Page 2: A letter to President Trump
Page 6: Plot twists, adventure in “Star Wars”
Page 7: Villamor cheers in final year
Poll: trojans dislike Trump Volume 61, Issue 5
January 18, 2018
We are born to seek the truth!
www.cvhsolympian.com
By Layne Johnson Staff Writer
With over 400 responses to how Donald Trump is handling himself in office, 85 percent of students at CVHS do not approve of our 45th president and his performance running the country. The Olympian conducted a campus survey about President Donald Trump’s job performance. Questions addressed the GOP tax bill, how he handles civil rights and the attempted repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Results showed that 87.5 percent of students don’t agree with how Donald Trump handles the environment. Another 86.3 percent of students disapprove of how Trump banned trans soldiers from the military. A vast majority of the other responses were not in Trump’s favor. It is pretty obvious that CVHS is not fond of Trump and his many controversial decisions. “He isn't fit to be president
Katelyn Wong / Staff Writer
Survey results show that 85 percent of students do not approve of President Trump’s job performance, while 15 percent do. of the United States due to his little to no experience coming into politics and his collusion with Russia,” said Karen
Awambu, senior. Some teachers frown upon how Trump is running the country and how he presents
himself, especially on social media. “Sadly, I think in many, many ways, President Trump
has debased the office of president,” said English teacher Clare LePell. Students also believe that Trump is not protecting civil rights. “He is not supporting all of the people in need of help in this country. He built his platform on a position of hatred of many groups of people including POC, women, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, lower income people and more… what Mr. Trump fails to see is that all of these people are what makes America great in itself,” said junior Katelyn Lance. Although majority of students disapprove of Trump, there are a few that appreciate him like Gabe Cardenas. “I support him because he is not a politician, he is a businessman. There’s something about him that’s different than everyone else. He doesn't care what people think,” said senior Gabe Cardenas.
See SURVEY: Page 8
Dude! Marijuana legalized for adults, potheads rejoyce By Mia Babasyan Editor-in-Chief
California Prop. 64, passed in 2016, legalized marijuana for adults 21 and over and took effect on Jan. 1. Although the legalization of marijuana does not apply to high school students or below, it doesn’t mean they are not affected by the change of law. The marijuana legalization divide had shown both sides of the topic. Opponents claimed legalization would lead to an increase in kids using pot, while supporters said it would create little to no difference. Although multiple states have legalized marijuana use, the drug is still illegal under federal law, creating a conflict between federal and state law. Under the Obama administration, the federal government had a hands-off approach to states where marijuana was
legal. However, Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently repealed the federal policy, allowing federal prosecutors across the country to decide how to enforce the federal drug law on possession and distribution of marijuana. The topic will now become even more relevant across the state, including in our high schools. The rate of how many students use marijuana in Castro Valley is unknown, however San Francisco has the highest recreational use rate in California and one of the highest in the country. “Kids can’t even go in and buy [weed] themselves. It’s not a big deal but I think it’s a good thing for society,” said senior Hannah Meskienyar. Cannabis stores have already increased in business in the Bay Area, and more will open as time goes by.
According to the Los Angeles Times, “To sell marijuana in California, retailers have to be licensed by the state, but they first must have the approval of the city or county where they plan to do business. Cities and counties can opt out of allowing commercial cannabis sales and most have — at least for now.” CVHS is not officially affected bythe legalization of marijuana. however there is a worry about students’ possible new mentality. “Anytime something is legalized, there is a level of acceptance,” said nurse Sandee Velasquez. California, and specifically the Bay Area, will experience some changes due to Prop. 64, but not as much as many think. It will be a while until we start seeing more cannabis stores opening, and even longer until students reach the age to legally obtain marijuana.
Stella Ho / News Editor
Marijuana is now legal in California for those 21 and over as of Jan. 1, 2018.
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An open letter to President Trump Dear President Trump, As our nation’s leader, we would first like to thank you for your great deal of endurance and the desire to make America great again. But we also have many concerns. As members of the Castro Valley High School newspaper, we would like to comment on some of your controversial decisions from this past year. We believe the missile strike on Syrian chemical weapons was beneficial due to the harm chemical weapons possess. The missiles carried a powerful message, pointing out what exactly Syria cannot do to the civilians of its own country. Syria violated its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and the rule of humanity. The response was appropriate. While we agree that you were right to send missiles to the military base, our appoval of your handling of the situation Syria stops there. In addition to attacking the base, you need to allow the United States to open its arms to people under the
Katelyn Wong / Staff Writer
treat of terrorist groups in the region. One way to do this could be to give more immigrants admittance to enter the US, and end the travel ban. Besides allowing refugees to enter the United States, we also believe you should be more open with your immigration policies. The DACA program gave new opportunities to
800,000 young undocumented immigrants. We understand that you believe your actions against immigration will help decrease the chance of terrorist attacks and other dangerous foreign intrusions but cancelling DACA was unnecessary and cruel. Beyond immigration, another issue we are concerned
with is your misuse of social media. Outspoken criticism can turn a friend into an enemy and spread like wildfire the instant it is posted. It is tempting to share thoughts to gain validation through thousands of comments and likes but as the head of state, you should be extra careful about what you tweet. We think you should use the
time you spend on Twitter to address important issues like the environment. Global warming affects our entire planet, so everyone needs to contribute to its end. Our economy has been doing relatively well, but we believe you have improved our economy at the expense of the environment. As an industrial country, America should participate in the Paris Agreement and maintain high air quality standards. We appreciate how the unemployment is low and that stock market profit has increased. Nevertheless, creating jobs that assist both our environment and the economy would be killing two birds with one stone. You once said, “I try to learn from the past, but I plan for the future by focusing exclusively on the present. That's where the fun is.” We ask you to consider our present concerns to create a better future for U.S. and the rest of the world.
Sincerely, Staff members of The Olympian
Volunteering is worth the time and effort sacrificed
By Katelyn Wong Staff Writer
I experienced one of the best feelings in the world at Glide Memorial Church about a year
ago. Something about waking up at the crack of dawn to serve hot breakfasts to those who have been out in the cold, San Francisco weather all night made me feel so incredibly inspired to volunteer even more. So, why volunteer? Every minute, hour, or day devoted to serving those in need can ultimately build a stronger community. Even with my busy schedule, I always set time aside to volunteer whether it’s with school clubs like Interact or Red Cross, or with the Leadership class. I’m even able to do what I love and relieve stress from school while
benefitting the community. Recently, Hurricane Harvey hit parts of Texas which resulted in many displaced families, pets, and destroyed homes. Situations were very strenuous and tough on everyone in the devastated areas but people with open arms reached out to provide shelter and care for the time being. Much more help is still needed and unfortunately, volunteers from big organizations like the Red Cross are unable to send as many helpers down because of the ongoing fires in other states and Hurricane Irma. It’s possible that having a shortage of volunteers won’t
be a problem in future because I believe that if we build our purpose for volunteering in high school or in the early stages of our life, we can have one in hand for the future. Yes, it’s true that most high schoolers volunteer for the benefit of college applications but there’s definitely more to it. I encourage you to choose events that genuinely interest you and possibly going with a group of friends will make it even more enjoyable. If you’re already out there endlessly serving the community, I hope you know how wonderful that experience is. And if it’s just the beginning of your volun-
teering journey, I encourage you to take advantages of the opportunities available because help is always needed in your community. Unfortunately, there are disastrous situations in which volunteers are unable to help out with disaster relief directly at the area impacted. But donating cash to charities that specialize in providing those hit with disasters or even nonperishable food items can go a long way. When we come together as a team, our efforts become stronger and the impact is greater.
PHOTOpinions What do you expect from President Trump in 2018?
“I expect more people “Hopefully he’ll real- “I’m expecting a lot of “I expect bad things “ I expect more erin Trump’s cabinet to be investigated about Russia.
ize the damage he has done and step up his politics game.
white noise because he’s always trying to stir things up.
to happen, nothing good honestly. It’s all going downhill.
ratic and entertaining tweets, but very little real decision making.
Malin Johansson freshman
Valeria Gutierrez sophomore
Emerald Adeyan junior
Audrey Dooley senior
Robin Green teacher
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The Olympian Jan. 18, 2018
How to fight fire with fire
By Hannah Johansson Editor-in-Chief
Every morning in October I listened to reports of the North Bay fires on my drive to school. Every day the death toll crept higher until it stuck at 42: one of the most destructive fires in California history. The next month I listened to stories about recovery, and speculation on the fire’s source (they seemed to settle on PG&E power lines in combination with high, dry winds). In December, I listened to reports on Southern California’s fire as it also made its way up the ranking of California’s worsts. Now, I am again listening to speculation on origins; this time reporters point to illegal cooking fires in homeless camps. But no matter how carefully PG&E monitors its
power lines, or how vigilant LA becomes of its homeless camps, there will always be fires. Fires are inherent to California ecosystems. However, these fires do not need to be as destructive or devastating as in recent years. According to Cal Fire, 13 of the top 20 worst fires in California have been in the 21st century. This phenomenon of massive, destructive wildfires is new. Chaparral, Southern California’s dominant shrub landscape, is a perfect example of an ecosystem where fire is inevitable. Last summer I interned with Bay Nature magazine, where I interviewed and wrote about a Berkeley PhD student and her research on post-fire chaparral ecology. I learned chaparral ecosystems have a slow turnover for dead organic matter, so debris from plants and animals collects on the ground until a fire clears it away. Chaparral is built not only to withstand fire, but to thrive on it, and major fire suppression can be dangerous for its health. In Southern California, fire fighters use “prescribed fires” (or controlled burns) to mitigate the chance of huge wildfires. But even this cannot stop high-intensity chaparral fires. According to the Chaparral Society they “have always been a natural and inevitable part of
the landscape.” Instead of finding ways to adapt the chaparral to our needs, we need to adapt to the chaparral by building fire-resistant homes and stopping development in areas close to chaparral. But while California’s fire management policies allow for prescribed burns in chaparral, they call for the opposite in other landscapes: fire-suppression. October’s Northern California fires started in forested areas.There, un-burnt debris collects in a thick layer above the soil, and acts as an endless fuel supply for a spark (inevitable because of California’s Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers). If we allowed small, frequent fires, we could avoid the buildup of fuel, and therefore avoid these super-fires. Many of the same areas that burned in Sonoma County in October also burned in 1960s fires, and will burn again. S o whil e rog ue home less camp fires and broken PG&E power lines might have caused the 2017 fires, our encroachment on natural landscapes and policies of fire suppression are what caused these extraordinarily devastating fires. Fire is only our enemy if we disregard its inevitability.
Blame the cows, not cars
By Layne Johnson Staff Writer
Earth is in peril, and conservation habits aren’t enough to save our world and the prosperity. The sea levels are rising, the Amazon is experiencing deforestation, ice caps are melting, there are frequent wildfires and intense tropical storms. Most logical people would ask “What’s even causing climate change?” The answer might surprise you. There is more to climate change than just fossil fuels. Agricultural businesses increase greenhouse gases, water consumption, Amazon deforestation and waste. A majority of people say that transportation is the leading cause for greenhouse gas emissions but raising livestock creates more greenhouses gas than every transportation sector combined. Methane gas comes from cows and other land based livestock and it’s 86 times more destructive than the CO2 from transportation. Livestock accounts for 51
percent of all greenhouse gas emissions while only 13 percent comes from transportation exhaust. Another gas that livestock is responsible for is nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is a gas that carries 296 times the global warming potential of CO2. The most alarming part is that agriculture emission is estimated to grow 80 percent by 2050 because the rise of meat and dairy consumption. The heat is getting trapped and the temperature is rising. Meat and dairy are water intensive. Livestock in the U.S. use 34 trillion gallons of water per year. Agriculture is responsible for 55 percent of water consumption and humans use close to 5 percent. It seems like government officials are ignoring the fact that livestock accounts for the majority of Earth’s water consumption. The Amazon Rainforest is the lungs of the planet. The Amazon breathes in the CO2 and exhales oxygen. Regrettably, the Amazon is estimated to be gone in the next ten years. You may find that hard to believe, but cattle grazing is the leading cause of deforestation. Every second, one acre of the Amazon Rainforest is lost to make room for grazing animals and to grow crops for livestock. Actually, 136 miles of the rainforest has been irrevocable due to cattle leading rainforest destruction. This may sound silly but land-based livestock is responsible for 116 thousand pounds of excrement per second. That’s
enough poop to cover San Francisco, New York City, Tokyo, Paris, New Dehli, Berlin, Hong Kong, London, Rio de Janeiro, Delaware, Bali, Costa Rica, and Denmark combined! The waste
ends up going into the ocean. Livestock produces 130 times more waste than humans. Farm runoff is the number one source of water pollution. All these facts and figures come from the film “Cowspiracy.” The solution to climate change is a little hard to swallow, literally. But if you really consider it, you can change the world. In the U.S., Americans eat nine ounces of meat per person per day. A plant-based diet is the most sustainable and a vegetarian diet is a close second. Each day a vegan, saves approximately 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 square feet of the Amazon, and 20 pounds CO2 equivalent. It is difficult to be an environmentalist while continuing to eat meat products.
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My life isn’t planned out as a teen
By Thomas Vergara Staff Writer
College applications for seniors were due on Nov. 30. Sophomores and juniors are scrambling to keep a high GPA and prepare for SATs for when the time comes to apply to college. Students are indoctrinated to believe that in order to get the best job and earn the most money they must go straight to a four year college. Teens live with unhealthy levels of stress, but to serve what purpose? Studies have shown that student debt has gone up 250 percent in the last decade and the average student owes upwards of $30,000 in student loans. The university system is set up to discourage students from changing their majors or areas of study due to the high cost already incurred. So 17 and 18 year olds are expected to know exactly what they’re going to study right out of high school, but the average teens can’t know for sure what they’re good at or what will make them happy for the rest of their working lives and most can’t afford to change their majors. “We’re lending money we
don’t have to kids who can’t pay it back to educate them for jobs that don’t exist anymore,” said actor and television host Mike Rowe. He wants to let people know that a four year degree isn’t the only path for young people to take in order to be successful. Kids are asked to declare a major and borrow a huge amount of money that will take years to pay off for an education in something they don’t know if they will be good at or if they will like. Students can’t experiment with their skills and desires in fear of falling even further into debt and many end up majoring in something that they’re not comfortable or satisfied with. In this climate it is important for students to remem-
“We’re lending mon-
ey we don’t have to kids who can’t pay it back to educate them for jobs that don’t exist anymore. Mike Rowe Actor/TV Host
”
ber not to rule out community college as a chance to experiment with different areas of study and also to make college a lot more affordable. It is important for students to remember that they can choose a path that won’t leave them heavily in debt by the time they graduate.
The Olympian is a publication of the journalism class at Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. © 2018
Editors-in-Chief..................................................................Mia Babasyan Hannah Johansson News Editor..............................................................Stella Ho Opinion Editor............................................................Emily Salazar Feature Editor.....................................................Wailea Siler Sports Editor................................................................Pau Gutierrez Arts and Entertainment Editor......................................Da Di Photo Editor........................................................Beruk Tsegaye Video Editor........................................................Mara Moysen Business Manager........................................Audrey Manzano Online Editor..............................................Ria Panjwani Staff Writers: Shaelly Adams, Sam Ahm, Milagros Aquinos, Olga Buzueva, Gianna Ellis, Layne Johnson, Bilal Messaoudi, Hayate Moro, Amina Moummad, Derek Neyer, Nathanial Ortiz, Jenny Pham, Young So, Rachel Stein, Thomas Vergara, Andrew Watanabe, Katelyn Wong, Emma Yin Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson
A look back at President Tru
LGBTQ+ RIGHTS By Emily Salazar Business Manager
“After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” President Donald Trump stated via Twitter on July 26, 2017. Through just a series of tweets, Trump attempted to reverse the Obama-era policy already approved by the Defense Department that allowed for transgender individuals to openly serve in various military branches. “I think him [Trump] doing that was really stupid,”
Molly Brennan, president of the LBTQ+ Alliance club said. “If people want to serve, then why not let them? And doing it on Twitter is really disrespectful and distasteful.” Four federal judges and two courts of appeal ruled against the attempted ban. Trump decided not to appeal further. In his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump promised to support the LBTQ+ community. however it seems that his actions as president differ. In February, the Trump administration revoked the protective guidelines made under the Obama administration that allowed for transgender students in the public school system to use bathrooms and facili-
ties corresponding with their chosen gender identity. The Title IX anti-discrimination laws from 1972 was deemed applicable to transgender students under Obama’s time in office in regards to bathroom access. Yet Trump’s executive order stated that individual states and school districts could choose their own policies in the issue. “Trump not letting them use the bathroom of their gender is problematic because one, who’s going to enforce that? And two, they didn’t choose a gender,” Brennan said. “It’s unfair of him to not allow certain people to use public restrooms based on their gender versus their gender at birth.”
CIVIL RIGHTS By Emma Yin Staff Writer
Donald Trump visited the Civil Rights Museum in Jackson, Mississippi in December, causing much controversy and criticism because of his track record of encouraging behaviors of white supremacy and oppressing minority groups in America. After Trump had blamed “many sides” for the white supremacist violence at Charlottesville and spoke in favor of keeping Confederate monuments, many critics believe his visit to the Civil Rights Museum to be hypocritical.
“Trump is not good for America,” junior Alicia Fisher said. “He just encourages white supremacy and acts of violence against minority groups.” According to many students, the president endorses racism and injustice not only against African Americans, but towards Latinos as well. In August, Trump pardoned Arizona’s former Sheriff Joe Arpaio for contempt of court in a case concerning racial profiling of Latinos. During his campaign, Trump made various comments that offended and aggravated Latinos. “When Mexico is sending its people, they’re not sending
their best… They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists,” Trump declared. “Trump makes the argument that they’re criminals, but a criminal can be of any race. Many people of color are imprisoned and blamed for crimes due to racial stigma and stereotypes. Minorities are the majority of the people that uphold our economy, and getting rid of them would be destroying millions of people’s families, and would leave a negative impact on our country’s economy,” said junior Ingrid Wells.
IMMIGRATION By Milagros Aquino and Sam Ahn
During Donald Trump’s campaign, he promised to crackdown on immigration. Since taking office, the president has signed excutive orders to ban travel between Muslim-majority countries and the US, and to end a program to protect young undocumented immigrants from deportation. Trump’s latest travel ban affects eight countries: North Korea, Iran, Chad, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and Venezuela. Many courts have ruled against the earlier travel bans, but so far the Supreme Court has allowed this one to stand. “My family has many things in Somalia, it’s very hard because I’m far away and it’s difficult to adapt to this country,” said recent immigrant Shayma Guaid. She is not the only only one who is suffering from the effects of executive orders. Trump ordered an end to the
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program created under President Obama in October. DACA protected young undocumented individuals known as the Dreamers, who have no legal way to get citizenship or legal residence. Trump’s decision led to an outcry among the immigrant population, especially the Latino community. “We lived here for a really long time, we went to school here, we have friends here, we grew up here. We consider ourselves to be Americans and if DACA is gone then we might be gone,” said a junior and undocumented immigrant, who asked to remain anonymous. “It scares me, and it’s not just me. My cousins are scared. My friends are scared.” Many are split in the matters of the travel bans and the end of DACA. Some see these decisions as just while others label them as cruel and cowardly actions which will negatively affect our economy.
GUN VIOLENCE By Young So Staff Writer
The Las Vegas Shooting was truly a terrible incident which awoke our nation to problems that may have led up to the tragic attack. Many believe that guns are the root of the problem and led to the mass shooting. However others believe that guns aren’t necessarily the problem and that the main cause lies behind the people and their mental and physical state. Both pro and anti gun control activists share the sorrow surrounding the Vegas incident, but the reactions of both are far from similar. Pro gun control advocates immediately sought to take away the bump fire stock, illegal in California, which had caused the semi automatic weapons used in the Vegas shooting to become almost automatic. Others also talked about how the rifles used in the shooting shouldn’t be allowed at all as a pistol would work fine as a self defense weapon. “I think we need stronger gun control laws because you don’t
EDUCA
Young So / Staff Writer
Gabriel Casillas displays a rifle in Elite Armory. need stronger guns to defend yourself, you just need a pistol as people can take advantage of military grade weapons,” said sophomore Addie Bukari. Anti gun control advocates found the Vegas shooting very surprising as the shooter seemed to be in perfect condition mentally and physically at the time he purchased the weapons. Most of them believe that guns aren’t the main issue, but the method the guns are sold and the background checks that are done. “It’s not the gun itself that is bad, it the person’s intention,
that is the main underlying issue,” said Gabriel Casillas from Elite Armory. Sergei Lewis, a CVHS junior, also added, “I definitely think there should be certain restrictions on certain people on being able to purchase and acquire guns, but I believe that it should be based more on physical ability and mental ability along with you current state with the law.” Pres. Trump released a statement saying that the shooter was “evil” but has not supported any changes to current gun control laws.
By Bilal Messaoudi Staff Writer
Betsy DeVos was appointed as the U.S. secretary of education after a close 50-51 vote in the Senate with the help of a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Pence. Since her appointment, DeVos has made it clear that her priority is to expand and strengthen charter schools as well as to give students alternatives to public schools. “It is troubling to have a secretary of education with such limited experience in public
education,” said CVHS history teacher Kevin Batchelor. She claims to be doing this in the interest of providing more choices for parents about their children’s education, but critics are calling her the most antipublic education secretary in the past 40 years of the department’s history. Because of her appointment and anti-public school view, public schools could be facing major cuts in funding when many schools are already struggling and cutting back on programs. “I don’t think someone who
do in ing Bu wa sch an sta is c M by ap of for of lar Re
ump’s tumultuous first year ECONOMY
HEALTH CARE By Stella Ho News Editor
President Donald Trump wants to repeal President Obama’s legacy: the 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. U.S. House Republicans voted to undo the ACA in 2017, though the Senate did not. However, both halves of Congress voted to end the law’s incentive that Americans must buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty. That was part of the tax reduction bill Pres. Trump signed in December. ACA supporters fear that without the incentive, people will only buy health care when they are older, and that the cost of insurance will greatly increase. Trump has threatened to end government payments to health insurers if Congress does not pass a new health care bill. If Trump follows through with the threat, it is likely that insurance premiums would go up and health care would be much
more expensive for millions of Americans. “One of the tragedies in this country is that we don’t have universal affordable health care for our citizens and that as a result, many have to choose between medical care and food. People aren’t taking care of themselves, which will then lead to other problems like homelessness and poverty. I think it’s a huge disadvantage to repeal Obamacare without a good replacement in effect,” said nurse Sandee Velasquez. Republican efforts to dismantle Obamacare will affect hundreds of U.S. counties and put them at risk of losing access to private health coverage in 2018 as insurers consider pulling out of those markets. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated repealing the health insurance tax incentive will save the government $338 billion over ten years as people will forgo health coverage and lead to 13 million uninsured people by 2027.
Staff Writer
Donald Trump signed the Republican tax bill into law Dec. 22, 2017. He touts the plan as a great step towards “making America great again.” Designed to simplify the tax code and lower taxes, the plan eliminates most itemized tax deductions, increases the personal deduction, reduces the number of tax brackets to three, and lowers the business tax, along with many other changes. The country’s economy has undeniably done well during the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency. Unemployment has fallen to 4.1 percent, the median home price is up to $318,700, and the Dow Jones Industrial
Average has broken records and risen over 20 percent since Trump took office. Though part of that growth must be credited to former President Barack Obama, Trump has not caused the market collapse some were expecting. He stated the goal of his economic plan in a speech in Detroit in August 2017. “I want to jump-start America,” he said. According to Mercury News, capping of the state income tax deduction will likely affect many California households, and coupled with the other changes it may increase taxes for a portion of Californians. The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation states that the new tax bill will raise the national debt $1.46 trillion over
ten years. The tax bill also removes the often-criticized “individual mandate” which penalizes Americans who don’t buy health insurance in order to get everyone to participate. AP Economics teacher David Roth-Rossi overall does not approve of the bill. “Increasing the deficit is problematic and I do not believe that the growth caused by these tax cuts will be even close enough to cover the loss of revenue,” he said. He also anticipates that healthcare and social security will be cut to pay for the tax cut, which he calls “not a good idea at all.”
RUSSIA By Ria Panjwani Online Editor
A cause of concern and contention in our president’s election involves his potential collusion with Russians in order to secure the presidency. Did Donald Trump collude with the Russians during the 2016 campaign? These concerns started coming to light during Trump’s campaign, as the Democratic Party was reportedly hacked and Wiki Leaks began to leak Hillary Clinton’s emails as secretary of state. Federal security agencies begin to become aware of contact members of the Trump campaign (such as George Papadopoulos and Jeff Sessions) had with Russians. Trump’s continual praise and support of Russian President
Vladimir Putin has also concerned some like Congressman Eric Swalwell, who represents Castro Valley. “President Trump put the U.S. on equal moral footing with Russia when responding to Bill O’Reilly’s question about Putin being a ‘killer,’ saying ‘We’ve got a lot of kill- Michael Flynn admitted to false ers... you think our country’s statements regarding Russia to so innocent?’ This is absolutely the FBI. false moral equivalence, and unheard of for the oresident of chael Flynn has admitted his the United States to insult and involvement as he pled guilty demean the country he leads,” for making false statements to said Swalwell, who is on the the FBI. Three other Trump House committee investigating associates have been charged Trump’s Russian connections. with crimes. Trump fired former FBI DiTrump continues to use his rector James Comey for “this Twitter platform to blame Russia thing,” he said. After the “fake media” for the conthat, special counsel Robert troversy. Republicans have Mueller took over the inves- tried several times to discredit tigation. Since then, Former Mueller, but the investigation National Security Advisor Mi- continues.
ENVIRONMENT By Andrew Watanabe Business Manager
ATION
oesn’t have anty experience a field should be representg it,” said sophomore Addie ukhari. “The fact that she ants to stop funding public hools is in my opinion absurd, nd I don’t think she underands the outcome of what she calling for.” Many are also concerned y the fact that despite being ppointed as the secretary education, DeVos has no rmal experience in the field education and has donated rge amounts of money to the epublican Party.
By Derek Neyer
Betsy DeVos was appointed U.S. secretary of education.
President Trump has withdrawn the United States from the Paris Climate Change Agreement, downsized two national monuments in Utah, approved the Keystone XL oil pipeline, and ordered the EPA to suspend, revise or abolish the Clean Power Plan. The Paris Agreement and the Clean Power Plan worked in tandem towards reducing climate change and global warming. However, Trump opposes them because he believes they are harmful to the coal industry and the economy. Economics motivated the Keystone pipeline decision and the downsizing of the monuments in Utah as well. Supporters believe the pipeline will produce many more jobs
both directly and indirectly, and allow the US to become more energy independent. The downsizing of the monuments would give the land back to the people and take it away from the government moguls, Trump claimed. “They don’t know your land, and truly, they don’t care for your land like you do,” Trump said to Utah supporters when announcing the decision. The downsizing will allow cattle farmers to let their cows graze on formerly protected land, open up new opportunities in coal and open roads for motor vehicles. All of Trump’s decisions have been met with heavy opposition, as environmentalists considered these decisions foolish and terrible. California and multiple other states are still implementing their own
policies to help improve and combat climate change. “I am reassured that domestic organizations and entities, are not complying with the withdrawal and continuing to move forward with policies that support the Paris Agreement,” said CVHS science teacher Laura O’Brien. Environmentalists see the Keystone pipeline as a hazard due to the possible contamination of one of the world’s largest aquifers. Native American tribes oppose the downsizing of the monuments in the name of environmental conservation. “Trump is attempting to prop up people’s desires to ignore the environmental problems we face today,” said science teacher Nathan McCreary.
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New Star Wars with New Achievement By Thomas Vergara Staff Writer
Jenny Pham / Staff Writer
Watch out for wavy eyebrows By Jenny Pham Staff Writer
“I’m so wavy, I’m so wavy, I’m so wavy.” The chorus to Ty Dollla Sign’s song “Wavy” is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the current wavy- obsessed beauty trend. A brow pencil/pen/gel and concealer are used to overdraw and underdraw the brows to literally make them look like squiggly lines. Similarly, lipstick, lip liner, and concealer are used to curvify the lines of the upper and lower lip. The look can also be created with washable glue, so you can easily go back to normal brows and lips if you decide the snake look isn’t for you. Surfaced on Instagram, it has been increasingly trending with over 8,500 posts using the hashtag “wavybrows” and 450 using the hashtag “wavylips.” Whether anyone
actually wears these looks outside of their bedrooms is questionable, but their popularity online is certainly unquestionable. Why, just why? It seems as if beauty gurus have run out of things to do with their faces and have resorted to abstract art and snakes for inspiration. I feel that talented makeup artists are wasting their skills to achieve a look that a kindergartner could do with a crayon. Snapchat, the image messaging mobile app, recently had a “wavy eyebrows filter” so its users could see themselves with the strangest beauty trend at the moment. Avid snapchatters did not hesitate to try the filter out and ridicule it. Having used the filter myself, all I can say is why? As a few Youtubers put it, this is one of those “what the-” trends that you hope will disappear soon.
The last of the Resistance is trapped in a mountain fortress surrounded by the First Order’s armies. Then, out of the smoke emerges Luke Skywalker to single handedly take on the enemies of the Resistance. The latest installment of the Lucasfilm’s Star Wars saga, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” brings us new and interesting characters, incredible visual effects, and some of the biggest twists ever seen in Star Wars. Director Rian Johnson shows us the intensity and action that has kept the Star Wars films coming for 40 years. Starring Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, John Boyega, Carrie Fisher and Adam Driver, the film gets the viewer right into the action with the first scene being the Resistance’s escape from the First Order. Throughout the rest of the movie we see Rey and Ben Solo’s relationship progress as Rey lusts for the answers
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to her past. Meanwhile, deserting stormtrooper Finn sets off with a new friend to a casino planet in attempt to save the last of the Resistance’s armies standing against the First Order. Filled with sacrifice, malice and heroism, the movie will keep any viewer on the edge of their seat, one plot twist at a time. In only two weeks, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” became the highest grossing movie of 2017. “The Last Jedi” has left many impatiently waiting for
the next film. Although very popular, many fans were outraged at many of the developments of the film. Unlike “The Force Awakens,” the latest movie did not mirror its corresponding original film and many believed it had not stayed true to the Star Wars narrative. Nonetheless it has become a very popular movie and many hope that the rest of the movies will live up to the new standards set.
7 Trojan alum shakes up San Jose Earthquakes soccer team By Hayate Moro
wanted to do.
Staff Writer
Nick Lima, a 2013 CVHS graduate and now a professional soccer player, recently returned to his roots. The former star of the Trojans’ football and soccer teams helped the San Jose Earthquakes reach the playoffs and was a top contender for the Major League Soccer Rookie of the Year award in 2017.
Q: What advice can you give to aspiring soccer players or athletes in general out there? A: I think you just gotta stick with it. If you have a dream, you gotta go for it. There’s plenty of excuses not to succeed and I think you gotta find one to do the right thing and keep going and keep pushing yourself.
Q: How have you liked playing professional soccer and how is it different from your time at CVHS or any other organized soccer that you might have played? A: It varies in a lot of ways. I think the biggest way is it’s your job and so you worry about that 24/7. And you’re not occupied with school anymore, but for the most part it’s been a great transition and I love it. There’s parts and little aspects that you miss about Cal and Castro Valley,
Q: What can we expect from the Earthquakes next year?
Nick Lima talks to about his career as a professional soccer player. just the social part. But it’s amazing and it’s been pretty fun so far. Q: How has your time on the CVHS boys soccer team helped you prepare for your career?
Being on any team, you learn how to interact with players. In a school setting as well as in college, you get used to kind of camaraderie that goes into it and that also develops you for the next level.
A: It was good to start here.
Q: If you weren’t playing
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soccer, what might you be doing instead? A: I probably would want to become a firefighter. Hopefully I can do that post-career. I have a long family connection to it and a lot of friends do it as well. It’s just something I’ve always
A: Hopefully a lot. I think this was a good start, this was kind of a learning year. We brought in a lot of new players and there was a lot of coaching change. There was a lot of change in the front office, so this year going forward there’s hopefully going to be a little more consistency. We want to make a deeper run in the playoffs and the ultimate goal is a championship.
Villamor closes her last year strong By Rachel Stein Staff Writer
Rachel Stein / Staff Writer
Lindsay Villamor cheers during a home basketball game.
For anyone who might challenge the idea that cheerleading is not a sport, CVHS senior Lindsay Villamor is ready to convince them otherwise. Villamor is the captain of CVHS’s competitive cheer team and a member of the varsity squad. According to teammates, Villamor always goes above and beyond for her team. “She always puts 110 percent into everything and goes the extra mile to make sure everything goes perfectly,” said varsity cheerleader Nushi Abdullah.
Her many skills and drive to succeed are an asset to the competitive cheer team. In fact, competing is Villamor’s favorite thing about her sport. “I really like competing, honestly. I have a really competitive attitude. I really hope as a team we do well in nationals, because I’ve always wanted to make it to the second round, and we haven’t done that yet while I was in high school, so that would be really cool,” said Villamor. Her most memorable moments from being on the team come through competitive cheer. “Nationals every year is
really fun. Last year we went to Vegas and it brings you really close with your team. It’s really special to travel with them, and then compete as a team,” she said. CVHS students can catch Villamor and the rest of the CVHS cheer squad at home basketball games in the gym. Their first competition is a United Spirit Association (USA) Regional Competition in Antioch on Jan. 13, and the USA Nationals will take place in Anaheim between Feb. 23-25, after which, Villamor and her team will spend time in Disneyland.
Calvillo proves to be an exemplary athlete By Katelyn Wong Staff Writer
One of Cameron Calvillo’s most memorable basketball games was in the fifth grade when he made a buzzer-beater shot which allowed his team to win in overtime. Still to this day, he continues to work hard and stay focused during the game in hopes of playing on varsity by his junior year. Since Calvillo was eight years old, basketball quickly became one of his top sports.
Coming from CYO (Catholic Youth Organization), AAU (Amatuer Athletic Union), and Canyon Middle School teams, he finds playing on the freshman team at CVHS very unique from the others. Just starting his first season, Calvillo was ecstatic to find that the high school teams were more organized. Teams also had a more competitive feeling and he found it easier to develop a closer relationship with his teammates because they all see each other at school almost every day. On
the aspect of being a strongly bonded team, Calvillo remarks that, “I can count on my teammates more and know how to help them out.” The basketball season also gives him a chance to “improve in other sports, get quicker, and build up stamina,” said Calvillo. It shows that he is always set to improve his already stellar performance and athletic ability. “From what I’ve seen and heard, Cameron plays hard, is highly skilled, and is a leader on the courts,” said coach Chris Fortenberry.
Rachel Stein / Staff Writer
Cameron Calivillo dribbles the ball during a game.
THE OLYMPIAN
Jan. 18, 2018
Season of Service replaces Days of Diversity
By Jenny Pham Staff Writer
The Season of Service, Period of Peace (SOSPOP) will replace Days of Diversity this year, and if all goes well, for future years to come. SOSPOP is a ten-week period from Martin Luther King Day in January through Cesar Chavez Day in March during which students engage in nonviolence and peace oriented service projects. Clubs signed up to “sponsor” one of the ten weeks and plan activities within a theme of their
choice. There are generally no restrictions on the activities, therefore clubs have respective freedom to articulate their week however they would like. Communal events are encouraged, rather than remaining within the confines of our school campus. “It’s going to be a fun way for the clubs to express their thoughts on the service they do. I think it will be a great way for the school to give back as a whole,” said Eman Nagi, one of the ASB club commissioners. So far, the clubs that have
SURVEY: from page 1 More than 400 CVHS students expressed their opinions about President Trump’s actions in the past year. Here are the results:
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All the cool kids are at cvhsolympian.com!
signed up represent a diverse spectrum of peace-oriented themes, giving students a platform to take responsibility for the culture and climate of our campus. Sign ups include clubs whose sizes range from the largest on campus to new ones created just this year. Just to list a few of the wide range of themes: religious tolerance, sweatshops, mental health awareness, women in STEM, transgender awareness, sexual assault, and world peace. “I’m extremely excited for SOSPOP because it is giving
us students a chance to spread awareness about different projects and current issues that WE care about! The way SOSPOP is set up is for students to lead, so my club and I really get to make the week our own,” commented Simone True, president of Interact Club. Rather than the traditional schedule of a larger Days of Diversity celebration every other year, SOSPOP will be, in a sense, an even larger celebration of diversity. If our school’s first SOSPOP concludes to be an eventful success, it will be
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incorporated into the annual calendar. “As a club president, I am in love with the idea of having a week to promote my club! I almost feel it’s too good to be true. There is so much my officer board and I have wanted to accomplish, I believe that opening it up to the entire school is a great way to reach out to students who have always wanted to get more involved and just haven’t found the outlet,” said Michelle Moreno, president of Red Cross Club.
ASL students write to Jimmy Kimmel By Hayate Moro Staff Writer
Castro Valley American Sign Language (ASL) students wrote letters in response to Jimmy Kimmel, a celebrity comedian, after he invited a deaf interpreter on his show and made fun of the way he translated using his hands and facial expressions. What bothered the ASL students the most was listening to the American late-night talk show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” with and without the sound of the audience’s laughter. The deaf linguist may have been confused whether the audiences were laughing at what he was translating, however they were clearly busting their stomachs by how his eyes, eyebrows, and mouth moved proportionally to
his hands. “Facial expression is part of the grammar in ASL and it wasn’t appropriate to laugh and make fun of it,” said junior and ASL student Kira Chen. The interpreter was first brought to attention when signing for the Hurricane Irma press conference. Kimmel seemed to think the expressions the man made was material for a witty joke, when the translator should have been recognized for his distinctive way of interpreting. Many of the letters the students wrote explained how facial expressions were words in the deaf language, and allow for a more meaningful message than just hand gestures. “When that person [Kimmel] was speaking he was like really
gesturing and like raising his voice and stuff but in ASL you can’t do that. You have to overexaggerate,” said sophomore Ashley Chacon. About one million people have disabling hearing loss, making ASL the fourth most spoken language in the United States. Chacon also viewed the issue in a positive way which brought attention to the importance of ASL. “It is a good thing people got to see what ASL is and that people are able to experience it,” she said. “It’s not common for hearing people to understand the importance of facial expression and that’s why we wanted to educate Jimmy Kimmel and his team,” said senior and ASL honors student Emily Salazar.