Continuing their early season success on Tuesday, Sept. 16, the varsity tennis team took the victory against the Vandegrift Vipers, a team ranked by the Texas Tennis Coaches Association to be 11th overall in Texas. Playing precise tennis from start to finish, the Warriors outmaneuvered and outhit the Vipers in one of their biggest and most challenging games of the season.

These early games serve as a proving ground for a new roster, where the coaches are able to give their first pieces of advice to a new generation of players and begin to build strong team morale. This year’s varsity team introduces new, talented freshmen to the roster, giving them the opportunity to play with more seasoned upperclassmen and gain valuable experience in the process.

“Westwood is doing pretty well. [We continue to be] undefeated, [ranked] number one in the state,” Ethan Wang ‘29 said “We are a well rounded team, and as I see the games play out, I think we are up in every game.”  

Some games did pose the Warriors a challenge, with Vandergrift taking early leads in multiple different matches by playing consistent groundstrokes and minimizing unforced errors. However, keeping their composure even when down allowed the Warriors to take the stride. With perseverance and adaptation, Westwood emerged victorious. 

“We had a bad start but we [managed] to push through and finish the game very strong,” Gavin Wang ‘27 said. “We were serving very good, we played very aggressive and I think that’s why we won.”

Aside from multiple big wins for the Warriors, the game against the Vipers also served as a training ground for the team to work on their soft skills and grow as a community in the process. 

“[I found that] communication was the most important part. I played with my brother and [communication made us] play well,” Kavish Parikh ‘29 said. “[The game] is fun and we are able to mess around and try new shots on court. The other freshman and us were close before, but we’re even closer now.”

The Warrior won against Vandergrift in an impressive 15-4 fashion. Slaying the Vipers, the Warriors will take on the Westlake Chaps in their next home game on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

The average cost of a Big Mac Meal in Austin is $11.03. In it, you will receive a highly processed and out of state sourced meat patty coated in high fructose corn syrup and refined flour, coupled with fries linked to a litany of health diseases. Meanwhile, just down the street from Westwood is Los Reyes Mexican Grill which offers a $10 lunch special of two beef enchiladas, black beans, rice, with complementary chips, salsa, and a legendary bean dip. 

In the past five years, fast food prices have risen to absurd heights, the dollar menu has been abolished, and yet consumers have not seen any increase in the quality of food. To add salt to the wound, fast food prices have far outpaced inflation, with reports showing that prices have risen as high as 18% from McDonald’s chains, every month. The final nail in the coffin is that McDonald’s has raised their menu prices by 67% in the past ten years while employee, ingredient, and operating expenses have only increased by 40%.

Many will question what the problem with for-profit corporations raising their prices is. The reason is that, for many consumers, they have no other choice. In many rural and marginalized communities, there are fast food restaurants yet no grocery stores. This means for many families, junk food is the only viable way to ensure nobody goes hungry. When McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants raise their prices, communities can do nothing but grit their teeth and open their wallets. 

This phenomenon is extensively studied, and is known as the poverty-obesity paradox, where lower incomes communities can only access fast food, causing them to ingest highly processed and fatty foods that devastate their health. Only now, the problem is worse because these communities are losing money on these meals, because fast food prices have risen to exceed those of sit down restaurants. This means that fast food restaurants are now draining families’ savings, preventing them from buying healthy ingredients or seeking proper medical and weight loss treatment even if they need the help.

In the face of this crisis, the government needs to monitor the rising fast food prices with eagle eyed accuracy. If the government doesn’t want increased costs on healthcare and a medical crisis in a few years, they should subsidize local restaurants to help communities operate diners and businesses that can offer quality food and ingredients to even the lowest income communities, to create a healthier environment for all. 

At the end of the day, fast food prices are neither economically justified, nor socially moral. The only way we can combat this epidemic of price gouging and obesity, is to rally behind local restaurants and work together to start grocery stores. The solution’s journey is not going to be fast, but the result will certainly be finger licking good.

“I [originally] ended up deciding to do debate because I had an extra elective,” Sivasubramanian said. “I remember going to the first Novice Night meeting and wasn’t sure which event I wanted to do. I texted a friend who said he was thinking of doing Policy. At the time, Policy seemed cool, and the talk about college applications and traveling was interesting, so I went for it.”

During her sophomore year, Sivasubramanian experienced four semesters of late-night prep work and tournaments across the country. Persevering through the lows and taking pride in the highs, Sivasubramanian decided to stick with the activity and give back to the community by applying for the Novice Coordinator position.

“[During] my freshman and sophomore years, I felt like I wasn’t getting the same level of help as others, and it made me want to be someone who could help people weekly,” Sivasubramanian said. “Our team didn’t have an experienced coach my freshman year, making it hard for the few upperclassmen to attend to everyone. I wanted to ensure I could be someone who could help and make people love the activity as much as I do.”

“I think the biggest challenge for me has been trying to figure out where I belong in debate,” Sivasubramanian said. “It’s a very competitive activity with a lot of different dynamics within a team and the broader culture across the country. It’s been difficult to figure out how much to value competitive success versus the friends I’ve made. However, I’m starting to find my people in the activity and feel more at ease with where I am in my career.”

Competing in Policy Debate is one of, if not the most, intensive events in Speech and Debate. To match the vigor of her event, Sivasubramanian spent her summers at the University of Michigan’s debate camp, one of the most rigorous camps in the country. Despite the pressure and high workload, she was able to find a community that supported her alongside her debate journey.

“If I had to pick one memory [I cherish the most], it would be my time at Michigan,” Sivasubramanian said. “Spending seven weeks with a bunch of people who become a big part of your life, whom you talk to daily for months, creates strong bonds. One particular memory that stands out is when all the girls in my lab decided to go out for dinner. Even though we were all from different parts of the country, we shared such similar experiences and the same love for the activity.”

Heading into junior year, Sivasubramanian guided over a dozen novices each week, teaching them new arguments and different tactics while helping them prepare for upcoming tournaments at both the local and national scene. Throughout the process, however, she realized that not everyone would prefer the same style of debate she did.

“I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t teach everyone the same way,” Sivasubramanian said. “Because of my experience in my freshman year, I initially gravitated toward a more open, approachable teaching method, which at times made it difficult to be fully productive. The novices I was helping this year are very ambitious, bold, and driven, and sometimes their love for the activity can ironically get in the way of their learning. The biggest lesson is that I need to figure out ways to find a balance in my teaching, especially since you have to start from absolutely zero with something as complicated as Policy debate.”

Sivasubramanian breaks the traditional mold of the average Policy debater, often opting against constantly donning a hoodie, and instead acts as a teacher who takes the time to break down debate jargon to outsiders. As one of the first female presidents of Speech and Debate, Sivasubramanian enjoys activities pre- and post-tournament that a male-dominated event might not consider, and offers insight that only a female lens could provide; with her unique background and struggles, Sivasubramanian has a bright outlook for the road ahead.

“I’m very happy to be a figure that I wanted to see when I started out,” Sivasubramanian said. “[When I was a freshman,] there were no female varsity members in Policy. It’s been amazing to see the recruitment of so many girls and see so many of them in leadership positions. I’m excited for us to continue developing recruitment and ensuring the team can be as productive as possible.”

To achieve this goal, Sivasubramanian has to balance tradition and her own vision for the team. She recognizes that the root cause for much of the team’s competitive success has been the large amounts of work done during class and plans to further encourage this method. Meanwhile, she recognizes the same competitive drive has often resulted in a culture closed off to outsiders and novices, something she hopes to change.

“One change I’m going to make next year is to ensure the officers are a lot more cohesive,” Sivasubramanian said. “I feel like everyone was kind of doing their own thing this year, so I hope we’ll have more meetings and more collaboration across all the events to make it feel like one full team.”

“I think one thing about the activity is that it’s really hard not to let the dynamics and what’s often called ‘debate drama’ and politics affect you,” Sivasubramanian said. “One piece of advice I have is that it’s okay not to feel like you’re completely where you’re meant to be, and it’s okay for it to take time to find your people within the activity. Not everyone will be your best friend, but you will find the people who make you want to stay.”

As she nears the end of her debate journey, Sivasubramanian hopes she can leave a legacy of inclusivity, one where she makes plans to create team-bonding activities, offer new ways to teach novices, and host team bonding activities to celebrate each event’s success, creating a future where every voice is heard.

“I’m hoping that by the end of my senior year, I can leave knowing that I had an impact on the inclusivity of the team and made people feel like they want to be here,” Sivasubramanian said. “I want to be someone who people feel had an influence on them falling in love with the activity.”

When the tour was announced, both American and Chinese citizens were worried about how Speed would act in the country, fearing it would be detrimental to U.S.-Chinese relations. Given Speed’s claim to fame stemming from extreme actions, shown by his loud barking whenever he encounters a triggering post, or how he once jumped over a sports car travelling at full speed, many of Speed’s American fans worried that his radical nature would clash with the Chinese country’s more reserved persona, and potentially give American media a bad reputation.

Fortunately, Speed proved the fears unfounded while destroying the very preconceptions of China that Western media had taken as fact. While Speed made sure to tour more traditional Chinese landmarks such as the Great Wall and Forbidden Palace, he also made it a point to show the modernized side of China. Speed showed viewers a litany of things that American citizens seldom get to see, such as China’s high-speed rail and carts that traveled through buildings, threefold cell phones, late-night drone shows, and even the country’s first flying car. Through his unique presentation combined with his dedication to show American viewers a more authentic picture of China, Speed was able to dispel many viewers’ preconceived notion of China as a technological laggard stuck in the 20th century.

However, the greatest part of China that Speed showcased was not a new tourist attraction or technological development, but the people. Throughout the tour, Speed had collaborations with popular Chinese social media figures ranging from the singer of the hit song SuperIdol to social media star Tony from LC Sign. Through these collaborations, Speed introduced a Western audience to Eastern creators, helping disseminate China’s rich, multifaceted culture, and breaking the isolated bubble his viewers resided in. 

 Speed was a warm and friendly visitor, interacting with Chinese citizens despite a massive language barrier. Western media frequently portrays Chinese citizens as constantly stressed, robotic, and emotionless. However, Speed’s interviews helped combat this myth, as those who interacted with him were warm, energetic, and enthusiastic. The warmness Chinese citizens greeted Speed broke many viewers’ preconceived notions of a heartless and stress-filled China. At the end of the day, this resulted not only in westerners understanding China as a modern country with top-tier attractions, but also as a country whose citizens’ personalities serve as a reason in itself to visit.

This type of interaction between the West and East would not have been possible thirty or even twenty years ago. It is only through the rise of streaming has people from across the globe have been given a window into worlds far different, yet at the same time so similar to their own. While the media often displays nuisance streamers who create both negative impressions of the country they travel to, and even worse impressions for the natives to have on foreigners, stories like Speed’s show just how powerful streaming can be used as a tool for good.

By the time his last stream concluded, his tour had become so well-received that there were giant billboard advertisements in Chinese cities thanking the streamer. While tensions between China and the United States seem positioned to only rise further as the world gears for another trade war, stories like Speed’s showcase that all it takes is one person to humanize the other side and break through the tension.

 On March 24, news broke that Senior White House officials, including the United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, accidentally discussed Yemen war plans in a group chat on the app Signal, without knowing they had added an editor for the Atlantic to the chat. Internationally relevant blunders like the leaked group chat places an increased emphasis on the current trajectory of American foreign policy, not just from a domestic lens but from that of our foreign allies. 

Prior to the group chat leak, American credibility on the international stage was already declining. From the first day of the second Trump administration, the president endorsed isolationist policies: the strategy of withdrawing U.S influence from the international stage to prioritize domestic affairs. The progression of threats of tariffs extending beyond our adversaries and onto our closest neighbors in Mexico and Canada are alarming, as well as the tariffs we have placed on European goods. The main reason for the alarm is that beyond economic implications of higher prices for American consumers, these tariffs threaten to damage our international alliances as well. 

The initial rationale behind the tariffs against Mexico and Canada were not solely steeped in economic values but also coupled with foreign policy gripes President Trump had throughout the years. Simply put, the president has utilized tariffs as an attempt to strongarm countries into adhering to U.S foreign policy goals like illegal immigration. While Trump enjoyed initial success with this method, seeing Mexico commit more personnel to the border and Canada quieted their rhetoric against the Trump administration, in the long run, the president has bit off more than he can chew. After threats of further tariffs, Mexico and Canada stopped complying to the increased demands of the United States and launched their own retaliatory tariffs, creating the beginnings of a trade war. 

One of the first signs of damage to international relations is through the wallet. 

When the United States continues to follow through with Trump’s policy of isolationism, pulling away from interaction like free trade with countries in the name of protecting the domestic economy while using our economic might to bend allies to our will, the only result will be a decline in our relationships with our allies. 

Decline in foreign relations does not bode well for the United States in the current political climate. In Europe, threats of up to 200% tariffs on wine risks breaking down ties with allies that could help mediate the sluggish peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. In the East, tariffs on Chinese steel and technology risks worsening tensions to the point that collaboration to stop black market fentanyl production proves impossible. And at home, declining relations with Mexico will make it harder to cooperate together to prevent human and drug trafficking from reaching new heights. Simply put, isolationism will not protect the U.S economy. It will raise prices, raise tensions, and lower any chances the United States has of pursuing our foreign policy goals. 

On the other side of the spectrum, Democrats have advocated for further U.S influence on the global stage, dissented on acts like cutting the organization USAID, and been an overall advocate against isolationism. Unfortunately, their words do not match their actions. 

Despite their outcries, Democrats have not managed to put forward a coherent party platform when it comes to U.S Foreign Policy. For most Democrats, they are content on just criticizing Republican policies instead of making their own. For starters, they are unable to convince moderate Republicans to work together to prevent problematic figures from being appointed to the cabinet. Further, they have not been able to successfully communicate to voters the extent President Trump’s foreign policy would hurt the country on both an economic and influence level. And most guilty of all, they have simply failed to produce a plan of action two months into the new presidential term. Twiddling thumbs and throwing rocks into glass buildings won’t build the United States back up. 

Mitch McConnell is set to retire in 2026, throughout his time in office he’s witnessed great division when it came to  the Gulf War, U.S failed interventionism in Haiti, the War in the Middle East, the Great Recession, and the Covid-19 Pandemic, through each event the government united together to progress U.S interests. As McConnell’s article for the Council on Foreign Relations suggests, the United States needs to veer away from isolationism and create cohesive foreign policy that continues American status as a global leader on the world stage long after McConnell’s retirement.