A Place to Belong: Finding Community with LGBTQ+ Students and Allies

 By Emmaline Carol, Staff Reporter

As human beings, it’s important that we find connections. As students, we are so fortunate to have clubs that allow us to do that. With so many clubs at DHS, it’s easy for some to fade into the background.

Spectrum is one of these underrated clubs. Spectrum is a place for members of the LGBTQ+ community, including allies, to find connection with each other. During meetings, members discuss ways to raise awareness for the community, talk about their unique experiences, brainstorm ways to help the community, and enjoy snacks. Spectrum is a wonderful place, and is always looking for new members. Deerprints was given the opportunity to sit down with some members of the club and learn more. According to the club sponsor, Mr. Rockaitis, Spectrum dates back to over 20 years ago.

This year, unfortunately, Spectrum only has a handful of members. Dylan, the student leader for Spectrum, had some ideas as to why that is. They thought that the current political climate has made it hard for students to be ‘out’. However, in this uncertain political climate, it’s more important than ever to find a safe space with people who support you. It’s important to share your struggles with people in similar situations. Mr. Rockaitis, the Spectrum sponsor, continues by saying that he would love to see more allies in Spectrum, just like back in the day. Spectrum is a great place to learn about how to support the community.

Spectrum has helped the LGBTQ+ community in many different ways. They have created pronoun guides to spread awareness about the transgender community, as well as organized socials with similar clubs from other schools as a way to form meaningful connections.

Spectrum is a wonderful place to be. It's a great place to find community, make connections, and learn to support each other. It’s also a place to get support if you need a trusted adult. To quote Mr. Rockaitis, “I just want to be able to support students."

For more information on Spectrum, reach out to Mr.Rockaitis, or come to a meeting in X106 on Fridays during D lunch. There are no fees, forms, or other complications, just connections. Spectrum is a great place for every member of the community, and allies. Everyone who wants to support the community are welcome at Spectrum!

The Night Circus

By Stephanie Jiang, Staff Reporter

When it comes to confusing books (when I say this, I mean I had relatively no clue where it was heading for a solid 300 pages), I either hate or love them. Now this one is definitely the latter. The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern, explores the relationships of a child and parent, rivals, and collaborators. It tells the story of Celia and Marco, opponents pitted against each other who eventually become lovers. Their story revolves around a magical circus created to display their  skills. The circus is only open from sundown to sunrise, drawing in and captivating the public, who most, if not all, are unaware of the secrets going on behind the scenes.

This book was nominated for Favorite Book of 2011 and Readers’ Favorite Fantasy in Goodreads. Another notable award the book has received is the Alex Award from the American Library Association; this is an award given to books written for adults that also appeal to young adults, meaning it is a perfect read for teenagers. 

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (which I highly recommend) is often compared to this book and immediately put it on my “To Be Read” list. The Night Circus takes place in the real world, but in different time periods. That makes it a little easier on the mind, as there’s no need to learn the rules of a whole new world. Morgenstern’s writing is absolutely stunning, and the way she describes the circus made reading the book feel like an immersive experience. 

She uses the magic in the world to connect seemingly unrelated characters and events, allowing the reader to slowly grasp the link between them.

Once it ended, I sat there in a bit of shock, realizing all of the confusion I experienced was all a part of Morgenstern’s brilliant plan. This is the type of book that you’d need to read twice just to catch all of the hints she weaves in. And even after days of reading The Night Circus, I still think back to it and its characters. With that being said, I like to think that any book that leaves an unforgettable impression on me is a good one. 

However, in all honesty, there were holes in the writing of the romance. There was a slight love triangle in the book, but it was written rather poorly. The short moments between Celia and Marco remained memorable, but the book may have benefited without them. 



Hopefully my view on the romance in this novel doesn’t deter anyone from reading it. After all, I’d only recommend this book if you’re looking for a solid fantasy read. The characters are perceived in a mysterious aspect that’ll constantly make you wonder. It’s safe to say that it was almost too hard to stop reading.