Editor Goodbye- Julia Scott
Julia Scott, Co-Editor
June 10, 2019
Entering Journalism in my junior year was one of the best decisions I have made in my 12 years of education thus far. Those of you who know me will understand but I would not exaggerate this importance. I’d like to make clear that this wasn’t any kind of turning point. This was not the moment ...
Editor Goodbye- Haley Seymour
Haley Seymour, Co-Editor
June 10, 2019
I have been a part of the Mercury since September 2017, and I wouldn't trade my time here for anything else. I have known that I've wanted to be a journalist since I can remember, and the Mercury gave me the opportunity to do so before college. It has exposed me to deadlines, print layout, difficulties with...
Optimism for journalism: what you didn’t know
Katharina Spöth, Writer
June 10, 2019
If you're still thinking about your class schedule for next year, this article could have an impact on your choices and thus, an impact on your life. This article is based on interviews with a student journalist, an editor and the media advisor for BFA’s journalism class, as well as the reporte...
Irresponsible electorate?
Julia Scott, Co-Editor
March 15, 2019
On March 5, the voting population of the Maple Run Unified School District approved the BFA connector project budget of 5.7 million dollars. The first Town Meeting in Vermont was held in Bennington in 1762, before Vermont was even a state. Since then the practice has grown to an annual event, held on the first Tuesday of March each year. ...
From Mercury to Pluto?
Owen Biniecki, Writer
February 22, 2019
The future of journalism is of concern, especially in the “Age of Media Distrust,” as The Atlantic has called the current relationship between the worlds of journalism and politics in the modern era. This wave of attacks on the legitimacy of the press have even been spouted from current US pr...
Stars, Stripes and Stereotypes
Katharina Spöth, Writer
February 12, 2019
For nearly half a year I've had the opportunity to develop my observations about (part of) the U.S. American culture. Living in a host family, travelling to some other places besides Vermont and attending BFA has been, and still is, a great for me way to kind of get to know what is going on here. ...
Exchange opportunities
Katharina Spöth, Writer
December 14, 2018
Exactly one year ago I submitted a formal application to a German exchange organisation. I was fourteen years old and didn’t seriously think about what I was doing. After half a year full of meetings, essays, surveys, even doctor appointments I had one of the most special days in my life so far. Whe...
The five minute façade
Haley Seymour, Co-Editor
November 19, 2018
For many years at BFA, the time of the doors opening on Tuesdays and Wednesdays has been 8:00 a.m. in the South Building, and 7:00 a.m. in the North Building. As of Nov. 5, 2018, students are not allowed in the South Building on Tuesdays and Wednesdays before 8:05. Another provision made is that th...
Singletons sacrifice students’ schedules
Haley Seymour, Co-Editor
October 12, 2018
When the student schedules came out last June, many students were confused to find that many of their AP course requests were not met. Thinking they simply had to move around a few classes, students met with their counselors only to find out that there were five different classes, many of which only...
Everything wrong with “Walk Up, Not Out”
Haley Seymour, Editor-In-Training
April 19, 2018
As an argument against the Student Walk Out, which occurred on March 14 across the country, many people have been posting on social media that students should “Walk Up, Not Out.” The Student Walk Out took place to honor the lives of those who were tragically killed in Parkland, Florida, as well...
Speaking out about school safety
Julia Scott, Editor-in-Training
March 23, 2018
Generation Z -- the generation born from vaguely 1998 to now -- have lived in the looming shadow of violence. We are the post-Columbine children and it is clear in our culture, interactions, and attitudes. The invariable response to mass violence by parents, teachers, and administration is that they...
Survey Results Show More Female Depression
Sophia Venturo, Writer
December 20, 2016
The Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey is a survey administered statewide to all high school students. The results can be broken down by county. The county survey results reflect indulgence in “risk behaviors” of Franklin County high school students. The responses from the community’s girls reveal...