Articles by Owen Pearson
2014 Photography Contest Results
Congratulations to these four photographers and thank you to all those who submitted. The photography contest committee was thoroughly impressed by all of the photos they received. Stay tuned for a profile of Kristen Johnson in the coming weeks!
Save Temple University Men’s Gymnastics
Do you know what happened at Temple University recently? The Temple Athletics Program is eliminating seven sports: baseball, softball, men’s rowing, women’s rowing, men’s gymnastics and men’s indoor and outdoor track and field. I go to Temple for gymnastics and my coach, Alex Tighe, just finished his final year there. Alex said at my last gymnastics meet, “On Friday, the gymnasts got the news that their program had been cut, and to see them go into the gym with this news is the most heartbreaking thing ever.” Misha, one of Temple’s gymnasts, is in his first year at the school. Imagine how he feels about his program being cut. Many students are too far into their programs to switch to another school, so their lives are gravely affected. My brother was a potential recruit for the gymnastics program and, if it is cut, there will only be fifteen schools in…
Cure for Tasmanian Devil Cancer On the Way
Did you know that Tasmanian devils are getting cancer? Unlike cancer in humans, cancer among Tasmanian devils is contagious. The cancer is in the form of a face tumor, and it spreads when they fight over food. Scientists have found that the tumors hide from the immune system by switching off important molecules that are on the surface of cells. So when a Tasmanian devil gets the cancer, the immune system doesn’t know it and the Tasmanian devil is unable to fight back. Tasmanian devil populations have dropped 80-90% since scientists first noticed the cancer in 1996. The discovery of the cell-surface MHC molecules was a breakthrough, however, in research for a cure. Scientists believe that there will be a cure within a few years, according to the BBC and Radio Australia. Upon learning of this epidemic, however, seventh grader Naim Saleem said, “The Tasmanian devils should be kept apart…
Echo Hill Mythbusters
We decided to create a spoof comic on Echo Hill! Keep in mind, this information is falsified. (Or is it?) Disclaimer: Echo Hill is an amazing experience, and in no way do we want to ruin the experience for the upcoming sixth graders. So, sixth graders, when you jump in the water on the beach, you should not expect to get eaten by a shark or to see the windfish. With that aside, enjoy the comic!