Finding success in passion Page 3: Pursuing dreams outweighs pay
Volume 60, Issue 5
Controversial statue causes discussion Page 4: Local art advocates for female rights
January 27, 2017
Rogue One stuns audiences Page 6: Star Wars film dominates in theaters
We are born to seek the truth! www.cvhsolympian.com
Trojans oppose Trump agenda By The Olympian Staff
Haley Booth / Staff Writer
Puppy love suppresses finals stress By Haley Booth Staff Writer
Everyone hates finals, but everyone loves dogs! This year, the two came together in the hopes that one could make the other a little more bearable, as therapy dogs visited campus during finals week. During her campaign for ASB president, Ariana Faizi promised to bring therapy dogs during finals so that those who were
stressed could come to pet and hug the dogs, which would calm students down and hopefully allow them to be more focused and do better on finals. Students were thrilled about the outcome. “It turned out better than expected,” said Faizi. “Parents are emailing APs saying that students are feeling better during finals.” Science has proven that petting and talking to animals lowers blood pressure and heart rates
for humans. The dogs offer a way for the students to relax, something many don’t get to do around finals with all of the late night studying. “After finals you get to pet a dog; that’s nice!” said senior Marisa Pitman. Dogs will return for the spring finals, and maybe even during AP exams. So if you missed a chance to see the pawesome pooches last semester, don’t take it too ruff.
Alarmed by Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential race, CVHS students passed around a petition which asked the school district to refrain from sharing the immigration status of any student. They received 721 signatures in a day and then presented the petition to the school board just two days after the election. School board members and Superindent Parvin Ahmadi were stunned but listened sympathetically and supportively. “They didn’t realize this was an issue and that people were worrying about it,” said sophomore Ria Panjwani. “(Ahmadi) said she would get out the information that the school district is not allowed to release information about immigration status on any family. I felt like they l listened to us.” Throughout Trump’s campaign, the Republican promised bold changes on topics like education, the environment, health care, taxes, the Supreme Court and immigration. Trump has promised the American people
action to “make America great again,” though many CVHS students and staff members expressed opposition to his ideas. Here are some details of his plans for his first 100 days as president. Education Trump has been an avid and outspoken opponent of government control over education. According to the Trump campaign, public schools are a “failed government monopoly,” and competition caused by school choice will better the nation’s education system. Trump’s vision for education includes offering college students federal tax breaks to help reduce student loan debt, and making higher education more affordable and accessible for all Americans. Trump also wants to eliminate Common Core standards that many states like California have adopted. In addition to these changes, the president-elect also wants to ment has over education.
See PLAN: Page eight
Pilot program promotes smarter waste management
Three-bin system introduced to 100, 700 halls By Nisha Lal Staff Writer
A new three-bin system was introduced last month in both the 700 and 100 halls to promote the better sorting of waste, thanks to the Smart Environment Club. The club’s leadership has teamed up with the Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan), our leadership class, and the custodial staff to introduce a new pilot program that implements landfill, recycling, and organics bins in every classroom.
“The pilot has been a long process that we have been working on for a while with CVSan. It has really opened my eyes to issues on campus I never thought about,” said junior Mia Babasyan, club president. The Smart Environment Club was established on campus by teacher Deborah Yager and her passionate students nine years ago. Members of the club have since made a true difference on campus by starting a bottle and can recycling system, donating two Brita water filters, and participating in multiple Earth Day clean-ups. The club’s newest project revolves around creating more accessible waste bins so that students are encouraged to sort their trash correctly and help the environment. In every 100 and 700 hall classroom, one student
will be designated to empty the recycling bin in their hallway during seventh period. The program was made possible thanks to the hard-working custodians, and donations made by CVSan, and leadership. “Even though this is just a trial, it is very important that everyone is on board. Students, teachers, and custodial staff all play a major role. In return, a fantastic system will be in place that is best for everyone,” said Babasyan. A few complaints regarding the organics bin have already risen. Some staff members may fear that the bins may cause smells in the classroom. However, the developers of this program provide strong assurance that as long as the bins are emptied on time, it should not be a problem. Junior Michelle Moreno, the
club’s vice president, voiced her support for the system as well. “We hope that with this method, more students and staff will have a choice when throwing away their objects or food. Personally, I get annoyed when I’ve just finished my fruit and I’m holding onto the peel for so long
Mia Babasyan/ Feature Editor
because an organics bin is not accessible to me,” Moreno said. The pilot program is meant to make problems like this disappear, as well as make our school a greener place. “With this pilot, we hope to make sorting a habit, not a chore,” said Moreno.
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Olympian opposes new teen driving rules
Editorial:
A new bill could extend provisional driving restrictions to new drivers up to 20 years old. Assemblyman Jim Frazier presented AB 63 in the hope of reducing the amount of accidents among new drivers, but we at The Olympian have big concerns about the proposal. Currently, the provisional license prohibits drivers under the age of 18 from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., with a few exceptions for those who work, medical necessities, and school activities. Teens also cannot transport anyone under the age of 20 unless accompanied by a licensed driver of 25 years or older, making it highly inconvenient for students, both college and high school level, to carpool to school activities and functions. Teens are also unable to use a cell phone while driving, including hands-free devices. Should the bill be enacted, new drivers would face the
same restrictions even if they get their licenses at age 20. We at The Olympian find AB 63 controversial on many counts.
We believe that being unable to drive your friends and family around unless they are over the age of 21 is very restrictive.
Da Di / Staff Writer Young drivers commonly break this law. It’s a hassle for parents to drive kids around, especially to school. Drop-off
traffic at CVHS is a major issue in the community. But if provisional drivers were to carpool with other students, we would be able to have fewer cars on our roads. Also, we think it’s illogical for those 18 and older to be legal adults but unable to drive without a provisional license. At the age of 18 people are allowed to vote and become active in military. Why should they have to drive the same restrictions as minors? Curfew rules are okay as they stand. We agree with Frazier that new drivers aged 18-20 need to practice, but they don’t need a law to make them do that. On the other hand, we think cell phone use should be prohibited for all drivers, even those 21 and over. Mainly, we believe the current six-month term for which an underage driver must hold a learner’s permit should be left as is, and not applied to legal adults 18 and over.
Spider-Man spat shows Hollywood’s need for diversity
By Wailea Siler Staff Writer
Spider-Man: Homecoming began production this summer after the webslinger made an appearance in Captain America: Civil War. An online article announcing that exDisney Channel star Zendaya was to play the role of Mary Jane “MJ” Watson, Parker’s infamous love and valiant friend, exploded all over the internet. Since then, many fans have either actively shown
their support for the actress of color or complained that she doesn’t have the chops to take on the role. Most of these complaints have been based solely on external features, such as the color of her hair and skin. I can’t fathom how these arguments are plausible. Some are even claiming that because Zendaya doesn’t have natural red locks, an infamous trait of MJ, she shouldn’t portray the character. I find this ridiculous; in fact, Kirsten Dunst, the actress who played MJ in the original series, was a natural blonde. Where were the complaints then? These arguments are based solely on the fact that Zendaya is a woman of color. Besides, this wouldn’t be the first time an iconic redhead character was portrayed by a person of color. In the CW’s The Flash and Supergirl, characters Wally and Iris West and Jimmy Olsen, are played by black actors, who don’t look anything like their comic coun-
terparts. And yes, they still nail their roles. If anything, Marvel is simply finally leveling the playing field, casting more people of
“It’s important for a little girl to be able to ecstatically point at an actress like Zendaya and say ‘She looks like me!’
” color and allowing for ethnic representation in pop culture. It has taken initiative to cast more diverse actors in this
film: most of the characters are people of color. While the rumors of Zendaya portraying MJ Watson are, well, rumors, I’m elated to see an official new representation being brought to classic characters such as Liz Allan and Flash Thompson, who are also being portrayed by people of color. Spider-Man lives in Queens, NY, and it only makes sense for a place as diverse as the Big Apple to be represented by diverse actors, too. Racism in Hollywood is prevalent in many film and television productions. In fact, during the 2016 Oscars award show, the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite trended, for all of the nominated actors where white. This showcases the racism in the film industry, something that desperately needs to be fixed. It’s important for there to be racial representation in the Hollywood industry, just as it’s important for a little girl to be able to
PHOTOpinions By Pau Gutierrez
“I disagree because being 16 doesn’t mean you have less ability to drive than others.” Valeria Gutierrez, freshman
“I think it sucks, but it’s probably going to be a good change.” Joanna Curpene, sophomore
ecstatically point at an actress like Zendaya and say “She looks like me!” The fact of the matter is that while MJ Watson’s hair and skin color are a part of her features, they do not control her personality. Even if Zendaya isn’t cast as MJ, it is disgusting many people bombard her with racist comments and hate. Even Stan Lee, former president and chairman of Marvel, agrees. "The color of their skin doesn't matter, their religion doesn't matter, all that matters is that this is the right person for the role," stated Lee. Director Jon Watts has officially stated that Zendaya’s character is Michelle. It is not likely that she will be playing Mary Jane, but it’s ludicrous that she had to endure such racist hate in the first place. This doesn’t only apply to the incoming Spider-Man franchise; actors of color don’t deserve to be judged by the color of their skin, but by their merit.
What do you think about new teen driving rules? “I disagree because people are only going to wait it out longer if you have to do all that extra stuff.” Danijela Jozinovic, junior
“It kind of sucks, but it will be better because there are a lot of bad drivers in the streets who could use some extra practice.” Maggie Del Grande, senior
3 Get green: corrupt, global businesses are harming the environment The Olympian Jan. 27, 2017
By Mia Babasyan Feature Editor
Despite California’s record drought in the past years, companies such as Nestle have been accused of breaking federal law by removing millions of gallons of water on an expired permit. Nestle has denied the accusation, however it does not take
much to find the damage that they are causing. This is just one example of big business corruption that is affecting all people on an everyday basis. Big businesses and corporations have been in control of the world for decades. Most of us are aware of the sweatshops and unfair advantages of living in a developed nation, but what many are not aware of is the abuse and corruption behind companies, mainly in the U.S. They bribe our government and destroy our environment, all due to greed. I wanted to dig deeper into the businesses that cause such harm and find lists of brands that abuse the system by manipulating workers and buyers. After multiple Google searches, I was led to a record of com-
panies connected within one another, polluting our waters with toxic waste and stealing from millions of Americans every day. This made me realize how little I know about how complex this corruption is. On one hand, I don’t believe a high school student can do a lot with so much information, yet on the other, I believe that it is where change begins. In the U.S. alone, companies like Nestle and many more, are not just polluting our environment and breaking regulations, but they are also producing low quality products at exorbitant prices for their fellow Americans. What is worse, these companies are around the globe in our poorest nations doing the same thing, but far worse. These big companies destroy
people’s communities, taking their natural resources and selling them back to them at prices they cannot afford. What are these people left to do but use their own resources, which have of course been disgustingly polluted by these very companies. The corruption that face developing nations goes beyond what I can even explain; I am unable to comprehend why these nations are so mistreated. These are situations that make the poor poorer, and I haven’t even touched on the subject of their national debts. The only way to stop companies from gaining so much power is to prevent them from obtaining control in government over the American people in the first place. This all falls into the hands of the people.
If people do not buy the products of certain big businesses, then they cannot gain as much control. This tactic is called boycotting. The word boycott comes from the name of a real life man, who was a wealthy landowner in Ireland. His title was Captain Boycott and he was the the first to suggest this approach. It’s a simple task for Americans that can result in possibly making a brighter and more prosperous future for developing nations. I would encourage everyone to research into companies and corporations to see for yourselves where many products come from, and how they contribute to the environment. It can be very compelling once you realize the impact you as an individual can make.
Musician learns new tune: “pursue your passion”
By Gavin Halloran Photo Editor
The definition of success in our world today is widely considered to be wealth. The lawyers, doctors, and engineers flood the declared major lists of colleges. Our parents drive into our heads the idea of riches and a carefree life attained by wealth. I’d like to offer an alternative: why not pursue what you love? Why not live a life of your choosing? What is stopping you? The idea of pursuing what
you love has scared me for a long time. When I was younger, the idea of being a full-time musician seemed ridiculous. I believed at the time that success was money and musicians were all poor. My parents wished for me to be a lawyer and go to law school. I argued incessantly with my parents, who wished nothing but the best for me and hoped for me to be wealthy and successful. I believed in this idea of success all the way through freshman and sophomore year. I put music to the side and pawned it off as a mere hobby. At the end of sophomore year, I decided to take lessons privately. My teacher Guido Fazio is at the top of his trade as a successful Bay Area jazz musician. Over the course of a few months, my skills became more refined; I began to question what I wanted out of music, who I wanted to be. Guido has had a rather wonderful life, choosing to become a freelance
jazz musician out of high school. He refined his skills and became one of the top local saxophonists. Through teaching privately and playing gigs, he has generated a regular revenue. Guido came to raise a family and have a house of his own, and play with top jazz bands around the country. One day before our lesson began, I asked him what his idea of success was. His answer would change my thoughts entirely. He told me that success is defined not by money but by fulfilment. Guido chose a life of solely music, and for him, he hasn’t worked a day in his life. He succeeded in what he wanted and made a living from his passion. He went on to say that if you truly love to do something, the money will follow. If you truly have a passion then you’ll find ways to make it work. My life was changed in that little room that day. Music is my true passion and nothing will
Gavin Halloran with his music teacher, Guido Fazio. change that. My teacher stands as a testament to the personal vision of success. In my eyes, he’s as rich as Rockefeller. He’s wealthy with joy and gladness. My teacher lives music and music, in turn, provides for him. Finding a passion isn’t necessarily as easy as it was for him, but
I think what's most important is that no matter the hardships, I’ll find a way. In time, if you continue to search, you’ll find what you love. So when the time arrives, pursue your passion until your journey is over. Anything else, in the end, will lead to regret.
Letters: teacher pay, Trump
Re: “The Olympian suggests graduation changes” Some good points, but I personally have had a lot of trouble being a theater student and making sure my schedule meets graduation requirements. In fact, I was denied the ability to take my second year of French last year because I was taking theater. I think if we were to add more requirements, there should be more room for those who need to take other classes too. A good way to do this is to offer more classes as 0 periods. Sarah Dove Re: “Teachers and districts talk about salaries” by Lina Stoyanovich I think teachers deserve a raise for the work that they do. Without teachers there would be no one to prepare and educate students for the future. Students may only make up a small portion of society, but they make up 100 percent of the future and a teacher who can reach the heart
of a student should be as well regarded as a doctor. While a doctor can perform surgery on a heart, a teacher can change that heart. Alan Yee
Re: “Thoughts on Hillary Clinton” by Halley Lin-Jones Halley, I read your essay and nodded in agreement several times. You have written a wellresearched and well analyzed article. Clinton’s loss hurt us emotionally. I’m proud of your generation for your motivation to move forward instead of brooding over the ‘Fake News’ and false accusations that caused the unfortunate election results. Keep on writing and getting involved in the changes that we want to bring to the society. Hemlata Vasavada Re: “Humans of CV: Andre Juntilla” by Nisha Lal I don’t know Andre personally, but I’ve heard about his music & clothing line. He’s an amazing
The Olympian is a publication of the journalism class at Castro Valley High School, 19400 Santa Maria Ave., Castro Valley, CA 94546. © 2016
singer and I can see him becoming well known for his passion! Lindsey Becerra Re: “Donald Trump can absolutely not be president” by Cristian Garcia I think Donald Trump wanting to deport all illegal aliens is a great goal for him to set. The illegal alien population in our country hurts us tremendously. We should also beef up border patrol to prevent future illegals coming. A wall may be a bit extreme, but some action is better than none. Trump should be our next president because he is a businessman who understands how the economy works. Jacob Mackin
Editors-in-Chief.......................................................................Jessica Mi Halley Lin-Jones Copy Editors......................................................................Anastasia Le Elizabeth Chan Fiona Richter News Editor..............................................................Jacob Schoenfeld Opinion Editor............................................................Stella Ho Feature Editor.....................................................Mia Babasyan Sports Editor................................................................Sarah Nosseir Arts and Entertainment Editor......................................Molly Koch Photo Editor........................................................Gavin Halloran Video Editors........................................................Desiree Broome Lauren Eisenman Video News Reporter..............................................Brittany Bracy Business Manager........................................Emily Salazar Staff Writers: Haley Booth, Da Di, Cristian Garcia, Pau Gutierrez, Hannah Johansson, Nisha Lal, William Lao, Audrey Manzano, Jason Mays, Mara Moysen, Megan O’Brien, Ria Panjwani, Wailea Siler, Will Stein, Lina Stoyanovich, Beruk Tsegaye Advisor........................................................................Matt Johanson
Truth is Beauty stands tall
Jacob Schoenfeld/news editor
Kayla Dailey demonstrates a concept with a slinky during her physics class.
Kayla Dailey teaches physics daily By Fiona Richter Copy Editor
Halley Lin-Jones/ Editor-in-Chief
A new sculpture towers over San Leandro Tech Campus.
By Halley Lin-Jones Editor-in-Chief
“What would the world be like if women were safe?,” sculptor Marco Cochrane asks, and as viewers pass by, they can not help but tilt their heads up and admire the 55-foot steel nude dancer, her back arched, head thrown back, and hands clasped and reaching towards the heavens. The dancer, titled Truth is Beauty, was installed in front of the San Leandro Tech Campus in early October, to the surprise and excitement of many local art lovers, including AP Art History teacher Jo Sutton. “What surprised me most about the sculpture, absolutely, was the scale of it,” she said. “It’s also a great example of how knowing the story behind a work of art actually makes it even more powerful.” The story here is of a dancer named Deja Solis, a tall woman who Cochrane used as a model for several sculptures. He described her as being “worried about being tall.” “She was all scrunched down, trying to be shorter,” he said. “She saw the sculpture and said, ‘Why do I do that? I want to be tall!’” In this new sculpture, Cochrane succeeded in portraying Solis just as she wanted to be seen–tall and beautiful. From the beginning of Cochrane’s journey as an artist, he has been drawn to the subject of the female body as a way of addressing the continuing problem of female oppression in society. A native to northern California, Cochrane has recently been commissioned for several projects in
the area. Cochrane is very open about the experiences in his own personal life that led him to dedicate his art to the issue of women’s rights. “As a child, I was deeply affected by the abduction and violation of one of my friends. I thought, the man that did that to her must not have realized she was a real person. I have been trying to solve this problem my entire life through my art,” explained Cochrane on his website. “The women I sculpt are safe, present. Look at them.” In this sculpture, the first thing you notice is the immensity of the work and the strength and power of the woman in her elongated pose. The sculpture’s nudity startled some local viewers, whose reactions were highlighted on local TV features of the work, but Cochrane made the intentional decision to do all his sculptures nude in order to address the prevalent shame associated with the female body. “I intend to directly challenge the notion that the female body must always carry a sexual charge,” he said. “This is dangerous and we need to change the way we think about it.” The piece’s message is already resonating with many people who have come across this work. “What I love most about the sculpture is the story of selfacceptance. Truth is beauty; self acceptance is the key to happiness. I feel like it’s only taken me my lifetime to get to that point,” said Sutton emphatically. “Great works of art like this can help people figure this out sooner. When you really learn to truly accept who you are as a person, it’s the most liberating feeling.”
Teaching at the high school you attended just four years ago might sound like a nightmare for many people, but Kayla Dailey is not one of them. Dailey graduated from CVHS in 2012 and received her degree in physics from UC Berkeley in 2016. She’s now teaching physics to students who are only a few years younger than her. “Being a teacher at my old school is very fun, I’m really enjoying it. The people here, especially the students, are great, but it is a little weird,” said Dailey. Because she isn’t much older than her students, Dailey was once asked for ID by a security guard when she left campus as a student teacher last year. She is now a colleague of her former teachers, such as Deborah Yager, Sean Fottrell,
and Silvia Perri. “It’s really cool to be working together with my old teachers. They’re very nice people, but it’s very different than being their student, and is still taking some getting used to,” Dailey said. At first Dailey wanted to become a teacher “on and off” and planned on working with elementary-schoolers, but she eventually discovered that her true calling is being a high school teacher. Now she gets to teach her favorite subject, physics. “Physics is really amazing because it’s how the universe works. When I first started learning it, I discovered a whole new way of looking at the world that I could never have imagined before,” explained Dailey. Of course, physics is not her only passion. In her free time, Dailey directs a children’s
choir, writes science fiction, and spends time with her husband, who is also a CVHS alumnus. The two of them even went to prom together. According to her students, Dailey truly makes them enjoy learning. "Ms. Dailey is so pumped up about physics that she makes me just as excited as she is. She's just one big ray of sunshine," said senior Jenna Lowe.
Edwards evokes passion for P.E. By Jason Mays Staff Writer
Everybody loves John Edwards. Ask anyone on campus if they know him and they’ll tell you about something hilarious he said or did. However, most people don’t know his most memorable moment in high school, or when and why he became a teacher. “I remember the class of ‘95 senior prank,” said Edwards when asked about his favorite high school memory. “Someone had cut a hole in the cyclone fence, and drove a red Volkswagen into the swimming pool. They had to get a crane to get it out, and it cost $25,000 to remove it. The oils and all the fluids jacked up the pool filters, and it was all just a mess. I’ll never forget it.” When asked why he decided to become a P.E. teacher, he recalled his elementary school teacher, Karen Davis. “She made me want to go to school,
P.E. teacher John Edwards and she made education fun,” said Edwards. “I could tell that she cared about her students, and I wanted to be able to give that to somebody, someday.” Karen Davis is remembered at the district office with a garden dedicated in her memory. When asked why he chose to teach P.E. he referred to the discipline required for physical exercise: “You have to put the
work in to get the results you want.” Through his own active lifestyle, Edwards demonstrates its virtues in the hope that his students will carry those lessons into their adult lives. “I just know that there’s a certain quality in life that you get when you’re healthy, and I try to impart that on my students,” he explained. “That’s why I teach.”
The Olympian Jan. 27, 2017
Creativity thrives in new writing class By Anastasia Le
Copy Editor Do you have a penchant for writing outside of your traditional English class? If so, CVHS now offers Creative Writing: a semester-long English elective offered to upperclassmen. English Department Chair Anne Parris introduced the curriculum this school year following years of the shuttering of English classes, such as science fiction, to allow for classes like ERWC that are more geared for preparing students for college. “I decided to take Creative Writing because I enjoyed Ms. Parris’ teaching style in Honors American Literature, and was hoping to bring more creativity into my school day,” said senior Carly Becerra. As stated in the course overview, it is “the English course where—if we believe the great Italian writer Umberto Eco—we will learn how to ‘survive.’” The class is structured such that the curriculum consists of daily writing, concentrated
reading, and biweekly writing workshops. Senior Ian Doporto speaks for many Creative Writing students in his appreciation for the class writing workshops: “I enjoy constructive criticism and cooperating as a team... It makes me happy to see all of us help each other revise our writings and peruse detail. We are our own creators and critics.” Creative Writing’s first semester hailed a staggering nine-person class, leaving the classroom emptier than others, but just as full of energy. “The class is small and there isn’t a strict way of doing things, so we get a lot of freedom with what we do,” says Becerra. “There’s less pressure about being ‘perfect’ and more importance on being true and open to everything.” Aside from creative writing prompts, the class is also suplemented with texts such as “Mirrors” by Umberto Eco; “Flash Fiction International: Very Short Stories from Around the World,” edited by James Thomas, Robert
Shepard, and Christopher Merrill; and “The Woman Warrior” by Maxin Hong Kingston. “Someone who I think would enjoy creative writing is imaginative but also willing to put those ideas down a paper,” said junior Nadine Strand. “The relatively small class makes me feel comfortable opening up a bit more. I feel safe enough to read out loud what I write because everyone is very supportive.” Students are currently compiling their portfolios of original works written and revised for submission at the end of the semester. “I’m very excited to submit my work... my pieces mean a lot to me,” said senior Miranda Xie. Students who want to improve as a writer or are looking for a creative outlet in the traditional schoolday are recommended to sign up for second semester Creative Writing. “If you’re not looking for another AP class but one that is just as creatively challenging, this is the class for you,” Beccera said.
Afrocentric classes offer insight By Beruk Tsegaye
Staff Writer Afrocentric American Literature and Afrocentric U.S. History classes have created a community with CVHS African American students. These classes have sparked a discussion of race in ways that have truly opened the eyes of these students. They have brought all of the students together in a unique way, teaching them to understand the effects of racism in school, outside of school, and their daily lives. “It’s really important as African Americans to learn about our history, and in most of our previous English and history classes, teachers almost never discuss anything that has to do with African American history. They usually just skip through it,” said junior Ashleigh Davis. Teachers Lauren Beck and Kevin Batchelor created their classes in ways that have shown students their true background. A memorable moment for many students was when they discussed if slavery was still in existence, and if any of the students feel as if the world they live in is putting them in a box of labels and stereotypes. This conversation had students talking and discovering the reality they face today. “I feel more comfortable speaking my opinion in these classes because I know there are people who have had the same issues I have dealt with. But in my other classes, I'm afraid to speak my mind because I'm the only black girl in there, so I just keep to myself,” said junior Ileana McDonald. “I do think there are issues, there are perceptual problems among the staff in the terms of how they view their African American students; there are issues in terms of how non-black students view black students. I
Nisha lal/staff writer
Anjali Prasad stuns the crowd with an original song.
Winter Talent Show showcases performers
Students of all grades display their talents to kick off winter break By Nisha Lal Staff Writer
Beruk Tsegaye / Staff Writer
Afrocentric students listen to a lecture and take notes. think there are curricular issues, in the way our curriculum fails to bring African American experiences into the curriculum outside of the classes. But it comes down to the African American students not feeling like this is a place they are fully welcomed, and have a place that wants them here,” said Batchelor. Leaving a question for all of CVHS residents: are we doing everything possible to make our African American students feel like a part of the school? How can we all come together to make each other feel welcome? These are the questions that need to be asked. “I feel responsibility to instill respect in humanity and sympathize with their struggles, but how do we take the struggles and turn them into a learning opportunity and change the culture that we’re in? That’s the question we face in this class,” said Beck. The curriculum is considerably different from regular junior English and history classes. “If you compare the expectations in terms of workload and
content knowledge, reading in the Afrocentric classes or Literature classes...what we’re doing is so much more. Students are reading more primary source work and the textbooks are college level books compared to regular classes,” said Batchelor. These classes work to bring students closer to their history through the African American perspective. However, it is disappointing that African American students have to take a class like this to learn something that should have been discussed in every English and history class. It is noteable to mention that African American history is American history, and that many of the topics discussed in Afrocentric classes should be covered in American history classes. It is up to the student and the school to recognize this discrepency. “We are smart, we can do what you can, just because you see the stereotype doesn’t mean we can’t do it. We are smart, we have a mind of our own,” said junior Baylis Gregoriana.
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Castro Valley High School’s annual talent show was the place to be after school on Dec. 22. The holiday break was kicked off with loads of student talent. Many students from all grades performed song and dance at the cafeteria stage, and even more came to watch. “I was completely surprised by the number of talented people at our school,” said junior Sandhya Andrews. The winter talent show has been a school tradition for many years. It is a wonderful opportunity for trojans to show off their amazing talents and enjoy great food supplied by school clubs. Attendees were able to stop by different booths and purchase things from clubs such as Red Cross finals kits. Many clubs are able to gain support from this event every year. The show featured the talents of many students. .
They all displayed wonderful performances as they sang and danced their hearts out. Some of the songs that were performed were “House of Gold” by Twenty One Pilots, “Budapest” by George Ezra, and many more, including and original song written by Anjali Prasad. Students also showcased their musical skills by playing instruments such as the ukulele, piano, and guitar.
“
I was completely surprised by the number of talented people at our school. Sandhya Andrews Junior
”
“I liked that the audience got to see people you wouldn't expect to see, just having fun on stage and doing something they love,” said Andrews. The show was very successful and entertaining overall. Many trojans enjoyed the event and found that it was a great way to kick off the beginning of their holidays. “I can’t wait to see what next year has to offer,” said Andrews.
The Force is strong in Rogue One
Shen Yun dance show captivates audiences
By Jacob Schoenfeld News Editor
With the successful release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Star Wars franchise felt a lot of pressure to hold itself to a high standard in the eyes of a growing fan base. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was under an immense amount of scrutiny, as audiences were seeing a story that didn’t follow the franchise’s most famous heroes, but rather a spin-off tale that has its own place in the Star Wars story. It succeeded. Rogue One chronologically takes place between episodes three and four. It follows Jyn Erso, a young, independant woman who refuses to take sides in the war, until the Rebel Alliance calls for her help in finding more about the Empire’s alleged new super weapon. Erso comes across a wide assortment of characters along her journey, including a blind believer in “the Force,” Chirrut Îmwe, played by Donnie Yen, and a reprogrammed security droid K-2SO voiced by Alan Tudyk. With this rather unexpected group of misfits, the company attempts to find a weakness in the new Imperial weapon. Erso, played by Felicity Jones, shows quite a few similarities to the character Rey from The Force Awakens, in that they both are independent, determined fighters, physically and mentally. What sets Erso aside from Rey is that she isn’t sure what she should fight for, and why she should choose a side. The political question of why
By Jessica Mi
Editor-in-Chief With whorls of colorful sleeves, graceful leaps and ceaseless fluidity, dancers at Shen Yun truly make the show divine. Shen Yun is an artistic performance that features classical Chinese styles of dance, music, and singing. The dancers are trained at Fei Tan Academy of the Arts in New York and are some of the top traditional Chinese dancers in the world. They performed in San Francisco in December. Classical chinese dance is described as “one of humankind’s greatest treasures.” Shen Yun is an independent, nonprofit organization with the goal of preserving this
breathtaking. In “Mongolian Bowls,” performers danced while balancing bowls on their heads, capturing the unique custom of hospitality traditionally displayed by Mongolian women. In “Yellow Blossoms,” the use of ruffled yellow fans created illusions of blooming yellow bouquets on stage. Lastly, “Handkerchiefs in Flight” featured the traditional art of handkerchief spinning that originated during the Song dynasty in the Shandong province. The music of Shen Yun also reflected traditional Chinese music. A modern Western orchestra played, with additions of traditional Chinese instruments such as the erhu (two stringed fiddle) and pipa (Chinese lute), creating a unique texture of sound. The performance had a strong spiritual influence from
Jason Mays / Staff Writer
The Death Star rises ominously over the planet Scarif. you should rebel, and what the moral limitations as to what you can do in a rebellion, are constantly brought up. The general audience is used to seeing the Rebel Alliance and Jedi in a positive light, but in Rogue One, we see some of the darker sides of rebellion, as they explore what is right and what is wrong in war. Aside from a somewhat indepth backstory about Erso and her family, many of the other characters aren’t explained in depth, and are developed rather quickly. This should be expected, as the whole movie comprises of so much in only a little over two hours. For the
space that the film had, the characters were developed enough to actually care about them, and learn their individual character traits. One thing that all Star Wars fans can admire are all the references to the other movies in the series. There are so many to watch out for that it creates an active audience in search of them. The film wasn’t all great. It did have a few slow moments, predictable developments, and rather unnecessary relationship moments. But aside from that, Rogue One brought new ideas, mindboggling action, and stories of some untold Star Wars heroes.
Spider-Man trailer traps fans in web
By Harley Penn Secret Superhero
Nerds were blown away on Dec. 8 when the trailer for SpiderMan: Homecoming was released. The trailer looked like any other typical sneak peak for a SpiderMan movie until Tony Stark ap-
peared. Many might be surprised to see Iron Man in a Spider-Man movie, not only because Robert Downey Jr.’s contract only obligates him to play Iron Man in the Infinity War movies, but also because Spider-Man is owned by Sony, and Iron Man is owned by Marvel. A long time ago back in the early 2000s, when Marvel was still starting out in the movie business, the company was running out of money because it couldn’t make any good films. To make money the company started selling off some of the characters, like the X-Men and Spider-Man. Spider-Man ended up in the hands of Sony, but recently, it has not been doing so great with its movies. Marvel has since grown into a huge industry once it got its footing with Iron Man. It wanted to use Spider-Man in Captain
America: Civil War because in the comic books, Spider-Man had a big part to play. In return for lending Marvel Spider-Man, Sony gets help from Marvel in making a Spider-Man movie and it also gets to use Iron Man. Trades like this have been made in other instances between Marvel and Fox, and it seems to be working out for the companies. Another big face in the trailer was The Vulture, a long time Spider-Man villain. The bad bird was hinted at near the end of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in the basement of Oscorp, but no one expected him to be brought onto the big screen, since a lot of easter eggs don’t usually get acted upon. Sony has wanted to use The Vulture for some time now. But now his time to stretch his wings and soar onto the big screen has arrived.
See HERO: page eight
Jessica Mi/ Editor-In-Chief
Jessica Mi attends the ShenYun performance in San Francisco. treasure and reviving authentic Chinese culture. The show opened with a piece called “Descent from Heaven -- A Renewal.” Many more dances followed, each telling a story or showcasing a dance from a specific region in China. Performers danced in colorful, elaborate costumes and used props such as fans, scarves, headdresses, and drums. All of the dances were beautifully choreographed, but there were a few highlights. During “Han Dynasty Sleeves,” dancers wore colorful, long “water sleeves” and performed intricate spiraling movements that were visually
a practice called “Falun Dafa,” also known as “Falun Gong.” The practice emphasizes truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, yet its practitioners are persecuted in mainland China. Shen Yun conveyed the importance of speaking out against the Chinese communist government so that people may follow Falun Dafa as they please. The show tours internationally and makes a stop in the Bay Area each year with a whole new set of choreography and music. It is definitely an enriching experience. Tickets can be found online at www. shenyun.com.
Athletes of the Month
Cristian Villarreal, soccer
By Lina Stoyanovich Staff Writer
Senior Cristian Villarreal is no stranger to the soccer field. An avid soccer player since the age of seven, Villarreal is quickly rising to fill the demanding position of a player on the CVHS varsity soccer team. In a recent intense game against Encinal High, the score was tied. With both teams furiously battling for the win, Villarreal made a vital assist, giving CVHS the winning goal. “It was definitely my favorite mo-
ment of the season so far,” Villarreal remarked. Villarreal has played for CVHS all throughout his high school career, but this is his first year on the varsity team. Even though his passion for the game is strong, when asked what his favorite part about playing for CVHS was, he replied, “I think that the best part is being a part of our team. We all have a lot of fun together.” He looks forward to a good season this year, and hopes to create many more memories with his teammates both on and off the field.
Olivia Gilman-Chun, basketball
By Ria Panjwani Staff Writer
Sophomore Olivia Gilman-Chun is a multi-talented athlete who participates in three sports on campus: cross country, track and field, and basketball. She began her sports career as early as second and third grade with basketball and track and field, and recently took up cross country in her freshman year. “My favorite part about playing sports is that is gives me something to do in my free time, and is also a gateway to meeting new people and making new friends and teammates,” commented Gilman-Chun. She currently plays for the CVHS JV
women's basketball team as a point guard and shooting guard. Over the years of competition she has garnered many accolades and awards in her sports. In basketball, she was named best defensive player of the year with her team going undefeated that season. She has also made her mark running for cross country and track and field, receiving her varsity letter and making NCS as a freshman. She commented that NCS was fun and exciting. Gilman-Chun expressed that her least favorite part about sports is losing, an attribute of competition all athletes must adapt to in order to succeed in their respective sports.
Megan O’Brien/ Staff Writer
Coach Rory O’ Connor gives instructions on what stretches to do to warm up for the game.
Pro soccer player is new CVHS coach
By Megan O’Brien Staff Writer
How would you like to be coached by someone who used to play professionally in Ireland? The boys varsity soccer team gets to have this amazing opportunity. Rory O’Connor played right, back, and center midfield for Limerick and New Castle in Ireland. He also played and coached college soccer in Europe. O’Connor previously coached at Piedmont High School and led its team to the playoffs all four years that he coached. In addition to coaching at CVHS, O’ Connor currently coaches at Las Positas Community College. O’Connor came to Castro Valley because of family, and for Castro Valley’s community. “I like the community. I like the school,” said O’Connor. He believes that this year ’s
team is hard-working and responds well to his coaching. “Right now we’re starting in a good place,” he said. “I would like to praise the kids.” This season, O’Connor wants to focus on really understanding the game and working more on the mental aspect of the game. The players like and respond well to his coaching approach. “I think he is a great coach,”said junior Carter Stanbaugh. O’Connor has all their games filmed so they can watch them over and work on things that need improvement in practice. “I think he is very good technically. He’s very good at getting us together as a team,” Stanbaugh said. O’Connor works closely with the new junior varsity coach, Oscar Mendizobal, making both teams feel like one big family. They are trying new formations this year and they seem to be working out well.
The Olympian Jan. 27, 2017
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Trump plans tax cuts, deportations Gays and More wants
PLAN: from page one
Trump expects states to contribute $110 billion to provide school choice and voucher programs for children living in poverty, whom he believes the public schools are failing. He also plans on immediately investing an additional $20 billion of federal funds into this plan. Voucher programs allow parents to use tax money to pay for their children’s non-public school education, but Democrats and public school teachers traditionally oppose them. “When it comes to charter schools, there are some good ones and some bad ones. If we just put money and resources into public schools, they will get better, and there won’t be a need for charter schools,” said Mark Mladinich, history teacher.
create more competition in the industry and lower rates. “I would hope that our elected officials don’t pull the plug [on Obamacare] until they have a real plan and can take care of all the people that are currently covered under Obamacare,” commented anatomy and physiology teacher Melissa Kindelspire. Trumps also plans to require price transparency from health care providers. In terms of pharmaceuticals, he would like to allow more drug providers to be able to provide medication, including overseas companies. Lastly, he wants to allow state governments more autonomy with Medicaid policies, deregulating its current federal structure.
Environment In Trump’s first 100 days, he plans to nullify every executive action issued by President Obama, including orders to increase gas mileage and requiring power plants to reduce air pollution. Trump also wants to lift limitations put in place by former Presidents Clinton and Obama in order to allow energy infrastructure projects like the Keystone Pipeline to move forward. Trump then plans to cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs, and in turn, use that money to fix America’s water and environmental infrastructure. Many see Trump’s plans for and opinions on the environment as alarming. “His plans to promote mining and burning of fossil fuels, to try to dismantle the EPA, to not hold the US to its promises in the Paris Agreement; these are all unconscionable. Nothing worries me more about the new administration more than this,” said chemistry teacher Deborah Yager. “I’m really afraid that we’ll be moving backwards as a country on many fronts, but environmentally being one of them especially,” said Laura O’Brien, science teacher.
Health care Trump’s overall health care goal is to “broaden health care access, make health care more affordable and improve the quality of the care available to all Americans.” He plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act immediately, with the reasoning that no one should be mandated to buy health insurance, and appears to have more than enough Republican support in Congress to do so. Instead, Trump wants to allow health insurance to be sold across state lines, which he says would
Trump expressed his desire to appoint a conservative judge in Scalia’s place. “For a Supreme Court nominee, you want a legal and constitutional scholar. It’s not about being liberal or conservative,” said social studies teacher Gerry Cox. The moderate and liberal judges on the court are getting older: Anthony Kennedy is 80, Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 83, and Stephen Breyer is 78. Should Trump appoint a replacement for any of those three, conservatives will cement their hold on the court. “The major concern is that he will nominate pople who are unqualified, who just agree with him ideologically,” said Cox. “He’s unpredictable.” Crucial, irreversible decisions will be made in the coming years, not just by the Supreme Court but by all federal courts. Immigration
Taxes and spending While Trump has proposed major tax cuts that fall within the typical Republican economic agenda, his rhetoric against free trade goes against traditional Republican support for this. Additionally, his plan offers little assurance that the national debt would not increase under these tax cuts. The Middle Class Tax Relief and Simplification Act would cut taxes on all levels, with the largest cut of 35 percent going to the middle-class. Trump also intends to lower the business rate from 35 percent to 13 percent, and his proposed three-bracket “simplification” also greatly cuts taxes on the very wealthy. “I’m really curious as to whether he’s actually going to be able to enact this stuff, but the amount that he wants to cut definitely scares me. I don’t see how his tax plans really promote the purchasing power of the masses,” said economics teacher David Roth-Rossi. Alongside these changes, Trump hopes to disrupt trade deals like NAFTA, claiming that they take work away from U.S. citizens. This unusual take on free trade may have persuaded what Roth-Rossi described as the “rust belt, and maybe even parts of the South” to support him. Trump offers few solutions to avoid increasing the national debt of $19 trillion. While his tax plans line up with traditional conservatism, Trump’s proposed spending on infrastructure and the military could face opposition from fiscally conservative Republicans in Congress.
During his campaign, Trump was extremely vocal about his plan for immigration: build a wall, send them home. But now that Trump is actually the president, what is the future for the immigrants of America? Trump’s “Contract With the American Voter” promises a halt in immigration from “terrorprone” regions, deportation of more than two million people who are criminal illegal immigrants, funding cuts for sanctuary cities, and most famously, construction of a wall. How will this affect CVHS? According to the Migration Policy Institute, more undocumented immigrants live in California than in any other state. There are more than half a million undocumented immigrants in the Bay Area alone. Nearby San Francisco risks cuts in federal funding because of its sanctuary city status. At CVHS, as well as all over the country, even legal immigrants are scared, not just for their status in America, but for the acceptance of their culture or religion. “I’m thinking about taking off my scarf because I’m Muslim. I’m scared of people’s reaction,” said senior Sara Abdulqaui, an immigrant from Yemen. Abdulqaui and her family have lived in the United States for three years. Despite her family’s legal status, she is fearful. “We are scared he’s going to kick us out,” said Abdulqaui. Trump took the oath of office on Jan. 20, in front of an inaugural crowd that included a CVHS Close-Up group, and now the nation will see how far he can advance his agenda.
Supreme Court Trump released a list of 21 potential nominees to fill the Supreme Court’s current vacancy. If one of Trump’s nominees succeeds the late Justice Antonin Scalia, Republican nominees will again control the court. During his presidential campaign,
Olympian staff members Elizabeth Chan, Hannah Johansson, Anastasia Le, Halley Lin-Jones, Jessica Mi and Fiona Richter contributed to this report.
unisex bathroom
By Hannah Johansson Staff Writer
The Gays and More Club has initiated a push for a multi-stall unisex bathroom on campus this year. The goal is a facility that is open to everyone who feels uncomfortable picking a gendered bathroom. “I know people who don’t drink water during the day so they don’t have to use the restroom,” said Ricci Teefy, president of Gays and More. With a unisex bathroom, many more students will be able to go to school without worrying about this basic necessity. In November, Gays and More met with administrators Nic McMaster and Patrinia Redd to discuss the issue. Recently Redd and McMaster met with the district to propose a location for the unisex bathroom. One suggestion is to convert a 700 hall bathroom into a unisex bathroom because of the hall’s central location. Another possibility is to construct an entirely new facility. “I really think that it could happen this school year,” said Redd. However, because of logistics involving state regulation of school bathroom facilities, such as the ratio of student to staff bathrooms, it may take longer than hoped. Because of this, Gays and More and administration are
Spider-Man joins the Marvel Universe HERO: from page six
Everyone expects Mary Jane to be the big love interest in the upcoming movie, but it was revealed the character’s name
looking for temporary fixes. One temporary solution is to circulate knowledge about how to gain access to the two singlestalled unisex bathrooms that are currently on campus. Both can be accessed by going to a house office and requesting a key. One is located in the health office, and the other is located behind 900 hall. To help spread the word, the topic will be discussed at eighth grade parent night. However, even if all students know this information, the situation is still far from ideal. The bathroom located in the health office is already used by special education students, so added usage will be a hassle. The bathroom behind the 900 hall is in an inconvenient location. Additionally, the act of asking for a key can be nerve-racking for students “who have not come out yet,” said Teefy. To Teefy, as well as many others, a multi-stall unisex bathroom seems to be the only viable option.
is Michele Gonzalez, a past love interest. Looks like they are going real old school with this movie, scheduled to open on July 7. Fun Fact: There is more than one color of Kryptonite. Along with the well-known green k that weakens Superman, there are also red, blue, gold, silver, orange, pink, and periwinkle. Each color has a different effect on Superman. For example, pink kryponite turns him gay!