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The liberation of Syria
In the early hours of the day on Dec. 8, rebel forces in Syria declared the nation free from the tyrannical rule of Bashar al-Assad and his family’s regime after decades of struggle.The Assad family has ruled Syria with an iron fist, executing anyone in opposition. With support from Russia and Iran, the Assad regime was able to enact numerous war crimes on the people of Syria. From chemical warfare, frequent bombings of residential areas, and the murder of children, for decades the voices begging for freedom were squandered by forces of tyrannical evil. To ensure an atrocity like this can never happen to any other society, it’s important to understand the history and context behind this conflict between a people who fought for their rights, and a government obsessed with maintaining power.
South korean president declares martial law
President Yoon has struggled with controlling the country’s parliament, as the opposing party has put parliament in political gridlock. Yeol accuses the party of sympathizing with communist North Korea. The South Korean military and tanks can be seen marching down the streets, an authoritative move that has not been seen since the 1980s. Yoon’s party immediately denounced the decree, with all 190 of the 300 members of parliament voting to lift the martial law. President Yoon is forced to comply, however, under the South Korean constitution, there is no specified time constraint. As of 1:00 a.m. in South Korea, troops have begun withdrawing, but it’s still unclear whether Yoon will comply.
The Power of a word
Since the genocide in Gaza began, the response from our media has been embarrassing. In a war where thousands of innocents have had their lives taken away from them, they’re treated as another tally to the death toll. Journalists in the US have failed the people of Palestine, forcing them to take matters into their own hands. Hundreds, if not thousands of Palestinians have taken to social media, begging for their lives.
Trump unharmed after second assassination attempt
Donald Trump survived another assassination attempt perpetrated by Ryan Wesley Routh while golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Secret service agents promptly got the former president to safety, but amidst the chaos, the suspect fled. He was later apprehended by authorities, but his motive is unclear. Trump is in good spirits and has not been harmed by the event.
Biden drops from election: everything you need to know
After 50 years of service, President Joe Biden has announced he will not be running for reelection, and has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be the nominee for the Democratic Party.
Everything you need to know about Trump’s assassination attempt
On July 13th the world witnessed history as an attempted assassination on former president Donald Trump unfolded during a live broadcast of a rally in Butler Pennsylvania, leaving one dead and two injured.
Everything you need to know about the 2024 presidential election
As the world waits to watch President Joe Biden and Republican front-runner Donald Trump go head to head in a live debate, here’s everything you need to know to be informed on the presidential election. As we get closer and closer to the presidential election, it seems that America will see a repeat of the 2020 showdown between Trump and Biden as the two lead the polls by a large margin compared to the other candidates. No poll shows one significantly favored over the other, which places even more weight on this upcoming debate.
The history of Sean Combs
Sean Combs, otherwise known as ‘Puff Daddy,’ has been accused of several crimes including sexual assault trafficking, and domestic abuse. These allegations have prompted many celebrities to come out with stories of their own on these famous parties Combs would throw, where anything from sex trafficking to illegal substances was common. As per the lawsuit, Universal Music Group CEO Lucian Grainge is accused of having ‘aided and abetted’ these parties.
AI Can Assist Learning, But Not Replace It.
We’ve all been there before; forgot to do an assignment, it's due in 30 minutes, and you haven’t even started. However, for the first time ever, students in this exact situation can simply enter a prompt into an artificial intelligence site called Chat GPT and have that assignment done in a matter of minutes.
Is 2024 the year for the clippers?
For decades, there’s been a few guarantees; death, taxes, and the Clippers being bad at basketball. The last one has remained true despite any efforts to make title contending teams. I almost feel bad, no matter what the front office tries to do, they just can’t win! This year however, they might be in a position to finally reach the promised land and make a run for the championship.
Why term limits are needed more than ever
Kanye West once said, “I only take advice from people younger than me, because those are the only ones with ideas these days.” Oftentimes, the older generations are stuck in their ways and their stubbornness acts as a dam to the river of progress.
Memories of the past
I genuinely couldn’t tell you how or where I met some of my closest friends. So far, even in college, all the friends I’m making are completely by accident.
Thank you basketball
I first met basketball when I was about in fifth grade. I had just switched from a private to public school and naturally had no friends. It was recess, every kid and their mother seemed to be occupied with some football game, but a small lot with a basketball hoop captivated me-so rather than joining the football game with everyone else I went to the lot.
Kanye west made me cry in class today
My biggest regret is that I’d never be able to read my finished articles for the first time, watch myself play basketball, listen to myself play piano, or see myself as a stranger would.
the BJP strikes back
When following Indian politics, I often ask myself; How much can the Bharatiya Janata Party get away with before causing international uproar? The answer, pretty much anything…
Education: The tree that always goes
Every student is like a sapling, and through a proper education that sapling is turned into a might oak tree. Yet many saplings in America are thrown out into the world prematurely without receiving care of any sort, causing them to stay stagnant, wasting their potential. The latter scenario is the reality most students in impoverished areas face. Rejected by a system designed for the rich’s benefit, they’re thrown into the cold world while being miles behind their peers. This cycle continues and the potential of the sapling is lost, and the world will never see the oak tree within.
Death, taxes, and the clippers
For most people, there are two guarantees in the world we live in: Death, taxes, and the Clippers being bad at basketball. However, if you’re rich and not a Clippers fan, you just need to worry about death…
Speak for yourself
Since the rise of social media in the early 2000s, it has slowly become integrated in our lives from the time we wake up to the time we lay in bed at night. However, I contest that social media has ruined our ability to perceive information and has clouded our judgment resulting in our political culture being tarnished…
Where Modern Journalism has Failed the People
Without the power of the press, a free republic and a fascist government are one in the same. Journalism is the last check upon a tyrannical government, riling the free will of the people to stand up for their owed liberties. Yet I contest, journalistic media in the modern era has fallen grace and has failed to be competent-resulting in the people having less and less power…..
Statesman Articles
Dreams versus Stereotypes
As foreign athletes integrate into professional sports based in America, many find it difficult to deal with stereotypes.
February 14th, 2012. In an away game against the Toronto Raptors, the New York Knicks found themselves neck-and-neck with the home team. The whole night, Knicks coach Mike Woodson relied on his rising star Jeremy Lin. Down 3 points with a little over a minute left, Lin drove left to the rim, and made a tough basket while drawing a foul. Making the free throw to complete the And One opportunity, the game was tied at 87. After a successful defensive possession, the Knicks had a chance to win it, so of course the ball found its way to Lin at half court near the logo. Dribbling the clock out to the 6 second mark with the fans on their feet, the ‘Jeremy Lin Show’ was reaching its dramatic conclusion. Lin pulled up over the defender and sunk the game winning shot with half a second left on the clock.
The headline on ESPN after that iconic performance? Amasian. Rather than his spectacular performance being the headline, it was his race. This was not the last time American media would make comments on Lin’s race rather than discussing his extraordinary talent…
May 23, 2023
Dawn of a New Era
Seniors decked out in college merch, the early morning dew still on the grass of the football field, and friends and classmates taking pictures to commemorate the moment; Senior Sunrise proved to be a heartfelt start to the day for many. As seniors reflect on their time in high school, what most will remember is their time spent after school in a sport or club.
Whether you’re Sarah Zhang ’23 giving her last speech ever for debate, Lance Locker ’23 handing out his last ever Statesman issue in the hallway, or Kate Arne ’23 lacing up for her last ever basketball game, your time with your favorite after school activity ends when you graduate. However for many, the lessons, memories, and moments will last them a lifetime.
This year, seniors find leaving especially painful given the year lost to COVID. Many seniors had their activities shut down from March of their freshman year through their sophomore year, missing almost a full year with their beloved activity.
Despite these challenges, students from a variety of different clubs and sports can find common ground in the passionate work they’ve invested during high school.
May 5th, 2023
"Patriots on Three, Family on Six”
Stevenson Boys Basketball loses 45-44 on a buzzer-beater three in the Semi-Sectionals against Prospect.
If they win, they advance. If they lose, their season’s over.
That pressure was placed on Stevenson as they found themselves down four points with 30 seconds left. The players on the court, the bench, the student section and even fans watching at home felt the pressure as Stevenson fought to keep their season and championship aspirations alive.
Heading into the matchup on March 1 against Prospect High School, Stevenson knew this game would be close. Several weeks ago on Jan. 21 in a non-conference game, the Patriots lost to Prospect in a nail-biter by one point.
From the start of the game, it was clear that both teams were evenly matched with neither team letting up and allowing the other to gain leverage. During the first quarter when Stevenson went on a scoring run, Prospect responded with a run of their own. This put the back-and-forth game at 8-7 to end the first quarter.
Throughout the first half, Prospect senior Alex Georgakas’s number was called. Play after play, he remained patient and didn’t force shots. Georgakas utilized switches and mismatches to find himself or a teammate a good shot.
Mar. 26th, 2023
Another Plaque for Stevenson Boys Basketball
Stevenson (22-8) took down Hersey High School (19-13) to bring home the Regional Title.
Overcoming a shooting slump in the first half, the Stevenson Boys Basketball team beat the Hersey Huskies 50-36 on Feb. 24 to win the regional finals and advance to sectionals.
Stevenson started the game off cold, missing several open shots and making careless mistakes. Hersey was able to establish an early 4-0 lead with key contributions from Max Menninga. Stevenson was not able to contain Hersey’s offense and struggled to find good shots on the other side of the court.
“We started off slow because we had a few slip-ups on defense, which allowed them easy points at the start,” Stevenson guard David Sulnius ’23 said.
However, all Stevenson needed was a made floater from Aidan Bardic ’25 to get some momentum. Bardic made another tough layup to put the score at 10-4 in Hersey’s favor.
At the 2-minute mark, both Stevenson and Hersey went on scoring runs with neither team able to stop the other on defense. A made layup by Johnny Ryg for Hersey was matched with a made three from deep in the right corner by Sulnius for Stevenson to put the score at 12-7. Sulnius got deep in the paint and dumped the ball off to an open Bardic who made the open floater to put the score at 12-9.
Mar. 17th, 2023
