Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Do we need to "cancel" Thanksgiving? By Habib Rattani Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by Getty Images Covid cases have risen once again, so should people cancel Thanksgiving celebrations altogether? Some people agree while others disagree. Personally, I feel everyone can have their own opinion, but they should be free to make their own choices. Individuals should be able to make their own decision, but it is hard with all the opinions going around in the news and on the internet. These opinions spread fast and far, influencing others to believe certain things including on this matter. America stands for freedom, so individuals can make their own decision without one person or group dictating what they can or cannot do in their own homes. Thanksgiving is a time to spend with loved ones and be thankful for what you have. If everyone in the household tested negative and is comfortable with being around one another, then I don't see an issue. If everyone is Covid-free and keeping precautions in place, they should be able to have a gathering. At the end of the day, it's all up to the attendees attending the event being organized. There are some set guidelines, but there has been advice given by health experts stating their concern and suggesting everyone stays home and celebrates with only the individuals living in their household. According to some statements by health experts, ABC news reported "The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to celebrate with people in your household," the agency reported what one of those experts said: "If you do plan to spend Thanksgiving with people outside your household, take steps to make your celebration safer. My hope is I think a lot of people were not going to travel who did in the past," he said. "I think a lot of people made that decision already for a variety of reasons. My hope is the folks who were on the fence and were hoping to travel, you know, thinking about it, planning a little bit, will now realize it's not the time to travel." I agree with the enthusiasm towards taking precautions, but the fact of the matter is, if someone feels safe and comfortable enough, they should be able to travel. I don't agree with health experts adding comments toward the matter which may manipulate the audience in one direction or another. A number of Covid deaths were due to other health issues in the individual’s body, but the “cause of death” would be reported as due to Covid. For example, someone may pass away from Covid, but also had heart disease or diabetes. There are many underlying factors that go into the cause of death due to Covid, not just Covid alone.  People need to attend to all of their health needs, especially during the pandemic. In some cases, celebrating Thanksgiving with people not living in your household could be unsafe. Covid cases have risen once again and the second wave is said to be upon us. Due to some of these factors, I can justify the concern of others for travelling and spending Thanksgiving with more distant loved ones as an issue. Due to these concerns, precautions should be taken. For example, if you had planned on travel, you should have been tested, and quarantined, to make sure you do not affect others if you happen to have Covid. As reported by ABC news, “The CDC says to make Thanksgiving safer; if you are with friends or family outside your household, you should wear a well-fitting mask, keep 6 feet of distance from people who do not live with you, and keep hands clean. The agency also recommends bringing your own plate, cups, and utensils, store your mask safely while eating and drinking, avoid going in and out of the kitchen while food is being prepared, and using single-use options for condiments and food containers.” These are some suggested safety measures that could be taken which do make sense and help provide as much safety as possible for those who choose to celebrate Thanksgiving with people outside their immediate household. Even with these suggestions, the decision should be up to the person without others' opinion manipulating the individual's thought process. Agencies and media outlets’ opinions weighing too heavily could create drastic measures being taken, like banning travel altogether. A solution to the problem could be as simple as providing insight on statistics and the current situations for the area you wanted to travel to for the holiday. Depending on all the evidence and looking at the situation wisely, if the individual is comfortable with traveling, they should be free to do so. However, precautions should be taken, for example, wearing a mask when travelling, staying six feet apart, and getting tested. The real question is: do you think Thanksgiving should be “canceled” due to Covid? BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Gurleen Kaur - Memory Project By Gurleen Kaur March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Artistic Perspective By Olivia Muscatelli Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Original artwork by Olivia Muscatelli The images I enjoy taking the most are of landscapes. Like Ansel Adams, a famous landscape photographer, I visualize each picture before taking it. I think about the way I want the picture to look in the final image before I start shooting and prefer a realistic approach rather than relying on heavy editing. I also believe careful composition and balancing the contrast between the light and dark areas of an image lead to the best results. These were all techniques Ansel Adams applied to his work. Although he is known for black-and-white photographs, I also like to use color to bring more life to certain images. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections E/2022 E3 (ZTF) – The “Green” Comet By Elyas Layachi Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by Marca In March 2022, the comet E/2022 E3 (ZTF) was spotted by astronomers Bryce Bolin and Frank Masci near Jupiter. This comet contains a form of diatomic carbon, causing the comet to appear green when it is blasted by ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. This property of E/2022 E3 is the comet’s defining characteristic. However, what makes E/2022 E3 even more special is that the last time it has been visible to humans with the naked eye was during the Last Ice Age, over 50,000 years ago. Now, in 2023, the green comet is its closest to Earth, making for a marvelous sight for humans across the globe. The green comet (E/2022 E3) has a large elliptical orbit around the Sun located around the inner solar system, and it takes the object 50,000 Earth years to travel once around the Sun. As a result of its slow orbit in comparison to Earth’s one-year orbit, the comet is impossible to see for much of its orbit without technological aid. This was the case for the past 50,000 years, until February 1st and February 2nd of 2023, when the comet was a mere 26 million miles (about 41,842,944 km) from the surface of Earth. At such a distance, and with its distinct green hue, the green comet was visible to the naked eye at locations with low light pollution and clear skies. Viewers across the globe had the opportunity to view the rare green comet, and it is highly likely that we are the last humans to be able to view the green comet from Earth’s surface without technological aid for the next 50,000 years, due to the comet’s large orbit around the sun. The comet provided scientists with insight into the properties of diatomic carbon; the compound is not easily studied on Earth due to its high instability and reactivity. Furthermore, it can only be found in extremely energetic or low-oxygen environments like stars, comets, and the interstellar medium, according to phys.org . Comet E/2022 E3 is an incredibly special phenomenon, and its passage near Earth is a rare occurrence. However, the green comet is not the only rare celestial object set to illuminate the night sky, with objects such as other small asteroids and meteor showers set to appear regularly throughout the rest of the year. Additionally, with the recent launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, more phenomena than ever before will be able to be studied by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), expanding our knowledge of the universe. Refrences: https://www.adlerplanetarium.org/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-green-comet-aka-comet-c-2022-e3-ztf/ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64252258.amp BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Morning Roast By Erin St. Angelo Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Original artwork by Kimberly Shrestha The sun awakens from its slumber As the sky changes from black to blue. The birds sing and dance, For they are joyous to fetch food. A quiet ranch lay on a sloped hill, Basking in the sun’s glory. The smell of fresh, steaming, hot Coffee fills the man’s nose. The sheets were cold beside him, His wife's whereabouts are unknown. He leaves the warm, cozy King-sized mattress to make breakfast. The bittersweet decadent beans become Fragrant as they brew. The man and woman share their 'Good mornings', cherishing each other's presence. Their first sips of the roast burns down their Throats, a satisfying burn. Their senses becoming more alert. The man sighs in comfort and enjoyment, Now ready to start his day. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Pop Art Back to Sections Anzar Faraz - Pop Art By Anzar Faraz January 14, 2022 Acrylic Volume 2 Issue 3

Back to Artwork Who Am I Back to Sections Self Collage By Marisa Mohan November 19, 2021 Photography Volume 2 Issue 2

Back to Artwork Nightmare on Main Street Back to Sections Fears of the Night By Sophia Song October 8, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 1

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Why are We so Obsessed with Cheese? By Christina Ossa Volume 3 Issue 1 November 7, 2022 Image provided by Christina Ossa From pizza to calzones, cheese tacos, and cheeseburgers, our world seems to have an odd affinity for cheese. But why? This is partly due to our brains and how cheese triggers the same areas of the brain that drugs activate. Cheese is a very rich food, with its gooeyness and melting quality being some of its shining features. It’s the perfect ingredient to supplement almost any dish, providing a thickness that no other ingredient can combat. But apparently, our psychological reaction to cheese can also be to blame for humankind’s “cheese obsession.” A study by the University of Michigan revealed that ingesting cheese has similar effects on the brain to ingesting drugs, which is not as concerning as it seems. Cheese contains a chemical called casein (a chemical commonly found in dairy products like milk, butter, etc.) which activates parts of the brain that recognize proteins known as receptors. These parts of the brain that cheese activates are known as opioid receptors. Now, you may be familiar with opioids - as they are a type of drug/painkiller - but don’t worry, as cheese is (obviously) not an opioid. While it may contain casein, which causes the brain to react similarly to how it would to a drug, the chemical doesn’t have remotely the same effects addictive drugs do (like opioids) on the brain. Think of it like a coffee addiction; yes, it may be harmful to the body nutritionally, but it doesn’t extremely harm people or derail their lives. Cheese is a perfectly normal guilty pleasure, and the casein contained in it is the reason behind this. Furthermore, while all dairy products contain casein, cheese has more than double the amount of casein than a dairy product like milk. Since cheese is derived from milk, which only has a small amount of casein, this “small amount” of the chemical builds up as more milk is used to make cheese (it usually takes 10 pounds of milk to make cheese). This is why you may feel more content while eating a slice of pizza than after drinking a glass of milk. Even if enjoying cheese is normal, the addictive quality of the cheese is one of the more common causes of addictive eating behavior, especially for mainly highly processed cheese such as American Cheese (or “plastic cheese”). Processed Cheese Products, or PCPS, contain calcium phosphate Para casein (more common in cheeses like Cheddar or Gouda), which causes a significant addiction to cheese. The next time you feel like you may be eating cheese too frequently, just remember to eat it in moderation. But if you choose a less processed cheese or simply want cheese every few weeks, feel free to indulge. Just because cheese may be a bit addictive and tasty, this just means that your brain enjoys it. Healthy eating practices are crucial to a healthy life, but a cheese pasta dish every so often or cheese in moderation creates a healthy balance between mental health and diet. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Black American Artists Back to Sections Dress Rehearsal #2 By James Van Der Zee February 12, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 5 Medium: Gelatin Silver Print (Photography), Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington