors helping others, essential workers working hard, journalists slaving away and making sure they captured and published any and every new update. It seemed like everyone was doing their part in the face of one common struggle. For just a while we were united, for just a while we were in the same ugly mess together; it was so beautiful.
  “Every good thing must come to an end,” my father used to tell me, reassuring me on whatever subject might upset an 8-year-old. Those words stuck with me. Throughout my childhood years I would remind myself that no matter how good or okay things are going, life will always find a way to surprise you. It may seem sad, but it’s much more than that. Things will always keep happening, good or bad, that’s just the way life is and it’s just the way it works. Every event is a random roll of dice, this one just happened to be bad.
  And although the Coronavirus was a terrible thing. Staying at home, taking care of others and having a nation share a common situation was not so much of a terrible thing. Yet after everything, I could have never anticipated how bad things were going to get. I would have never thought things would fall apart this much. I would have never known things were going to get quite possibly the worse they can be. And even through all the terror and fear of a current deadly plague, none of it will ever compare to what happened in the past few weeks. It was certainly much worse than anyone had expected.
  George Floyd was 46 when his life was brutally taken by a police officer. He was known as a father, referred to as “a gentle giant” by Minneapolis locals. For about eight minutes and 46 seconds, a white police officer pressed his left knee into Floyd’s neck, crushing his face into the street and killing him.
  “I can’t breathe” Floyd says, “please, please please.” Officer Derek Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter; initially he was only fired, despite having 10 other racial complaints leveled against him in the past. A racial injustice was done and people were not okay with it. The Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison upgraded Chauvin’s charges to second-degree murder.
  To say that people were upset is an understatement. People were furious, angered at the racially charged crime, angry that a black man died at the hands of a white police officer, and angry that he was only fired. Social media was flooded with remembrances of Floyd and angry posts towards Chauvin. It seemed that all of social media was taken over by vexation towards a brutal act of injustice. Fear and rage sparked a new movement, it sparked a rebellion. It had sparked a revolution—one which will go down in history and change America forever.
  Peaceful protests swept across city streets: “I can’t breathe” was boldly painted on cardboard signs, fists of every color were held high in the air, marching ahead. Police officers were blamed for the continuous strings of racial injustices. We were not united anymore. Instead, riots broke out, buildings were being burned, people were being killed and incarcerated. Teargas, blood and rubber bullets were on the hands of millions of officers nationwide throughout crowded city streets. Shops were being looted, police radios were being hacked, people uniting and joining an ever-growing movement.
  Unity is a lot scarier when there is injustice, when it is violent. It was not heart-warming this time. It was not a nice thought this time. It was loud, scary, threatening and expanding by every minute. No longer were people peacefully protesting, people were rioting. Talk about anarchy and overthrowing the government was in the air, so present you could feel it. It was like everyone knew, like everyone was angry except for police.
  Two days after the riots first started, I saw a police officer in public. I knew he knew how much his existence was hated, and how other people knew too. Other people were staring with me, angrily, disapprovingly. I could feel how uneasy the cop felt through his neutral expression. I knew he was thinking and I knew he was scared. I noticed his facial expression tighten, a pleading look in his eyes. Maybe it really isn’t all police after all, but the human expression only lasted a second. His face was slicked back to his previous serious expression, attempting to hide the tension. Not even power can mask decades worth of oppression.
  When you give power to bad people, they feed off of it, they know how much they can get away with and they know how important power is in a democracy like America. Sure, not all cops are bad, but not all cops are exactly good either. Perhaps the oppressors are always those in power, but not all those in power are oppressors. And although not all cops are power hungry, all cops have power. All cops are cops, and all cops have the upper hand, favored by the government.
  Here we are—when the roles have switched and people have thrown power out of the window. Without striking fear, they are powerless. And without striking fear, there is no government and with that there is anarchy. People are scared of what America has become and people are angry at what it has failed to achieve. But only now can I confidently say we are not in this together. We are not all struggling and experiencing the same pain because America has once again become divided. America has officially had enough. Who knows how much darker this can get, who knows who else will join the movement and where it will take us. One thing I do know is that what happened to George was wrong.
  Rest in peace George Floyd, and may everyone remember your name forever, may everyone remember the horrible act that was committed on May 25. And with that, may everyone remember the life that was taken from you by a racist oppressor, a police officer. Because I know I will.