In each issue of Press 4 Paws there will be a section of interviews of students from grades 9-12. The interviews contain personal questions along with school-related questions and topics. This question format will be used throughout all of this year’s Press 4 Paws issues. The selection of students is randomized, so if you’re not featured then don’t worry because you may be featured in next month’s edition! 

INTERVIEWS BY LOCHLAN WARREN

INTERVIEWS BY DEANNA RANSOM

The Russo-Ukrainian War

BY DEANNA RANSOM

I have been looking into the Russo-Ukrainian War that officially started on February 20, 2014, but escalated on February 24, 2022. The New Updates happened around September 25, 2023, or a few days before. The article I looked at  is from June 29, 2022.

Article Coverage: 

In world news, the war between Ukraine and Russia wages on. In pursuit of this topic, I came across an article entitled,  “Vladimir Putin’s Ukrainian Genocide Is Proceeding In Plain View” by Taras Kuzio.  It discusses the shock of Putin’s attacks that not enough people can, “fully grasp the genocidal objectives driving the Russian invasion.” Putin thinks his goal to conquer Ukraine by using these deadly attacks to make Ukraine “fully” part of Russia is justified. To do this, he is forcibly deporting millions of Ukrainians to occupied Russian places. The Ukrainians are forced to abandon their views and adopt pro-Russian views. With that, a “Kill List” was made for anyone who spoke out against Russia. With all this and more said in the article, western policymakers do not doubt that all of Russia’s war crimes taking place against Ukraine are part of a plan to commit genocide. Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people or groups to destroy them. This has become clear to many Western policymakers, for instance when Russian troops executed civilians in over 30 Ukrainian settlements, and there have been times were people who were just supporting Ukrainian troops could be enough to ensure a person’s disappearance.

Taras, Kuzio. “Vladimir Putin’s Ukrainian Genocide Is Proceeding in Plain View.” Atlantic Council, 29 June 2022, www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/vladimir-putins-ukrainian-genocide-is-proceeding-in-plain-view/.

New Updates: 

• Russia and North Korea cooperation is “a two-way street that is increasingly dangerous” - Blinken

• There’s “continuous evidence” Russian forces a “ committing war crimes in Ukraine” - UN

• Russia attacked Odesa and Kherson where 2 people were killed

• Ukraine claims Russian Black Sea Fleet’s Commander killed in Sevastopol attack that killed 34 officers - CNN

• US Abrams tanks have arrived in Ukraine - Zelensky

• Russia airstrikes killed 2 and wounded 8 in southern Ukraine as war enters 20th month

• A Ukrainian train is a lifeline connecting the nation’s capital with the front-line

NN, By Tara Subramaniam, Josh Berlinger, Ed Upright and <a href="/profiles/aditi-sandal">Aditi Sangal</a>. “Live Updates: Russia’s War in Ukraine.” CNN, 25 Sept. 2023, www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-09-25-23/index.html.

It made me realize the impact how school shootings have on students. I saw students crying and some people calming their friends down. Seeing other students cry and react to it made me cry a bit, I know some people didn't fully understand the problem to the extent of it but most kids seemed to understand.

It made me want to leave messages and meaningful things that my family could find and be reminded of me once I'm gone. Her story made me tear up multiple times. Being alone is a fear of mine, and the thought of my family or friends having something like that happen to them scares me. I try not to argue, especially with my brother. He is the most important person to me in the whole world. He is my best friend. I don't know what I would do without him. Seeing Rachel's brother talk about her death and feel the pain he felt on that day all over hurt me. My brother is very important to me, I would be heartbroken if something like this had happened to him. I know he would be too if it had been me. But her story really made me appreciate the people in my life and how I treat them. I hope Rachel can understand how she's affected people and so many lives.

To not bully or let others down.

My reaction to the Rachel`s Challenge assembly was very complex. There were many different things I was thinking while listening to the speaker. At first while the speaker was telling us about Eric Harris and Dlyan Klebold and what they did to EVERYONE in that school, I just felt disgusted. They had not just taken people's lives, and maimed survivors, but they had done something no one would ever forget. I could`t even comprehend how anyone could even think of doing, let alone actually doing that to anyone. I felt terrible for all the victims and survivors. I felt so terrible about the victims. The victims never got to live their lives. Most of them were 18 and under except Dave Sanders (47) a teacher at the school. They never got to live out their lives; they were all taken too young. It was so horrible for the survivors. They all had seen someone they had known, had acquainted, had been friends with or even not have known murdered. And it was all so horrific that they would never forget what had happened that day. When the speaker talked about Rachel Joy Scott, I felt sick about what had happened to her. I was thinking “Why her?” ”She was such a good person.” ”I want to be like her.” ”Her poor brother.” ”She never deserved that, no one did.” ”I would have been friends with her.” It was all so disgusting, she could have had a long beautiful life but someone decided to cut it extremely short. So yes I was very moved by it.

At first, I was just glad to get out of class. I didn't know much about this challenge until I entered the room and the energy level shifted. I took my seat and paid close attention. Learning about Rachel's story was inspiring - how she took every day to the fullest. It made me realize I need to hold onto the ones I love, and never take any given day for granted. I thought about lost family members, and my closest friends and family. I believe it made me choose kindness in random acts.

Rachel's Challenge opened my eyes to how much of an impact our words can have on the people around us, whether they are kind or rude. It was a very inspiring story and it reminded me to continue to treat everyone with kindness and respect because you don't know what they could be going through. I feel that being cordial is often overlooked but it truly could save someone or just simply make them feel better.

Rachel's Challenge impacted me a lot because it showed that all you need to do is be kind to people because you can make a serious impact on them. You never know what a person is dealing with privately in their personal lives and saying something mean can hurt them more, and feel like they are worthless. Treat people the way you want to be treated!

Rachel's Challenge was a very impactful assembly and speaker. It was amazing how they made a beautiful message out of a horrible tragedy. Her one message that had the most impact was having no prejustice. Although it is 2023 and many people's minds have developed and changed, living in a small town, prejudice is everywhere.

Rachel's challenge was something that could have made an impact on me if it didn't try to imply that the shooters were Nazis without proof. Any school shooter is an evil person for shooting students in school. This presentations only perpetuates the status quo and prove that our society and our systems are failing students to be thoughtful intelligent people across the country. 24 years after the columbine students we still have to tell students to be nice without a thought about morality and if this will help you or others in the future. The presentation was not thoughtful in how to improve ourselves and others in the future.

It gave me hope that it would emphasize how important it is to stop bullying people.