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The Student News Site of Traverse City West Senior High

The Occidentalist

The Occidentalist

The Occidentalist

Elijah Wynn

Elijah Wynn, Editor, Podcast Assistant, Page Designer, Reporter

Elijah is a junior in his first year of newspaper. He joined the staff in order to have a structured creative outlet and write more succinctly. He works as a reporter, editor, or whatever else is asked of him. In his spare time, he can be found playing guitar, designing things, and lamenting his ramshackle staff bio.

All content by Elijah Wynn
Pilafias raises the victorious Tate Frost’s hand; spectators take videos and some sit atop lockers.

Building a Mog Cabin

Elijah Wynn, Section Editor, Reporter June 8, 2026

  The lights shut off. Roughly a hundred high school boys turned on their phone flashlights— waving them side to side—until they found their targets: the Moggers junior Tate Frost and junior Tucker...

Graphic Credit: Elijah Wynn, Composite

Star Wars for the Sake of Star Wars

Elijah Wynn, Section Editor June 8, 2026

  The Ship of Theseus is a paradox which goes like this: if someone’s boat has its planks rotting, which need replacing, until eventually none of the ship’s planks are original, is the vessel still...

McKinnon jumps from the wall after completing a climb, making distance from the boulders so as to not hit himself or other climbers.

Kean McKinnon, Rock Climber

Elijah Wynn April 8, 2026

  Meeting regularly after school and on the weekends is one of Traverse City’s more unique subcultures. Consisting of high schoolers from Interlochen, Central and West, the Elev8 team of climbers share...

Cartoon: Class Registration

Cartoon: Class Registration

Elijah Wynn, Section Editor February 13, 2026

"I don't think we can waive the noodlemaking." As students make meetings and plans to organize next year's schedules, fear and dread frame enrollment. Whether students decide to challenge themselves...

Various signs seen at Friday's protest.

Opinion: On “American Morale”

Elijah Wynn, reporter, section editor February 10, 2026

  I was engulfed by my loud, breathy peers in the cafeteria. We walked out, into the cold chants of student showrunners. West’s Titans; Uggs and Adidas sloshing forward, even if it hurt their attendance...

Chalamet, playing his version of Reisman practiced seven years in advance, hones in on an upcoming paddle shot.

Timothée Chalamet: our Gen Z-eitgeist

Elijah Wynn January 9, 2026

  Timothée Chalamet is waltzing into the Big Two-Six doing more of what worked in “A Complete Unknown,” playing a lovable jerk. Indulging naturalistically in biographic-ish “Marty Supreme,”...

TikTok comments found on the TC West Pisser account.

TC Pisser Stops the Stream

Jacob Douglas and Elijah Wynn November 11, 2025

  How many views could a viewchuck chuck if a viewchuck could chuck views?   Deep in the darker realms of TikTok, one user has been doing something quite odd: peeing on West property and posting...

[Video] New Principal, New Policy

Tessa Gryc and Sofia Hoag November 6, 2025

  Brian Guiney believes that connection is one of the most important aspects of a student’s high school experience. As the new head principal of West, he is looking forward to implementing strategies...

One contingent of the Guitar Club flexes their instruments and energy. From left: Tyler Affolder, ‘29, Ethan Stein, ‘29, Connor Broge ‘28, Adam Millner, ‘28. Photo Credit: E. Wynn

Guitar Club Switches Chords

Elijah Wynn, Reporter October 17, 2025

  High school is a term with a menagerie of senses; the olfactory concoctions of perfume and motor oil, the boiler-dried air fighting against the gales of February, or the teacher-dependent light levels....

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