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Southeast Alamance High School Online Newspaper
Coach Richie Burke and Trevor Fowler share a moment on the course. This year's team focused on mental preparation and memories. Photo courtesy of Stallion Athletics.
Birdies All Around: Men's Golf
Birdies All Around: Men's Golf
by Ruby Schon
The Daily Trot took a unique approach to coverage for Men's Golf by having two golfers, Hunter Story (sophomore) and Trevor Fowler (junior), help recap and share the teams journey for the 2026 season.
The golf season was a success this year. Fowler recaps that his personal highlights for the season were. “Winning The Conference Championship, qualifying for States, First Team All Conference, First Team All County, placing first in multiple matches, and making memories with the team.” Whereas Story accounts the team practices and bonding being memorable moments that created forever memories.
Going into the next season, both players said that for the team to further the it needs to practice more outside of the golf season in order to work through more strugglesome skills. Story also adds that personally not only will he be practicing his “short game” but also improve his “mental game” and incorporating positive attitudes. Overall Fowler explained that the team “grew in a lot of different ways. (read more)
Students grow a small business from their shared love of baking. Photo by tabitha turner on Unsplash
Comforting Sweets Come from a Shared Love of Baking
Comforting Sweets Come from a Shared Love of Baking
Founded by Ruby Marks and Xaeviah Pinnix
by Zyania Garcia Hernández
How it started
Ruby and Xeaviah became friends through Church and school. They enjoyed multiple common things, but focused on one: They both liked baking. They liked the idea of making others happy with their natural talents and sharing sweets with each person. They started off with selling their food at their church, and th sales immediately got attention by its comforting taste. Their business provides both food and happiness to many.
The desserts are homemade, made a few hours before selling. Made with fresh ingredients, the pastries are nice and sweet.
Location
The desserts are sold in the school or at Moores Chapel Baptist Church located in Saxapahaw, NC.
The Daily Trot asked questions directly to both Ruby and Xeaviah to find out more about their venture.
How does purchasing work?
We do not exactly have a menu. We like our customers to be creative with their orders, and so they have lots of options. If customers are not sure, we always have some ideas ready!
Are there any recommendations, or fan favorites?
The number one thing bought is S’more cookies ( $2 a cookie). They usually sell out rather quickly when they are not for any specific customer, because of how much they are loved.
I ( Ruby) personally like the S’more cookies, Red velvet oreo cheesecake, and Cookie fries since they are convenient when dipping them in dessert dip or milk! (read more)
Journalism club students collaborate to make sure their writing is solid and productivity remains high. The site obtained over 4,000 views over the course of the year. Photo by Payton Cleary.
by Zyania Garcia Hernández
As the school year comes to an end, some things that may have started off as small and unimportant become special parts of student life. For many staff members, Journalism Club created a way to increase writing knowledge and push to meet deadlines.
Mr. Matt Mayse is the Journalism Club advisor of the Journalism Club as well as a teacher for Honoros English IV, CP English IV and AP Literature and Composition at Southeast Alamance High School. Prior to joing the Southeast community, Mayse taught the Leadership and Media class at Green Hope High School. While at Green Hope, the staff of "The GH Falcon" online newspaper publishing the online newspaper which went on to be the top ranking school newspaper based on "School Newspapers Online" for two years in a row.
When Mayse came to Southeast, he knew there was no class devoted to journalism, so he decided to start a club hoping to get 10 people to show up. By the second meeting, there were more than 28 students showing interest in being on the staff. Staff member William Rogers showed the impact of the club and Mr. Mayse. “It’s super fun and he's very encouraging for students to express themselves and write about a variety of topics," Rogers said
While members of the staff (Mayse insists on calling the club members staffers), students can write articles, create podcasts and publish phot galleries. The articles can be found on the official website: thedailytrot.com. Students meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays during WIN Time to brainstorm and write in order to publish their stories as soon as possible. (read more)
by Kamalika Bhushan Bezzam
For over a century, Los Angeles has been known as the entertainment capital of the world. From movies and television to music and social media, Los Angeles continues to shape global pop culture and inspire millions of people. The city is home to famous landmarks, talented artists and major entertainment companies that continue to influence the industry today.
One of the biggest reasons Los Angeles became the center of entertainment is because of Hollywood. During the early 1900s, filmmakers moved there because of the warm weather, open land and natural lighting that made filming easier. Over time, Hollywood grew into the symbol of the movie industry. Today, tourists from around the world visit attractions such as the Hollywood Walk of Time and the iconic Hollywood Sign.
Los Angeles is also home to some of the biggest entertainment companies in the world including Warner Brothers., Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures. These studios produce blockbuster movies, television shows and streaming content watched by audiences across the globe. Many actors, directors, musicians and writers move to LA hoping to achieve success in the entertainment industry. (read more)
While the early focus on feature enhancement was often seen as a female-driven concept, men are now using the same techniques. Even if the procedures are the same, the social views could not be more different. Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash
Editorial: How “Looksmaxxing” Became the Male Crisis No One Wanted
Editorial: How “Looksmaxxing” Became the Male Crisis No One Wanted
by Eleanor Kerrfinger
In the digital age, insecurity has turned into a business. For years, this business primarily catered to women. Now, however, a new trend from the manosphere called "looksmaxxing" is showing a troubling overlap; young men are putting themselves through the same grueling physical routines that women have endured for generations, yet society has treated the symptoms with understanding rather than criticism. While looksmaxxing is presented as a journey of self-improvement or a way to survive socially, the truth is that it masks a mental health crisis in gym clothes and surgical tape.
At its core, looksmaxxing has two main categories: “softmaxxing” (skincare, gym training, mewing, grooming) and “hardmaxxing” (plastic surgery, cosmetic procedures, and drug treatments). Though softmaxxing seems harmless, its culture is based on a toxic idea that your body is the only factor affecting your life's outcomes. The damage it causes is often unseen.
First, there's the loss of identity. Looksmaxxing culture reduces the self to a checklist of body measurements. Followers fixate on “canthal tilt” (the angle of the eyes), “zygomatic bone prominence,” and “jaw recession” with a clinical detachment that turns normal human differences into flaws that need fixing. What was once a face is now just a set of perceived imperfections to be corrected.
Second, there’s the physical risk of hardmaxxing. Young men, often in their late teens and early twenties, seek procedures like blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), chin implants, and dangerous “leg-lengthening” surgeries. (read more)
Teachers from across North Carolina gathered in Raleigh to engage in the "Kids Over Corporations" rally to increase funding for public schools. Photo courtesy of EdNC.
Teachers use May 1st as a Day of Activism
Teachers use May 1st as a Day of Activism
by Brody Dixon
On Friday, May 1st thousands of educators and advocates across North Carolina gathered in Downtown Raleigh at Halifax Mall for a rally organized by the North Carolina Association of Education (NCAE). The rally was called “Kids Over Corporation" and was coordinated to demand increased funding for public schools, better teacher pay and a halt to the expansion of private school vouchers. Over 20 school districts cancelled school on Friday, making it an optional teacher workday or a remote learning day to accommodate the great number of teachers who put in leave requests for the protest.
The rally was prompted by a broader issue within North Carolina’s bicameral legislative branch, consisting of both the Senate and House of Representatives. This branch is called the General Assembly, and has multiple functions, chief among them being setting state budget policy. Last year, North Carolina was the only state in the country that did not pass a new comprehensive state budget. During the rally/protest, thousands marched into the Legislative Building to demand the General Assembly pass a budget that appropriately funds (read more)
Personalized approaches to songs on TikTok has given way to new forms of music being consumed by millions. Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash
The Popularity of TikTok Shakes up the Music Industry
The Popularity of TikTok Shakes up the Music Industry
by Kamalika Bhushan Bezzam
Over the last few years, TikTok has completely changed how music becomes popular. Instead of songs going viral mainly through radio play or music videos, short-form videos on TikTok can now turn almost any track into a worldwide hit sometimes even years after it was released.
TikTok, a short-form video TikTok platform, is built around 15-60 second videos. This format is perfect for music hooks and catchy 5-15 second parts of songs. When users find a sound they like, they can reuse it in their own videos, remix it or create trends around it. Once a sound starts being used repeatedly, the platform’s algorithm pushes it to even more users, creating a chain reaction of exposure.
A song usually goes viral on TikTok in a few stages. A user or creator uses a small part of a song in a video on their own profule while others will copy or adapt the sound for personal exposure through memes and dance videos. TikTok recommends the sound to more users because its gaining engagement. Before long, the possibly obscure song starts appearing on Spotify charts, YouTube and radio platforms.
Because of TikTok, record labels now actively design songs to be “TikTok-friendly.” These songs will have catchy openings within the first new seconds with memorable lyrics or hooks and easy-to-repeat beats for dances or trends (read more)
Neurodivergent individuals are often on a spectrum which makes the recognition of issues they face often confusing. Autism Awareness Month was created to assist in bringing these differences to light. Photo by Alan Aprilio on Unsplash
by Brooke Brownell
April is Autism Acceptance Month, and the month is dedicated to providing support, raising awareness and demonstrating methods of inclusion for autistic individuals. The month was dedicated to bringing awareness in 1970 by Dr. Bernard Rimland, and it was formally declared as such in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects an individual's ability to effectively communicate with others, interact in a way that is socially aware and skew a general perception of the society.
Mr. Matthew Mayse, an English teacher at Southeast, is the parent of an autistic individual. Mayse's son lives with him and is 19 years of age, and he provided insight on being the father of an autistic child/adult. “I am the type of person that is incredibly overprepared, and I have to know that my son needs consistent prompting to brush his teeth, take medicine, take a shower, etc. Because of my job, I have been able to learn patience, but having an autistic child pushes on that patience each day. It actually helps me in life even though it is incredibly hard," Mayse said.
Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) social interactions are especially difficult (read more).
A new sport emerges at Southeast Alamance as Men's Volleyball sets its sights on long term success. Photo by Makenzy Ward.
by Makenzy Ward
Southeast's first ever Men's Volleyball team is up and running. As a first year sport, the team looks to lock in on improvement and communication in order to succeed immediately and long term.
Originally, men's volleyball was a club team held during WIN Time, but, due to it's popularity, the team became part of the Southeast Athletic Department in the spring of 2026.
Head Coach Natasha Watson understood the importance of having a boy's team as well as the opportunity to create a cohesive unit. "I am excited and it's so fun! Coaching the boys is fun and a different challenge in itself. The athleticism is there, but the skill is what we need to perfect," Watson said. Watson believes there is always room for improvement and is clearly enthusiastic to see how the first season will play out.
Early in the season, the team won their first match against Jordan Matthews. Winning as a team is rewarding as the players figure out the fundamentals. (read more)
The National Honors Society members raise their hands to be inducted into the Society. The honor holds great academic weight, but it also highlights and enforces community service. Photo provided by Mr. Tim Johnson.
by Ruby Schon
The National Honor Society (NHS) is a program used to promote and honor the academic success and leadership qualities within students. On March 1st, 1921 the National Honors Society was created by Dr. Edward Rynearson. Since its inception, NHS has grown to become one of the most prestigious among all Honors Societies United States High Schools have to offer by creating a large impact on many young scholars.
Brooke Brownell, a newly inducted member of the National Honor Society for the 2026 school year, explains the process of qualifying to join NHS, noting that you need to have the following: at least a 3.25 GPA unweighted and a 3.5 GPA weighted, two positive teacher recommendations, one community member recommendation, one verifiable leadership role consisting of ten service hours since entering high school. Applicants also must be a sophomore, junior or senior to be considered.
Samantha Norwood, an officer of the National Honor Society and leader of the Fall Service Project, comments on how NHS has had a positive impact on Southeast. “I think that Southeast has been positively impacted by the NHS because we are able to be leaders to our fellow students and foster a serving atmosphere. (read more)
Band Director Hatley leads the Stallions in their performance at the recent MPA competition. Photo provided by Makenzy Ward.
by Makenzy Ward
The Stallion Band showed off their hard work at the Music performance Adjudication Assessment (MPA). The MPA is a band competition in which our Stallions participates in annually. MPA is tests student abilities to perform sight reading, the quality of their performance and the quality of their preparation.
What makes this competition different is that it focuses on evaluations instead of prizes. It takes a lot of hard work, practice and dedication to get high achieving awards. This year the Stallions marched to success and were ranked as "superior" by the MPA.
Band member, Ma’kayla Williams, participated in MPA on March 19th. For Kayla, preparation was the key to success. By "highlighting anything that [she] has trouble with,” Kayla was better able to mentally prepared for the evaluations. To get into the right mindset, Kayla listens to uplifting music before going on stage or professional covers from the piece the band is performing to "get in the zone." (read more)
Trailblazing a path to success and victory, women in the male-dominated world of sport are now seen in a new light. The rise of women's sports shows just how far athletes have come. Photo by Biblioteca Valenciana Nicolau Primitiu on Unsplash
by Makenzy Ward
Over the last century there has been an impactful rise in competitive women's sports made tremendous impacts on everyone. Female-driven college teams have flooded social media, and young women look up to these Division I athletes. The emergence of women in sports encourages girls to follow their passion and look away from the double standards within athletics.
One popular sport dominating the social media landscape is volleyball. Women's volleyball was created in the late 1940s and quickly led to the first Open Division occurring in 1949. Volleyball was originally a male dominated sport, but roles have reversed, and many classify it as a mostly female-dominated sport.
Volleyball didn't become popular until the 1970s following its Olympic debut in 1964. Thousands of college and high school students rapidly showed interest (read more)
By Hilal Dizdar
Southeast Alamance students were recognized in the 68th Annual Visual Arts Competition for Young People. The event brought together student artists from across Alamance County and gave them a chance to share their creativity and hard work.
One of the artists was Ava Garner, who won two first-place awards. She earned 1st Place in Oil Painting for Potential and 1st Place in Digital Artwork for Evolving Fear.
Ava explained that both of her pieces were inspired by the differences between childhood and adulthood. She said, “Potential represents the decline of creativity and passion as you age. Evolving Fear represents the change in fear as you age, from imaginary to material.” Her work stood out not only because of its visual quality, but also because of the meaning behind it. (read more)
Women's Basketball: Legacy Season
Women's Basketball: Legacy Season
by Sania Holland
The Lady Stallion's basketball team ended this season off with a dominating record of 29-1. The ladies made their second return to State Competition, and they went up against North Lincoln High School. Although it was a close game, the ladies ended with a loss with a close score of 59-56.
However, this loss did not represent the season as a whole. Being undefeated brought with it an amazing legacy for the team. Team members joined together to make the season one to remember.
Showing grit and skill, players went above and beyond to make sure the season was amazing. Shaniya Paylor ended her season with 23 points and six steals. Clara LaChapella and Inysia McIver were also just a couple of players out of the great team showing out during the year.
Head Coach Amy Sarrat once again led the team to States. Sarratt incorporated strong defensive strategies along with an aggressive offensive style. The Daily Trot asked Sarrat about expectations. “Going undefeated was unexpected, but obviously it was a huge accomplishment. (read more)
Men's Basketball: Goals and Grit
Men's Basketball: Goals and Grit
by Brody Dixon
The Southeast Alamance Varsity Boy's Basketball Team wrapped up a historic season on March 2 by finishing with a 25-5 record with only one conference loss. In addition to varsity's winning ways, the Junior Varsity team racked up 15 wins and only four losses.
The varsity team's hard work and determination carried them through to the North Carolina State Competition where they faced the Fike High School team in the semi-final round. Although the season ended in a loss, making it to the State Championship was a highlighted accomplishment of the season.
Varsity player, Donnie Fairley, called the achievement the "highlight of the season". Fairley said, “We played teams that beat us in size, but we couldn’t back down from that. We had to play tough and much harder than we normally do to secure the wins.”
Although they did not bring home the title, their grit and perseverance through this past season continued to raise the bar for Stallion Athletics. Led by Coach Matt Allred, adversity was only a larger motivator for the team's success. “The most challenging part of this season...(read more)
Military strikes continue as the war with Iran escalates. Attacks light up the night skies in several Middle Eastern countries. Photo by Mohammed Ibrahim on Unsplash
by Noelle Duncan
The Iran war is still an ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East that began on February 28, 2026. The war started when the United States and Israel launched large airstrikes on targets in Iran. These strikes hit military bases, government buildings and important infrastructure in cities like Tehran, Isfahan and Qom
The first attacks targeted Iran’s air defense systems, missile bases and government locations. During the early attacks Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, and several other Iranian officials were killed. Civilian areas, such as markets, schools, and hospitals were also damaged during the strikes.
The fighting quickly expanded with hundreds of strikes reported across many parts in Iran. (read more)
Treats of the Season: Spring Baking Guide
Treats of the Season: Spring Baking Guide
by Zyania Garcia Hernández
As the days get warmer and the plants start to open up, you should open up to new snacks! Here are a few recipes that would go well with the warm weather.
Dirt Cups
Ingredients:
Oreos
Milk
Instant chocolate pudding mix
Whipped topping
Gummy worms
Recommended: 6 or 9 ounce clear plastic cups.
Directions:
First, crush up the desired amount of Oreo cookies. This can be done by placing the cookies in a resealable plastic bag which you can crush up with a rolling pin or one's hands. Whisk together the boxes of instant pudding and milk in a large bowl that will sit in 5 minutes. Add the whipped topping on top.
Scoop up some of the pudding mix into the cup. This should fill about ⅓ of the cup. Sprinkle some of the Oreo crumbs, repeating the layers until the cup is nearly full. Top off with gummy worms and place into the refrigerator in order to keep fresh. (read more...so many treats!)
Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of violence against women, rape, and intimate partner violence. Reader discretion is advised.
by William Rogers
Femicide (or Feminicide) is defined as the killing of a woman or girl because of her gender. These incidents include sexually motivated crimes against women, honor killings, mutilation and intimate partner or family violence. Read more
The statistics and truth about femicide comes to light after years in the shadows. Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Megan Moroney's release of her new album brings themes associated with heartbreak and how to recover from struggles. Photo from Moroney's account on X - @_megmoroney
by Lily Nye
The album “Cloud Nine” by Megan Moroney came out on February 20, 2026. Moroney is a rapidly rising star in the country music industry. The album “Cloud Nine” explores and promotes themes of emotional growth, self-confidence and the trials and tribulations of navigating heartbreak. This album consists of 15 tracks and is at the length of 52 minutes and 29 seconds long.
Stallion Perspectives
Some Southeast Stallions shared their love for the album. The Daily Trot spoke with staff writer Brooke Brownell about her favorite song. Brownell said, “My favorite song from the new album is 'Medicine' because I just really like the rhythm throughout and the whole theme. I love the part where she sings about getting a taste of your own medicine.”
The Daily Trot also asked Alexa Isbell what her favorite song was, and she answered “'Beautiful Things’ because it's very relatable to young girls, and it just shows that you're not alone going through different struggles.” (read more for the full tracklist)
In the case of Jeffrey Epstein, and the so-called "Epstein files," rose to a fever pitch over recent years. But just what are the files, and who are those behind them? Photo by Mathilde Hugdal on Unsplash
*Trigger warning: This article contains information associated with human trafficking. If you, or someone you know, is a victim, please go to https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en for help.
by Payton Cleary
As the devastating news of the Epstein files came to light, many questions about what is in the files exist. Clarifying the issue shines light on just how dark a path the road to the release has been.
Jeffrey Epstein was born on January 20th, 1953 in Brooklyn, New York. While jailed, Epstein died on August 10, 2019 of an apparent suicide that is controversial to this day. Epstein was an American financier who was later convicted of being a sex offender against women and girls. Through his successful career as a financier, Epstein became a multimillionaire, slowly developing a social circle of wealthy individuals. (read more)
by Addison Bennett
Rosenmontag (Rose Monday) is a Carnival celebrated in mainly German speaking countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium. Cologne, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Aachen, and Mainz are the five biggest cities to celebrate this festival. It involves creating float attraction out of paper and sometime clay, many other attractions are also involved like traditional dances, food, drinks, and costumes. This year the celebration was taken place on Monday, February 16th, right before Ash Wednesday.
The significance of this celebration is to serve as the climax of the “Fifth Season” of carnival, a months-long period of festivities officially starting on November 11 at 11:11 AM. This celebrations traditions consist of marking cities with bright colorful parades with performances and floats that most of the time satirize politicians and current global events. (read more)
Rosenmontag, or "Rose Monday", is a celebration prior to Ash Wednesday during the carnival season. There is more to this celebration than just colorful attractions. Photo by Alex jiang on Unsplash
The anticipation and excitement surrounding March Madness is quickly approaching. Photo by Todd Greene on Unsplash
The Yearly Appeal of March Madness
The Yearly Appeal of March Madness
by Kamalika Bhushan Bezzam
Every March, millions of Americans tune in to watch one of the most exciting sporting events of the year-- March Madness. March Madness is the nickname for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament and the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament. Both these tournaments bring together 68 of the best college basketball teams in the country to compete in a single-elimination bracket. It's clearly one and done. The high stakes and fast pace are just a few of the elements make the event so intense and unforgettable.
The popularity of March Madness is largely due to its unpredictability. Lower-seeded teams often defeat higher-ranked teams in surprising “upsets”. These unexpected victories create excitement and prove that anything can happen. Fans across the country fill out brackets, trying to predict which teams will win each round. Friends, families, teachers, and even entire schools create competitions to see who can guess the most games correctly. (read more)
The FIFA World Cup stands alone in sports as it brings countries together in competition and unity. Photo by Fauzan Saari on Unsplash
FIFA World Cup: Unity Through Competition
FIFA World Cup: Unity Through Competition
by Kamalika Bhushan Bezzam
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup is the most popular and widely watched soccer tournament in the world. Organized by FIFA, the competition takes place every four years and features national teams from across the globe. Countries such as Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal are often among the favorites. Each team competes not only for the trophy but also for national pride and the honor of representing their country on the world stage.
The tournament begins with a group stage, where teams are divided into groups and compete to earn points to advance. After this stage, the competition moves into the knockout rounds, where one loss means elimination. This format creates dramatic and emotional matches that keep fans on the edge of their seats. Legendary players have made history during the World Cup, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar Jr., whose performances have inspired millions. (read more)
The first Tech Theater course was offered at Southeast this year focusing on the work behind the actors. Photo by Addison Bennett
The Work Behind the Actors: Tech Theater
The Work Behind the Actors: Tech Theater
by Addison J. Bennett
The work of actors on stage is something that will never go unnoticed. From plays Shakespeare wrote to musicals like Ride The Cyclone and Hadestown, the actors and these effects won't be seen without the audience and critics sharing their thoughts and opinions. Though the real question stands, who is behind these effects?
Beginning in ancient Greek and Roman times, theater was a growing aspect of everyday culture. Comedies, tragedies and special performances by actors occurred almost every day. During this time, theaters were primarily found outdoors, so the use of technical elements was limited due to the sun being the only main source of tech lighting. Though items like sets and props were slightly used, masks and hand-held props like cups or sometimes even weapons were used often onstage for the aspect of props, an important part of technical theater. (read more)
by Brooke Brownell
The Stallions Dance Team made history at the NDA (National Dance Alliance) Competition. Over the course of three days, the team competed in the hip-hop and game-day divisions. This was the team's first time attending the national competition, and they placed fourth in the nation.
The NDA (National Dance Alliance) holds premier dance competitions to showcase top teams around the country. The NDA features many styles of dance such as jazz and pom. Jazz focuses on more technical skills and emphasizes fluid movements. Pom is different in that it requires sharp and precise movements, jumps and formation changes. This year, nationals was hosted at the Hilton Orlando, and teams had to qualify at an NDA summer camp. The Stallions Dance Team qualified by winning first place on their “team routine” at the NDA camp. The team was scored based on how well they remembered and showcased the choreography.
The nationals competition was February 14th-16th. Stallion Dance Team member Alanna Cromartie explained the grueling schedule. “Each day we performed, we woke up around 6:30 am and had to eat breakfast and be ready by 8:00 am. (read more)
The Stallion Dance Team makes history finishing fourth overall at the National Dance Alliance competition. Photo courtesy of Stallion Dance.
The Origins of Black history Month
The Origins of Black history Month
By Shayla Leach
Black History Month is celebrated in February each year, but how did it become what it is today? What steps were taken so African- Americans could remember and celebrate their history?
In the summer of 1915, Chicago was full of excitement as it hosted a large celebration for the 15th anniversary of the end of slavery. Carter G. Woodson traveled from Washington, D.C. to join the event. Thousands of African-Americans from across the country came to see displays showing the progress their community had made since emancipation.
Inspired by the three-week celebration, Woodson decided to create an organization dedicated to promoting the study and appreciation of black life, history and culture. (read more)
The month of February is a time of reflection and recognition focused on the history of African-Americans. Photo from Wheeling University.
The need for social interaction often leads teens down a road of peer pressure. Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash
by Brody Dixon
Remove yourself from the situation. Say “No.” Provide an excuse. Peer pressure is a concept with which many are familiar.
From a young age, many are taught how to avoid succumbing to it, but it still persists. Although this advice is helpful, the power of peer pressure is much deeper than that. What makes it so tempting? Why are teens more susceptible to it? The answers lie in our very own brains.
As humans, we are social creatures. We both crave and need social interaction for our survival. This survival need can be observed biologically with the brain’s reward system. The brain’s reward system is a brain circuit that activates feelings of pleasure, such as when you eat food you like or receive a good grade on a test. This reward system is heavily involved with our social interactions as well, especially among teens. It is activated by getting a compliment or more importantly, “fitting in”. Vitalina Glushko, a student at Southeast stated: “I feel the most peer pressure when the teacher asks the class for the right answer and everyone says a different answer that I think is wrong, but I just follow up with what they say to not get judged or bring too much attention on me.” (read more)
Japanese urban legends fill the society with tales of fear that span centuries, yet still scare those that hear them. Photo by The Cleveland Museum of Art on Unsplash
Daily Trot Exclusive Audience Interaction Article
by Kamalika Bhushan Bezzam
Have you ever been interested in ghost stories or paranormal cases? Do you believe they exist? Japan is world-renowned for its deep, unsettling, and psychologically driven horror, often considered among the best in the world. Japanese urban legends are modern folktales passed from person to person, often through whispers in school, late-night TV shows, or online forums. Unlike ancient myths about gods and spirits, these stories usually take place in normal settings. Bathrooms, train stations, schools, and city streets are all examples of some of the most popular places mentioned in these stories. Here are some of the most famous Japanese urban legends that continue to haunt people’s imaginations.
Kuchisake-onna (The Slit-Mouthed Woman)
Kuchisake-onna is said to be the spirit of a woman who wears a surgical mask, which is common in Japan. She approaches people, often children, and asks, “Am I beautiful?” If you say no, she may attack you. If you say yes, she removes her mask to reveal her mouth sliced from ear to ear and asks again. No matter how you answer, there seems to be no safe response. This legend became extremely popular in the 1970s, when reports of sightings spread across Japan. Schools even wanted children to walk home in groups. The story played on everyday normality a simple surgical mask hiding something horrifying. (read more)
AI is often seen as a useful tool; however, it can lead to a lack of creativity and unique thought. Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash
by Addison Jayne Bennett
One of the words for the 2025 “word of the year” was “AI Slop”. Many people use this word to describe the use of generated images and other artistic works. People say AI is awful, it’s bad for the environment, bad for your health and just plain bad for you. Period.
And I agree.
Taking this on a personal matter, I am a person of creative insight. along with creating and listening to music, I love to write and I love to paint and draw. With the growing use of AI, especially in 2025, original and human-made creative ideas in the artistic area have fallen. Art being generated by people simply putting in an AI prompt is soulless, heartless and overall idiotic.
Think….(read more)
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