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Author: jhshyphen
We are the student newspaper of Jeffersonville High School.
Column: Political ‘leaders’ bicker for the future of New York City
by Parker Vibbert
In June, New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic Primary for this fall’s NYC mayoral election. Mamdani’s win was attributed to a late-stage surge in popularity among young and liberal voters who felt disenfranchised by the establishment Democratic candidate, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Mamdani, a self-described socialist, has attracted controversy for his political views and his Muslim faith. “Old Guard Democrats” – the more moderate, older, and establishment members of the party – have generally stayed silent on or criticized Mamdani.
Mamdani is widely regarded as the favorite and a shoo-in come November. Embattled incumbent Eric Adams mounted an independent re-election campaign after forgoing the Democratic Primary, which would have ensured his defeat; however, Adams dropped out of the election on September 28th. Mamdani is facing former primary opponent Cuomo and the Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa.
In my opinion, Mamdani will win, and I think he’ll do good things for the city, but I don’t believe his socialist approach to running the largest city in the United States is the best one. I do think New York would be better served by a more traditional, moderate-liberal candidate, not a socialist akin to Senator Bernie Sanders or Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Most of Mamdani’s campaign is based around lowering the cost of living in the city; his approaches include freezing rent in the city; fare free busses; the new department of community safety; no cost childcare; city-owned grocery stores; triple the city’s production of permanently affordable, union-built, rent-stabilized homes; cracking down on bad landlords; and higher taxes on corporations and the richest New Yorkers to pay for his programs.
These are good programs, no doubt, that I mostly agree with. Freezing rent in the city is probably one of his best ideas. A majority of New Yorkers are tenants, and more than two million of them live in rent-stabilized apartments. Adams has taken every opportunity to squeeze tenants, with his hand-picked appointees to the Rent Guidelines Board jacking up rents on stabilized apartments by 9% (and counting ) – the most since a Republican Mayoral Administration.
Mamdani plans to immediately freeze the rent for all stabilized tenants and use “every available resource” to build the housing New Yorkers need and reduce the rent. However, I do believe his promise of city-owned grocery stores, while a good idea for easing financial burden, is unrealistic and too idealistic.
Cuomo’s plans to improve affordability include increasing the supply of affordable housing, expanding access to affordable healthcare, guaranteeing universal 3-K, increasing childcare options, making transportation more affordable by expanding discounted access to buses, and significantly increasing the percentage of New Yorkers who enroll in the subsidized Fair Fares programs for which they are eligible. provide targeted tax relief to lower-income and middle-class voters, including homeowners, worker protections, and via tax-cutting measures.
Forgotten and certain to lose, the Republican Nominee for Mayor, Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, was previously the 2021 Republican Nominee, losing to Adams. Sliwa plans to utilize vacant New York City Housing Authority apartments, pointing to thousands of vacant apartments within the NYCHA system as an untapped resource for addressing the city’s housing needs.
A better candidate, such as the current and former Congressman for New York’s 3rd Congressional District, Tom Suozzi, a pragmatic moderate, did not run in the Mayoral Primary. Suozzi has criticized Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez. Suozzi has said that “every” Democratic socialist should leave the Democratic Party and form their own party. He expressed his wish that Mamdani lose the general election since it would “be bad for the Democratic Party” if he won. Suozzi has also voiced his wish for the Democratic Party to work with the Trump Administration.
Cuomo is too embattled and unpopular, resigning in disgrace from the governor’s office in 2021 after 14 accusations of sexual harassment, and the controversial matter of his understating the toll of COVID-19-related deaths in state nursing homes by as much as 50 percent while governor. For this, he is currently being investigated by the United States Department of Justice.
While Cuomo is certainly the most qualified candidate for Mayor, Mamdani is the most popular and the most likely victor. New York City’s politics, leaders, and politicians have attracted considerable criticism in the last four years, during former President Joe Biden’s term and the previous years of Mayor Adams’ term. Adams has proven a corrupt, self-serving, lying criminal idiot without a backbone and is arguably the worst mayor in New York City history.
On Sept. 3, it was revealed that the Trump Administration had reportedly talked to the Adams Campaign about offering the mayor a position in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or as the Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, if Adams agreed to drop out, so Cuomo stands a better chance of defeating Mamdani in the election. Adams, however, denied this and refused to drop out of the election on Sept. 6. However, with his ever-flip-flopping nature as evident as ever, Adams finally dropped out on Sunday, Sept. 28.
The 2025 New York City mayoral election is simultaneously the most controversial and potentially corrupt election of the year, and the most clear-cut in terms of who will ultimately emerge victorious. Zohran Kwame Mamdani, a 33-year-old socialist, a Ugandan-born Muslim immigrant, will become the 111th Mayor of New York City on Jan. 1, 2026.
And for this, New York City will receive what I believe will be effective, boots on the ground, support for the 8 million that inhabit the five boroughs. Mamdani may not be the most ideal or perfect candidate, but with the choices we have, in light of the past, Mamdani is the best choice for Mayor of New York City
Sophomore excels for both JV, varsity soccer as sectional time approaches
by Isabella Stewart and Mahalia Smith
This year’s boys’ soccer team has had many new athletes introduced to the team, and the stands have filled up more than ever this season. Sophomore Ariel Andres Sandoval has played exceptionally well this season; his teammates speak highly of him.
Sandoval has played soccer for over 10 years; he knows most of his teammates from way back in elementary school soccer. With all that time, he has grown close with his teammates, and they could be perceived as family.
Sophomore Dylan Ortiz said he admired Sandoval’s loyalty and passion for soccer – the way he never gives up on the field, always pushing his teammates to be the best and giving them challenging opportunities to push themselves.
Aside from playing soccer, another hobby Sandoval really enjoys is reading and writing poems. When he’s not on the court, he’s reading or writing, even studying architecture.
Sandoval said his “biggest challenge in soccer is my mentality.” He has always been pushed to be good, but being great still comes with struggles.
Sandoval said, “Remembering the reason why, followed by the people I’m playing soccer with, keeps me motivated through every game.”
Sandoval and Ortiz both really look up to their team captain, senior Elijah Cheeks. Sandoval said, “He is always keeping me on my feet for every game we face.”
Cheeks is always there on the field helping every teammate out whenever he feels like he’s needed; he is there. Cheeks said, “I enjoy helping my teammates and helping them get better every day, not just as a soccer player, but as a person, too.”
Ortiz described Sandoval as “courageous.” He’s not deterred by danger; he’s brave and fearless, and Ortiz said, “that could be one of his biggest strengths.”
Sandoval loves a good meal after games; his favorite food is chicken, and typically after a game he enjoys a nice meal of chicken wings to provide protein and energy for the next game.
Sandoval strongly believes “the team will win sectionals in October and advance even more.”
Sectional play begins next Monday at Floyd Central at 7 p.m.; the Red Devils will face Jennings County.
In the Moment: Behind the Scenes with freshman and junior varsity volleyball
Click on slides in the gallery below.
Boys’ soccer prepares for sectional
by Aubrey Cummings
Pushing themselves as hard as they can for the 80 minutes that the match lasts. Heads up and hearts pounding every touch of the ball sends it moving across the field. With a shared goal, getting the ball into the net, the team moves as a unit across the field.
Ranked 36th in the state and 27th in their class, the varsity boys’ soccer team is moving along in their season.
Currently they are 12-3-1 and are second in the Hoosier Hills Conference for varsity and are 7-5-2 for JV. As the end of their season begins to approach for both teams they all begin to prepare for sectionals, with a normal goal of wanting to win sectionals and advance to regionals.
Head varsity coach Collin Bell explained, “It’s all about the game that is happening. One game at a time, one set of 80 minutes. If we push ourselves for those 80 minutes and commit ourselves for those 80 minutes, we will be successful.”
This was shown in their game against Franklin this year. The team had many teams cut from their schedule and many new ones added. They have faced tougher teams than they normally would. They do this to better themselves and to allow for them to be better prepared for the competition at the end.
“It’s all about the game that is happening. One game at a time, one set of 80 minutes. If we push ourselves for those 80 minutes and commit ourselves for those 80 minutes, we will be successful.”
Head Coach Collin Bell
“I think it’s a great change because it allows for us to adjust to playing new teams that we haven’t seen before, so it is a good way for us to test ourselves against teams that are considered better teams,“ said junior Alan Solorzano Lopez.
The varsity team isn’t the only one beginning to prepare for sectionals. Six of the JV members have the opportunity to go with the varsity boys to the sectional games.
“Knowing there’s a chance for us to go with the varsity team to sectionals encourages us on JV to push ourselves harder to show we are the best to try and claim our spots,” stated freshman JV member Dominic Cummings.
Doing this allows for younger boys to know what they may have the chance to experience in the near future. This allows for the program to continue to grow. The future also depends on some of the varsity boys as well as the JV.
“The pressure feels greater not just because I am a goalie, but also because I am a freshman, so I am representing more than just my varsity team but also my classmates on JV,” said varsity freshman Jafet Benitez-Rubio.
Benitez-Rubio is not just on the varsity team; he is the starter goalie as a freshman. This is significant every, and everyone knows it. The student section in games makes sure everyone knows by cheering “He’s a freshman” whenever he stops a ball from going in.
The team’s spirits are high as ever. The team feels confident and are preparing to have a different outcome than last year where they lost in the final round to Seymour.
The Red Devils play Jennings County next Monday in the opening round of sectionals at Floyd Central High School at 7 p.m.
Behind-the-scenes look at marching band reveals the devil’s in the details
Click on each slide in the gallery.
New Indiana laws impact schools, students
by Sophia Waldridge and Tyler Conley
As the school year continues, new laws regarding Indiana classrooms have become an important topic among teachers and students. Some laws have been favored by the community, while others have sparked debates on if the law should be enforced.
New policies regarding student behavior, cell phone bans and improved absence tracking are being put into place for the new year. Specific laws address rising teacher pay and closer parental involvement in truancy cases.
Senate Enrolled Act 482 aims to better understand chronic absenteeism by improving the data reported to the Indiana Department of Education.
State lawmakers passed a two-year budget, which adds a 2% increase to school budgets for every year. They also expanded vouchers to private schools for 2026 so parents no longer have to pay for textbooks.
Student absences have always been a worry with parents and school administrators. This year, schools will be required to provide a list of chronically absent students.
Sophomore Leandra Willis thinks the new laws regarding absences are too strict, and students’ personal lives need to be taken into consideration.
“I think the new laws are bogus. What if something happens and you can’t get excused because the school decided to make a law saying no absences can be excused, like a funeral,” she said.
New phone laws have sparked some controversy with students. The new law suggests that students cannot have their phones during instruction time, with the exception of medical reasons or emergencies.
Willis believes this new law could break a connection from students to parents in case of an emergency.
“If something bad happens or we need to know how to get home if they can’t pick us up, we wouldn’t know since we can’t have our phones,” she said.
Sophomore Perry Coats agreed with Willis and thinks the new policies against students are too strict, and should have more leeway to be independent.
“I think the new policies are inhumane and not right. We should have freedom; we’re almost adults,” He said.
Principles of Human Services teacher Kyle Keplinger said that the laws help students in school and also make it easier on teachers to get students to listen.
“The rules help teachers keep students focused and on track; these laws really benefit everyone in the long run by letting teachers save energy and helping students stay focused on doing their work and having good grades,” he said.
He says that he agrees with all the laws, but that some of them are a little too harsh.
“The tardy and absence laws are a little too harsh; they should make certain things excused because students could potentially need to be called out of school for something and not be excused. That could lead to truancy and students don’t need that if they’re out for important reasons.”
English 9 teacher Eric Watson agreed with Keplinger, saying, “The absence laws seem to be working. I think that absenteeism is a problem and these laws are doing a good thing by putting pressure on parents to get their kids to school and by putting pressure on the kids to show up more.”
He said that the cell phone law helps students “lock in” and get good grades
“Teachers should have the latitude to snatch a kids phone without having the repercussions for doing so,” he said.
Principal Pamala Hall said that the laws and cuts in schools throughout Indiana may affect students negatively, but could also help some in positive ways.
“These laws and cuts affect class size and staff cuts, and even affects what we can feed you at lunch.”
She added that the cell phone laws limiting phone usage in classrooms are appropriate for schools because they keeps students focused, but that Indiana schools could be stricter with attendance laws.
“The schools can’t do the attendance alone because they make them at state levels and then there’s nothing to hold them in place, and I don’t find it fair that someone can miss 40 days of school and only log into Google Classroom and have the same grade as someone who never misses a day.”
Many students and staff agree with each other on certain policies, but also disagree on others. They agree that the absence laws should be more lenient, but disagree with other policies, including phones.
Homecoming game against Bloomington North tonight at 7 p.m.; royalty crowned at halftime
Ceramics class blends creativity and real world skills
by Daysha Gray
Ceramics provides a hands-on approach to creativity for students looking to expand their artistic abilities and outputs. In ceramics, artists learn how to craft pottery and make various shapes using clay, employing methods such as wheel-throwing and hand-building. This is followed by the processes of drying, firing, and glazing, resulting in completed functional or artistic works.
3D and Art Teacher Jennifer Beckman said, “Ceramics is beneficial. It teaches students skills and can teach them to make money.”
Student artists appreciate the creative process in the ceramics classroom.
Junior Arianna Adams said, “Ceramics helps me learn that practice makes progress and that patience is key. For anyone new to ceramics, I would tell them to have patience and to make sure to listen very carefully to understand directions.
Senior Reese Somerville agreed, saying ceramics teaches patience.
“Working with clay allows me to be very creative and express my creative side. My advice for someone taking a ceramics class would be to be patient. Give yourself grace and be proud of all the progress you make.”
Senior Natalie Hollins said the classroom atmosphere adds to the creative process.
“Ms. Beckman has been an amazing teacher and I’ve loved her class since I had it my freshman year,” said Hollins. “Making things in art is something that I’ve really grown to love. I’ve always loved art and drawing and making things.”
According to Beckman, when making pottery, there are numerous uses for creations, including selling and making household products, as well as decorative pieces such as vases, wall art, and candle holders.
Clay crafting provides therapeutic advantages, encourages creative expression, and can serve as a financially beneficial hobby or enterprise when students engage with communities and acquire new skills, such as handbuilding and wheel throwing, and seek inspiration on platforms like Pinterest.
“Selling pottery projects in this class could be easily done. Considering we use professional clay, it is safe for dishes and microwaving them. A best seller could be a butter dish. They’re great and easy to sell for tons of money,” said Beckman.
Working with clay for the first time can be challenging, particularly when using a pottery wheel. That’s why taking a 3D Art class is beneficial. Creating a simple pottery piece requires a lot of effort and skill.
Beckman also explained, “We start with easier projects and progressively increase the difficulty. When assigning a project to my students, we must plan and sketch before diving straight into the clay. Ceramics can be difficult, but it does create more confidence.”
Adams agreed. “Being involved with ceramics makes me confident in various ways, because when I finish a project, I feel really good about it in the end.”
“I would say ceramics helps my confidence because it really makes me appreciate all of my hard work,” said Somerville. “It makes me proud of my artwork.”
Aside from all of the fun and beneficial activities that pottery making entails, there are indeed serious rules that must be followed in the process.
Beckman said guidelines help ensure that the art form remains safe, enjoyable, and productive for everyone involved. Whether a seasoned potter or a novice just beginning to explore the craft, understanding these rules is crucial. They establish a foundation for good practices in techniques, equipment usage, and safety measures.
Hollins added, “We get pretty messy when working with softer, wet clay. We do different things, whether that’s on the pottery wheel or by hand.”
In the end, it comes down to being careful within the artistic space.
“Remember to be careful with all utensils,” said Beckman. “Some can be dangerous, including knives and wires. Please take notes and sketch out creations to fully understand what you are going to create.”
Additional reporting by Aurora Grisham.
New Albany defeats JHS 5-0 last night
Tennis team heads into sectional play next week
by Mikail Cetiner
The boys’ tennis season is coming to an end, and that only means one thing — sectional is close.
The Jeff tennis team is really excited and nervous because for most of them, this is their first time playing in a sectional.
According to singles 1 senior William Brunette, “It is very exciting, but also very stressful to play sectionals.”
The tennis team works hard and takes the practice really seriously. “We work on a lot of basic strategies to prepare for sectionals; the main focus is playing with energy and focus and staying present during matches that can often be very intense,” head coach Jerid Inman said.
Even though the practice is hard and intense, many tennis players decide to stay after practice, and one of them is junior Alex Nef.
“I stay after practice to work on my weak points so I can be ready for Sectionals.”
“We have a lot of new varsity players this year,” coach Inman said, “so we need to practice more intensely so the varsity players can learn how to play under a lot of pressure.”
Sectionals also have a side effect for the J.V players, “Sectionals affect J.V really much because we won’t have any matches since sectionals only is for varsity,” junior J.V player Ian Hoyer said.
According to senior J.V player Micah Cabell, “J.V should be taken more seriously because most of them are the future of the varsity team.”
“Even though we have no matches we will still practice and play against each other for next year,” J.V coach Clint Fackler said.
Sectional begins Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Mr. Q inspires River Valley media students as part of successful broadcast program
by Caitlyn Brock
RV-TV students at River Valley Middle School expect to walk into the class and find a young teacher who will simply show them a video or let them do whatever they want for the 50 minutes they’re in there, but in reality, they’re about to learn to create a newscast for all of RVMS to see.
This is the world of Yousaf Quereshi and RV-TV.
The average day in RV-TV is divided into three different paths: Podcast, Broadcast, and Newscast. The yearbook is right after that as well, as some days for Quereshi are Marathon days, in which the class spends the whole class time editing and writing content in groups. Other days are “War Days,” where the class goes outside to utilize a speaker or film a newscast at a rapid speed.
Quereshi graduated from JHS in 2023 and was employed by Greater Clark County Schools at RVMS less than a month later. How and why so soon?
“My high school experience and struggles in life all pointed to a life in teaching and coaching,” Quereshi said. His students, who fondly (sometimes) call him Mr. Q, number in the vicinity of 70 to 80, comprising both former and current students in his classes. “I’m only 20, but I hopefully pass as much older for most people.”
“Even though he is new to teaching, I personally believe he is a great teacher and is good at communicating and getting students to express themselves,” freshman Josh Cooley, a former student, said.
Mr. Q was an editor of the Hyphen newspaper during his junior and senior years, and was a part of WJHI Radio/TV, but is most proud of having been in the Model UN and the Debate Team.
“Coaches Linde, Russell, and Condon all had a great impact and influence on me. They always believed in me, and that helped me be victorious over schools like Signature and Floyd Central.”
Mr. Q became emotional about the various mentors he’s had over the years, many who taught him the skills that helped form his teaching career.
“It’s the story of my life; I could’ve failed at every step, yet a teacher saved me.”
Mr. Q then stressed a statement he especially wanted to emphasize: “If you’re willing to learn and have the work ethic to show it, there’s no shortage of good teachers who can change you.”
He chose to work at RVMS because most teachers rarely (if ever) go back to teach at the middle school they attended.
“RVMS is where my identity was born; since COVID-19 happened my freshman year, some of my best memories are from middle school. The teachers, friends, clubs, it’s all still home.”
Would he be willing to work at Jeff High? He responded with a shrug and replied, “God amazes me with the circles he fulfills; Someday, just not sure when.”
RVMS is no longer the same. With a strong culture of student media, students have never had more opportunities to do broadcasting and journalism in a middle school in Clark County. With strong relationships with JHS’s media programs and the hard work of students, Mr. Q has been able to create “RV-TV.”
Student Maddux Dobson had positive words for the class.
“It’s my favorite subject because everything is exciting and very student-oriented,” he said. “We feel like we can do things, things we normally aren’t able to.” Students are currently learning photography and video editing.
“Long ago, I had a very strict teacher. I made excuses in his class, wouldn’t show up, and got kicked out,” Mr. Q said. “The next year, when I won Student of the Month, he came out of nowhere with a smile, filled with pride. I cry every time I remember.”
Mr. Q once again got emotional and took a deep breath. He remembered his time as a student and now as a staff member at RVMS.
“Radio/TV is the business of storytelling and presentation. A motto that sticks with me is, ‘Does it tell a good story?’ Because that’s life. Does your life tell a good story?”
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