Unearthing the Truth: The Controversy of Archeology and Looting

Liora Abrera Manoim (12) | STAFF REPORTER

Have you ever been to the Royal Ontario Museum and wondered how on Earth they got their hands on non-Canadian ancient artifacts? The entire collection can’t be a loan from Egypt, China, or what have you, could it? You’d be right: many of them are artifacts that were obtained via looting. read more

Performative Activism: More Harmful than Beneficial?

Anya Yang (10) | STAFF REPORTER

From the beginning of time, people have been hopping in on trends just to gain social respect/recognition. We’ve all seen it before. Rainbows in app logos, shirts, pencil cases. Some forms of #BlackoutTuesday. Performative activists don’t understand the purpose of activist trends, and don’t do any actual advocation for intended social change of the movement. Individuals are guilty of it, corporations are guilty as well, and more. read more

Vocaloid and the effects of social media on music

Ryan Hu (11) | STAFF REPORTER

Civilisation’s switch to digital technology has represented one of the greatest technological leaps in human history, comparable to when humanity first decided to pursue agriculture. A result of the current “Information Age” is social media, which has allowed people to connect with each other and form communities through the Internet. Together with the accessibility of computers and digital audio software, it is now easier than ever to create and share information. read more

Working for the Knife: Tipping Culture & the Minimum Wage in America

Sarah Morra (11) | STAFF REPORTER

15%, 18%, 20%, or other. For many of us in North America, we have the option to choose between various options of gratuity when being serviced. The societal expectations of what is a “respectable” amount to be tipped are continually increasing, causing dismay to many – consumers have the opportunity to choose between a variety of tipping options, including “other.” However, the grim reality is that many in the service industry have no “other” option. read more

To Be or Not to Be: The Evergoing Controversy of the Death Penalty

Ayda Kulacoglu (10) | STAFF REPORTER

The death penalty; arguably one of the most controversial topics in modern society– an unimaginable fate for most, and a reality for some. Formally known as capital punishment, the death penalty is a legal practice involving sentencing a person to death as a punishment for a serious crime, such as murder or treason. Existing since the 18th century B.C., the death penalty has been prevalent throughout history. It is only in recent decades that most countries have moved towards its abolishment, with ongoing discussions questioning its morality and effectiveness. read more

Freedom V.S. Truth: The Internet’s Battle Over Two Virtues

Liora Abrera Manoim (12) | STAFF REPORTER

As a Catholic school, St. Robert constantly affirms the importance of virtues. We learn about virtues in our religion classes, hear about them over the announcements, and even have a virtue assigned for each month. In Civics class, we learn about our rights and freedoms as citizens of Canada. We are taught that all virtues should be upheld no matter what and that we should have access to our rights and freedoms under any circumstance. What happens when two rights — two virtues — contradict one another? Which takes priority? read more

Social Media and the Future of Cameras

Ryan Hu (11) | STAFF REPORTER

As the photographer Chase Jarvis once said, “the best camera is the one that’s with you.” This phrase has since been used to describe smartphone photography, as the majority of people now carry phones capable of photography wherever they go. Digital camera sales dropped 87% between 2010 and 2020, owing precisely to this fact.  read more