Editorials

Eyebrow blindness. One of the many recent Tiktok topics that highlights another thing you’re doing “wrong” with your face. Having eyebrow blindness means your eyebrows don’t flatter or suit your face like you’re hoping. So… does Drew Starkey have eyebrow blindness? Or was he able to fix it? 

The heartthrob actor recently went viral for dyeing his hair and brows bleach blond. Hair has already proven to be an iconic, defining feature of Starkey after his transformation in Outer Banks from floppy hair to a beloved buzzcut.

Many fans were very unhappy with the new look, as they found it didn’t suit him as well as his past styles. Online, swirls of videos were posted, and the comment sections flooded with words of disbelief. Videos were captioned with expressions such as “brb crying myself to sleep” and “WHY THE EYEBROWS THO”.

Starkey didn’t change his look on his own accord, though. He dyed his hair for his role in the upcoming action-thriller Onslaught, in which Starkey plays a villain, likely explaining the extremely bright hair he has for the role. 

 Regardless of why he dyed his hair, though, the hate he received was entirely unnecessary, and the comments posted online seemed to quickly impact the actor himself. January 4th, 2025 was the first time he was seen with the bleached look. Just three days later on January 7th, he had the same blond hair but now toned-down eyebrows that looked more like his natural ones. Online, the comments of angry fans quickly faded, as now his brows were “fixed” and everyone returned to swooning over him. 

This is one example of a much bigger problem. Someone’s hair looking different doesn’t warrant another the right to say hurtful things about their appearance. Anyone can hide behind a screen and comment something cruel, hurting someone to the point they dislike themself, change things about themselves to be liked more, or begin to hate something they once loved. Just because this stops in one circumstance doesn’t mean it’s over. If Drew Starkey stepped out with his eyebrows bleached once more, those hate comments would come right back. People easily can, and have, taken cyberbullying too far. 

Cyberbullying can also affect anyone. From friends to yourself, I can guarantee someone in your life has faced online bullying. According to the Annapolis Police Department, about 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. Additionally, nine out of ten middle schoolers have had their feelings hurt online. 

These are horrifying statistics. Social media is popular among people of all ages, but especially with teenagers. As statistics show, an overwhelming majority of these teens have gone online just to be greeted by hate. If you open your phone to a message degrading your appearance or personality, you start to believe it to be true.

 In reality, people leave rude and unnecessary comments because of their insecurities. Because, what is the benefit of telling someone you don’t like their new hair, or that their voice is annoying, or that their makeup is poorly done? It’s hard to do, but ultimately one who is receiving hate has to take what people say about them with a grain of salt. If the hate is overwhelming, though, it may unfortunately require more patience and work to avoid it.

Additionally, the growing popularity of expressions such as eyebrow blindness, videos about how to look better, what clothes are trending, and other media that presents itself to be beneficial for you truly is not. How you look is not the most important thing about you, and as long as you take care of yourself and respect others online, you’ll be fine. So, go ahead and dye those brows whatever color you’d like– or don’t make any changes to your appearance

After celebrating the New Year and enjoying the excitement it brings, we crash into the cold month of January, and are left to wonder, “What’s next?” Although the holidays aren’t for another year, other things to get excited about are much closer. From art and music to spring and nature, Charlotte has a lot to offer in the next few months. Below, I have made a list of five things to keep you excited throughout 2025.

1. New Albums from Top Artists

Even before 2025 arrived, many of our favorite artists and musicians teased and built up angst in their fan bases by announcing new albums to come this year. Artists like The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Tate McCrae, Japanese Breakfast, and Lana Del Rey have teased or announced new album releases coming the next few months.

2. Live Music and Concerts

More albums mean more live music! Many artists have included Charlotte in their U.S. tours, and there’s truly no experience that matches seeing your favorite artist live. Coming up this month, Kelsey Ballerini performing at the Spectrum Center and Wallows at the Fillmore, with tickets starting at about 70 USD. Later this year, Charlotte will also be expecting artists like Tyler, the Creator for his CHROMAKOPIA World Tour, Deftones, Shakira, Kendrick Lamar with SZA, Billy Joel, and Tyler Childers. The Fillmore, Spectrum Center, Bank of America Stadium, and PNC Music Pavilion will be filled with singing voices and unforgettable memories throughout all of 2025.

3. Games, Jerseys, and Food

Charlotte’s own Spectrum Center is packed and booked throughout the rest of the year not only with concerts but also with its very own, the Charlotte Hornets. From now through April, the Hornets will be hosting a total of 19 home games. For those who prefer soccer, Charlotte FC is kicking off the season at the end of February. Last, but certainly not least, every football fan’s favorite event, the Super Bowl 59, will take place February 9th at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana this year with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Super Bowl’s halftime show will feature a performance by Kendrick Lamar and SZA along with the classic and long-awaited commercials. 

4. Popcorn and New Movies

2025 is going to be a great year for scary movie lovers and Marvel fans. On the last day of January, The Notebook director Drew Hancock’s new thriller, Companion, featuring The Boys actor Jack Quaid was released. The thriller has a mystery in the middle of the plot and was highly anticipated. If you’re looking for a movie to watch on Valentine’s Day, what’s more romantic than watching Captain America: Brave New World with someone whose presence you enjoy? If you’re not much of a Marvel fan, you can still get excited about the new Minecraft movie, Wicked Part 2, or the live animations of Lilo and Stitch and Snow White.

5. Seasonal activities

One of the most advantageous things about living in North Carolina is that the state experiences all four seasons throughout the year. Planning an activity to do with friends, family, or on your own can be a great way to keep you looking forward to something and try new things. Whether it’s going ice skating at the Whitewater Center or skiing in Boone, there are many winter activities to book up your calendar with. As spring rolls around and the weather warms up, North Carolina’s parks and trails become perfect for hiking. For just under an hour, hikers can drive to Crowders Mountain, or take a road trip to North Carolina’s most iconic hiking spot: Grandfather Mountain. In the spring, Carrigan farms just outside Charlotte opens its quarry for public swimming all throughout the summer, making it a great destination for a road trip with friends. 

My first introduction to Taoism was a cheap, watered-down version of the religion, known as Dudeism. A couple students in my philosophy class junior year chose to present Dudeism for their religion project, explaining how the core principles of the religion were going with the flow, chilling out, and enjoying life as it comes. I thought it was complete nonsense. How could I ever accomplish anything if my philosophy was to simply let things happen? 

With my skeptical mindset, you can imagine that when we learned about Taoism a couple weeks later in class, I did not think highly of the religion. Taoism, as I understand it, is an ancient Chinese religion and philosophy that preaches ideals such as inaction, simplicity, and harmony– more sophisticated ways of “going with the flow.” We read excerpts from the Tao Te Ching, the primary religious text of Taoism, translated into English. The Tao Te Ching isn’t exactly known for its clarity, but it is fairly blunt in expressing what the author, Lao Tzu, deemed as universal truths. For example, the Tao Te Ching includes statements like “If nothing is done, then all will be well” and “the more you know, the less you understand.” 

In modern western society, the majority of people disagree with these statements. Inaction is the antithesis of capitalism, where hard work is upheld as a virtue. Learning is encouraged, school systems teaching students that knowledge is power. While people joke about going wherever the wind takes them, the only people who truly reject these western virtues are active nihilists, who believe nothing matters. 

In my case, I did not pretend to find the laid-back, taoist lifestyle appealing, but rather, expressed my distaste for the religion at every chance I could in class. It got to the point where whenever my teacher brought up Taoism, he would jokingly refer to it as “Emma’s favorite religion.” I could not have been more anti-Tao. 

However, my perspective on Taoism was permanently altered on a plane flight I took in November of 2024, where I decided to read the first chapter of “Star Wars: The Philosophy Strikes Back.” The book was a collection of essays relating the Star Wars movies to varying philosophical concepts, beginning with The Phantom Menace. Unpopularly, The Phantom Menace has always been one of my favorite Star Wars films– it has pod racing, Qui-Gon Jinn, and a “duel of fates”– what’s not to like? I was excited to read the chapter on The Phantom Menace, even if it was about Taoism’s influence on the movie. 

Upon reading the chapter, I was introduced to a whole new way of thinking about Taoism. The author Russel P. Johnson presented two concepts in Taoism that I resonated with: Symbiosis and concentrating on the moment. Symbiosis is essentially the idea that all things in nature are interconnected, and thus rely on each other. Symbiosis is encompassed in the Yin-Yang symbol, which represents how two opposites cannot exist without each other. Concentrating on the moment is simply not worrying about the consequences of the future, and instead prioritizing solving the issues of the present. I was surprised that I agreed with any statements in the Tao Te Ching, leading me to question my initial perception of the religion. 

I had misunderstood Taoism. It is not nonsense advocating for complete inaction; it is a valuable interpretation of how to effectively handle the ups and downs of life. While refusing to learn and doing nothing are far too extreme applications of the religion, having a taoist mindset can have a significant impact on everyday life. Instead of committing myself to one political ideology, I have found value in the opposing party. Instead of writing all of my assignments down in my planner and worrying about them two months in advance, I have focused on my present assignments. Although these might be small changes, they have increased my empathy level and reduced my stress. Despite my initial skepticism, I can honestly say that Taoism has positively impacted my life, and is beneficial in counteracting the pressures of modern day society. 

While registering for classes, you might have noticed strange letters beside some of the course options. Specifically, the letters AP and IB. While these letters might not seem terribly significant, they signal the type of class you are able to register for, typically implying an increased difficulty from the class’s honors counterparts. AP is short for Advanced Placement and IB is short for International Baccalaureate. But regardless of the nomenclature, there are clear advantages and disadvantages of both programs that you ought to consider before signing up for either. 

There are a few similarities between the two programs. Naturally, the workload is heavier than an honors class. The classes operate on a 5.0 rather than a 4.0 scale, and the classwork is reflective of this bump. “The rigor of AP is relatively the same as IB,” notes senior AP participant Emerson Cortazar. However, it must also be noted that less 5.0 classes are required in the AP Capstone Program. With IB, you must take at least 13 over the course of your junior and senior years, but with AP, it is only 6. This makes AP more accessible to those who don’t wish to fully immerse themselves in difficult environments. On the other hand, the lack of immersion can sacrifice a tight knit community. “AP lacks the closeness of the IB community,” Emerson observes, and junior IB participant Rachel Kreth clarifies this, stating, “In IB, everyone around you is, for the most part, doing all of the same things. That’s useful when you need help to know you’re all going through the same thing.” 

Another similarity between the programs is the resume building. AP junior Madison Grant claims that she signed up for AP “because it looks good for college applications.” Colleges seek out rigorous courses when evaluating your resume, which AP and IB definitely fulfill. Taking those 5.0 boosts your GPA, which can in turn boost your class rank, all factors that colleges look at when deciding to admit or reject an applicant. Fellow AP junior Bennett Hall furthers this, describing AP Capstone as something “that will help you stand out on college applications by showcasing your commitment to academics and research.” Yet, this advantage comes with a price. “I dislike the constant testing and quizzing in IB,” Rachel explains. “When every day has something, it feels very performative.” 

A major downside of both programs is the lack of diversity. Madison notes that she is “the only Black person in the class” majority of the time when it comes to her AP class, and several other IB students notice the problem as well. The demographics of the AP and IB programs do not reflect the demographics of Myers Park. Oftentimes, the lack of diversity can defer students away from the program who would normally participate in the higher level classes. The programs appear inaccessible, despite the fact that many students would thrive in AP or IB. 

AP and IB both require end of year tests to receive their respective diplomas. These tests differ from traditional finals in the sense that they are off campus and will not affect your final grade. However, these tests could impact your college lifestyle, as passing an AP or IB exam can earn you credits that exempt you from entry level college courses. This provides many students with a motivation to do well on these exams. IB student Evie Freeman notes the exams academic benefits, but also notes the personal. “I really appreciate we get the full day off of school for the exams,” she says, a component not present in a regular final. Junior IB participant William McEvoy claims “the fancy paper we write on” to be the coolest part of the exams, and Evie adds onto this, stating that “the string tag is awesome.” 

For the most part, AP and IB are fairly similar programs. They have clear advantages, such as building college applications, developing communities, and having really cool testing papers, but also clear disadvantages, such as a lack of diversity and rigorous courses. “The heavy workload connected with AP courses can be difficult for certain students,” Bennett expresses. But, none of the students mentioned previously regret enrolling in AP or IB. They might be difficult programs, but they can also be rewarding ones. 

Growing up in a soccer-centric household, basketball, let alone March Madness, was never a big deal to me. I entered my first March Madness bracket competition sophomore year and although I didn’t do too well, it opened my eyes to the thrilling world of college basketball during March and early April. While some spend hours studying tape and breaking down player stats to craft their “perfect” bracket, I have always taken the more relaxed route by focusing on vibes. Everyone has heard the stories of brackets winning when chosen based on which team has the cutest mascot or the color of their jersey. That route has always seemed the most appealing to my low basketball IQ. Using this strategy I maximize ease of choosing and minimize the stress of caring about the outcome. I am able to back up my wins with the blind confidence of “trusting my gut” but I am detached enough from my choices to brush off the losses as a slight vibe oversight. While obviously, my bracket was far from perfect, I successfully won our Hoofprint staff bracket challenge against some of the biggest sports fanatics I know, using my nonchalant, low-emotional-investment approach.

About two days before the tournament began, I scrambled to come up with my dream bracket. Sitting in S-7, scrolling through the 32 matchups of 64 teams on the ESPN website, with some teams I recognized from previous years and others completely unheard of. Things I considered when picking: do I know anyone who goes/went there, vibes of mascots, random clips I’d seen of pre-tournament games, or various facts thrown about by those also choosing their brackets at the time.

 For starters, I had Tennessee going to the final four because it’s my dad’s alma mater. They held strong until I had them beating Purdue in the Elite Eight, in hindsight a major misstep. JMU was in my sweet sixteen because my friend Jane is on their top tier climbing team so I assumed that skill would translate into basketball. While that choice wasn’t the smartest as I had them beating Duke to get there, it at least helped my accuracy in the first round. The only time vibes really let me down was with Kentucky. My great-grandfather Bill went there for journalism (extra vibe points for Newspaper) so I had high hopes and placed them confidently in my elite eight, only to get out in the first round. I spent the entire month holding a grudge against UK after that initial blow to my max points. 

A lot of good circumstances were involved in the eventual victory of my bracket. Many people lost points when Alabama unexpectedly beat UNC, but due to the randomness of my picks and lack of logic, I had them winning and the Red Tide boosted my score and dropped my competitions’ by a good chunk of points. My winner pick was purely thanks to my circumstances as it was the influence of those around me that led me to have UConn as the victor. Going in with practically no prior knowledge or research would not have gone as well as it did if my peers hadn’t convinced me of the Connecticut team’s superior hooping abilities enough to put them as my winner. 

When the final game ended, I was shocked by my standing in the bracket. I knew I wasn’t going to come in last and face the dreaded newspaper suit punishment, but with only one of my final four correct and my final game predicted as Tennessee vs. UConn I wasn’t too confident that I had secured any type of win. Lo and behold, UConn won the final and in turn, I won the Newspaper bracket challenge. Since my strategy won this year, I don’t see any reason to change and I highly recommend this chill approach to anyone dipping their toes in March Madness.

Photo contributed by Creative Commons

With Saint Patrick’s Day coming up, what better way to celebrate than to talk about Leprechauns? These festive mythical creatures date back to the eighth century and were regarded as agile male fairies. They are described by the World History Encyclopedia as “figures in Irish folklore who guard hidden treasure”.

Leprechauns are often imagined in front of a rainbow, guarding a pot of gold with a big grin on their faces. However, according to Irish legends, this idea we have of leprechauns is nowhere near correct. Irish myths say leprechauns are not necessarily the nicest creatures. They are known for living solitary lives and causing trouble. One of the oldest and most popular myths about leprechauns is that if you encounter one, they will either attack you on the spot or make your life miserable. People say they do this by stealing food, throwing furniture, and even kidnapping babies. Some people in Ireland believe that if their dog disappears and it shows back up covered in mud, they are most likely taken on an adventure by a leprechaun. This doesn’t just apply to dogs but also to goats and sheep. 

Leprechauns seem to be creatures to stay away from, however, the risk of being attacked by one is as great as the reward. Irish legend has it that if you catch a leprechaun, you can luck out with a pot of gold or make three wishes. If you ever want to test your luck and try catching a leprechaun, legends say that to catch one, you must listen for the sound of them making shoes. This is because some people believe that leprechauns are shoemakers, however, no two people would say the same about how leprechauns came to be. There are a variety of myths about how these creatures came about.

One of the oldest myths is that leprechauns were water spirits known as ‘luchorpán’, meaning “small body”. They were regarded as so back in the eighth century. Others say the leprechaun is an old bachelor elf who fended off his mother’s attempts to marry him to a pretty young girl and was exiled after doing so. This legend would explain why the leprechaun is known as a solitary creature. It’s been said that the reason they carry a pot of gold dates back to wartime. According to legends, Danes would bury pots of gold throughout Ireland and trust leprechauns for safekeeping. Throughout time, these theories of leprechauns have become more generalized and the truth is less known. 

Leprechauns have also become a sort of tourist attraction, featured in the beloved Lucky Charms cereal, the Notre Dame mascot, and multiple leprechaun horror films. Growing up around Venezuelan and Latin American culture, I got the more intimidating narrative of leprechauns. My family would go to the springs over the summer and sometimes I would be warned not to go in the water alone because a leprechaun would be waiting for me. Though the scared parents of a stubborn child might not be the most reliable source of information, this stuck with me for years.

My cousins would feed this fear of mine by putting on a home movie about the legend of leprechauns. The movie tells the tale of a couple that went to the lagoon one summer and got cursed by the town witch so whenever the couple would go in the lagoon, green and wrinkly hands appear from the surface of the water and would start attacking them. Years later, I go back on YouTube to find the same movie titled “Archives from Beyond: Leprechaun of the Lagoon.” After watching the forty minutes of over-dramatic acting and nonsense screaming, I realized how silly this fear was. While this is an exaggerated version of the tale, to this day, my 22-year-old cousin says she swears she saw a leprechaun one summer at the lagoon. No matter what myth you choose to believe, if any, next time you go to a lake or a lagoon, never let your guard down. 

Photo contributed by Creative Commons

Taylor Swift stands as one of the most prominent figures in pop culture, captivating millions of fans with her music. However, in addition to the attention regarding her chart-topping songs and recent tours, debates arise involving her carbon footprint, particularly regarding the use of her private jet. For years, private jets have aided celebrities in convenience and luxury as they are constantly touring across the world. But at what cost? According to BBC News, Swift allegedly produced 138 tons of carbon dioxide in three months. Leah Thomas, who studies the relationship between environmentalism and privilege, says, “Swift’s carbon emissions are extreme and are polluting the atmosphere.” Swift’s carbon heavy lifestyle was initially brought to life by Jack Sweeney, a university student from Florida who tracks the private jet usage of celebrities. Much of her air travel coincided with football games, to the support of the Chiefs. Swift, known for her packed touring schedules and global appearances, is a leading contender for relying on private transportation to travel between events. 

The scrutiny she received following the 2024 Super Bowl is not the first time Swift’s carbon footprint has gathered the public’s attention. Her frequent private flights caused Yard, a UK marketing agency, to claim she was the “#1 celebrity CO2 polluter in 2022, with emissions claimed to be 1,100 times the amount of the average person,” according to BBC News. That being said, air travel, in general, is a major contributor to carbon emissions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, aviation accounts for 8% of carbon-related emissions in the United States. In addition, private jets emit significantly more per person- at least ten times more compared to a commercial airline. Amidst criticism, Swift purchased double the required carbon credits to offset emissions from her record-breaking tour. If executed well, Swift’s approach could act as a global example to catalyze efforts to improve carbon removal technologies. 

Despite the speculation and backlash she is receiving, it’s important to recognize that it’s not solely individuals who are responsible for climate change but large corporations and governments; the issue extends far beyond her personal choices. A recent report by The Guardian found that 100 companies are responsible for 71% of the emissions produced globally since 1988. These companies and the governments that allow them to emit such large quantities are those who significantly contribute to climate change. The structure of the entertainment industry, with its demands for global tours and high-profile events, contributes to environmental degradation. Swift, like many other renowned celebrities, operates within this system, feeding into the inevitable usage of the luxury of private jets for quick transportation. However, Swift’s environmental efforts should not be overlooked. Over the years, she has used her platform to advocate for various environmental causes.

In order to mitigate the increasing effects of climate change, it is important to take into account these large governments rather than focus on individual emissions. Taylor Swift, in this case, with her recent carbon emission controversy, can spark change regarding carbon emissions globally. While her use of a private jet may seem contradictory, it’s important to recognize that individuals can act as supporters of environmental causes while still struggling with personal carbon footprints. 

Ultimately, the discussion surrounding Taylor Swift’s private jet usage represents larger debates regarding celebrity responsibility and environmental stewardship. While it’s crucial to hold public figures accountable for their environmental actions, it’s also crucial to acknowledge the systemic issues present and work towards solutions. By raising awareness, promoting sustainable practices, and supporting initiatives that aid in reducing climate change, celebrities like Taylor Swift can use their influence to help promote a more sustainable future.