Category Archives: Editorials/Student Voice

Editor’s Note: The Plaid Line publishes editorials that contain opinions that are those of the student authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the the Plaid Line, HPSH, or its staff.

Editorials/Student Voice

The curse of self-awareness

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By: Mia Delgado

The image shows a screenshot of Shinki Ikari from episode 26 of the 1995 animated series ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ during an abstract, psychological sequence. 

Self-awareness is, by many, deemed as a positive aspect and is often encouraged. While there are obvious benefits to self-awareness — the disadvantages are often overlooked. 

What people usually don’t know is that there is a hidden cost to this truth: a psychological confinement that happens when the lens of consciousness is permanently turned inward. 

For me, it has always been in my nature to be the observer — to watch everyone from my little corner. Given that I was in control, I was able to find a sense of enjoyment.

Except now, noticing things has become something pretentious and often depressing. 

I often think, “How has it come to this?”

I used to be a very naive and reckless person. Because I hurt many people in the past — I turned to introspection. 

But lately, I’ve grown deeply fearful of the unknown, especially of people. The thing I fear is not the person themselves, but the torture that comes from their evaluations. 

Since we cannot control the way we are perceived by other people, we are forever confined to their judgement. 

Their scrutinizing gaze is always on us — the performer — and if we were to fail, we believe some sort of great reckoning awaits us. 

At least that’s what we tell ourselves.

And so we build this metaphorical mask in order to gain validation from the Other. We sense that if we are unable to complete a task perfectly, without a single flaw, then we would cease to do anything at all. 

We become so focused on the supposed punishment — the “what ifs” — that we eventually stagnate; we forget what it is to simply be. We would rather do absolutely nothing at all than to be rejected for the person we actually are. 

When trying to explain this perception to others, they often tell us to “stop overthinking it”, which is easier said than done. Because once you become aware, you cannot simply unsee what you’ve already seen; you completely lose the luxury of ignorance.

This awareness becomes so integral to your life that you are no longer able to live in the moment.

You are no longer able to enjoy simple tasks meant to bring you pleasure. Instead, you are forever reduced to a machine; you no longer think or feel for yourself but for the machine that you are operating.

And so, in trying to make everyone else feel comfortable with your life, you become a stranger to your own.

At the end of your life, you will realize that in reality, the stage was always empty.

Editorials/Student Voice, Science/Nature, World

Water and food crisis

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By: Tenley Em

A view of most of North America taken from a low orbit of about 826 km altitude by NASA/NOAA/GSFC/Suomi NPP/VIIRS/Norman Kuring via Wikimedia Commons

Currently, about 266 million people are said to be at risk of hunger, and on the other hand 1.8 billion people don’t have access to a safe and reliable water source. We get our water from nature; it comes from rivers, lakes, etc. We are lucky to have the privilege to be able to use and drink this water, but when our ecosystems are overused, polluted, or damaged, we put our own water supply at risk. If water sources are not taken care of, the water we use could become unsafe, unreliable, or even more expensive. Water is something we need every single day, so when we damage the places that provide it, we are also putting ourselves at risk by making the water unsafe for ourselves.

Another major issue is climate change and the fact that we are continuing to warm the Earth. The world is already getting hotter, so making it even warmer can create even more serious problems. Climate change can affect where clouds and rainfall move. One example is the expansion of the Hadley Cell, which can cause areas like sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Central America to get less rain.

At the same time, other areas can experience more precipitation, leading to more flooding. At least 21 million people around the world are currently at risk from river flooding, and that number could possibly increase to 54 million by 2030. Floods can destroy homes, farms, roads, and even sources of clean water. For example, severe flooding in Bangladesh affected about 5.7 million people and caused 115 deaths. This shows just how serious flooding can be and how many people can be affected by it.

Healthy ecosystems are also a type of natural infrastructure. This means that nature can do some of the things that we would usually need to build systems for. Forests, wetlands, rivers, and plants can help provide clean water and protect communities from flooding. They can also filter pollution and prevent soil from being washed away. For example, wetlands can absorb and hold a large amount of extra water during a flood. Trees and other plants can also help keep dirt and pollution out of rivers and lakes. When we destroy forests and wetlands, we lose some of this natural protection. As a result, flooding and water pollution can become even worse.

All of this connects to the food crisis around the world. People need water to grow food, and farmers depend on water for their crops and animals. When there is a drought, crops can die because there is not enough water. On the other hand, floods can destroy crops by giving them too much water, and people can end up with less food.

Another issue that is happening around our world right now is the food crisis. In 2024, more than 295 million people in 53 countries and territories are going through hunger. Millions of children also suffered from this because they did not have enough food. There are many different reasons people go hungry. Wars can destroy their farms and make it harder for food to reach people. Food can also become too expensive for families to afford. Climate change can make these problems even worse by causing droughts, floods, heat waves, and severe storms.

In 2024, around 96 million people faced serious food insecurity because of climate-related problems. When farmers lose their crops, there is less food available. This can also cause food prices to go up, making it even harder for families who are already struggling to afford what they need. Water and food are closely connected. Without clean and reliable water, it becomes much harder to grow food. Without healthy ecosystems, it also becomes harder to keep our water clean. Climate change can make both of these problems worse. This is why protecting the environment is so important.

There are things we can do to help. We can protect forests, wetlands, rivers, and lakes instead of destroying them. Farmers can use water more carefully and take steps to protect their soil. We can also work to prevent pollution from getting into our water sources. The Earth provides us with almost everything we need to survive, including food, water, clean air, and healthy land. If we continue damaging the environment, our problems with water and food could become even worse. Taking care of nature is not just about protecting plants and animals. It is also about taking care of ourselves and making sure future generations have a healthy planet to live on.

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Editorials/Student Voice, PRIZM, Student Creative Art, Student Creative Writing

‘Tobenai Tsubasa’ – ‘Wings That Cannot Fly’

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Story & Art by: Mia Delgado

This is a black and white manga illustration showcasing an early design of Sai Ishikawa. The artwork features a mirrored diptych of the character leaning against a black cross, inscribed with vertical katakana characters spelling out his name. A digital glitch effect is applied across the mirrored right side.
This is a black and white manga illustration showcasing an early design of Sai Ishikawa. The artwork features a mirrored diptych of the character leaning against a black cross, inscribed with vertical katakana characters spelling out his name. A digital glitch effect is applied across the mirrored right side.

A quick disclaimer before you read: I decided to be completely honest and look at this project through a deeply personal, raw, and philosophical lens regarding mental health. It touches on some personal themes, but writing this was a way for me to express how these struggles have shaped my identity.

Trapped in a broken household ruled by trauma, a quiet boy attempts to freeze his emotions, convinced that the world is inherently violent and cruel. But when his cold armor drives him to push away the only friend who ever loved him, he is forced into an existential crisis where he must choose between disappearing into the abyss or finding the courage to face reality.

Set in Tokyo, Japan, the story follows Sai Ishikawa. On a bleak afternoon, the Ishikawa family receives a phone call announcing the death of a family member in prison. Emotionally numb from trauma, Sai blankly watches his family collapse into grief.

As he begins to drown in bitterness, his best friend, Misaki Asakura, becomes his ultimate lifeline. When Misaki attempts to establish healthy boundaries and form new connections, Sai perceives it as a personal betrayal. He decides to leave the relationship and blames Misaki for betraying him.

With nothing left to lose, he resorts to self-destructive behavior. Driven to academic perfection by an emotionally neglectful mother, Sai weaponanizes disdain to mask his alienation.

Later, his path unexpectedly crosses with Misaki in Shibuya. Sai confronts him about the abandonment, but Misaki rejects the blame. He reveals that he was the one left behind. Unable to handle the truth, Sai collapses into a nearby alleyway.

‘Wings That Cannot Fly’ is a project I started in June 2026. It all began with a conversation with my mentor.

Since I cannot imagine more than what I have already known, I have a difficult time in creation. People love abstract ideas — anything that offers them reprieve from a stagnant world.

Because of this, I began to believe that I am not suited to be an artist of any sort. But then my mentor told me, “Inspiration confers creation. Nothing can be created within a vacuum; all the people you deeply inspire must’ve also had their fair share of inspirations.” Additionally, someone suggested that we should create more than we consume — and that’s exactly why I started writing this manga.

Despite being a semi-autobiography, this manga draws major ideas from Osamu Dazai, Franz Kafka, Albert Camus, Friedrich Nietzsche, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and much more. I also draw great admiration from the storytelling and artistic expressions of artists such as Inio Asano, Tsutomu Nihei, and Shinichi Sakamoto.

In a sense, this project has become my emotional outlet — a way to conceptualize my own experiences and flaws in order to understand myself better. 

The story that I am writing asks the question, “Knowing that we live in an inherently flawed universe, what is it that we can do instead of succumbing to absolute nihilism?” Well, I cannot provide a definitive answer to that since I am not a psychologist nor a philosopher myself, but I think that we all should try our best to continue to live in spite of our inherent struggles.

This manga does not try to sugarcoat anything; it shows the mundane, the raw ugliness of human nature, and shows experiences that no human should ever experience at such an age. The main reason I wish to create this story is because I want people to know about the truth of living with mental illness. Nowadays, people view mental illness as an inconvenience or simply an incapacity to cope with standard reality.

But to me, mental illness is like a stark reminder of the human condition — the realization that we cannot simply create a life consisting solely of favorable events. It reminds me that this is as human as it gets.

To learn to coexist with our darkness instead of getting rid of it is something truly admirable. Instead of viewing vulnerability as a weakness, we should see it as something beautiful. Because in essence I think that these flaws are essential to our human condition.

The reason I want to propose my idea to the people out there is because I believe mental illness has become prevalent now more than ever. And while my story may not offer a concrete solution for mental illness, it could definitely offer insight into why these things happen. More than anything, I want people to relate to my work.

My wish is for people with similar experiences to find a place where they aren’t judged for how they feel or why they choose to continue to live like this. To feel that they aren’t alone in their struggles — that they deserve to find some sort of belonging in a world that ultimately punishes them for being human.

Since this story is still in the writing process, there are many things that can still change. For example, while I have envisioned the ending, I’m still unsure on how to go about it. There is just so much freedom to it that it makes me anxious.

One thing is certain though; I don’t want to create a happy ending. To do so would mean that my experiences would have been in vain, and ultimately feel undeserving. While not necessarily tragic, the ending will be one where human nature eventually overrides ideology. 

Something to keep in mind is that ‘Wings That Cannot Fly’ is not made for everyone. There will be people who reject and disagree with my ideas, and that’s totally fine, because what I’m creating is not meant for the general public. It will be uncomfortable, disturbing, or perhaps even mundane for those comforted.

Editorials/Student Voice, School Life

Laziness Is A Lie

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By: Avi Wyler and Louise Wallraff

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

When I was in 7th grade, I was a huge procrastinator. When teachers gave me homework assignments, I was much more likely to put them off then do any of it. I’d go home, stay on my computer until bedtime, go to bed late, rinse and repeat. At my very worst, I was ignoring over 35 overdue assignments, wasn’t participating in extracurricular activities and was barely participating in class.

What I have just described is something that many people would consider laziness — I wasn’t getting work done, I wasn’t taking care of myself and, most importantly, there were no obvious signs that I was trying to change, or even cared. But here’s the thing: I was trying to change, and I did care. A lot. So much, in fact, that every afternoon spent on my computer was a desperate attempt to distract myself from how much stress my overdue work was giving me.

That feeling of anxiety is often felt by others that have had similar experiences to me. Most people want to do well and live good lives. Most people care about the work they put in. It’s not an issue of morality, or even work ethic. But then what is the issue? Why can’t so many people get themselves to do work? And is laziness even a thing?

To understand this, we first have to look at where the idea of productivity comes from, and that question is easy to answer. Since the moment America was founded, values of “self-reliance” and “diligence”, rooted in religious beliefs, have always been core principles of society. In fact, they were historically used to rationalize slavery and are still used to justify economic oppression: it was your fault you couldn’t do the work, not the fault of those who were putting it on your shoulders.

Today, we start preparing for our future jobs from kindergarten, and don’t get a break until 65, the average year of retirement. This is in order to make enough money to survive in America, with the average household expenditure costing 80,000, but also because it becomes our only purpose. When how hard we work is tied to our value as people, we live to work instead of work to live. It should not be this way. But what is actually happening in our bodies that causes us to feel that motivation at all?

Our motivation is tied to a host of different things. According to psychiatrists Elenor Simpson and Peter Balsam at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, whether we’re motivated to do something at all is related to the weighing of costs and benefits. This cost/benefit balance can change drastically depending upon how rewarding doing a task feels and the physical/mental state of our bodies.

If you are in an environment that causes you anxiety, being in a constant fight-or-flight mode can significantly impact your motivation. People that have less dopamine in their system also struggle with motivation because completing a task doesn’t feel as rewarding. And if you feel stuck, or overwork yourself, motivation can also crash significantly in the form of burnout.

Unfortunately, most people that suffer from motivation issues aren’t given the help or understanding necessary to get back on their feet, causing a cycle of procrastination that can lead to feelings of hopelessness.

The idea of laziness and a non-stop work ethic ingrained in our culture is detrimental to us as students. We are surrounded by it: from parents pressuring us to work harder and get A’s, from teachers and coaches piling more work on our plates, and from never ending clips on social media of successful people teaching us new strategies and techniques to achieve perfection. Our brains constantly checking off items on an imaginary checklist makes us feel like we can never get a break, and on top of that, phone notifications streaming in force us to always be “on.”

We need to stop being so hard on one another. Equating our bodies’ response to a stressful world as “laziness” only makes things worse. Instead, we should treat signs of toxic productivity seriously so we can stop feeling so burnt out all the time. To paraphrase Harvard Health Publishing, feelings like a false sense of urgency, the inability to relax, and guilt or shame about not accomplishing enough can be combatted with deep breathing, journaling, and examining your relationship with downtime.

Take a break! Make sure to find time in your week to actually relax or do the things you enjoy! Even if those suggestions don’t help, be comforted by the fact that many others are going through the same thing. There isn’t something wrong with you; the whole concept of productivity being tied to self worth just comes from a system that is trying to blame you for its own faults.

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Basketball, Editorials/Student Voice, Hockey, Sports

NBA and NHL overlap

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By: Fred Gallatin

29 September 2016, Centre Bell, Montreal, Quebec
By: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA via Wikimedia Commons

The NBA and NHL seasons began overlapping in the 1970’s and have not looked back from there. There are a wide range of positive aspects to this, but they are met with negatives that spark the question, “Should the NHL and NBA seasons overlap with each other?”

The positives of the overlap include sports equinoxes, cultural impact, shared audiences, and the display of technological prowess by arena staff and engineers. 

A sports equinox is a nickname given to a night where all four U.S. major sports have a game in progress simultaneously. Sometimes, cities have a multitude of teams playing at the exact same time mere minutes away from each other. 

A great example of this is the recent Minnesota sports equinox. The Minnesota Wild, Timberwolves, and Twins all won their games in the Twin Cities mere hours apart from each other. Additionally, the Wolves and Wild clinched playoff series victories with these wins, making it arguably the greatest night in Minnesota sports history. 

For a state with historically awful playoff reputations, it was huge for these teams to advance in the playoffs on the same night, at home, and in front of their loyal fans. This equinox was a huge event for the entire state and will be talked about for years to come.

Another positive of the overlap is shared audiences. A group of fans tuning into an NBA playoff game a little bit early have the opportunity to see the ending to an electric playoff hockey game that they otherwise would not have seen. New fans are born, more people talk about other leagues, and TV ratings go up. 

Hundreds of millions of dollars are poured into stadiums across America annually. The NHL and NBA overlap is their time to show off the modern technological advances and aesthetic designs that elevate sports to another level. 

In cities like Boston, Los Angeles, and New York City, the largest arenas can switch from a hockey arena to a basketball court, or vice versa, in just a few hours. This means it is entirely possible for someone to sit down for a Boston Bruins NHL playoff game and stay for a Boston Celtics NBA playoff game without moving from their seat.

This goes hand in hand with the previously listed positives because it adds to a city’s excitement for, and participation in, sports and the surrounding activities. 

Although the positives are very strong, there are definitely negative aspects to the league overlap. Viewership dilution, unfair media coverage, and fatigue are often brought up in opposition to the overlap. 

Since there are NBA and/or NHL playoff games every single day for two straight months, there is bound to be some unavoidable scheduling overlap. When this occurs, restaurants and bars have to cut audio, fans have to decide between games, and electric moments are either missed or ignored. 

Typically, fans will choose to watch the NBA when given the choice. In fact, the NBA gets nearly four times as much viewership as the NHL. This leads to the next negative aspect of the overlap, which is unfair media coverage.

ESPN, SportsCenter, and other media outlets like social media pages are fighting for their lives each spring. Eliminations, budding rivalries, important injuries, and other storylines simply are not given the attention they deserve. This primarily affects the NHL, which, in turn, makes it even less likely that people will choose it over the NBA.

If you follow sports and open social media anywhere between April and June, you are guaranteed to see some NBA coverage, clips, or news. The same cannot be said for the NHL. Some feel that the sport must work harder to be publicized, but I believe that it comes down to poor TV deals and a cultural shift towards basketball and football as opposed to hockey.

Finally, fan and player fatigue are a huge drawback for these long, overlapping league calendars. No matter how relaxing you think watching sports may be, it is wildly different during the playoffs. Passionate fans count down the hours until a pivotal game in the series, and it undoubtedly takes a toll on them. 

I can speak on this firsthand. During the in-tandem Wild and Wolves playoff series earlier this month, it was difficult giving both the attention they deserved while not letting it affect my daily schedule more than it should. Additionally, even by the end of the second round, it got overwhelming having such important games every single day.

Many players have also said this, and it is a relatively common belief that early playoff series should be shortened to preserve the energy and excitement. Too often, fans are bored by the time that the NBA or Stanley Cup Finals roll around. This results in an anti-climactic ending to a super important stretch for many teams, cities, and fans across the country.

Overall, the overlapping NBA and NHL league calendars have positive and negative aspects. In my opinion, this format adds excitement to an otherwise dull portion of the sports calendar. In the absence of football, basketball and hockey have to carry the American sports scene for the spring and summer due to baseball being near its all-time low. 

I believe that this league overlap is a good thing. The cons are not enough to outweigh the pros, which include city pride, cultural events, newfound passions, and investments into city economies. Although chaotic, these overlapping playoff campaigns bring unmatched excitement to sports fans and organizations alike. As the NBA and NHL playoffs begin to wind down in June, remember to appreciate the beautiful chaos that ensues every season with these sports.

As a die-hard Minnesota sports fan, I will never forget the sports equinox that saw us eliminate the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Stars three hours apart. The future is now, and next spring should be one to remember for the Wolves and Wild as they look to continue their ascension to championship contention.

Editorials/Student Voice, Science/Nature

Why diabetes is so dangerous

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By: Abreham Debele

4 January 2018, http://www.scientificanimations.com/wiki-images/, by: Manu5, via Wikimedia Commons

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy for the rest of your life. In normal conditions, the body would break down food into sugar and release it into the bloodstream, where insulin acts like the key and releases the sugar into the cell. Instead though, people with diabetes have too much sugar staying in the blood. To tackle this, diabetic patients monitor their sugar levels through their diet, glucose monitors, and insulin pumps.

Diabetes is a very serious health issue because it kills about two million people a year. Because of this, it’s known as a leading health challenge these days.

This issue means much more than just a medical diagnosis. It’s a chronic disease that affects you for the remainder of your life. Risks can include serious issues like heart disease, vision loss, and kidney failure. Despite the many risks and struggles, people with diabetes are still determined to live healthy lives, and doctors around the world work constantly to provide better treatments and technology every year.

Throughout the 21st century, diabetes has become a representation of why the importance of balancing nutrition, exercise, and medicine is highly important.

Throughout the years, the hope for better diabetes management has grown as a result of scientific breakthroughs and changes in how we understand human anatomy. Researchers and doctors have announced new ways to help the body process sugar more effectively through advanced special tools like insulin pumps, continuous monitors, and glucose monitors. Immediately, thousands of patients benefited from these changes, and healthcare companies found healthier ways to prevent dangerous medical complications. While this isn’t a total cure yet, the progress that has been made in medicine allows people to stay healthy, active, and still enjoy life.

Editorials/Student Voice, Sports

NIL and Transfer Portal

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By: Fred Gallatin

Over the last few years, the landscape of college basketball has completely shifted when it comes to NIL and the transfer portal. As recently as 2018, there were harsh restrictions on players looking to get paid or transfer schools. 

Players were banned from receiving any benefits from schools that the league deemed “excessive”. The power of this rule was displayed with the NCAA’s “Cream Cheese Rule” that was repealed in 2014. It stated that schools could provide prospective student-athletes with bagels but not extra spreads like cream cheese or peanut butter.

Before the rule changed, players who accepted even small amounts of assistance, food, or money lost scholarships, eligibility, and professional opportunities. Collegiate athletes struggled to make ends meet. They spent so much time in the classroom and around their sport that working a job was extremely difficult. 

After winning the 2014 National Championship, UConn star Shabazz Napier famously told reporters, “Some nights I go to bed starving but still have to play up to my capabilities”. This enraged the general public and resulted in the NCAA providing athletes with access to unlimited meals. 

As college sports (specifically football and basketball) shifted into a borderline amateur league, schools began bringing in millions of dollars. Additionally, the NCAA makes more than a billion dollars annually from March Madness alone. 

In 2009, UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon was featured in EA’s NCAA Basketball 09 without giving permission or receiving any compensation. In August 2014, after five years of dispute, the O’Bannon vs NCAA case ended with athletes being granted the right to their own name, image, and likeness (NIL). 

Still, the NCAA was hesitant to allow players control and money. This was the case until 2021, when the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the NCAA’s restrictions violated antitrust laws. Additionally, states began passing laws that made it illegal for schools to punish athletes for accepting NIL benefits. This forced the NCAA to change their stance on player revenue. 

Also in 2021, the one-time transfer rule was added, which meant players could transfer schools for the first time and immediately play without sitting out a season like in previous years. This rule was soon replaced with the modern transfer portal, which essentially allows players to become free agents within the NCAA. 

Since these changes were implemented, college basketball is a different game than it was five years ago. Poaching culture, roster instability, and locker room disparities now run rampant. 

When players at mid-major schools have a breakout season, they are almost immediately poached by a larger, wealthier school. A prime example of this is Kansas State’s Nigel Pack, who, in 2023, entered the transfer portal and headed to Miami for $400,000 and a luxury car. He and the Hurricanes immediately made it to the Final Four in their first season together. 

The Michigan Wolverines won the National Championship in 2026, and have been heavily criticized for their usage of the transfer portal and NIL. After their head coach, Dusty May, left Florida Atlantic in 2024, he began assembling a formidable roster that leaned heavily on the transfer portal. 

The team’s entire starting lineup was poached by Michigan from a variety of schools. These starters and their former schools are listed below.

F Morez Johnson, Illinois

F Yaxel Lendeborg, UAB

C Aday Mara, UCLA

G Elliot Cadeau, North Carolina

G Nimari Burnett, Alabama and Texas Tech

All these players were given massive, but undisclosed amounts of money to transfer. 

With the new fluidity of college sports, building a long-standing roster that shares values and relationships is difficult. Coaches like Michigan State’s Tom Izzo have spent decades developing their school’s expectations and culture. Senior night and other traditions have lost value due to the disappearance of the four-year player archetype.

Since 2021, roster turnover has doubled, meaning coaches have to work twice as hard to get their players to come back and assist in growing a well-cultured and strong program. 

Rivalries do not cut as deep, players lack connection to their peers and campus, and money controls the decisions of many players in the NCAA. 

Locker room disparity has also become a major concern in modern college basketball. For example, BYU star AJ Dybantsa made over 5 million dollars in NIL money this season, while some of his teammates only made a few thousand.

This damages team chemistry and sparks internal competitions between players. When combined with the impact of the transfer portal, tensions are higher than ever on many teams across the country.

Overall, a large majority of people believe that the transfer portal and NIL earnings are a good thing for the NCAA, but that it needs to be controlled more. 

The Emory Wheel said that “The transfer portal overshot the sweet spot of giving players deserved freedom and crossed the threshold of giving players too much authority on a team”. 

Players are able to live comfortably and capitalize on their hard work, but roster-building grows more difficult and team chemistry continues to dwindle. 

Smaller schools struggle to compete due to roster poaching, which results in less March Madness Cinderella runs and upsets. Small mid-major schools have one shot at doing damage before the players they built up are stolen by larger schools. 

Finally, what makes college basketball so special is slowly being phased out of the game. Rivalries, school pride, and tradition are becoming less prominent with each season that passes. It is important for players to make money and make decisions for the future, but something must be done to maintain the integrity and tradition of college basketball and other sports.

Editorials/Student Voice, School Life

Pros and cons of being homeschooled (high school edition)

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By: Arturo Benitez-Osorio

Image via Canvas

Homeschooling in high school is all about freedom and responsibility. On the pro side you can skip the social drama of high school and focus entirely on your own goals. You can also finish your work faster instead of the 7-8 hours of being at school waiting for the bell to ring giving you time for a job, sports, hobbies and more.

On the other hand, it can get very boring since you’re not socializing with people that much. Like going to a fun school event, daily classes with your friends and lunch. It’s also harder because you and your parents have to make sure to actually learn difficult subjects without a professional teacher standing there teaching y’all.

Is it a good idea?

It is good if you’re someone who wants to get a head start on life and doesn’t mind studying alone. It is bad if you use it as an excuse to sleep in all day and not do work or if you feel sad when you aren’t around with your friends.

Who should do it?

  • Someone who has a big goal and needs a flexible schedule
  • Someone who is bored in class but gets the work done early

Who shouldn’t do it?

  • Someone who loves to socialize and loves being part of a crowd and would feel left out
  • Someone who needs a teacher watching them to get any work done

Conclusion

If you need more time and need to have a flexible schedule, but you will know that you’ll do the work on time and wouldn’t have trouble learning alone without a professional teacher and have everything turned in, then homeschooling is for you. But, if you struggle to stay motivated on your own then stay in a traditional school.

Books/Art, Editorials/Student Voice, Tech/Games

The ghost in the machine: Is AI killing the artist or just the brush

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By: Weston Halgunseth

Robotic arm labeled ART-BOT 01 painting a colorful abstract canvas in a studio
A robotic arm creating a colorful abstract painting in an artist’s studio. Image created with AI

Introduction

For centuries art was defined by the muscle ache of musicians, paint soaked clothes, and pencil lead fingers of artists. To create means to physically struggle with concepts and tools. However, in the last few years a new artist has joined which is AI. While many celebrate this as a “new era” others fear we are trading human touch, meaning, originality for mere convenience and speed.

The rise of the machine

The statistics are hard to ignore. Today a vast majority of artists are using AI to generate or do most of the work with stuff like drawing, instruments, painting and books and stories. We have moved from a world where you had to spend months to years learning to play instruments, draw realistically, make complex stories, etc, to a world where you simply type “make me a story about ____, make me a song, etc” into a box.

What we gain vs What we lose

On one hand tech provides accessibility and speed especially with broke people that want to make music but are low on money but still want to learn. Another plus is that if you have a great idea but have no skill to make it, AI can help you express that idea. But the cost is steep. When a computer generates a piece of art, it lacks the element of human experience, emotion and overall just seems dull and boring most of the time, losing the stuff that made art pop.

The devaluation of “the doer”

The most concerning trend I saw is the shift from “doing”. If a machine can create a perfect art piece in seconds what happens to the person who spends hours practicing their art? I’m seeing a decline in dedication in art. As people become more used to the “perfection” of algorithms we risk entering a “post human” art era where everything looks and sounds “perfect, flawless, and downright inhuman”. It feels like there was no emotion or bigger picture when making it and it was just making it to look good.

The robbers

Much of the art AI makes isn’t original because AI uses the internet to learn. If it has to look at other art to get an idea of what art is, what is stopping it from just straight up copying or taking most of someone else’s art to make another “masterpiece”? There has been a lot of hate with this especially with stories and taking ideas and phrases from other texts for their “original” art pieces.

The path forward

We must decide if we want technology to be our pen, brush, pick, etc. or our helper and guide for art. The future of creativity depends on our ability to prioritize human “mistakes” and experiences that only a person can show, over an art piece made just to look good and get praise and fame.

Conclusion

Ultimately, a computer can mimic a heartbeat but it cannot feel the rhythm of the brain’s experiences and the emotions that come with that. As we move further into this digital age we must make a conscious effort to support the artists who are still picking up their art supplies and make sure they don’t fall out of the cycle.