Current Events

Spartan Seniors take on Styrofoam

A Long-Winded Way of Saying That I Was Wrong and Russia Did In Fact Invade Ukraine

Getting Back What We Lost

The Rise of Steinert Robotics

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Spartan Seniors take on Styrofoam

By Megan Wysocki

Spartans have always taken their place fighting for causes in which they believe. Through our impressive endeavors of community service and engagement, the Steinert community consistently works hard through adversity. No difference is seen amongst a group of seniors who are currently advocating for change to help the Earth and the environment around them. Composed of Julian Golik, Chris Philburn, Tommy McCarty, Jake Moulds, Aiden Gardiner, and Leo Girandola, this group of Spartan seniors is taking on styrofoam in our cafeteria.

“It started as a joke,” noted Leo. This entire process began with the group - who all sit together at lunch - stacking their styrofoam lunch boxes to form towers. The boxes, which are those provided by the cafeteria, are enumerable and stacked quite quickly. As the group noted, this fun activity led them to quickly realize that there was a real problem at hand: the commercial use of styrofoam. What began as a disruptive use of time in the cafeteria turned into a visual representation of the styrofoam waste created by Steinert.

Abruptly aware of the serious concern at hand, the group switched gears and focused their efforts on using their skills to reach a viable solution. To begin, Julian and Chris conducted some in-depth research on the use of styrofoam. They discovered that styrofoam negatively contributes to the environment both before and after usage. The production of styrofoam leaches chemicals and waste into surrounding environments, and the usage of fuels contributes to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Further, styrofoam can take centuries to fully decompose after being used. With the hundreds of boxes that the Steinert cafeteria uses each day, we are directly contributing to overflowing landfills and environmental degradation.

“We need to make a change in the world and be remembered as Spartans,” noted Julian when asked about the group’s motivations. Agreeing that the Steinert community has a responsibility for the betterment of our town, the seniors took advantage of the easy opportunity to do so. The next step for this group: meeting with the administration. Following the daily demonstrations at lunch, the group secured a meeting with Dr. Brazil. After conducting more research and preparing a presentation, the group was settled on exactly what their goals were. As put by their presentation, the seniors wanted the administration aware of the waste we create, as well as to propose their alternate solution. Their idea is to have the cafeteria switch to paper plates. The new plates would take up less space, would be easier to hold and carry, and of course, would do far less damage to the environment. The group took advantage of these obvious facts in their presentation, playing to the fact that it would make cafeteria cleanup and management far easier.

Apparently, a delightful combination of a well-researched presentation and the charisma of the group allowed their ideas to make an impact. As of now, the administration has been in contact with the suppliers of our cafeteria program to attempt to implement this change soon. The group described the feeling of knowing that they successfully made a positive change in their community as refreshing and satisfying. Several members of the group also expressed their interest in encouraging a greater audience to inspire their entire community through change. “It’s up to the younger Spartans,” Chris noted.

Now knowing the story, we encourage you to conduct your own research. Learn more about the impacts of styrofoam, and reach out to your teachers or administrators on what you think the solution to this problem is.

A Long-Winded Way of Saying That I Was Wrong and Russia Did In Fact Invade Ukraine

By Fadi Farag

If you aren’t living under a rock, then you know that Russia has been taking a very aggressive stance on Ukraine. Putin has long opposed the sovereignty of the region and has often disputed Ukraine as a part of Russia. This strong opposition has culminated in tensions between the Western world and our old enemy. Tensions rose when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. The United States and many other countries responded by placing sanctions, or penalties that are typically economic or political. Tensions are rising again as Putin lines up his troops on the Ukraine-Russia border. With the massed troops and tanks at Ukraine’s door, will Putin invade?

Realistically, Putin won’t invade Ukraine. The surreal action would worsen the Russian economy, cause the death of Russian soldiers, and land Russia in political trouble. Russia would face the same consequences it faced in 2014. European countries would stop paying Russia for its oil, condemning its actions. Western countries would use financial restrictions to coerce Russia into cooperation. If Russians can’t access their money in US bank accounts or manage investments in the United States stock market, Putin will either put up with a weak economy and angry citizens or give in to the United States’ demands. The United States and many other countries can place sanctions in several other ways as well, such as tariffs and diplomatic actions. Given all the risks and international backlash, Russia will most likely not follow through with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

So if Putin isn’t invading Ukraine, what is he planning to do? Unless you can see into the future, we are left to nothing more than speculation. There are several reasons why Putin could be lining up the border with troops. Perhaps he is testing the waters. How much can he get away with? Will the rest of the world ignore his preparation of troops? Will NATO ignore military actions? The current situation along the border may just be an assessment for a later invasion. Russia may also be attempting to provoke a response from Ukraine. If Ukraine cracks under the pressure, they may accidentally fire the first shot, thereby justifying a Russian assault. Perhaps, Putin is intimidating Ukrainians in hopes that they will want to join Russia. Instead of attacking Ukraine from the outside, he could attack from the inside. In the worst-case scenario, Russia may take a slither of Ukraine. First, Russia annexed Crimea, which used to be Ukrainian territory. It is possible that Putin may be conquering Ukraine one acre at a time.

Even if Putin leads a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, what does that have to do with the United States? As a self-proclaimed defender of democracy, the United States is held in an obligatory position to defend Ukraine. Given the long history of tense Russia-US relations, it seems only natural that we would side with Ukraine. Additionally, due to Europe’s energy dependence on Russia, the war with Ukraine will lead European nations to seek other sources of gas, increasing the cost for all countries including ours. Lastly, if Russia gets away with conquering Ukraine, the US will be conveying indifference to international policies and affairs. Other countries will follow Russia’s lead and wars may run rampant. China will follow Russia’s lead and conquer Taiwan, an island of significant economic and political importance to the United States. If not handled properly, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could become the modern-day example of Germany’s invasions that sparked World War II.

Getting Back What We Lost

By Grace Pinder

As the temperatures begin to heighten and the sun rises earlier, life begins to shift back to normality once again. This school year at Steinert has provided our student body with highs and lows, but would we truly appreciate our luxuries without the fight to earn them? Prom season has gone into full swing and Steinert has made no exception. That’s right, The Junior Prom made a comeback this year. After two years of multiple aspects contributing to the neglect of the Junior Prom, it was finally able to be executed this past March. On March 4th, a majority of the junior class gathered at Sayen Gardens to capture beautiful moments with their peers. Being able to share such a momentous occasion with the people you love the most is truly unmatched. Therefore, prioritizing the pictures that will last forever is completely understandable. This specific stage of the night was especially memorable due to the below 50-degree weather. The gowns, although beautiful, did not provide much warmth for the girls. The numbing cold brought upon a certain understanding and bond between the girls, only making them more excited to arrive at the venue. The Trenton Country Club provided the perfect ambiance for such an enjoyable night. Throughout the 4-hour time span, there was endless dancing, singing, and memory-making. It was a night of hope for the future, having created everlasting memories for everyone. Especially our Junior Prom Prince and Princess, Hasn Nafai and Ruby Crowell. Each and every person that attended was seen with a smile on their face by the time the night was over. It is one tragedy to be cursed with a world of bad health for such a long period of time, but another to of missed out on so much of our high school experience. That is what made this night such a revolutionary one. It would not have been possible without the exquisite planning of the SGA and their advisors, therefore they have earned a million acts of appreciation from all who attended the dance. It was the most perfect night to symbolize the life that is soon to be true again, one that is full of happiness and prosperity with no restriction.

The Rise of Steinert Robotics

By Sajid Ahmed

One of the largest clubs at Steinert for the last several years has been the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, commonly known as Robotics. Many of us have heard the announcements overview an interest meeting or specific events, yet details and information are typically unknown. Given this, what does the Robotics team actually do?

Generally, the early school year of Robotics revolves around preparing club members and practicing for the eventual season. September until January is focused on introducing and explaining certain procedures, reviewing previous competitions, and more. During this time, club members usually meet once a week for a few hours to practice and learn across each of the groups. Individuals experience a variety of tasks and are exposed to each of the subteams: Design, Mechanical, Electrical, Programming, PR, and Art. Design creates the physical blueprints and schemes for the robot, whereas Mechanical constructs and acquires the according resources and parts. Electrical’s priority includes wiring and connecting the robot, while Programming dictates the coding and actual actions come competition time. PR, given its name, handles public relations, fundraising, and social media. Last but not least, Art focuses on designing Robotic’s shirts, pins, workspaces, and more.

The season’s kickoff signals a significant change for club members. Starting on the first Saturday after January 1st, local teams go to Montgomery High School and participate in workshops. Importantly, FIRST, the host organization, reveals the theme and challenges for the season. This generally revolves around designing and creating a robot to accomplish certain tasks, such as mechanical soccer or picking up and moving a variety of items. After the kickoff, the team returns to Steinert and begins brainstorming and prioritizing certain ideas and challenges.

The rest of the season is spent prototyping and creating the robot. Meetings now increase dramatically, with some members choosing to spend six hours five days a week. This allows the team to extensively improve the robot and be involved with each other through collaboration and hard work. Additionally, designing every aspect and testing its effectiveness is crucial for success. Robotics strives to perfect the robot and minimize any sources of error, whether that be in terms of coding or practical limitations. Lastly, designated drivers focus on actually controlling the robot to accomplish the given challenges. These efforts are all tested come competition time during the spring.

This year, Robotics’s theme revolves around transportation. Challenges include gathering and shooting balls into certain areas and hanging from bars at different heights. Currently, the team’s robot is nearly finalized. Prototypes and plans have been established, with finishing touches regarding construction being the only things left to do. Given the hard work and extensive effort of every group and member, the Steinert Robotics team is looking forward to their first competition during the first week of March.

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