Suicide is not a sign of weakness. It is the absolute rock bottom a human can reach. The point where life itself is too much to bear and the only thing that can ease the burden is death. I used to think people who committed suicide were weak. That was the stupidest, most insensitive and immature thing that has ever crossed my mind. A bruise will heal because it is physical and the body will repair itself. The mind does not heal as fast as the body when a spirit is crushed. It takes a long time to repair. We are sensitive creatures. Admitting this is the first step to growing up.
On Oct. 29, John Halligan visited Hanover High School to share the story of his son Ryan, who committed suicide in October 2003 at the age of 13. Ryan took his life, his father told the audience of students from grades 5-9, because he was harassed and humiliated by classmates in his Vermont middle school. Ryan also could not escape from bullying online.
After Ryan’s death, his parents helped pass an anti-bullying law in Vermont. John Halligan travels across the country to tell his story in the hopes of helping other students and families deal with and prevent bullying.
Ryan Halligan’s death is a tragedy to us but for his family it is a lifetime of regret and agony. They face day after day of sorrow and anger because some people couldn’t keep their mouths shut. Imagine losing a loved because he was abused to the brink not by punches, but words. Not very appealing, is it?
Bullying another human is not alright. In fact, that is weakness. If you’re stronger, smarter, faster, or better than another human, use those gifts to help them and not taunt them over their imperfections. No one is a perfect being, no one. We are all cracked, beaten, torn up, and scarred either physically or mentally from what we have lived with, some more than others. But the scars, cracks, bumps and bruises are what make us, and to make fun of a person incessantly because of the things that make them who they are is truly vile.
If you see someone getting bullied (but I’m happy to say we have a fairly kind school all around), stop it. I don’t care how and I don’t think the person who is being bullied cares how, just put an end to it. Do not let your mind interfere, you should know it’s right to help so don’t think about the consequences. Bystanders who do nothing are almost as bad as the people doing the bullying.
If you are ever bullied yourself, talk to someone for help: a guidance counselor, a parent, a friend. Don’t give into the feelings of worthlessness that a bully tries, whether physically or emotionally, to beat into you. Hell, tell me I’ll see what I can do.
We have fleeting time on this planet. A second becomes an hour, an hour a week, a week a year. We don’t have much time. Be kind to each other, make people laugh not at the expense of others, and just don’t be a punk.
One of the hallmarks of a “21st century curriculum” (a favorite buzzword of administration) is the idea of interacting with the outside world in the process of completing coursework. The internet is supposed to give rise to a new collaborative spirit in the halls right here at HHS. Mr. Molloy’s psychology class is taking that concept to a whole new level with their participation in the nationwide “Write It Forward” project. In a nutshell, “Write it Forward” is an extension of the common chain letter but with a twist. Students have to write a positive letter thanking someone for the impact they’ve made on their own lives. It’s supposed to be handwritten as writing something out by hand is supposed to be more heartfelt.
The twist is that the person who receives the letter is supposed to write a letter of their own to a person who has had a big impact on their lives. Thus it becomes a chain letter in a classic sense. Eventually, if the system works, the letter makes it backs to right where it started: Hanover High School. Mr. Molloy’s project has already received several returned letters and gotten a lot of positive feedback on the program!
As of right now, the project has been a great success. People from all 50 states have visited the class website (writeitforward.edublogs.org). Over 100 letters have been sent as a part of their efforts. For the latest news on this project you can follow them on Twitter @writeitforwardhhs. You can also email writeitforward@hanoverschools.org or see Mr. Molloy directly.
Yes, I went to homecoming. I am a part of student council and we work on those types of things, like dances and what not, and it would definitely be a cool idea to have more dances at our school, and I think many people would like to have more too.
Lauren Murray, senior
I went to homecoming and I’ve been to prom as a junior, but even now as a senior it would be a lot of fun for our school to put on more dances for sure. I would definitely attend.
Lauren Bilton, sophomore
Yes, I went and it was my first one! Our school should definitely take into consideration possibly having more dances. I feel like a lot of people would be interested and want to go.
Stephen Pallotta, senior
I did go to homecoming and it is my last one as a senior! It would be really fun if our school tried to have another dance in the future.
Bridget O’Leary, sophomore
I went to homecoming this year and it was fun. Hanover High should look into doing more dances or think about it.
As of October 30th, two Fall Sports teams at Hanover High School have had their seasons come to an end. One begins its post-season on Halloween night and another on that very afternoon. Some are past the regular season but not yet done. Other team playoffs may begin Sunday. Here is a brief recap:
Field Hockey- The Field Hockey team had one loss in regular season play and spent a good portion of the season undefeated. Their lone loss came against Duxbury. They had a couple ties and played incredibly well every game this year. Seniors Amy Leonard, Hannah McCorkell, Aly Higgins, Madison Milligan, and Molly McMahon
Erika Nelson and Field hockey might be fall sports best chance at some type of title
have led a talented crew of juniors and sophomores on and off the field. The team opens up playoffs on Halloween afternoon versus an unpredictable Dedham Marauders squad at the HHS Turf. Dedham comes out of a league of much bigger, better schools and their record is never indicative of their true ability. Still, under longtime coach Judy Schneider, “Fockey” has a great chance to make a deep tournament run.
Cross Country- The Cross Country team had a solid season. The Girls and Boys programs faced mixed results meet by meet in a tough Patriot League. Coached by the spirited Tim Brown, Senior boys Alex O’Dowd, Ernie Meads and Tim Good have been top runners for 4 years now and plan to finish the season strong. They are supplemented by Steve Griffin, Kenny Croke and Bryan Connors, who run hard and help lead the rest of the boys group. Christina Nee, Erin Smith, Gina Carbone and the girls group have had lots of good races. They are capable of making noise down the stretch. They are coached by the most gregarious and ebullient guy at Hanover High, Kevin Perry, and the team receives important contributions from their underclassmen. The teams have an invitational meet this weekend followed by the State meet on the next weekend.
Football- The Gridiron Gang has had very successful season thus far.
Indians will have to trek down to Middleboro on Halloween night for their 1st playoff game
They come into the MIAA D4 South playoffs with a well deserved 5-2 record. After a 26-0 drubbing at the hands of Middleboro during homecoming weekend, a game where they were thoroughly outplayed, the Indians now have to make the trip down to Middleboro for a first round rematch. Hopefully coming in with a fresh mindset and new game plan, the Indians have the ability to win some revenge. Win or lose, I believe the team with face the team who had a similar fate to them in the Apponequet (Lakeville & Freetown)- Dennis-Yarmouth game. The football playoff is different in that you keep playing even after initial elimination. Hanover may end up playing two teams twice. The seniors have been outstanding this year and there are too many to list, they have all contributed in some shape or form. Seamus Boutin’s scoring, Steve Cockey’s toughness, and Mike McLeod’s leadership come to mind. In his 2nd year as coach, Chris Landolphi has produced great results throughout the program this fall.
Girls Soccer- The Girls team may not have seen the success they would’ve liked in the regular season. but they made tournament and have a clean slate to work with. They start off with a long bus ride down to Old Rochester Regional. Hana Chahid, Steph Spitz, Holly Welch, Sarah Miller, and Sydney Lambert have kept spirits up on the team and provided good play on the pitch. The team also receives a lot of underclassmen help. After being battle-tested in the regular season, the girls have the ability to pull off a similar feat to last year’s team. In his first year, Mike Fraser took a moderately inexperienced group back to the tourney.
Boys Soccer- Andrew Zwart’s vocalness and Jack Phelan’s incredible work ethic have led the Indians through a great regular season. Joe Ferrarini, John O’Sullivan, Jason Gallagher, Joe Maguire, and Zach MacArthur have all been leaders in the way they carry themselves and the way they compete. The team will play a familiar foe, the Rockland Bulldogs. In the 8-9 match up, Hanover will travel over to Rockland. Rockland is a team Hanover should be 2-0 against but are in fact 0-1-1. The first game Hanover lost 1-0 at Rockland despite battling hard, they just couldn’t score. Then on senior day, Hanover held Rockland without a scoring bid but again could not find the back of the net in a 0-0 tie. Now, they will have to step up and adjust after a key player became lost for two games to a suspension due to two yellow cards in a match. The team has battled every team they played and has a chance to make a lot of noise in the D3 South bracket if they can finish their chances and stay resilient on defense. Coach Steve Rodday has pushed the team to reach its potential this season and his intensity has trickled down to the players, returning them to postseason play after a one-year hiatus.
Golf- The Golf team had a spectacular season, finishing with a record of 15-1. It is the best season maybe ever for the Golf team, certainly the best in recent years. Their only loss was to Duxbury toward the end of the year. In MIAA South Sectional, the team played well. They came in 4th, which was one spot shy of moving on and although the team played well, no individuals qualified either. Seniors Tyler Powers and Sophie Morrill led the way and both are expecting to play college golf.
Volleyball– The Volleyball team’s 4-11 league record doesn’t show how competitive the squad really was. Led by senior captains Katie Hussey, Maranda Grant and Emily Lawrence, the team put up a fight throughout the season, often competing against larger schools. Top servers included Hussey and juniors Caroline O’Rourke and Emily Hennessey. Junior Emma Hardy played well as the libero, a defensive specialist. Juniors Hennessy and Kylie Chetwynde combined with sophomores Megan Raab and Megan Dixon as fearsome hitters and blockers in the front row. With 8 varsity players potentially returning, and a promising crop of JV and freshman players, the team expects to make a powerful showing next season.
Hopkins’ books are written in free verse, so though they may be 300 or more pages, the pages aren’t full of paragraphs of text, making them easier to read.
First a preface:
When I suggest that students read a book by Ellen Hopkins, their first reaction is often “No way! That book is huge!” And yes, many of her fiction novels are very thick, topping 300 or even 600 pages. But when I flip through the books and show students that they are written in free verse instead of long paragraphs, they perk up. There may be as few as 20 words on a page. That, they feel they can handle. And while I never want anyone to choose a book because it’s short, I sell Ellen Hopkins’ books this way because too many students would miss out on her great stories if they never cracked one open.
Now on to the review: Impulse is the story of Tony, Vanessa and Connor, three teenagers who for different, devestating reasons try to end their lives. After their suicide attempts, they are sent to a treatment facility where they are supposed to work through their issues with therapists and family members. As you might imagine, the path to healing is not an easy one. The teens struggle to deal with their troubled past, less-than-ideal present and their uncertain future. The book alternates between the three teens’ voices, revealing in agonizing bits and pieces the heartache, abuse and fear that led them to this point. Despite their different journeys, the teens find a connection with each other that gives them hope that their lives will be better.
Unfortunately not everyone gets a happy ending. The book, like all others written by Hopkins, deals with very sensitive issues such as sexual abuse, mental illness, drug use, and depression. Tony, Vanessa and Connor felt like real people, and I quickly became invested in their stories: their triumphs, missteps and especially their falls. While I know they are made-up characters, I also know that Hopkins has worked with at-risk youth and struggled through her daughter’s heroin abuse (which she writes about in Crank). Meaning, I feel that the author knows what she’s talking about. By reading Impulse, I gained a glimpse into the pressures and dangers that can plague teenagers – even the ones who seem to have everything going for them. These kinds of books also remind me that, whatever I’m dealing with, someone else may have it worse and I need to be sensitive to whatever challenges they may be facing. Those challenges are not always obvious from the outside.
I recommend this book and others by Ellen Hopkins for anyone who likes gritty realistic fiction, especially stories of young people who face and overcome trauma or hardship. Since it’s told in three voices, I sometimes had to flip back a page or two to remind myself which character was doing the talking. But even with that, the book was riveting and hard to put down. You’ll be impressed by how quickly you get through the 600 pages.
Another of Hopkins’ books that I have read is Burned, the story of Pattyn, a teenage girl whose parents’ religious fanaticism leads to physical and emotional abuse. When she begins to rebel against their rigid beliefs, she is banished from the family. Luckily, the aunt she is sent to live with does not share her parents’ values. For the first time in her life, Pattyn has the freedom and confidence to explore her world, discovering her likes and dislikes and falling in love. She sees possibilities beyond the submissive marriage and motherhood that her parents believe in. Her escape is short-lived, however, when she is called to return home; efforts to hold onto the new life she has made end badly.
While this book feels less realistic to me, because religious fanaticism isn’t something I encounter regularly, I still found the story interesting and moving. I rooted for Pattyn, and of course raged over her father’s abusive and demeaning treatment of the women in his life.
Hopkins continued Pattyn’s story in a book called Smoke and wrote a sequel to Impulse, titled Perfect. If they are even half as captivating as the originals, then I expect more nights staying up reading until 2 am.
I’m ashamed to say that I have trouble keeping up with the news. I try to get it online, but am too easily distracted by the endless procrastination possibilities that the Internet offers. I may be deeply interested in an article about ebola, but soon I see an advertisement for an article on Jennifer Lawrence and I immediately switch off of the important article. Then I may try to watch on television, but I become quickly frustrated with the newscasters’ squabbling and the frequent commercials. But now, once a week, I am able to catch up on the world’s pressing news and have the opportunity to watch unique stories that examine serious problems in our country, all while laughing more than I would at any other late night program. HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver never fails to both inform and entertain.
There have been other shows like this; the Colbert Report, or Late Night with Bill Maher. However, John Oliver’s program approaches news differently than its competitors. Unlike the Colbert Report, Last Week Tonight is on premium television. This means that it gets its funding from its viewers, and not its sponsors. This means that John Oliver has the ability to say whatever he wants about any company if it is relevant to the news. Let’s just say that the CEO of CocaCola was involved in a major scandal. A station sponsored by CocaCola would most likely release a biased statement about the incident in order to retain their funding. This is not an issue for news broadcasted on premium channels. Another HBO series, Late Night with Bill Maher, has been very successful for a number of years. However, in HBO’s neighborhood, Bill Maher may have been the hot shot, but John Oliver is the new kid on the block getting more than his share of respect. This is not just because he is the shiny new host, but because he is bringing something new to the table. Instead of wasting time on biased rants and discussions with (non-relevant) celebrities, Oliver calls attention to stories that much of mainstream media does not cover, even though they could be detrimental to the well-being of others in our world.
Much like any news station, Oliver discusses subjects that can make one go into a melancholic, pessimistic stupor. However when I watch these episodes, I am not depressed but elated. While providing us factual information on subjects like nuclear weaponry, the death penalty, ISIS, and human rights violations, Oliver does the impossible: he shows us something that we can laugh at. This takes away the pessimism of the news because seeing the foolishness of a situation makes it become less of a monster and more of a relatable problem. For example, John Oliver did a piece on Syria’s tyrannical leader, Assad. Here, he explained that Assad was never really into politics. His true dream was to become an optometrist. In fact, Oliver said, Assad went to a university in England to realize this dream. As Assad was overseas studying his optometry textbooks, his brother (in line to rule) had passed away. His mother, wanting one of her sons to rule, had nearly forced Assad out of school and back to Syria. To the world’s dismay, he then took his brother’s place. After learning all of this, I felt that Assad no longer appeared as an unconquerable threat, but as a nerd who is afraid of his mother. Of course, this man’s rule and treatment of his people is still to be feared, but we are reminded that this is all he is: a man.
This is the way news should be done. We need to be educated on a wide variety of topics. We need to make sure that the interests of the sponsors are not warping the story. But most of all we need to be able to laugh at the things troubling our world. If not, we internalize more fear and inhibit our ability to rationally deal with these issues. By laughing, we can remain hopeful. Last Week Tonight embodies this.
Check Out Oliver’s Interview With Stephen Hawking:
Every year at HHS, the halls are flooded with new faces, the innocent eyes of freshmen scanning the crowds of upperclassmen. When you’re catapulted into high school so suddenly, everything can seem overwhelming. It’s hard to pinpoint what new things you want to try or experience when so much is being quickly thrown at you. With high school comes endless new opportunities — new clubs to join, new events to attend, new groups to get involved with. Being a freshman, or rather, any high schooler, can be daunting when you consider how much goes on around you. You might be so enthusiastic about all of these potential opportunities that you’re afraid to miss out on something, and yet you also might be nervous to step out of your comfort zone and try something you never have before.
But on graduation day, when you step up to receive your diploma and take one last look back on your high school career, you want to be sure to have no regrets. I’ve compiled a list of experiences you definitely do NOT want to miss out on during high school. Whether you’re a freshmen, sophomore, junior, or even a senior, I hope you attempt to check off a few items on this high school bucket list before the bell rings on your final day and it’s too late.
1) Go to Homecoming!
Many people are intimidated by the idea of Homecoming; with hundreds of kids packed into a hot gym, it’s hard to know what to expect. But every high schooler needs to experience Homecoming at least once in their life, as sort of a rite of passage. As a freshman especially, students might be scared off by the prospects of dancing in a crowd of strangers. But I promise you, whether you attend Homecoming and hate it or whether you find that you love it, you won’t regret checking it out. Homecoming is a high school event that you can’t miss out on; even if you only go for one year, definitely try it out. If anything, do it just for the pictures!
Taking Wacky to New Levels
2) Dress up for Spirit Week!
In conjunction with homecoming, HHS initiates a Spirit Week every October where students dress up according to crazy themes. Every day brings a new theme and new possibilities! Spirit week is an amazing way to bring unity and spirit to the students, and don’t regret not participating. Be creative, be spirited, and definitely don’t miss out.
3) Go to prom!
Prom only comes once a year for juniors and seniors; don’t regret missing out on what many students consider to be the greatest night of their high school career. Tickets are expensive, this is true, but whether it be senior or junior prom, definitely attend at least one before you graduate. It’s always a memorable evening with friends, food, and dancing. It’s also a chance to get dressed up and take some amazing pictures that will last your lifetime!
4) Join a sports team! Throughout the fall, winter, and spring, there are countless sports teams that are always looking for new athletes. There truly is opportunity for those of all athletic abilities — cross country and track are the easiest sports to join, and have the biggest group of students who participate each year. Most sports at HHS require you to try out before playing on the team, but tryouts can be a great way to meet friends who are interested in the same sport as you. Joining a sports team is an awesome way to get involved in something you enjoy, and is something that will leave lasting impressions on you.
5) Attend a student council meeting!
Student council may not be for everybody, but at least once throughout your four years at HHS you should try to make a meeting. Student council can have a huge impact on your future as a high schooler since the group plans so many school events (such as Homecoming and Spirit Week), and it can be very rewarding to have your voice heard at meetings. Not to mention that meetings, which are on evenings twice a month, are packed with fun and positive energy that gets everybody in a good mood!
6) Find a club that fits you!
If you’re looking for an easy way to make friends that have the same interests as you, definitely step up and join one of the countless clubs offered here at the high school. There is a club offered for a huge variety of interests, and if there isn’t, then why not make a club of your own?
7) Go to a football game!
Senior Fullback Steve Cockey picks up some yards after a reception.
Attending home football games is an incredible way to join in on school spirit; what better way to spend a Friday night than cheering on your school’s football team surrounded by your classmates, drinking hot chocolate, and listening to the great music provided by the band? Every student should see the football team play at least once during high school. After all, it wouldn’t be a quintessential high school experience without Friday night football!
8) Buy class T-Shirts!
Every fall, classes work diligently to produce a creative class t-shirt sporting your class color and year of graduation. But there’s only one chance to buy them every year, and if you let that time pass without getting one, you’ll most likely regret it.
9) Get your art displayed!
High school wouldn’t be complete without taking an art class — and if you do take an art class, strive to get your art displayed in the art wing of the high school! Seeing your artwork displayed for the public’s viewing pleasure is something that can always brighten your day.
10) See the hypnotist!
Every year, the seniors hire a hypnotist to cast his spell over a selected group of seniors one evening in the spring. The night never fails to bring loads of laughs to the student body, and it’s a night that students of all ages should not miss out on. Better yet, if you’re a senior, sign up to be hypnotized! Who knows? Maybe you’ll get picked!
11) Eat lunch in the courtyard!
When the warm weather rolls around, the cafeteria doors are opened up at lunch and the sunny courtyard is opened up for students at lunchtime! Whether you bring or buy your lunch, don’t miss out on a chance to eat outside with your friends. It’s a great opportunity to get some fresh air in the middle of the day, and take advantage of this chance as many times as you can before it’s gone!
12) See the school play! From Romeo and Juliet to the Crucible, HHS has put on fantastic productions throughout the years. You definitely do not want to walk out of the doors on graduation day without seeing a drama production, especially when so many of the school’s students are so skilled when it comes to performing. If you are indeed one of these skilled performers, what are you waiting for? Audition for HHS’ next production before it’s too late!
13) Girls: Play in the Powderpuff game!
When you’re a junior, Thanksgiving always brings about the Powderpuff football game for girls. This is something you definitely want to take part in. Even if you may not be gifted athletically, join the team to help spread school spirit!
14) Participate in the senior Lip Dub!
Want to be remembered by all of the future students that make their way through Hanover high? Take part in the Lip Dub when you’re a senior! It’s a fun way to unite with your class before you graduate and make lasting memories that will live on forever — on Youtube and in your memories!
15) Buy a yearbook! This list would not be complete without the final thing to do before you put on your cap and gown: buy a yearbook! Without one, you won’t be able to cherish your high school memories or look back on all of the fun times and experiences you had throughout the past four years. High school may seem long at first, but without a doubt it flies by, and before you know it, all of the opportunities you had to make high school memorable will be gone. So take advantage of the time you can before it’s too late!
In the last two years, a hot topic in the sports world and in mainstream society has been whether the Washington Redskins should change their name. I would say no.
Now there’s no way of getting around it; the term “Redskin” was once a slur toward Native Americans and had a negative connotation to it. The term has been out of use since the 1960s except as team names. It is considered taboo to use in modern society where we are supposedly over bigotry. It has been debated whether or not the term was initially intended for all Native Americans or just tribes who used red face paint. The majority of people today consider it a racial epithet but others feel the term has become harmless.
Despite apparent disinterest from Shelley, Dan Snyder has developed a good rapport with Navajo Nation
Dan Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, has long been an outspoken owner. Recently, while some schools and colleges have bowed to pressure to change their team names, he has held a very public stand against a name change. He has immense pressure on him to change the team name. He has put up a firm resistance, arguing that the team’s first coach, William Henry “Lone Star” Dietz, was a Native American and the team was named to honor his heritage. He has also pointed out that Walter “Blackie” Wetzel, a former president of the National Congress of American Indians and chairman of the Blackfeet Nation, helped design and approve the team’s logo. “We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER—you can use caps,” he told USA Today.
But Snyder has also made some statements that have hurt his case. Among other things, he once claimed something along the lines of “We have this name out of respect for Native Americans,” which angered many Native American groups who equate the term “Redskins” with the N-word. The Washington Redskins trademark was pulled by some self-righteous government officials who must’ve thought they were going to be received as heroes or something. President Obama, a sports enthusiast, butted in with his two cents, saying “I would think about changing the name.” He was quick to back off, though, by reconfirming he isn’t a team owner and has no stake in the matter. There have been boycotts and protests for several years now. It hurts Redskins’ sales that their licensing isn’t exclusive. Lots of papers refuse to print the name anymore.
Other individuals and groups have taken their own stands on smaller scales. Neshaminy High School in Pennsylvania also has sports teams called Redskins. The school paper has refused to print the term. Eventually, the principal and School Committee applied tremendous pressure to have them use the name. Suspensions were doled out, including to a former Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year who backed the students. In my opinion everyone involved in the school skirmish came out looking foolish. I mean come on, it’s your school’s mascot. The team members probably don’t make fun of Native Americans; your district didn’t choose the name to slight them; and a lot of members at your school are probably indifferent. So just because one might have a personal problem with it isn’t a reason for this whole clash to occur. However, the school administrators looked juvenile in their handling of the matter, using threats and constantly complaining.
A lot of college teams have faced similar problems. North Dakota, infamous for the mascot “Sioux,” had to change its name or the NCAA would ban them from postseason play. Other schools have had to do similar things. Yet the Florida State Seminoles and Central Michigan Chippewas use their mascot names with support from the tribes themselves.
Recently, the Comedy Central TV show South Park made a huge mockery of the Redskins football organization. In an episode where Cartman and his friends want to start a company, they end up with the name Washington Redskins because their trademark had been pulled. Dan Snyder throws a conniption after they start to soil the Redskins name, which leads Cartman to deliver the line, “We use the name out of respect for your organization and all you’ve done.” It did a good job mocking the Redskins and presented some reasons why the name is a problem.
But back to real life. The key word is indifference. All these sanctimonious people who are making this big stink are under the impression that it matters. In reality, it appears Native Americans and sports fans alike wish they’d just go away. Dan Snyder made a huger power move recently when the president of Navajo Nation, a powerful tribe based out west, sat with him in his private box at a Redskins home game. A 2013 Associated Press-GfK poll showed that “Redskins” still enjoys widespread support nationally. Nearly four in five Americans don’t think the team should change its name, the survey found. Only 11 percent think it should be changed, while 8 percent weren’t sure and 2 percent didn’t answer. In a current ESPN Sportsnation poll, 71 percent of fans support the team keeping its name. A couple of Native American high schools proudly have “Redskins” as their mascot. So who do these people think they’re helping? What do Native Americans gain out of a name change? Not much, maybe some self pride but nothing palpable to counter the poverty, alcoholism and other issues plaguing tribes across the country. Native Americans have bigger fish to fry then a pro sports team in which as whole they are divided on.
As a Hanover High School Student, I am proud to have “Indians” as our mascot. I remember a time when the rumor around town was were going to become the “Skyhawks” and I’m glad we didn’t. I don’t care if it is politically correct to say Native American. Hanover as a town doesn’t use the term Indians as a slight or stereotype in any way. In my opinion, people who go through Hanover are proud to have done so. There is a lot of Indian pride in our town and it would be that way most likely even if the name changed. But there is no need for a change. People in Hanover genuinely like the Indian mascot.
I think the same thing applies to the Washington Redskins fans. Redskins fans are notoriously among the best in the NFL. Especially in the pas,t they were known for being the most wild. They are proud to be Redskins fans. They have worn face paint and headdresses to games to support the teams. They never mean any injustice to Native American heritage and I think a lot of rational people realize this. The Redskins logo is one of the coolest in the NFL. Their fan base doesn’t want their traditions and their pride to be ruined. I think a lot of fans, like a lot of Americans, realize Native Americans have been wronged throughout history. That’s why they don’t support what the term once meant. They are just supporting the team on the field. That’s why there’s no need to change the name. I think American Indians are jumping on this movement because they need something to jump onto, and the Redskins are being made the sacrificial lamb. I believe Dan Snyder will hold strong and I’ll be proud of him. Let me make this clear, if Hanover ever tries to change their mascot for a similar reason, you’ll find my name atop the petition against it. There’s just no need for change when it’s not a problem.
One of Hanover High School’s many traditions is a rally to get school spirit up right when school starts in the fall. For the past couple of years it has been the week of the Homecoming football game and dance. This year the rally was particularly well orchestrated by StuCo’s E-Board and Principal Paquette. All grades had fun and everyone got pumped for the football game against Middleboro Friday night. New this year, the seniors ran into the gym while the marching band played the school’s fight song. While Seniors were the spotlight of the show, everyone had fun and it was a great way to end the week. See below for pictures of the festivities. If you have any pictures please send them to hhsindian@hanoverstudents.org or reach out to us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook for inclusion in our gallery.
The Hawk 