Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Cage (a short story) Annie Diep Volume 4 Issue 2 January 16, 2024 Image Provided by Annie Diep My mother owns a bird, or perhaps shall I say two birds? Since...I find myself resembling the dove my mother keeps in her office quite a bit. Like the dove trapped in the cage, I am confined to my room. Like the dove unable to fly because its wings were clipped, I am unable to walk because my legs are clipped. Like the dove, I used to think this was for the better. Like the dove, I thought this enclosure is supposed to protect me from the outside. Like the dove, I am punished when I ask for things that I do not deserve. Like the dove, all I know how to do is stare outside the window all day. However, unlike the dove, I am not allowed into her office. However, unlike the dove, she has not once looked at me besides when she punishes me. Unlike the dove...I am not loved. I guess now that I think more about it...I don't resemble the dove my mother keeps after all. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Advice Back to Sections Pride Advice By Alicja Paruch Volume 2 Issue 7 June 13, 2022 Image provided by CommonPRObiz Hello my dear readers,  Since June is Pride month, to celebrate it, I would like to answer a few questions related to the LGBTQ+ community.  "What do you do when your family doesn't support your transition?” Firstly, congratulations on getting to know yourself this well; that was tough and worth celebrating on its own. To answer your question, this would depend on how strict your family is. If they do not want to help you with your transition, try to take small steps, with the help of people who do support you, your friends and other family members. It is all about the small victories. It also may take some time for your family to process the fact that you are transitioning, so try to be patient, but not passive. If starting this process poses a danger to you, you will unfortunately have to wait until you can do so safely. “What do you do when someone in the gay community disrespects your identity?” I would address it directly. Since they are in the community, they are more likely to have the knowledge to understand their mistakes. Talk to them, explain which of their actions and opinions you find disrespectful and stand up for yourself. The fact that they are a part of the gay community does not excuse them and is not a protective shield from mistakes. Nobody is perfect, so do not be scared to point out their wrongdoings and speak up! “Where/how can I find local gay communities?” First, consider joining The Alliance club at North. This by itself will open many doors for you. Try to explore where other members are active and see if those places are of interest to you. Besides The Alliance, you can ask your other friends and see where that will lead you. You can also try to find a friendly community online, but that might be less local than you would like.  “What would you do if someone else was being cyber bullied for their sexuality/identity?” If it poses no harm to you, stand up for them! It is hard to be assertive while being the victim of cyberbullying and if you can help them, try your best to! Show the victim they are not alone, reassure them that they are valid in their identity and make your voice heard.  “How do you let a friend know you’re there for them when you suspect they want to come out?” Make sure they know you are their friend and that you will listen to their problems, in a general way. Just being there as a friend who supports them will give them the cushion of security they will need. If they decide to come out, they will come to you. They need to build enough confidence and they need to feel safe enough themselves, you cannot help them more than just ensuring you will listen. Don’t push them, they will come out when it is the right time. “What’s your opinion on Heartstopper ?” This isn’t really advice, but I will gladly chime in. I personally did not watch the Netflix series, but I have read Alice Oseman’s original comic. The warm story, the character development, and the representation drew me in, and I believe it could act as a tool for others to explore and to discover themselves further. Oseman created an inspiring depiction of the realities of being part of the LGBTQ+ community, and the struggles that come with mental illness. Even if I can’t recommend watching the show, since I haven’t watched it myself, the comic is definitely worth reading. I hope this helps, and enjoy Pride Month!! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Former New York Governor George Pataki Should Contest Incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2022 By Logan Balsan Volume 1 Issue 4 January 20, 2021 Image provided by Fox News Now that the 2020 Election Results were certified on January 6th, and Judge Merrick Garland was chosen to be President-Elect Biden’s Attorney General over Andrew Cuomo, Governor Cuomo will seek to achieve what his father, Mario Cuomo, could not: win a fourth term as Governor of New York. Cuomo has been a wreck for New York State from the start. Since 2014, according to Forbes , Cuomo pocketed over $6 million in campaign funds from State contractors in return for $7 billion in state funds. Not only is his office riddled in potential ethics violations during the normalcy before the pandemic, Governor Cuomo has also performed some questionable actions during the pandemic. For one, he fudged the true amount of COVID patients sent to nursing homes, only to downplay that the facilities were not required to take in COVID patients, while an order from his office said otherwise. This story was picked up by the left-leaning news outlet CNN. This poor leadership and policy-making abilities have been widespread throughout his three 4-year terms thus far. For example, his tax policies are driving thousands of New Yorkers out of State, forcing our congressional delegation to decrease by two seats, as projected by census approximations. New York would only send 25 Representatives, compared to the 27 we send currently. Cuomo even advocated to raise taxes in December of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. In a new proposal to legalize marijuana recreationally, the State would pocket over $300 million in excise taxes, officials familiar with the matter have stated. However, I will give a thumbs up to Cuomo for allowing us to attend school in-person, though, the cons do outweigh the pros. Who has been frequently vocal against Cuomo’s pandemic leadership abilities? Former Republican New York Governor George Pataki. Don’t know who George Pataki is? Let me give you some background. George Elmer Pataki, a Republican, is a politician who served in both chambers of the New York State legislature as well as Mayor of Peekskill, NY before catapulting into the Governor’s Office in 1995 after defeating popular New York Governor Mario Cuomo, who is also Andrew Cuomo’s father. Pataki served in the Governor’s Office during turbulent times: helping New York rebuild from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th. He also oversaw the construction of the Freedom Tower, beginning in 2006 under his Administration. Currently the most recent Republican to serve in the office, Pataki was able to appeal to both social conservatives and liberals as well as fiscal conservatives and liberals in his policy-making. Reading Pataki’s 2016 Presidential Campaign Platform, it is evident why he appealed to voters across both aisles. While the Republican Party has been labeled “pro-life”, Pataki believes in legalized abortions with limits. He has supported lowering taxes, as well as expanding Obamacare as the nation’s healthcare system. His views have crossed party lines, which is what undecided voters normally look for. Based on the realities under Cuomo’s administration, I think the New York State Republican Party should recruit Former Governor Pataki to run in 2022 against Governor Cuomo. He would be their party’s strongest contender, being a former Governor, and providing strong leadership during 9/11. While he has been out of the political arena for almost 13 years, and tried to jumpstart a campaign for President in 2016, the Republicans have the best candidate right in front of them. It is vital for our State that Cuomo lowers taxes, or that someone steps in and ousts him in 2022. Right now, I think our best option to pass such an action is George Pataki. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections How to Skate – from an Amateur Figure Skater By Olivia Neuner Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by NYC Parks Hello everyone! My name is Olivia, and I have been taking Figure Skating lessons for about 5 months. I started in November of 2020; I always thought it sounded fun, and with all school activities cancelled at the time, I “figured” it would be nice to try something new. I’m so glad about my decision and I am now planning on joining a skating team in college (It’s a really popular thing at all the up-north schools I applied to like UVM, UNH, UMaine. Today I would like to share my love for this sport and teach you the most basic skill needed to skate: how to not fall over. I’ve taken many friends with me to free skate over the last few months, and I’ve seen many falls, trips, and more, and have learned from both my lessons and observations the quickest way to get that first start. Tighten up those skates (You shouldn’t be able to lift your ankle in the skates, but you also should still have the circulation going) and let’s glide! The wall is your friend (but more like one that cheers you on from the sidelines) – One of the most common things I see at my weekly free skate is people clinging to the wall for dear life. Most commonly it’s because they feel terrified of falling over. DON’T DO THIS. When you rely so heavily on the wall, it will be even harder to get off than had you not used it at all. My suggestion is to start out near the wall. If you really need the stability, you can tap the wall with your right hand, or gently hold the hand of a more experienced friend (don’t lean on them too much, or you’ll both take a tumble). Glide, don’t “walk”- A common mistake for first timers is to try to walk across the ice - this will result in a fall quite quickly. As stated in #1 , stay close to the wall, and try to start a simple glide (if you have ever been on an elliptical, it’s a similar motion). It’s hard to describe, but you’ll know it once you do it. Make sure to lift your opposing foot to prepare for the other to land (ex. When you are gliding on your right foot, lift the left foot forward, in front of your right, to keep up your speed). The lift doesn’t have to be high; even an inch should suffice. Just make sure it’s off the ice. Use your knees - When you feel like you are losing your balance, slightly bend down and put both hands on your kneecaps. This will keep you from taking a flailing tumble. Having your knees loose and slightly bent while skating will also make it easier to glide: a stiff body is more likely to lose balance. If you have to fall, just let yourself - Flailing your arms around is not going to help you here; in fact, it will make you less stable than when you first lost your balance. If you feel yourself falling backwards, follow #3 and put your hands on your knees. If you are suddenly falling forward, this doesn’t always work. Here, I would suggest just letting the fall happen. Make sure to distribute your weight so you don’t damage a specific part of your body; I usually try to fall on my side with that same arm out (Let it be noted to avoid putting any weight on the wrist or ankle as you risk serious damage). This should result in a gentle slide rather than a slam and shouldn’t leave any side effects except for slight embarrassment. The next time you go skating, hopefully these tips will have you gliding in no time! BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Orb By Alanna Tieschmaker Volume 3 Issue 3 February 24, 2023 Image provided by Pyro Richard couldn’t believe that he was doing this. Sneaking into the king’s museum was the last thing he wanted to do. Rumors had spread throughout the kingdom, and with them the idea of a cold and unfeeling king. If a village missed their payment, there would be no mercy. Every last person would be hunted down and killed by soldiers told to be as ruthless as their ruler. So why was he here, risking himself a cruel faith? He sighed quietly, careful to not make a sound that could alert the guards patrolling the area. He knew exactly why he was doing this. It wasn’t out of boredom or for fame. No, it was all for the sake of his little brother.  Even thinking of the situation leading up to this moment was hard. They had been sleeping in a sheltered underpass. Richard had been unsure, but his brother seemed so happy to have a clean place to sleep and nothing had happened the past few nights. So, against his better instincts, Richard settled down for the night, pulled his little brother closer and fell asleep. How he paid for ignoring his gut.  Thunder cracked through the air, startling him from his sleep. Looking around frantically, he saw a scene from his worst nightmare. A hulking figure stood over his brother, who was farther away than before. Lightning flickered and illuminated the underpass, gleaming off the blade that was held above his brother’s head. Richard froze, knowing that any wrong move could spell the end for his brother. “Don’t ya move a muscle,” growled the figure, pulling his brother closer and putting the knife at his throat.  “I won’t!” Richard responded desperately; eyes pinned to the knife. “What do you want from us? You can have anything, just please, put my brother down.” “You don’t get to make demands here!” The knife drew blood, waking his brother. “Richie?” he mumbled, still half-asleep and unaware of what was happening. Looking down, he drew a sharp breath when he saw the arms holding him in place. He traced them upwards and found the knife at his throat. “Hey, hey, don’t look at that, eyes on me.” Richard coaxed, trying to prevent his brother from panicking. Panicking could lead to death with the strength of the hold, and he couldn’t handle another death.  The man relaxed his grip enough to snap twice, then re-strengthened it again. Three other people filled the alcove, signaled by the snaps. Without turning away, he ordered one of them to bring a coil of rope and sent the others to restrain Richard. Knowing fighting back would hurt more than just him, he allowed his arms to be roughly pulled behind his back.  “Now this one.” The thug pulled his brother’s face to meet his, greedy eyes meeting terrified eyes. “He would be perfect for the job. He’s skinny and wouldn’t be missed if he was caught by the king.”  Richard went deathly pale, hearing what may happen to his precious younger sibling. The king was ruthless, and any intruders faced a gruesome death. Nothing would change that, not even the intruder being a child. He couldn’t let that happen to his brother. “Wait!” he cried, careful to stay still while grabbing the thug’s attention. “Let me go in his place.” “And why should we do that?” replied the man, a sneer clear on his face. “He’s perfect for the job.” “W-well I would do a better job. I can do everything that he can and would be faster on my feet.” There was silence as the gang considered the offer. Then, to Richard’s relief, the head thug put down his brother although not so gently.  “Fine. A bigger brat is less likely to tattle anyways. But just for a bit o’ insurance...”  The hilt of the knife slammed down onto his brother’s head, knocking him unconscious.  “Emmet!” Richard surged forward, scared that his brother had been killed despite his offer being accepted. However, he was still held by the other thugs, who quickly wrestled him back.  “Oy brat! Be careful or I actually will kill him.” One of the thugs holding him down began to tie his hands behind his back, pulling harder than necessary. The other pulled a piece of cloth across his eyes, taking away one of the senses he needed to survive this situation. “Load ‘em up boys!” hollered the lead thug. “Move it!” Richard was shoved forward, almost falling over from the unexpected push. He caught himself at the last moment, and blindly shuffled forward, having no choice but to trust his captors.  Richard was pulled out of his memory when he heard movement below him. The guards were finally changing shifts. There was only a small period when he could sneak in according to the thugs. He had spent days looking over plans, knowing that everything he had depended on getting this right. It wasn’t just his life on the line.  ‘Now --’ he thought, slipping off his perch and landing next to a window. His location would be out of sight for a minute and a half while the change happened. Richard pushed on the old window, which swiveled and allowed him to slip through and jump down. He landed in a silent crouch on the museum floor. He was in.   BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Contemplation Back to Sections Kimberly Shrestha - Contemplation By Kimberly Shrestha June 8, 2021 Mixed Media Volume 1 Issue 8

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections I See Ghosts In My Bedroom Mirror By Eva Grace Martinez Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Original photography by Eva Grace Martinez I see ghosts in my bedroom mirror, let me clarify I only really see one. I see the way her room was painted purple, black sharpie forming vignettes of a person who lived here before I. I hear the subtle beat of music in a language I won’t understand until after she goes. I hear giggles of a teenage dramedy, the kind of nostalgia-inducing, jealousy-inspiring laughter that forms the basis of poems with comparisons to stars. If I listen hard I can hear the heater ticking, the same way it must’ve when it lit your mattress on fire. There is no metaphor there, when you left I remember finding the scorched side of your mattress. Sometimes, I feel like an archeologist, this bedroom the dig site. Unearthing old necklaces and Sinatra records you couldn’t fit in your suitcase. It’s been at least a decade I think? Do you miss these old records and painted over walls? I’d like to think so. I want so desperately to reach out and ask you, but I’m scared that if I do, I will have to confront the concept of you leaving me too. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Entertainment & Media Back to Sections Hyper Pop By Eva Martinez Volume 2 Issue 2 November 19, 2021 Image provided by Dork When you ask someone how they would define grunge, they may reference bands like Nirvana, or recall fond memories of teen years spent in basements and garages with guitars stolen from their parents. There was joy in simply making music; it was rough, sloppy, and new. As a generation of digital natives comes of age in an era where recording software is free, inexpensive, and easy to access, a new generation’s grunge was born, Hyper pop . Hyper pop Two words that make sense when combined are the genre tag for one of the most undefinable movements in music in the past two decades. Due to its ineffable nature, the best way to explain the genre is through examples. I point you to “money machine” by 100gecs. 100gecs is quintessentially Hyper pop, and while others such as Charlie XCX have been in the game longer, bands like Waterparks, which may dabble with production styles reminiscent of the genre 100gecs, are Hyper pop superstars. So, what makes a song Hyperpop? Let us look at some of the elements in “money machine” and find out. First, the vocals. Recorded on what sounds like a broken toy megaphone, the messy and sped-up vocals are the primary identifier of a Hyper pop song. The second genre-defining elements are the obnoxious number of vocal effects and augmentation packed into this one-minute fifty-four-second song. Reminiscent of the inadequate quality yet laugh-out-loud funny “chipmunk” versions of popular songs spawned by the Alvin and the Chipmunk movies, the heavily edited vocals create a rushed energy that channels even a turtle’s fastest effort. Next up? The beat. Undeniably simple enough for anyone with a decent understanding of Audacity or a similar mixing software to create within an hour, simplicity lends itself to Hyper pop’s “grungy” nature. It is a fast-paced ride across snare and cymbal that ups the intensity towards the end. It is a lightning-fast crash ride, and 100gecs is dragging you along whether you like it or not. Okay, so we have covered vocals and drums; what else is there? Well, besides an ever-increasing number of random production elements, loud and distorted guitars, and general chaos, “money machine” and, by extension, Hyper pop has one larger thread holding it together. The “hyper” in Hyper pop does not necessarily come for the genre’s need for speed. It refers to the pure oversaturation of sound that one experiences whenever a Hyper pop song plays. This incessant need to overload the mixing and production of a song has an interesting connection to the people creating it. Just as grunge was a rebellion against what came before it, Hyper pop is too. The maturation of so many young people when the internet handed them the world and told them everything was in reach has led to a shift in genre. Pushing back against simpler production styles and bland radio hits, Hyper pop is neon graffiti on the black and white walls of the music industry. It is fast, loud, and undeniably too much. If you are still doubtful of Hyper pop’s connection to the online world, look at the song titles across the genre. Titles are all written in a grammatical style that intend to strike fear into the hearts of most English teachers yet are easily readable to this online generation. The lyrical style of Hyper pop additionally lends to this online feeling. Upbeat and messy backgrounds crash through your ears as various artists depict deep feelings of hopelessness. Still, surely monster energy and some neon paint will make those issues irrelevant, right? At least, that is what Hyper pop attempts to convince you of. When the world is at your fingertips, it can be beautiful. One can learn about diverse cultures and gain a deeper understanding of humanity. Conversely, it can cause feelings of depression and isolation. To me, this duality is represented best by Hyper pop. It can be overwhelming; it can give you a migraine and force you to wonder why anyone would ever make such music. Yet, it can also be the background to a high-octane workout, and its overwhelming nature corresponds to an overwhelming world, but here being overwhelmed means something. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections Chapter One By Navrosedip Kundlas Volume 2 Issue 6 April 14, 2022 Image provided by Navrosedip Kundlas, Canva May 1st, 1990 He’s going to the military after the wedding. He’s leaving. After the wedding. These words spin in my head over and over again. One month and then he’s gone. I shake my head, this isn’t the time to think about this. I hop back onto my skateboard and steer myself towards Ditch Plains Beach. In the distance, three figures are waiting for me. Bridget, Orion, and Bridget’s boyfriend Dylan. Immediately, guilt hits me, poor Orion had to be the third wheel while I ran late. You’re such a bad friend, so selfish. Closing my eyes, I take a big breath. You got this, Jules. Keep calm. Placing a foot down, I get off my board and reach for the strap under. Slipping the strap onto my shoulder, I take out my earbuds and put up a smile. Act normal. Nothing’s wrong, just a normal day at the beach surfing with your dudes. I repeat over and over again. “What’s up, guys?” I ask, hoping they don’t notice the hint of red in my eyes. “Nothing much, ready to catch some waves?” Bridget replies holding out her hand. After doing our handshake and fist bumping the boys, we head out for the waves. I slip off my shuffle bag and slip off my shoes. Peeling off my flannel and slipping my overalls off, I run over to Orion. Fixing my one-piece, I jump onto Orion’s back. “Woah! Hold on dude,” Orion laughs. “Dude, give me a piggy-back ride. Now,” I say laughing. I shake off the butterflies forming in my stomach. You’ve got to be kidding yourself, Jules. Crushing on your childhood best friend. Nuh-uh. Not gonna happen. Orion grabs my legs and I swing my arms over his neck. “Hold on tight, don’t want you falling off and scratching your fragile body” Orion teases. “Shut up.” I demand. After that one incident where Mom told me to be careful, due to my sensitive skin, Orion hasn’t been able to shut up. Closing my eyes shut, Orion takes off towards the ocean. I feel my legs and arms detaching and then cool water seeping into my body. Opening my eyes I swim towards the rock. Our rock. I climb the smooth surface and sit on top looking out to the horizon, the sun bursting out with shades of pink, red, yellow, and hints of blue. Beautiful. “Jules?” Dylan shakes me out of my little world. “What’s up?” I ask. “Bridget got the boards, ready to capture some of those waves?” He asks. What if he never comes back? Dies in service. He’ll never catch those waves again. Never take you to swim, orbuy your surf gear. You’ll be left all alone. Alone forever. “Jules? Hello? Anyone there?” Dylan says, snapping me back into focus. “Yeah, let’s get to it!” I say, hoping that no one noticed my zoning out. Orion does, though. He looks concerned and reads right through my facade. Knowing I’ll be bombarded with questions later, I shoot him a look with my eyes. I’ll tell you later promise. He nods but still has some concern in his eyes. You sure you’ll be fine? We can always surf later, you know. I nod, not wanting to ruin the moment. Bridget paddles into the water, ready to get going. I dive back into the water, and swim for shore. Grabbing my board I join Bridget on the waves. After an hour, I paddle back more tired than usual. Everything’s going to be okay. Don’t stress. Drying myself with the towel, I slip my overalls back on, and tie my flannel onto my waist. Orion’s heading over. Breathe in and out, you can tell him. “Hey, what’s going on? You're pretty off today. Not your usual peppy self” he prompts, waiting for an answer. “It’s just that Caleb’s heading off to the military after he gets married! And I don’t want him to go. I thought since he was going to get married, he would stay. But no! He’s just going to leave me here, and I just can’t deal with it, Orion I just can’t…” I trail off, too upset to continue. Tears start sliding down my face and drop to my shoulder. Sinking down to my knees, I hug myself. Orion bends down and gives me a hug. “Dude, listen to me, you're not going to be alone, you have me, Bridget, Dylan, Juliette and Julian your siblingsand the rest of your family. We’re here to support you. I know it’s hard but life’s hard. It might take time, but you’ll get used to it. We’re like what, 14-years old? We can handle it. I know what you’re thinking but it’s not going to happen.Caleb’s not going to die. Okay?” He reassures me. Feeling a little better, I give a nod and get up. “Wait. Why did you call Julie by her full name?” I ask, curious, since it was the first time. “It was a serious topic, so I thought full names would be appropriate” he said with a smirk. Rolling my eyes, I pack my gear. I drop my board off at our usual stash place and hop onto my skateboard. Waving bye, and promising to talk later, I plug my earbuds back in and skate on home. While Orion lives in my neighborhood, Bridge and Dylan live on the next one over, so the beach is where we regroup. Orion’s got a date, which makes my stomach sink. Did you really think he would like you? Come on Jules, you're being stupid. Shrugging off my disappointment, I skate faster hoping to outrun my negative thoughts. Coming to a stop, I swing my skateboard onto my shoulder and push through the gate. Hopping up the stairs, I slide the key into the lock and quietly open the door. Everyone’s asleep. No one surfs this early in the morning in my house. I close the door shut and tiptoe quietly to my room. I slide off my shoes and take off my clothes. Slipping on my pajamas, I pat Coco, our Australian Shepherd, andsoftly get into bed to crash. … “GET UP!!!” screams Julie. I remained on my bed and pulled the covers over my head. “IF YOU DON’T GET UP AND WASH YOUR HAIR, I WILL SCREAM!” screams my 16-year-old sister. I said (very politely), “If that’s your regular voice I don’t think my ears could handle your real screaming.” “BE QUIET,” she snapped, marching out the room. Reluctantly I got out of bed, heading straight for the shower. After washing my hair, I decide to go eat something. That’s when I realized all hell had broken loose. Shoes were scattered everywhere. Clothes were flung in all places you could imagine. Where was my family in all of this mess? To be honest, I didn’t even know. There wasn’t even any food in the kitchen. Like, now what was I supposed to do? Go grocery shopping last minute? Very funny Jules, focus and find out what’s going on. It didn’t look like a hurricane hit the house before. They’re probably at Aunt Jackie’s house. So, I walked over, hopped the fence, and went over to eat some chow. Hopping from step to step, I finally reached the top. Knocking on the door, I waited patiently. As expected, no one opened the door. So I bent down and plucked the spare key from the third flower pot to the right. Or was it left? Oh well, at least it’s hidden well. Anyways, I opened the door and walked straight into a scene. There was Aunt Jackie and Caleb screaming their heads off at each other. “Who told you to go on and sign up for the military? Have you lost your mind, boy?! I grew you up in this very house with manners, and this is what you do. We’re not poor you know. We got plenty of money! We’re rich, Caleb! People want the kind of money we have. But no, you still want to join the military. You could have just taken over the family business! What was the point of doing this?!” Aunt Jackie yelled. “Mama, you know since I was little I wanted to be in the Air Force. I’ve told you a million times that this what I want to do. Serve our country. You know this! I don’t care about money, I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing this as my dream! And you can’t change my mind, Mama. Sorry, but this is what I want to do, and I’m doing it!” Caleb yelled back. “Young man, you keep your voice down, and listen to me. I’m not approving of this kind of behavior. And what about Amanda? You're just gonna marry her and leave her? What kind of husband does that? You tell me, son. Second, who knows what’s going to happen when you leave? You might die, Caleb! Amanda might leave you, who knows? I just can’t believe you would do something like this, without even thinking it through! Do you have answers for me or no, Caleb?” Aunt Jackie demanded, glaring right at her son. “No, I don’t have all the answers, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t thought this through. Amanda has given me all of her support, and she won’t leave me. If you have a problem, then fine, so be it. I’m going to get married and then I’m deployed, with or without your approval. You have one month to make your decision. Either you support me through this, or you don’t. Your choice,” Caleb says. With that he leaves the living room in a fury and climbs the staircase to his room where he slams the door shut. Aunt Jackie sighs and sits onto the couch holding her head in her hands. Dad sits next to her and wraps his arms around her shoulder. “It’s ok Jacqueline, we’ll get through it. If this is what he wants, then that’s that. We can’t stop him,” Dad softly says. “I just want him to realize that this isn’t a joke. This isn’t one of his games. It’s real, Jacques. He could get hurt, or god forbid worse,” Aunt Jackie whispers. Mom gets up from an armchair and heads towards me. Knowing she was probably going to lead me away from the scene, I slip off my flip-flops. “Hey honey, I didn’t realize you arrived. Took you a while to wake up after your surf. Why don’t you come to the kitchen, and I’ll ask Sally to cook something up for you?” Mom says looking at me. Nodding, I follow her out of the living room to the kitchen where Sally was cooking up some waffles. Sliding on to one of the stools of the countertop, I notice Julie and Julian were there as well. “Look who finally decided to show up,” Julie teases, bumping my shoulder with hers. “Hmmm, looks like Miss Cranky finally got her coffee,” I say teasing right back. Bursting into laughter, I settle in with the twins. It wasn’t unusual for us to have breakfast at Aunt Jackie’s. With Aunt Jackie’s overdramatic personality and her fights with Uncle Oliver, Dad and Mom usually had to come to keep peace. Which usually also annoyed Mom, which caused her and Dad to have small arguments which were usually contained. Nothing compared to Aunt Jackie and Uncle Oliver’s fights. Sally served some delicious waffles, which I quickly scarfed up. I had to check on Caleb. He was my favorite cousin, and I was closer to him than to anyone else in the whole world. Pushing back my stool, I excused myself and ran up the stairs to Caleb’s room. But on the way, I heard something that caught my breath. “Look Jaqueline, you know the lines. What’s yours, what’s mine, what’s the others, you cannot cross that boundary. Our family fortune was divided up fairly and squarely. Don’t mess with it. You know the fights that broke out when Dad died. I do not want more chaos in our family. You know our family rivalry with each other. So please stay in line,” Dad said sternly. “But Jacques, the necklace is missing! What if one of our sisters arranged for someone to steal it from the Paris mansion. You know how valuable it is. We need to find it, before word spreads. Items are starting to disappear from there, but this necklace is the most valuable. If this leaks out, things worse than a couple of verbal fights will happen. If we don’t find out what’s going on in that mansion, then everything our dad and grandpa created will shatter. You know that. Someone’s betraying us, Jacques. There’s a thief among us. And we need to find them. Especially before the wedding. That necklace needs to be passed down to Amanda. If it’s not, then everyone will know, and that’s it, it’s over.” “I know, let’s keep this between you, me, Oliver, and Victoria. We’ll figure it out,” Dad promises Aunt Jackie. What in the world is going on here? I never heard of the Paris mansion before. What is Mom, Dad, Aunt, and Uncle hiding? Since when are there family rivalries in the Paris siblings? What necklace are they talking about? With no answers, I headed up the staircase to Caleb, hoping he might have some answers. Juliana Valentina Paris. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections Former President Donald Trump's Conviction Sahar Ali Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by White House Historical Association On May 30th, 2024, former president Donald Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former president in United States history to be convicted of criminal charges. Falsifying business records is considered a felony in the State of New York, which makes the former president a convicted felon as a result of his actions. But what did Trump do that led him to this position? Former President Trump is notorious for the many actions that he took during and after his presidency, most notably the January 6th riot at the Capitol, in which thousands of Trump supporters protested the results of the 2020 election. The 2020 election was between Democrat Joe Biden and former president and republican Donald Trump, the outcome being a victory for the Democrats. Following the election, Trump made many public statements regarding the outcome of the election and proceeded to claim that voter fraud was involved, causing Trump supporters to gather at the Capitol and protest for their president whom they perceived to be the rightful president of the country. Trump openly spread false statements and made multiple attempts to revise the results of the 2020 election. Not only did Trump influence the storming of the Capitol, but he had also been impeached twice, making history as the only president in the United States to be impeached more than once. Trump was victorious in the 2016 election, as he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton. However, according to CBS News, Trump’s conviction originated from a “hush money” payment that was made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star to keep quiet about her claims that she engaged in intimate activities with the former president years before the 2016 election. “But the actual charges that Trump faced were far less salacious and dealt with the comparatively mundane paperwork that was generated when he reimbursed Cohen for the payment” (CBS News). True to form, the former president would deny the claims by stating that the statements made by Daniels are false. However, according to BBC, giving a person hush money is not considered illegal; the reason he was convicted was because Trump claimed the $130,000 payment was for legal fees. Along with that, Trump made claims regarding the outcome of the 2020 election that were concluded to be false as he attempted to overturn the decision of the election. According to CBS News, New York election laws make it unlawful for “any two or more persons to conspire to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means,” which is what Trump did as he attempted to quiet Daniels but also claimed that the money was for legal fees, which as we know, was not true. But with the power and position Trump holds, it is unlikely that he would have to face jail time. Legal experts believe that a fine would be the most Trump has to face. Even with such a big felony on his name, it is very likely that the public will see Trump run in the 2024 election later this year as he meets all the criteria to be president which, according to CNN include, being a natural-born citizen, above 35 years of age, and living in the US for at least 14 years. SOURCES: What was Trump convicted of? Details on the 34 counts and his guilty verdict - CBS News   Two weeks since Trump’s New York guilty verdict: What have we learned? | Donald Trump News | Al Jazeera   A guide to Donald Trump's four criminal cases ( bbc.com )   Can Trump still run for president? Can he still vote? | CNN Politics BACK TO TOP