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The Student News Site of Traverse City West Senior High

The Occidentalist

The Occidentalist

The Occidentalist

Future high-schoolers watch a presentation in the LMC during their student-led tour of the high school. Photo Courtesy: E. Maniaci
8th-Grade Tour Guides Looking Back
Ellie Maniaci and Mariah Herrington May 20, 2025

  As the school year comes to an end, the incoming freshmen who will be attending West next year are...

Students participating in the exchange program pose for a photo. Photo Courtesy: T. Batcha
Spanish Exchange Program Cancelled
Megan Dyke, Reporter • April 3, 2025

  Over summer break, several students traveled across the ocean to Spain to immerse themselves in the...

Graphic credit: Aubrey Lawless
Course Selection Approaches Students for the New School Year
Aubrey Lawless and Madeline Sweeney January 22, 2025

  With the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year coming to a close, course selection for the...

Stoops Goes to IMG
Stoops Goes to IMG
Harrison Gapinski, Reporter • May 21, 2025

Senior multi-sport athlete Caden Stoops is set to go to IMG academy and taking a post grad year to keep developing as a baseball player. Though it may sound out of the ordinary,...

Senate Member and Soccer Player Committed
Senate Member and Soccer Player Committed
Sydney Fleming and Alexa Bageris May 20, 2025

  Sadie Wares is a remarkable and dedicated soccer player who will be continuing her soccer career at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH, where she also plans to major in...

The couple poses for a photo together. Photo Courtesy: H. Pulliam
West Senior High’s “Best Couple” Award Goes to Seniors Hannah Pulliam and Jack Schripsema
Alexa Bageris, Social Media Manager • March 31, 2025
Seven Seas of Doom Scrolling
Tess Tarchak-Hiss, Assistant Editor • February 13, 2025
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Taking Sides: The Trump Administration's Tariff policies ARE NOT beneficial to the United States
Taking Sides: The Trump Administration’s Tariff policies ARE NOT beneficial to the United States
Isaac Shapiro, Taking Sides Columnist • April 25, 2025

  In the long term, it’s true that some companies will have an incentive to build in the U.S. to avoid the tax. While this would help create jobs, it won’t lower prices....

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Shooting Their Shot
Shooting Their Shot
Lila Swan May 20, 2025

  Anyone can pick up a camera and snap a quick shot, but not everyone can capture a perspective worth sharing. While this ability can be taught, for some, such as senior Sebastian...

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Framing the Future
Riley Burkholder, Social Media Manager • May 20, 2025

  Nora Neidorfler is a senior who has been very passionate about dance throughout her whole life. Due to numerous injuries and health problems, Neidorfler decided to end her dance...

Cameron Sinclair Finds Their Spotlight On and Off Stage
Cameron Sinclair Finds Their Spotlight On and Off Stage
Brody Weston and Ashlyn Cummings May 20, 2025

  Few creative endeavors are as grueling as the production of a theater show. Students must create the set, perfect the music and flawlessly portray their roles to ensure harmony...

Graphic Credit: UpNorthLive
Michigan’s Hunting Dilemma
Brody Weston and Ashlyn Cummings April 1, 2025

  With the new year comes new Michigan hunting regulations. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has recently issued a series of rules and outlines for the new year with...

Ticket found on a downtown employee's vehicle after working a shift. Photo Credit: A. Lawless
Downtown Traverse City’s “Pay-To-Park” Policy Frustrates Employees
Madeline Sweeney, Reporter • April 1, 2025

  Traverse City, like most popular cities, enforces a pay-to-park policy downtown. This prevents people from leaving their cars in a parking spot for too long, making space for...

Graphic Credit: A. Lawless
Online Book Fair Promotes Diversity
Madeline Gartland, Section Editor • March 31, 2025

  At West, the library provides many different resources for all sorts of student needs. They provide crafts, games, hygiene products, and various genres of books. The library...