Barbie Movie Encapsulates Our Lives
Lola Karimi ’25
EE Managing Editor
Juniors Maddy Tibbs, Grace Crespo, Alexa Colombo, and Sadie Rappa walk to the movie theater to see the Barbie movie for the first time.
One thing I can tell you for certain, as long as there have been little girls, there have been dolls. However, until the 1950’s, they were limited to baby dolls. While these are still popular today, they limit the aspirations that a young female can have. It molds you into what society wants you to be — a nurturer. Whether it be motherhood or a teacher, women have always been bonded to a small assortment of careers that allow men to pursue their dreams. That is, until Barbie was born.
Barbie has been around for generations and was an extremely popular toy for young girls. Barbie was a fashion doll created by Ruth Handler and manufactured by American Toy company Mattel. The first Barbie doll launched at the New York toy fair in March 1959 where 300,000 Barbie dolls were sold. Barbie’s success had only just begun.
Approximately 1 billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide since its creation. Throughout the many years that Barbie has and will continue to be around, she’s had over 250 careers. Barbie gives women the opportunity to not only be a stay at home housewife but also a lady on the town, fashionably dressed to express, and to impress.
You’d think that growing up a teenage girl would be just what it’s cracked up to be –makeup, slumber parties, and crushes on boys –but you’d be wrong. You’d be wrong if you thought we had even figured out equal pay. You’d be wrong if you said women have a choice in becoming a mother or not, in deciding what is beautiful or not. If you got the chance to live in our shoes, for even just a moment, you would see just how wrong you really are. Dead wrong.
I still remember crying in my bed, so utterly confused why the world seemed to be against me. From the moment I turned 13, something inside me had changed, my innocence was lost and I was no longer stuck in an everlasting childhood; I wasn’t a kid anymore and everyone made sure to treat me like it. I started feeling ways about myself I had never felt before: I now sucked in my stomach every time I passed a mirror, stopped raising my hand in class, and realized no matter how hard I try, the boy is always going to beat me in the race. Now, not only did the world around me damper my light, but my own mind served as a constant reminder of my inferiority.
While Barbie is much more than a toy today, it was not always so. Barbie has had a long history of problematic incidents in the past that have “set the feminist movement back fifty years” (says Sasha in the Barbie Movie). Obviously, Barbie has been known to promote unattainable beauty standards in young girls, which can lead to eating disorders and overall bad feelings of self worth. While having a thinner frame is never a bad thing- for a long time Barbie had limited their dolls to only being skinny white blonde girls –the lack of variation led the other 90% of the population to do things such as plastic surgery and use photoshop which worsens the cycle. The cycle we as a society have been stuck in for years.
Initial Reactions to the New Bell Schedule
Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Staff Writer
With every new school year, comes new changes. Some changes are well received, while others receive backlash from the students. In the case of the 2023-2024 school year, one of the biggest changes made at Trumbull High was the institution of a new schedule.
Previously, the school ran on an eight period schedule. The classes were about 48 minutes long, and for most people their classes were the exact same every day. In an attempt to spice things up, Trumbull High introduced a modified block schedule for 2023-2024. It allows students to take extra classes over the school year, and mixes things up by dropping two periods every day.
Now, every schedule does have some flaws. For starters, many students have complained about the longer periods. In order to only have 6 periods in a day, classes were shifted to almost an hour long. It can also be rough for teachers who need to catch their classes up on work, then are unable to see them on a particular day.
“The new schedule is stupid”, according to sophomore Isaac Gramse. “It is confusing as heck and classes are longer for no reason”.
Clearly, some students have had a rough time adjusting to the new system. However, most students have actually been happy with how the new schedule has impacted their academics (especially their homework). Students can receive extra days for homework they would have previously had to do in a day.
Diversity in Clinical Research… and the Lack Thereof
Cy Pavlov ’24
EE Staff Writer
Medicine is not a one-size-fits-all game.
If you walk down the drug aisle at your local pharmacy, you will see Aspirin in all its derivations, yet there are separate drugs for relieving pain in children. This is because, unlike adults, children are dynamic, growing individuals who process the same substances differently. This is just one of the many examples of the world of clinical research.
Although many people do not give a second thought to clinical trials, they are the unsung heroes of the medical world responsible for putting the theory of medicine into practice. However, there is a problem within clinical research: there’s a serious lack of diversity, as a commission convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine reports.
“Despite being important to collect data on all populations, there is unfortunately very low turn-out among many underrepresented groups” according to returning intern at the Yale Center for Clinical Investigations and current Yale student and Trumbull High alumni Gabriella Pavlov ’27 (THS ‘23).
How one reacts to medicine is not simply a function of one’s weight but is very multifactorial, as shown by several recent studies. Factors such as race, gender, and age can all play a major role in how effective certain treatments can be.
Drugs such as anti-coagulants — which free up the blood, preventing clots — become riskier to use as patients age due to a decline in kidney function according to a study published in Clinical Pharmacokinetics. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg: there are a myriad of ways similar processes can affect other groups that in turn affect which treatments can produce the best outcomes.
How to Host Thanksgiving
Luke Bartolo ‘27
EE Staff Writer
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year? If so, there are many ways to turn your ordinary get-together into a simple, but fun, party.
I don’t host Thanksgiving, but every year, I help my grandparents host by adding many fun activities. To add some Thanksgiving cheer into the house, record NBC’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and play it during your event. This will add lots of excitement to your party, while staying with a 99 year tradition.
Don’t make your dinner formal, make it comfortable. Have a buffet set up of different foods that your guests bring, and people can taste each other’s recipes. It is a great way to sit down at the table with your plates and just talk about what you are thankful for.
During dessert is a great time to relax. Have your guests just sit back, enjoy their apple and pumpkin pie, and just talk to each other.
After dessert is the fun part: games. In my family, it is a tradition that we play games. Last year, we played Left, Center, Right and I Mustache You a Question (we played without the costumes). Games are a fun social activity, while getting everyone away from their phones.
Other fun game choices could be Scrabble, Jeopardy, or other board or trivia games. You can learn while having fun, and
socializing with your family members. Games and conversations are a great way to spice up your upcoming Thanksgiving dinner.
Leave a comment below, and tell me what you do on Thanksgiving, which others could learn from.
Trending Thanksgiving Threads
Klara Schempp ’25
EE Staff Writer
The leaves are turning color and falling. Thanksgiving is approaching us. Big feasts are just days away. Everyone’s favorite family recipes will be sitting on the table soon, while families meet up to eat together. Along with Thanksgiving comes questions, such as what to make, or more importantly what to wear?
Thanksgiving fashion is most commonly overlooked. So here’s the simple answer as to what to wear on Thanksgiving. Trending clothing for Thanksgiving are simple pieces such as a soft fleece flannel and a pair of athletic black leggings, or if you want to feel more formal, a pair of ripped jeans or vintage un-ripped jeans. The flannels are usually paired with a simple colored long sleeve or even a tank top underneath.
Around Thanksgiving time, most people begin taking their warm sweaters out of the closet because of the cool weather. Therefore, it’s now appropriate to start wearing those cute fuzzy sweaters with either leggings or trendy high-rise jeans. Tucking in your sweaters is also a new fashion trend, this is a perfect way to spice up the outfit!
Additionally, crewnecks and quarter zips are perfect go-tos for Thanksgiving fashion. Not to mention, they go perfectly with almost everything; leggings, cargo pants, sweatpants you name it!
How should I accessorize these looks? This is a common question and the answer is with a warm puffer jacket for functional and stylish reasons. Also, ugg boots tie in perfectly with these outfits, keeping your feet warm in this cold weather. Almost any piece of jewelry will be perfect for this look!
The hardest part of picking clothes for Thanksgiving is the color scheme. Popular colors around this time of year are autumn colors like variations of brown, and white. For instance, wearing dark brown ties nicely with a light brown piece of clothing, whether that be a top or pants. Black and grey are also nice subtle colors for a good, fall, Thanksgiving look.
Now, as Thanksgiving is quickly approaching you are ready. Perfectly prepared for the fashion this holiday brings. Within zero stress of what to wear as November ends.
Fame: Does It Justify One’s Actions?
Ria Beri ‘27
EE Staff Writer
As we see a rise in the celebrity crime rate, it leads us to ponder the impact that fame has on one’s consequences. America is established around the ideals of democracy, equality, and justice, yet there remains an indisputable gap between the common and the privileged. Although they may commit the same actions and crimes, celebrities and aristocrats often get off with fewer consequences. While this is not entirely ethical, it is a phenomena that has been occurring for centuries.
Looking into examples, it certainly stands out that celebrities are able to get away with crimes as serious as violence. In May of 2020, Olga Sharypova accused tennis star Alexander Zverev of abusing her during their relationship. Sharypova reports that he choked and punched her, pushing her so far as to attempt suicide. While Zverev was fined $478K, showing that his guilt was known, he faced neither suspension from tour nor prison time.
Another, less violent, allegation lies in a recent lawsuit filed against singer Mariah Carey. Carey’s hit song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” was supposedly copyrighted from a song under the same name that was performed by Vince Vance in 1989. Vance filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement last year but it only became effective this November as he was able to successfully sue Carey for $20 million. Although the singer paid her share, she has made over $60 million from the song and continues to make an additional $3 million each year using his work.
Both of these examples clearly illustrate the heights of crimes that celebrities are able to get away with. Popular figures are able to use their fame as a shield from the consequences of their actions far too often. Many believe that one should not be able to escape from crime, no matter how successful, wealthy, or famous. On the other hand, it can also be argued that judicial exceptions should be made for celebrities because of the importance they hold to the people. Some believe that certain celebrities are so important that society would struggle to function in their absence, leaving us to wonder if celebrities are above the law. Should celebrities’ statuses enable them to get away with certain actions or should they be held accountable like everyone else?
Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Football On The Rise At Trumbull High
Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Staff Writer
Football has-no question-been an important part of culture in Trumbull. The Trumbull High School Football team has carried on an important tradition and legacy dating all the way back to its roots with the legendary coach McDougall.
“I believe that students want to be a part of something great and carry on that tradition,” said Phil Koda, the current coach of the Trumbull High freshman football team. However, despite Trumbull’s strong roots in football, an event occurred that permanently changed the course of Trumbull High’s football program.
In 2020, the world experienced a global shutdown with the arrival of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Lives, jobs, and experiences were lost. However, there were few things affected more during the pandemic than high school sports programs. In the middle of the year, all sports including baseball, tennis, and lacrosse were completely shut down. Luckily for football players, their season was already over, having ended in November. Unfortunately, the program coming back the next year would be completely different.
Trumbull High School would go into a two-cohort system during 2020-2021. One cohort of kids would come on Monday and Tuesday, the other would come on Thursday and Friday. Many even choose to stay home the entire year. Needless to say, Trumbull High was unable to have a true football team that year.
However, going into the 2021-2022 school year things were looking up. The masks were slowly coming off and every student was going to school full time. THS finally had another chance to put together a football team, but surprisingly, very few kids from the freshman class tried out. Of course the team had their returning players, but there was not much in the way of 9th graders.
This decrease in players the 2021-2022 season can be attributed to a few possible factors. Coming out of the pandemic, many families still felt uncertainty and worry for their kids. Some households preferred to be safe and largely kept their kids out of sports. Another contributing factor was that most kids had not played sports in at least 1 and a half years.
A current player on the THS football team believes that many “fell into a really big slump coming out of the pandemic”. This could explain why students were so unmotivated to participate in sports during 2021. Luckily for THS Football fans, this lack of participants would not last long.
Entering the 2022-2023 season, Trumbull Football saw a substantial increase in the amount of players going out for the football team. According to current freshman team coach Phil Koda, there were “about 50 players” on the roster during 2022.
Local Businesses Keep Prices in Check with Commodities on the Rise
Cy Pavlov ’24
EE Staff Writer
Across the board, many products from food, to gasoline, and electricity have increased in price. Despite these difficulties, local businesses are managing the situation, employing different strategies to help keep prices down and customers happy.
Within the past few years, commodity prices have increased due to a variety of factors such as supply chain disruptions incurred by recent global events. Hit especially hard were restaurants, already struggling from the COVID-19 pandemic, during which over 90,000 closed permanently, according to the National Restaurant Association.
Despite these dire conditions, some businesses and local entrepreneurs have worked to make a future for their businesses. However, such conditions have caused difficulties for both business owners and their clientele.
“Well, I don’t like to see it [gas] going so high because then people have to make the decision: Do I need to get gas or do I need to get food? … So they have to cut someplace else.” said Louisa Dunn of Dunn’s Service of Trumbull.
Sacrifices have had to be made, yet some say it is in their best interest to keep prices stable to keep their customers happy. The struggle to balance said prices require ingenuity on behalf of the managers.
“We’ve tried to keep places the same… The lettuce has been down, [we] try to keep the prices balanced, because I don’t want it to affect the business aspect… But now that that the eggs have gone down and dairy has gone down, it kind of balances out.” says Dean Kotsaftis of Old Towne Restaurant
Although many items have become much more expensive, the restaurant manages to keep prices stable by using the prices of goods that have decreased in price to dampen the effects of skyrocketing costs in others.
Seniors Salute The Vets
Kylie Totten
EE Editor-In-Chief ‘24
Veterans Day, is a day set aside in America to honor and thank veterans for their service in the armed forces. To celebrate the day, all seniors were invited to the auditorium for the annual Veterans Day assembly. The event, organized by social studies department head Mrs. Rubano, gave students the opportunity to hear the stories of local veterans.
The assembly began with a quick opening from Mr. Manual, followed by the veterans entrance. The attending men and women are active and retired members of the armed forces. They represent the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Coast Guard, and Marine Core. Collectively, they served during events from Vietnam to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the First Gulf War to the War on Terror.
Each veteran was given the chance to introduce themself, say what branch they served in, and share any other information or advice they wanted with the student body. Some thanked students for the warm welcome, others shared stories about their time serving and the impact it had on their lives.
Following this, the assembly was opened up to student questions for the veterans. Students were given this opportunity as a means for more personalized understanding of the experience of serving in the armed forces. Students questioned what life was like after service, how veterans’ families reacted, what lessons they learned from the experience, and the impact service had on their world view.
Throughout the two periods, there were several musical performances centered around the theme of honoring soldiers. The chambers singers, directed by Mr. Wasko, sang the Star Spangled Banner, Thank You Soldiers, and God Bless America. The band, directed by Mr. Murphy, played a medley of all the songs for each military branch. After each branch was announced, the band welcomed veterans of the branch, as well as students who had family members who had served in the branch, to stand, giving students the opportunity to honor their own family veterans.
Captured: A Local Band Fit For Anyone
Lucy Karimi ’27
EE Staff Writer
The beginning beats of a Pearl Jam song play on a guitar, wooden sticks brisk against the drum, a teenage mouth opens, and lyrics pour out. This is just a glimpse of what local band Captured has been dedicated to for years.
Captured, named after the book they all enjoy, is the home to four highschoolers: Dillon Sakowich, a freshman, Peter Koval and Cole Mouio, both sophomores, and Ilario Muoio, a senior, all from Trumbull High School. Captured started five years ago when Dillon Sakowich and Peter Koval, his cousin started playing together. Two years ago, the band was formed when the Mouios joined.
Captured is mainly a “90s alternative rock and grunge” band that plays mostly cover songs like Led Zeppelin and Pearl Jam but also creates some originals as well, according to vocalist and lead guitarist, Dillon Sakowich. They use instruments acquired from the Guitar Center. Dillon Sakowich uses a Fender guitar, while Cole Mouio uses a Les Paul. Peter Koval has his drums from Drum Workshop, and Ily Mouio uses a Fender bass.
Sakowich says their target audience “is really anyone who enjoys music and a good time” and can range from kids to adults. Two good examples of fans are Luke and Braden McDermott. Dillon Sakowich started his journey as a musician by playing small gigs, like in McDermott’s garage. All four boys have been deeply connected to music since an early age and chose this style because all members enjoy playing, listening, and appreciating grunge music.
“The more I got into the band, the more I enjoyed the music they played so I can partially credit them for my taste in music”, says senior Braden McDermott. “It also helped foster my love for live music”.
