Taryn Grin has been teaching LPHS for five years, and she has made learning history fun for those interested and new to history.

Grin has been at LPHS her whole teaching career, and she has taught World History & Civilization as well as Geography previously. She currently teaches AP World History: Modern and United States History.

She has loved her time as a Slicer, and she has found a great group within the school.

“Some things that make LPHS special is the collaborative bond I have with my social studies colleagues, and the support and trust of our building administration. Educators know how rare it can be to have both of those qualities within a school,” Grin said.

Grin is extremely passionate about what she teaches. Originally, she was going to pursue history and anthropology. Her end goal was to pursue museum studies with an interest in archival curation and preservation, but teaching history became her main focus.

“When teaching, in my opinion, ‘liking' a subject is not enough, there needs to be a passion to help students learn and grow academically and personally,” Grin said.

In the classroom, Grin helps students learn by challenging their thinking. By going in depth and exploring beyond the surface of the topics, students learn and retain information more effectively.

“Learning is all about collaboration where teacher-driven and student-centered learning should coexist for maximum learning. In my classroom, I strive to create an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, challenging ideas, and engaging in meaningful discussion. My role as a facilitator of learning includes guiding students as they interpret primary sources, construct arguments, and make connections between the past and present. By encouraging inquiry and student voice,” Grin said.

Grin hopes that students gain a better understanding of the world around them through her class. By teaching students the past, it can unlock a better understanding of the current world in the future, which is what makes her teaching so effective for many students.

The annual LPHS Variety show will be held this Friday in the Performing Arts Center at 7:00 p.m.

The Variety Show is a fun and exciting event for students, teachers, and clubs to show off their hidden talents. Students go through an audition process, and the teachers of the Performing Arts department decide what will be presented.

This year, there are many students who have made it, and many will be singing covers. Junior Molly Cooper will be singing “Stars and the Moon,” senior Andy Harbich will be singing “Ring of Fire,” and many more will be seen. Senior Henry Denger will be performing an original song titled “Once a Slicer, Always a Slicer.”

“I am very excited to do it. After all, who wouldn’t want to hear a song written by Henry Denger with the only instrument being crash cymbals?” Denger said.

There will also be musical performances from the LPHS band Hard Copy. They will be performing the song “Beaches,” and sophomore Max Weiler will be performing “Not Ready To Die.” One of the musical performances will be with the duo Wes Wagner and Mr. Panos, who will be singing “Write this Down.”

The class acts will be from the Show Choir, who will be singing “Come Alive” and the Jazz Band performing “Tank.”

The Variety Show is sure to be a hit. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased on the day of the performance. The show will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The La Porte High School Marching Band (LPMB) traveled to the Kesling Campus on April 14, to recruit the eighth grade students to join the marching band.

The students attending are the LPMB leadership team, which consists of drum major and flute section leader: Mya Moore; band president and color guard section leader: Natalie McGhee; visual captain: Izzy Ruff; clarinet section leader: Vaughn Snyder; saxophone section leader: Emmilia Walthour; trumpet section leaders: Elisha Jones and Marshall Simms; mellophone section leader: Alexis Latronica; trombone section leader: Teagan Ferrara; low winds section leader: Kathan Parkersons, percussion section leaders: Nova Lear and Ana Welch; and, color guard section leader: Olivia Surowiec.

These students are tasked with explaining what the LPMB is all about. The program is a great way for students to become better musicians and better leaders. It is also a great way to make friends that one wouldn't usually see on a school day.

The season consists of two weeks of parade camp. This includes learning a parade tune, the school song, how to march, and how to play in a marching band. The days are long, but it is split into segments, and there are plenty of breaks to keep students healthy and happy.

The next segment is show camp, which is where students learn forms, show music, and begin putting together the field show for this year, which has not been determined yet.

During the school year, the band practices three times a week, and many describe these rehearsals as some of the most fun parts of the season, as it leads up to football games and competitions.

The LPMB performs at many of the home football games, playing in the stands and playing their field show during halftime. Competitions are often held on the next day, and the band travels to locations such as Concord, Penn, and Elkhart to perform their show and be judged.

Finally, at the end of the season, there is a banquet to celebrate the seniors and to celebrate all of the accomplishments that happened during the season.

LPMB is a wonderful opportunity for those looking to become a more advanced musician, and anyone can join. Even if one plays oboe or bassoon, they can join guard, percussion, or learn another instrument to join a wind section. I would recommend marching band to anyone who loves music and who loves performing.

By: Luke Beal and Nova Lear

The Beatles are one of, if not the most, influential rock bands of all time. The members of the band are Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. Now, everybody listens to the Beatles or at least has heard of them, but it's common for people to ask others who their favorite Beatle might be, and in this story we will both discuss the reasons for our favorite Beatle.

Luke's Take

I believe that John Lennon is the most creative and, in my opinion, the best Beatles member out of the whole group.

I could see some reasons why some might think someone such as Paul, known for his charisma and his overall amazing music talent, or George, who was a great guitar player and songwriter. However, I believe that both have flaws that John did not.

While Paul was creative, he was very controlling later on in the Beatles' career, leading to him trying to be in charge of everything and trying to fill the empty void left after their former manager, Brian Epstein, passed.

George was held back by both Paul and John. An example of this is whenever George had a song that he wrote that he wanted to do with the band, they never fully appreciated his work.

There's evidence of this tension between Paul’s control of the band and George wanting to do a lot more than Paul allowed him. In the Get Back documentary, Paul and George were arguing about how George appeared uninterested in working with them, which led back to a previous argument they had where George wanted to play guitar on “Hey Jude” but Paul refused saying “It didn’t make sense” without even trying.

For these reasons, I believe that John was the most creative and influential member of the Beatles. John was the main creative force in the psychedelic era that they were in with albums like "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Magical Mystery Tour,” “Yellow Submarine,” and “Revolver,” which in my opinion was the era that really showed the knowledge and the creativity of John and left an everlasting impact on what music could even be. John Lennon also had many recording ideas for songs of his.

For example, for the song “Yer Blues,” after a producer in the EMI music studio recommended as a joke that they recommend in his song in the smallest closest that is in the studio, John Lennon said the very next day they were going to fit a full drum kit, bass, guitar, amps, microphones, and other equipment all in a 8 foot by 15.5 foot closet. Another example of John’s creativity is songs such as “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” where both paint clear pictures of a world, or rather an experience of each song.

This is one of just many examples showing how John’s creativity and both recording and music writing prove that John Lennon was the best Beatle in the band.

Nova's Take

While John Lennon is often recognized as the “Best Beatle,” there are many factors that would say otherwise. Overall, based on talent, solo career, and impact on The Beatles, I would say that Ringo Starr is the best Beatle.

To begin, one must consider the unique drumming style that Starr used.

"I'm no good on the technical things ... I'm your basic offbeat drummer with funny fills ... because I'm really left-handed playing a right-handed kit. I can't roll around the drums because of that,” Starr said.

While Starr is limited in the way that he learned, he has a tremendous feel for the drums, and his ability to play in the pocket is unlike any other. This is crucial when playing in a band like The Beatles, where everyone knows every song, and one mistake can be detrimental. The Rolling Stones Magazine even listed Starr as the fifth-best drummer of all time.

Starr also sang for The Beatles, and with a baritone range, he added a deep undertone to songs like “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” “I Wanna Be Your Man,” and “Boys.” He was also credited with the sole creation of  “Octopus’s Garden” and “Don’t Pass Me By.”

Starr’s solo career is often overlooked in comparison to Wings (Paul McCartney’s Band after The Beatles), George Harrison, John Lennon, and Plastic Ono Band, but in my opinion, Starr’s solo career is vast and wildly underrated. With soon to be 26 albums over the course of 56 years, Starr has been consistently releasing new music, with a new album to be released on April 24, 2026.

Aside from drumming, Ringo is also a notable actor in Frank Zappa’s “200 Motels,” the slapstick film “Caveman,” Ken Russle’s “Lisztomania; and in a Japanese apple juice commercial. Starr even narrated “Thomas The Tank Engine" from 1989 to 1990.

Overall, Starr is immensely talented in many aspects, as shown through his musical composition, acting, and vocals. Berklee College of Music awarded Starr with an Honorary Doctorate of Music due to his immeasurable impact on music, television, and pop culture. Starr was also inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. While he was the last Beatle, he was inducted with the “Musical Excellence” category, instead of “Performer” with the rest of the band.

From a 63 year music career, Starr has been a part of many feature films, released over 30 albums across multiple genres and projects, written and produced songs for one of the greatest bands of all time, and was given an honorary doctoral degree for music; it is clear that Starr is the best Beatle for how talented he is in more than just music.

Personal style is something that is unique to everyone, as said in the phrase itself, but as the internet has become widespread, personal style has become much less personal. It seems as though microtrends have taken over the closets of the masses, and once one person has something new, everyone has to have it. The “everyone has to have it” mentality is a large factor in modern consumerism culture. This often leads to overconsumption.

One example of this is the viral coral foldover pants, which are from Aniko. These pants have taken the internet by storm, and despite their steep price, many are splurging on them. Now this is not everyone, but a portion of the people buying these pants are buying them because they are trendy, and not because they actually fit in their style. This then leads to these pants living in the back of wardrobes, and after a few months, in a landfill or thrift store.

One of the biggest issues in my opinion, is the flock that many do anytime there’s a new cute piece or print. When thinking about this technically, this is an example of the bandwagon fallacy. Just because everyone is doing something, that means I must do it, too, which in many cases is not inherently correct. This need to buy something just because everyone else does is an example of overconsumption that many do every day. One might see a cute cow print top on Pinterest, then that top might be seen on someone at the grocery store. The seed is planted, and eventually, one might buy the top because others are. This then circles back to if one will actually wear it, and if not, it will end up in the thrift or in the trash.

When following trends, there is a bell curve to adaptation. The early adopters are in the first 15%, and often these early adopters are on top of what is “in” each season. They are quick to jump on a new piece and add it to their wardrobe. This then leads to the early and late majority. This is where most people fall; they see something beginning to pop up, so they partake as well. The late majority falls soon after, and finally, laggards begin to adopt, which, by this time is when a trend cycle begins to end.

Considering the bandwagon effect and the bell curve of fashion adaptation, it circles back to the idea of personal style, which can be defined as: things one will wear on the daily, the image that one will present themselves as. There are many labels one can use to describe their personal style: cottage core, whimsy goth, twee, preppy, and so much more. These labels are used more now than ever, and the internet may be a root cause. There is a need to define one’s identity, to show that they are aware of one’s attributes. This is present in more than just fashion, but personal identity as well. Now with the internet and every style at one’s fingertips, the idea of personal style is slowly fading away.

Many will see a style they like and rebrand themselves to fit a certain image perfectly. One example is the alternative wave that happened in 2020. With everyone in quarantine, many weren't as concerned with dressing up for school, so they began experimenting with different styles. From bucket hats to eyeliner wings that could let someone fly away, 2020 was a year for experimentation. One would find a cute thing at Hot Topic, and the next week that would be their whole wardrobe. The aftermath of this can be seen now, with the band tees and YouTube creator merchandise filling Goodwill racks.

This is not a new problem, but it has been amplified in recent years. In the past, one could see a celebrity and base their style off of that, but what separates the overconsumption from the past to now is the ease of purchase. With the creation of Amazon, Shein, etc, there is a convenience that has never been seen before. One can buy anything at their fingertips and it will arrive in three to five business days. This leads to the equation of consumption. Convenience plus disposable income plus microtrends equals overconsumption.

Now I am not saying that the internet has killed personal style because many out there have unique styles. I am also not saying that following trends is a bad thing, but what I am saying is that the following of trends at the rate many are is causing overconsumption to continue to rise. The overconsumption of textiles is extremely wasteful, and with the amount of clothing that has been thrown out, it is enough to clothe the next three generations with some to spare.

When buying new clothes, it’s important to consider if one is buying this because it is trendy or if it is actually something that one will wear. Overall, with the trend cycle speeding up, it is not completely bad, it allows others to be introduced to more styles from different cultures at a faster rate, but when this leads to unnecessary consumption, it is when it becomes a problem for one’s wardrobe and the environment.

Released in 1995 to RCA Records, You’d Prefer an Astronaut was the third studio album by the alternative rock band Hum.

The album opens with the song “Little Dipper,” which immediately sets the tone for the album. The instrumentals are dreamy–ethereal almost–and it transports the listener into the cosmos. It then continues with the song “The Pod,” which was released as a single before the album’s release.

The next song is “Stars,” which was the first single from this album and was released on May 22, 1995. This is then followed by “Suicide Machine” which is my favorite song from the album. “The Very Old Man” is the next track, and it brings contrast to the atmosphere of the album.

“Why I Like The Robins” is the most popular song from the album, and is one of the band’s most streamed songs on Spotify and other platforms. “I’d Like Your Hair Long” was the final single released in 1996 and is again one of the most popular songs from this album.

The album concludes with “I Hate It Too,” followed by “Songs of Farewell and Departure.” These songs bring the album to a close that feels full circle. Each track flows into another, and the whole album feels like getting lost in space.

This album is similar to My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless, in the dream-like atmosphere and the crunchy, distorted sound. The production is also similar to the album Dirty, by Sonic Youth, which is one of my favorite albums of all time.

This album is like trying to remember a dream from childhood. Memories are fading in and out, bits and pieces can be remembered, but nothing can be pieced together fully. One can grasp onto these memories all they want, but eventually everything will be lost and forgotten. It  brings a feeling of loss, like trying to hold on but knowing it will never come back.

You’d Prefer an Astronaut is an emotional and dreamy album that evokes many feelings for listeners, and many artists have cited Hum for their influences.

“This is a heavy record, and it’s where Deftones get a big part of our influence from, tone-wise. There are these huge chords going on, a huge backbeat, rolling basslines going on underneath, a lot of that has directly inspired certain songs. There’s a wall of sound guitar, it’s heavy and even bombastic in a way, but it’s produced very well,” Chino Moreno, singer of Deftones, said in an interview with Quietus.

This album is one of my current favorites, and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Sonic Youth, Pavement, Deftones, My Bloody Valentine, and other ‘90s alternative rock bands. In my opinion, this album is best listened to on CD in the car, driving home after a long day, but this album is one that can be listened to anywhere. It’s emotional and can make different people feel different things. Overall, this album is an underrated gem that has influenced my current music taste in a new way.

La Porte High School students participated in a walkout to protest against ICE in La Porte on February 9.

This protest was organized by sophomore Hannah Delaney and senior Gio Larocco over the course of one week, and over 250 students came together to protest. Students were encouraged to make signs, spread the word, and this protest brought together a community of people at LPHS who are working to make change.

“I have always been against ICE. Their violence is unlawful, unjust, and unconstitutional; it is sickening and inhumane. I understand the reason why ICE was created, to investigate and detain illegal immigrants. However, it has drastically escalated into a violent and hateful agenda,” Delaney said.

Students stood outside the courthouse with signs and protested for the change that they feel needed. Liberty and justice for all was called for, and students expressed their frustration in a way that was peaceful and influential. These students are fighting to make a difference, and they are making a positive impact on LPHS and the community.

Young adults now will be the ones making change in the world. There are walkouts being held across the country in protest to ICE, and these students will be the ones to make a change. When the current state of the world seems dystopian, there are people who are working to make the world a better place for everyone.

Across Indiana and even the country, students from many schools are protesting against ICE. In even the most conservative schools, many are walking out and making a difference. This is not just in La Porte, not even just in Indiana. Walkouts are happening across the country. From New York to California, students are demanding change.

Music is the universal language, and each culture across the world has their own form of music. From folk tunes to orchestral to pop, music has been crucial to the human experience since the dawn of time. The way we listen to music has evolved as well, beginning with only live music, but humans wanted another way to play their music that was outside at a concert hall.

According to Wikipedia, the history of sound recordings can be divided into four eras: acoustic, electrical, magnetic, and digital. The acoustic era lasted until 1925 and used entirely mechanical devices, such as Thomas Edison’s phonograph. These devices were soon replaced by the first discs, which had grooves that played back music.

According to Descant Studio, the first rendition of the modern LP (Long Play) record was made in 1948 and was introduced by Colombia Records. The early records only played 21 minutes per side, and the quality was not up to the standard of today. The vinyl used in early records was fragile, but then in the 1950s, the durable vinyl used today was the standard.

On the other side of the world, Germany was producing another way to listen to music. The magnetic tape was a multi-track recording device that could only be recorded in one take. According to the Disc Manufacturing Service, it allowed all instruments to be recorded separately and mixed together. This then led to the creation of the eight track tape, which could be used outside of the studio. These were the first way to listen to recorded music outside of the radio in the car, which only boosted their popularity more.

The Sony Walkman came soon after. It was a cassette player that clipped to one’s belt, or it could be held in one’s hand. It was a convenient way to play music on the go. Cassettes could be played in the car, when walking to school, anywhere. At the time, this was the most convenient way to listen to music on the go.

The 1980s was a decade for a revolution in music. The CD (Compact Disc) was the easiest and most convenient way to listen to music. With the slim, compact design, many could be stored in a small place, they can hold over 75 minutes of recording, and many of the audio issues that records and eight track tapes had were gone.

CDs had their own version of the Sony Walkman: the Discman. This on the other hand, was nowhere near as convenient. Skipping was frequent, and one had to hold it in a certain way so that the audio would play properly. The convenience of CDs was immediately lost with this invention, and they still were not as durable as cassettes.

The digital age of music began with the MP3 recording. Any song could be downloaded, paid or otherwise, and moved onto an iPod, CD, anywhere. Songs could be skipped at any moment, and one could shuffle through their library for a song at any time. The convenience was unmatched, but all of this was at the cost of the chance of getting a virus. Pirating songs was common, which meant the chance for viruses, wrong songs, and more. The quality is also not as good as a CD or a record, and over time it can get worse.

Currently, nearly everyone listens to music on streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, and others. The quality of these songs is top notch, with the right equipment, and one can play any song at their fingertips, but now, no one owns their music. In the past, one would have a shelf full of records, a drawer full of cassettes, a wall of CDs, but now, everything is stored on a phone or computer. If the internet goes out, many will be left without tunes to bop.

As someone who had grown up in a digital age, I’ve begun to recognize the importance of physical media. When the internet goes out, I still want to be able to play my favorite albums, and when I want to find new music, I can listen to a compilation album that will give me artists similar to the ones I enjoy. In the car, I can play a mixed CD of all of my favorite songs, and I can burn CDs for anyone in my life.

Physical media is so much more than reducing consumption. It's a way to connect with others, and I believe that sharing media is a lost art. Trade albums with friends, get your favorite artist’s new album on vinyl and have a listening party, watch a horror movie on VHS, anything to connect back to a lost form of media enjoyment.