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We Celebrate the Tuskegee Airmen for Wartime Achievements of Excellence
American heroes returned to face racism after risking their lives for their country
By William Sagnella
From 1940 to 1946, almost 1,000 African American pilots were trained for World War II at Tuskegee Army Air Field. Out of that 1,000, 445 got deployed overseas. They were known as the Tuskegee Airmen. The 99th Pursuit Squadron was the first unit of fighter pilots, and was activated in March of 1941, before the U.S. joined the war. The unit was under the command of Captain Benjamin O. Davis Jr, who was one of two African American officers serving in the U.S. Army. The 99th saw its first action in May of 1943, when it attacked the small island of Pantelleria. As a result of the air strikes, the Italian island was forced to surrender to the Allied forces on June 11th.
After the 99th, many more units became ready for combat as more Tuskegee pilots enlisted in training. The 100th, 301st, and 302nd Fighter Squadrons were then put together. The 99th Fighter Squadron was moved to the 332nd Fighter Group, which was now under the command of Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr. From June 1944 to March 1945 the 332nd Fighter Group escorted Fifteenth Air Force heavy bombers to raid Nazi Germany. The 332nd Fighter Group received P-51 Mustang Fighters, which had tails painted red, the pilots from the 332nd group became known as the Red Tails. In March of 1945, the 332 fighter group attacked Berlin, Germany from their bases back in Italy About 6 weeks later Germany surrendered and the war was over.
Despite all of the success the Tuskegee airmen had, they were not welcomed home warmly. As soon as the men stepped off the plane, they were met with racism and segregation. Discrimination was even going on during the war, when in 1945, 101 officers from the all African American 477th unit were arrested. The reason; the officers refused to sign a document instilling separate clubs for black and white men within the Freeman Field base. This act became known as Freeman Field Mutiny. After years of protest, in 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981. This document ended the separation of black and white people in the military, and it gave everyone equal treatment, no matter their race. However, two years would pass before the order went into effect, and segregation in the military was ended.
The Tuskegee Airmen continuously protested all the way into the 1960’s and beyond. As a result of all the segregation and focus on race, it took decades before people realized how incredible the airmen's war efforts really were. In 2007, President George W. Bush presented over 300 of the Tuskegee Airmen with the Congressional Gold Medal - it is the highest recognition of achievement.
Because of the heroic actions taken by the Tuskegee Airmen, the fourth Thursday of March is always observed as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day. This year, the group of airmen will celebrate the 82nd anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen, since their founding in 1941. In all, the Tuskegee Airmen flew 15,533 rescue missions, and 1,578 regular missions, and shot down 112 enemy planes. Less than 30 planes flown by the Tuskegee Airmen were shot down - an incredible feat. As Roscoe Brown from the Tuskegee Airmen said, “Excellence will overcome obstacles. Excellence was our mantra."
Deadly Q Club Shooting: A Heartbreaking Reminder of How Hateful Violence Can Harm So Many
Shooting adds to the violence experienced thus far in 2023: Is anyone really safe?
By Zayna Saidi
Club Q, a public LGBTQ club located in Colorado Springs, was considered to be a safe haven to local members of the LGBTQ community before a mass shooting occurred on November 19, resulting in 5 deaths and 25 injuries. The victims of this tragedy are Daniel Aston (28), Kelly Loving (40), Ashley Paugh (35), Derrick Rump (38), and Raymond Green Vance (22), whose names and stories will be shared and remembered.
The suspect of this mass murder is 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, who is said to have arrived at Club Q at 11:55 p.m. wearing a ballistic vest and armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle. Only a minute later, at 11:56 pm, police received numerous reports about an active shooting. Witnesses of the shooting stated that Aldrich had only entered the building a short distance before openly firing at patrons. Michael Anderson, a survivor of the shooting, said, “They used a military-style weapon that exists solely for the intention of killing other human beings, and began hunting us down as if we were disposable, as if our lives meant nothing.”
Aldrich was quickly tackled by two brave patrons, army veteran Richard Fierro and Navy Petty Officer Thomas James. The two men were able to disarm Aldrich and left him with multiple injuries which were treated in a nearby hospital. While being treated, a conversation between Aldrich and the medical staff was overheard by a police sergeant and officer who stated that they heard Aldrich apologize to the staff for his actions, telling them that he had been awake for four days. Aldrich has been formally charged with 305 counts, those charges being 10 counts of first-degree murder, 86 counts of attempted first-degree murder, as well as 48 counts of bias motivated crime.
Since this shooting occurred shortly before the 10-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, many have raised the question of gun laws once again. The survivors of the Club Q shooting testified to Congress about the threats and acts of violence that the members of the LGBTQ community have faced and urged the lawmakers to pass a law banning or limiting access to some semiautomatic weapons.
The massacre at Club Q has left a tragic mark on the families of the victims, the survivors, and all who have been impacted by this disaster. Through donations to the families who had lost their loved ones and spreading awareness about the issues the LGBTQ community faces today, support has been shown from thousands of people across the country.
Yale University Policy Challenged on Behalf of Student Sufferers of Mental Health Disorders
Prestigious universities continue to fail in maintaining beneficial student-health policies
By Chandler Morris
Approximately 9.5% of American adults ages 18 and over, will suffer from a depressive illness (major depression, bipolar disoerder,or dysthymia) each year. So, it can be assumed that many freshman start their college careers dealing with these types of debilitating health issues. There are some who believe Yale University needs to better address this matter especially given its status as one of the finest institutions of higher learning on the planet.
Yale was founded in 1701 as a private ivy league college. This prestigious school is noted for shaping the most influential political and artistic individuals. Some of these individuals include Meryl Streep, George W. Bush, and Anderson Cooper. Despite Yale’s renowned programs, the university has been so focused on producing genius public figures that it has allegedly neglected its students' mental health. Could this be true?
On November 22, 2022, a lawsuit was filed against Yale University for its tendency to disfavor students who struggle with mental health issues. The lawsuit was written by two current Yale students who struggle with mental health and a Yale student mental health group, Elis for Rachael. “Elis for Rachael is an advocacy group composed of alumni and the loved ones of Yale first year Rachael Shaw-Rosenbaum, who died by suicide in 2021” (Daily Pennsylvanaian). The overall allegations of the lawsuit displayed the university's aptness to have students face more severe expectations if they were to withdraw from the Yale programs due to mental health reasons.
After the lawsuit was released, the Washington Post published an article that criticized Yale’s different policies involving “withdrawal and readmission” in regards to mental health problems. As a response, different admissions representatives released statements in order to defend Yale’s active efforts to improve its mental health care and defend its reputation.
However, a lot of students—both alumni and current students—have begun to explain to different social media platforms that Yale is only making “some reforms” to their current student mental health plans. In an interview with the Yale Daily News, Yale junior, Alicia Abramson, stated that “the university has only done the bare minimum.”
As well as publicly bringing awareness to Yale’s discrimination against students that struggle with mental health issues, the lawsuit has also claimed that the university's policies “violate the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Affordable Care Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair Housing Act.” Therefore the plaintiffs denied any allegations of seeking financial compensation and instead discussed their goal of improving the available Yale mental health care policies. “Our top priority is to compel Yale to listen to students and hopefully in the process, give them some practice and improve their skills for the future going forward” (Elis for Rachael). Moreover, the Elis for Rachael group has expressed the true intention of the lawsuit: to benefit the faculty and students that make up the Yale community.
Despite this public desire for change and reform, Karen Peart, Yale Interim Vice President of Communications, has denied the mistreatment. Peart described how the policies and decisions that make up the mental health care system at Yale support student safety while also “abiding by the applicable regulations and laws.”
Although Yale University previously struggled to offer accommodations and resources for students that struggled with mental health, the students and alumni that make up the university are encouraging the school to no longer disregard their safety and health needs.
Prince William and Princess Kate Enjoy Boston Visit
Royal Couple focuses on various projects aimed at building a better future
By Zeynep Coskun
Prince William and Kate Middleton arrived in Boston on November 30th, wearing coordinating suits to promote their global environmental prize awards ceremony — Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. This significant trip was not only their first visit to the U.S. in nearly a decade, but it was also their first trip since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The crowd patiently waited for their arrival at the City Hall, lining up in the freezing weather to catch a glimpse of the Royal couple.
The Royal couple first met with the Boston Mayor Michelle Wu at the Boston Harbour to learn about climate change and its effects on the city's shoreline. Their meeting was followed by their appearance at the Boston Celtics game. On the following day, they visited Roca, a non-profit organization whose mission is to “be a relentless force in disrupting incarceration, poverty, and racism by engaging the young adults, police, and systems at the center of urban violence in relationships to address trauma, find hope, and drive change.”
On Friday, the Princess of Wales stopped by the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University and talked to experts about her Early Years project, taking notes during their discussion. Meanwhile, President Biden met with Prince William on Friday afternoon at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and they shared memories of the late queen. The Prince professed that John F. Kennedy’s 1962 “Moonshot” speech was a great inspiration behind the Earthshot project while he had a special tour alongside Kennedy's daughter, Caroline, through the museum.
The Royal couple’s trip was finalized with the televised Awards Gala for presenting the winners of the Earthshot Prize where many celebrities walked the ‘green carpet.’ The Princess made a sustainable choice by wearing a burrowed bright green Solace London dress, though what truly caught the attention was the emerald-and-diamond choker from Princess Diana’s closet, formerly worn as a headband. During the event, William announced five environmental entrepreneurs and innovators from Kenya, India, Oman, Australia, and the UK who received £1 million prizes for their “groundbreaking solutions to repair and regenerate the planet.”
It is also important to note that the Royal Couple’s visit to Boston aligned with the release of the trailer for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming Netflix series. The announcement of the documentary after their decision to leave the royal family and move to America, along with the interview with Oprah Winfrey to explain the reasons why, has diminished both Buckingham and Kensington Palace’s reputation.
William and Kate’s trip is an important step to restore the royal family’s image within the U.S. According to the Times of London, “A visit to the U.S. by the Prince and Princess of Wales, viewed in royal circles as one of the most important overseas trips for years, aims to get the House of Windsor firmly back on the front foot across the pond.”
Mauna Loa Throws Hawaii For a Shock
Volcanic eruption garners attention from tourists and locals alike
By Gabriella Barry
Hawaii is home to around 15 volcanoes, six of which are currently active. Mauna Loa, one of the active volcanoes, is the largest volcano on Earth. Up until November of 2022, Mauna Loa had been relatively dormant, 1984 being the last documented eruption. On November 27, 2022, Mauna Loa erupted for the first time in 38 years and continued to erupt for around 12 days. Mauna Loa covers around half of Hawaii, thus putting hundreds of people at risk of volcanic air pollution, earthquakes, and ground cracks. That being said, there are various tasks the people of Hawaii can perform in order to stay prepared and safe.
Volcanoes erupt due to shifts in tectonic plates that cause magma to build up and explode. Mauna Loa is known to erupt in hot spots or places where the Earth’s mantle is abnormally hot. These locations are filled with molten rock, which due to its density and buoyancy, rises to the surface. The possibility of Mauna Loa erupting more intensely means that the location of constructing buildings and houses needs to be taken into consideration. Proactive efforts like these ensure the people of Hawaii stay educated and prepared for the worst possible scenarios.
The people of Hawaii can prepare for a possible eruption through efforts such as researching lava flow hazard zones and lava flow inundation zones, as well as gathering emergency supplies. During the eruption, people should avoid ashfall by staying inside and wearing long sleeves and pants. As for the people not affected, there are ways to help. Through foundations such as the Hawaii Community Foundation, one can make donations to help those in need.
It is not confirmed as to when or if Mauna Loa will erupt any time soon, but if it follows the statistic of one eruption every five years, we may be seeing activity arising again in 2027. No matter when or if Mauna Loa is going to erupt, it’s important to know the dangers volcanoes present and the proper ways to be cautious and prepared.
It has been ten years since the small town of Newtown suffered unimaginable tragedy. The life-changing events of December 14th 2012 broke the collective hearts of a nation and put a quiet community on the global map for hauntingly catastrophic reasons.
A Decade Later: We Remember Sandy Hook
Some "promise" to turn pain into advocacy and choose love
This past December 2022 marked the ten-year anniversary of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. On December 14, the nation remembers the 20 children and 6 teachers who had their lives stolen as a result of gun violence. Residents of Newtown paid respects by attending vigils as well as observing a new memorial that commemorates the names and lives of the 26 victims whose lives were stolen that day.
Frank Caggiano of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown stated that while the wounds of December 14, 2012 may never fully heal, we must, as a society, have a greater intention to "go forward and choose love" in order to prevent this kind of devastation in the future.
Mark Barden, a parent of a victim of Sandy Hook, co-founded Sandy Hook Promise and turned pain into advocacy. His activism inspires others who have seen and been impacted by the terrible effects of gun violence. In this light, Barden states that "If everybody does a little bit, we can really make a difference."
71 Mass Shootings in the US during the first 6 Weeks of 2023 tragically continue to claim lives
How many more?
On February 13th of 2023, a 43-year-old gunman went to Michigan State University and took the lives of three students and injured another five. It serves as yet another reminder of the horrors that unfold when guns of mass destruction fall into the hands of those with the sole purpose of killing others. In a nation divided by political, racial and other issues, we must all agree that the death of innocent people at this unprecedented level must be stopped.
It is a good sign that on June 24, 2022, Congress passed the first gun control bill in decades: Protecting Our Kids Act, designed to stop dangerous people from accessing firearms. Biden signed it into law thus finalizing the first major gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. It was approved one month to the day after a gunman strolled into an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas and used a semiautomatic rifle to kill 19 children and two teachers, sparking outrage across the country and a flurry of negotiations on Capitol Hill. It amends title 18, US Code, to ensure enforcement of age limit on the purchase of firearms, prevent gun trafficking, modernize more effective background checks and more. The bill met with broad public approval and is a good start, but more must be done. It is not a choice at this point, but a non-negotiable requirement with a focus on preserving life in a civilized society and the greatest country on earth. We can and must do this.
Far too many memorials (right) have been constructed throughout our nation as violent attacks take place everywhere from shopping malls, grocery stores, churches, concert venues schools. work places and more.
The question posed on the rock: How Many More? is simple but the answer remains elusive as America continues to bury innocent victims of both random and targeted acts of murder. School shootings reached an unprecedented high in 2022 with a total of 300 incidents on school grounds. If you see/know something, say something. Let us all work together to keep one another and our environment safe. Students please understand that their are people on the NHHS campus whose sole purpose is to protect our community from harm. Reach out to any adult with question/concern you might have. They will listen and help.
Pictured left to right: Alexandria Verner, Arielle Anderson, and Brian Fraser
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