How do we seperate fact from fiction?

an introduction

Information creation and dissemination has evolved over time. People are gaining more knowlege about the world and technology allows for a more rapid spread of information, so why do we still struggle to separate real from fake? What about hoaxes? Legends? Superstitions? Or even just stories that are told and shared? How do these alternative variations of information affect the way that we learn about the world around us? And who's responsibility is it to seperate fact from fiction, the storyteller or the viewer?

Here we will explore grey areas of information presentation and the consequences of fabricated or exaggerated material on those who consume it. As people who are engaged with information, we know that it can have a drastic effect on our perception of the world. We also understand that many of these topics are nuanced and answers may be subjective, so we hope to take an approach that examines all sides of the discussion. With that in mind, let us investigate some peculiar uncertainties in a world where fact and fiction coexist all too closely.

About Us

The Highway Ducks are a group of students formed for Michigan State University's ISS 305 class, (class subject here). Our assingment was to create a zine on the topic of information literacy. Together we came up with our topic and decided that a website would be the best place to host our zine- afterall the internet is one of the fastest ways to share and spread information!

Oh, and "why highway ducks?" you may ask. The answer is simple, a random word generator told us so.

Our Group Members

Ezra Pompos, they/them

Ezra is a senior studying at the Residential College of Arts and Humanities with a concentration in community engagement. They eventually plan to use their degree working with underserved and marginalized folks to facilitate growth within their communities. Ezra is fascinated by the concept of storytelling and hopes examine the relationship between newer forms of storytelling (ie social media posts, websites, youtube videos) and misinformation. In their free time they enjoy making art, playing video games, learning about niche forms of media, coding useless websites, and cuddling their cat.

Myah Frazier, she/her

Myah is a freshman at Michigan State University studying plant biology in the College of Natural Sciences. She plans on pursuing botany, integrated into herbal and holistic medicine. She is interested in environmental sustainability and natural practices for the benefit of personal and public health. With minimal experience in creating zines, Myah's goals for this zine are to contribute artistic qualities and poetic narratives in order to deliver information in a unique yet effective method. In her free time, Myah enjoys painting, music, and time outdoors.

Andrea Barreto, She/Her/Hers

Andrea is a sophomore at Michigan State University studying Chemical Engineering. She is a L’Oréal USA Diverse Future Leader Fellow and a Women In Engineering K-12 Outreach Ambassador. After MSU, Andrea plans to work in Research & Innovation. Perhaps in the future she will return to school and look into working in Patent Law. Within this project, she plans on bringing a new and creative perspective on information based on her multicultural experiences. In her free time, Andrea enjoys spending time with her dog, baking, and watching movies.

Yulianna Duran, she/her

Yulianna is a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Automotive Powertrain. She hopes to work for an Automotive company such as Volkswagen and vouch for more environmentally sustainable routes. In Yulianna's free time, she likes to read romance books, hang out with her friends, and look up flights she won't be taking anytime soon.

Kevin Crump, he/him

Kevin is a sophomore currently studying Computer Science, but is open to other majors like Kinesiology. He is on the fence as of decisions for now, but is planning on getting his Masters in Kinesiology so that he can practice Physical Therapy. Kevin enjoys video games (who can blame him), Tennis, and working out in his free time. He hopes that, through college, he will become a better version of who he is now to provide for himself substantially in the future!

Steven Clay, he/him

Steven is a sophomore currently majoring in Computer Science in hopes to one day become an software engineer in a tech company in the furture. In his free time he likes to watch sports play video games and hang out with his friends. During this zine he wishes to participate and help contribute to the zine in the best way he can.