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Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections The Ghost and Mrs. Muir – A Very Rad Review Jasmine Roberts Volume 4 Issue 1 November 6, 2023 Image Provided by Unsplash+ The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is a classic supernatural romance, film noir of 1947. Starring Gene Tierney, as the titular Lucy Muir and esteemed actor Rex Harrison, as the Ghost. Directed by well accomplished filmmaker Joseph Mankiewicz, it bases itself on the book written by R.A. Dick, or more truthfully, Josephine Leslie. This movie could perfectly be summed up as a blend of the classic noir characteristics of idealistic romance, a stunning contrast of black and white, and the charming transatlantic accents with the supernatural and the melancholic sadness of lost love. The film creates not only an artistically beautiful film, which emphasizes the beauty of intimacy, but also a nuanced and heartfelt perspective on two of the most natural parts of human existence, time and love. The viewer’s heart has no choice but to flutter and yearn for the passion each protagonist shares for one another, even after years have passed. If it was not apparent enough, I will gladly say that The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is one of my most beloved films, and inherently one of the loveliest Romance films to date. The story takes place in 1900s Britain, following Mrs. Muir after the death of her husband, leaving her a widow in a period of patriarchal dependency. The now widowed Muir decides to move to an abode near the seaside, in the small village of Whitecliff, to the dismay of her family and the dismay of the realtor who sells her the home, as Gull Cottage is rumored to be haunted by its previous host, a man who had committed an unfortunate act of suicide; however, Muir decides to rent the home, allowing the widow’s life to change in ways that no mere skeptic could rightfully explain… We open to a scene of Lucy discussing her future with her family-in-law. Her sister and mother are distraught at her departure and are actively begging the widow to stay. Her mother in-law is crying into a handkerchief from losing the only remembrance of her late son, while Lucy’s sister in-law is questioning her ability to raise her daughter, Anna, on her own. Lucy, however, is calm and collected, she is blunt in her answers and makes sure to correctly point out, that she is merely an in-law, who does not have connections to her husband’s family other than by law. She freely states that after her husband's death, she now has her own life to live. When I first watched this movie, I was very young, around 6 or 7. I couldn’t appreciate the tasteful depiction of Lucy as an intelligent woman who understands what she wants, but after my fifth viewing of this movie, it has now greatly surprised me how independent Lucy is, in a time period of the late Edwardian era to early Victorian era. Women of this time were frequently considered more desirable, the less opiniated and assertive they were. If a women allowed herself the independence Lucy has decided to uphold, she would have been considered mentally ill and even branded with the misogynistic illness named female hysteria. Though we could blame this more feminist take on the fact that the author of the book is movie is based on is a woman, and also the time this movie was created, 1947, which was two years after the second world war, a time when women worked in the factories and the iconic illustration Rosie the Riveter was created. It still should be noted that the 40’s were not kind to women and strongly harbored objective views on how women should live their lives, so it was refreshing to see a take that showed not only a bold woman of the early 20th century, but also depicts this in the late 20th century. This movie also wonderfully illustrates Lucy’s personality as soon as she is on screen. As any film hobbyist will explain to you, it is imperative to establish your characters once they are first introduced. This allows the viewer to immerse themselves into the movie, but also makes the select characters' behavior and choices more sensible to the characterization as the story progresses. When we meet Lucy, she is shown to understand what she wants and even though she is a woman in the 19th century, she is blunt and does not sugar-coat her words, so it makes sense that she would want to live independently on her own, away from those who seem to enforce such traditional behaviors. Lucy’s choices make sense and allow me to forget my troubles and completely follow the story of Mrs. Muir and the ghost. I believe that some directors now, seem to not understand how jarring it can be to suspend your disbelief with every scene and decision a character makes, this movie understands that hassle and makes sure not to make those same mistakes. The movie continues to masterfully use Lucy’s early characterization to both make her decisions make sense and also build on her character. After, we are shown a quite short montage of Mrs. Muir moving to Whitecliff, we settle on a scene of Lucy trying to rent a home, from a realtor, Mr. Coombe. He guides Mrs. Muir to a seat next to him and begins to show her different listings, which all seem to be too expensive, except one. Gull Cottage. Mr. Coombe puts the paper aside again in anxious haste, explaining to Lucy that she would be wasting her time; however, Lucy picks up the paper once again, and holds her ground. She, adamant that she wants Gull Cottage and is not afraid to disagree with the man who speaks down to her, even threatening to leave him without business. The first major first scene and the second major scene wove together into a knit of splendid story telling. These scenes need one another to make Lucy. The first scene shows why she would not be scared to double down with her want of Gull Cottage, while the second scene shows how a characterization like this would apply to the real world . Some would say that scenes like this have little to do with the overall review of this movie, but I disagree with such an opinion. This is a romance movie, and romance movies need relationship dynamics for viewers to apply to our own realities. Lucy’s personality, as we will see, makes her and the ghost’s romance lovely to watch, especially in a movie of supernatural and paranormal idealism. Lucy is driven to the Cottage and on the outside, the home is decrepit and wild, in the inside it is plain and blanketed with dust. But this isn’t the most fundamental part of the film. No. It is when Lucy opens an inconspicuous door of the Cottage and is intrigued by an illuminated painting of a man with dark, brooding eyes, wearing the hat of a captain. This is our first introduction to The Ghost. It is a wonderful way to introduce a character and illustrate how the viewer should see this man. The image of a hyper realistic painting in a pitch black room, with the only light source being directly upon this mysterious man's face, not only tells us that we should remember his presence, but also creates an air of suspense, as we want to know more about this man and why a painting of him is so important to be directly emphasized upon. The light on this painting is also eerie. It illuminates upon an uncanny valley depiction of this gentleman, bringing a life to him, that should not be there, it feels as though he knows you are in his home, he sees you, and he knows what you are doing. The black and white contrast of the movie also creates this aura of mystery of both fear and intrigue. Even something as simple as the hat upon his head is a great way to tell us who this painted man is without directly stating so. In context, Gull Cottage is near a beach, so when the captain hat is shown, it tells the viewer right away that this man has worked at sea, and most likely appreciates it, as to then live right near it. The usage of the bright light is a stylistic, somewhat impressionist way of shooting this scene, because realistically in an all dark room, that does not have any obvious source, light does not appear in one area, but the light works so well because it feels supernatural, as if a ghost is haunting this portrait, and could even express how Lucy sees this man. A handsome gentleman, that draws attention with his aesthetic powerfulness, a man that the heart leads towards, to find some sanctity in his love. When they learn that the home was owned by the late Captain Gregg, we aren’t told anything after that, leaving the viewer with more questions that shall not be answered. The lovely Lucy seems to already adore this home and has already fallen in love with it. This scene shows a significant way of how the Ghost and Mrs. Muir will connect. Their taste in furniture can strongly allude to their sensibilities about life, as where furnishing is where you live for the majority of your life. A shared taste in furniture is also a shared belief in how individuals should live. Lucy has fallen in love with the home, and especially the room in which the painting resides, but there is a tree that exists on the outside of a large bay window, which she finds hideous, and tells the realtor she will have chopped down. At that moment, she freezes in place once the words have left her mouth. The instruments which play in the background have risen in intensity, and Mrs. Muir looks surprised, like she has felt a chilling presence, but nothing is there… right? We will discuss this later. A few more occurrences occur, which point to paranormal activity, such as food being left loosely upon a table, as the charwomen who had visited left in a haste, and a telescope located in the main bedroom, being clean when no one has lived in the home for 4 years, leaving the rest of the cottage dusty and old. But most chilling is the disembodied laugh which echoes through the main bedroom, as the realtor runs away in fear. These are good ways to foreshadow the existence of the ghost, as now the viewer knows there is a supernatural being roaming around, and one can piece together who it is, yet the viewer knows very little about the ghost. It both lets us on the secret yet leaves us out the loop. Questions surely need to be answered, so the viewer continues to watch the film, hoping their queries will be resolved in due time. Mrs. Muir still decides to take the home, she is skeptic of a ghost actually haunting the cottage, but the thought does not frighten her. It hints that she wants to understand the ghost, while others run away from terror. So, she moves in and begins living with her maid, Martha. A scene which I deeply appreciated was when Mrs. Muir discusses feelings of inadequacy. It foreshadows later events, ties into her characterization while adding a conflict, and creates agency in a female character when in other films, even modern ones, women are shown to have little. Every scene in a movie should progress the plot in some shape or form and this simple scene, as Mrs. Muir walks up the stairs, does this exact thing creatively. When Lucy is put down for a short nap, the viewer is welcomed to a dynamic shot of a clock, ticking. Showing the passage of time, it’s a loud ding that tells the watcher that something important will be showing soon, the camera shows Lucy’s barking dog, then lingers on the figure of a shadow, as it creeps towards Lucy. The film is amazing at shooting suspense, we know who that this shadow is the ghost, but now we are waiting for Lucy to know, though she continues to stay oblivious and wakes up in a haze, the clock is shown again, and the lighting dims, reminding the viewer that time has passed. Lucy knows very little of the Ghost, she lives her life without the knowledge of the dead, Until one stormy night. Lucy places her daughter to sleep, as lightning strikes, creating a comfy, yet haunting effect when contrasted with the traditional black and white film. Lucy, with one candle in her hand walks throughout the cottage and opens the door to the room which houses the illuminating painting, she glows once again, then vanishes with the dark. The ghost will appear soon. Mrs. Muir then lends herself in the kitchen, she tries to create light, but is disturbed by the hectic wind which blows the light. Mrs. Muir realizes it is the ghost and confronts him, she isn’t shy nor meek, instead she yells at him for being such a coward as to terrorize a poor lady. In response the ghost speaks. His domineering voice tells Lucy to allow light. Which she does and begins to show around the kitchen only to stop once she sees the Ghost in person. She is frightened, but I would say scared. More like surprised at such a sight, that should defy the laws of nature. The Ghost, however, seems to be more agitated than anything. Rex Harrison played the Ghost like a melodious flute. Everything present around the Ghost alludes to who he is as a person, from his informal, and scratchy tone to his rough beard. It helps the viewer draw correct conclusions on this sea torn man. He is ill-tempered and badly mannered, which contrast Mrs. Muir respectable, kind personality. As soon as these two meets, we are shown a sweet dynamic, where opposites attract to create the most wonderous of love. The two begin on shaky grounds. The Ghost is crude and misogynistic, finding solace in insulting others, especially women. He wants Mrs. Muir ousted from his past home, while Mrs. Muir refuses to leave. This causes a certain tension amongst the two, they argue and bicker, for Lucy is not a woman who is ordered around, while the ghost has his own wants, which Lucy refuses to allow him. But the ghost seems to have developed a soft spot for Lucy, due to her refusal to run away, and allows her to stay on a trial. The two continue to quarrel and argue, frequently clashing with one another's personalities, for instance when Lucy cuts down the tree, she deemed ugly when she first looked at the place, to then find out the Ghost planted the tree with his own bare hands. The argument is sweet to watch, it is like seeing an old married couple bicker in public. The Ghost nags Lucy about it, while the women hold her cool, demanding roses instead. They also connect in ways that are emotional. The Ghost has realized that Lucy didn’t actually love her husband, but merely liked him, a deeply hidden truth, which causes Lucy to become aghast. But through conversation, it is shown that he is right. Lucy says that her husband could not design the house she had moved into and loved so dearly, and when she asks who designed the home, the Ghost says that he created. This is similar to the furniture, these miniscule details show that they are on the same wavelength and through all their arguing, they still have a founded connection. The connection is shown even more when Lucy in-laws come to visit, bring bad news with them. The investment of her husband is paying dividends no more, forcing in a corner. With no more money to spare, she now has to move back in with the in-laws, which she finds little connection with. But, the Ghost refuses, and pridefully admits that he wants Mrs. Muir to stay with him in his own ornery manner. It is idealistic that in such a short period of time, these two would have a connection so profound, but it works so well because the connection between them was created before they had even met. They knew each other dearly before their words could ever clash. To remedy Mrs. Muir’s financial issue, the Ghost proposes that she write a book. He allows Lucy to write about his life as a captain, even though they haven’t known each other long, the captain seems to trust Mrs. Muir with his story. He evens tells her his name, Daniel, and nicknames Lucy, Lucia, explaining that the latter name, is strong and does not get forced upon. During their writing sessions, they begin to fall in love, as they fill in each other's gaps. Their bickering comes off as squabbles to hide their romantic tension, and even sometimes genuine flirts, for example when the Ghost begins to mock Lucy as a well-behaved young girl to then end with the compliments of her freckles. However, as their love grows the more unfortunate it becomes. Lucy is alive, while Daniel is dead. A love that is hindered by space and time, so Daniel must give Lucy up and direct her to fall in love with a living man. Their romance isn’t reconciled either, when Lucy meets another author named Miles Fairley and begin their own blossoming love. Daniel becomes jealous of their love at first, but ultimately decides to vanish in the night, leaving Lucy with merely a dream and idea of his existence, for he told Lucy to move on, so now the Ghost must move on too. But, not without his own sorrowful regrets. Lucy, however, doesn’t obtain the mortal love, The Ghost so desired her to get. Instead, she is left heartbroken, once she discovers that Miles, in an unfaithful man with two kids and a morose wife, who explains that Fairley makes it a habit to practice adultery with other women. Lucy withdraws into herself and forgoes the search for love, instead she grows lonely and tired, as her daughter leaves her to attend college and falls in love with her own future spouse. But her daughter leaves her with a few words relating to her secret crush as a child Daniel, who she has seen since the little girl had been living in Gull Cottage. As time grows and life begins to wane, Lucy’s health begins to diminish, she denies a cup of milk Martha offered to her and begins to grow tired. Time is merely a circle which documents our life throughout our years, and like any circle, there is a cycle to be maintained. Lucy dies in the same seat, in which she was first visited by the ghost. Daniel has come back to guide her to the heavens, and hand-in-hand the couple are delivered to the song of the angels. This movie cannot be explained, just in words. No. One must actively see how beautiful and loving this film is, by watching it on a cold, gloomy afternoon, with little to no natural nor artificial light. I couldn’t recommend it more! The symbolism of the clock, and of time, reminds those who view the movie, that nothing lasts forever, and we must cherish what we have now. This film has engraved itself into the edges of my heartstrings, and with every romantic memory I dare think, the water of my eyes begins to overflow, and the waterfall of my soul drowns me in sorrow and a hopeful yearning for the love so similar to that of the Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and for that I rate this movie: 10/10 Crying Jasmines BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Sophomore English Class: 2A, or Not 2A, That is the Question Noa Cordova Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Vecteezy Scheduling season is upon us, and recently we’ve been tasked with picking our classes for the upcoming year. For those who know which classes they’d like to take, the process is a breeze. For others, it may be a difficult decision. I remember the winter of my freshman year when the guidance counselors presented us with our options for our sophomore English classes. For students in English 1A, our options were English 2A or AP Capstone Seminar. Based on the explanation provided, English 2A would essentially be a continuation of English 1A, and AP Capstone Seminar would be a research-based class. Needless to say, both of these courses offer much more, but these were the main ideas I kept in mind to help guide my decision, and I ultimately chose English 2A. In hopes that our sophomore readers will find it useful, I’ve outlined factors I’d consider as a freshman who is undecided about their choice of English class for 10th grade. Coursework As indicated by the name of the course, AP Capstone Seminar is an Advanced Placement course, so it entails a faster-paced course and heavier coursework than a traditional English course. The coursework you can manage is for you to decide, and counselors and parents can provide additional guidance. Apart from the amount of coursework, the kind of coursework is essential to consider when choosing between AP Capstone and English 2A. AP Capstone is research intensive; there are group and individual research projects and presentations as a part of the course. If you’re someone who enjoys researching collectively and independently, a research-based course like AP Capstone may be for you. Personally, I felt research projects would add stress to my sophomore year, and I knew there would be plenty of presentation and research opportunities throughout my school career, so I didn't feel the course would enhance my high school experience. English 2A resembles your typical English class with both fiction and non-fiction literature analysis with an emphasis on writing and grammar skills; if a traditional English class seems fitting, and if you love fiction, English 2A may be a better choice. Remember, you need to choose the class that will work the best for you and enrich your high school experience the most. Structure As a traditional English course, English 2A follows an organized, set curriculum suitable for those who prefer a more structured learning environment. AP Capstone, as a research-based class, allows for more freedom in terms of coursework. Based on experiences my classmates and sophomore sister shared with me, it seems that the independence the course offered made it appealing to them. Whether you prefer a little more structure or more freedom is for you to decide. Opportunities for creative and academic freedom are abundant here at North, and you may choose to take advantage of them through other classes as well besides AP Capstone. English electives are a great way to balance structure and freedom if you’re leaning toward English 2A rather than AP Capstone. Exams The structure of the English 2A course does come with its benefits in terms of future exams, including standardized tests, the Regents Exam, and AP exams. English 2A is a more grammar-intensive course, meaning that teachers will spend more time on grammatical aspects often assessed on the SAT and ACT, including punctuation, clauses, redundancies, and prepositions. Although many colleges and universities have become test-optional for admission, you may still opt to take one of these standardized tests and find the knowledge from English 2A helpful in the verbal section. While not everyone chooses to take the SAT or ACT, high schoolers must take the English Regents in their junior year of high school. English 2A definitely prepares you for these exams, as the course incorporates Regents prep into the curriculum. Although AP Capstone focuses on argumentation skills in writing, the argument essay is only one of three tasks required of students on the Regents exam. English 2A not only focuses on argumentation skills through writing but also text analysis and reading comprehension skills-the other two tasks tested on the regents. Naturally, your junior year English teachers will review these skills before the regents, but I found the prior knowledge useful as a junior who took the January Regents exam. Future English Classes Fast forward to the winter of your sophomore year, and assume you chose AP Language and Composition for your junior year English class in anticipation of taking AP English Literature your senior year; a majority of students who take either English 2A or AP Capstone decide to continue their English studies with AP Lang and AP Lit. AP Lang concerns itself with non-fiction texts more familiar to AP Capstone students in terms of genre; however, much of AP Lang focuses on rhetorical analysis which is more prominent in the English 2A curriculum. As a current junior in Mrs. Brodsky’s AP Lang class, I can't count the times she’s started her sentences with “if you had me in 10A” when discussing something grammar-related. In my opinion, this emphasizes that English 2A provides a strong foundation for students going into AP Lang. As for AP Lit, I can't speak from experience as I have not taken it yet, but classic literature is at the heart of the course. Students who chose English 2A would likely be more familiar with AP Lit texts as we were exposed to works like To Kill a Mockingbird , Othello , and Of Mice and Men . Although AP Lit texts are new for most students, AP Capstone students may find the genre more foreign unless they are avid fiction readers outside of school. I found the English 2A coursework enriching as it had a diverse curriculum that incorporated various aspects of English education into one course. One course is not necessarily superior to the other; it is a matter of individual needs and preferences. Guidance counselors, parents, and teachers can serve as trust-worthy consultants when making your choice, but ultimately you are in control. Talking to upperclassmen about their experiences in AP Capstone and English 2A may also help you get a better sense of which one is for you. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Nayib Bukele - Democratic Leader or Autocrat? By Everton Prospere Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by the government of El Salvador (Official Portrait of the President Nayib Bukele) On June 1st, 2019, Nayib Bukele, 39, was sworn into office as the 46th President of El Salvador. As a president serving in a country where his government has faced much corruption, Bukele provided a beacon of light for the citizens. However, two years into his governance, the president has repeatedly faced scrutiny from politicians worldwide due to unconventional and questionable executive decisions. Although Bukele has sworn to fight corruption, has he as well become warped in this political cycle? El Salvador’s history of corruption dates back several decades. Several militaristic regimes ruled the state from 1931-1979, causing much strife and civil unrest due to seven coups during this time frame. However, the most relevant political unrest occurred with the last coup, in 1979. According to Britannica , the removal of Carlos Humberto Romero, a general and the president of El Salvador at the time of the coup, was the spark of the brutal twelve-year civil war. This conflict claimed the lives of over 75,000 civilians, as per the Center for Justice and Accountability, and ultimately the war led to a stalemate. The two sides, the newly formed Salvadoran government (which went through several power changes during the war itself) and the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN - left-wing in political ideology), agreed to the Chapultepec Peace Accords in 1992. These peace accords resulted in several governmental changes, and dissolved FMLN into a political party. The rise of the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista political party (ARENA - right in political ideology) also should be taken into account, as this party held much influence throughout this period. Into the 21st century, FMLN and ARENA were the two prominent political parties that handed the baton of power between each other as they contested political positions in the Salvadoran government. Both of these political parties promoted presidents that have engaged in corruption and crimes. As per InSight Crimes , in 2016, Mauricio Funes (the 44th president, of FMLN), Antonio Saca (the 43rd president, of ARENA), and Francisco Flores Pérez (the 42nd president, of ARENA) all face monetary criminal charges; essentially, they have all robbed the Salvadoran people of millions in public funds. While Pérez passed away due to a cerebral hemorrhage, Saca is already serving a prison sentence, while Funes has fled to Nicaragua where he was seeking, then was granted, political asylum. These three administrations (which totaled 15 years) show the staunch corruption in the Salvadoran government. However, Bukele has sought to change this cycle. As a millionaire himself (due to his private business), Bukele has no direct incentive for stealing public money. Originally serving under FMLN, Bukele won the mayoral election of the capital city, San Salvador. Under this administration, Bukele was expelled from FMLN, causing him to be politically homeless. Despite this, Bukele grasped this opportunity and formed his own political party, Nuevas Ideas (NI) in 2017. Although the president was unable to run under NI for the 2019 presidential elections, he did compete under NI’s ally, the Gran Alianza por la Unidad Nacional (GANA). Under GANA, Bukele successfully won the 2019 presidential election, ousting the control FMLN and ARENA had since the end of the civil war in 1992. This great shift in power showed the will of the Salvadoran people to receive change; however, the change presented by President Bukele has been questionable. Immediately in his first week of office, Bukele fired government officials associated with the former president, Sánchez Cerén. While this was an expected move, as the president was beginning to set up his government, he used the unconventional method of firing officials over Twitter. However, according to The Independent, who cited Luis Assardo, a journalist from Guatemala, this form of communication is a way to surpass the media. Therefore, while there was some criticism, Twitter was and continues to be Bukele’s main mode of communication, and it has proved effective for the president. In regard to a more serious topic, Bukele’s handling of gang members has also proved controversial. The president combines the strategy of an “iron fist” (tough crime policies to halt gang activity) with incentives to keep young Salvadorans away from gangs, as described by War on the Rocks . This media outlet notes that due to these policies, “homicides have halved,” showing their high rates of effectiveness. However, the scrutiny of Bukele’s work comes from the treatment of the gang members in prison. According to Human Rights Watch , the imprisoned gang members were stripped of clothing, packed tightly together, and unable to receive light from the outside. In addition, members from enemy gangs were jailed together, potentially increasing the amount of violence in prisons. All of these incidents, as per Human Rights Watch , were ordered by Bukele himself, who permitted deadly action by security forces, despite this being against Salvadoran and international law. Additional criticism of the 46th president’s administration stems from the handling of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Reuters news agency reports that Bukele mandated several orders to force the populace to comply with pandemic regulations, otherwise they may be arrested and their property confiscated. In direct counter to these regulations, the Supreme Court, at the time, declared these orders unconstitutional. However, the president ignored the court’s rulings and continued to enforce his governance style during the pandemic. Evidently, one might consider this an abuse of power and a flaw in the system of checks and balances for the Salvadoran government. Furthermore, Bukele has taken advantage of his position and power by storming the Salvadoran legislature with troops. CNN describes that the president attempted to pressure the legislators into signing a law that would fund the military and police force, allowing them to supposedly better control gang violence. While Bukele’s plan to curb gang violence did prove effective, invading the parliament with troops to pressure a bill showed an authoritarian governing style. In face of all the political conflicts under Bukele’s administration, he has overall proved to have done the unthinkable. Nayib Bukele formed his own political party less than five years ago and took control of the presidency dominated by FMLN and ARENA, political parties drenched in corruption. He used his position to decrease El Salvador’s homicide rates, caused by extreme gang activity, to an all-time low by the end of 2020 (a little over a year into his presidency), an incredible feat for a state that was once considered to be the “murder capitol of the world”. The president also successfully curtailed the pandemic, with only 72,821 cases (as of May 28th, 2021) in a country with over six million people, as reported by Reuters’ Covid-19 tracker. His popularity also remains extraordinarily high, with a CID Gallup poll reporting that Bukele has an approval rating of 89% for his job as a whole and holds an approval rating of 98% for handling the pandemic. Many Salvadorans support him, including my grandmother. She was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States, and she states that “He’s a great president that truly cares about the wellness of his people. Health, education, the economy, and security are the priorities in his government.” Evidently, this trend in popularity continues because the NI political party, which Bukele founded, has recently (approximately a month ago) gained a supermajority in the Salvadoran legislature, taking 56 out of the 84 total seats in the assembly. This new parliament grants Bukele the ability to pass laws and regulations freely. One of the first actions of this legislative assembly was to depose and replace the five magistrates on the Supreme Court and the attorney general that hindered the president’s ability to govern. This move by the assembly, which is permitted by the Salvadoran constitution, was harshly criticized by many media outlets and politicians because it removed the last check and balance on the president. However, the Salvadoran people appear generally unfazed by the removal of the judges, with President Bukele himself stating to critics in a reply to a tweet that “75% of the Salvadoran people voted in these free elections for the change we are seeing.” Despite all the controversy seen in his administration, Bukele continues to challenge the cycle of corruption in the government in his unique way for the Salvadoran people who overwhelmingly support him. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Soldier By Nora Chery Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by Medpage Today The soldier has survived the impossible. But there’s so much going on in that little helmet of his That he smacks it away, smacking it away. Until it goes away, except it never does. The soldiers says he’s fine, but those words quickly float away Without any meaning. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections First Song Recommendations of the Issue By Logan Balsan Volume 1 Issue 7 April 22, 2021 Image provided by MacNews Hello, Entertainment section! I’m Logan Balsan, with a new idea for a running article in this section: song recommendations. I am a member of both North’s Band and Orchestra, and I love playing and listening to several music genres, from classical music to the modern day. I am sure you can add a new song to your workout playlist or to your casual listening playlist from this list. I will be writing in each issue of the North Star until June, so each article will have five songs that I personally recommend. Song #1- I first started listening to this song when a friend recommended it to me. One of the most popular Beach Boys hits, whether you are actually on the beach, or longing for summer to come, this song can fill that void. With the catchy and groovy guitar riff played multiple times throughout the song, you can totally feel the beat and sing along to this song. This is also on the Varsity Boys Volleyball Warmup Playlist. Song #2- This is personally one of the songs I listen to while I drive to and from school. The drum set and the guitar riffs in the beginning set the tone for the rest of the song. First introduced to this song over the summer of 2020, I have grown to enjoy several of E.L.O’s songs, and “Don’t Bring Me Down” my favorite. I sing along whenever it comes on, and it’s even on my workout playlist. Song #3- I started listening to this song almost two weeks ago, and I mainly do so while working out as well as on my car playlist. This song motivates me and helps me raise my mindset whether it be prior to a volleyball game or the end of a workout set. This is also on the Varsity Boys Volleyball Warmup Playlist. Song #4- I first heard this song on Channel 25, aka Classic Rewind, on the radio as my family and I were travelling home from a trip to Pennsylvania in February. I listen to this song more when I’m winding down or ending a long day at school or work. The acoustic guitar is not as intense or heavy as the electric guitars in both “I Get Around” and “Don’t Bring Me Down,” and is therefore more soothing and comforting. Sometimes I listen to this on my way home from school or work when I want to relax and unwind. Song #5- Any fellow fans of country rock? This isn’t Johnny Cash, but it’s one of my favorites that I sing along to often in the car. The profound use (and battle of) of violins bring out the old country style in this song. If you like country rock and haven’t heard of this song, I highly recommend you check this out! Alright, folks. That’s a wrap for my first song recommendation article. See you next issue! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections What is Being Done About Mental Health at VSN? By Craig Papajohn-Shaw Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by HRZone On Sunday, January 24th The New York Times reported the Clark County school district in Nevada, the 5th largest district in the nation, announced they would begin to allow in-person school for students. With 18 teen suicides of youths between the ages of 15 and 19 (double the number of adolescent deaths by suicide than in 2019) and 3,100 alerts of suicidal searches flagged on the district’s iPad devices from March to December 2020, the school system has linked the online, full-remote period to an increase in students' mental health issues. Additionally, the New York Post reported on February 11th that 12-year-old Hayden Huntstable hanged himself after battling depression amid COVID-19. His father stated he had limited insight on his son's struggles with depression. Hayden’s story demonstrates how crucial it is for mental health issues to be addressed in school so there are outlets available. Further on the adolescent mental health crisis, according to the American Health Ranking, the global pandemic has resulted in increased suicides. In 2019, the death of adolescents between the ages of 15-19 was 10.2 per 100,000 from suicide, while in 2020, it increased to 11.6 per 100,000 nationwide. These startling statistics would make one think schools would attempt to do anything in their power to reach out to students to provide resources and/or produce a safe outlet for students to talk about their mental issues that may have arisen due to the pandemic. However, Valley Stream North and surrounding school districts alike have taken limited observable action to address the mental health issues resulting from the student-teacher disconnect in the classroom. The district took the liberty of putting together a Summer Bridge Program to “provide social-emotional resources to the school community” as described on the district’s website. The five-volume newsletter released in the Summer of 2020 provided insight into the “new normal” in the classroom. The district presented some resources on stress management, but has done little to promote the resources to the school community. Since the release of the fifth Summer Bridge issue back on August 28th, the district has not supplied nor advertised flyers and/or meetings to help students cope in this everchanging world. While the district may be at fault for not providing enough mental health resources to the schools in Valley Stream, each respective school administration has fallen flat regarding raising awareness about the mental health complications evident in their schools. The World Health Organization found half of all mental health conditions start at age 14, but most cases go undetected, unreported, or untreated. As a result, this statistic would make one think addressing mental health issues in schools would be a priority. The rise in mental health issues, attributed to the pandemic, has also been evident in the classroom environment. In an interview with Spanish teacher Ms. Milazzo-Soto, she expressed, “Students just seem like they’re not enjoying school like they used to. Many appear bored and disinterested. Most seem reluctant to participate and interact with each other.” While she cannot postulate that the disconnect is solely due to the students’ mental state, she does say that more should be done by the administration to address mental health. She does “encourage all students if they are having difficulties [to] reach out to their teachers, guidance counselors, or any other adult in the building.” However, it is difficult to reach out to adults who have not yet introduced themselves. For instance, Valley Stream North employs three school psychologists: Ms. Kehoe, Ms. Christiansen, and Dr. Byrne. However, the failure to introduce themselves would make it difficult for a student to feel comfortable or even know where to talk to the psychologists, regardless of their qualifications. Prominent staff members generally have not addressed the drastic change in the learning experience which has taken a toll on the mental health of students. A perspective from a student at the school reads, “I feel as though many teachers do not take into consideration how hard it is to be a teenager during these times. We are constantly staring at a screen or being assigned an endless amount of work and this is very mentally taxing on the adolescent brain. Most of us have been forced to put our mental health aside to get all our schoolwork done. The limited outreach by staff has also made it difficult to stay committed to virtual learning. Most teachers do not even respect the ten-minute breaks we received which have been reduced to 5 minutes in the second semester, and most students end up with no break causing them to attend classes back-to-back, and it is not okay.” I reached out to school psychologist Dr. Melissa Byrne and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Mr. Christian Bowen to see how they are exactly attempting to address the mental health crisis on a school and district level. However, both did not respond to the opportunity to comment for this article. My intentions are by no means to solely criticize the school and the district, but rather to shine some light on the issue and how perspectives from teachers and students further prove my claim about the limited action taken to address mental health issues. It is difficult to understand the necessities of students, especially during a time where no one, adult or adolescent, has any prior experience or frame of reference. Solutions that I recommend would be first, for the school psychologists to make an introductory video. This would allow for students to know what they look like and to understand their job descriptions and how specifically they can assist students. Once that is done, the PPS, or Pupil Personnel Services, team should implement an optional mental health survey per grade level to evaluate students’ wellbeing in order to grasp the number of students who may be dealing with mental health issues and then maybe meet with students who are struggling. Lastly, utilizing students’ Outlook emails to send them weekly to monthly emails with links to resources on how to better attend to common mental health issues such as stress management. Students need to know administrators, teachers, guidance counselors, and psychologists care; however, in some instances, staff neglects to convey their care for students' mental well-being. With suicide being the third leading cause of death by adolescents between the age of 15-19, it is crucial that Valley Stream North emphasizes how the difficult encounters teens may face during the pandemic contribute to mental health and it needs to be addressed. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Forward By Varshanie Naitram Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by LorenZemlika 2021 came without warning, Time moves faster than it did before. The year ends and I barely get a thought in. Where will I be in 20 years? What does the future have in store for me? Who will I become? Is it my choice to decide my future? Or could it be my fate or destiny? 18 is the age I turn, But I'm still a child. Growing up happened kind of fast. I wonder how the world will change. Will I have kids? Will I be lonely? Who could I have lost? Should I be thinking about this? I guess I'll just have to wait and see. - Varshanie Naitram BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Words By Shinedip Kundlas Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Adobe I sat at my desk with no thoughts in my mind. Completely blank. I closed my eyes and began to zoom out of the reality we live in. Soon I took off into a whole different world. A world is full of words, characters, forests, homes, and songs. I jumped into a soft pillow-like cushion made out of the softest cashmere. Before my eyes, a book landed on top of my lap. The old pages were torn and looked as if they'd been handed down for years. I began flipping through the dusty pages. Words flying all around me. A flashing light beholds my eyes. I suddenly opened my eyes. My eyes fluttered shut again hoping to go back to the world I was just in. I opened my eyes and looked at my screen. And began typing. Words came, and stories flew in from the window. In a flurry, I typed and typed. Words soon became sentences. Sentences soon became paragraphs. Paragraphs become stories. Stories became a light. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Dolphins Vs. Chiefs: One of the Coldest Games in NFL History Mya Hans Volume 4 Issue 3 March 13, 2024 Image Provided by Arrowhead Pride Imagine being in an outdoor football stadium that’s filled with over 70,000 people when it is –4 degrees Fahrenheit. Would you go there? Well, that’s what these devoted fans did at the Chiefs vs. Dolphins game on January 13th. They were cheering on their teams in the tremendously freezing weather. This game went down in history as one of the coldest games ever in the NFL. The game ended with the Chiefs winning by a score of 26-7. Although this made many fans in the stadium excited, the frigid weather was just unbearable. It led to many problems; people from the stadium were calling saying there were cases of hypothermia and frostbite. According to the Bleacher Report, journalist Mackenzie Koch stated that, "A Kansas City Fire Department spokesperson said the agency handled 69 calls at Arrowhead Stadium as the Chiefs took on the Miami Dolphins amid subzero temperatures. KCFD said approximately half of those calls were hypothermia related. Of the nearly 70 calls KC first responders received at Arrowhead, 15 people were transported to a local hospital. Seven of those transported were for hypothermia, and three were for frostbite." This is clearly an awful thing to happen, just because of a football game, and a reasonable question to ask is, why was the game not postponed? According to ESPN’s  Marcel Louis-Jacques,  “A league official stated the Chiefs game [was] still being played Saturday night because there [were] no public safety travel concerns for getting to the stadium for fans, the clubs, stadium personnel or public authorities.” I think that this game definitely should have been postponed, but maybe it is the fans’ fault for attending the game in the first place, when they could’ve just watched it from the comfort of their own homes or gone to a game in the future with better weather. Of course, it is fun to see a football game and cheer on your favorite team, but at what cost? BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Power Of Sunsets By Rehmat Kaur Volume 3 Issue 4 May 18, 2023 Image Provided by Rehmat Kaur Exotic locations are not needed to appreciate a sunset's peaceful, gorgeous, and life-changing moments. The sun rises and sets every day, so, there's no reason you can't take a few moments to appreciate it. Health Benefits Viewing sunsets have a transcending spiritual component that is beneficial, therapeutic, creative, and restorative. It's a meditation that helps you cleanse your thoughts of anything happening outside of that moment. One of the best ways to decompress is to watch the sunset. According to research, being around nature and particularly natural light can help people feel less stressed and anxious. You can slow down, unwind, and enjoy the beauty of nature by watching the sun slowly sink behind the horizon. Sunsets may make us feel insignificant (but in a positive way), and in these moments, sublime; you feel a connection that reminds us of the infinite potential within each of us. They remind us of the beauty that exists in the world. According to 2012 research, participants who experienced the beauty and power of the sunset reported feeling like they had more time available and were less impatient. You can enjoy sunsets in several ways, including exercising, strolling, bicycling, or just sitting and looking. Exercise has been shown to reduce the signs and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. However, merely sitting and watching the sunset can also improve your health by allowing you to engage in mindfulness exercises. According to a study published in Perspectives on Psychological Science , mindfulness is "the nonjudgmental awareness of experiences in the present moment". It has been shown to have numerous advantages, including lowered levels of stress and enhanced cognitive function. Watching the literal passage of time as the sun descends below the horizon is a perfect way to practice being present. Many more gorgeous sunsets will inspire, raise us, and help us rise beyond the trivial to live a full life. Sources https://studyfinds.org/sunrises-sunsets-well-being/ https://www.ambong-ambong.com/blog/health-benefits-of-watching-sunsets/#:~:text=Watching%20the%20sunset%20can%20be,help%20reduce%20your%20stress%20levels . https://www.agoldlining.com/post/reasons-why-you-should-make-time-for-the-sunset#:~:text=Research%20shows%20that%20sunsets%20have,a%20reason%20to%20go%20outside . https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/minding-the-body/201407/how-admiring-the-sunset-changes-you-the-better https://communikait.com/2018/06/5-reasons-why-sunsets-are-good-for-your-health/ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/make-time-for-sunset_n_5066629 BACK TO TOP