All posts by Quinlan Cooke, Opinion Editor

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The future of Early College?

 

A yellow school bus arrives at NECC Haverhill campus.

For years, NECC has hosted hundreds of local high school students and allowed them to take college classes while still attending their high schools. 

Recently, this program has undergone some changes and adjustments, and the future of the program will look a little different than in previous years; the availability of online classes, potential Whittier merge, and more. 

NECC has a long-standing relationship with local high schools and has programs in place with them to give students the opportunity to attend college classes and earn credits while still in high school. 

Recently, some students have been taking online classes and classes outside the designated early college time slots. There have not been clear lines drawn for the current academic year, and the allowances have varied from school to school. 

The deviances this year have allowed me to take online classes, and classes outside the traditional time, and that class led to me writing this article, which was an amazing opportunity. 

However, this situation was not without its issues. 

There was no clear rule on taking online classes or non-designated early college classes, so I had to strongly advocate for these choices to be the right ones for me.

I had more options because I took classes outside of the set early college ones, but that should not have been the case. 

The high school students that take early college classes are doing so because it is unconventional and most of them are looking for a challenge, but with limited class options, this can be quite difficult. 

Jake Pitre, a current dual-enrollment student said “My biggest (challenge) was that there was not enough classes to support and will be able to transfer to my college major (bioengineering). The one calculus class offered got filled up too fast.”

Letting students who are looking for a challenge and who want to try new things take control of the classes they want to take and have more options is a great way to set up for when students are in college full-time. 

Students who take early college classes know they are signing up for a schedule that is different from their peers, and they know there are both pros and cons to this unique situation. 

Adding online classes to the mix allows for more flexibility, especially for a busy high school student who might be balancing work, sports, schooling, and college applications. 

Nina Pelosi, another dual-enrollment student has said, “I have noticed over the years it’s been harder to be allowed to take online classes, but I think that’s a huge benefit of the program. Kids can succeed because they have a schedule that works for them and sometimes that can’t happen with an in-person class.”

This academic year, there was some resistance in students taking online classes. There was no strict rule on these classes, and it was up to the high school the student was attending. In the case of my high school, there needed to be a justification for wanting an online class and there was a good amount of pushback. 

It seems that the positive sentiment surrounding taking online classes is shared by NECC, as Miss Tammy Leavitt, an early college coordinator has said, “Online vs in person classes are good for students depending on what kind of learner they are. 

Some do better in a class setting whereas others do better doing things at their own time…Whether the students are in person or online depends on the school.” 

There is a lot that is up to the individual high schools that NECC cannot dictate, so a student should advocate for what they see as fitting them best and giving them the most out of the situation; especially because the student is responsible for paying for the course(s) they choose to take. This is another change to the system, as prior to COVID, dual-enrollment students were not permitted to take online classes. 

Perhaps the biggest change that might come to NECC is the potential merger with Whittier Tech; Whittier is a regional vocational technological high school in Haverhill.

 The proposed merger is to build a high school on the NECC campus or host Whittier classes on the college campus. The campus would be shared between the two educational bodies, and this proposed solution would save money and help to serve more of the community. 

The merger would increase the student population of both schools and would aim to prepare students for the workforce, as the two schools both have a great focus on technological programs and certifications. 

A current Whittier and NECC dual enrollment student, Andrew Lamoly, said “A merge would be interesting…it would give all Whittier students access to NECC’s resources and facilities which would be nice. 

The classes would probably give more room for growth more than anything.” A Whittier student doing dual enrollment but being at the NECC/shared campus would provide so many opportunities. 

A NECC/Whittier merge would definitely have to be more fleshed out, but it seems like it could serve the community very well and that this change might be a good thing. 

For more information about the proposed shared campus, visit https://www.necc.mass.edu/about/facilities/whittier-tech/

There are several changes coming to NECC, especially to do with the high schoolers that can be found on campus, and these changes open up so many opportunities. Early college, in its many forms, is such a breath of fresh air to high school students looking for a challenge, or those who have a unique schedule. 

NECC expanding their horizons with this program and leaving so many choices up to the high schools and their students is refreshing, and shows a presence of trust within the system they have built. 

Without changes to the early college programs, I would not have had the opportunity to write and publish this article, and I am happy for all students who also choose to take advantage of this unique opportunity and program. 

Opinion, Slider

Shrinking of the ‘press pool’

 
Karoline Leavitt addressing the press pool in a White House Press briefing (February 25, 2025). Photo courtesy Karoline Leaviit’s Instagram

For more than one hundred years, the White House Correspondents’ Association has been in control of the press pool, choosing which journalists get to be in the White House; now this system is being thrown out in favor of the White House choosing the journalists who get to be there.

Since 1914, the White House Correspondents’ Association has chosen the country’s best journalists to be put in the White House on a rotation so each outlet would get the same information. There is a system in place in the “press pool” so the journalists are chosen fairly, and the current president is not a factor in this decision. The journalists present for press conferences and briefings are responsible for sharing their information with other reporters in the press pool, ensuring everyone has the information they need.

On February 25th, President Donald Trump and his subsequent administration announced their decision to control the press pool. The administration is now going to hand-select which journalists are allowed to be in these conferences and briefings. Many people are seeing this as a threat to democracy, the First Amendment, and free speech as a whole. It is believed that the White House is only going to work with journalists and news networks that align with Trump’s beliefs.

This all stems from an incident with Karoline Leavitt. Leavitt is the current White House press secretary. In her words, from February 25th, “Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team. Legacy outlets who have participated in the press pool for decades will still be allowed to join, fear not. But we will also be offering the privilege to well-deserving outlets who have never been allowed to share in this awesome responsibility”.

This opens the possibility that most correspondence between the White House and journalists will become very biased.

There is the fear that the White House will only work with outlets that they know aren’t going to ask stressful or tough questions, they might want the appearance that there is nothing to stress about; that all is well and there are no negatives caused from this administration.

Not to mention, the current pool already accounts for up and coming news outlets and reporters, and that is not something the White House has ever been concerned about in previous administrations. It seems that the current administration might be threatened by the press who are in the current rotation, and they want to use their power to control what is going to be said about them and their current dealings.

This change has already gone into effect, before it was even announced. The Associated Press was kicked out of the pool for refusing to comply with calling the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America”, as insisted by Trump and Leavitt. The AP has now been barred from the future majority of White House events, effectively silencing them from reporting on these briefings in a timely manner, forcing them to rely on accounts that will likely no longer be first hand.

Trump has been quoted saying “We’re going to be now calling those shots” at an oval office event after the banning of AP from being there. This is a major issue when it comes to free press. Only hearing what the White House wants people to hear is not going to give everyone accurate information to make informed decisions about the policies being put in place.

The White House taking over the press pool is just adding to pre-existing issues. So much information from the news and journalists is paywalled, and now the information that is going to be direct from journalists in the White House is going to likely be based on one opinion, the opinion of the current president. The information coming from the press visiting the White House should not be endorsed by the White House. There is a clear conflict of interest. It is not best for the American people to only get information that is spoon-fed by the government itself.

The public deserves independent information, not skewed or endorsed by any political group, and the White House taking control of the press pool threatens and endangers this right. There is already the issue of things such as paywalls, and now the information that is hidden might not even be accurate and unbiased.

People have the right to form their opinions, and that can only be done accurately when the news itself is unbiased and accurate, independent of being written for political gain. The White House taking control of who is allowed to report its events and briefings is a step in the wrong direction and is a direct threat to free press and conflicts with the First Amendment.

Home Page News Bytes, Opinion

Is in-person Black Friday fading away?

 

Has Black Friday lost its magic? Is there any point in going in-store for good deals when they are also online? The prevalence of online shopping has drastically changed the look and feel of Black Friday.

Black Friday was once a momentous event, where after a long day on Thanksgiving, people would line up in the early hours of the morning in a line to make sure they were able to secure the doorbuster deals they wanted. There would be fights over TVs and gaming systems, and now there are deals weeks ahead of the actual day online.

With “Cyber Monday” deals on the rise, what is the point of Black Friday? Today, on Black Friday (November 29), I went into a store that was advertising 20% off all merchandise, but on the small print of the sign, it said the deal was available online only. With online shopping gaining popularity by the day, shouldn’t stores do their best to encourage in-person shopping?

As much fun as I had, the trip to the mall was wasted. I fought for a parking spot and was in large crowds for lackluster deals. To me, it seems that companies have given up on their storefronts for their online counterparts.

There have been online deals ready to shop for weeks online, all under the guise of a “Black Friday” sale, so why take the trip to the store when you have all the shopping you need at your fingertips? Perhaps some go in store for a nostalgic feeling, or as a getaway from family after a long Thanksgiving week.

This year, the place that drummed up the most in-person business was Target, for a Taylor Swift promotional book with limited quantities. The lines outside the red and white stores were reminiscent of former Black Fridays. The reason for these lines was that the book did not drop online until Saturday (November 30). Fans wanted to make sure that they were able to secure their copies (which were limited to four per person).

This release differs from the way that many stores are releasing promotional products, generally, they are released online at a set time and it is a total free-for-all. However, at Target, whoever lines up the earliest has the best chance of securing the product they want.

At the mall on Black Friday, I observed many people with full shopping bags, but all of the bags were on the smaller side. I left empty-handed. I compared every deal I saw in-store to the deals online. Online, I got a better price and more selection in the products, colors, and sizes.

As much fun as I had, the trip to the mall was wasted. I fought for a parking spot and was in large crowds for lackluster deals. To me, it seems that companies have given up on their storefronts for their online counterparts. More effort is put in for online shoppers, and there is less of a satisfying feeling when shopping in-store nowadays. Companies should prioritize the in-store experience, and ensure the same deals can be found inside a story that can be found on a website. Simply put, Black Friday feels different because it is different.

Online shopping has completely changed the game, but should it be allowed to take over? There is a lot to be gained from going into a store to shop, but the experience has slowly been taken away as companies feel that malls are dying. To bring back Black Friday, stores have to be at the forefront, not online fronts. Black Friday was once not just about the deals, but about the thrill of being able to secure them, among many other excited shoppers.

Features, Home Page News Bytes

Evolution of a Thanksgiving staple

 
Pumpkin pie is a holiday favorite

From the Milk Bar pumpkin pie, to the most simple of pumpkin pies, this seasonal treat is found in many spreads of last courses. Pumpkin was a staple to early settlers of New England, and was at first used in many other ways.

Pumpkin was treated and cooked like a vegetable, and then mulled into a beverage similar to apple cider. Pumpkin pie looked very different at the time of its invention compared to its modern look.

Think of an apple pie; it is filled with thin slides and has crusts on the top and bottom, covering the contents. Pumpkin pie started out the same way. Originally, pumpkin pie was inspired by apple pie, there were pieces of sliced pumpkin (along with apples) in between two crusts with sugar and spices filling the empty space.

Observer Opinion Editor Quinlan Cooke recently made this pumpkin pie. Photo by Opinion Editor Quinlan Cooke

Pumpkin pie has since evolved from its original form in the 1600s, in fact by 1796, a recipe was found where pumpkin pie filling looked very different. In a cookbook written by Amelia Simmons the very year, there was a recipe listed for pumpkin pie. This recipe featured a pudding-like filling. The pumpkin custard was still covered by a second crust.

In 1824, Mary Rudolph’s cookbook featured a very similar recipe to Amelia Simmons, but with the subtraction of a top crust. Rudolph instead opted for decorational pieces of crust placed on the top of the pie. Throughout the coming decades, more and more pumpkin pie recipes were published in cookbooks, and the pie exploded in popularity.

By 1850, pumpkin pie was an icon and found on almost every Thanksgiving table across New England. In the 1900s, pumpkins began being primarily used just for pies, and that is what they were advertised for. It was now rare to see pumpkins used like a vegetable or for a savory dish, it was especially rare and potentially unheard of for a pumpkin to be used for a drink like they were in the 1600s.

Pumpkin pie was not made with canned pumpkin for many years, until about 1920, pumpkin pie was almost exclusively made with fresh, whole pumpkins that people roasted and peeled themselves. The popularity of canned pumpkin brought pumpkin pie to more tables than ever before.

Along with the widespread availability of canned pumpkin across the US, restaurants and bakeries started offering whole pumpkin pies seasonally to take the stress off of home bakers for the holidays. By the 1960s, among store bought pumpkin pies and canned pumpkin, frozen pumpkin pies were also beginning to pop up around stores.

Nowadays, pumpkin pie is one of the most accessible and popular holiday desserts, for good reason. Pumpkin pie has had hundreds of years of evolution to reflect the people baking it. Pumpkin pie can now be found on any table, from anywhere. Pumpkin pie is a sign of the holiday season, and can be appreciated by anyone. You can walk into any grocery store and see the ingredients to make a pumpkin pie, right next to pre-made, ready to eat pumpkin pies.

Opinion, Slider

Arcane season 2

 
A review of Arcane season 2; focused on the strength of female characters (Vi, Caitlyn, and Jinx). Contains spoilers.
Arcane poster post-release Photo by @arcaneshow on Instagram

Arcane is an animated show that was released in 2021 and concluded just a few weeks ago in 2024. It is aimed at adult audiences and is based on the game League of Legends. The show is available on Netflix in its entirety. The show has been praised for the quality of animation, which was done by the French studio Fortiche.

The story follows the tragic stories of Vi and her younger sister. It is set in a steampunk-type universe, filled with magic and non-human characters. The overarching conflicts of the show are between the posh city of Piltover, and the underdeveloped bottom of the city, Zaun; and the usage of ‘Hextech’ (the utilization of in-universe magic for personal gain).

In season one, it is revealed that after Vi had been sent to prison as a teen, Powder was taken under the wing of Silco, the kingpin of Zaun. Silco raised Powder to be more ruthless than he was and changed her name to Jinz. Caitlyn Kirramann, daughter of a wealthy Piltover family, became a police officer and made it her mission to find Jinx. Jinx and Silco had been terrorizing Piltover and by this point, they had caused casualties. Caitlyn tracks down someone related to a Jinx incident and finds Vi in prison. Caitlyn uses her position and power to free Vi, and they agree to work together to hunt down Silco and Jinx.

Season one ends with Jinx killing Silco, and Jinx blowing up a building with the most important people in Piltover. One of those people was Caitlyn’s mother. Season two begins right after this scene, showing the funeral for Caitlyn’s mother. There is also a memorial for the other lives lost, and ‘Silco’s’ people attack it. Caitlyn convinces Vi to become an officer, despite her unpleasant past with them, in order to bring justice to everything that had gone wrong and to put an end to her sister’s antics.

Vi’s character goes through so much this season, she has previously lost everyone important to her, and she fears that the same fate will be met with Caitlyn, someone she has grown to trust. While on the search for Jinx, Vi and Caitlyn share a kiss. Soon after the two face Jinx, they get into a disagreement and Caitlyn abandons Vi. This sends Vi spiraling and she is driven back to fighting and alcohol. She is entirely alone and blames herself for what happened between her and Caitlyn, and what happened to her sister.

When she eventually has to face Caitlyn again, Caitlyn is on a rampage, the commander of the Piltover army, fighting against those who put them in danger to try to further Hextech. She has been blinded by her own loss and throws herself into her work. When the two meet again, Vi convinces Caitlyn she has been wrong, and the two decide to work against the general.

Seeing these two strong female characters work together without a male character being involved in any way was invigorating. The two were also in a romantic relationship, which was so refreshing to see. It was great that their relationship was just something that happened, it did not have to be a major plot point. While the relationship was major in both of their character arcs, it was not the driving force, there was no tense coming-out or secretive scene, they were just two strong women who fell for each other in the toughest of times.

I recommend Arcane to anyone who can appreciate a strong female character, and to anyone interested in a deep plot with many parts to focus on.

Even though Jinx was intended to be morally ambiguous, one cannot help but feel for her. Viewers see her struggle from a young age, and how it devolves into delusions and mental instability. She mentors a young girl throughout the second season, making her all the more likable. Eventually, she is captured, and the child she mentored passes away in the war. Jinx comes to terms with everything she has done and all the pain she has caused to the people of both Zaun and Piltover.

Jinx decides that she has to end the cycle of violence. Vi discovers where Jinx was being held, and frees her, but does not follow. Jinx wants to die, she feels that the only way she can end the cycle of violence and let her sister be happy is if she is no longer alive. Jinx is wonderfully complicated, which is proven when she is convinced to help her sister and her girlfriend win the war she has been fighting on the wrong side of for so long.

After Jinx leaves, Vi is trapped in her cell and starts wallowing. She sits there and blames herself for everything, she feels she does not deserve to be happy, and that she has made every decision in her life wrong. Caitlyn comes down to the cell and says that she knew Vi would be there. Caitlyn allowed Vi to decide to free her sister, she did not make Vi choose sides. Caitlyn decides to let her own guard down, and the two women share a steamy scene.

Vi was finally able to make a decision she felt good about, she was able to choose to be happy with Caitlyn, even just for a moment.

Caitlyn decides to take a break, she knows what is coming but still decides to take a moment just for the two of them. While this is happening, Jinx is crafting tools for good, she is using her talents in a way that will not destroy, but help. She knows this will not redeem her, but she is making the effort anyway.

I recommend Arcane to anyone who can appreciate a strong female character, and to anyone interested in a deep plot with many parts to focus on. There are so many things that were not touched on here, for the sake of simplicity, but there are so many more complicated characters and plot points, I wanted to specifically call out the three main female characters, as they all have inspiring and very different/unconventional stories.

Overall, Arcane season two was a delight to watch and was amazingly intricate.

Opinion, Slider

Ballot-less blues

 
I voted stickers on a white background
Photo courtesy of Canvas

Voting is a large part of being an American citizen, but what about the millions of people who are too young to cast their votes? 

The election still affects them, but they do not have a direct effect on the outcome. 

As the presidential election came to its peak last week, and the country came to a verdict, there were millions of voices who were not heard because they were too young to fill in a deciding bubble. 

This election has a special effect on young people, as there are many interests in question. 

One unique one is college and the ability to receive financial aid. 

“I will be heading into college and the results directly impact me, financially and emotionally.” says NECC and Sanborn Regional High School Student, Nina Pelosi, who recently started applying to colleges. 

Pelosi was just weeks shy of being able to vote but was ultimately too young. 

The outcome of this election will effect everyone in the U.S., but many people had a part in deciding the outcome. As someone who was too young to vote in this election, I have a lot of feelings about the outcome. I have to live with the decisions of others, that I have no real say in. 

“I felt scared of the outcome but at the same time, angry seeing a lot of uneducated voters voting on a whim while I had educated myself and I didn’t have the ability to act on that education to make a difference.” says another dual enrollment student, Joe Borgesi. 

The sentiment of education seems to be shared among other teenagers in school who are not yet able to vote. 

“I feel like as a kid in school I am more well informed on the election than most.” said Jake Pitre, another NECC and high school student. Pitre is in the pursuit of higher education, as he, among my other two interviewees, are in the process of applying to colleges. 

As someone who is too young to vote myself, I was fearful for the outcome of election night. Both parties have policies that I might not agree with, but one side threatens my daily life and freedom. 

“The worst part about not being able to vote in this election is that I knew the outcome…could directly affect (in a negative manner)  my day to day life as well as the people I love,” said Borgesi. 

It seems unfair to think about the negative consequences so many will have to life with, when they did not have the opportunity to voice their thoughts.

The fact that people under 18 cannot vote does not mean that we do not try to voice our opinions. 

There are still other ways to make sure your voice is heard, but these ways are not nearly as accessible as casting a ballot. “

Young adults aren’t really taught to do that (how to talk to others about voting),” said Pelosi. 

As a young person, you can always discuss your views with others, and even phone bank and canvas locally. 

Just because you cannot vote, does not mean you do not have a voice. 

As someone who was too young to vote, but not too young to be able to ignore the consequences of this election, the only thing to do now is focus on what can be done in the future. 

Always make your voice heard, no matter your age or voting status. 

Home Page News Bytes, Opinion

Online NECC classes for high school students?

 

Should students who are dual-enrolled at NECC be allowed to take online classes or should they be restricted to only early college classes?

NECC offers dual enrollment with many high schools in the Merrimack Valley area. This program allows high school students to take college classes and earn college credits while still going to high school. 

There are designated early college times, which are generally 12:30-1:45, but this time does not work for everyone. 

As a dual enrollment myself, I have a lot of thoughts on the program, and how much it has done for me. However, the classes I choose to take have become a recent topic of conversation. In the process of choosing what classes I am going to take in the upcoming Spring semester, I was met with opposition. 

I was told by several people at both my high school and NECC that I am not supposed to be taking online classes, and that those were only a temporary option because of Covid. 

This was news to me, as there were no COVID restrictions at either school when I started the dual enrollment program over a year and a half ago, and this restriction was not brought up before I went to register for classes. No clear “no online classes for dual enrollment students” is mentioned on the NECC website. 

So, what is the difference between a high schooler taking a college class online and taking a college class with other high schoolers at a set time (besides the obvious)? 

The early college classes offer a safe space with other high schoolers looking for a different environment, and updates are given to the high schools that the students attend about their academic standing and attendance. However, are there no updates for online classes?

Even if there are not updates, to me, this does not mean that we should be discouraged from taking them. 

Online college classes as a high schooler are a great challenge and a great introduction to actually going to college. You can interact with people you would not normally interact with, but from a distance (like on a discussion board). There is also a much wider range of classes to cater to many interests that might be too niche for a high school. 

Students can get a head start on careers they are interested in, all while getting credit for it. 

There is also the time aspect of online classes, high schoolers are notoriously busy. They have to balance sports, college applications, clubs, homework, studying, and getting a good amount of rest. 

For busy high school students who want to be able to take classes that interest them, taking them online might be the only way they can get everything done. 

I choose online classes because they align with my interests and time management, and I hope my school understands that. 

I know it might be difficult for my school because they may not get updates, but I have a great track record, and I talk to my counselor at least once every two weeks. 

Online classes are a great option for students who have completed the classes that interest them in person and are good communicators. This has to be done to make up for the lack of updates. 

However, there are no objections when a student chooses an in-person class not during their designated time. 

I am also struggling to find a difference between a high schooler taking an online NECC class versus a student taking an online AP or honors class. In either situation, the high school does not get updates, and the student is left to learn independently. 

So, should dual enrollment students be allowed to take classes online here at NECC, or only designated early college classes? 

Should it be up to the high school or student? 

I see it on a case-by-case basis, and it is dependant on the student, there can be a case made for every student and every class; everybody has a different schedule and different learning styles and interests. 

Home Page News Bytes, News

The prevalence of procrastination

 

Procrastination is a large issue when it comes to school work, but how common is it? Is there a difference between procrastinating in high school versus college?

Have you ever gone to turn in a discussion board a few hours before it is due and noticed that your submission is still the first?

This is not as uncommon as some might think. In fact, a study from the APA (American Psychological Association) says that “80 percent to 95 percent of college students procrastinate.”

Really, how big of a problem is procrastination?

Is procrastination a habit carried on from high school? And is procrastinationg in high school versus college different?

A similar study from a Magoosh survey on high school students report that 86% of high school students procrastinate on work.

Is there a difference in not only the prevelance of procrastination in high school versus college but also the thoughts behind the procrastination? High school students and college students might see a difference in the importance of the work they are doing.

“I procrastinate my high school work more because I have a more personal relationship with my teacher… they will be more lenient whereas my college professors are more professional.” said dual-enrollment student Joseph Boregesi.

Borgesi goes to both NECC and a local high school, so he has experience with both levels of procrastination.

On the other side of the conversation, “(I am a) huge even massive procrastinator. I feel like I procrastinate college work because I have that class less frequently,” said another dual-enrollment student, Jake Pitre.

He finds that it is easy to avoid the work for a class he does not frequently attend.

It might seem that there is less work to do when you only physically attend class once or twice a week, whereas you are in high school every day.

Both interviewees currently attend high school and college classes, and they differ in their opinions of which type of schoolwork they procrastinate more.  Procrastination depends on the person who is supposed to be doing the work. It might depend on the class, the leniency of the teacher/professor, type of a assignment, or how long someone is given to get it done? Some might feel like the further away an assignment is, the less they have to do when it is assigned, and then the deadline creeps up and there is far less time than expected.

Everyone views the work they have to do differently, but it seems that the general consensus among students is that procrastination is the way to go. To keep away from procrastinating, some make sure their calendar is up to date and give themselves time limits instead of the due dates that already exist. To-do lists of assignments are also very useful, as long as they are actually stuck to, and not just looked at.

Home Page News Bytes, Opinion

The sound of politics

 
Music and its subsequent effect on voters; from Kamala Harris being BRAT to Trump’s controversial rally playlists

Amid the upcoming election, everything has a role and effect on its outcome, especially music. Candidates rely on several things for votes and connecting with potential voters, including music and the support of artists to appeal to voters. Some candidates might not intentionally use music to rile up voters, but it still causes a stir and publicity. How have some of this year’s political candidates used music to their advantage (or in some cases, disadvantage)?

Recently, Donald Trump has been under fire for pausing a rally in Pennsylvania on October 14 to play music for his crowd instead of discussing politics. Trump said, “Let’s not do any more questions. Let’s just listen to music. Let’s make it into a music. Who the h*** wants to hear questions, right?”. Trump played nine songs and took up 40 minutes swaying on his heels behind his podium on stage while his supporters watched.

Originally Trump had paused the rally because there had been two people to pass out, so you can imagine the conditions. It is unsure what stopping talking about politics to listen to music would do for the condition of the rally and how it would help others to not pass out, but that is what he (Trump) decided to do nonetheless.

Many find the playing of so much music to be ironic considering several artists have taken legal action to stop Trump from playing music at his rallies or publicly condemned him or his usage of their music. Many are upset that Trump wasted the time of his supporters for a “dance party” instead of discussing what he would like to achieve if he wins the election. Voting day is mere weeks away and instead of trying to earn more votes, he shows off his playlist.

Let’s not do any more questions. Let’s just listen to music. Let’s make it into a music. Who the h*** wants to hear questions, right?

– Donald Trump

After this melodic display, some are worried about Trump’s well-being, even his opposers. Vice President Kamala Harris even acknowledged this incident at her own rally just a few days later. Kamala Harris is also no stranger to using music to reach voters, but her attempt at this has been met with much more open and less critical arms.

Harris is using music differently, not to entertain herself in front of valuable voters in a known swing state. Harris is capitalizing on the popularity of Charli XCX’s BRAT album for her campaign. She is appealing to young and first-time voters by connecting with what is popular and important to them. And unlike Trump, she has the support of the artists she uses to promote herself.

Harris’s team has created a TikTok account because of the success of people saying she is “brat.” Many people created “edits” of Harris to Charli XCX songs when the album first dropped, as it correlated with Harris first announcing her presidential candidacy. Harris and her team immediately capitalized on the fact that music brought her more popularity, especially in such a neglected demographic (in the political sense). Her team and “Kamala HQ” utilize music to make TikToks and interact with artists, which draws in a large number of potential Gen-Z voters.

Kamala HQ was so fast and methodical with their promotion of Kamala Harris using the brat album that Charli XCX both noticed and positively acknowledged the interactions, despite her not even being from the United States. Charli XCX tweeted “kamala IS brat.” Harris and Trump clearly differ in the way the artists they use for their campaigns publicly acknowledge them, and it will have an effect on the way some vote.

While both candidates embrace the music that is around them, they differentiate in the type of music they use, the listeners for the music, and how they use the songs and albums. One promoted herself online to millions of potential new voters, and the other used precious rally time to play from his playlist.

With the election approaching swiftly, it is crucial to take into account the actions of the candidates you are considering, but ultimately it hinges on the policies of everyone involved. 

While instances like these might be entertaining and newsworthy, there is nothing more vital than the beliefs of those you are voting for.

Arts and Entertainment

The rise and fall of a Midwest princess?

 

“Actions speak louder than words, and actions speak louder than an endorsement.”

– Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan and her politics. Do people care too much and have higher expectations for those they have parasocial relationships with?

Chappell Roan is an up-and-coming pop star with a spotlight beaming on her. She has one album and millions of critics gabbing about her political views and boundaries with her identity and fans.

Roan recently posted to her TikTok about endorsing a political candidate due to the fact that she had not yet spoken about one; even though she has always stood up for her views in a very open way on stage and online. She has shown unwavering support for Palestinians, the queer community, reproductive rights, etc.

Chappell Roan cover of her song Good Luck, Babe!
Chappell Roan @chappellroan. 2024, April 5. “Good Luck, Babe!” cover photo. Photo by @ryanleeclemens

Roan does not tolerate harassment from “fans” in public and feels she does not owe her time and energy to those in public when she is not in character or performing. On the street, she feels like she is a random person because people who are fans of her do not truly know her.

Why do fans even expect these things in the first place? What gives people the entitlement to think that someone they have never met owes them a photo or a hug? These things are due to parasocial relationships.

Parasocial relationships are one-sided, between a regular person and a celebrity or fictional character. People consume so much content of these public figures and gain a sense of security in a faux relationship. They see so many of these people on social media and assume there is a connection between them; but in reality, the public figure has no clue of the watcher’s existence.

The one-sided connection gives a false sense of security, meaning that when they see the object of their admiration they feel like they deserve something. When you are a fan of someone, think about what you would do if you saw them in public. Now imagine you are a famous person, constantly overwhelmed by those asking to take photos with you while you are attempting a mundane task like grocery shopping; it would get overwhelming.

These types of relationships threaten the well-being of both parties involved.

The observer in the relationship feels like they are owed something and have a relationship with someone they have never actually interacted with; and the public figure in the relationship is frequently bombarded by strangers.

Roan has made it publicly known that she does not owe these people anything and that she will not partake in fulfilling the fantasy of a parasocial relationship.

Casual fans of Roan expect too much; she is not their friend; Chappell Roan is a persona. Her personal life is personal, and that is the way she wants it to stay; she does not want a hug from a stranger expecting one on the street, and neither would most people. Roan researches the political candidates people so desperately want her to endorse and finds that their policies do not align with her ideals, so she does not endorse them. Most political people would do the same. Who would want to risk putting their entire brand/business behind one person who does not completely align with them just because others want them to?

In short, Roan is protecting her own brand and personal sanity by being so frank online. She is deflecting from parasocial relationships she wants no part in and defending her mental status. She is true to her political and personal beliefs and wants everyone, even fans, to know that she is going to stick with herself and not do what is generally expected of a pop star.