The Triangle, Issue 6, Vol. 104

EDUCATION REFORMATION

THE TRIANGLE

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Nicolas Bowers

Lois Guest

Maia Jamieson

ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR

Aidan Brown

IN-DEPTH TEAM

Sarynel Barbosa Kuilan

Stella Gaylord

Annie Green

Cecilia Gutierrez

SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

Maggie Russell

Greta Schuetz

STAFF

Colin Amini

Mia Bowers

Gabe Carrilo

Chloe Feliciano

Jaedyn Greenlee

Owen Grimes

Bella Herbert

Brooklyn Hurt

Leo Iorio

Alexa Lanam

Gabe Manning

Gabe Marsh

Audrey Nordman

Cassie Osburn

Addisyn Pulley

Claire Rawlings

Gabby Revell

Caeden Sych

Maddie Williams

ADVISERS

Roth Lovins

Rachel McCarver

IN-DEPTH 16-19

PREVIEW ONLINE

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Editorial Policy

Education Reformation

How does the dismantaling of the Department of Education effect BCSC schools

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NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCED

A closer look at the details of the new elementary school

by Mia Bowers design by Aidan Brown

As enrollment at Southside Elementary School reaches nearly 900 students, according to the Indiana Department of Education, plans to build a new elementary school on the west side of Columbus have been progressing. Darin Sprong, who is the current principal at W.D. Richards Elementary and future principal of the new elementary school, spoke about why the new school is needed.

“Southside is nearing 1,000 kids, which is not ideal for a new elementary school,” Sprong said.

Dr. Brett Boezeman, assistant superintendent and finance operations for BCSC, stated other motives for the new school.

“The decision to build a new elementary school in the west side of town allows us primarily to do other projects within the other buildings in opening up space,” Bozeman said. “It [building a new elementary school] allows us to do lots of other things in other schools, which people are excited about.”

Junior Lucy Bergman, who lives on the west side of town where the school will be built, explained what she thinks about building the new school.

“I think this new elementary school will be a great addition to the community,” Bergman said. “I think this school is being built to help with crowding and also give people who live far out in Tipton Lakes a closer elementary school to go to.”

Sprong explained how he became interested in becoming involved in the new school.

“The discussion of the new school and the design meetings were public, so I attended those meetings and was intrigued by the design,” Sprong said. “I have been a principal in BCSC for a number of years and was looking for a new challenge.”

Bozeman spoke about how the

architects for the project were chosen.

“There were opportunities given to the community to listen to presentations given by four design architects, and Howler and Yoon was chosen out of these four,” Sprong said. “They are working with CSO Architects on the design of the school.”

Bozeman explained how the new elementary school will be part of a larger redistricting effort.

“We are interested in making corrections [to districting] across many schools just once. We don’t want to redistrict several times,” Bozeman said. “That frustrates people and confuses people. The community will be involved in that [the districting of the new school] starting in calendar year ‘26.”

Bozeman spoke about how students have been involved in the new school’s naming process.

“We have a DNF committee, which is the Districting and Facilities Committee, that meets quarterly,” Bozeman said. “The conversation was brought up there about how we could involve students in that process. We contacted the CSA schools, New Tech, Central, Fodra, and Lincoln, and we asked the kids to help us name the school.”

Bozeman noted that students, the public, and the school board have all had involvement in the naming process.

“They [the students] provided a whole list of 130 names that we then cleaned up to the 14 names that we offered the public for review and feedback,” Bozeman said. “We’ll spend the next few weeks working through that data, then bringing the recommendation to the DNF committee, and then to the school board. The school board will have a name for the school in the next few weeks.”

REACHING OUT

Students participate in a Reach fundraiser

by Gabby Revell design by Gabriel Carrillo

April 4, at 7 p.m. the Hampton Inn in Edinburgh filled with people with one common goal.

REACH Columbus, Inc. provides experiences and activities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Christy Farrell among others was one of the founding mothers of the program.

“REACH Columbus, Inc. was founded by a group of moms that wanted something better for our adult children with disabilities,” Christy Farrell said. “We are guided by a Board of Directors made up of caregivers, advocates, and parents.”

Christy Farrell is the current president of the Board of Directors.

“We love getting out in the community,” Christy Farrell said. “We spend time at the parks, library, downtown Columbus, and more. We post a lot on social media letting people know what we have been up to, sharing lots of pictures, sharing different facts to raise disability awareness, and offering ways for folks to partner with us.”

REACH had an Easter Trivia

Fundraiser on Friday, April 4 to raise money for their program.

“We always aim high,”

Christy Farrell said. “We would love to raise $5000 but know that is a tall order and realistically it will probably be around $2000-$2500.”

They hope to use the money to expand REACH beyond the day program, PAC services and the employment program they already offer.

“Ultimately we would love to offer apartments, some assisted,” Christy Farrell said. “Some of our participants don’t have the opportunity to live on their own at this time. We would love to build a community within those apartments. Our shorter-term goal is to keep serving these adults and expand as we are able - we have a limited number of spots available at each building”

Christy Farrell helped found REACH because her son Ryan Farrell has autism.

“Ryan, my middle son, has autism and this program has helped him grow in so many ways and gives him something to look forward to twice a week,” Christy Farrell said. “There are so many things that

I did not know when Ryan was younger and I want to make sure that other moms & dads are aware of all the programs and opportunities available for them.”

Junior Braeden Farrell is Christy Farrell’s youngest son.

“[REACH] is important to me because my brother has autism,” Braeden Farrell said. “It teaches him a lot of things that he doesn’t know how to do. They’ve been teaching him and just making that whole community better.”

Junior Karen Dutro participated in the Trivia Contest fundraiser.

“It is an Easter trivia night that will be a Table v. Table competition, all to benefit the REACH organization,” Dutro said.

Dutro is not directly involved in REACH but participated with family and friends to benefit the program.

“REACH is important to me because it is an organization that is based on compassion, education, and communication, which I believe are pillars of a more empathetic and connected world,” Dutro said.

Students can get involved with REACH in several ways.

“[Students can] hang out with our participants at some of our after-hours programs; schedule a time to come out and hang out during the day playing games, putting puzzles together, or just chatting with our participants,” Christy Farrell said. “[They can] help us fundraise, be great friends; when Ryan was at North his classmates were great friends to him. He loves seeing them out in the community and having them come and talk to him. Students can contact us at info@reachcolumbus.net to schedule times to come out. We are always looking for new ideas, new activities, and new friends.”

Q: WHAT DOES REACH DO?

A: Spending time at the parks, the library, downtown Columbus, sharing lots of pictures, sharing different facts to raise disability awareness, and offering ways for folks to partner with us.

Q: WHO RUNS THE REACH PROGRAM?

A: The current Board of Directors is Christy FarrellPresident, Jennifer Fields - Vice President, Adam RedikerTreasurer, Kris Green - Secretary, Suzanne Lammert, and Wendy Kirts.

Q: HOW CAN STUDENTS GET INVOLVED?

A: Students can hangout with some of our participants at some of our after hours programs; schedule a time to come out and hang out during the day playing games, putting puzzles together, or just chatting with our participants. visit @reachcolumbus on Facebook or @reachcolumbusinc on Instagram for more information

OUR POWER, OUR PLANET

Cals60

As the 55th Earth Day rolls around, the Environmental club prepares for the theme “Our Power, Our Planet”

by Claire Rawlings design by Bella Herbert

Spring is here, and with the coming of flowers and sunshine, Environmental Club plans to raise awareness for the planet’s needs.

Senior Anushka Damle, who is CoVice President of of the Environmental Club, shared the club’s plans for Earth Day.

“I’m looking forward to the week of celebration that we put on for Environmental Club,” Damle said. “In past years, we’ve conducted Bake Sales, Chalk Art activities, and nature walks to celebrate, and I’m excited for what we have planned for this year. I plan to celebrate by going on a walk in Mill Race Park with some friends, and gardening in my family’s garden.”

For its 55th anniversary, Earth Day employs the slogan ‘Our Power, Our Planet’. Junior Harshil Gandhi, who is Environmental Club secretary, explains what the quote means to him.

“This theme shows how our collective actions as a community have a real impact on the planet and we are the only ones that can create change,” Gandhi said, “It reminds us that we have the ability to improve our world and to take action.”

Gandhi explained his reasoning for joining Environmental club.

“I chose to be a part of Environmental Club as I always cared about the environment, but wanted to be a part of a club to make a bigger impact,” Gandhi said. “The club allows me to take action in our community as well as motivate others to do the same.”

Damle spoke about her views on the theme.

“This year’s theme is very impactful, because it really emphasizes how each

WATER

individual person holds power in being able to make a difference in the world of tomorrow,” Damle said, “Each small action counts, and we should take ownership of our power and work to preserve our planet.”

Senior Paisley James explained how Environmental club plans to preserve the environment.

“Everyone in Environmental club who isn’t an officer just goes through the school’s weekly recycling to separate cans and plastic from paper and cardboard,” James said. “Every Friday, Environmental club will gather together by the cafeteria/dumpster doors and proceed to organize the recyclable products.”

James spoke about why she joined Environmental Club.

“I originally chose to join the Environmental Club because I wanted to have a positive impact on our community,” James said. Gandhi described his favorite part of the club and how it relates to conservation.

“I love participating in courtyard cleanups,” Gandhi said. “As part of Environmental Club, our job is to maintain the school courtyard and this involves weeding, planting new plants, and cleaning up. I love seeing the transformation of the space after we clean up. It’s rewarding to know that we are creating a better

environment for both students and animals. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with nature and work together as a team.”

Gandhi added what Earth Day means to him.

“Earth Day is more than just a day, it is a reminder to be mindful of our environment the whole year,” Gandhi said. “It reminds us that small actions can make a difference and every change counts, no matter how small.”

Damle adds her perception on Earth Day.

“For the past 55 years, Earth Day has been celebrated each Spring to bring awareness in our community for the beautiful nature that surrounds us, and we should be sure to honor the planet that gives us so much,” Damle said.

MORE BINS, LESS WASTE

LEARN TO DO IT

Thespians practice and produce the musical Anastasia by Chloe Feliciano design by Alexa Lanam photos by Lois Guest

In the musical Anastasia, Vlad and Dimitry sing: “If I can learn to do it, you can learn to do it! Something in you knows it; there’s nothing to it!” This year, Anastasia is directed by Justine Lykins and the vocals are taught by choir teacher Ellie Kopp, while junior Dani Riley was chosen to play the lead role of Anastasia. All three have given an explanation on the process of the creation of the musical, their experience being part of the process, and how you can learn how to participate in the next one.

The process of creating a musical starts earlier than auditions. The crew do different thing to prepare for the beginning of production.

Anastasia is the yearly musical, but they can’t do the same one every year. Lykins goes over how they choose the musical each year.

“The biggest reason I choose a musical is if I have the cast for it; and after listening to Anastasia and going over it, I knew I had the talent and the numbers,” Lykins said. “The other reason I choose shows is because every year I ask the theater kids what shows they’re interested in. Anastasia came up several times.”

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5. Sophomores Noah Zigler and O’Malley Taylor to read more visit cnhsmedia.com

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4. Sophomore Gabe Manning

MIND OVER MATTER

Members of academic bowl discuss their upcoming first competition

by Colin Amini design by Maddie Williams

The pressure of competition can feel overwhelming, but for the Academic Bowl Teams at Columbus North, it’s just another opportunity to shine. As they prepare for their upcoming season opener, the team is faced with the challenge of balancing rigorous preparation with the stress that comes with the competition.

Sophomore Brian Wei, a member of the English Bowl team, shared how the group prepares for competitions.

“A team can prepare by making a list of things that need to be reviewed or taken care of,” Wei said. “Then the team wants to come together in groups and review the material using the list as a guideline, expanding on topics if needed.”

Senior Arjun Pattel, a Social Studies team member, details his experiences with such team collaboration.

“Our team supports each other by working together and collaborating when we answer practice questions on the book,” Pattel said. “For example, if the captain of the team doesn’t know the answer to a question in the book, then a supporting member can chime in and state what they believe is the correct answer.”

Wei explained how the team relies on each other during competitions.

“Stress is something that naturally comes to everyone,” Wei said. “The comforting part is that the team and I have done everything possible to prepare for the competition. What happens, happens, knowing that we tried our best.”

Head Math team coach Mike Spock explains how he works to minimize stress amongst his team members.

“We just keep it relaxed in the room,” Spock said. “That’s how I treat my classroom most of the time anyway, and we’re all working together at it. We try to not make it too stressful, other than the stress of, you’ve got 20 seconds to answer this question. So we have fun with it, we joke around.”

First-year English coach Ali Viewegh has a similar approach with her students.

“I just try to go into it as chill as possible,” Viewegh said. “If they don’t do well, it’ll just be a learning

opportunity for me to do better [as a coach] next year.”

Viewegh added that for her, creating a supportive atmosphere was important.

“I try to keep it light with snacks and jokes,” Viewegh said. “Having that intrinsic motivation and the desire to be there makes all the difference.”

Wei extended the idea of teamwork and explained the value of team chemistry.

“Our team is relatively small, meaning that everyone has gotten to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” Wei said. “Our team is also made of people from all different grades and backgrounds, bringing in unique experiences and ideas about the material.”

Spock explained that he believes the team’s effort in training will set them apart from others.

“I think the effort that they put in [sets them apart],” Spock said. “They’re going to go in there prepared on these topics. They’re hopefully not going to have to guess at any of the questions. It’ll just be a matter of, could we solve this time?”

Pattel added that he believes the team’s dedication will aid them in success.

“I think the thing that’ll set us up best for our competition is the dedication our team has to the book and the competition,” Pattel said.

Viewegh emphasized that she’s proud of the team and is looking forward to the future of Academic Super Bowl.

“We’re just happy with whatever happens, and we’ll learn from it for next year,” Viewegh said. “We’ve just got such an amazingly talented group of students.”

ACADEMIC SUBJECTS

The different subjects at the academic bowl

English

Grammar, vocabulary, literary periods, authors, characters, and plays

Science

Biology, chemistry, earth and space science, physics, energy, and math

Fine Arts

Painting, architecture, photography, music, dance, and theater

Social Studies

Ancient, modern, and US history, geography, civics, and current events

Math

Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and arithmetic

THE PATH TO HEALTHCARE

HOSA students travel to Indianapolis to participate in the State Leadership Conference

by Brooklyn Hurt design by Addisyn Pulley

HOSA is an organization that focuses on inspiring future healthcare professionals through various events, meetings, and conferences. The goal is to set students up to explore future careers in healthcare. Freshman Siena Isaac explains exactly what HOSA is.

“HOSA is a club revolving around various forms of healthcare, like dental, veterinary, nursing, etc,” Isaac said. It helps future health care professionals connect and gain experience through competition.”

Junior Kanav Mehta explains how conferences play a role in the HOSA experience.

“HOSA conferences are highenergy, inspiring, and packed with opportunities to learn,” Mehta said. “There are workshops, keynote speakers, competitive events, and networking sessions where students from different schools and states come together. It’s a great mix of professional development, competition, and fun.”

Mehta says the program has helped her learn unique skills.

“HOSA has helped me develop leadership skills, teamwork, and confidence in both my professional and personal life,” Mehta said. “Through competitions, conferences, and networking, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of healthcare careers and improved my public speaking and organizational skills.”

Sophomore Sanaa Kulkarni says the program gives her something to look forward to.

“HOSA has been something to look forward to in the school year,” Kulkarni said. It definitely makes the school year more enjoyable.”

Mehta noted that the program has been a highlight throughout her high school career.

“HOSA has been one of the highlights of my high school journey,” Mehta said. “It’s given me a sense of purpose, leadership roles, and opportunities to step out of my comfort zone-I’ve learned so much that will benefit me beyond high school.”

Kulkarni says that for her, HOSA

brings learning opportunities.

“I think HOSA definitely helps someone get involved in healthcare industries because there are lots of opportunities to network at conferences,” Kulkarni said.” There’s also so many chances to learn and get experience in different health fields whether it’s through a workshop or events at conferences or through different sign ups at meetings.”

Isaac added that preparing for conferences and events can be challenging.

“Some challenges are having to study for the tests and ensure that I understand the requirements for my chosen events,” Isaac said.

With the upcoming SLC conference, Mehta shared her excitement to see how her team does in their chosen events.

”The energy at these conferences is always inspiring, and I’m excited to see how our team performs,” Mehta said.

Isaac noted that even though they don’t always come home with a victory, the events are still fun.

“I worked with my friend in a t-shirt competition for HOSA,” Isaac said. “It was super fun and we enjoyed participating even if we didn’t end up winning.”

Kulkarni shared that one of her favorite parts of the conferences is spending time with friends.

“My favorite part of the conference is probably spending time with my friends in our hotel room after all the events for the day are over,” Kulkarni said.

Mehta also spoke about her HOSA friendships.

“I’ve built strong friendships and connections with fellow HOSA members,” Mehta said. “Since we all share similar interests and goals, it’s easy to collaborate and support one another.”

Isaac explained that she enjoys the HOSA community and overall experience.

”It will help build up your healthcare skills and give you more opportunities to get involved in shadowing and the healthcare world.”

WHAT IS HOSA?

• HOSA is a global student-led organization with over 260,000 members worldwide.

• HOSA’s goal is to empower future health professionals to be leaders in the global health community.

• HOSA has 5,200 chapters in 54 states, territories, and country associations.

• HOSA’s core values are “learn, lead, serve, innovate.”

• HOSA allows students to refine their skills to transition seamlessly from the classroom to their chosen field.

OPINION

In the past ten years, Disney has released 39 theatrical animated movies and live-action adaptations of animation. Of those, only 13 have been original films. The remaining 26 have been remakes of old movies or sequels that were not originally planned. Only 33 percent of their releases in the past decade have been original, stand-alone movies. This is a symptom of a larger issue with animation–it is more expensive, more difficult and has a lower return than its live-action counterpart.

If a studio is unsure how an audience will react to a live-action project, they can spend less on special effects, get less expensive camera and sound equipment, shoot in less expensive locations, have a simpler set design, and have a smaller crew. In a 3D animation project, at a minimum, you need to purchase software, hire storyboarders, artists, colorists, editors, someone to animate lighting, someone to do the renders, you need someone to run a physics engine, and all of that is before you hire a single animator or writer. That process is for 3D animation, which is generally considered less expensive and easier than traditional 2D animation (which Disney has not created in over a decade). The minimum cost to

ISSUES IN ANIMATION

The

problems with modern animation and why they won’t be fixed by

Aidan Brown

create an animated product is higher than the minimum cost of a live-action project, so there is a much higher risk to the studio.

This is why Disney and other companies are cutting down on original projects in favor of safer bets. Why risk creating a new and unique movie when you could guarantee a few hundred million dollars by making yet another Shrek?

However, large studios aren’t the only people creating animation. Small studios are using YouTube and other social media, as well as accessible animation technologies like Blender, to easily create, distribute, market, and profit from small projects. Take the new studio, Glitch Productions. In one year, they were able to create a viral TV show that is now distributed by Netflix. Another example is the studio SpindleHorse, which, after a single pilot episode, got a show picked up by A24 and Amazon Studios. There is no solution to the cost issue in sight, and from a business perspective, large studios have no reason to “solve” it. For original shows, I suspect that independent projects will continue to get more popular.

EPROM HYSTERIA

Exploring the importance that American culture puts on Prom by

Mia Bowers

very year, the emphasis on Prom seems to be greater than the last. It feels hard to top what was done last year. This can lead to comparisons about your own Prom experience. As a junior, I have never been to prom, but it is made out to be the best night of your life. Americans put prom on a pedestal. People spend hundreds of dollars on tickets, dresses, flowers, etc, all for one night. As excited as I am, I can’t justify spending all this money on one event. It has been somewhat of a trend on TikTok to post how much was spent on the different aspects of prom, such as the dress, hair, and nails. This might be interesting to some, but to others, it just creates comparison. If you are comparing your experience to other people’s prom experience, it takes the fun out of it. Movies such as 10 Things I Hate About You and High School Musical 3: Senior Year display prom as almost magic. Although I can’t answer the question on whether or not prom is overrated, I can already assume it won’t be like the movies. Setting unrealistic expectations for an event like this can only lead to a bad night. The drama around

prom planning is overwhelming and is a waste of time. Who cares if you are matching with someone? Who cares if you have a date? It is literally high school, none of it will matter in a matter of years. I am not necessarily saying that prom will be a bad experience, I just don’t know if it will live up to the expectations. One thing America is filled to the brim with is tradition. Prom seems to be one of these traditions that will never die. It seems to be a rite of passage for all juniors and seniors. Maybe it is so blown up because there are only so many times you can get all dressed up and dance in your life. Prom is not just the dance, though. There is a bit of a timeline for everything leading up to prom.

AComplete Unknown starring Timothée Chalamet, tells of Bob Dylan’s upbringing in the folk movement of the 1960s. Bob Dylan is an inspirational folk singer and is considered one of the greatest songwriters of all time, alongside Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney, and Leonard Cohen. While I totally agree that he is an amazing songwriter, he is also considered one of the best vocalists of all time. Okay, go ahead and stop right there for me. Bob Dylan? Best vocalist? Are we talking about the same person? Bob Dylan? The guy who has done duets with the incomparable Joan Baéz, with her sweet, melodic soprano voice while he screams into their shared microphone? Oh. Yeah. That Bob Dylan. Dylan is so overrated. He can not sing. And he is not a good person whatsoever. In the early 1960s, Dylan and Baéz emerged as folk’s new wonder kids, using their platforms to bring awareness to different social and political movements such as the Civil Rights Movement. The two began traveling the festival circuit, such as Woodstock and The Newport Folk Festival, forming a very close and complicated relationship. During their festival headlines, Dylan was in a relationship with his girlfriend at this time Suze Rotolo.

Throughout the years of traveling to many festivals, Baéz and Dylan formed a serious romantic relationship. Rotolo knew of this affair. I mean, it was quite obvious the two had a close relationship just by watching the way they sang to one another onstage at these festivals. This created an intense tension within Rotolo and Dylan’s relationship.

JUSTICE FOR JOAN

Joan Baéz deserves recognition for both her music and activism

by Gabe Manning

These tensions and inner turmoil of Rotolo are greatly depicted in the 2024 movie ‘A Complete Unknown’.

Though Dylan and Baéz were very successful together, individually, Baéz was a creative in her own right, creating paintings that depicted the ongoing civil rights movement as well as spending time in the studio, recording covers of some of Dylan’s most popular songs. My favorite album of Baez’s is her 1965 record “Farewell, Angelina”. It features songs such as “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”, “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”, and the album’s title track “Farewell, Angelina”. All the songs featured on the album are covers, yet Baéz seems to make them her own, making them sound authentically her own. With her beautiful soprano voice, she brings life and love to the beautifully written lyrics of Dylan’s craft.

If you were to ask me my personal preference on most Bob Dylan songs, I would most definitely reply with “Oh yeah, I know that song! Joan Baéz sang it”. Hot take, I do not like Bob Dylan. Have I mentioned that? Joan Baéz is so incredibly underrated and overlooked. And it’s simply because she was a woman in music. A woman overshadowed by a man. A man recognized more than a woman. This is nothing new, unfortunately. Baéz has been such a huge influence on so many artists today. One being Lana Del Rey. Del Rey and Baéz became close after Del Rey invited Baéz to sing her hit song “Diamonds and Rust” at Berkeley in 2019. Afterward, Del Rey would later go on to do press for Baéz’s book and later Baéz’s movie. to read more visit cnhsmedia.com

For the third Quarter Quell, the 75th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen enters the arena for the second year in a row. Each Quarter Quell brings an unexpected twist, and to Katniss’s horror, for the third Quarter Quell, the Reaping will be drawn from the remaining pool of victors. As Katniss is the only female victor of District 12, she ends up back in the deadly arena that haunts her nightmares. There are only two male victors of District 12, and when Haymitch Abernathy gets chosen, Peeta Mellark volunteers to take his place. We all know the story of Katniss and Peeta, the two star-crossed lovers, and their survival in the games, but Haymitch’s victor story remains a ghostly mystery.

On March 18th, Suzanne Collins released the fifth Hunger Games book, a prequel to the Hunger Games series. The original trilogy covers Katniss’s story and her survival in the Hunger Games. The fourth novel by Collins prequels the young life of Coriolanus Snow, who, later in his life, becomes the president of Panem during Katniss’s story. The newest addition to the franchise, The Sunrise on the Reaping, is from the perspective of Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss’s mentor and friend. It takes place 24 years before the original novel, during the 50th anniversary of the Hunger Games.

For the second Quarter Quell, the twist became that instead of the original two tributes per district, the Capitol decided to double the number of tributes, requiring two male children and two female children from each district. We know, as Haymitch is a mentor, that he was once a tribute, and that he was a victor. But other than these details previously mentioned, the rest of Haymitch’s story is a

SUNRISE ON THE REAPING

Expressing excitement for the new Hunger Games prequel

by Claire Rawlings

mysterious question mark.

Based on Haymitch’s personality in the Hunger Games trilogy, it is obvious that he is not stable coming off of his experience in the arena. He is a steady alcoholic and frequently finds himself emotionally tempered and stressed to the max. I am excited to see how Collins weaves his backstory into place. I can’t wait to read about Haymitch’s stride to victory, and the events that seemed to break his character. While reading Collins’s first prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I thought I would despise reading about Panem’s villainous president, but after reading about his young-adult struggles and what led to his soul morphing into a twisted snake, I fell in love with his backstory and his initial character. I am excited to read a prequel that highlights a character I already know and love.

Amazon reviews gave the original Hunger Games novel a 4.8 out of 5 stars, and the new novel matched that score. The Ballad of Songbirds in Snakes achieved a 4.6 out of 5, and it was artistically written. Since Sunrise on the Reaping has surpassed this rating and somehow obtained the same score as the original book, I am ecstatic to read this new novel. Miraculously, Collins continues to awe her audience and captivate millions of readers.

Concludingly, once again, Suzanne Collins manages to captivate the tragic effect of the Hunger Games in yet another person’s point of view, and I applaud her writing magic. As said, in the first chapter of the novel, “Can you imagine the sun rising in a world without the reaping?”, the newest Hunger Games dives back into the dark arena in the Capitol of Panem.

EMINENT EDUCATION

The Triangle staff discusses the goals and responsibilities of the Department of Education

Ever since the United States Office of Education was founded in 1867 by President Andrew Johnson, the federal government has played a significant role in the American education system. When the Department of Education was created by Congress in 1978, its role in the education system grew, and the Secretary of Education became a cabinet-level position in the government. Ever since the department’s founding, it has faced frequent criticism and calls for its dismantling. Some believe that the education system should be entirely controlled by the states. Others argue that the Department of Education plays a key role in the education system and should be kept, or even expanded.

Before discussing the future of the department, it’s important to understand what its functions are. According to the Department of Education’s

website (ed.gov), the department’s responsibilities are to establish policies on federal financial aid for education, distribute and monitor financial aid, collect data on America’s schools, focus attention on issues in education, and make recommendations for education reform, and ensure equal access to education. So, the department distributes financial aid, collects data, reforms the education system, and ensures everyone has equal access to education.

The American education system is a complex patchwork of federal, state, local, and private organizations, and the department plays an important role in monitoring, reforming, and helping the system achieve its goals. Ninety-two percent of the Triangle staff believe that the Department of Education is an important part of our education system. Without it, our education system would be much more fragmented, and people in different parts of the country

would receive different levels of education.

Students, teachers, and schools primarily interact with the department by receiving grants and other forms of financial aid. Grants such as Pell Grants help people with financial need afford a college education they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.

IDEA Grants help ensure access to special education for those with disabilities. Head Start Grants secure access to childcare and Pre-K programs to ensure kids from low-income families don’t fall behind in their early education. Title I funding for schools guarantee funding for schools in lowincome communities. All of these programs help those from low-income or with disabilities receive a quality education. With the return of Donald Trump to the presidency, discussions of closing or reducing the size of the department have appeared.

Trump campaigned on the promise of shutting the department down.

“My administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department. We’re going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible. It’s doing us no good,” Trump said.

Despite this, according to a poll from Data for Progress, 61 percent of respondents either “somewhat” or “strongly” oppose shutting down the department. In such a globalized, advanced, and fast-paced world, a solid education system is key to staying relevant and keeping the economy strong. That means a solid education for everyone, regardless of income. Shutting down the Department of Education would mean transferring all responsibility to states, and this would create inconsistencies and inequities across the country. The Department of Education is a key part of the education system in America, and shutting it down

COMICS BY CLAIRE

Sophomore Claire Rawlings doodles about the dismantaling of the Department of Education.

EDUCATION REFORMATION

What the dismantling of the Department of Education means for the future of schools in Indiana

by Annie Green, Cecilia Gutierrez design by Stella Gaylord, Sarynel Barbosa Kuilan

photo by Stella Gaylord

The BCSC Administration building is where many decisions about education for BCSC are made

The current presidential administration has brought changes within the United States government, including changes within the Department of Education (ED), can be confusing, and with all the uncertainty about what these changes may bring to students and teachers, they can begin to grasp these reforms and understand how the reformations in current education may affect their everyday lives in school, and what the future of education may be.

With all of the current attention, concerns and unknowns surrounding the Department of Education and its future, comprehending what the U.S. Education Department can be is a first step to understanding. Founded in 1979 by the late President Jimmy Carter and later passed by the United States Congress, the Department of Education is a federal department that assists local and state-level school administrators and teachers.

According to the current website, the Department of Education, “Establishes policy for, administers, and coordinates most federal assistance to education.”

The website also stated, “Education is primarily a state and local responsibility in the United States but ED provides funds that help schools and districts reach their goals.”

The Department of Education has been mentioned a lot in the news recently, making the public eager to know what is going to happen to the federal department.

“As part of the Department of Education’s final mission, the Department today initiated a reduction in force (RIF) impacting nearly

50 percent of the Department’s workforce. Impacted Department staff will be placed on administrative leave beginning Friday, March 21.”

The website later stated, “The U.S. Department of Education is the agency of the federal government that establishes policy for, administers and coordinates most federal assistance to education. It assists the president in executing his education policies for the nation and in implementing laws enacted by Congress.”

The office of Jefferson Shreve declined to comment on the state of the ED. However, Indiana Senator Greg Walker explained some of the changes in the Education Department.

“As of April 2025, the U.S. Department of Education is undergoing significant reconstruction, including substantial staff reductions, a freeze on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) grants and a mandate requiring K-12 schools to certify compliance with federal civil rights laws to receive funding,” Walker said. “This all takes place amidst ongoing legal challenges and debates over the department’s future role.”

With these changes, there are many unknowns and confusion concerning the future of school districts, as Senator Walker believes.

“It is hard to say how dismantling it will change our educational system, as the responsibility for education policy would shift toward the states,” Walker said. “However, it could lead to fragmented policies, inconsistent funding and diminished federal oversight on a state by

state basis.”

BCSC Superintendent Dr. Chad Phillips explains how much of BCSC relies on government funding: both federal and state.

Government funding makes up part of the money for public schools, as Phillips explains, whose roles specifically rely on federal funding from the government.

“There’s only a handful - a few teachers - that are being directly paid from federal funds in the district. So it’s not a huge number of teachers,” Phillips said. “But the thing about federal funds when it comes to education is that all federal funds are directly targeting students that need it more. So our federal funds go to our special education department, our Title 1 elementary schools that have the highest levels of poverty, and to our students who speak English as a new language.”

But the teachers and the programs that are provided using federal funds are not the only things possibly affected. While a smaller percentage of students are enrolled in these programs, students not enrolled in these programs may believe that these cuts don’t affect them, but this may not be the case, as federal funds cover more than what people may think. Students may not realize that they could be affected by the loss of federal funds.

“Most people don’t know that all of our support for, or the vast majority of our support for our food services department and our cafeteria comes from the federal government,” Phillips said. “That’s not a state program.”

Phillips believes that BCSC will be able to

DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Education is responsible for data collection on college students and colleges, Allows taxpayers to analyze things like

- Student admissions

- Academic outcomes

- Graduation rates

- Need-based aid eligibility

Responsible for managing college financial aid and federal student loans (will become the job of the Small Business Association)

- More than 17 million college students qualify for financial aid.

- The Department of Education is currently responsible for handing out loans.

Responsible for tracking student achievement.

- Student progress

- Chronic absenteeism

- Poverty levels

- Educational experiences of students.

more easily glide through these reformations than some believe.

“There would have to be a change that’s so dramatic that we wouldn’t be able to absorb,” Phillips said. “We are a big district, depending on the year, the 15th largest district in the state. And that can be a detriment sometimes, but in a situation like this, it can be an asset because we can more easily absorb those kinds of changes.”

Phillips notes what could happen to BCSC schools if these changes expand and there are more drawbacks in federal funding to public schools.

“We manage our money very well and we maintain a cash balance to make sure that something like the elimination of a program at a federal level does not impact us right away,” Phillips said. “We can use the cash that’s on hand to make sure we can keep serving students while we plan for a year or two years down the road.”

The federal funding drawbacks could help some districts. Phillips predicts what may happen if the federal funds reduced the amount given to states.

regulating these changes, he believes that BCSC will continue to go about business as usual, at least on a student scale.

“I think our legislators, Senator Walker and Representative Lauer, are interested in making sure we don’t have to reduce any services our students are receiving right now,” Phillips said.

As for possible changes in the classroom, teachers are at the forefront. Some teachers do believe that the reforms in the Department of Education will have an effect on schools,

schools that depend on funding from the federal government through programs like Title I or the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP),” Hagner said. “It can also impact students with special needs and those who need federal loans to subsidize higher education. I think that this move will further increase inequality when it comes to access to education in this country.”

Through Title 1, the Department of Education sends money to school districts around the country. In 2023, the Education Department received more than $18 billion for Title I. Which provides money to lower income school districts.

“There’s a possibility that if the federal Department of Education eliminated or dramatically reduced in size that the money that is not going toward the money that worked there, the money could be allocated to the states to distribute to schools,” Phillips said. “So we could be in the position in two years from now where we actually see an increase in how much we have to support those populations that I mentioned earlier.”

Phillips emphasized he is dedicated to making sure that BCSC has resources and a plan to keep schools running smoothly. While there is no board or committee in charge of

“I

do think students should voice their opinions about it. It’s very important for students to voice their opinion about anything and everything all the time.”

Senior Mya Chaille

both on teachers and on students. Physics teacher Dr. Kyle Hagner believes that the changes in the department are a “foolish if not malevolent action that will harm many students in low-income and rural areas.”

Social studies teacher Taylor Decker also believes that many students may begin to feel these changes in the upcoming future.

“I am most worried about how this impacts students,” Decker said. “Rural schools that might struggle with funding and students that receive services are where most of the impact will be felt the most based on my understanding.”

Hagner believes that the dismantling of the department will bring more harm than good.

“Dismantling the ED will likely cause the most harm to students in low-income and rural

With the changes in the ED, concerns about curricula and learning standards arise, leaving some teachers to question whether or not they will need to change their lessons. Hagner predicts that while his curriculum may not be affected, some curricula may be changed and altered.

“Most of my curriculum will probably not be subject to any political censorship, but I think in many states there will be pressure placed on teachers to avoid teaching about a number of topics, including climate change/global warming, biological evolution, the legacy of slavery and white supremacy in our nation’s history, and more,” Hagner said.

Decker expresses his thoughts on whether or not these changes and revisions will affect his curriculum in the future.

“Since standards for classes are created by each state, I do not see this changing what is taught,” Decker said. “I am curious how this might change over time, as each state might have more freedom.”

With these concerns of changing curriculum among teachers, students will also experience the changes that may come if the curriculum changes. An anonymous senior shared their thoughts on whether or not they will be affected

photo illustration for The Triangle Student poses in graduation cap and gown in front of North

by the changes.

“I mean, we all are affected by the termination of education, by being students,” anonymous said. “By being in the public school system, we’re especially severely affected by the policies that the department sets, which then the states must follow, which then go to our direct policies. So any negatives in the cut off, like budgets for the department or staffing, doesn’t allow for us to have as appropriate of an education as possible.”

Senior Mya Chaille expressed their thoughts on the importance of the Department of Education as a whole.

“I think that the Department of Education is a necessary government agency, because I think public education is a privilege, and without it, your citizens are not very informed about things and they don’t know how to navigate the world,” Chaille said. “So, it’s good for that to be standardized across the U.S. so that different political agendas don’t have a hand in how people are educated.”

Along with many changes in public schooling, seniors wishing and planning to go to college should be aware of what these changes may bring to colleges.

“Since the freeze has been deemed unconstitutional, or for now and it’s going to be under review, that has kind of helped me for this year,” the anonymous senior said. “However, going into next year, I do not believe I will be able to access that money, which I might not need as much as other students need going into college, especially with our inflation and economic status going into next year. But, it is really unfortunate that it happens, of course, during my senior year.”

Through all these changes, Dr. Phillips believes that BCSC schools will continue to thrive despite any challenges that may or may not come.

“We will work with our partners to make sure that our students don’t feel an impact, or a negative impact, I should say,” Phillips said, “from any of the changes that happen in a place that happens frankly quite away from our school building.”

IN THE END

An executive order President Trump signed on Thursday March 20 said he was going to “Send education back to the States” which means: States would control funding, and they would make their own decisions about their individual education systems WHAT THAT INCLUDES • Curriculum • Standards • Teacher qualifications • School Funding SOME POSSIBLE CHANGES

ARE:

• Funding

could change. Meaning educational money could be spent differently. Which could especially impact low income school districts.

• Could be a step towards passing education to individual states.

GOING THE DISTANCE

Student athletes discuss this year’s track season

by Cassie Osburn design by Caeden Sych

On Feb. 17, the track season officially began. This year, over 100 students are competing, including sophomore Leonardo Utrera-Piedra. Utrera-Piedra explains why he joined track last year.

“Originally, I did it for a scholarship,” Utrera-Piedra said. “I had to do an extracurricular and I felt that doing track was the easiest way.”

Unlike Utrera-Piedra, this is assistant coach Kirk Wrightsman’s first year coaching at North. But this is not his first experience with the sport.

“I did track in high school and in college,” Wrightsman said. “I love the sport.”

Similarly, this is also junior Brooklyn Pendleton’s first year. So far, Pendleton says that she’s enjoying it.

“I feel like the whole group of throwers has been really fun to get to know,” Pendleton said.

Wrightsman also says that he has a passion for track.

“I think I probably get a little more excited about track because there’s so many different events,” Wrightsman said. “There’s 16 events that all go into the team score and everybody has to do their part in order for the team to be successful.”

The way athletes train depends on which event they compete in. Senior Bryce Harriman describes how he trains for shot put.

“Training for throws is different than running,” Harriman said. “We lift outside of

practice and get stronger.”

Pendleton gives more details about how she and the other throwers train.

“We do practices every day after school, lots of drills and just working on the form and technique,” Pendleton said. “I do rotational, so a lot of twisting your body and making sure your legs go first, then the rest of your body so you get the full extension.”

Along with improving technique, Pendleton shares how she prevents injuries while training.

“We do a lot of weight room and we make sure we warm up a lot before to activate all the muscles we need to perform well,” Pendleton said.

But athletes don’t just have to prepare physically. Pendleton shares something that helps her with the mental aspect of competing.

“I always pray and I feel like that helps me get my nerves down a little bit so I can focus and perform well,” Pendleton said.

According to Harriman, all the training and preparation seem to be paying off.

“Overall as a team, we’ve been doing really good, especially down there in the throws and the distance,” Harriman said. “Our team has really improved this year.”

Harriman discusses his hopes for this season.

“We got into a new sectionals this year, so I’m mostly looking forward to winning that on the boys’ side, especially just winning a sectional title for the first time in many

years and hopefully being crowned sectional champion in shot put,” Harriman said.

Wrightsman provides more details about how this year’s sectionals have changed.

“They took the eastern part of the state, some of those teams, and brought us together with them,” Wrightsman said.

Along with the changes to sectionals, there have also been adjustments to the regional competitions.

“We’re going to go over to Bloomington for the regionals,” Wrightsman said. “It’s going to be a very competitive regional.”

Regardless, Wrightsman says that he has only one goal for this season.

THE HISTORY

“I don’t care how technically good they are,” Wrightsman said. “If they come out, and they start somewhere, they continue to work, and they show improvement, that’s my goal.”

A list of the years the track team has been champions

Sectional Champions

1947-48

1950-51

1951-52 1955-56 1957-58 1975-76 1978-79 1980-81 1981-82 1984-85 1985-86 1986-87

1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1991-92 1992-93 1994-95 1999-00 2003-04 2004-05 2010-11

2013-14 2017-18

1950-51 1951-52 1984-85 1985-86 Regional Champions

THE ROAD TO FIRST SERVE

by Colin Amini design by Maddie Williams

Girl’s Tennis players discuss their match preparation

As spring unfolds and courts fill with the sound of serves and shouts, the girl’s tennis team has settled into their season. From battling the wind to managing injuries, each player brings their own strengths and challenges to the court. Sophomore Vibha Govindarajan explained how practices set the tone for the team’s approach.

“We start off with warm ups,” Govindarajan said. “Then, we get into our decks and play mini tennis. After that, we work on specific types of shots, such as volleys and serves. Then, for the bulk of the practice, we do challenge matches.”

Sophomore Chetna Raj Yadav spoke about how preparation plays a role in her performance.

“I try to not think about it and talk and enjoy time with my friends,” Yadav said. “Right before a match, I try to get hype.”

Senior Annabelle Sun described her approach to preparing for matches.

“I mentally prepare for my match by sleeping,” Sun said. “When we have away matches, I tend to sleep on the bus to the match. This allows me to relax. I also listen to music.”

Sun further described her preparation routine and what she packs for matches.

“Before my match, I prepare everything I may need for the match. For example, I made sure I have extra grips, water, and

snacks that I can eat during the match. I also make sure I have a visor and all my necessities. During warm ups, I make sure to stretch extra for matches to prevent injuries,” Sun said.

Yadav spoke about the role that mindset plays in tennis.

“I try to think of [mistakes] as a one-off thing,” Yadav said. “I try to have a new mindset for every point.”

Govindarajan explained her strategy for motivation.

“I talk to myself for motivation. I also think about where I went wrong if I lose a point to stay focused,” Govindarajan said.

Sun explained how the team’s culture impacts her performance.

“The wins and the team environment allow me to push myself in tennis,” Sun said. “Our team is also really supportive of each other, as well as the coaches, which also allows me to push myself to constantly improve.”

Sun spoke about the team’s goals and how they hope to make it further in their championship matches than last year

“For this season, I hope that our team can make it to State,” Sun said. “We were unable to achieve this goal the previous seasons, so all of us are hoping to make it this year. Because this is my last season within my high school career, I hope to finish strong and make a lot of memories with my teammates.”

UPCOMING MATCHES

Some Girl’s Tennis team matches for the 2025 season

April 26- Park Tutor

April 29- East Central

May 3-Avon

May 5- Bloomington North

May 6- Bloomington South

May 8- Columbus North

THE CARBON FOOTPRINT

A break down of the largest part of American’s carbon foot print and ways to reduce it by Maia Jamieson

AVERAGE AMERICAN CARBON EMISSIONS

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ACROSS THE