Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Reflections on I, Too By Sasha Smalls Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Original image by Sasha Smalls I, too, sing America I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, Eat in the kitchen, Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed- I, too, am America ~Langston Hughes Poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, columnist, James Mercer Langston Hughes, stands out as a prolific leader of the Harlem Renaissance. Above, Hughes’s famed poem I, Too , communicates his interpretation and vision of the Black experience in America through its diction, repetition, and chronological structure. I refers to Black people, and They refers to oppression and discrimination in its broadest terms-including the oppressors. Arguably, the substitution of I for we could equally deliver the message that Hughes refers to Black people. However, I creates a singularity, I conveys unification of Black Americans. The word Tomorrow , indicates Hughes’s looks towards a later date: a point in America’s timeline when Black people enjoy the same fruits of existence fortified by the Declaration of Independence and promised in the 14th amendment. Yet, Tomorrow’s dawn is subjective. Some may argue Yesterday would be a more fitting term, perhaps referencing the 13th amendment or the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Others may choose to believe Tomorrow represents a change in disposition, as opposed to legislation. In that case, Tomorrow can not be pinpointed by a calendar date. Tomorrow symbolizes comprehension, equity above equality, justice, and more. But, as Hughes says, that is Then . A message from BSU: To learn more about Black History, we recommend visiting the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, NY, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, when the pandemic is over if you are ever visiting those areas. We suggest reading the New York Times Bestseller Stamped Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Nightmare on Main Street Back to Sections My Heritage By Katherine Cevada October 8, 2021 Volume 2 Issue 1

Back to Articles News Back to Sections The Truth About Vaccination By Aleeza Dhillon Volume 1 Issue 8 June 8, 2021 Image provided by USA Today Chances are you know someone who has gotten Covid within the past year because the deadly virus has infected approximately 166,761,227 people worldwide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supplied the first Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a Covid-19 prevention vaccine on December 11, 2020. The vaccine was initially approved for people 18 years or older, but the Pfizer vaccine was permitted to be injected into citizens ranging from 12-16 years old on May 10, 2021. Although the vaccine does not entirely prevent Covid infections, it limits symptoms’ severities and the likelihood of infection. Many people were thrilled to have a chance at lowering their risk of contagion, but others were skeptical of the vaccine. There is a growing fear and distrust of vaccines, which can lead to dire consequences. Many people are concerned about how quickly the Covid vaccine was created. Most vaccines take years to develop, and although scientists have been working on SARS vaccines for decades, this one seemed to have taken less than a year to be tested and accepted. Kelly Elterman, MD, shares that the vaccine was developed quickly by using 20 year-old technology. So, doubting the vaccine based on timelines does not tell the whole story. Still, others are concerned about the unknown side effects of the vaccine. People believe there are life-threatening outcomes of getting vaccinated, and some of this concern comes from reports in the media. Joyce Ann Kraner, a citizen of Tennessee, says, "We don't know the long-term effects. We don't know what it's going to do." Much misinformation had been spread through social media and the internet, causing certain people to believe in false side effects, even possible infertility, and creating further media distrust. One in four Americans refuse the vaccine, and 5% are unsure if they would take it given a chance. Experts are becoming concerned that refusal of the vaccine, or “vaccine hesitancy” by that substantial number will prevent the U.S. from reaching herd immunity (when Corona cannot spread throughout the population quickly and transmission disappears). On the other hand, approximately 41.6% of the U.S. population is vaccinated. Many people flew at the chance to limit the possibility of spreading Covid to their friends and families. Once citizens are fully vaccinated (two weeks after the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna and two weeks after one dose of Johnson & Johnson), they should still take precautions, such as wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, and staying six feet apart. However, people can start having small gatherings with others who are vaccinated. Many people took the shot for their protection too. It is impossible to predict how COVID will affect you, so many people believe it is best to stay on the safe side and take all defenses to make sure you stay alive. The vaccine has shown it is safe and effective for the vast majority. Chances of infection are low, and even if a vaccinated person is infected, symptoms are limited with the vaccine. It is crucial to stay educated on the Covid vaccine. Check multiple reliable sources to make sure the information you have is correct and current because vaccination could be the difference between life and death. The CDC has ensured that vaccine is reliable and effective, and safety is their first goal. It is predicted that in January 2022, the total vaccinated population for the U.S. will reach 64%. Works Cited Barczyk, H. (2020, October 12). Why So Many Americans Are Skeptical of a Coronavirus Vaccine . Retrieved from Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-so-many-americans-are-skeptical-of-a-coronavirus-vaccine/ Brumfiel, G. (2021). Vaccine Refusal May Put Herd Immunity At Risk, Researchers Warn . Retrieved from NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/04/07/984697573/vaccine-refusal-may-put-herd-immunity-at-risk-researchers-warn Elternam, K. (2021, February 9). COVID-19 Vaccine Distrust: Why It’s High, and How to Respond to It . Retrieved from Good Rx: https://www.goodrx.com/blog/distrust-of-the-covid-19-vaccine/ Gu, Y. (2021, April 26). Path to Herd Immunity Normality : 2021 Outlook of COVID-19 in the US . Retrieved from covid19-projections: https://covid19-projections.com/path-to-herd-immunity/ Sauer, L. M. (2021, May 19). What Is Coronavirus? Retrieved from Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Introductory - Ekin Pinar Ekin Pinar Volume 6 Issue 2 December 22, 2025 Image Provided by Ekin Pinar Welcome all readers of North Star! My name is Ekin Pinar, and I will be taking over the advice column from here on. This section of the paper is dedicated to you, the reader. Here you can ask about anything that plagues your thoughts and mind. This can be anything from a bad test grade, or you are just stressed about school, all you have to do, dear reader is submit your response to this form North Star Advice column submissions  – Fill out form Don’t worry, all responses are completely anonymous so don’t feel shy and fill out the document. No question is too big or too small for me to tackle!! BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Comic Back to Sections You Got This! By Alain Deen December 16, 2020 Digital Art Volume 1 Issue 3

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Deodorant: A History of Scents, Smells and Why You Should Use It! Giancarlo Oliveri Volume 4 Issue 4 May 29, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching Disclaimer: If you wear deodorant this does not apply to you, but you are more than welcome to read along! Good morning, Spartans! It is the dawn of a new school year! New classes, new teachers, new friends, and new weather patterns thanks to global warming! Undeniably, this building feels a lot warmer, causing many to sweat, perspire, and swelter, with interesting scents to come about. A sure-fire way to prevent certain odors is deodorant . The colorful history of deodorant dates back to the Ancient Egyptian civilization, where they incorporated oils, fruit, or even aluminum crystals (ouch!) as antiperspirants, effectively masking the stench stemming from the boiling Sun that still wreaks havoc on our building (Oars and Alps, 2013). Similarly, the Ancient Greeks incorporated natural techniques to smell pleasant, bathing regularly in baths scented with fragrant and aromatic oils, even spraying incense in the air (Oars and Alps, 2013). Following their innovation, the wealthiest of upper classes across numerous civilizations such as the Yuan, Ming, or Qing dynasties of Classical China, the Classical Mexica, Aztec, or Incans of South America, or popularly, Marie Antionette and the rest of the Versailles Third Estate in the late 1700s, used deodorant, most typically, in the form of perfume, typically, floral scented. However, contemporary deodorants similar to the ones used today rose to popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, developed and patented by Edna Murphey in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, titled “Mum” (Humble Brands, 2023). Originally, a waxy cream, the packaging differed from modern sticks of deodorant, arriving in a metal tin, and containing zinc, later evolved to contain antiperspirant ingredients such as aluminum compounds to control sweat and odor, connecting back all the way to the Ancient Egyptians (Humble Brands, 2023)! Now with this history lesson adjourned, I beg the question, do you want their work to go to waste? The Egyptians who pounded aluminum into crystals, the Ancient Aztecs who pulverized flowers into fragrances, and most recently, the incomparable Edna Murphey, who revolutionized how Americans would smell for years to come. Do you want their work to be all for nothing? Why neglect decades, even centuries, of human evolution and innovation? It used to be a privilege to smell pleasant, and now, you have the absolute, undeniable, and unbeatable right to every historical figure, and every person in this school to mask the musk! If you want to benefit the rest of humankind, do me, the rest of the student body, and the rest of the human body a favor, and wear deodorant. A Brief History of Deodorant – Humble Brands When Was Deodorant Invented and Why? | Oars + Alps ( oarsandalps.com ) BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Strawberry Matcha Boba Tea Shea Flanelly Volume 6 Issue 2 December 22, 2025 I am strawberry matcha boba tea from the Kung-Fu Tea a couple miles from my house. A strange drink that probably shouldn't even exist. I splash when I walk. Sugar spills down my ribs, and the tapioca pearls rattle inside me Like loose teeth, like I was built with a chaotic touch. Every sip of me is a gamble Sometimes I'm pure sugar, Sometimes I’m bitter, like grass, Sometimes you choke on me and laugh about it later. Even sealed tight in plastic, I fizz, I shake, I want to explode through the straw, to stain your hands pink and green so you never forget I was here. But the truth is, I’m always half-finished, lukewarm by the time you notice me again. You carry me around like an obligation, like something too strange to throw away, and I sit there, wondering if I was ever really worth the sip. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Ask Ala: Valentines Day: Two Years Since the Start of COVID-19 By Alicja Paruch Volume 2 Issue 4 February 10, 2022 Image provided by The Sun Hello Ala! What can I do for Valentine’s Day this year? It has been two years since covid-19 initially shut down most of the world. Many activities, including Valentine’s Day gifting, have drastically shifted, for many from in-person to online. Many had to send gifts to their loved ones directly before vaccines became widely available. Now, with more opportunities, these special occasions can become exciting again. If you are planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day, I recommend going back to the traditional activities, and putting on a little twist if necessary. In order to relate to the traditional part of Valentine's Day celebrations, I recommend dining out or seeing a movie at the theatre. Though, as times progress and knowing that every relationship is different, you can consider other options! You can go to the mall, try to pick out outfits for each other, or buy matching jewelry. You can also try baking cookies or some type of dessert (check out the National Baking Month in North Star ’s last issue for some yummy recipes). In my mind, Valentine’s Day can definitely be celebrated around traditional activities, but in your relationship, you should make it about yourself! Do something that you enjoy, so that you have fun! Feel free to think outside of the box and enjoy your day together! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Art & Culture Back to Sections Turkey the bird and Turkey the Nation By Kubra Beskardes Volume 1 Issue 2 November 24, 2020 Image provided by Boris Stroujko Turk - The word originally means “strength” though it’s not clear where it came from and it changed meaning during the time. To Persians it meant “barbarian,” but now it means “a person of Turkic origin,” so it does not only consist of “Turkish” people. In Turkey, we call ourselves just “Turks” because the direct translation of Turkish would be “Turkce” which is the language we speak, and a fun fact? It’s actually not Turkey, it’s Turkiye , the land of the Turks, so probably not many Turks would know that around the world, their country shares its name with a bird. Turkey the bird originated in the Americas and Turks originated in Central Asia and by the time the bird took this name, they were in Anatolia. This seems so irrelevant, but the story goes like this; Turkish merchants sold some wild fowls from either Africa or India to Europeans, and Europeans called the bird “Turkey (coq) Rooster” and Turkey for short. When they landed in the New World, they saw another bird of a totally different species and called it also turkey because they both looked similarly funny. So it remained “turkey.” Another fun fact? Turks call this bird “hindi” because we thought it originated from India. Eating turkey is not that common in Turkey. Not that we specifically don’t eat it, but because we are foreign to the bird or it’s foreign to us, Turks don’t want to eat something they don’t know. Personally, I only like turkey when it’s sliced and in between two breads; otherwise, I would not prefer it. But this whole story brings a question to the mind: when Europeans came to the Americas during the 15th and 16th centuries, back then Turks were under the name “Ottomans” not Turkey, because Ottomans consisted of many ethnicities so I would be wrong to call it Turkey. Turkey was formed in 1923, and – well - maybe they just went with “Turks Rooster or Turkish Rooster,” then it became just “turkey” over time. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Class Acts Giavanna Quagliata Volume 5 Issue 4 April 8, 2025 Don’t know how to get involved? I have an idea for you! Class Acts is a yearly competition for grades 10 through 12. During the event, four teachers are assigned to judge the competition. Each grade performs one act in each of the following categories: band, vocal, lip sync, and dance. Once the performances are finished, the judges make their remarks privately and decide which grade gets first, second, and third overall for their performances. Signing up is easier than you think it is. All you have to do is go to your Grade Council’s Team and look for the tab that says “CLASS ACTS 2025”. Fill out the form linked along with any friends who are part of your act, and your advisor will let you know if you made it into the show! Class Acts is Friday, March 14th at 7 PM. Do you know what that means? It means you can still sign up! Even if you don’t want to perform in Class Acts, you can always be there for support. If your friends are performing, or if you just want to go to check it out! Just ask your advisor or even a friend to help you get a ticket. Class Acts is for everyone, so whether you step up and perform or just sit in the audience, there’s no reason you shouldn’t get involved in this school activity. BACK TO TOP