On January 26, 2021, Joe Biden signed an executive order to phase out private prisons by refusing to renew federal contracts with them. This decision…
Posts published in “Opinion”
Can We Get Vaccine Rollout On Track?
By MUKUND GAUR on March 2021
It has been no secret that America’s vaccine rollout was chaotic from the start. At the end of January, all 50 states were reporting vaccine…
Distance Learning at IHS: A Clear-Eyed Assessment and a Call to Action
By RUBY LAROCCA, TANIA HAO on March 2021
For many students, the phrase “distance learning” calls to mind a solitary student crouching in some cramped corner of the house, staring listlessly at a…
The (Hot) Chocolate Take
By ELLA AVGAR on March 2021
While it may be March, it’s pretty clear that the Ithaca winter is not scared of blowing into the spring months. And if the winter…
I Shouldn’t Be Scared Of Jews In Government
By ADAM SAAR on March 2021
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Attorney General Merrick Garland. Chief of Staff Ron…
How Blokus Questions the Idea of Winners and Losers
By MANU BOSTEELS on March 2021
Blokus is a very special board game. For those of you unfamiliar with it, Blokus is quite simple. Participants play on a gridded board upon…
Supporting Students Means Supporting Counselors
By THE TATTLER EDITORIAL BOARD on February 2021
There are only eleven school counselors currently employed by the Ithaca City School District (ICSD), split between Ithaca High School, Boynton, DeWitt, and LACS. The…
Colleges, Pick the Right Answer: Go Test-Optional
By THE TATTLER EDITORIAL BOARD on February 2021
“We are in this together. We hope to navigate these difficult times with you as you begin your college application journey,” Stanford University announced in…
1st: The Correct Way to Eat Breakfast Cereal
By ANNIKA MARSCHNER on February 2021
The universal anguish of pouring oneself a bowl of light, crispy breakfast cereal, only to find most of it sunken to the bottom, slimy and…
2nd: The War for LGBTQ+ Right is Hard Enough Without Infighting
By LOUISA MILLER-OUT on February 2021
Recently, I noticed a post on Instagram about how the pansexual identity is invalid. For reference, pansexual refers to someone who is attracted to people…
3rd: The Not-So-Colorful Truth About Marine Aquarium Fish
By FINN BUCKLEY on February 2021
Saltwater aquariums are everywhere in the US, everywhere from offices to homes, and the delightful colors of their aquatic inhabitants are singularly wonderful. It may…
Turn On The Subtitles, Please
By MANU BOSTEELS on February 2021
It’s Friday night. I click on the infamous red logo, and there appears Netflix’s selection of Scandinavian television, an endless supply of series that all…
Teachers can choose to grade anonymously with just one click. Why aren’t they doing it?
By ONDINE MORGAN-KNAPP on February 2021
In today’s age of Canvas and digital grading, grading anonymously could hardly be easier: all a teacher has to do is click the checkbox marked…
The GOP Needs to Leave Trump Behind
By MUKUND GAUR on February 2021
On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, as Trump supporters chanted outside the Capitol building in DC and smashed through security barriers, this is what Trump’s Twitter…
Why Elizabeth Warren is the Progressive Voice We Need
By KAIA MOORE on February 2021
With a tumultuous year behind us, America is yearning for leadership. It’s beyond clear that the American people need progressive change. On January 20, Chief…
The Problem With Compromise in 2021
By MANU BOSTEELS on February 2021
I often hear that in order to make change, people on opposing sides of an issue need to reconcile and come to a compromise in…
IHS Students: Take Responsibility for your Classroom Environment
By THE TATTLER EDITORIAL BOARD on December 2020
“Does anybody want to answer this question?” Silence. Five, ten, fifteen, thirty seconds pass. The teacher stares nervously at their screen, asking, pleading, begging for…
What’s Next for the Democratic Party?
By WILL THOMAS on December 2020
Joe Biden will be the next President of the United States. Although this is likely not news to anyone, it still bears repeating. Further, despite…
Abolish the Electoral College
By LOUISA MILLER-OUT on December 2020
The election of 2016 left many of us wondering why the candidate who was ahead by nearly three million votes still lost. How does it…
Unpopular Opinion: Tacos Are Better Than Pizza
By MANU BOSTEELS on December 2020
According to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll, the most popular food chosen by Americans to eat for the rest of their lives is…
Thoughts From A Fifteen-Year-Old On November 7
By FRANCES KLEMM on December 2020
I don’t remember Obama being elected—I was three in 2008, and seven in 2012 —but I do remember an America with Obama as President. I…
Misinformation on Social Media is a Pressing Problem
By MUKUND GAUR on December 2020
Should social media companies moderate their content, and if so, how can they best limit the spread of misinformation? On October 15, Twitter and Facebook…
I Love Milk
By JINHO PARK on December 2020
My mom used to say, “Jinho! Drink some milk! Don’t you want strong bones?” When I was a toddler, I would nod in agreement. At…
Editorial: Me And My Illicit Lover (My Screen)
By THE TATTLER EDITORIAL BOARD on November 2020
I stare into the glowing window of my laptop. My eyes now strain to read every word on the screen. The endless queue of tabs…
A Guide to Taking Your Activism to the Next Level
By ELLA AVGAR on November 2020
Activism is an idea that has sparked the imagination of our generation. The social injustices of our time have prompted our generation to push for…
America’s Debates Are Failing Us
By MUKUND GAUR on November 2020
On Wednesday, October 7, Kamala Harris and Mike Pence faced off in their first debate. The debate was in stark contrast to the presidential debate,…
Amy Coney Barrett’s Appointment Could Be Disastrous
By LOUISA MILLER-OUT on November 2020
By way of a narrow Senate vote, the Supreme Court has fallen completely under conservative control. The passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg left an empty…