The 21st century is often described as the “progressive era”: a society that is more accepting of different races, ethnicities and religions than ever before—but rising blatant antisemitism once…

The lawsuits

Created during the civil rights movement to provide more opportunities for people historically discriminated against, affirmative action in university admissions has become a standard part…

What Happened? 

His Instagram followers number 18.4 million. His brand partnerships have been valued at 220 million dollars. His music records have earned him 24 Grammy awards. Ye, better known as…

The effect of the media on our lives is undeniable.

The media we consume shapes our beliefs and opinions and opens our eyes to many new things. Social media apps, movies and music all have the power…

The U.S. census is one of the United States’ most important governmental surveys. The census provides essential information about racial data and demographics that help to allocate resources and determine…

As a school district, Pleasant Valley prides itself on the education it provides through its academic and extracurricular activities. The success of these programs is reflected through test scores, rankings…

From online grocery shopping to Venmo transactions, technology has become an inevitable part of people’s everyday lives — and books are no exception. With the rise of digital services such as Audible…

Online communities such as Youtube, Instagram and Goodreads once dominated book-reviewing platforms. COVID-19 switched the narrative. In the early stages of the pandemic, TikTok emerged as a new forum…

On May 14, 2022, 10 Black people were shot and killed in a racially motivated attack at a supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y., and several others were injured. This massacre was a hate crime and an act of domestic…

Fashion can enable anyone to present their most authentic self. Style eras act as time capsules and time machines, reflecting the priorities and identities of people of the period. When 100 years from…

Ever since “Sesame Street” premiered in 1969, it has taken the world by storm and become a staple television show in every household. This educational series has helped children learn new information…

Intricately-decorated Ukrainian Easter eggs, or “pysanky,” have inspired hope and warded off evil for generations, and this Easter season, their sanguine energy is necessary for Ukrainian morale more…

Queer media has finally been given the space to thrive freely in American pop culture, and while its emergence has been cautious, its presence is trickling in impactfully. 

Social platforms have helped…

Black hair in all its forms is integral to Black culture. As Black women in America have embraced their hair and the various locs, braids and twists it can be molded into, representation of Black culture…

Families do not envision their newborn’s first year being spent in and out of hospitals. But that is reality for so many families each year–and it was a reality for Pleasant Valley’s Ward family when…

Grunge did not die with its icon Kurt Cobain. Rather, it lay dormant, waiting to connect with the next generation. 

Grunge was an alternative rock movement that started sometime in Seattle in the mid…

Kanye West is a musical and cultural icon, paving his own path when it comes to his career. His unique sense of style, music production and overall artistry have been the main reasons for his success,…

Two years ago, the world was plagued by a global pandemic that stole millions of lives, caused international economies to erupt and tore at the United States’ already delicate two-party system. Now,…

When most people reminisce about their childhood, they remember bike rides, jumping rope and creating adventure games. The current generation of adolescents or “iPad kids” will have profoundly different…

By Allisa Pandit, with introduction and conclusion by Jayne Abraham

For most people, adolescence is defined by lack of consequence, leaving many young people to feel invincible, immortal even. Growing…

Just two weeks before her 100th birthday, Hollywood legend Betty White sadly passed away on Dec. 31, 2021. 

Coming out of nowhere, White’s death shocked the world. Just a few weeks prior in an interview,…

Modern-day American capitalism has outperformed pre-emergent societal expectations in the U.S. over the span of a decade with the help of one extrinsically driven motive: greed. 

On Friday, Dec. 10,…

This story was originally published on Spartan Shield on January 4, 2022.

After endless speculation and anticipation, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” finally swung into theaters on Friday, Dec. 17, setting a post-pandemic record and becoming the second highest opening-day earner…

The metaverse is here – and it has been deemed dead upon arrival.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the company’s rebrand to Meta on Oct. 28. After seemingly perpetual controversy regarding…

Imagine you are doing research for a project. You find an article that appears informative, click the title and are immediately met with a paywall. You are frustrated, but you move on and perhaps find…

Ever since 1969, the popular children’s television show “Sesame Street” has been a staple in families’ homes. It has been a longtime favorite that has addressed many important current issues. Now,…

Oftentimes, our words begin innocently. But before we know it, and perhaps without malice, they develop into something far more hurtful and damaging.

Imagine a child who has just fallen after climbing…

Twenty-one months have passed since 25-year-old Black man Ahmaud Arbery was fatally shot by three white men while being chased through a Georgia neighborhood.  

A panel of jurors for Arbery’s case…

Recognizing rap as an art form has been nothing short of an uphill battle, but rappers like Jay-Z provide hope that the genre will finally get the validation it deserves.

Jay-Z was recently inducted…

The United States of America has been dubbed the “land of opportunity” since its founding, causing many families to come to the US from all over the world in hopes of living the American Dream. However,…

Although beauty standards have seemed to become more inclusive in recent years, those that physically appear outside of the strict guidelines of society continue to be berated in more subtle ways. This…

As the world attempts to move to a post-COVID state, vaccine mandates are becoming popular across professions. On Sept. 2, as reported by AP News, President Joe Biden “ordered sweeping new federal vaccine…

Inspired by hairstyles from Cartoon Network’s hit animated television series “Craig of the Creek,” three-part hair tutorial series “My HAIRstory!” premiered on Oct. 1. 

The series is hosted…

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are reported missing in the United States. But only certain demographics make their way into the headlines.

In light of the Gabby Petito case, this unbroken…

With an ensemble of chart-topping hits and hundreds of millions of streams in its first week alone, Lil Nas X’s debut album “Montero” proves that he deeply understands the secrets of Internet virality.
…

Encapsulating the entire teenage experience is nothing short of a daunting task. 

The film industry has strived to capture the quintessential coming-of-age film for decades. Before the inception of…

In a world flooded with turmoil and uncertainty, young people can be easily overwhelmed. Amid the ongoing Afghan Refugee Crisis, it is now more vital than ever for teens to navigate issues on the other…

Within the complex political landscape that America is today, there are few facets of life that politics does not touch. For many people, the birth of their perception of politics is at home.

But often…

After an utterly chaotic rollout, Kanye West’s highly anticipated Donda, an album dedicated to the tragic death of his mother, has finally been released.

Although recording sessions for Donda began…

This story was originally published on Spartan Shield on May 26, 2021.

Immigrant students are faced with many challenges within and outside of school. At PV there are many immigrants who are living in America on many different types of immigrant visas. These students all…

The Ganges River in India lies silently as the ashes from COVID-19 victims float within it. Overwhelming smoke fills the air as hundreds of newly deceased corpses begin to burn. The entirety of India stares…

Within two months of each other, legislators passed bills in the states of Iowa and Illinois. One advances students’ knowledge of America’s recent history, but the other blocks curriculum from students…

The 2020 election caused significant turmoil and tension in America, with each party defending their beliefs on the validity of the election. Many Republicans believe election fraud led to President Joe…

Pleasant Valley runs based off of their expectations for students. Through athletics, academics, the arts and more, “total effort” is its motto. 

Junior Erika Holmberg has exemplified this quality,…

Forgetfulness, inability to focus and lack of organization are qualities that surround the minds of females with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But often these characteristics go unnoticed…

“Wear bright clothes,” “share your location with friends and family” and “call someone on your way home” are all instructions commonly shared with young women to protect themselves from men…

William Shakespeare, Mark Twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck are among countless influential authors who have all written defining texts of the Western Canon, making them some of the most taught…

Joad Wickham, 18-year-old senior at Edison, has experienced hardship unlike anything most teenagers have to think about. In an unexpected house fire, Wickham lost his parents, niece, two dogs, his house,…