Issue 2

Raven Report Sequoia High School

Volume IX, Issue 2

1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062

October 14, 2015

Record high room temperatures not cool, pose health hazard

By MACKENZIE CLARKE Staff Reporter

Only one-third of Sequoia’s classrooms are air-conditioned.

Record high temperatures in August and September made classroom environments unbearable. Because the majority of since Aug. 18 classrooms at Sequoia lack air exceeded 90 degrees. conditioning, many students are forced to spend afternoon blockperiods in uncomfortably hot said. “By the time we got arrooms learning as usual without ranged [we] wasted 15 minutes of time, and we couldn’t use any disruption.

“It makes teaching difficult of the resources we needed to.”

This temperature problem not because there’s more breaks that need to be implemented,” IB only hinders learning and teachEnglish teacher Nichole Vaughan ing, it is also a health risk. Studies said. “The kids have to get up to by the American Academy of Pego get water, and when I see the diatrics show that minors have a looks on [their] faces, learning is higher risk of heat-related illness, not happening as effectively as it and beacuse of this, seven high schools in the Campbell Union needs to be.”

Vaughan’s sixth period class High School District enforced has 38 students packed into the required minimum days on Sept. room. When students are un- 9 and 10 due to unsafe temperatures in classrooms. comfortable, so are teachers.

The OccuSome, pational Safety includ“The kids have to get up to go and Health ing hisget water, and when I see the looks A d m i n i s t r a tory teacher on [their] faces, I would definitely tion recomLydia Cuffsay learning is not happening as ef- mends temperman, made fectively as it needs to be.” ature control the decision to move —Nichole Vaughan, in workplace their class English teacher environments to be between into cooler 68 to 76 declassrooms grees, so if on hotter days. However, moving into air- there is a distinct range for occuconditioned rooms proved to be pational environments, why not for schools? problematic.

“It’s really hard because I’m “It just took up so much time when we moved classrooms, and very sensitive to heat,” sophowe honestly were not productive more Hannah Marcus said. “I at all,” junior Victoria Huber had to leave the class a couple

11 days

Every day for the week of Sept. 7-11 was over

90 degrees.

times to go get water or just walk around so I wouldn’t feel so suffocated. ” Marcus is in Max Friedmann’s 6th period Pre calculus class, which gets particularly hot due to its location in the math wing and lack of fans or air conditioning.

The California Educational Code, a collection of state laws pertaining to California schools, states that classrooms must maintain internal temperatures within reasonable ranges, and over the past two decades many groups, including the statewide Parent Teacher Association, tried to push for an actual temperature range in the Ed. Code. This ambiguity has left room for question as to when temperatures became unreasonable.

“If we’re devoting money to adding air conditioning, we’re taking that away from programs, ” Administrative Vice Principal Gary Gooch said.

While school-wide air conditioning is the ideal solution to many, the actual execution is costly and daunting.

“Something has to be done,” Gooch said. “I’m just not sure what it is, what form it will take and when it will happen.”

Leaving them in

the dust Sophomores by day, team by night.

Read the story about two friends, one a professional photographer and the other a sponsored enduro biker on Page 8.

School calendar passes over non-Christian holidays

By BENJY JUDE Staff Reporter Carlmont’s prom was originally scheduled on the first night of Passover, but after a student-initiated petition gained over 1,500 supporters, principal Ralph Crame agreed to change it to May 27, according to Alyssa Feigelson, the sophomore who started the campaign.

This brought up the questions of religious awareness in schools, since many projects and tests are scheduled on religious holidays.

On the East Coast and Los Angeles,

where there are large non-Christian populations, school districts take Christian, Jewish and recently started taking Muslim holidays off if they have high religious diversity (around 1 percent or higher of the population per religion in America).

“Throughout a lot of those districts, you have a higher percentage of students who are going to miss school on those days,” said Spanish teacher Edith Salvatore, who is president of the Sequoia District Teacher Association (SDTA).

The SDTA tries to set the calendar to accommodate students’ needs, despite wanting their own needs to be prioritized.

Special:

Opinion:

Harassment in our hallways

Destroy Trump 2k16

Page 4-5

Page 6

“[Students] can’t be working on their schoolwork when they’re at synagogue,” Salvatore said.

The annual dance show was originally scheduled for the first night of Passover on April 23, traditionally reserved for a long dinner with family and friends. However, the dance instructor didn’t need a petition to change the date to April 15 and 16.

“We want to try to accommodate as many students, so that all could participate,” dance teacher Taylor White said.

“We don’t want to eliminate one group and not the other.”

On Eid al-Adha, senior Kubilay Agi

couldn’t take the day to pray, eat and celebrate with his family and community because he had a math test.

“In this country we don’t have holidays for [people] other than Christians,” Agi said.

Like Agi, senior Ariele Ladabaum went into school on the first day of Rosh Hashanah in the morning because those classes were hard to miss.

“Even missing one day definitely has an impact,“ Ladabaum said. To not fall even further behind than she already was, she studied during Yom Kippur, which she took off school.

By the numbers

4.2 out of 5

average rating of how safe students feel at Sequoia according to a Raven Report survey

2 Feature Grey’s Anatomy: Sequoia Edition Medical Clinical students take on real world cases

October 14, 2015

ASB brings land of Oz to Homecoming

By AVIVA FUTORNICK

By MADDIE PEI

Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

Immunizations, CPR, medical histories, medical terminology and anatomy—a typical day for any medical professional—is also a typical day for a student enrolled in Medical Clinical, an elective taken by students enrolled in the Health Careers Academy (HCA).

The HCA provides students with the tools and experience they need for a career in the healthcare field, which includes doctors and nurses along with policemen and firefighters.

“I have a whole closet full of CPR dummies; they’re practicing CPR [and] search-and-rescue skills,” said Medical Clinical 2 teacher Tiffany Burkle, HCA chair and certified American Red Cross instructor.

This class covers subjects from medical terminology and healthcare laws in the first year, to basic medical skills and procedures the second year. As 10th graders, students in the HCA become CPR certified, which is good for two years.

Students in Medical Clinical

Black and white to bursts of color. Yellow brick roads and witches’ castles. Flying monkeys and great wizards and the Emerald City. Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.

Associated Student Body (ASB) plans to bring the land of Oz to Gym 1 on Oct. 24 for this year’s theme “No Place Like Homecoming.” “[Homecoming] is a priority right now,” ASB Vice President Brianna Rosales said. “It’s been seen as a freshman thing. We want to change that.”

That’s why this year Homecoming is on a Saturday and semi-formal.

The lobby of Gym 1 will be Kansas with a tornado built out of wood and wire. In the gym, a yellow brick road will line the perimeter. Emerald City, the land of Munchkins, a rainbow and the Wicked Witch’s castle will all make an appearance.

“It’s taking you through the movie,” said Activities and Dance Committee head Lauren Berry.

“One little land at a time.”

Photo by Aviva Futornick

HCA students become CPR certified in 10th grade, and become recertified in12th grade, as Medical Clinical 2 students.

2 are recertified, participate in Emergency Medical Responder training and gain many basic medical skills which includes certifications in CPR, first aid and with automated external defibrillators.

Many students also have volunteer positions at either Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital or Sequoia Hospital, where they are able to use their training.

“You are with the same people, and you all have the same goal,” senior Alfred Pohahau said. “Teachers are more focused on you as individuals.”

Students have the same core group of teachers and classmates throughout their three years and classes are capped at 28.

As much as it is focused on medicine and health, the HCA is equally as focused on career

exploration and planning for students, doing extensive college prep and college visits, so students are prepared and ready for life after high school. “[The academy] is helping us get on the right track if we want to go into the medical field,” HCA senior Keilani Lowenstein said. Lowenstein, who wants to become a pediatrician, has always wanted to be in the medical field.

Teachers flash back to their high school years

Class of 2000 Class of 1992 Class of 1998 Class of 1994 Class of 1984

By BEATRICE BUGOS

Staff Reporter

While walking through familiar hallways and seeing unfamiliar faces, many teachers flash back to their high school years at Sequoia.

“I just remember being kind of nervous and trying to find all my classes, and also trying to find my friends I already knew in the hallways,” said Dustin Waters, a history teacher who graduated in Sequoia’s Class of 2000. “I always thought it would be cool to come back and teach at the high school that I went to.”

When Waters was a sophomore, history teacher Nancy Berry taught him.

“I’m very flattered that [Waters] decided to be a history teacher,” Berry said.

Waters had good memories of being in Berry’s class.

“She had really interesting stories about history, and she would bring in stories about her own life and really knew how to engage the class and make us feel comfortable. She always wanted to hear what

Class of 2003

we had to say, and I always had fun in her pus. The number of enrolled students has soared from 1,446 in 1995 to 2,135 in class,” Waters said.

As faces change at Sequoia, the students 2014 students, which resulted in adding and teachers write new pages in its history. buildings to the campus. The Multi-Pur“I think Sequoia has really become a pose Building and the Veterans Memorial place of learning. I’m really happy to be a were added starting in 2000 and Gym 1 part of it,” Waters said. “I was really happy finished renovation in 2010.

In the ‘80s, even rules were different. to see how well the students got along and “We had open campus. We would park how respectful they were.” our cars out in the Waters mentions student parking lot, the demographic of “I always thought it would be out there. And then Sequoia, which has cool to come back and teach at they would unlock the changed over the last the high school that I went to.”

20 years. According to —Dustin Waters, chains and open up the the California DepartHistory Teacher gates at lunch, and we would all jump in my ment of Education, the truck and drive over to percentage of Hispanic Burger King.

And then we would come or Latino-identifying students has grown from 52 percent of the student body at back over and sit out in the parking lot and Sequoia to 59 percent over 20 years. The play music in our cars,” said David Brand, percentage of students who identify them- Special Education Teacher and Class of selves as white has decreased from 36.9 1984.

Since the campus has changed, so have percent to 28 percent from the years 1995the traditions.

2015.

“I think the reputation here has imAnother aspect of the school that has proved.

Sequoia is one of the top schools changed over the past 20 years is the cam-

Class of 1971

on the Peninsula,” Waters said.

Sequoia was ranked the 119th school in California out of the 3,244 high schools and 622nd out of more than 21,000 schools nationwide by Niche for the school year 2014-2015. This is an improvement from previous years. There has also been a rise in test scores in science, math and English since the 2008 school year, according to Zillow.

“We had auto shop, machine shop, and industrial arts. I think that would still be of value here, because even though we have a lot of technology and it is huge now, there is still a need for trade jobs, for mechanics.

And I just thought we had a well rounded program for all types of students. Some kids just aren’t going on the college track.

Maybe they aren’t book smart, but they are very smart with their hands,” Brand said.

Over the course of the years, electives have changed with the campus. Machine shop, typing class, auto shop and industrial arts are no longer available for students because the B-Wing has been remodeled to fit different classrooms.

From left to right: Dustin Waters ‘00, Christle Waters ‘92, Adrian Dilley ‘98, Taylor White ‘94, David Brand ‘84, Melissa Perez ‘03, Joni Gordon ‘71. Not pictured: Cameron Farris ‘98, Cristelda Guillen ‘01.

3

Feature

October 14, 2015

Bittersweet caffeine addiction pervades student body

By PHILIP TYSON

Copy Editor

Coffee has long been considered an adult beverage. In our day, however, caffeinated drinks have

Libby Ross senior

Drink of choice: Peet’s nonfat vanilla latte or home-brewed coffee Frequency: 2 times/day since 9th grade “You become reliant on it.”

become increasingly widespread among teens. Caffeine is now a stimulant people use to stay awake in zero period and get through their difficult classes.

With varying degrees of evi-

Zack Maffei senior, 17

Drink of choice: Rockstar or Liquid Nitro Frequency: 4-5/week since 6th grade “It makes you feel really good. It’s awful for your teeth.”

dence of health benefits, the substance also comes with detrimental effects, among them being sleep deprivation.

As for caffeine content, a tall coffee has 260 mg, compared to

170 mg in a Monster drink and 140 mg in a Mocha Frappuccino.

In contrast, a can of Pepsi contains 38 mg of caffeine.

See how students and staff take their caffeine, below.

Alicia Shristie Nick Muys

junior, 16

Drink of choice: Strong coffee with cream

Drink of choice: Tall Starbucks coffee and small Monster

Drink of choice: Tall Starbucks Mocha

Frequency: each 2 times/week since 10th grade

Frequency: 4/week since 10th grade

“Coffee doesn’t work well to keep you up. Monster does.”

“It makes you tired later.”

English teacher

Frequency: 3-4 times/day since 8th grade “It’s always been a part of the rhythm of my family life.”

Hannah Murray junior,

Dishing it out: debating the new trend of acai bowls

By RIO POPPER Staff Reporter Acai (a-sigh-ee) bowls seem to have captured the minds, mouths and wallets of Sequoia students. But which of the two nearby restaurants is better— Vitality Bowls or Bare Bowls?

Acai bowls are somewhere between a smoothie and icecream. The base is a thick blend of the frozen ‘superfood’, acai berries, and is topped with a variety of options, ranging from chocolate to granola and honey.

The fad popped last year, with Bare Bowls opening last fall, and Vitality Bowls last spring.

I’ve evaluated the two shops based on five categories. I’ve also included a do-it-yourself recipe, so I do not become responsible for the bankruptcy of the entirety of Sequoia. Acai bowls are expensive.

Vitality Bowls 835 Middlefield Rd. Redwood City Location: Vitality Bowls is a short walk from Sequoia, right by the movie theater. For pedestrians, it’s perfect. For drivers, be aware: parking is non-existent.

Menu: I was overwhelmed by the variety of options on the menu.

With bowls, smoothies, cookies, juices, soups, salads and sandwiches, this café can satisfy any craving.

Ambiance: When I went to order, I

Menu: Bare Bowls has a range of bowl, cookie and smoothie options, but the range is not nearly as wide as that at Vitality bowls. I decided on the Rincon Bowl, a tropical seeming option.

Ambiance: I sat at a long counter and drank lemon-water from pretty mason jars.

“The atmosphere at Bare Bowls is more appealing,” Battaglini said. “It’s kind of more rustic.”

Service was quick—my bowl came out in under five minutes.

Photo by Carmen Vescia

Vitality Bowls offers a wide variety of options, including the Dessert Bowl, which blends chocolate, banana, strawberries and coconut chips into a delicious medley of flavors. still had no idea what to get. I member the first time we did a asked the server for advice. He bowl in less than five minutes cheerfully suggested the Dessert and everyone was really excited,” junior Bowl, which Jeanette I got. I also Marino, decided to Do-it-yourself bowl a Vitality get a RickIngredients: Bowls emaroon—a ½ cup frozen mango ployee, said. cookie sold at ½ cup frozen blueberries Many of the counter. It ½ frozen banana the employwas crowded, 1 ½ tbsp. almond milk ees attend Seand the serv1 tsp honey quoia. er warned me “Just in that it might Mix everything in the blender, my ASB take 20 minclass, there utes to get my starting with the softer things. are like five bowl out. people who This might Your choice of toppings: 1 small sliced banana work there,” seem slow, ¼ cup granola junior Maya but employ1 ½ tsp. almond butter Ebrahimpour ees work hard said. to get bowls out quickly.

“We have a clock where you Price: Smalls are 14 oz. and cost see the order and the time. I re-

around $7 to $8. Mediums are 20 oz. and cost around $9 to $11. Larges are 32 oz. and cost around $11 to $13.

Taste: It fulfilled my greatest expectations. The fruit tasted fresh, the granola was deliciously crunchy and the base was creamy and chocolatey.

“I feel like the flavors at Vitality Bowl are more powerful than the flavors at Bare Bowls,” freshman Lexi Battaglini said.

Bare Bowls

530 Emerson St. Palo Alto Location: Bare Bowls, in Palo Alto, is less convenient to get to from Sequoia and the parking is also bad.

Price: Prices are a little higher.

Smalls are 14 oz. and cost $8.

Regulars are 20 oz. and cost $12.

“The portions are bigger for about the same price,” Battagalini said. “You get more fruit because the rim is wider.”

Taste: When I tasted my Rincon Bowl, I was disappointed. It tasted somewhat sour, and the fruit didn’t taste very fresh.

However, the server immediately noticed and made me a free new bowl—The Cardinal bowl, which was a little sweeter.

Though I enjoyed my Bare Bowl, it was not nearly as flavorful as my Vitality bowl.

My advice: Go to Vitality Bowls.

“I love it,” Marino said. “It’s heaven.”

breaking down the numbers b

by ge harassment in our hall Special

4

100%

— Compiled by GLENN BILLMAN, CLAIRE BUGOS, TREVOR CROWELL AND CARMEN VESCIA

breaking down the numbers by

by gender 100%

male

of students who identify as "other" reported being sexually harassed

female

45.9%

47.1%

65.6% the gender of the harasser, when specified

female

28.1%

male

6.3%

71.9%

of sexual harassment was verbal

of sexual harassment Title was "joking"

47.1%

students from different grades and asked them to speak candidly. All names are pseudonyms.

This is what they had to say:

male

Where do you think the line is drawn between flirting and sexual harassment?

Brian: it depends on how you are with the person Ivan: there’s flirting and there’s sexual harassment. I think sexual harassment would be getting a little touchy. Flirting would just be talking andpercent of students who having fun, but sexual harassment is getting a little handsy. reported being sexually

5.6% of sexual harassment was physical

If a girl is wearing revealing clothing, she will distract male students and make them feel uncomfortable.

Do you agree or disagree?

Tim: I think “distracted” is an awful term ‘cause you always hear it on the announcements like “Oh you’re distracting everyone” but you take a glance and you’re like “alright” and you go on with your life. You don’t sit in class fantasizing for 20 minutes.

Joel: I mean if they were completely naked, that would be a problem...but wearing spaghetti straps or something like that is not the end of the world. I’m not gonna get an F in calculus because someone in front of me wasn’t wearing a 2-inch strap.

146 students surveyed from all grades

14.5%

45.9%

Staff Editorial

22.5%

of sexual harassment was verbal

“Joking” sexual harassment is a serious problem were reported to a friend or parent

Oftentimes, when we make sexual students’ responsibility to stop sexual When 71.9 percent of surveyed Sequoia students say that they have been jokes or comments, we don’t intend to harassment, joking or not. sexually harassed “jokingly,” it stops harass our friends or classmates who According to our survey, only 1.3 being funny. As a school and as a soci- overhear. Within your friend group, percent of cases of on-campus sexual how safe your daily banter might be laced with were ety, we are no longer conscious of the harassment were brought to a staff students feel at were innuendo you all find funny.school, on If member, and none of the respondents words we use and the meanings that sexual reported to a of cases were reported to average those words carry. And just as quickly that’s your style, that’s fine. But make went to the administration. With teacher or unreported someone else as we say it, we assume that what we sure you know that everyone is on the numbers like these, it’s important administrator and you are aware of your that we take on more responsibility as have said is forgotten.were reported to same page But what if it hasn’t been forgotten? surroundings. There is a time and bystanders. It’s in our control to step the police A casual joke, a whispered comment place for your brand of humor, but in when someone crosses the line beor an unsolicited compliment may subjecting your history seat partner tween joking and sexual harassment. seem harmless. But being constantly to your sexual jokes for an entire 100 It’s our responsibility to side with the bombarded with these “jokes” can minute period may cause discomfort. victims of sexual harassment not just Sometimes it’s hard to draw the in thought, but in action. be seriously detrimental. Subtle actions like these may be small, but that line. When does that joke become Jokes can become serious. Harassdoesn’t change what they are: sexual harassment? Anybody who wasn’t ment can start interfering with the harassment. These “little” actions can involved can’t understand the full physical or emotional well-being of a have a big impact, and they shouldn’t context of a situation, so it’s up to us student. It can impede someone’s abilbe tolerated just because they’re not be conscious. And despite the omni- ity to learn. present effort of the school, it’s the physical assault.

Reporting sexual harassment is a

9.2%

72.4% 2.6%

1.3%

Do you th Brian: He cause she t slaps me on it, but may want you t Tim: If pe would be guys, they scared, the take it as h

Should ph than verba Brian: Yea it’s like, th out or susp something like that, t

by t

by type 22.5%

female

Is verbal harassment different than physical harassment? harassed at school, Tim: It seems like one person does something and it goes unnoticed and unchecked and another person does something separated by gender smaller and just because of a teacher’s stance with that person identity or which adult happened to hear it then they’ll get in trouble for less...I feel like it’s not getting enforced properly. They set up these guidelines and half of the teachers enforce it one way and the other half enforce it another way and it leaves us in a blank place where ‘alright what are we doing?’

other

percent of students who reported being sexually harassed at school, separated by gender identity

“He was in one of my classes the year of students who i before, and we were just friends.as "other" reported He would say something in Spanish that he would think that I wouldn’t understand, sexually hara and I would just ignore it. He would say, ‘Oh I wonder what she would do if I g kissed her?’ per I tho To gain male student perspectives on sexual pen harassment, we held a round table with five I

4.2 /5

daunting prospect. Reporting doesn’t necessarily mean going straight to administration or to the police. Little acts can be critical to minimizing harassment in our hallways.

If you notice your friend’s comments are getting out of hand, or your classmate’s inappropriate conversations are becoming too loud, don’t hesitate to let them know. You don’t need to give them an hour-long lecture—a simple reminder might do the trick: “Hey, enough,” or, “Okay, too far.” As a student body, we have control over our school environment, and we should all make a commitment to keeping it safe.

For more information about sexual assault, go online to RAINN.org or call (800) 656-4673.

Who gets t Tim: Well it...it’s the or not it’s making fal Josh: Befo ing to and Joel: And and your t or somethi

by gender ender lways 65.6

specified

% % 47.1 47.1 100%

by

female female

% % 28.1 28.1 male

the gender of the harasser, when specified of students who identify

Feature male

malefemale

5

The National Association of School Psychologists reports that almost 80 percent as "other" reported being of students in high school % other experience sexual harassment, and according to Al rcent of students who sexually harassed other 28.1 nt of students who Jazeera America, one in eight high school girls reports being sexually assaulted % % ported being sexually % offer a female student’s story and a roundtable converat school. This issue, we 6.3 ed being sexually 6.3 harassed at school, rassed at school, of students who identify sation of male students and explore how we address sexual harassment. other eparated by gender the gender of the rated by gender as "other" reported being % identity6.3 A couple days later, he harasser, when I ended up telling Mr. identity sexually harassed identify did it again on my neck, % Kuliga. I had to file a respecified and I thought, ‘That is not d being port and write down what

100%

65.6

male

female

%

45.9%

male

65.6

by type by type ype

.1%

female

female

OK, you need to stop.’ The first happened, and they went back to assed time I kind of just laughed it off I look in the cameras to see what had One time I was at thought ‘What are youthe gender of the doing?’ and the happened. I told him exactly where my I told my sister about it my locker and he was second time he did it I looked at him and locker was so he could see what had happened and she told me I needed passing by, and then he looked mad and thought,harasser, when ‘No’. When I besides what I had told him. After it hapto tell one of my teachers. I gave me a kiss on the cheek suwas at my locker I was worried; I pened, Mr. Kuliga told me, ‘Don’t specified told my teacher and she was rer fast and justthe gender of the kept walking and would always be looking around. worry, we will take care of it, he ally surprised about it, and she told ought, ‘Whoa, what just hapI remember I would [say to my won’t come up to you, you won’t harasser, when I was still me I should tell one of the vice principals ned?’ I wasn’t really sure and friends,] ‘Come to my locker have to see him,’ and stuff scared and dents who because it was sexual harassment.

I didn’t I couldn’t really do anything. with me’. specified like that. for the next really know that would be considI remember I looked back g sexually couple weeks I was ered sexual harassment, and I and he was smiling. cautious and althink that’s why a lot of people t school, of sexual of sexual ways looking don’t say anything. of sexual around.” y gender harassment

male

45.9%

7.1%22.5% 22.5%

71.9% male

5.6%

65.6%

28.1%

other

female

% % 28.1 71.9% 6.3 5.6% 71.9% 5.6%

female

28.1%

harassment Title was "joking" other Title was "joking"

harassment hink everof sexual sexually harassed? ty guys areof sexual tudents who ell yeah!

There’s this girl of sexual who always stares at me Title was "joking" harassment harassment thinks I’m cute and every time she sees me she just ing sexually harassment n the ass but...I was verbal don’t really care. That’s just how I see was verbal other at school, ybe some other people was physical might be like…“okay I don’t

of sexual of sexual harassment harassment % 6.3 friend should have the voice to say. “No, it wasn’t like that, it was physical was physical was just a joke.”

y just don’t care. They don’t have any reason to be ere’s no threat. They just take it as a joke and they humor.

If someone is sexually harassed, do you think it is likely that they would report it to a teacher or administrator?

Would you?

Brian: I wouldn’t personally, because I don’t believe in snitching, I just like to deal with it on my own. But, I can’t speak for anyone else.

Josh: The administration doesn’t know, wasn’t there, doesn’t know exactly what happened, or the people that were involved.

by type by type 9.2% type 9.2%

touching me ‘cause I don’t feel comfortable.” % by gender eople were to do to guys what6.3 guys do to girls, it considered sexual harassment, but for a lot of the ntity

hysical sexual harassment be punished differently al sexual harassment? ah ‘cause if like someone slaps someone on the ass, If someone is being sexually harassed repeatedly, despite askhat’s physical contact. and that’s like yeah, kick them ing the perpetrator to stop, what should the punishment be pend them or something. But if you’re just gonna of sexual say for the harasser if the victim eventually reports it? g like “Damn lil mama what’s good?” or something harassment Joel: Suspended. that shouldn’t be the grounds for expulsion.

Brian: I think he should be expelled, because he did it multiple of sexual of sexual were was "joking" times. I want to say like, first offense, you get a suspension, to decide what is and isn’t sexual harassment? harassment second offense, you’re expelled. Like, the way I would see it ported to larassment that’s an error on the behalf of the person who did were is maybe he’s interpreting it the wrong way, so he thinks it’ll person who received it who gets to decide whether was verbal was physical meone else okay the first time… But if he does it again and again and s sexual harassment...to some extent. You can’t be of sexual reported to a be again, that’s where he gets kicked out. lse claims. harassment Joel: I think that part of the reason some cases don’t get reore you say something, know the person you’re talkteacher or of sexual ported is for the fear that,of sexual they’ll get in trouble too. Like, say d what their preferences are. was "joking" of sexual a girl keeps getting sexually harassed, and she goes to the AVP also, say if you’re making a joke administrator with your friend, harassment reported to and talks about it, she harassment might be afraid that she’ll get a light teacher overhears it and sends you to like the AVP harassment punishment too for notwas physical being dress code. The AVP’s not going ing, if your friend took it as a joke Iof sexual feel like your was verbal he police was "joking" to say, “Oh, it’s your fault,” but maybe there’s a fear that it will harassment be mentioned.

2.5%

71.9%

9.2%

5.6%

1.3%Title

22.5%

71.9% were 5.6% were

71.9%

5.6%

reported to reported to someone else someone else

Title

Title

2.6%

2.4%

were reported to were reported to was physical the police the police

f cases were unreported

4.2/5/5 4.2 9.2%

how safe how safe students feel at students feel at school, on school, on average average were

reported to someone else

9.2% 2.6% 2.6%

were reported to someone else

9.2% 72.4% 72.4%

By BRIGHID BUGOS

and MADDIE REYNOLDS Staff Reporters Sexual remarks and jokes. Catcalling. Unwanted physical attention. Most people would consider these actions sexual harassment. But what about winking in the hallways or flirting with an upperclassman, even as a joke?

This leaves a difficult gray area for school officials to maneuver. Since sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual advances or remarks, teachers can often have a difficult time determining what is or is not sexual harassment.

Extra education on sexual harassment could help teachers identify what is making a student uncomfortable and can help to provide a safe, academic environment for students to learn.

“When I started here in 1997, I was one of few teachers who would send a student out for using homophobic statements like ‘that’s so gay’,” Spanish teacher Edith Salvatore said. “Now, it is an accepted truth among most teachers that we must intervene in these types of situations. But we shouldn’t wait for society to ‘catch up’ on sexual harassment issues—we should strive to be a beacon so that our good behavior can permeate society.”

Teachers and students seem to agree on the fact that sexual harassment should be addressed more in the curriculum, and actions against sexual harassment should be demonstrated amongst both teachers and students to set a better example for society outside of school.

“Teachers should teach about sexual harassment because parents have different definitions,” junior Alicia Shristie said.

Some teachers said they had to take an online safety course, and some said they had no training at all.

“I’ve been at Sequoia for three years, and in those three years I have had no sexual harassment training that I can recall,” English teacher José Rosario said.

Employees in supervisory positions, such as the administration, are the only ones required by the state of California to have a two-hour course every two years. (CA Govt. Code Sec. 12950.1)

1.3% 1.3%

were were reported to a reported to a teacher or teacher or administrator administrator

14.5%

were reported to a friend or parent

Lack of clarity over sexual harassment

14.5% 1.3% 14.5%

were reported to were were reported to a friend or parent reported to a a friend or parent of cases were teacher or wereof cases were unreported administrator unreported reported to were were reported to someone else reported to a the police were teacher or reported to a administrator were reported to teacher or the police administrator

1.3% 2.6%

1.3%

14.5%

6

Opinion

October 14, 2015

In the game of politics, don’t let bigotry be the Trump card on his website for the world to see, is painful to read: mass deportations, denial of citizenship, “ I construction of the Great Wall d o n’t of Mexico. I would describe it as l i k e “thinly veiled racism,” but that w h a t would be inaccurate, since he isn’t I see even bothering to cover it up. hapFifty-nine percent of Sequoia p e n - students are Latino. We live in ing to a melting pot of cultures, and America,” says Donald J. Trump our community is enriched and in a campaign video, over a back- strengthened by its diversity. ground track of nationalistic clas- When political discourse becomes sical music. “The infrastructure a hotbed of anti-Latin American of our country is a laughingstock hate speech, it’s incredibly damall over the world. Our politi- aging. cians are all talk, no action. MilLiberal senior Jordan Sandolions of people are flowing across val, who runs an anti-discrimiour southern nation Faceborder, we’ve book group, This spray-tanned chauvingot to build a reflected on the ist is filling stadiums with his real wall. With grim implicasupporters. Forget about him, all of this, our America, his opinions are just as tions behind country has Trump’s probad as his toupee. tremendous posed policies. potential. Let’s “The statemake America great again.” ments that stand out to me are Quite frankly, I don’t like what his comments about the children I see happening to America ei- of immigrants,” Sandoval said. “If ther. For instance, we have this he went through with what he’s buffoon running for president. been saying, families would be When a campaign video feels deported.” like propaganda from 1930s GerEven humoring the idea of many, and crowds are cheering in Trump as a U.S. representative response, there’s something very is cringeworthy. The rest of the wrong with this picture. world might be treating him as a While he isn’t revelling in his whimsical punchline, but before own cult of personality, Trump’s you make that Donald Trump first priority agenda is immigra- joke, stop and consider whether tion reform. His official position his ‘political incorrectness’ is restatement on the issue, published ally something you want to en-

By MARS SVEC-BURDICK Page Editor

Graphic by Mars Svec-Burdick with Piktochart

dorse.

Sandoval also pointed out that under the Trump regime, justice movements would face setbacks across the board, from 4th wave feminism to Black Lives Matter.

“With Ferguson, and all of these things going on, there’s been a real push for racial equality,” Sandoval said. “And if someone who’s promoting racism becomes president it would make them feel like their voices aren’t being heard.”

Thus far, the only minority Trump appears willing to stand up for is his fellow members of the 1 percent. While aging billionaires like himself might be

nostalgic for the ‘50s golden era of white privilege and male dominance, the rest of us aren’t.

Many Republicans praise Trump for being brutally honest.

One conservative Sequoia senior who will be able to vote in the 2016 election and plans to vote for Trump, described his viewpoint to me.

“He’s straight-up, he doesn’t fly away from the truth. I’ve never heard another politician speak out like a regular person would,” he said.

Trump does indeed have a crude verbal candidness which sets him apart. However, he’s also a narcissistic bigot, who I

Haters gonna hate … but they shouldn’t

By PHILIP TYSON Copy Editor To all chronic complainers, hardcore haters and bitter blamers (you know who you

are): You hate him or her. You absolutely despise that person. Also, you hate every single one of your teachers. Apparently, they never teach you anything, and they suck at explaining the concepts. You hate Sequoia. According to you, It’s more of a prison than a high school.

Now, you hate me because I’m calling you out on your absurd animosity. No, you’re not passionate.

That’s not the same as being fiery and hostile towards every person, place and thing on this planet. People get tired of hearing you whine and rage. Do something productive with your time, and cut out the senseless contempt—it’s a total waste.

However, hating is more than just a popular means of procrastination. It’s mentally harmful as well.

When you spend the whole lunch negative isn’t wrong; being incessantly period verbalizing your frustrations, negative, however, is going to get on you’re telling yourself that you’re pow- everyone’s nerves, including yours. Like erless to change anything. For exam- many things in life, moderation is the ple: “OMG, I hate this class! I never way to go. Hating day after day is a fuget anything, and it’s all my teacher’s tile, time-consuming and energy-drainfault! The grading system is so stupid! ing ambition that only serves to drive And she hasn’t prepared us at all for others away from you. Ultimately, it will today’s quiz!” dampen your mood and self-respect.

Not only are you refusing to take Hating is a bad habit. responsibility for your lack of compreHow do you deal with it? hension in class, but you’re also saying Break it. to those around you and yourself that If you have ideas for change, take you can’t do it. You’re doubting that action. Do not merely grumble about things can be different; even more, school or friends or teachers. If you’re that you can be different. Stanford having a hard time, ask for help—in a psychologist Carol way that doesn’t ruin Dweck found in her the great day other Hating and hating day after research of “mind- day is a futile, time-consuming people are having. sets” that one can and energy-draining ambition You may not undereither have a fixed that only serves to drive others stand anything in view of their per- away from you. class, but that doesn’t sonality and believe give you the right to that intelligence is complain.

Instead, static, or have a growth mindset and make use of the resources you have. Talk believe that intelligence can be devel- to your teacher (and keep your opinions oped. of him or her to yourself ). Ask your This one complaint may seem friends questions, too. I know for a fact small, but imagine what your self-es- that they’ll be far more willing to assist teem will look like after a year’s worth you in whatever you’re facing, rather of self-mourning. Yammering 24/7 than pretend to listen to your multisupports the stagnant, fixed mindset hour-long tirade. teachers are constantly trying to drive Feel free to make a fuss if you hated out of you. this article. Unlike your friends, I won’t Don’t misunderstand me. Being stick around.

wouldn’t trust to fairly manage a gas station, let alone the executive decisions of an entire country.

The latest polls reveal a disturbingly possible reality. If the GOP primary were tomorrow, he would win by a landslide. This spray-tanned chauvinist is filling stadiums with his supporters. Forget about him, America, his opinions are just as bad as his toupee.

I propose we do build a wall, but around Donald Trump. Let’s make this country somewhat better, by freezing him and his vile beliefs off the political stage, and out of impressionable minds and hearts.

Sequoia High School

Raven Report 2015-2016

Executive Editors Glenn Billman, Claire Bugos Carmen Vescia Opinion Editor Abigail Wang Sports Editor Trevor Crowell

Entertainment Editor Emily Ducker Copy Editor Philip Tyson

Page Editors Zack Rosenblatt Mars Svec-Burdick Staff Reporters Nicholas Abraham, Leigh Alley, Lea Blix, Xavi Boluña, Beatrice Bugos, Brighid Bugos, Mackenzie Clarke, Matthew Eisenberg, Zoey Fletcher, Aviva Futornick, Addison Holman, Benjy Jude, Maddie Pei, Maddie Reynolds, Rio Popper, Alex Vick Adviser Kim Vinh

7

Feature

October 14, 2015

Fall into Fashion

Fashion is really all about who you are and what you like. Here you will find out which trends are in and get some inspiration for your new look. Read on to see Sequoia’s trendiest students’ advice on how to branch out and what makes them feel confident.

—– Compiled by Lea Blix

Photos by Lea Blix and Abigail Wang

Emma Blix Hagemann, junior

Morgan Taradash, sophomore

Cameron Horspool, senior

Elijah Punzal, senior

Q: What is your favorite item in your

Q: What is your favorite item in your

Q: What is your favorite item in your

Q: What is your favorite outfit and

closet and why?

A: “My black cowboy-looking low boot with a high heel. They are beautiful, pretty comfortable and you can wear them with anything.”

Q: What advice would you give someone who is afraid to branch out?

A: “Feel comfortable in whatever you wear but still be true to who you are.”

closet and why?

A: “I reuse the stuff I have, for example my dad’s clothes, and I’ll just remake it. I like the stuff that’s outdated and kind of ugly, but I really love it for some reason.”

Q: What advice do you go by?

A: “If I walk into school and I’m

nervous about what I’m wearing, that probably means it’s one of my better outfits.”

closet and why?

A: “ I usually wear a vest with patches, [and] either make them or buy them. I like the way it looks.”

Q: What advice would you give to

someone who’s is afraid to branch out?

A: “Being different is a lot better than being normal. You should wear whatever you want because that is just what you like.”

History of athletic rivalries enriches present-day competitions

By MATT EISENBERG and CARMEN VESCIA Staff Reporter and Executive Editor Rivalries are an integral part of sports history. Every team has them and they’ve produced some of the most memorable moments in sports history.

Three of Sequoia’s rivalries stand out in particular: Carlmont, Woodside and Palo Alto.

Carlmont

Every year the Scots and the Cherokees duke it out over the Terremere Trophy in football and are also notorious for their rivalries in boys’ water polo, girls’ soccer and numerous other sports.

“Carlmont—that’s the longstanding [rival],” senior varsity water polo player Kris Sjolund said. “Sometimes it can be more interesting or more emotional.”

Woodside

Cross-town Wo o d s i d e is known as Sequoia’s main rival and games

can get heated.

“We’re on good terms with [Carlmont]. With Woodside I wouldn’t say as much. That relationship is a little more hostile,” Sjolund said.

Administration and security are often present at big games.

“I didn’t hear about any specific fights that happened but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was one or a few, and that’s always in the back of people’s minds going into a game like that,” Athletic Director Adrian Dilley said regarding this year’s football match.

Rivalry games can inspire intense gameplay and a more dynamic atmosphere. According to junior soccer player Gennie Cheatham, Woodside games hold special significance.

“When we play a rival team or someone who’s really good

there’s always that added intensity and pressure to do better,” Cheatham said. “I think we work together a lot better when we play rival teams because we want to do well. We support each other in games as high stakes as those.”

Palo

Alto

This historic football rivalry between the two oldest high schools on the Peninsula dates back to the 1920s. It isn’t as prominent as it once was, but back in 1968, over 30,000 fans attended the traditional “Little Big Game” at Stanford Stadium. “The Little Big Game” was the annual football game between Paly and Sequoia, named after “The Big Game” between Stanford and UC Berkeley.

Although the two teams have been in separate leagues since 1975, they still compete. In the most recent varsity match-up this year, Paly won 54-28.

why?

A: “Formal because my [outfit] really exemplifies how confident and determined I am to go through my daily activities.”

Q: What advice would you give to

someone who’s is afraid to branch out?

A: “Be willing to express who you are.”

Cheerleading requires as much skill as spirit Post article from June 2014.

By ZOEY FLETCHER Like other sports teams, and ADDISON HOLMAN they compete, and last year Staff Reporters the varsity team scored second Gov. Jerry Brown signed place in nationals.

“When you are coming up Assembly Bill 949 into law with a cheer routine, there are Wednesday, Oct. 7, making cheerleading an official sport a whole bunch of people that in California. Despite this, don’t really like what you are many people still question the doing, or there are people that love what you’re doing, but the validity of the sport.

Sequoia’s cheer team prac- point is we have to do what is tices amount to almost six going to please both us and hours a week and include the crowd,” Sanderson said.

The cheerleaders on this stretches, stunting and tumyear’s team meet this chalbling.

“A lot of people at this lenge.

“We are looking for stuschool think it’s just a club or a pastime,” junior cheerleader dents that will represent this school in a positive manner Millen Alley said.

Cheerleading requires and they’ll go out of their way to show support for the school many skills.

“We have to use our for other sports team as well as strength, mental capabilities develop personally, physically, and teamwork to better our- and mentally,” cheer coach selves,” senior cheerleader Kit Kayla Howard said.

The team is involved in Sanderson said.

Stunts can be both danger- many fundraising events and they’re frequently on the sideous and scary.

“Cheerleading is a leading lines cheering on the team.

“I believe it is a sport,” cause of catastrophic injury in female athletes,” said Dr. Howard said. “It definitely reSamantha Rosman, a Boston quires a huge amount of athpediatrician, in a Washington leticism.”

8

Sports

October 14, 2015

Enduro racer speeds past riders, lands sponsorships

By TREVOR CROWELL Sports Editor The gates open and the clock begins to tick. Legs pumping, sophomore enduro racer Paul Serra pedals to gain momentum on the downhill slope of dirt and gravel. He charges through the corners, fearlessly guiding his bike around obstacles. He overtakes a competitor, explodes around the hill’s final bend and crosses the finish line with a first place time.

“I am an adrenaline and speed freak.

I love putting myself on the line,” Serra said. “When racing, we are very close to serious injury or even death, and that’s

what I like about it. You are putting yourself out there. I just like the danger and the speed of it and being able to know that I control every move.”

Serra’s dedication to enduro racing has led to this moment: a strict routine of waking up to train at 5 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, riding 8 to 10 hours on the weekends and working out in the gym with a personal coach.

Enduro is a form of mountain bike racing which includes downhill, incline and cross country sections. Riders use their technical skills as well as overall strength and endurance to end up with the best overall time of the race.

“Although people are very competitive during the race, at the end of the race, it doesn’t matter who won,” Serra said.

“This is really specific to enduro racing since we are a really big community that just wants to have fun. This has let me establish some really great connections and meet some amazing people.”

Photo courtesy of Paul Serra

Serra was introduced to riding bikes at (Team Newton).

As a sponsored rider, Serra needed to the young age of three by his uncle, who was the 2001 Supercross World Cham- put out content in order to represent the pion, and his father, who raced dirt bikes companies that he rides for. This ultiduring his high school years. Serra started mately led to Serra’s friendship with phomountain biking and racing during sixth tographer and videographer Josh Woodward, also a Sequoia grade. Ambition and sophomore. determination as “I saw that Paul’s Inwell as a great deal “I am an overall adrenaline and speed freak.

I love putting myself on stagram page was bikeof support from his the line.” related and I had never family has allowed —Paul Serra, seen a person who was Serra to pursue his sophomore so good at riding from cycling hobby. this area. We planned “My parents are the best sponsor I have. They have put on getting together and doing a shoot so much time and effort into my racing and ever since then, we have loved going from taking me to places and putting in back to work together more and more,” huge investments to buying me replace- Woodward said. “Being able to work with ment parts and paying for my entrance someone who has similar interests and is fees into races,” Serra said. “They are re- very passionate is really something speally putting 110 percent into whatever cial.”

Serra finds that it is easy to perform they can to help me succeed.”

Serra placed first in the the USA Cy- knowing that he is working with not only cling 2014 Sea Otter Classic 13-1‑4 di- a professional, but also a friend.

“I know that with Josh, I am going to vision in Monterey, the 2015 Fontana get a really high-quality product. I’m not Winter #2 U-18 division and the USAC 2015 Sea Otter Classic 15-16 division second guessing myself that the video is in Monterey. This year in August, Serra going to be shaky or that the editing will competed with adults that were up to six not look right,” Serra said. “Knowing that years older than him in the 2015 Enduro the quality is going to be there is a huge World Series #6 U-21 division in Whis- advantage.”

Although Serra has come a long way tler, Canada. A long racing season of hard work paid off in September when Serra since he first became interested with was crowned 2015 California Enduro bikes, he feels that his perspective on riding has not changed one bit. champion.

“Riding a bike is my getaway,” Serra Serra’s racing success has led to sponsorships with multiple companies. Soon said. “Life is hard. School is hard. And beafter winning the 2014 Sea Otter Classic, ing able to go on your bike for five hours Serra was contacted and eventually spon- and be out in the middle of nowhere, sored by Specialized, a multi-million dol- alone with yourself is amazing. Just being lar bicycle corporation as well as well as a able to discover new places, taking time smaller bicycle repair and retail shop in off and completely letting your brain reMountain View called Cognition Cyclery lax is an incredible experience.”

Photographer zooms in, focuses on professional career Woodward has been interested in action sports photography and videography since a young age, when he started out taking photos and making videos of him and his brother riding BMX bikes.

By TREVOR CROWELL Sports Editor The rider gets the “Okay” to begin his run. As he comes into view, he is followed by sharp eyes peering through the viewfinder of a Canon 70D. The mountain biker reaches the steepest point of the hill and charges down the mountain. The shutter clicks rapidly, and the image is captured. After the shoot, the photo is uploaded to one of the many pages of Coffee House Media.

What began as an interest in visual arts has turned into a professional career in action sports media for sophomore photographer and videographer Josh Woodward.

“I [was] brought up around action sports for my whole life,” Woodward said. “It is just really interesting how people can do such incredible things on a twowheeled object, and having the opportunity to capture that with a camera is just amazing.”

Woodward bought his first DSLR camera in 2012 and has been shooting a variety of action sports from mountain biking to surfing and from nature to

Photo Courtesy of Josh Woodward

school sports. weekend that’s the only thing I’ll “I enjoy shooting action do,” Woodward said. sports the most, but portraiture Media work has allowed is something that I like to do in Woodward to not only have my free time. I find it compelling something that he is greatly pasto capture pure emotion from sionate about, but also to form just somefriendships one’s face.” with athletes.

“Getting to do what you want to do, WoodAfter meetwhen you want to do it, is the greatward’s pasing through est feeling in the world,” sion is his Instagram, —Josh Woodward, projects.

Wo o d w a r d sophomore “Pretty and sophomuch all of more Paul my time outside of school goes Serra connected during a phototo my photography work. If I shoot in December 2014. Since am working on a project over the then, the two have worked to-

gether on a number of projects for Serra’s sponsors.

“It all started with one of us just saying, ‘Hey let’s meet up and take pictures.’ I had no idea what to expect,” Serra said. “It just worked out and he was exactly what I was looking for.”

Woodward’s photos and videos of Serra have also put him on the map for several companies who have since then paid him for his work. Woodward has been employed by GT Bicycles, Pinkbike.com, Sportswurlz.com and Trailhead Cyclery for photos and video he has shot of team

riders. In the case of Sportswurlz. com, Woodward has provided video coverage of Sequoia sports games.

The quality of Woodward’s work has inspired awe in both major corporations as well as in friends at Sequoia.

“Josh is super enthralled by what he does which makes him want to get those creative angles for his shots. He positions himself so that he can see every little piece of the action,” sophomore Peter Domis said. “He is also really good at editing and that makes a really well done final product.”

Whether he will continue to pursue digital arts as a career or not, Woodward will remain around photography for as long as he can.

“For me, personally, photography and videography is a lifestyle. I have gone to some amazing places to take photos and going to those places has also inspired me to take photos,” Woodward said. “Just having fun while doing it and getting to do what you want to do, when you want to do it, is the greatest feeling in the world.”