The Clarion - Opinions

Staff

Join

The Caffeine-Crazed Rise of Energy Drinks

BY PRAKRUTI PANDEY MAY 28, 2026

“Caffeine stunts growth." Everyone has heard this phrase at least once, from either worried parents or just in casual conversation. Although caffeine does not directly stop growth, and this is scientifically misleading, caffeine harms everyone who indulges more than what’s safe. The daily recommended intake of caffeine for children ...

The NeeDoh Epidemic

BY JUSTIN WANG MAY 28, 2026

The NeeDoh: part stress toy, part collectible, and part status symbol. In recent months, the NeeDoh and its stress-toy cousins have taken the world by storm, with Instagram pages dedicated to the squishy toys, and the EBHS school store turning a profit from selling them. Like its predecessors, the blind box, the Stanley, the ...

New Jersey Erasure

BY MALEEHA SHEIKH MAY 28, 2026

Known as the “armpit” of the United States, New Jersey has always been the underdog, especially when standing in the shadow of its flashier neighbor, New York. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup rounding the corner, it is unlikely that this will change. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, has been renamed ...

The Comeback of Digital Cameras

BY HELEN AN MAR 30, 2026

Recently, the glitz, glamor, and low-rise jeans of the 2000s have been making a comeback. This commercialized “Y2K” style has quickly resurfaced across social media and become a fashion symbol for America yet again. Perhaps the biggest trend that has managed to come out on top is the rebirth of digital cameras 20 years ago, all of the “it” girls were using glittery pink cameras to take pictures to post online ...

Increased Media, Biased Opinions

BY THARUSHI GUNASENA MAR 30, 2026

Every minute, thousands of political videos are posted on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. With this increase in coverage of political news, EBHS students have greater access to political information; however, this information can be biased or untrue, causing rapidly changing opinions ...

Fried Chicken? Gnarly.

BY JUSTIN WANG MAR 30, 2026

Yoonchae from KATSEYE once declared, fried chicken is one of the gnarliest foods to grace the fast food industry. Crispy, salty, and endlessly customizable, fried chicken has become one of the most popular fast food options in America. However, in East Brunswick, it seems like chicken isn’t simply just popular anymore. It’s everywhere ...

Redefining the American Dream

BY HELEN AN MAR 4, 2026

For years, the United States of America has built a reputation as being the place where all those who come to it are promised success. History textbooks describe immigrants arriving at Ellis Island as those who have come to find a purpose in the "promised land,” trying to escape the horrors their home country may have endured ...

Teens Are Missing the Power of Boredom

BY JUSTIN WANG MAR 4, 2026

In today’s growing digital age, boredom feels practically impossible for teenagers. The second there’s a free moment, most students reach for their phones. Whether it's scrolling through social media, watching videos, or playing games, there is always something available to fill the silence of nothingness. Recently, however, some ...

The Late Bus Deficit

BY PRAKRUTI PANDEY MAR 4, 2026

East Brunswick High School has approximately 2,100 students, and a majority of them are involved in one or multiple of the 40 different clubs and after-school activities that EBHS offers. However, the sudden cut in the activity buses on Tuesdays and Thursdays impacted the students’ ability to participate in these clubs, with many not being able ...

"Edit" Marketing

BY JIYA DOSS MAR 4, 2026

Many young social media users are familiar with the concept of “edits” and likely see them on their feeds very often. For those unfamiliar with the new “edit culture,” these short, fast-paced videos usually clip together videos of celebrities or characters that grip young audiences daily. Lionsgate, a well-known film production company, has now ...

Reestablishing Routines

BY THARUSHI GUNASENA JAN 31, 2026

For many students, returning to school after a long winter break might be intimidating and overwhelming. However, with the right mindset and simple strategies, this transition can be much smoother and enjoyable. One effective tip is to ease back into schoolwork instead of rushing all at once. Sophomore Sabrina Molinari suggests ...

Drag Race to Debate: Nicki Minaj and the Weight of Her Influence

BY JUSTIN WANG JAN 31, 2026

During the season 12 premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Nicki Minaj boldly stated: “I am Nicki Minaj, and I pledge allegiance to the drag!” This was a playful way to show her excitement about being on the show. Although it wasn’t a formal declaration of support, the statement suggested that Nicki Minaj was encouraging ...

Silent Phones, Loud Opinions

BY AASMI BORA JAN 31, 2026

On Thursday, January 8th, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill enforcing a new cellphone policy that limited when students can use their phones during the school day. At East Brunswick High School, this change has sparked heavy discussion among students. While the governor signed this policy to help students focus more in class, many EBHS students instead feel annoyed and frustrated by it ...

"They're Not Kids Anymore?": Unraveling the Challenges of Nostalgia and the Illusion of Time with Stranger Things

BY SOFIA MARULANDA DEC 1, 2025

Jim Hopper - “I don't want things to change. So I think maybe that's why I came in here, to try and stop that change. To turn back the clock. To make things go back to how they were” (Stranger Things 1:08:30). On July 15, 2016, the first season of the hit series Stranger Things premiered on Netflix ...

“I’m A Quarter Zip Dude Now”

BY MALEEHA SHEIKH DEC 1, 2025

With a matcha in hand and a quarter-zip sweatshirt adorned, young men seem to be exchanging their teenage wardrobes for a more mature look, inspired by 21-year-old TikToker Jason Gyamfi, who claimed, “I don’t do that Nike tech stuff, which y’all little boys do.” Taking into account the novelty of this change, the question ...

Fans Gone Wicked(ly Obsessed)

BY JUSTIN WANG DEC 1, 2025

As the Wicked: For Good press tour comes to a close, fans have turned their attention not just to the movie, but to the dynamic between its stars: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. Social media platforms became flooded with cherry-picked clips, body-language analyses, and speculative conclusions declaring the pair as best friends ...

What does Friendsgiving Say About Gen-Z?

BY MALEEHA SHEIKH & RAMYA CHANDRA NOV 26, 2025

For generations, Thanksgiving has been regarded as a holiday rooted in family traditions, a day to spend with relatives, share a delicious meal, and reflect on gratitude. In recent years, however, Gen-Z has restructured the holiday spirit, popularizing Friendsgiving: a separate potluck dinner with one’s closest friends instead of their ...

The Evolution of Black Friday Shopping in the Digital Age

BY RAMYA CHANDRA NOV 26, 2025

Over a decade ago, malls were the center of post-Thanksgiving excitement. Black Friday meant packed parking lots, long checkout lines, and groups of friends debating which sweater to buy. Even late into the evening, stores remained open until 10:00 PM with crowds still weaving through aisles in search of the best deals ...

The NYC Mayoral Election

BY MALEEHA SHEIKH NOV 26, 2025

On November 4th, New York City, an ever-changing hub of economics, politics, and culture, wrapped up its mayoral election—and to both the disappointment and excitement of New Yorkers, Zohran Mamdani won. This election was like no other; not only were NYC residents interested, but the whole world was tuned in for this simple city election ...

Cringe Culture

BY JIYA DOSS OCTOBER 31, 2025

The fear of being perceived as “cringe” is a concern for many young people today, especially with growing societal pressures in the digital age. According to Yola Mzizi’s New York Times article “Climbing Cringe Mountain With Gen Z,” anxiety about cringe moments is affecting Gen Z’s interactions online and in person, making it harder for them to express themselves freely ...

Is the Adaptation of the “Reposts” Feature on TikTok and Instagram Limiting?

BY MALEEHA SHEIKH & RAMYA CHANDRA OCTOBER 31, 2025

The “Reposts” feature, introduced to TikTok in August 2022 and Instagram in August 2025, has had a massive impact on its users. This new button particularly hits hard for Gen Z users, many of whom have grown up on the Internet due to the COVID-19 pandemic, having limited opportunity for growth in social interaction ...

Can Your IQ be Replaced with Your SAT Score?

BY JUSTIN WANG OCTOBER 16, 2025

Standardized tests have been a staple in the American education system to measure student performance, college readiness, and intelligence. However, as more students take standardized tests, a debate continues to grow: Are standardized tests a good benchmark of one’s ...

The Blind Box Epidemic

BY JUSTIN WANG SEPTEMBER 29, 2025

Recently, collectible toys in blind boxes, like Labubus, Smiskis, and Sonny Angels, have surged in popularity—some costing around $40 a box. The growing craze makes students wonder: Is the popularity of blind boxes here to stay, or is it just another fleeting microtrend? ...

5 Down: Another Word for Cash Grab

BY MALEEHA SHEIKH SEPTEMBER 29, 2025

It wouldn’t be surprising to look around class and see EBHS students playing The Mini Crossword, one of the many New York Times games that populate their website. The Mini allowed one to race against their friends for the fastest time, while stimulating their brain by searching for trivia in the back of their heads. However, on August ...

Battle of the Jeans: Gap vs. American Eagle

BY RAMYA CHANDRA SEPTEMBER 14, 2025

“Released August 19, KATSEYE’s jean campaign with Gap has quickly become a cultural phenomenon, garnering widespread praise. The ad comes in stark contrast to the infamous “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” American Eagle ad, which launched two weeks before and recieved reactions ...

A Beary Bright Future: Seniors Take the Next Step

BY MALEEHA SHEIKH JUNE 25, 2025

The four years of high school are the building blocks towards what is to come during one’s adult years, and EBHS does its best to prepare its students for whatever career path they decide to pursue in the future. For some, the choice of what to do after high school has always been easy: whether because of ...

How to Think Like a Bear: Advice From Seniors

BY RAMYA CHANDRA JUNE 25, 2025

As the graduating class prepares to leave the familiar halls of East Brunswick High School, the Bears have a lot to reflect on—and even more to pass down! From cheering at Friday football games from the student section to late-night study sessions, the Class of 2025 has learned more than what is held ...

Class of 25 is Saying Goodbye: Favorite Memories from EBHS

BY MALEEHA SHEIKH JUNE 25, 2025

As summer draws closer, so does graduation for the Class of 2025, which means closing the chapter on their high school years. However, the end of high school does not mean the end of all the memories they made here. After late nights cramming for tests and last-minute submissions at 11:59, the graduating ...

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse