Stories of the Year: 2021-2022
More than 15,000 stories were submitted to Best of SNO this year. Just over 1,900 of them were selected to be published. Of them, here are 24 stories that stood out, in no particular order.
One step forward, two steps back
In 2022 alone, there have already been more than 200 anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed, with about half targeting transgender individuals and most revolving around healthcare, sports equality or education. Following a growing trend of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, this year is predicted to be the worst year in history for legal protections of LGBTQ+ individuals. Progressive push In the mid-1900s, views o...
No Place Called Home: Tackling Immigrant Struggles in the College Application Process
On October 1, 2021, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened, and the metaphorical floodgates of my email burst. Subject line after subject line said the same thing: “Fill. out. FAFSA.” The bold-faced subject lines rang alarm bells in my friends' heads and groans in our group chats time to pull out the tax receipts and dig through files in the hope of getting some financia...
Why Teachers are Leaving and Why it Matters
It's no secret that the pandemic shook up the American workforce. The "Great Resignation" taking place across the United States doesn't exclude teachers, and some say that without a major effort to rehabilitate the professional demands--physically, mentally, and emotionally--the number of teachers leaving the workforce won't slow any time soon. And for many teachers, that's exactly what they want:...
Breaking barriers
Friendship. Camaraderie. Sense of belonging. High school athletics offer students a built-in community, support system and the chance to represent their school. Unfortunately, many students with talent, athletic capability and work ethic never get the chance to wear a green and gold jersey, as cultural and linguistic barriers may prevent them from gaining these sport-related benefits. “The District's...
Video: Valentine’s Day Special – Staff share stories of meeting, falling in love with spouse
John and Corey Burdett: Kickstart to Marriage Principal John Burdett kicks the soccer ball – and, against all odds, it hits the corner of the goal. It has to be a fluke. He kicks it again. Sure enough, it hits the corner again. That decided it – he would ask out Corey Hamilton – who's now known as Corey Burdett. The Burdetts' first met when they went to college in Montgomer...
The bleeding truth of women in poverty
T* wakes up to the sound of cars honking around her. Blinking her eyes, she stretches her arms and yawns. The air is fraught with the smell of gasoline. The crisp breeze is cruel and merciless, blowing scattered litter around and causing goosebumps to arise on T's skin. Her head throbs, and her body is sore from spending the night lying on the hard concrete. It is only when she musters up the courage...
MHSNews | St. Louis Bookstore Fights Book Bans With Free Books
Left Bank Books, the oldest and largest independent bookstore in St. Louis, is fighting growing efforts to ban books from public school libraries across the US. Their weapon of choice? Free books. This story was originally published on Marquette Messenger on March 5, 2022.
Red, White, & True Ep. 2: Pray for politics
Welcome back to Red, White, & True, a podcast that aims to navigate America’s polarized, partisan politics. Join host Chesney Evert and guest Avantika Swaminathan as they discuss religion and its fundamental impacts on politics and social justice. While America frequently references its separation of church and state, recent debates about reproductive rights highlight religiously motivated ...
Standing up and walking out
“You are so loved!” “It’s not your fault!” “We believe you!” Amidst a crowd of hundreds of participating students, shouts like these could be heard in response to victims of sexual abuse and assault sharing their stories. After walking out of their classes at 2 p.m. on Nov. 15, participating students gathered together to show their solidarity with victims of sexual assault and...
FJUHSD mandates vaccines for entire staff, offers secondary option to test weekly for unvaccinated
In compliance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new public health order, the Fullerton Joint Union High School District [FJUHSD] announced, through an email sent to students and parents on Sept. 3, its decision to mandate full vaccination or weekly COVID-19 testing of all staff working for the district. “This mandate is definitely necessary,” said sophomore Addison Cannon, who received the Pfizer vaccine...
The low-down on low staff
With 10.4 million job openings in the United States, 221,266 openings in Missouri and 46 openings in the district, the labor shortage is a pressing issue and one that undoubtedly is affecting our district. This issue has been exacerbated by our current health crisis, as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many to reconsider their current careers, due to income concerns, health concerns and lifestyle c...
Local attendees reflect over dangerous festival
What was meant to be a night of delight and joy with a lineup of artists including SZA, Lil Baby and Drake turned deadly as Astroworld gasped for air and fought against the pressure of thousands of bodies. Some were able to move towards the back. Others were not as fortunate. Concertgoers chanted and pleaded for the show to stop as many collapsed and struggled for air. The show continued. T...
‘I couldn’t believe that I made it’
harkeraquila · Winged Post Audible: ‘That's my country, and they're destroying it’ This is a developing story. Check harkeraquila.com for continuous updates on the development of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. CHAPTER 1: FALLING BOMBS On Feb. 25, 5 a.m., Harker students were barely awake. Some still slumbered in their beds. For high schoolers in the Bay Area, the day had j...
La Salle Community Reacts to the Supreme Court’s Leaked Plans to Overturn Roe v. Wade
On Monday, May 2, for the first time in American history, a full 98-page draft opinion from the Supreme Court was leaked to the public, revealing their plan to overturn Roe v. Wade and make abortion no longer a federally-protected right in the United States. News of the plan has not only incited massive discussion and debate across the U.S. but has also prompted opinions and feelings on both sides ...
Incarcerated women need treatment, not punishment. Stacey Borden knows firsthand.
Content warning: The following story briefly recounts experiences involving harm and sexual violence endured by the subject. The editorial staff worked with the author to maintain the integrity of this piece, keeping in mind and supporting survivors. The door to the house stood wide open. It’s a barn-red Victorian structure, wise with age and situated on a quiet street in Roxbury. The sun-bathed ...
Mule Rider Community Supports World Record Attempt
50 mule riders gathered in the parking lot of the old fraternity complex at 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 23 to attempt to set a world record during the University of Central Missouri’s homecoming parade. UCM celebrated its 150th anniversary by attempting to set a world record for the most ridden mules in a parade — not the typical homecoming celebration for a university. Tiffany Cochran, senior director of...
Teens show symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome, some blame TikTok
As TikTok continues to grow in popularity, users across the globe have begun engaging with the social network multiple times a day. A variety of creators from multiple aesthetics have not only increased their content production, but also made their content more candid at the same time. Now, it is commonplace to scroll through the application and see a user on a livestream cooking their dinner, watching...
A pop quiz proposal
For many students, the mention of the words “pop quiz” creates a feeling of panic. However, alumnus Grant Aden, class of 2017, and alumna Emily Dickson, class of 2018, have come to know a different meaning behind the words: a proposal. Six years ago, as high school students, Aden and Dickson began dating following an unconventional King of Hearts proposal in the form of a pop quiz in Latin class....
Racist remarks targeting Portola High students prompt community outrage
Boys’ basketball and pep squad were subject to racist remarks at an away game against Laguna Hills High on Jan. 21, prompting community calls to action. “Where is his slave owner?”, “Who let him out of his chains?” and “Chain him up” were among the remarks directed at guard and senior Makai Brown, captured on game footage. “Nothing was done for the student section or any of...
‘Devious Licks’ spurs bathroom vandalism
A new social media challenge, “Devious Licks," which emerged in early September on the social media platform TikTok has led to vandalized bathrooms throughout the school. The trend involves students showing off items from their school that they stole or destroyed. In recent weeks, Midtown students joined the trend. Principal Dr. Betsy Bockman addressed the issue in a Sept. 15 email to students...
Spider-Man ultra fan
With Spider-Man: No Way Home opening in theaters Friday, Spider-Man is on many minds, but for teacher Haley Brown, the web-slinger has been a lifelong hero and inspiration. “I’ve loved Spider-Man ever since I could make sense of the shapes and colors that made him a recognizable character,” Haley said. “I loved him from a very early age, probably five or six. However, my mom was very, very traditional and se...
The ultimutt firefighter
While most dogs are busy walking through parks and fetching toys, Alley, an 8-year-old yellow lab, has a full-time job working for the Omaha Fire Department. Six years ago, Alley became the department's first arson dog after completing 200 hours of training, and since then has helped solve over a dozen cases. Specifically trained to sniff out evidence at the scene of a suspected crime, Alley...
Global word games popularity strikes community
In any high school classroom, students and faculty can be overheard saying, “Did you solve it today? How many tries did it take you?” while others crouch over their laptops puzzled at five-letter words in gray, yellow and green. Following the surge in popularity of Wordle, word games have spread rapidly across the world. Within the high school community, both students and faculty have immerse...
The Problem with Romanticizing Toxic Relationships in the Media
Ah, love is in the air. Passing notes in class, holding hands awkwardly, slow dancing in the school gym, cheating, manipulating, mocking--wait--when did this flawed portrayal of romance become present in the media? With romance occupying an entire genre in books, movies, and television shows, toxic portrayals of couples have become increasingly visible. From blurring the lines on consent to mistaking...
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