Outfit of the Day

Libby Marini and Katherine Koehler From the Town of Jones

At Girls State, it is hard to stand out from the lines of green. We highlight those who distinguish themselves from the crowd. The OOTD column recognizes the most fashionable and creative girls on campus! If you need any fashion tips or advice, contact the advice column “Ask Lanya”.

Monday, June 19

Peighton Duprey from Jones was spotted in these rockin’ millennial-pink crocs and geometric-patterned trousers. Way to make the most of your uniform!

*Also spotted in the background, we have Josie Ford from Jones wearing Superga flats and rockin’ her way to the polls.

Trump Leaving the Paris Agreement

Gabrielle From the Town of Jones

Last year, the United States entered the Paris Agreement. This agreement’s main goal was to prevent the temperature to reach the two degree celsius above pre-industrial temperatures. If possible, they want to keep the temperature raise under one and a half degrees celsius. All the countries are supposed to lower their greenhouse gas emissions. The countries are supposed to report their progress. The United States backed out of the Paris Agreement on June 1 2017. This could be one of the worst things that our country dropped out of.  Germany, Italy, and France issued a joint statement about the United States leaving the agreement,  they said that even though Trump wanted a better “deal”, the Paris Agreement was  “‘irreversible’ and could not be renegotiated” (nytimes.com). Later, Vermont entered the Paris Agreement as a State. This speaks volumes, because our little state is in a very important climate agreement, that our country backed out of.

What does the US leaving mean for the Paris Agreement? While Trump talked about withdrawing from the agreement, about forty other countries signed the agreement. But, the US is technically not allowed to leave until the year of 2020.  This could cause problems, but I doubt that other countries will listen and agree with a country that doesn’t want to be at the Paris Convention, negotiating the rules.   

Find the Trump Quotes!

Sam Mirra From the Town of Jones and Hailey Napier From the Town of Mackenzie

Below are 12 quotes. Donald Trump said six on the campaign trail, the other six were random kids from the internet. Can you pick out the Trump quotes? Check your answers below when you think you’ve found them!

1. “If evolution is the truth, then you would have half dog half cat animals running around”

2. “Well I really watch the shows. You really see a lot of great, you know, when you watch your show and all of the other shows, and you have the generals and you have certain people that you like.”

3. “I’m speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain and I’ve said a lot of things.”

4. “Didn’t you hear? Everybody knows my name...I’m the new boss.”

5. "Why did the Mexicans wait until now to move to America? They should have discovered it! They were RIGHT THERE."

6. “I’ve never seen anybody sweat like that.”

7. “Europe is a big place”

8. “I feel like a supermodel except, like, times 10, OK? It’s true. I’m a supermodel.”

9. "Why would I lie if I was trying to seduce her?"

10. “The air smells like freedom."

11. “No way, old man!”

12. “I promise I will never be in a bicycle race.”

ANSWERS:

1. Kid
2. Trump
3. Trump
4. Kid
5. Kid
6. Trump
7. Trump
8. Trump
9. Kid
10. Kid
11. Kid
12. Trump

For more information on these answers read below...

1. This is a random internet kid from somethingawful.com  trying to grasp the concept of evolution.
2. Donald Trump during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” on August 16, 2015, trying to name his foreign policy advisors.
3. Trump after being asked who his foreign policy consultants are on “Morning Joe”, March 16, 2016.
4. A kid who had his birthday at Disney and thought he was famous because he was wearing a name tag. Thanks to Xiomara on babygizmo.com.
5. A student learning North American geography courtesy of somethingawful.com.
6. Donald Trump in reference to Marco Rubio in a “Fox and Friends” interview. September 18, 2015.
7. Trump on using nuclear weapons in Europe on “The O’Reilly Factor,” March 31, 2016
8. Trump at a Rally in Arizona, June 18, 2016.
9. An honest internet kid. (somethingawful.com)
10. The 6 year old cousin of Josephine Rose Gilchrist for Buzzfeed via Facebook
11. A two year old in church from Jennette on babygizmo.com
12. Trump’s campaign launch speech. June 16, 2015.

Football: A Men’s Sport

Gabrielle Ochs From the Town of Jones

I play football, and I am a woman in a men’s sport. I have been told that I shouldn’t be playing, just because I am a girl. What does that mean? Do they think I am fragile, and will break if I trip or get tackled? Do they assume I know nothing about football? Most people have told my mom that she is crazy for letting my sister and I play on our school’s varsity team. I also dislike when boys and men think that they know everything about football, when in reality they have no clue what they are talking about. As a girl, I look up to Kathryn Smith. She is the first full time NFL coach who  was hired last season by the Buffalo Bills. She is an inspiration because she has done what others have never done before, and others possible have wanted to do.

I love football, and know a lot about it. It is sad when I hear girls say that they want to play football, but their parents say that they are fragile, and they don’t want their daughters to get hurt. It also hurts when I am told that I shouldn’t be playing because of my size. Why can that 110 pound freshman get into games, but I can’t? Whatever the reason, I hope that our country can change, so future generation of women that love football can play and enjoy the game that I and so many others love.

10 Fun Political Terms To Know

By: Emilie Begin

Courtesy of Scholastic Teacher

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/vocabulary-political- words

Coattails: The power of a popular candidate to gather support for other candidates in

his or her party.

Grass Roots: Political activity that originates locally, or arises from ground level.

Lame Duck: An officeholder whose term has expired or cannot be continued, who thus

has lessened power.

Muckraker: A journalist who seeks out the scandalous activities of public officials.

Pork Barrel: Wasteful and unnecessary projects that politicians secure for their local

districts, usually to gain favor with local voters.

Red Tape: Government paperwork and procedures that are slow and difficult.

Rubber Chicken Circuit: The endless series of public dinners and luncheons

politicians must attend to raise funds and make speeches.

Smoke-Filled Room: The sort of place where behind-the- scenes political wheeling and

dealing, often devious, occurs.

Trial Balloon: An idea a politician suggests in order to observe the reaction.

Witch Hunt: A vindictive, often irrational, investigation that preys on public fears.

Gun Control Debate Re-sparked by Recent Shootings

Ali Barritt

Photo cred: http://cdn29.elitedaily.com/content/uploads/2016/06/12105737/elite-daily-people-crying-pulse-orlando-nightclub-shooting.jpg

Sandy Hook Elementary School, Colorado Springs, Aurora theater, San Bernardino, California, and now, the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Several devastating mass shootings have occurred over the years, and with a new tragedy involving the murder of 49 innocent civilians and injury of 53 others, “the worst American massacre since 9/11,” the topic of gun control has resurfaced.

After a nearly 15-hour filibuster by Democrats on the Senate floor a week after the Orlando shootings, the Senate voted on four gun control proposals on Monday. The proposals did not receive enough votes to progress as the parties are far apart on the issue. Yet, voting brought attention the issue at hand in a large way.  

In addition, there are two amendments under consideration that involve the improvement of background checks for gun buyers, one proposed by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), and the other by Sen. Chuck Grassely (R-IA). Grassley’s amendment aims to direct more money and resources to the National Criminal Instant Background Check System (NICS), commission a study by the Director of the National Institutes of Justice and National Academy of Sciences that would investigate the causes of mass shootings, and add an assessment of mental health to background checks for those buying guns. Murphy’s amendment would require for submissions of records of those prohibited from buying guns to NICS by federal agencies to be certified. Also, states that don’t provide data electronically to the background check system would be penalized. The amendment would also deal with gun sales online and at gun shows, and how they may be “subject to closing the gun show loophole.”

The National Rifle Association (NRA) fervently opposes closing the “loophole,” claiming that doing so would burden unlicensed gun sellers at gun shows; they don’t require a background check, unlike licensed sellers. The association says that this would hurt sellers who want to sell a single gun.

With the accumulation of mass shootings, gun control remains an important issue that has made its way to the table, but differing views among the parties has impeded any progress that could be made in regards to creating policies and amendments.

ALAGMGS Comic