If you are an underclassman at NAHS and are in need of credits for your next year of courses, you may want to educate yourself about the course known as “POGO”. In it, students learn a history of world propaganda and genocide, while at the same time engaging in a game of political governance, intrigue, and diplomacy. I myself have long wondered how such a class is conducted, and so I sat down with seniors Tyler Maramba and Shaira Cruz, as well as history teacher Mr. William Coughlin.

As per Tyler in our interview, the “game” aspect of the course takes place in the last fifteen minutes of the period. During this time, anything goes: students may (in pantomime, of course) assassinate one another, overthrow current leaders, and trade, negotiate, or collaborate amongst themselves. Since the students taking part in POGO are considered to each be part of a single, volatile nation, faculty members may exert outside influence to mimic foreign affairs in the real world.

A prime example of this type of interloping came from Mr. Coughlin, who had “assassinated” Shaira the day prior to our interview. Tyler, having succeeded Shaira as head of state, accused Mr. Coughlin of robbing his country’s treasury blind. In his own defense, though, Coughlin claimed to have acted solely out of concern for the peoples’ financial security, and that he was “safeguarding” the money, and democracy along with it. Though there is not any evidence to either affirm or refute this, I was told that Coughlin’s claim can be considered at a bare minimum questionable, considering his less than reputable practices and rather shady agents (whose names will be redacted).

Since Tyler has inherited Shaira’s government as a republic, Tyler is susceptible to a possible “recall election” at any point in the future, should his constituents be dissatisfied. While Shaira recovers from the wounds of her assassination attempt, Tyler says that he will continue to respect democracy and rebuild his nation’s economy, starting by reducing unemployment. Coughlin, however, has asserted his belief that it is his duty to police the world (for the better), and that he will not stand for tyranny such as the brand propagated by the Maramba regime.

Moving forward, it appears that the primary front on which conflicts are fought in POGO will be, appropriately enough, propaganda. In light of this, please note that in publication of what I learned from my interview, I attempted to be as non-partisan as possible. A few I asked were even wary of allowing me to sit down with them, fearing a negative portrayal of their chosen faction or even an Ahmad Shah Massoud style attack. In light of this, I would like to assert my neutrality and status as a merely a curious outside observer in the ongoing affairs of POGO.