Opinion » Devil's Advocate

The Scary Truth About Teen Drinking on Halloween

October 31, 2015 3:41pm |

This Halloween, peer pressure has created a new tradition for teenagers rather than the typical festivities: drinking and partying. Are high schoolers still enjoying the classic Halloween spirit or has a new ritual become the mandate for teenagers? “In high school it’s more about Halloween […]

“Cookie Works” Works

June 18, 2015 4:28pm |

Upon arrival, the smell of freshly baked cookies was detectable from the bottom of the stairs at Thorne’s Marketplace in Northampton. In the window there were only two trays of cookies on display, but the menu consisted of a variety of unique flavors. They had […]

Welcome to Moe’s!

June 15, 2015 12:49pm |

Moe’s Southwestern Grill on King Street in Northampton is one of many Mexican restaurants I’ve been to. While it pales in comparison to private restaurants, it’s certainly one of the better chain restaurants I’ve been to. I ordered the “Home Wrecker” burrito, which had […]

To AP, or not to AP

May 14, 2015 1:10pm |

Northampton High School students have just completed taking Advance Placement exams and some students feel the exams are not necessary, and the scores may not be useful. Administration requires NHS students enrolled in an AP class to take the exam. The testing requirement started several […]

Downtown Parking Becoming Scarce

May 14, 2015 12:56pm |

Downtown Northampton is a popular and busy place for both locals and visitors, but rather than dealing with the hassle of parking downtown, some locals decide to not go at all. Northampton High School junior Liam Maginnis finds himself downtown two or three times a […]

Garbage in the Air

January 22, 2015 8:36am |

A select number of local and international politicians are trying to get a carbon tax enacted, in Massachusetts. Why? Because fossil fuel companies release polluting carbon into the air, scot-free. Carbon gas is invisible, so the problem is not as publicized as, for example, plastic […]

P.E. Mandate: Coming Soon to a School Near You

January 21, 2015 7:39pm |

I stopped regularly exercising halfway through my freshman year. My first and last season rowing Crew had just ended (a sport I desperately hoped was unpopular enough for me to finally stand a chance at) and prior to choosing to do it all again, I […]

The Honor of Weighted GPAs

January 21, 2015 8:45am |

The Northampton High School Student Senate has decided to bring the issue of implementing weighted GPAs to NHS. If you are unaware of what a weighted GPA means, it’s when students who take an AP or Honors course will have a higher grade value than […]

Note the Nick Name

January 21, 2015 8:36am |

A new policy, which requires teachers to call students by their listed birth name instead of a preferred nickname, has stirred up much controversy among transgender students. The ethical ramifications of these decisions became particularly clear to me when interviewing transgender students who are required […]

Standardized Test Scores: Are Colleges Taking the Easy Way Out?

January 20, 2015 8:33am |

In a few weeks we will have February break. For some, this is a time to rest. For others, this is the time to start doing college visits. College visits mean thinking about college admission; are you looking for a small liberal arts college? Or […]