The Spectrum
February 2023 | Volume 29 Issue 5
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Image Courtesy of iNews
By Layla Roy
As Valentine’s Day approaches, love isn’t the only thing on everyone’s mind. Consumerism also fills the air this holiday.
Every February, many Americans feel obligated to buy all kinds of material gifts for their loved ones. From chocolates to roses to stuffed animals, these tokens of affection are incredibly accessible to the average consumer as they are stocked in nearly every drugstore or home furnishing store for the duration of the month. Because of this, retailers are able to extensively profit from Valentine’s Day.
Image Courtesy of USA Today
Today, Americans watch many award shows: the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys, and many more. But do they really matter?
The next big award show coming up is the Oscars, set to be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
The Los Angeles Times discussed the backlash the Academy has received for nominating primarily white artists and the problematic fact that 93% of the voting crew is white. This has been seen in multiple award shows, but it was most present in the Golden Globes and the Grammys. Even though this racial bias may have slipped to the back of our minds, award shows are still rightfully trying to step up from it and do better.
Image Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly
While Nyack Schools embrace the importance of self-expression and gender equality, the official dress code has for years failed to do so. However, that may be coming to an end. On January 24, Nyack Schools administrators proposed an updated dress policy to the Board of Education (BOE), outlining their new and generally more relaxed recommendations that will be more formally reviewed at the next BOE meeting. This is a pivotal move to tackle the large controversy regarding the gender bias within what is written; with the new recommendations, the dress code will more accurately align with what is enforced at the high school and change what is considered acceptable attire in the middle school.
By Ava Bach
The dog meat trade is defined as "snatching animals from the streets, stealing pets from backyards or buying them from owners." The horrors of animal trafficking do not go unnoticed in countries like the United States. Pictures of anguished dogs are plastered across humane websites calling for action. But to what extent is this issue present in areas with less visibility?
By Michael Kim
Like anything from a cheap take-out place, food truck or busy street stand, Cauliflower 65 is satisfying, quick and kicky. This is something we like to stand over in the kitchen and eat right off of greasy paper towels.
Image Courtesy of Sharmis Passions
The 2022-23 season has been a memorable one so far for both the boys and girls basketball teams. Stouthearted efforts and a no-quit attitude have been the theme of the season for these teams. Coupled with clutch play as their hallmark, Nyack Basketball has made an admirable push towards a secured playoff spot. With both teams in the top 15 of Class A, with combined records of 20-15, the RedHawks are on the rise.
On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, Nyack High School’s Social Justice Club stood before Nyack School District’s Board of Education and presented their findings after attending a Racial Equity Workshop with principles developed from the People’s Institute for Survival & Beyond. There, they were taught ideas such as “learning from history, analyzing power, undoing racism, developing leadership, internalized racial oppression, gatekeeping, identifying and analyzing manifestations of racism and maintaining accountability.”
Every February, grocery stores set aside an aisle for color-coded cards for “him” and “her,” jewelers launch ad campaigns encouraging men to treat the women in their lives to a sparkling necklace, and TV channels broadcast romantic comedies starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. Anywhere consumers turn, companies perpetuate the narrative that Valentine’s Day is for boyfriends and girlfriends, and the messrs. and mmes. In other words, for the males and females. These “His” and “hers” themed products ignore the existence of relationships outside of the heteronormative dialogue and gender identities outside of the binary.
Because it is Black History Month, the Spectrum felt we had a responsibility to highlight important pieces of Black culture and modern-day experiences of Black Americans. But with a primarily white editorial staff, we had to think deeply about who has the authority to tell these stories. Do white journalists have a duty to use our privilege and platforms to disseminate information about Black history? Or should we step aside to uplift Black voices as they tell their own stories?
The Spectrum Staff
Staff Advisors.....Robin Maslanek & Adele Metrakos
Editor-in-Chief.............................................Talia Reiss
Copy Editors...........Nina Petrou, Alyssa Lundberg, Kayleigh O'Donnell, Josie Rothman, Layla Roy
Layout............................................. Rose Gordon, Zoë Reiss
Social Media Manager.............................Risen Wayne
Staff: Nathan DeVisser, Madison Milla, Nina Petrou, Angelina Calbo, Allie Leen, Ezra Seckin, Farrell Hudson, Ava Bach, Mayeli Parada, Kiki Martignoni, Quinn Dabney, Addison Burns, Michael Kim, Zoë Reiss, Hailie Vasquez, Josie Rothman
Spectrum welcomes your feedback! Send your comments, questions, and suggestions to nyackspectrum@gmail.com. Comments may be edited for clarity and/or length.
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