Anthro Volume 8 Issue 2 2025

WHY 21?: Debating drinking age pg. 20

ANTHRO

Dec. 2025 Volume 8 Issue 2

Mission Statement The goals of Anthro magazine, Palo Alto High School’s activism-focused journalism publication, are to highlight the impact of local and global activism on the Paly community, serve as a safe place to discuss these issues, and ensure that student voices are heard. Along the way, we hope to promote diversity, inclusion and respect, use respectful language and not engage in or support hate speech or the targeting of individuals.

From the Editors Dear Readers, We are excited to present the second edition of Anthro magazine this year! In this edition, we continue to report on advocacy and highlight activists in the local community.

A constant question by teens in America is why the drinking age is so high here. Reporter Naomi Espinoza explores the reasons behind the United States’ unique legal drinking age in “Why 21?”

School is a place where all students’ needs should be put first. One controversial take that has seemed to plague our school district for years is the choice of offering Multivariable Calculus. In December, the school board will be voting on whether it will be included in the course catalog. In this issue’s editorial, we urge students to research and to go to the meeting to share their opinions, so that everyone’s voices are heard and taken into account for a decision that could impact the entire student body.

As the Trump administration continues to change the country, people are expressing their frustration through protests, such as the second nationwide “No Kings” protest. Writers Julia Curtis and Alex Rytokoski cover the thousands of people in Palo Alto who gathered together to protest against President Trump’s administration.

Another key moment during this cycle was the California special election on Nov. 4 for Prop. 50, which emerged in response to a redistricting effort in Texas.

Reporter Chapin Walker interviews locals to get their reaction to this legislation passing and what it may mean for the future.

In a more Palo Alto High School-centered angle, Doreen Hou covers the use of the wellness center as a resource for English classes in “Beyond the limits of the classroom.”

In our opinion section, reporters explain the benefits of keeping our current class-to-class phone ban, as opposed to a bell-to-bell one. Jeshurun Wang and Joyce Ma then explore the devastating effect that political polarization is having on our society and what you can do to mitigate it.

We are thankful for your continued support and hope you enjoy reading this issue. Enjoy Anthro Volume 8.2!

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– Editors-in-chief Hadrien de Martel and Mihika Sridhar

Staff Editors-in-Chief Hadrien de Martel Mihika Sridhar Managing Editors Motoko Iwata Amily Zhang Features Editor Jeshurun Wang Business Manager Richard Zhang Staff Writers Julia Curtis Naomi Espinoza Doreen Hou Alexander Lawson Joyce Ma Chiara Martin Alex Rytokoski Juni Thurston Chapin Walker Xander Yap Artists Chapin Walker Joy Tan Joyce Ma

Adviser Paul Kandell anthromagazine.org

IN THIS ISSUE

Photo by Joyce Ma

Photo by Julia Curtis

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MVC affects everyone

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News briefs

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Activism around the world

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Boosting biodiversity

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Appliances for everyone

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“No Kings” protest

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Palo Alto voters react to Prop. 50

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Budget cuts threaten allcove

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Incubator spotlight

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Seniors’ voting experience

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Beyond the limits of the classroom

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Why 21?

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Bell-to-bell phone ban

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We must change the narrative now

Photo by Julia Curtis Letters to the Editors The staff welcomes letters to the editors. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to anthromagazine. paly@gmail.com or to 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Printing & Distribution Anthro is printed by Folger Graphics in Hayward, California.The Palo Alto Parent Teacher Association mails Anthro to every student’s home. Past issues are available at anthromagazine.org.

Publication Policy Anthro, a social activism magazine published by students in Palo Alto High School Incubator class, is a designated limited open forum for student expression and discussion of issue of concern to its readership. Anthro is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost. For more on our policies please visit anthromagazine.org.

Photo by Doreen Hou

On the cover: The cover of Anthro 8.2 features red solo cups and drinks spilt on a table along with a phone playing music.

_____ Photo by Tarika Pillay

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MVC affects everyone We urge all students to speak out at the school board meeting

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uiet whispers as a student walks up as an after-school class at Gunn, extendto the podium. There’s crinkling as ing from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. twice a week. a piece of binder paper is unfolded Students have raised concerns, including a onto the podium. A student’s throat clears. short window of time to get home, a lack The timer clicks, signaling the beginning of availability for extracurriculars, and less of a minute — one minute for a student to engaged learning. speak.

Atlas Gerristen, a student taking MVC Student voices have been a central part at DeAnza online, said that the schedule has of school board discussions in the past. The introduced inconveniences to his schedule. back-and-forth on Multi-Variable Calcu“So far it’s been a little annoying to lus is no exception; have to stay at school and the debate is “That’s one reason I’m until 7 p.m. or rush not over. The Palo home,” Gerristen said.

Alto Unified School here. Hearing what “But at least the classes Board will be voting are somewhat intereststudents have to say, about whether to ing.” offer Multi-Variable who are in schools, and So currently, stuCalculus as an offidents have access to cial on-campus class experiencing the policies MVC through comat a board meeting and procedures that the munity college, but not on Dec. 16. Anthro directly offered by the Magazine urges stu- board might decide on, school itself. dents to make their is incredibly important.”

In a previous invoices heard. terview with the In— ALISON KAMHI, The debate over cubator and The Paly PAUSD board member whether to provide Voice on Sept. 11, SuMVC has persisted perintendent Don Ausin the district for years and was even a key tin said he was interested in offering MVC, topic for school board elections last year. At but said that the class had not been implethat time, Palo Altans voted for board rep- mented due to a lack of teachers with the resentatives with overall positive viewpoints credentials to teach the course. on academic acceleration — offering more “We don’t have a teacher who’s qualiopportunities for high-achieving students. fied to teach it that wants to teach it,” Austin Acceleration is at the heart of the MVC said. “That’s the bottom line.” debate. The district currently allows for stuHowever, recently, Paly math teacher dents to take a skip test after fifth, sixth and Daniel Nguyen said he proposed the course seventh grade, enabling them to take geom- and gained the credentials to teach it with etry in eighth grade. This sets them up to the motivation to help interested stueventually complete BC Calculus in 11th dents. grade and, if they can find a class off-site “What motivated me outside the school day, take MVC in their was just seeing that senior year.

Currently, Paly students are taking MVC as an online course at DeAnza or

there’s a large demand in the community for this [MVC course],” Nguyen said. “I’m just trying to heed their call and give them this.

I help them learn this information and these concepts that I personally find very interesting. I’m sure they’ll be engaged with it too.”

The Paly Math Department recommended the course 12-1, with two abstentions. Following this, the proposal went to Paly Ed Council, which on Sept. 30, considered and voted to reject MVC. Despite Ed Council choosing not to recommend the course, it will go to the board next month.

Opposing MVC has historically boiled down to two major concerns: One, that the students able to pass these skip tests and get to MVC have more resources and are disproportionately privileged compared to students who don’t. And two, the fear that acceleration could place increased pressure on students to get to this level of math.

Sandra Cernoborni, a Paly college counselor, offered information to Ed Council against MVC. “If that [MVC] could be perceived (by colleges) as the highest level that students would achieve to be in the most rigorous classes at Paly, it could make those select students more competitive for admission,” Cernoborni said. “But it could also make it potentially more challenging for anyone else who doesn’t reach that threshold.”

According to Cernoborni, students applying to some out-of-state public schools and private universities could be disadvantaged for not reaching MVC.

Text by ANTHRO STAFF This supports previous community concerns about increased pressure on students to accelerate and take harder level courses.

In a Midpeninsula Post article covering student perspectives on MVC expressed at the PAUSD board meetings, Henry M. Gunn student board representative Daniel Pan said that offering the course could harm student mental health.

“If students feel that they’re not challenged in math, they should seek other options outside the school,” Pan said. “We should not be changing a system to promote more competition and continue brewing our already toxic culture.”

There is a demand for the course: Of 54 AP Calculus BC students at Paly who are qualified to take the MVC course next year, 46 would consider taking the course.

According to Anika Deshpande, a junior currently taking AP Calculus BC, she hopes to have the chance to take MVC in school.

“I would love it if the board voted to offer the course on campus,” Deshpande said.

“It is offered at Gunn High School (outside the school day), and has been successful from what I’ve heard. In fact, I know that many Paly kids opted to take MVC at Gunn this year, and I am planning to take it there next year if Paly fails to offer it.”

According to Paly student board representative Dylan Chen, he has seen student support growing for MVC on campus.

“In regard to my personal

EDITORIAL views on Multi-Variable Calculus, as far as what I’ve seen online and heard from teachers and from students, there is an increase in support for Multi-Variable Calculus this year,” Chen said. “If there is student demand, we have teachers willing to teach and we have a district willing to support this course in the future, currently I do not see a reason why we should reject Multi-Variable Calculus on the board level.”

MVC is not an issue just for the students qualified to take the course. According to Cernoborni’s testimony, implementing MVC would affect students across campus, and so we recommend that all students be advocates in this issue. While we commend the students who have advocated for MVC, they greatly outnumber the students who have quietly expressed their dissent. All sides need to make their ideas heard on an issue that affects all students.

In a mid-November conversation with the Paly Incubator and The Voice, PAUSD board member Alison Kamhi underlined the significance of student advocacy.

“Student voice is incredibly important,” Kamhi said. “That’s one reason I’m here. Hearing what students have to say, who are in schools, and experiencing the policies and procedures that the board might decide on, is incredibly important. Even in a lot of the ways that we do procedures, student comment is first. That, to me, is a very demonstra-

tive way of saying we value student voice.”

With previous issues such as the bell-tobell ban and the advanced diploma, student voice was significant in changing the opinion of the school board and the resulting policies.

According to Kamhi, her mind was changed by students with the phone ban.

“I can only speak to my own opinion, but I was obviously in favor of a bell-to-bell ban,” Kamhi said. “I went into the meeting being in favor of it and came out being in favor of it.”

Students have opportunities to express their opinion. The board will continue to hold meetings with open forums for students to express their thoughts. Chen says he will be holding a Town Hall on Dec. 4 on the topic of MVC. Whether supporting or opposing the implementation of MVC, students must be an advocate for themselves and for their community in this conversation. Have conversations with your friends over your thoughts on the course. Read more about the history of the debate on MVC. Come to the school board meeting and speak up. Who knows? Your words could change the course of MVC’s future.

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ACTIVISM NEWS Text by NAOMI ESPINOZA and PRIYA TAMURA

Stanford Daily v. Marco Rubio Hearing Delayed

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court case filed by the Stanford Daily newspaper against U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is facing a onemonth delay following a Nov.19 hearing in the San Jose Federal Courthouse.

The court will meet again on Jan. 6 to after the judge and attorneys resolve procedural issues related to the plaintiff’s complaint.

In August, the Daily filed a complaint challenging the government’s use of the Immigration and Naturalization Act to revoke visas and deport legally present noncitizens for their political speech.

Stanford Daily Managing Editor Rani Chor told Anthro in the hallway outside the courtroom that protecting student voic-

es is important because immigrants should be able to share their political perspectives freely and without hesitation. “[We live] in a country that traditionally has had non-citizens be very vocal about their opinions, and that’s highly contributed to American culture,” Chor said.

Noël Wise, the judge for this case, said she understands the weight of this lawsuit and its implications on free speech rights across the United Statesl today. She added that the court recognizes the broader implications of this case.

“The court is prepared to address that substance quickly,” Wise said. “The idea that the First Amendment speech could be chilled or punished by the government is very troubling indeed.”

New laws clamp down on puppy mills after L.A. Times investigation

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ov. Gavin Newsom has signed new legislation aimed at strengthening protections for dogs sold in California.

These laws were prompted by a Los Angeles Times report that found a network of resellers were posing as local breeders and masking where the puppies were from. These puppy mills were shipping puppies across the country in illegally and in a fashion dangerousness to the puppies.

Assembly Bills 519 and 506 and Senate Bill 312 provide protections for buyers and the dogs themselves. The laws, which will become active Jan. 1, tighten rules on online and out-of-state

puppy sales, require health and breeding records for all dogs sold, and impose stricter penalties on unlicensed breeders. They also strengthen prior state bans on retail pet store sales of animals not sourced from shelters or rescues.

Assemblymember Steve Bennett stated these bills will protect california families and dogs.

“These bills (AB 506, AB 519, and SB 312) ensure that predatory out of state breeders are no longer able to take advantage of California families looking to bring a furry family member home,” Bennett said.

Text by XANDER YAP

Text by XANDER YAP

Mamdani madness sweeps Paly

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ohran Mamdani has won the New York Mayoral race, becoming the first Muslim mayor of New York City and the city’s youngest mayor since 1892.

Mamdani’s campaign used many of the same grassroot techniques that activism organizations use. He organized a door-to-door knocking campaign with over 100,000 volunteers, according to Bernie Sanders, over the course of the race. Mamdani grew a massive social media audience, amassing 13 million followers across Instagram and Tiktok.

Paly senior Micheal Li said that he feels more hopeful about America’s democracy after seeing the higher turn out of young voters.

“It’s just been really refreshing to see young people‘s voices reflected in politics, and I really feel like Instagram and other social media platforms have really helped that happen,” Li said. “It’s made me hopeful for the future.”

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Text by AMILY ZHANG

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Tesla’s Next Diner

Tesla Diner may be opening in Palo Alto, according to a recent post on X from Tesla CEO Elon Musk. On Oct. 31, Musk wrote that it “probably makes sense to open one near our Giga Texas HQ in Austin and engineering HQ in Palo Alto,” suggesting the city could be the next site for Tesla’s retro-futuristic diner concept.

The first Tesla Diner opened in Hollywood in July, featuring 24-hour service, robot servers, and a vintage American diner menu. It also includes numerous Tesla charging stations. The location includes a drive-in movie theater, which was designed to create an all-in-one entertainment, food, and charging experience.

Although Musk did not provide an exact timeline or specific details for the opening, the X post has sparked controversy among locals who are curious about what a Tesla Diner in Palo Alto might look like.

Activism around the world Text by JESHURUN WANG and art by JOYCE MA

NEWS

Serbian student activists rise after country’s tragedy

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ens of thousands of protestors flooded onto the roads leading up to Novi Sad railway station on Nov. 1. According to the BBC, this event was held to remember the people killed when the railway station collapsed last year, killing 16 people.

Serbian protesters gathered for 16 minutes of silence, one for each victim killed in the tragedy. After the silence, family members laid flowers in front of the station.

The collapse of the train station, which stood for the country’s symbol of progress,

sparked citizens to take to the streets, protesting against the corruption of the government.

The BBC also states that due to the distrust for both political parties in Serbia, student activists have risen to take their place in calling for change.

According to the same BBC article, a student activist expresses how the people trust student activists more than political parties in the country.

“We are the most trusted group in the country,” Aleksa, a 23-year-old management student at Novi Sad University, told the BBC. “That’s why, even though we have made mistakes, people believe in us.”

Iranians protest against mass executions

“N

o to Execution Tuesdays” is a weekly hunger strike by prisoners in Iranian prisons, which started in 2024, according to Iran HRM. The movement has called for stopping the increasing executions.

Heba Morayef, regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said that Iran is using executions to punish political dissent.

“The ongoing escalation of executions in Iran has reached horrific proportions as the Iranian authorities continue to systematically weaponize the death penalty as a tool of repression and to quash dissent while displaying a chilling assault on the right to life,” Morayef told Amnesty International.

According to the National Council of Resistance of the in-prison hunger strikes led to public out-

cry in October, as families of prisoners held protests outside government offices.

A, protesters rallied peacefully outside of Tehran’s Baharestan Square on October 19th, holding various signs and pictures of imprisoned family members.

However, these peaceful demonstrations have created violent clashes with the government. Officers used batons and excessive force to disperse the crowd. Despite the crackdown, the majority of the protesters stood their ground and continued to shout “No to executions!”

Morocco Gen Z protest against government corruption

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en Z is taking to the streets in Morocco to protest against government corruption. According to a PBS news article, with over half of the country’s population under 35, youth activists are using social media apps, including Discord, to organize protests.

According to the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, protesters are fueled by anger over the billions of dirhams being spent on new stadiums for the 2030 World Cup, while roads remain unpaved, hospitals lack doctors, and schools remain underfunded.

According to Associated Press, protesters have called for complete, total reforms rather than incremental ones.

“There is no hope,” Youssef, a 27-year-old engineer, told the AP, “I not only want health and education reforms, I want a whole system reform.”

The protests have advocated for an increase in funds allocated to people rather than an international appeal to foreigners.

In response to this, protesters have taken to the streets with some slogans reading “Stadiums are here, but where are the hospitals?”

According to the same AP article, in response to public demonstrations, the Moroccan authorities have arrested protesters en masse. Moroccan courts have also handed down numerous convictions ranging from four to 20 years of imprisonment for vandalism and incitement.

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Text by JESHURUN WANG and ALEXANDER LAWSON Photo by ALEXANDER LAWSON

NEWS

Boosting biodiversity DIGGING AWAY ­— An excavator being used to construct the levee sits dormant along the end of Embarcadero Road in Palo Alto’s Baylands Nature Preserve.

New horizontal levee project aims to improve Baylands ecosystems

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he City of Palo Alto is constructing the downsides of a traditional levee are a new levee system in the Baylands that many animals and aquatic plants Nature Preserve to improve water would be heavily impacted by its separaquality and increase tion of the floodthe habitat’s resilplain from the river. ience to sea-level rise. “Its gentle slope will sup“Levees that The horizontal border the river port many more wildlife channel isolate the levee, which began in September, is dif- species than a traditionfloodplain from the ferent from a tradiriver and, as a contional vertical levee, al vertical levee.” sequence, the many — RYAN LEUNG, Paly Baylands Club species of aquatic which disrupts aniPresident plants and animals mals and the natural environment.

Acthat require access cording to the city’s website, a horizontal to seasonally inundated floodplains to levee allows a natural transition zone that complete their life history are heavily imis sloped to mimic nature. It does this by pacted or extirpated,” the report states. creating a large, gentle slope that reduces Another advantage of the horizontal wave energy and erosion. levee in the Palo Alto levee is that it alAccording to a govlink.org review, lows habitat to still thrive despite human

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engineering. Unlike traditional levees, horizontal levees allow vegetation and animals to thrive.

The project has already been underway since the spring of 2025 and is projected to be finished in early 2026.

Overall, the project aims to increase biodiversity while still maintaining the natural habitat of the environment here in Palo Alto.

Palo Alto High School Baylands Club president Ryan Leung says that the levee will be beneficial for biodiversity in the reserve.

“It will be a great addition and help to improve native biodiversity,” Leung said. “Since the levee is horizontal, its gentle slope will support many more wildlife species than a traditional vertical levee.”

Text by XANDER YAP and MOTOKO IWATA

Appliances for everyone NEWS

A new California bill will require landlords to install basic appliances

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andlords are required to install basic appliances in apartments following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signing AB 628 into law on Oct. 28.

The law is in response to low numbers of apartments rented out with refrigerators. According to an article by the Los Angeles Times in 2022, rental listings provided by Apartments.com showed that Los Angeles and Orange County had the fewest number of apartments with refrigerators among national cities.

In Palo Alto, rental prices have jumped by 3.3% in the past year, averaging $108 per month. With these increasing prices, renters are welcoming the new policy to require appliances.

Elsa Lagerblad, a renter in Palo Alto, said that she has had issues with appliances in the past.

“One time my dishwasher caught on fire,” Lagerblad said. “The whole thing started melting and our house was filled with toxic fumes. We were able to get that replaced eventually, but the landlord did not pay for that for us.”

The California Apartment Association negotiated to remove a mandate in the originally drafted bill which required all appliances to be replaced every 10 years; the law will now only mandate appliances to be replaced if they aren’t working.

Debra Carlton, Executive Vice President, State Government Affairs for the CAA, said she believes that the bill initially went too far with added restrictions such as this one.

“In the beginning she [Tina McKinnor, the Assemblymember who sponsored the bill] had language that said, ‘an owner of rental property should provide a refrigerator and a stove that is less than 10 years old’ and we objected to that,” Carlton said. “That’s wasteful and environmental folks didn’t like it either, so she took that out.”

The policy follows increasing regula-

tion of the rental housing market over the past few years. In 2025, California passed multiple laws, including rent reporting in regards to affordable housing and improvements in renters’ eviction rights.

Lagerblad says she believes that the policy will benefit renters.

“Overall I would say that this [the policy] is really good,” Lagerblad said. “I feel it’s good, especially for lower income families who can’t necessarily afford to replace things the way my family can.”

“I don’t really see any reason for them to rent out apartments in the first place without these appliances ... It’s not a good quality of living.”

– ELSA LAGERBLAD, Paly senior

Art by JOY TAN

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Text and photos by JULIA CURTIS and ALEX RYTOKOSKI

Thousands attend Palo

NEWS

administration.

Americans stand up against everything For the second to the“ITrump showed up to support this because we’re facing together,” Liccardo told the value my rights, and I really want Mountain View Voice. “I think as we see time, protesters line Itoreally have the right to vote in the future,” more people standing up, it gives courage says. “My ideas are in line with the to others. People get more engaged and the streets to speak Kate founding ideas of this country — that it’s they start volunteering.” a democracy.”

During former Judge Ladoris Cordout against Trump ell’s speech, around 10 counter-protesters

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arching for a better future for America, Palo Alto protesters demonstrating against the Trump administration lined El Camino Real on Saturday, October 18.

Many Americans feel targeted by leading politicians such as President Trump on free speech, immigration policies, and alleged unconstitutionality.

According to CNN, approximately seven million of them protested nationwide for the second No King’s protest, an increase of two million since June’s protest.

As anti-Trump turnout increases, many protesters say change is under way. According to young people like 17-year-old-student Kate, demonstrating helps to ensure a better future by showing active opposition

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Parents like Ava, a Palo Alto local, also supported the cause to provide better futures for their kids in hopes that more parents will join.

“What’s happening in this country is really disturbing and disgusting, and I want a good future for my kids and all of the American people,” Ava says. “We need to be visible. We need to be loud, and if anyone is on the fence, maybe seeing us can get them to see the truth.”

Following the protest, Rinconada Park held a “Democracy Fair” where speakers like representative Sam Liccardo spoke out against the Trump administration and reassured protesters of the changes they are making.

“There’s a moment when it’s so imperative that

in support of the Trump Administration came, sporting MAGA hats and proTrump signs while chanting.

“We should be thanking this MAGA king who, today, is at the White House,” Trump supporter Nancy Githoitho told ABC News.

According to Githoitho, the group sought to bring awareness to California’s pro-Trump minority, and protested Prop.

50 which will temporarily change congressional district lines in favor of Democrats. Both groups of protesters were nonviolent, each chanting respective slogans. However, the counter-protesters were quickly surrounded by security personnel and escorted away from the park.

Despite the counter demonstration, many anti-Trump protesters were optimistic about the effects of No King’s Day 2.0 since larger crowds spreads more awareness about the ongoing issues.

Anne Frahn is an active member and organizer of Swing Left Peninsula, an organization at the Democracy fair pushing close electoral races over the edge in favor of the Democratic Party. She thinks the movement is gaining more traction and making a difference.

Alto’s “No Kings” protest “I think it’s very uplifting in these re- cerning for current pro-Trump adminally difficult times to see so many people istration members. According to ABC showing up on a News, Speaker of Saturday to parade “I think it’s very uplifting in the House, Mike for democracy and Johnson, has lahuman rights,” these really difficult times beled “No Kings” Frahn says. “It’s to see so many people protests as “an[the protest] bigti-American.” ger than the first showing up on a Saturday “If President time. I’ve seen a lot Trump was a to parade for democracy of returning faces, king, the governa lot of smiles, and and human rights.” ment would be they’re bringing — ANNE FRAHN, Active member and open right now,” friends. So I don’t told organizer for Swing Left Peninsula Johnson know what the atABC, referring to tendance is gonna the government be, but I’d be shocked if it wasn’t signifi- shutdown. cantly larger than last time.”

Although the Palo Alto protest was Larger turnout, however, is con- peaceful, many pro-Trump Republicans

fear violence stemming from similar demonstrations.

“We have video and photos of pretty violent rhetoric calling out the president, saying fascists must die and all the rest,” Johnson said. “So it’s not about the people [Democrats], it’s about the message.”

To combat this violent image, some anti-Trump protesters dressed up as unicorns, like Nia, who came to the second No King’s protest after frustration with the current government.

“The administration’s trying to say these are violent protests, and that narrative falls apart if people are in ridiculous costumes and being peaceful,” Nia says.

“So we kind of take the wind out of their sails if we show that we’re here peacefully and protesting, which is our civic duty.”

SIGNS OF ALL SORTS Protesters came with signs of all shapes and sizes, from banners to handheld sheets of paper to quilted fabric signs. Protestors Linda (left) and Megan (right) have been hand-painting their own signs since the first No King’s protest, hoping to encourage more people to speak out against the administration.

“If we don't protest, how is it [the current state of affairs] ever gonna change?” Megan says. “It's not gonna change. If everybody stayed home, we’d be done.”

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Text and photos by CHAPIN WALKER

NEWS

Palo Alto voters react as California approves Prop. 50 New district lines could shift balance of power in upcoming midterms

Turning Point California voters approved Proposition 50 Nov. 4, allowing for the state to redraw its congressional districts. According to The Associated Press, the measure could give Democrats up to five additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms, offsetting the Republican redistricting in Texas. Mid-decade redistricting is rare, as states typically redraw district lines only after the national census every ten years.

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alo Alto voters are feeling cautiously optimistic about the passage Nov. 4 of Proposition 50, which allows for the state to redraw its Congressional districts — adding five more likely Democrat seats — in a major win for Democrats in the national redistricting battle.

Ted Alper, a long time resident, said he believes Prop. 50 is vital to protect the nation’s democracy.

“Trump is acting as an autocratic dictator,” Alper said. “If Democrats do not win the midterm elections and retake the majority in the house, we may never have a real democracy again.”

David Richardson, another Palo Alto resident, said he initially opposed Prop. 50 because he supported California’s independent redirecting commission but changed his mind after learn-

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ing the measure was temporary. ties and safety nets,” she said. “But Prop.

“It’s clear that democracy is under 50 also shows how broken our two-parattack by the Republican Party,” he said. ty system is. Recently, our whole sys“Prop. 50 is a serious tem has become this step to keep Ameritoxic back and forth ca a democracy which "Prop. 50 is a between the two can benefit all Ameri- serious step to keep parties and it's not a cans, not just the super real democracy anyAmerica a democracy more.”The approval wealthy.”

Others expressed Prop 50 marks a which can benefit all of hesitation about the significant moment partisan approach. in California’s role in Americans, not just Janel Moses, a national politics. resident who voted yes the super wealthy," As Associated — DAVID RICHARDSON, Press noted, during on the measure, said Palo Atlo Resident the 2026 midterm she had mixed feelings about Prop. 50 but unelections California derstood why it was is positioned as a key necessary. battleground in the fight for control of “We need more balance in the Congress.

House and Senate to preserve civil liber-

Text by HADRIEN DE MARTEL and MIHIKA SRIDHAR

NEWS

Shashank Joshi, a Stanford professor of psychiatry, speaks at the Palo Alto Art Center during a town hall meeting about protecting youth mental health in the face of pending budget cuts. “This is the time when we have to absolutely be creative and prioritize finding ways to continue to finance allcove,” Joshi said. Photo by Joyce Ma

Budget cuts threaten allcove A llcove Palo Alto, a mental health support center, is facing budget cuts and possible closure due to the passage of the HR-1 bill, better known as the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Allcove first opened in 2021 and is a first-of-its-kind mental health center for youth in California. Different from traditional mental health services, allove provides mental health services for low or zero costs.

However, these benefits may soon disappear. Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga, who spoke on Oct 28 at a town hall meeting at the Palo Alto Art Center, warns funding cuts will directly impact all Santa Clara County’s services, including allcove.

“We are looking at changes with allcove,” Abe-Koga said. “Right now it’s a county-funded program, but again, because of our budget cuts, we are looking at having to make some changes.”

Currently, there is a target of $800 million to cut in the coming year’s budget. This includes a cut of $145 million in behavioral health services, which allcove falls in.

The closure of allcove could affect trict and community beacons like allcove,” hundreds of youth. Behavioral Health Ser- Joshi said. vices Division Director Jennifer Pham spoke Joshi said he believes that allcove has more on the impact allcove has had on the become a valuable community pillar for community. mental health.

“Since the inception [of allcove] in “Seventy percent who visit allcove say June 2021, we’ve they would not have seen roughly 1400 sought help else“Our young people have where,” Joshi said. youth at the center,” Pham said. “951 “This is not just a told us what they need. of them have been mental health clinic, there for ongoing, re- They built it. They trust us it’s a lifeline. It’s a peated service.” community home for Stanford Pro- with it, now it’s our turn young people.” fessor of Psychiatry to stand by them and Joshi ended with Shashank Joshi, who a statement emphahas worked closely make sure it remains.” sizing the impor— SHASHANK JOSHI tance of allcove in in suicide prevention Stanford Professor of Psychiatry our community. for over a decade, also expressed his de“We’d be sisire for allcove to stay lencing a model of open, citing his own personal experience hope that young people have built from the with the program. ground up,” Joshi said. “Our young people “One of my kids really struggled and have told us what they need. They built it. got a lot of support from community re- They trust us with it, now it’s our turn to sources, including those offered by the dis- stand by them and make sure it remains.”

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NEWS

P

alo Alto High School’s Incubator journalism class currently houses eight publications: Anthro Magazine, Via Verde, Ink, Proof, Chomp, Veritas, KPLY, and The Paly Voice. Anthro Magazine has compiled some of the content of these publications’ recent issues to share what the Incubator journalism class has been doing. We encourage you to check out each of these unique publications!

Chomp is Incubator’s magazine for everything food.

Looking at food deeply and critically, Chomp aims to highlight local food and the stories behind it through features, restaurant reviews, opinions, and more.

Editor-in-Chief: Chiara Martin

Dec. 2025

Editor-in-Chief: Xander Yap

Submit your story ideas to chompmagazine2@gmail.com

Submit your writing to: literarymagazineink@gmail. com

In our November issue of Via Verde, Paly’s travel magazine, we feature captivating stories from rural China to Cuba, photo essays, and various travel-based content from the Paly community.

Published three times anually, [proof] magazine is Paly’s fine arts and photography magazine, aiming to feature students’ creative works and facilitate discussion about the arts.

Editor-in-Chief: Cailey Quita

Editor-in-Chief: Alexander Lawson

Submit your travel photos and stories to: viaverdemagazine@gmail.com

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Ink, Incubator’s literary magazine, features student writing — fiction, nonfiction, poetry — as well as features, opinions, and reviews about aspects of literature and writing important to Paly students.

Submit your photography to: proof.paly@gmail.com

Our technology magazine, Veritas, continues to report on some of the most pressing tech-based developments and issues. From local Waymo progress to embryo selection discussion, Veritas is a mustread.

KPLY is Paly’s online podcasting publication, keeping the Paly community up-to-date on campus events and providing original content on anything from features or student opinions to cultural analysis.

Editor-in-Chief: William Xue and Arjun Jindal

Editor-in-Chief: Mack Reller

Submit your story ideas to: veritas.paly@gmail.com

Visit at: soundcloud.com/palyradio

Text by HADRIEN DE MARTEL

NEWS

Seniors’ voting experience C

alifornia held a special election for Prop. 50 on Nov. 4th, a measure which would allow the state to redraw its congressional lines and grant Democrats up to 5 additional U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterm, according to the Associated Press. For students who turned 18 before the election, this was their first opportunity to vote.

Some students chose to vote, while others didn’t. Anthro interviewed eligible students on how their voting experience was, and why they chose to vote, or not to vote.

Suzie Mondragon, 18, senior “I was really excited just because it was my first time voting and that’s a big thing that you can do here is you have the right to vote. I decided to vote because I felt that it’s not a duty of a citizen but it kind of is, and you have that right so why not use it. Personally I feel like if you can educate yourself on these issues, it’s important that you do vote, so that your opinion is heard and that’s really important for a democracy.”

Luke Joachim, 18, senior “My first voting experience was super easy. Registration was quick and voting in person was very gratifying. In fact, a veteran shouted out that I was a first time voter and everyone clapped, which was cool and kind of funny. I decided to vote because I believe I have a civic duty as a U.S. citizen to do what I can to propel my country in the direction I see fit.”

Graham Vaughan, 18, senior “I didn’t vote. I really just don’t follow politics at all anymore, it feels like a big joke now, and I felt that if I voted it would’ve just been whatever my parents voted for.“

Tayton Chow-Gregory, 18, senior “I did not vote because I was swamped with school work and college applications. I felt unsure because I didn’t know what elections were happening or what bills they were trying to pass. I was also unsure on the process I had to do to even vote.”

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Text and photos by DOREEN HOU

FEATURE

Beyond the Limits of the classroom

English teacher partners with Wellness Center to improve students agency

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ekki Casalco, Paly’s English teacher, is one of the many teachers who taught 9th grade standard curriculum in Palo Alto High School. Though she is the only teacher who has made revolutionary steps in integrating wellness into literacy, aiming to improve students’ agency.

During her time in teaching her freshman English class, Casalco recognized that stigma is a barrier that keeps students from seeking help.

“From my experience, I think it [a barrier] will be the stigma,” Casalco said.

“Like if you reach out for help, you are deemed as weak, or ‘only crazy people get help in the wellness center’, and the last one is a quote from one of my students when we asked them why they think we’re [wellness workers are] here.”

Casalco made an effort to partner with the Paly Wellness Center to lower the barrier. The partnership works on a collaborative model. Casalco meets with Wellness workers to brainstorm how the themes of each of the novels she teaches can be linked to the resources available at the wellness center.

“We work together, we brainstorm,” Casalco said. “[...]I tell them [Wellness workers] the key things that we’re focusing on in the book, and the key things that are relevant to them and what I hope the students take away from the book.

Then we brainstorm and put everything together.”

The program weaves social-emotion-

al learning directly into the standard 9th- because all these resources are free. Once grade English curriculum by using litera- you become an adult, a lot of these reture as a bridge to real-world challenges. sources you need to pay for.”

The goal is to provide students with tanCasalco said that the first activity that gible tools to navigate complex situations. the students participated in was taking a “The idea is to equip students with tour inside the Wellness center and getsocial-emotional tools, ting to know the rewhere they will be able sources the center to use those tools in “The goal is to get them offers. their real life to comonly [students] from being had “We’ve bat these situations,” one activity so Casalco said. “ When spectators or just pas- far,” Casalco said. we come across our “We’re planning for characters and our sively a passive engage- a second one, which novels, most of the sit- ment to active engage- is coming up in two uations are relatable.” weeks. So our first Moving beyond ment.” one [event], is an the standard curricintroduction to the — BEKKI CASALCO, English teacher ulum of reading and wellness center. writing, Casalco’s disThey got a tour of tinctive approach aims to empower stu- the wellness center, and they got to exdents, enhancing their confidence, and plore the therapy spaces.” problem-solving skills to endure diverse It’s not common for classes to focus scenarios in life. on mitigating the barrier in asking for “The goal is to get them [students] help or to spend time discussing available from being spectators or just passively resources around campus, but Casalco’s a passive engagement to active engage- action aims to change that. ment,” Casalco said. “It’s also about pro“It’s so easy just to talk about it and moting student agency.” do it alone,” Casalco said. “But the idea Casalco believes that the best time to that a teacher and a center are collaboprovide students with the necessary tools rating on not just English topics, but also to approach problems is during school. on the social emotional piece of it. So “I have always believed that students it’s equipping students to become active need to know how to navigate life,” Casa- agents of their own life and taking control lco said. “And school is the perfect place of how they respond or how they react to

situations in life.”

In increasing the agency of her students, Casalco noted that the network effect of how those students affect their friends can be effective in spreading its impacts.

“Friends talk to each other, and they share personal things,” Casalco said. “So they can be like, ‘hey, that’s a situation, why don’t you go to the wellness center?’

And I think that’s something that would be a huge win if we get more and more students participating in the wellness center and be part of it.”

OASIS OF CALM (upper left) — Students painting their imagination of the term “oasis of calm” using water color. This is their third activity in the journey of self discovery within.

Students share out their painting with beach, pets, rainbow, etc.

CIRCLE UP (lower left) ­— Students circle up on the carpet upon entering the tower building. A carpet were placed in the center of the room to allow students sitting comfortably. Students quickly starts their conversation after settling themselves.

PAINTING RAINBOW (above) —One of Casalco student paints her own vision of where would give her calmness. She started with a stroke of arc, and finishes off with rainbow. While the student next to her have painted a gradient of sunset.

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WHY 21?

A

law-abiding American can drink their first sip of Experts explain the alcohol at 21, while, according to the World Health Organization, more than 60% of countries worldreasoning behind wide have a drinking age of 18. So why are we so far from the norm?

America’s unorthodox John McCardell, historian and emeritus president of Middlebury College, says the 21-year-old minimum legal drinking age drinking age (MLDA) is harmful because it is frequently bro-

Text and photos by NAOMI ESPINOZA

ken without consequence, setting a concerning precedent.

“On college campuses, students have figured out how to circumvent it and administrators have figured out how to cope with it, in some cases, by just looking the other way,” McCardell said. ”If a law exists that is being routinely violated, where does the logic that leads to that violation end?”

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Dec. 2025

FEATURE

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(Continued from previous page) McCardell led an effort to relax restrictions the higher drinking age has had unintended conseon alcohol in the early 2000s when he started quences. the Amethyst Initiative, garnering the sup“Drinking didn't really subside [after the MLDA port of 135 college and university presidents. was raised],” McCardell said. “It retreated into The Amethyst Initiative went to Congress dark corners and clandestine locations — places in 2008, asking Congress to reconsider the where it could not be very easily observed, never bill that has mainmind policed.” tained an MLDA of According to Mc21 years old across the Cardell, the standardizaU.S. since 1984. tion of a higher drinking "We need to empower Before the National age made alcohol taboo, young people to think Minimum Drinking Age Act which has had significant of 1984, the MLDA varied from health repercussions. critically about why 18 to 21 across states. This act stat“It eroded opportunities for young they’re using.” ed that any state with an MLDA lower people in the presence of adults to learn than 21 would receive a 10% cut to how to consume alcohol responsibly,” its federal highway funding, and McCardell said. “Clandestine binge –– RALPH CASTRO, director of resulted in uniform restricdrinking became a much more serious Stanford’s Office of Substance Use tions across the nation. problem.”

Programs, Education & Resources According to McCarMcCardell says enforceable restricdell, the hearings were tions that promote education in a system never held because of similar to that of driver’s licensing would the economic depression in 2008. be more effective than the current MLDA. McCardell says this bill was created “In order to be permitted to drink at age 18, you would largely due to Mothers Against Drunk have to take an alcohol education course, just like driver’s ed,” Driving (MADD), a nonprofit organi- McCardell said. “If you pass that successfully, you would receive zation that campaigned for a higher a permit, which could be revoked automatically if you were drinking age on a platform of pub- caught driving under the influence, and then you'd have to wait lic safety. until you were 21.”

“MADD is a pretty powerful McCardell claims this revised system would encourage both organization,” McCardell said. respect for the law and responsible behavior.

“There continues to be this un“There would be an incentive for young people to behave derstandable emotional appeal up until they turn 18, a greater incentive to behave once they got that MADD makes that the their permit and an immediate penalty for anyone who violated drinking age is responsible for the rules under any circumstances,” McCardell said. alcohol related traffic fataliPalo Alto High School junior Zoe Ferring compares Amerities.” ca’s MLDA to restrictions in other countries.

However, McCardell says “It’s not consistent with the rest of the world, where most countries have their drinking age at 18,” Ferring said. “It’s better that individuals can drink legally and safely instead of trying to do it under the radar.”

According to the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the majority of European countries have an MLDA of 18 years old.

23% of PAUSD high school

juniors have had at least one full drink of alcohol –– California Healthy Kids Survey, 2024

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FEATURE

Ralph Castro, director of Stanford’s Office of Substance Use Programs, Education & Resources, says the culture in Europe allows its lower drinking age to succeed.

“Those aren’t “In France and in Italy, alcohol is more culturally family-centrue correlaries,” Castro said. tric and it’s introduced in a family structure early on … which is different than it is here in the United States,” Castro said. “We “They are false dichotomies. Drinking and voting are not necessarily the same thing. tend to be a much more binge-drinking focused society.”

Castro says there are also infrastructural differences which You have to think strategically: Why? Why would you want it lower?” allow lower drinking ages to succeed in Europe.

This sentiment is shared by Aliya Benabou, the Bay Area “There are fewer opportunities to drive [and] there are more walkable cities,” Castro said. ”There’s a more protective program specialist at MADD. Benabou, who manages local programs at MADD and factor involved.” gives presentations to middle and high Castro also emphasizes the imschoolers, says it is important to eduportance of education, saying that cate young people about the dangers discussions with young people allow of alcohol. them to make better choices.

“If a law exists that is “A lot of people don't know … the “We underestimate the brains of dangers of drinking underage and what young people quite a bit,” Castro said. being routinely violated, kind of health implications that causes “There are ways to have conversations where does the logic that that carry into adulthood,” Benabou with people to build resilience, to said. “I wish they [teenagers] knew that build flourishing skills, [and] to build leads to that violation alcohol was not a toy. It can get bad recritical thinking skills.” end?” ally fast.”

Castro says that open dialogue is Benabou is especially aware of the more effective than fear-mongering –– JOHN MCCARDELL, emeritus risks of alcohol use because of her frewhen discussing underage drinking president of Middlebury College quent interaction with people who are with teenagers. the most affected by drunk driving ac“Too many times we’ve utilized cidents. scare tactics and unreliable research “I see everyone who has lasting methodology to try to cajole teens intov not drinking,” Castro said. “We need to empower young injuries, [who] can’t drive anymore, is paralyzed on their right side or doesn’t have a mom and a dad,” Benabou said. “I see that people to think critically about why they're using.”

Paly junior Dalia Saal says that preventing 18-year-olds from and I work with them and I know them.”

Because of her experience, Benabou believes that a lower drinking contradicts their status as legal adults, since they can MLDA would only create more harm. serve in the military and on juries, sign contracts and vote.

“I think it [efforts to lower the MLDA] just stems back to “It's inconsistent with so many other rights you get,” Saal said. “When you’re not allowed to do something, there’s a rebel- being ignorant,” Benabou said. ”It’s just because they haven't been impacted. Because, if they have, why would they want to do lious side of you that really wants to do it.” that? What good is going to come out of that?”

Castro advises caution when comparing these rights.

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BELL-TO-BELL PHONE BAN F

or most Palo Alto High School stu- doesn’t back it up. A major study in 2025 PAUSD should teach dents, phones are a part of everyday from the University of Birmingham found life. They’re calendars, calculators, that schools with a strict, full-day smartstudents responsi- cameras, and most importantly, commu- phone ban showed no improvement in stunication. However, school administrators dents’ mental health, physical activity, sleep, ble phone use by often seem to see them as nothing but a dis- or academic performance.

C o n f i s c at i n g keeping to a class- traction.

To address this con- High school should be phones won’t magicern, California Gov. cally make students room-only phone Gavin Newsom’s Phone- a place where students happier or more foFree School Act requires cused. Teens’ menban schools to enact a policy are being prepared for tal health and pro-

limiting cell phone use adult life. Locking their ductivity are shaped in classrooms by July by many more facphones away will do 1. However, the act tors, such as family states that the in- the exact opposite. and social life, not dividual policies just the amount of are up to the time kids spend on judgement of respective school screens. Especially at Paly, where the presdistricts. sure is already high, banning phones will In the beginning of the make students dread school even more, inschool year, The Palo Alto Uni- creasing burnout. fied school board hadn’t made a Many teachers believe that banning decision, and so the choice was phones will automatically make students left to each school. The board more productive, saying that fewer distracheld a meeting in November tions will mean better focus. While that may to decide what the PAUSD- sound logical, a 2023 Common Sense Mewide policy should be for high dia study showed that teens only used their schools, and they decided phones for a median of 43 minutes in school to keep the classroom-only compared to almost four and a half hours phone ban that was already daily, showing that most teens’ excessive in effect at Palo Alto High phone use is outside of school.

School.

Instead of targeting limited in-school We believe the use, districts such as PAUSD could make PAUSD school board a bigger impact by teaching responsible made the right deci- phone habits outside of class, where the sion. While having majority of use actually happens. phone-less classrooms Another major flaw in bell-to-bell can increase focus and phone bans is how they cut off communiimprove learning, there cation. This is especially important during is no need for an entire- emergencies such as lockdowns, where the ly phone-less school ability to contact a parent is a necessity. day. In fact, we believe According to a Nation Parents Union poll, a bell-to-bell phone 78% of parents believe their child should be ban would have more able to use their phone during school hours negative than posi- if there is an emergency and they need to tive effects. contact their kids. Having phones available Despite the doesn’t mean they must be used in class, but proposed idea that students should be able to have the option removing phones in of using their phone in case of an emergenschools boosts men- cy. tal health, the evidence In addition to extreme cases, commu-

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Dec. 2025

IS NOT THE SOLUTION nication through technology is fundamental to how society functions today. Many Paly students go off campus to Town and Country Village during brunch and lunch, and students should be able to call and coordinate with their friends.

A full day phone ban also raises many questions and concerns. How will the administration take care of 2,000 phones?

What about people with health issues?

What about people with prep periods who are leaving school? These issues are easily avoided with a classroom-only phone ban.

Even when schools are able to enforce a total phone ban successfully, new problems emerge. A 2025 National Bureau of Economics Research study analyzing Florida districts found that the first year after the phone ban was put in place, schools saw an increase in student suspensions due to rebellion against the policy. Instead of focusing on teaching, educators would be managing discipline, damaging the very relationship that makes learning possible.

High school should be a place where students are being prepared for adult life. Locking their phones away will do the exact opposite.

Post-high school, there’s no one stopping people from using their phones. Not teaching students how to use their phones responsibly at a younger age will lead to more phone abuse in the future.

Administrators can also emphasize the importance of using phones responsibly through education rather than discipline. The best way to fight this isn’t with total abolishment, it is with education instead.

At Paly, where independence and initiative defines the student

body, the solution isn’t to lock phones away.

It’s to build trust and teach balance, creating a campus that values both focus and freedom, which is why the school board made the right decision.

OPINION

Text by CHIARA MARTIN and CHAPIN WALKER Art by CHAPIN WALKER

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Text by JESHURUN WANG and JOYCE MA

We must change It’s time to move past blame in our politics and reopen the lines

“G

REAT NEWS, ANOTHER CEO IS DEAD!” That disturbing message on a random Discord server was how we found out about the death of Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner. Moments later, another member referenced the shooting of Brian Thompson, the CEO of United Healthcare.

Their deaths were celebrated because some people did not support the kind of people the CEOs represented, but that doesn’t change the fact that, at the end of the day, they were still human beings.

Just a few months later, in September, right-wing Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University during his “American Comeback Tour.” According to Axios, thousands of people were later flagged by the Charlie Kirk Data Foundation for celebrating or joking about his death online.

Instead of reflecting on the tragedy and condemning the murder, the public further split. The irony is striking: A nation that prides itself on the First Amendment now sees people being killed while exercising free speech. Regardless of how you feel about your political “opponents,” murder is terrible and leaves lasting societal damage.

We claim to agree as a society that murder is among the most serious crimes — punishable by life sentences or even death. Yet people increasingly justify the

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Dec. 2025

killing of political figures simply because to understand one another. After Kirk’s of their ideology. According to a survey by shooting, Politico reported that Democratic CloudResearch, a leading online research Reps. Delia Ramirez of Illinois and Sydney platform, 22% of Americans under 30 said Kamlager-Dove of California moved events Kirk’s death was justified. The main rea- indoors, while CBS found that many others son? Karmic justice for gun rights advocacy. postponed or canceled public engagements.

There have been multiple cases of poRep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) delitically motivated violence in our country. scribed the atmosphere inside Congress afPennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was ter the murder of Kirk. firebombed at his home for his stance on “People are scared to death in this Palestine. Our current President, Donald J. building. … They’re running to the House Trump, was himself the target of multiple Speaker, talking about security. … People assassination attempts. There have been are scared, really scared,” he told NBC numerous cases of politically motivated vi- News. olence in our country.

We must be able to compromise with Just a few months bethose who disagree fore Kirk’s death on June “In a democratic rewith us, for that is 14, two Minnesota lawthe foundation of makers were shot inside public, sometimes we democracy. But ristheir homes, resulting in ing polarization has ‘win,’ sometimes we the death of Democratic made that increasState Representative Me- ‘lose,’ but we’re not ingly difficult. As lissa Hortman. early as 2014, the Hortman represent- going to hurt each Pew Research Center ed millions of constitu- other in the process.” found deep partisan ents; our elected officials animosity, Americans — KATYA VILLALOBOS, AP need to fight for us to U.S. history teacher increasingly viewing protect our interests. the opposing party’s To do so effectively, policies as an existenthey need to hear from us too. However, if tial threat to the nation’s stability and future. people are scared to express their needs beIn our diverse country, we’ll always cause of the threat of physical retaliation, have some disagreements. Former U.S. that process breaks down. Our democracy President and diplomat Jimmy Carter said functions only when people can express that we should prioritize peace over vioopinions without fear of physical retalia- lence. tion.

“There should be an honest attempt at We cannot ac- the reconciliation of differences before recept a nation where sorting to combat.” elected officials are When compromise erodes, violence targets of violent fills the void. It’s a failure of communicaacts. Violence chills tion. According to a 2023 study by U.C. free speech rather Davis with 8,620 participants, 32.8% conthan addressing the sidered violence to be usually or always jusunderlying issues. tified to advance a political objective.

When we silence However, most respondents who envoices through dorsed political violence were unwilling to intimidation, we resort to violence themselves. Still, by enlose the chance dorsing this behavior, it normalizes it to the

Art by JOYCE MA

OPINION

the narrative now of communication towards people that differ in ideas than ours few that are willing to engage in political vi- ‘lose,’ but we’re not going to hurt each other olenceAccording to AP U.S. History teach- in the process.” er Katya Villalobos, political violence is Public awareness of political violence incompatible with democratic governance. appears to be rising. A 2025 Pew survey “We are not alfound that 85% of ways going to agree “There should be an respondents believe with things,” Villalobos the rate of politisaid. “In a democratic honest attempt at the cally motivated republic, sometimes is reconciliation of differ- violence we ‘win,’ sometimes we i n c re a s i n g. ‘lose,’ but we’re not go- ences before resorting Aw a r e n e s s ing to hurt each other of the probto combat.” in the process.” lem is a good — JIMMY CARTER, former Public awareness start, but it’s of political violence U.S. president not enough appears to be rising. A — we need ac2025 Pew survey found tion, not fear. that 85% of respondents believe the rate of Villalobos also warns of politically motivated violence is increasing.

Awareness of the problem is a good start, but it’s not enough — we need action, not fear.

Villalobos also warns of online echo chambers that could block us from listening to other opinions. “[There is] your truth and my truth, but then the facts get lost. … You stay in a bubble, and that bubble becomes a cement bubble, where no information can come through.”

Do we want a nation where people are shot for disagreeing on policy? Do we want the image of the United States to be one of perpetual turmoil and unrest?

If not, then it is up to all of us to change that narrative. Violent political rhetoric should never be tolerated. Normalize keeping an open mind, not violence. were unwilling to resort to violence themselves. Still, by endorsing this behavior, it normalizes it to the few who are willing to engage in political violence. According to AP U.S. History teacher Katya Villalobos, political violence is incompatible with democratic governance.

“We are not always going to agree with things,” Villalobos said. “In a democratic republic, sometimes we ‘win,’ sometimes we

online echo chambers that could block us from listening to other opinions. “[There is] your truth and my truth, but then the facts get lost. … You stay in a bubble, and that bubble becomes a cement bubble, where no information can come through.”

Do we want a nation where people are shot for disagreeing on policy? Do we want the image of the United States to be one of perpetual turmoil and unrest?

If not, then it is up to all of us to change that narrative. Violent political rhetoric should never be tolerated.

Normalize keeping an open mind, not violence.

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