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Back to Articles News Back to Sections The Strange Relationship of Drake and Kendrick Lamar Max Ching Volume 5 Issue 1 September 20, 2024 Image Provided by Max Ching You’ve probably heard of Drake and Kendrick Lamar, who is also known as K. Dot. If you haven’t, then they are known for being some of the biggest rap artists of all time and have won multiple Grammys, Brit Awards, American Music Awards, and many more. They’ve even worked together in the past, and their piece, Poetic Justice, became the 26th highest song on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012 . However, their relationship has sparked a giant feud over the past few months, becoming one of the biggest rap beefs of all time. So, how did this start? Well, let’s go to the beginning of their relationship, and see what went wrong. So, like I’ve said before, Drake and Lamar haven’t always had a bad relationship. During Drake’s early days, according to Billboard, Kendrick featured on Drake’s Take Care album. He also appeared with A$AP Rocky during Drake’s Club Paradise Tour. Later, Drake even rapped about fighting for Rocky and Lamar to appear during his tours. Also, like I’ve said before, their song, Poetic Justice, even became the 26th highest song on the Billboard Hot 100 during 2012 . However, this is the last time these artists ever friendly collaborated. During August of 2013, Lamar took shots at Drake and the rap game during his feature on Big Sean’s, Control. According to Billboard, Kendrick took shots at J. Cole, Drake, Meek Mill, Pusha T, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, Mac Miller, Big Sean, Wale, Big K.R.I.T., and Jay Electronica. He said that, although he loves and respects them, he is going to try and wipe away their reputation, and make sure that their core fans even forget who they are. Drake eventually responded to this diss by stating, “I didn’t really have anything to say about it. It just sounded like an ambitious thought to me. That’s all it was. I know good and well that Lamar’s not murdering me, at all, on any platform. So, when that day presents itself, I guess we can revisit the topic.” Over the next few years, although the two artists threw a few jabs at each other over the years, nothing groundbreaking happened until October of 2023, when Drake and J. Cole made history. According to Billboard, the two made their first ever Hot 100 No. 1 song, First Person Shooter. Drake and Cole share the spotlight as they boast about being stadium status MCs. “Love when they argue the hardest MC/is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? / We the big three like we started a league/ but right now, I feel like Muhammad Ali.”. This one quote by Cole sparked Lamar’s inspiration to start one of the biggest forms of beef in rap history. During March of 2024, Kendrick went full attack mode on Drake and Cole, during his feature on Future and Metro Boomin’s, Like That. He threw shots at Cole and Drake, denouncing their big three claim by saying, “It’s just big me.”. He also punctuated his verse by rapping about Drake’s album, For All the Dogs. “For your dog’s getting buried/ That’s a K with all these nines, he gon’ see Pet Sematary.” Drake later responded by releasing his diss-track on Lamar named Push Ups. He made fun of Kendrick’s foot size, along with the cover art being a small shoe size. Drake also pointed shots at Kendrick’s deal with Top Dawg Entertainment. He also dissed Rick Ross, The Weeknd, Metro Boomin, Future, and many more on this piece. A little bit later, Drake even released a second diss track named, Taylor Made Freestyle. However, according to Billboard, Drake used A.I., to simulate the voices of Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur. Tupac’s estate threatened to sue him, if the piece wasn’t removed from all of Drake’s social media accounts. He later obliged and scrubbed away the track from his history. Six days later, Lamar released his new bloodthirsty piece, Euphoria, where he calls Drake out by admitting to being his biggest hater and hating the way he walks, talks, and dresses. Also, not even seventy-two hours later, Kendrick created a new piece, named 6:16 in LA. According to Billboard , Lamar claims that Drake’s team is even working against him and that they have a mole that’s finding dirt on him. However, the next day, Drake made his third diss track, Family Matters, public. He also accompanied this with a music video. In this track, Drake snipes at Lamar and his alleged ruined relationship with his fiancée, Whitney Alford, which Drake claimed was filled with infidelity. Drake also made fun of A$AP Rocky, The Weeknd, Metro Boomin, Future, and Rick Ross. However, Kendrick made sure that the public wouldn’t switch over to Drake’s side, as he released two new pieces, mere minutes after Drake published Family Matters. His new pieces, Meet the Grahams, and Not Like Us, where Kendrick goes all out. According to Billboard, Kendrick accuses Drake of being a bad father, having a second hidden child, and an alcohol and gambling addiction. Although Drake tried to make a rebuttal with his latest diss track, The Heart Pt.6, it was too late, as Kendrick’s pieces have created a huge spark in the public, gaining lots of attention around the world, and even has his latest piece, Not Like Us, on the No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Even Euphoria reached the No. 3 spot during its second week. So, as you can see, this bad relationship has turned two of the biggest artists of the generation into two of the biggest celebrities of our time, creating a huge world-wide spark, and while we don’t know when this will end, we do know that this has become one of the biggest events of hatred and music of all time. SOURCES: https://www.billboard.com/lists/drake-kendrick-lamar-beef-timeline/may-5-2024-drake-addresses-allegations-on-the-heart-pt-6/ BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Veteran's Day Leah Ally Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching As Veterans Day approaches on November 11th, it is crucial to understand its importance, how to celebrate it, and its origins. Veterans Day is a time of honor and celebration for the men and women who have served in the armed forces. Recognizing their sacrifice, courage, and commitment to the United States truly reinforces how important Veterans Day is. This important day of commemoration stems from a rich history from the early 1900s and has since continually reminded citizens of the people who have fought for our freedoms. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Day was heavily influenced by World War I, also known as the Great War. It began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914. This catapulted a war as Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire (the Central Powers) fought against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan, and the United States (the Allied Powers). This resulted in incomprehensible technological warfare that would cause World War I to be one of the most devastating conflicts in history. It ended with millions of casualties between both sides’ civilians and soldiers. The conflict officially stopped on November 11, 1918. However, the Allied Powers would go on to create the Treaty of Versailles around a year later to fully mark the beginning of peace. By signing the treaty, the Central Powers would go on to lose territories, reduce military forces, and pay reparations to the Allied powers. However, the original date of ceased fire, November 11th, would become the official date for Armistice Day. Armistice means to “stand still arms” in Latin. However, the holiday itself had the same meaning it does today where the heroic acts of soldiers were celebrated and recognized by the public. According to the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum it was stated, “In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the Veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word 'Armistice' and inserting in its place the word 'Veterans.' With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.” In other words, instead of only celebrating soldiers from World War I, Armistice Day was reformed and expanded to celebrate all people who were involved in the armed forces. President Dwight D. Eisenhower is credited with this change, and it has ever since remained the same. When people think of Veterans Day they may not immediately think of celebrations; however, there are various ways in which it is honored around communities. Some common ways include parades, ceremonies, and personal tributes. Parades give a light-heartedness to Veterans Day as it allows for those who have served to march and be recognized as a hero. Additionally, it encourages young kids to better understand and participate in the holiday. On the other hand, ceremonies and personal tributes are more intimate ways of honoring Veterans Day as they bring attention to those who lost their lives while in service. These can include visiting memorials or hearing various speeches from loved ones or veterans. Both celebrations are a part of Veterans Day and prove to be important in awareness and honor. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, other countries also celebrate very similarly to honor their nation’s former armed forces and take the time to visit church services on what is known as “Remembrance Day.” All in all, Veterans Day is a solemn yet celebratory day honored by American citizens. As we recognize the upcoming November 11th, let us remember both the veterans who are still living and those who have passed to truly show our gratitude. Sources: Veterans Day Facts and Information - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs The History of Veterans Day | ASOMF Treaty of Versailles World War I: Summary, Causes & Facts | HISTORY History of Veterans Day - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Science & Technology Back to Sections Cool Creatures: Episode 3 - The Anglerfish By Matteo Somma Volume 2 Issue 3 January 14, 2022 Original artwork by Kimberly Shrestha Down in the deepest depths of the ocean lies a creature out of a storybook called an Anglerfish. These creatures live 2,000 meters below the surface of the ocean in complete darkness and rely solely on adaptations to survive. A few cool adaptations are the Anglerfish's ability to lure in other fish and its tooth position, both of which help it survive in some of the harshest climates on Earth. The Anglerfish's teeth help it survive and stay fed. They are large, razor-sharp structures that help them snag their prey, and they are pointed inward to make sure prey does not escape. Both adaptations help it to stay fed after it catches its food. The second (and coolest) anglerfish adaptation is its large glowing orb above its head. This bioluminescent orb attracts all types of prey such as small fish, snails, and crustaceans. Think about it as a bait on a hook: the orb acts as the bait, and when animals come close enough, the anglerfish strikes to kill and devour its prey. Then, its teeth come into play and snag the fish before it can escape the anglerfish. This is a keen example of “survival of the fittest,” or Darwinian theory. Anglerfish must be both physically tough and mentally strong to catch their next meal and survive. A FEW FUN FACTS: - Anglerfish are endangered and even recognized and protected by Greenpeace, a worldwide organization that protects endangered species. Due to the recent mass consumption of these vitamin-rich fish coupled with ocean pollution, their population is decreasing rapidly. - Though Anglerfish often drift in the currents of the deep ocean, they can swim extremely fast if in danger. If they do decide to swim, they can reach speeds of .24 body lengths per second. - Male Anglerfish are smaller than females and do not have a glowing orb. Rather, they fuse with females losing their organs as a way of reproduction. Thanks for tuning in to Cool Creatures: Episode 3. I hope you find the mysterious Anglerfish just as cool and crazy as I do. Hopefully, you learned something new, and next time you go swimming in the ocean, take a second and remind yourself about what is deep, deep down, lurking in the waters below... BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Government, Media, and the Pandemic: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly By Lucy Wu Volume 1 Issue 5 February 12, 2021 Image provided by InternetFreedom.org While the pandemic has taken more than 450,000 American lives, infected over 100 million people globally, and disrupted normalcy across the world, the resulting “infodemic” has infected countless swaths of people everywhere. Ranging from the idea that 5G networks cause COVID to drinking Clorox as a cure (please do not do that), misinformation was already an issue, but was only exacerbated by media during the pandemic. Since we live in a digital age where information is so immediately obtained from online sources, an entire population’s response to the pandemic can largely be shaped by which media they consume on a daily basis. Because some governments have laws and acts to regulate their media, some countries handled the dissemination of information differently during the pandemic: some for the better, and some for the far worse. The real question is, how did they handle it, and what were the outcomes? To answer this question, I primarily investigated the pandemic media response by two of our favorite global rivals: The United States of America and the People’s Republic of China. We will also include countries like Vietnam and New Zealand in our discussion. The Good: What Went Right (to some extent) Let’s start with some good news to lift spirits in troubling times. (Some) Countries Overcome COVID While the spread of COVID officially began in China, it quickly moved to countries such as Vietnam, Japan, the US, and many others by January of 2020. But wait: one of these is not like the others. You will notice many Asian countries were hit first with COVID outbreaks but managed to overcome the first wave and keep infection rates low, especially when compared to the U.S. How did they do it? It’s important to note that Asian countries already had experience dealing with infectious disease, namely the SARS outbreak in 2003. Culturally, Asian countries also grew accustomed to wearing masks, pandemic or not, and value “collective well-being over individual liberty,” a foil to values of the U.S. especially. According to the Lowry Research Group, Asian countries also were “prioritizing health above economic concerns, producing excellent public communications, […] and mandating behavior change.” Delving deeper into “excellent public communications,” we can see that “communication from public health officials and political leadership tended to be clear and consistent, reducing confusion and bolstering trust,” according to Shenglan Tang of the Duke Global Health Institute. We can also attribute this unity in action to the regulation of mass media: both China and Vietnam have their media regulated by the government; they rank within the five countries with the lowest Freedom of Press Index Score. All these traits combined contributed greatly to Asian countries having a strong advantage in dealing with a pandemic. Science Prevails Even with our mishaps, we still managed to procure multiple viable vaccines that are saving lives as we speak. For some countries who swiftly contained the virus (I’m looking at you, New Zealand), this was still a positive step even though they had things under control. And for the other countries that weren’t as fortunate: even when news outlets lied, people didn’t listen, and leadership failed us, the researchers were there to save the day. That in of itself deserves a round of applause and a sigh of (momentary) relief. The Bad: What We (maybe) Could Have Changed Let’s face it. We probably could have handled this whole event a lot better than we did. The Blame Game This one is fun. In case you weren’t aware, the U.S (but mainly former President Trump) blamed China, and China blamed the US for the initial spread of the virus. Back and forth it went while the rest of the world watched in horror, but not shock. According to the World Health Organization, the virus was first identified in the Wuhan province of China. The specific origin is not yet known, but one would think that this fact would still eliminate much of the controversy surrounding the eternal question of “who started it, and who’s to blame?” Instead, conspiracy theories about the Chinese colluding to make COVID a bioweapon and wreak havoc on the Western world took form, and simultaneously, the Chinese used their vice grip on social media to say that in fact, the Chinese had won against the poor Westerners who were now crumbling under the virus. Interestingly, because former President Trump infamously referred to the virus as the “China Virus,” Chinese media began taunting back, calling it the “America Virus.” US Media Now, maybe you’re someone who opens the news every 5 minutes, fact-checks authors on every article you read, and wouldn’t be fooled by the COVID myths. But imagine you’re not that person. Because of sensationalized titles, misleading charts, and biased sources, U.S media is a free but unregulated mess. To an outsider it’s pure confusion and chaos. To us, it’s just the norm of U.S politics and media. In an age where deep fakes are getting more realistic by the second and where “fake news” can forcibly convince others, it can be difficult to sift through the misinformation if you don’t know what to look for. Instead, it’s easier than ever to be sucked into the vortex of believing everything you read and trusting misguided sources. As a result, it’s clear that some groups in the U.S were extremely afflicted by poor guidance and a lack of accurate evidence. Alarmingly, many began protesting wearing masks and generally disregarding science and health officials, sending the U.S into a spiral of seemingly never-ending COVID cases. Too much trust in dishonest sources combined with a lack of confidence in mass media became two of America’s greatest pitfalls during the pandemic. Social Media There’s more. Social media only makes things worse. Because you can choose whom to follow and what media you consume, users build an “echo chamber,” whether they realize it or not. Social media algorithms are designed to give you the content that will keep you on their platform, so by blocking out opinions and values that don’t align with yours, they can keep you blind to the real dangers - like maybe a pandemic. Increasingly, there is a lack of discussion and thought which has been replaced by blaming and arguing instead, deciding who is wrong without consideration for other viewpoints. What does this mean during a global health crisis? The lack of a clear directive and coordination between government and health bodies created a further chasm in the US response to the pandemic, since people lacked confidence and trust in mass media to provide them with accurate information. Instead, people established their own groups on Facebook, Reddit, and other platforms, to confirm their own viewpoints on how to address the pandemic (a.k.a. confirmation bias) and give “advice” to others. Because the U.S places an emphasis on personal liberties, and in this case at the expense of the population’s health, the spread of misinformation across the Internet was rampant like a wildfire in brush – and in fact there was a time when Australian bushfires were our biggest problem. The Ugly: What Was Unfixable (and at the point of no return) Brace yourself. This is not pretty. 450,000 Deaths and Counting... We’ve almost become desensitized to that number now. We knew the situation was bad, but how did it get that much worse? Thankfully, at the time of writing, we seem to be on the mend. To start, former President Trump issued a series of tweets that not only contradicted safety information from global health officials, but also admonished and downplayed the virus. In the last few days of his term, Facebook and Twitter had (temporarily) banned Trump from accessing both of his media accounts in an attempt to prevent the spread of further misinformation and, incidentally, violence. Compared with the rest of the world, U.S politics has also become increasingly polarized, with sensationalized headlines covering divisions between liberals vs. conservatives, Democrats vs. Republicans, who’s right and who’s wrong, on and on it goes. In contrast to the Asian countries discussed above, because the U.S was disjunct and uncoordinated in its communication between government and people, a lack of clear instruction hindered the actual response to the pandemic. From there, people chose which set of directions they wanted to follow: either those given by the President, or those given by health officials. This is when the U.S shot itself in the foot: by preserving personal freedoms of speech to a point where people actively tried to harm others, misinformation ran wild, people were infected, and lives were reduced to numbers on a graph. When lives are endangered, politics should have no place in a global pandemic. Whistleblowers Circling back to the onset of the pandemic in Wuhan, China, Dr. Li Wenliang, an ophthalmologist at the Wuhan Central Hospital, was largely credited for being the first person to alert others about a SARS-like virus circulating through patients. He warned friends, family members, and colleagues via the Chinese regulated platform WeChat, but fortunately yet unfortunately, his private chatroom messages were leaked to the Chinese Internet where it was only a matter of time before officials found it. As typical of the Chinese Government, they censored and silenced him, forcing him to sign a letter of admonition from the Wuhan Public Security Bureau for spreading “untrue statements about seven confirmed SARS cases.” Li later passed away on February 7th, 2020, after contracting the virus from a patient. Needless to say, many lives, tears, and moments could have been saved had the Chinese health officials taken the claims of any of the 8 whistleblowers seriously, instead of tightening their control over freedom of speech. Chinese media regulation is a double-edged sword: on one hand they efficiently and clearly disseminated important directives to their people while censoring the lies and misinformation, which contained the spread of COVID and saved lives. On the other hand, protests arose for the millionth time to address the lack of personal freedom of speech, which would have prevented health officials from opening Pandora’s Box in the first place. The Aftermath: Thoughts and Reflections That was a lot to unpack. While we’ve created a vaccine to address the raging virus, government regulation of media still needs a solution: how much do we regulate media to protect the masses, while still preserving a reasonable level of freedom of speech? While we wait for a response, we should aim to practice media literacy at school, the workplace, and at home. In fact, just as we wear masks and wash our hands, we should train ourselves to spot misinformation, because staying aware is the best way to fight the urge to blindly trust whatever we hear and read. Clearly, this is an urgent issue that requires immediate government attent- what’s that? Oh right: we have mental health to take care of and people to vaccinate, all on top of managing an ongoing pandemic. Right. Guess we’ll have to put this on our list for later. See you all on the other side when this is over, and if it doesn’t end, you can find me in New Zealand. Sources Bagherpour, Amir, and Ali Nouri. "COVID Misinformation Is Killing People." Scientific American , Springer Nature America, 11 Oct. 2020, www.scientificamerican.com/article/covid-misinformation-is-killing-people1/. China Covid-19: How State Media and Censorship Took on Coronavirus." BBC , 29 Dec. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55355401. Funke, Daniel, and Daniela Flamini. "A Guide to Anti-Misinformation Actions around the World." Poynter , Poynter Institute, www.poynter.org/ifcn/anti-misinformation-actions/. Jennings, Ralph. "Asian Countries Handle New COVID-19 Cases without Lockdowns." VOA , 7 Dec. 2020, www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/asian-countries-handle-new-covid-19-cases-without-lockdowns. Kantis, Caroline, et al. "UPDATED: Timeline of the Coronavirus." Think Global Health , Council on Foreign Relations, 15 Jan. 2021, www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/updated-timeline-coronavirus. McGuirk, Rod. "Australia Accuses China and Russia of Virus Disinformation." AP News , Associated Press, 17 June 2020, apnews.com/article/e869b34c1e04fde924efd0f0602b3d11. National Geographic . 18 Sept. 2020, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/09/coronavirus-origins-misinformation-yan-report-fact-check-cvd/. Penn, Michael. "How Some Asian Countries Beat Back COVID-19." Duke Global Health Institute , 12 Aug. 2020, globalhealth.duke.edu/news/how-some-asian-countries-beat-back-covid-19. Sherman, Justin. "Government Information Crackdowns in the Covid-19 Pandemic." DigitalCommons , 25 Aug. 2020, digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1059&context=research. Siemaszko, Corky. "Why Are Americans so Confused about Covid-19? Blame Trump, Cornell Study Says." NBC News , NBC Universal, 1 Oct. 2020, www.google.com/amp/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna1241707. "2020 World Press Freedom Index." Reporters without Borders , rsf.org/en/ranking. World Health Organization. "Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Advice for the Public: Mythbusters." World Health Organization , 23 Nov. 2020, www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters. BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Zainab- Kimberly Shrestha Kimberly Shrestha February 24, 2023 Volume 3 Issue 3

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Behind the Rallies: Your 2025 Girls’ Badminton Team Rehmat Kaur Volume 5 Issue 5 July 5, 2025 Image Provided By Coach Croce In this article, through Q&As and team surveys, we’ve uncovered the perfect superlatives for our players, managers, and Coach C. Everyone on this team were incredibly kind, talented, and full of personality—and I felt genuinely lucky to be part of such an amazing group. Meet the Team: Players : Singles: Rehmat Kaur Melanie Cevada Iman Ali Doubles: Richmia Erisnor & Marcia Salinas Melany Orozco & Maura Lavigne Baconaje Navrose Kudlas & Sahar Ali Leigha LaJoie & Angelina Gonzalez Exabition Players: Mariana Gomez, Alianiz Visnay, Destiny McNulty, Garima Rana Magar, Makhila Crosley, Lia Federique, Madison Mohan, and Jasreen Kaur Managers : Afaf Aswad, Ariana Hack, and Thailyn Cruz Coach : Coach Croce Team Superlatives Who’s most likely to be caught dancing during warm-ups? Top Pick : Richmia Erisnor “She’s always dancing to the Badminton playlist” Honorable Mentions: (Rehmat, Marcia) Who would win if badminton matches were based on vibes alone?  Top Pick : Marcia Salinas “She’s so chill and fun to be around with” Honorable Mentions: (Melanie C., Iman) Who has the best game-day energy (in their zone, hyping others, etc.)?  Top Pick : Navrosedip Kundlas “Her energy is amazing!” Honorable Mentions: (Sahar, Destiny) Who’s most likely to make the team laugh when everyone’s tired?  Top Pick : Iman Ali “She is naturally a funny person with her bubbly personality” Honorable Mentions: (Angelina, Richmia) Who gives the best pep talks? Top Pick: Rehmat Kaur “She is always encouraging and plays her captain role very well” Honorable Mentions: (Coach C, Navrose) Who’s the loudest on court? Top Pick: Leigha LaJoie “She’s very energetic on court and is always up to something” Honorable Mentions: (Garima, Lia F) Who’s got the best "game face"—never letting anyone know if they’re nervous? Top Pick: Melanie Cevada “She displays her confidence and always looks super focused” Honorable Mentions: (Rehmat, Maura) Who’s the glue of the team—the one who holds everyone together? Top Pick: Coach Croce “She’s the backbone of the team and promotes unity among team players” “WE LOVE HER!” “The Best Coach” “So supportive” Honorable Mentions: (Rehmat, Navrosedip) Who’s quietly consistent—the one you always know you can count on? Top Pick: Maura Lavigne Baconaje “She is both consistent and encouraging and someone everyone can count on” Honorable Mentions: (Mariana, Sahar) Who’s the most underrated hero on the team? Top Pick: Ariana Hack “She’s always there when we need her and cheers us throughout our matches” Honorable Mentions: (Maura, Iman) Who do you think deserves a surprise award for just being awesome? Top Pick: Coach Croce "No words can describe how awesome she is” Honorable Mentions: (Jasreen, Makhila, Madison) “They are great underclassmen student-athletes. They are all very nice and show great potential.” Manager Spotlights Who’s most likely to say something completely unhinged but somehow still makes sense? Top Pick: Ariana Hack “ Always the one who says things out of pocket but at the end of the day she gets her point across.” “ARIANA WHAT R U DOING HERE???” “Everyone tells me I’m unhinged. And it’s true.” - A.H. Who’s the behind-the-scenes boss—quiet but always has everything under control? Top Pick: Thailyn Cruz “ Quiet queen who slays every day. She’s always at practice as well and is the reason why we slay so much as a team” “She manages to do everything.” “She is very consistent, and you can always have a good chat with her” Who’s the team’s voice of reason—calm, thoughtful, and always there when you need them? Top Pick: Afaf Aswad “THE SWEETEST. Always has some good advice” “She’s so thoughtful and soft spoken which makes it so easy to talk to her or have her cheer you up.” “She's always thoughtful through her actions and towards others.” Coach’s Corner: A quick Q&A and interview with Coach Croce: Intro: “My name is Miss Croce, and I am the Girls' Varsity Badminton Coach here at Valley Stream North. This is my third season coaching badminton and it has been a great experience. Badminton is a great sport for all; anyone can pick up a racket and have fun!” Who’s the most improved player this season (or someone who surprised you)? “ Most improved player is Iman Ali. She moved up to being a singles player this season.” Who makes you laugh during practice? “ Who makes me laugh is my whole team in their own ways.” Who’s the most focused under pressure? “The most focused under pressure is my first singles player Rehmat Kaur” What’s one thing this team does that makes you proud every single time? “ What makes me proud of my team is their kindness, positive attitudes and overall presence they bring to our matches and practices, this is a great group of girls.” If you had to give the team a collective nickname, what would it be? “The collective nickname for the team would be smiles.” I had so much fun every step of the way putting this together. For a lot of us, this was our last year on the team, and it meant even more to be able to grow together and build on everything we accomplished last season. We made history this year — the first-ever Girls' Badminton team at North to win the championship. From the very beginning, everyone showed up and gave it their all. We turned tough losses into wins, pushed through every challenge, and it all paid off in the best possible way. It really was the perfect ending to this chapter — the kind of ending we all hoped for. I’m going to miss this group so much. Everyone brought something different to the team, and somehow, all those different personalities just clicked. We made so many memories together that I’ll never forget. Thank you — for the moments that became memories, for the people who became family, and for being part of something I’ll carry with me, always. BACK TO TOP

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

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Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Explaining The Holy Month of Ramadan By Sahar Ali Volume 2 Issue 5 March 28, 2022 Image provided by Shutterstock What is Ramadan? Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is the holy month of fasting. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar signaling the beginning and end of Ramadan, which depends on the appearance of the crescent moon. In 2022, Ramadan will begin on April 2nd and end on May 1st; however, these dates may vary slightly across different countries due to the moon’s appearance. In Islam, it is believed that during Ramadan on Laylat al-Qadr , also known as the “Night of Power,” God revealed the holy book for Muslims, known as the Quran, to Prophet Muhammad. Muslims believe that during Ramadan, individuals who fast, pray, and have faithful intentions will have all their past sins forgiven by God. What Muslims do during Ramadan The holy month of Ramadan is a time for Muslims to practice self-restraint, spiritual reflections, and growth. Ramadan allows Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate. Sawm , one of the five pillars of Islam, is practiced during Ramadan. Not only meaning the obligation to fast, but sawm also means refraining from food, drinking, unkind thoughts, and immoral behaviors. Before Muslims begin their fast for the day, they have a pre-dawn meal known as suhur (this word may vary between languages). Fajar , the morning prayer, signals to Muslims that their fast for the day has started. Maghrib , the prayer during sunset, allows Muslims to break their fast. Muslims break their fast with the meal known as iftar , which is usually “broken” with eating dates, following Prophet Muhammad’s actions. The fasting hours change with seasons, with summer fasts being longer (16+ hours) than winter fasts (8+ hours). Additional prayers, also known as tarawih , are offered at night and are generally performed in mosques. During tarawih , the entire Quran may be recited throughout Ramadan. Zakat (charity), one of the five pillars of Islam, is obligatory during Ramadan. All Muslims must give 2.5% of all their assets to charity each year. How sawm is invalidated and reasons why individuals don’t have to fast You have probably heard of Muslims fasting, but have you ever heard that fasts can sometimes become invalid? Yes, you heard that right! A Muslim’s fast can become invalid if they eat or drink on purpose. If an individual forgets that they’re fasting and accidentally eats or drinks, their fast is still valid because they did not mean to consume anything. If a Muslim is ill or traveling during Ramadan, they are not obligated to fast. Muslim women who are pregnant or nursing, the weak and old, travelers on long journeys, children, and the mentally ill are excused from fasting. Menstruating women cannot fast, but it is not because they are considered impure. Instead, it is because it becomes harder to fast when a woman is menstruating, which is why God has made this time easier for women. Healthy adults and older children must fast, but if they miss any of the reasons listed above, they will have to make the missing fasts up after Ramadan is over. The end of Ramadan Eid al-Fitr’s “Feast of Fast-Breaking” celebrations mark the end of Ramadan. It is one of the two major holidays in the Islamic calendar, the second one being Eid al-Adha. This holiday marks the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca that all Muslims are expected to make at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to. The pilgrimage is known as hajj . During Eid al-Fitr, people wear new clothes, delicious food is made, gifts are given, the graves of deceased family members are visited, people pray in mosques, and gather with their families. BACK TO TOP