Opinion – Planet Wildcat

Sanders, Pro-Workers, Man of Action

March 4, 2020

Bernie Sanders is one of the most popular and influential people in modern American politics. He started the conversation for some of the most progressive policies since FDR, such as a $15 minimum wage, universal healthcare, and the Green New Deal with Alexandria Ocasio Cortex. There is a long history of Bernie’s anti-war and social justice activism. He can be seen protesting segregation at the University of Chicago, where he was a student at the time. More recently, he could be seen on strike with McDonald’s workers in Cedar Rapids fighting for the right to unionize. Bernie has a long history of pro-worker action and ...

TEEN TALK: Do High School Relationships Really Matter?

Miranda Kubilus, Staff Reporter

February 7, 2020

A person's teen years are some of their most formative years. They learn how to become independent and form their own opinions about the world. In addition to this, people develop some of their most important friendships during these years. The relationships a person has while they are a teenager can teach them what they do and don’t want from their friends and show them how they should or shouldn’t be treated by people that care about them. Not just with platonic friendships, but also in romantic relationships. High school relationships can be both beneficial and detrimental in their own...

With Lives on the Line, Careful Plan Needed in Iran

January 16, 2020

The situation in Iran is a complicated one, and many different events lead to the current state today. The latest instance was the Iranian missile attack on the Al Assad Air Base. This is an American base located in Iraq, which borders Iran. Thankfully, no one was injured or killed, but it serves as an eye opener that Iran is a relatively well equipped military. For this reason alone the United States needs to be cautious with its actions abroad. The beginning of this crisis started with the attack on the US embassy in Iraq. The embassy was disturbed by the Kata’ib Hezbollah militia who are...

Important to Recycle during Winter Months, Too

January 3, 2020

Have you ever felt like you weren't doing enough? It is almost like you just can't be content with what you have done. At one point, a few years back, I felt like that. I was always outgoing, trying to make new friends or get involved with new things, but something was missing. I even found a new love for volunteering in middle school that I have been continuing ever since, but it still wasn't enough. I might have been giving back to my community yet there was something missing. It wasn't a person or group of people, it is who we, as a human race, call home. Earth wasn't getting enough from me...

Fight for Survival Integral to Future of Planet Earth

Sinclaire Ogof, Staff Reporter

December 27, 2019

Change is something that doesn’t come easily in our society, and we tend to become intransigent in the way we think, act, or do. We stick with the mindset that the old way is the only way. People continuously repeat history; consequently, our way of life doesn’t improve. As Thomas Paine wonderfully said, “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right.” We need to challenge the past, even if we belabor over it for years. Instead of mimicking the old, we shall create the new. There are many pressing crises that need our change of behavior now and for us to stop being taciturn. Our Earth, our home, is dying; we are not doing enough to even temporize the effects of our actions. The amount of harm done to our environment is enough for us to substantia...

How Would Our Founding Fathers Respect the American Flag Today?

December 6, 2019

The Founding Fathers of America founded this nation on beliefs of freedoms and moral values. They wanted us to have the right to choose how we practice those freedoms. Having laws restricting our rights was not what they envisioned; in fact, their philosophies are shown in the Constitution and in the Bill of Rights. That is why when it comes to the symbolism that represents America, like the flag, our Founding Fathers give us the choice to decide how we respect and honor the flag. Our great leaders would look at our flag today and see the invisible story it tells and all it has been...

Music Review: Dance Monkey Hot Pick for December

Alex Fullone, Staff Reporter

December 6, 2019

Dance Monkey is an Alternative or Indie song by 19 year-old Australian artist Tones & I. The song was released on May 10th, 2019 and has been huge all over the world, but seems to only now be getting noticed in the US. The song is about the artis'ts frustrations about how people’s patience has diminished due to modern technology where you’re typically just a swipe or a click away from whatever you may want to entertain yourselves. This is brought forth with lyrics like “and I’ll make you do it all again” which show the pressure of artists having to continue releasing singles in...

Lacawac joins the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Projec

Sinclaire Ogof, Columnist

October 23, 2019

This spring and summer I had the opportunity to participate in a nationwide movement led by the American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) that is taking place right here at Lacawac Sanctuary. The goal of TACF is to restore the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) tree that once dominated and ranged greatly over the Northeastern forests. The tree species was stricken by a fungal blight, Cryphonectria parasitica, and almost vanished completely from the forests. The fungal pathogen was imported accidentally from Asia to the U.S. Once introduced, with no predators in the U.S., the pathogen was able to sprea...

Stepping out of the ‘Comfort Zone’ Essential to High School Theatre

March 27, 2019

Due to the individuality found in theater productions, it only makes sense that high schools, bent on making students feel safe and accepted, allow and even promote clubs to produce less of the drab and mundane shows typically seen and more of the unique, nontraditional, and exciting shows that changed the culture of theater.

NOW ON DVD: A look at old classics and new series on screens.

Nicholas Valentin, Reporter

January 21, 2019

The winter season is rolling around the corner, so sit back, relax, and watch The Polar Express! The Polar Express captivated the hearts of children and adults with fantastic graphics, beautiful songs, and an amazing adventure that all kids will remember. The major reason why the movie rose to success is the new technology they used new performance-capture technology, which now holds a Guinness World Record or the first of its kind. The movie also boasts a wide cast of 25 people, which includes the minor characters, like the elves. The main kids, whose names are “Hero Boy”, “Hero Girl...

What superstition or Halloween legend do you believe in?

October 30, 2018

"When you walk out of the house and walk back in, you need to look in the mirror for good luck."-Celeste Orchard, 10th grade "Halloween reminds me of ghosts, and they scare me."-Gavin Lamberton, 12th grade "A black cat passed my path as I walked under a ladder and broke a mirror."-Ed Sledzinski, 12th grade "I strongly believe in ghosts and luck is very unlikely."-Emily Kosciuk, 11th grade "I wear the same eye black every football game."-Derek Mason, 11th grade "I do not believe in spiritual beings at all or luck. Everything happens by chance, not luck."...

Editorial: Physical Education Shouldn’t Make the Grade

Trey Wayman, Staff Reporter

February 9, 2018

In my opinion, a student’s GPA should not include grades from physical education. A student’s GPA should be a reflection of the academic knowledge gained from their high school courses. The grade should reflect the student’s mastery of subject material assessed in their courses. Courses that include participation in their grading policy should not be factored in a GPA. Participating in something does not prove accumulation of knowledge or skill and should be left out of the GPA. Physical education courses are just one of these courses. Schools vary on how they grade physical...