The Spectrum
December 2023 | Volume 29 Issue 3
Unleashing Excellence: Cornelia Fox Dominates State Competition
Redhawk fall athlete of the season and three-time state champion, Cornelia Fox, has had an unbelievable high school swimming career. We commend her for her hard work and dedication to Nyack.
Image Courtesy of Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Image Courtesy of Shutterstock
By Ian Bowen
Voters across the country hit the polls on Tuesday, November 7th, to cast their ballots in local races around the nation. While voting gets far less attention in years without the presidency or seats in congress up for grabs, several important local offices affecting Rockland residents more than any national officials were elected this cycle.
Grease vs Rent - Did Nyack Make the Right Decision?
Following the closing night of Nyack High School’s fall play, director Ben Tostado ‘put up’ the show Rent to be approved for the spring musical. Nyack’s superintendent, Susan Yom, denied this show, opting for something more family-friendly, a show for all ages.
The approved musical was Grease.
Image Courtesy of fayobserver
Even the Darkness Must Pass, Lessons From Lord of the Rings
It isn’t a secret that we live in some pretty dark times, and in dark times such as these, it’s very easy to feel hopeless and depressed. A study by the CDC found that in 2021 more than 4 in 10 high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless.
Farewell to a Friend: Matthew Perry's Legacy
On October 28th, 2023 the news of Matthew Perry’s (54) death shocked the world. Perry was born on August 19th, 1969, and was most known for his character Chandler, on the famous TV show “Friends'' which aired in 1994 and ended in 2004.
Image Courtesy of Fox News
By Gia Aclin and Adelina Martinez
Are you a food person? Bryant Park’s Holiday Market is a food festival where there are booths everywhere, like a street market. Have you ever been to the Nyack Street Fair? It is just like that, only with different shops and tons of unique, aesthetic foods.
Culinary Corner: Peppermint Bark
The holidays are around the corner, which means it’s peppermint season! Peppermint bark is a great and simple desert, snack, or gift. This recipe is super easy and sweet.
Image Courtesy of Food.com
Beyond the Red Carpet... the Artistry and Cultural Impact of the Met Gala
By June Novak and Elena Gonzalez
The Met Gala is, without a doubt, the biggest, most high-profile fashion event of the year. With that being said, it might surprise you how it began.
Redhawk Reel Review: Five Nights at Freddy's
My first reaction to Five Nights at Freddy’s, or FNAF for short, was one of joy. I was pleased to see a movie that was finally not just a movie about a game, but a game turned into a movie. The story, the sets, the characters, everything that I loved about the games had been preserved and improved.
Image Courtesy of IMDb
Editorials
Modern Music is Dying in Favor of Catalog Sales. But Why?
The music landscape has definitely changed in the past few years. While new songs emerge every week on the Billboard Hot 100, the main chart for new popular music, most aren’t sticking with the general public like they used to. Interestingly, many artists catalog sales have been experiencing the opposite with songs released years prior, sometimes even decades resurging in online streams and sales.
Gender Inequality in Professional Sports
Throughout history, people have debated gender inequality in professional sports. While there has been some progress in addressing this issue, women still struggle to be treated equally to male athletes. Women have far less support and “hype” in sports compared to male athletes. One of the most significant challenges women face is unequal pay.
Humans of Nyack
Click the photos below to read holiday quotes from Nyack students!
Our End of the Spectrum: What You Can Do This Holiday Season
It’s been a long year. 2023 has brought immense joy and even more challenges. From Barbenheimer to The Eras and Renaissance tours, to Twitter becoming X, to the horrifyingly countless school shootings, and the recent and terrible events in the Middle East, we’ve experienced some whiplash.
For those wondering how they can spread love this holiday season, local nonprofits especially can use donations.
According to the council of nonprofits, “Charitable giving comprises only about a seventh (14%) of resources upon which the charitable sector relies, yet rises and declines in giving can greatly affect whether individual organizations can expand to meet increased demand, maintain current programming, or reduce or shut down operations.”
The Spectrum Staff
Editors-in-Chief...........................................................Zoë Reiss & Josie Rothman
Copy Editors.........................Allie Leen, Justin Morales, Layla Roy, Nikki Lipner
Layout................................................Zoë Reiss, Mackenzie Lynch, Josie Rothman
Photographer............................................................................................Zoë Reiss
Staff Advisors.................................................Robin Maslanek & Adele Metrakos
Staff: Addison Burns, Ella Rossiter, Trey Schloss, Kiki Martignoni Brooke Castaldo, Haylie Christiano, Layla Roy, Emma Van Dorpe, Hailie Vasquez, Giavanna Alcin, Caroline Pierre, Liliana Dolinsky, Alexandra Leen, Sophia Perlin, Justin Morales, Julia Labrada, Ella Rakhlin, Bella Policastro , Hailie Vasquez, Madeleine Pence