March 2019 Print Edition

Thursday | March 7 2019 | Volume 59, Issue 6

Read Maddie Cho’s opinion article on making a difference

Aragon High School

900 Alameda de Las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA 94402

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Girls basketball makes history: First CCS championship title

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Dons lose 46-34 in NorCal semifinals after successful postseason.

MIKAYLA KALISKI

Aragon hosts 5th annual Latino Festival Alex Kao

news writer

——— Aragon hosted its 5th annual Latino Festival from 5-9 p.m. in the south gym on March 1. The festival was organized by the Latino Parent Group and Family Engagement Coordinator Edwin Martinez, and it showcased a large variety of Latino food, music, and performances from many different Latino cultures.

Several students and many outside groups performed a variety of dances from different countries, sharing their culture with the Aragon community. “[My favorite part is] the singing and dancing, the performances,” said freshman, Ayelen Mansilla Soler. “It’s just a good

Brooke Hanshaw and Elizabeth van Blommestein sports editor and writer

way for people to see Latino performances. It brings diversity to the Aragon community and just to show off the Latino culture.”

There was also a wide variety of food such as tacos and pupusas, as well as desserts like churros and horchata, and an emphasis was put on providing entrees this year.

The planning for the festival mostly took place from December to March which included collecting donations, contacting businesses and organizations, as well as advertising the event. Belvi Mikery, Latino Parent Group Board Treasurer explained the effort involved in the planning.

“It takes several months, but the real work is from December

——— After a thrilling run to the Central Coast Section championship, the Aragon girls basketball team (10-2 Peninsula Athletic League, 18-12 overall) lost to Union Mine (9-1 Sierra Valley League, 23-8 overall) on Feb. 28 in the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation playoffs.

Beginning the game with the first two points, the Dons quickly fell behind due to a lack of communication on both defense and offense. Finishing the first quarter 13-2, Union Mine leading, the second quarter consisted of strong offense from Union Mine and inconsistent free throw shooting from the Dons, who were only able to execute two points out of their three opportunities on the line and ended the

first half behind 27-7.

“When I talked to my players before this game, I told them to not underestimate this team, not to treat them as a 16th seed,” head coach Sam Manu said. “They were an excellent team, and they proved it tonight. We played about the worst half in three years this first half. We only put up seven points. That’s never been anything we’ve done.”

The second half, the Dons came out with a renewed sense of energy and aggression. Junior captain and point guard Lydia Manu scored the first points within the first 10 seconds in a breakaway and successful layup attempt. That initial intensity carried them throughout the third quarter, with Aragon putting up 14 points compared to Union Mine’s 10. Finishing 35-21

headed into the final quarter with Union Mine still in the lead, the energy from Aragon’s home crowd continued to influence their comeback.

“Anything we did, no matter how we played, they supported us … We made it exciting even though the first half was disappointing.”

Senior captain and shooting guard Jalene Parangan began the fourth half with a layup, followed by a two for two free throw attempt and two three pointers from Lydia Manu.

Alongside another three pointer from freshman guard Jordan Beaumont, the Dons managed to bring the score within six points at 40-34.

“Losing that first half like we did, I think the second half really showed their heart,” Sam Manu said. “They didn’t quit.

They were in tears at halftime because they were so

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OPINION

FEATURES

SPORTS

Hollywood Heroines

Teens and Fake News

Hosea Patton

Read about features writer Nathan Green’s opinions on the complexity (or lack thereof) of female characters.

How do teenagers navigate the labyrinth of the fake news phenomenon?

Read about alumni Hosea Patton, current boys basketball head coach and former Aragon player.

PAGE 10

PAGE 11 SVGSIH, EMILY XU

PAGE 14 COURTESY OF GOODREADS

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NEWS

VOLUME 59 | ISSUE 6

THE ARAGON OUTLOOK

Latino Festival encourages cultural diversity

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to now,” Mikery said. “The most difficult plan is to get all of the donations because we talk to a lot of people and they say they will donate, but sometimes when we go to pick up the donations, they just don’t have it.”

While raising money for the Latino Parent Group was a goal of the festival, the main goal of the event was to bring the Latino traditions and culture to the Aragon community.

“The most important thing for us is to get the community out there and enjoying a good night,” said Latino Parent Group Board Member Maria Perez. “Next is the economic goal, and that would be bringing the money we get from this event to our graduates to celebrate their graduation and the other thing is we have a small award that we give to the best and most accomplished Latino student from each grade.”

Freshman Ali Picos ex-

plained how the festival was able to bring the Latino culture to Aragon.

“It’s really great, people who were born in America don’t really know about the Latino culture, so we come here to celebrate it,” said freshman, Ali Picos. “I would say that something special about this is the connection everyone has to their culture. Something that brings this community together is the culture because us Latinos always have lots of festivals to bond with each other and this is open to the whole school.”

The Latino Parent Group has been working since 2000 to increase representation of the Latino culture at Aragon.

When the Latino Parent Group was founded, there were only approximately 90 Latino students at Aragon; That has grown to include one-fourth of the entire student body today.

“Most of the kids are born

here and raised here, and they don’t really get to know their roots,” Perez said. “We do this so we can show our kids and the rest of the school what our Latino culture is all about. This is for us to reflect on our kids where we come from and who we are and for them to be proud and get to know our traditions from back home. The goal is to reflect the Latino culture back to Aragon.”

While there were fewer countries represented than in previous years, this year’s Latino Festival still attracted many people.

“I think we have a lot of people here, a lot of the neighbors are showing up and that’s really good because they enjoy having fun,” Mikery said. “I just want to encourage everyone to come and to let our community know and keep sharing our culture and keep growing.”

Aragon hosted the annual Latino Festival on March 1.

MADDIE GILLETTE

After successful postseason, Dons lose 46-34 in NorCal semifinals

Junior guard Lydia Manu takes the ball up the court.

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disappointed at how they played. They came back.”

Despite their comeback, Union Mine pulled away in

MIKAYLA KALISKI

was probably our first quarter,” said sophomore forward Savannah Mapa. “I think we started off pretty good, just communicating on defense

“We got a big lead in the fourth quarter and just rode that all the way to the end” the last three minutes, scoring another six points to win the game, ending the Dons season.

Aragon began their playoffs as the 10th seed in the CCS tournament. Starting strong, the Dons dominated the first round of CCS with their 53-33 win against Woodside (1-10 PAL, 12-11 overall) on Feb. 19.

This marked the beginning of their record setting journey to the top of CCS and beyond.

The game started off with Woodside winning the tip-off but attempting to score on their own basket. Aragon’s junior guard Angie Olive got the rebound and scored Aragon’s first two points with composure. The first quarter ended with the Dons doubling Woodside’s points, finishing with a score of 14-7.

“I think our best quarter

and doing some plays … and just looking up and looking forward to handle the ball.”

In the second quarter, the Dons demonstrated their intensity. Within the first six minutes of the second quarter, Beaumont stole the ball at half-court and sprinted to the basket tailed closely by a Woodside player. Beaumont managed to get her shot off as she fell to the ground, scoring two points for the Dons.

“I think today was successfully good,” said senior center and captain Lia Lilomaiava.

“I think the reason why is because we were mentally there with our energy … It kept us through the game, on and off the bench.”

The Dons also almost shut out the Wildcats in the second quarter, only allowing them

two points, which were earned on free throws.

“We had a very rough game last week, and after the [Feb. 11 CCS playoff] game [against South San Francisco] our team had to decide whether we wanted CCS or not,” said Lydia Manu. “We’ve been practicing to push through that hard loss … Tonight, it showed what our hard work was for.”

Aragon ended the night on a strong note, never coming close to falling behind the Wildcats.

The Dons continued their winning streak with a 53-46 semifinals win against Leland High School (7-3 Blossom Valley-Mt. Hamilton League, 16-10 overall) on Feb. 21.

Heading into the finals, head coach Sam Manu described what the experience truly meant for the team, including the history behind the team’s achievement.

“Three years ago, when we started, we said our goal was to make state. The first year, we made it to the quarterfinals of CCS, last year we made it to the championship game of CCS, and so this year we wanted to win the championship,” Sam Manu said. “For the girls who started three years ago, they really built the program and some of them are graduating now. When we got to that game, we knew it was a chance for us to make history.”

The Dons then beat Lynbrook (12-0 Santa Clara Valley- El Camino League, 22-5 overall) in the CCS finals on Feb. 23, 53-48. Lydia Manu explained that they were able to clench the title despite being behind for most of the game.

“It was the biggest relief and biggest accomplishment, not only for me but for our whole team. To finally obtain [our goal], through such a crazy way, we just continued

to work and we just played our hearts out,” Lydia Manu said.

“Even though we were losing and down by a lot, we just keep fighting and I’m so proud of the girls.”

Winning the CCS championship gave Aragon its first girls basketball CCS champion title.

“I appreciate all their hard work, and I love each and every one of them. They kept building the program up, even girls that have already graduated,” Lydia Manu said. “Winning [the championship] was really a result of all of that coming together.”

The Dons then headed into the first round of the CIF Division III state tournament, traveling five hours to face Eureka (5-3 Humboldt-Del Norte-Big 5 League, 21-11 overall) on Feb. 26.

to be a team effort,” Sam Manu said. “We played great defense the second half, everybody contributed, and then we got a big lead in the fourth quarter and just rode that all the way to the end.”

The Dons managed to keep the lead until the end, gaining a victory with a final score of 47-44.

“When we went to Eureka High School, they had a big turn out and a big crowd …

We just had each other, we only had each other’s backs, because everyone else there was against us,” Lydia Manu said. “We just had to hold our own, and we did just that. It was a crazy game, only winning by three.”

After traveling to the utmost part of Northern Cali-

The girls varsity basketball team discussed game plan during a time-out.

“We got to the hotels, we all had rooms that we shared with each other, that was a great experience,” Lydia Manu said. “Just the traveling and the flooding with the crazy weather made the experience so much more memorable.”

The game was extremely close, with the Dons trailing at halftime.

“We started out slow that game — Lydia carried us that first half. I told [the girls] at halftime, we can’t have just one person carrying us, it has

MIKAYLA KALISKI

fornia, the Dons had the luxury of hosting the second round of state competition. They competed against Union Mine (9-1 Sierra Valley League, 23-8 overall) on Feb. 28, losing 46-34.

Lydia described the experience as a captain.

“I want to lead the team, and I’m working my hardest to do so, but at the same time the whole team leads us,” Lydia Manu said. “We worked our butts off to be here — it’s very rewarding.”

3 Peggy Nagae encourages taking action through Minoru Yasui’s legacy NEWS

Kimberly Woo news editor

——— Guest speaker Peggy Nagae spoke to history classes in the Multi-Purpose Room on Feb. 13. Nagae is the Chief Operating Officer of White Men as Full Diversity Partners and served as lead defense attorney for the appeal of the 1943 Supreme Court case Yasui v.

United States.

Minoru Yasui was a Japanese-American civil rights activist who challenged Executive Order 9066 by purposely violating its curfew stipulation in order to challenge the constitutionality of the Executive Order. After a few appeals, his case was brought to the Supreme Court, where his conviction was upheld unanimously. Approximately 40 years later, Nagae helped overturn his conviction by proving the government intentionally concealed evidence that would have deemed Yasui innocent.

During her visit, Nagae told students the story of Yasui and talked about her life, incorporating peer discussions and a question and answer session.

“I really liked how Ms. Nagae not just lectured, but she also let us have discussions in between,” said junior Priscilla Yang. “It’s a good break in between to think about how you respond to it instead of just blindly let[ing] it go through your head. The conversations I had were very eye opening to see another person’s perspective, [and] also it was to get in touch with

never truly feel connected to what we’re learning unless we actually can go out there and experience such things,” said junior Ikjot Dhillon. “For her to come and just talk to us, even if it was the same things that we read, was really important because it was coming out of her mouth — It was the significance of who she is and what she stands for.”

Nagae thoroughly informed students about the history of Japanese-Americans, which she said is often generalized.

“It’s important for me to set the record straight in terms of Japanese-American history in that it didn’t start with the bombing of Pearl Harbor,” Nagae said. “[It’s important] in general, for people to understand that the history of this country has been one filled with racism, not just towards African-Americans, but to many different groups of people … It’s great for Asians and for all students to see that there are Asian-American civil rights leaders. You can take action in your next conversation. By doing so, you shift history.”

Some teachers gave out an associated assignment, such as a reflection and note-taking sheet. Colglazier had his students write to the state to request more education about Japanese-American internment.

“Yasui’s name isn’t in the state standards,” Colglazier said. “They gloss over some aspects of Japanese intern-

“You can take action in your next conversation. By doing so, you shift history” what I was feeling.”

Nagae appreciated Aragon students’ sincere engagement.

“There [were] a lot of interesting questions that were asked. I felt good about the attentiveness … the interaction and engagement of the students,” Nagae said.

Advanced Placement U.S. History teacher Will Colglazier contacted Nagae in Dec. 2018 after seeing an advertisement for a documentary about Yasui. “[This presentation] speaks to the human story, but it definitely visualizes an AsianAmerican story, which is a big piece of the Aragon community,” Colglazier said. “Peggy Nagae is a great example of someone who wasn’t necessarily in Japanese internment, but she made justice a factor of her career. I think we can bring in guest speakers who aren’t necessarily in an event that’s in our history books, but someone who’s using their knowledge of history to do good in the present.”

Students enjoyed her firsthand account, as it provided a live perspective of history.

“As students, we will still

ment that I think need to be in there. We used our in-depth knowledge to hopefully make a change in how this event is taught in the future.”

Nagae believes Yasui’s legacy of activism and justice ought to be taught to students to demonstrate greater diversity and representation in history.

“The students need to understand the broad swath of civil rights, and I think Asian students deserve a hero,” Nagae said. “History is written by the victors, so it’s important to get a real picture of history.”

Students reflected on the messages in her presentation.

“She showed us that you can really start from nothing and become this great thing just by believing in justice and having passion towards a topic,” Dhillon said. “We need people who believe that they’re here to do good …

[Nagae] said, ‘If it can happen to you, it can happen to me, so I will protect your rights just as I will protect mine.’ Especially in our political climate right now, we need to protect each other and hold out a lending hand to one another.”

Junior Benjamin Chen was inspired by Nagae’s courage and perseverance.

“A big takeaway is her bravery because she mentioned how … a case like this really could have hurt her reputation. It was a big risk that not many people would take, yet she did it,” Chen said. “Another [takeaway] is perseverance because she kept through with this and kept with the case. She still fights for what she believes is right today.”

Hearing about Nagae’s upbringing and introversion

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impacted Yang’s perspective of herself.

“Ms. Nagae said that she was an introvert, but because justice was at the core of her being, she had to pursue it; It was her life,” Yang said.

“There’s the idea that if it’s something that you’re meant to do, it doesn’t matter how shy you are; you have a goal …

I’m taking away that it’s okay to be shy sometimes. I’ll overcome it by [focusing] on what I feel is important.”

Nagae hopes that students will see the power they have within themselves to

take action.

“If I could do this, each of you can do this. I’m not something special — I was an introvert; I was poor; I grew up on a farm; [I had] never talked to a lawyer [in high school].

Hopefully, my story is about possibility,” Nagae said. “I hope that students can see how powerful they can be as individuals. [I hope] they say something if they hear something inappropriate, dismissive or devaluing of other people or themselves. I hope they live a life worth living and take action.”

Nagae spoke to Aragon students about her experiences and about civil rights activist Minoru Yasui.

aragonoutlook.org

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Emily Xu Front-Page Editor

Scott Silton Faculty Adviser

FEATURES Justin Im* Audrey Kim* Alyce Thornhill* Marc Capobianco Rosella Graham Nathan Green Caitlin Kaliski Penelope King Daniel Laird Erika Pilpre Olivia Roxas Audrey Smietana Danny Williams Grace Xia

NEWS Naomi Vanderlip* Kimberly Woo* Emily Xu* Jasslie Altamirano Iva Goel Harbani Jaggi Alex Kao Isabella Krzesniak Katie Lau Laura Livingston Srimaye Samudrala Josette Thornhill Joshua Wing Steven Zheng

SPORTS Brooke Hanshaw* Will Tong* Lucy Chang Kamron Ramelmeier Shiho Takatoku Jung Haye To Amanda Hao Elizabeth van Blommestein

GRAPHICS Connie Liu* Emily Feng Ava Gawel Phoebe Pineda Christina Wu Cynthia Xiong

VIDEO Kayla Li* Mia Dang Ajay Paramasivan

CENTERSPREAD Jamie Wang*

BUSINESS Brooke Hanshaw*

Claire Mason Editor-in-Chief

SOCIAL MEDIA Madeline Cho*

PHOTO Mikayla Kaliski* Olivia Bayless Clariss Bolanos Erin Calter Lindsey Chan Maddie Gillette Laura Hoznek Kayla Shiao James Veizades

* denotes editors

The Aragon Outlook | Volume 59, Issue 6 | March 7, 2019 The Outlook is published eight times a year in September, October, November, December, February, March, April and May by journalism students at Aragon High School, 900 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo CA 94402.

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NEWS

VOLUME 59 | ISSUE 6

THE ARAGON OUTLOOK

Duke Medical School controversy sparks dialogue Written by Iva Goel

Duke University Biostatistics Professor Megan Neely sent out an email on Jan. 26 to approximately 50 of her Chinese-speaking students asking them to stop speaking Chinese in public school areas, such as the student lounge and libraries.

“The message to speak English in Duke’s public buildings, including a student lounge, is reasonable, as a common spoken English language brings all people together in a shared public space,” said Aragon parent Pearl Wu. Neely had received complaints from two coworkers, who stated that Chinese students were speaking loudly in study areas. Senior Alison Lee, a student who applied to Duke University, questioned the situation’s possible link to racism.

“If she had made it clear that it was because they were being loud [and] not because it was Chinese, it might’ve been okay,” Lee said. “The possibility of racism come[s] from the reason behind the message [being] speaking Chinese, but I don’t think we’ll ever really know the intentions.”

Edward Sun, a board member of the Aragon

Asian Parent Group, studied in Berlin, Germany, during his junior year of college, when he was fluent in English, but not in German.

“I am grateful to the teachers who made us speak German in class and use it as much as possible in public places, but I am also grateful that they did not try to muzzle us and stop us from speaking our native language in the student lounge,” Sun said. “At the end of a long day of [operating] in German, it was nice to bump into a fellow American and just chat in our native language.”

Math teacher Rafael Montelongo who started learning English when he moved to the United States at the age of 16, expresses the value of know-

ing different languages.

“Although it was difficult to learn [English], it is very rewarding to be able to express myself in two different languages,” Montelongo said.

“However, I would feel very uncomfortable if someone asked me to stick to English 100 percent of the time. Spanish is part of who I am.”

Lee believes the Bay Area does not have to handle as many situations and messages like these because the environment is more culturally accepting.

“We’re very diverse and used to a lot of people

speak[ing] a second language,” Lee said. “We see the benefits of knowing them for life skills and business. My mom, for example, is always on phone calls at 8 or 9 at night talking to coworkers in India and China.”

Advanced Placement and Honors Spanish teacher Benjamin Ho finds that this diversity is emphasized at Aragon.

“There is an atmosphere of acceptance and respect for international languages at Aragon,” Ho said. “We have a diverse student body that represents many different

linguistic groups. Events like the Latino Festival and the International Food Fair show our acceptance and respect of different cultures, [as well as clubs like] K-Pop Club [and] Persian Club.”

Screenshots of the message found their way to social media and caused negative responses from individuals at Duke University, in China and in the United States. Due to the email’s backlash, Duke asked Neely to step down from director of graduate studies and be replaced by a temporary director. Afterwards, Biostatistics Department Chair Elizabeth DeLong and Neely emailed an apology. The reactions from Duke’s community and the university’s subsequent actions caused Lee to feel even more comfortable with her decision to apply there.

“The fact that [the community at Duke] perceived the message as being disrespectful and chose not to see it ignorantly, as they easily could have, made me feel that if I went [to Duke], there would definitely be people looking out for me [as a Asian],” Lee said.

Check out our website at aragonoutlook.org

AVA GAWEL

NEWS

MARCH 7, 2019

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MIKAYLA KALISKI

Leadership hosts annual One Love Week Written by Joshua Wing NEWS WRITER Renaissance Leadership held One Love Week for the fourth year in a row from Feb. 11 to 15, celebrating romantic, student, friend, community and staffulty love.

While One Love Week was inspired by Valentine’s Day, it focused on many different aspects of love, and featured romantic love on Monday Feb. 11 instead of Feb. 14.

“The main mission was that everybody felt loved on campus and that nobody was excluded,” said senior Jenna Heath, a coordinator of One Love Week. “We wanted to make sure that everyone felt loved with friends, the staffulty, [and] especially themselves as well, because there’s all different ways of

expressing love.”

In an effort to include all students, Romantic Love Day featured Aragon’s Health and Wellness counselors, who led discussion on all kinds of relationships, including romantic.

“Our Romantic Love Day was not so much about celebrating love but about raising awareness for healthy versus unhealthy relationships,” said senior Renaissance Leadership student Alison Lee. On Tuesday Feb. 12, Leadership’s student announcers handed out paper hearts in each fifth period class that would be redistributed on Staffulty Love Day. Students anonymously wrote the names of administrators, counselors and teachers

and what they love about them.

English teacher James Daniel appreciated the notes.

“It was nice to get a bunch of notes saying that I’m having some effect as a teacher,” Daniel said. “It’s nice to know that you’re appreciated.”

Students also enjoyed the opportunity to acknowledge their teachers.

“It was kind of nice that [you] got to show which teacher you appreciate,” said sophomore Kelton King. “It would have been a bit better if I could’ve done it for more than one.”

For Community Love Day on Thursday Feb. 14, Leadership worked with student a cappella group Treble with Angels to bring music in the halls around campus.

In preparation for One Love Week, each day’s events were coordinated by smaller groups within Leadership.

Each commission coordinated one day’s activities, focusing on different aspects of love.

“We come up with what kind of love we’re going to have for each day, and we split them up by commission,” Lee said.

“Health and Wellness is all about mental health, so we were the ones that did healthy relationships, and we have Student [Recognition] for self love because it’s all about the students.”

In addition to these activities, Leadership had hoped to collaborate with student clubs, including Bring Change to Mind and the Gender Sexuality Awareness club.

However, due scheduling challenges, they were unable to do so this year. “[Leadership is] in class every single day during fourth period ... whereas, [Bring Change to Mind] meets once a week during lunch on their own time, so it’s difficult to find times to meet up to discuss,” Lee said.

When organizing for the week, the weather posed issues in both the logistics of the activities and student participation.

“We do everything in center court, and [when] it’s raining we can’t put tables out [and] nobody’s outside,” Lee said. “There was just nobody out there because of the rain and cold.”

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OPINION

VOLUME 59 | ISSUE 6

MARCH 7, 2019

Join the moo-vement Madeline Cho social media editor

———

MIKAYLA KALISKI

With 7.5 billion people on Earth, it often feels like one person’s actions won’t make much of a difference. With daunting global issues like climate change, can an individual really do anything significant? My answer to this question developed from an unlikely source: cows.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the livestock industry accounts for 14.5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, and cows are a major contributor to emissions within the livestock industry. When cattle eat, they produce a combination of nitrogen, methane and carbon dioxide; the latter two gases build up in the atmosphere, trapping heat and causing global warming.

Since there are more than 1.4 billion cows living on Earth — most of them raised for milk or beef — the livestock industry has recently become an obvious threat to our planet.

The cattle industry is responsible for about 80 percent of deforestation in the

Amazon region, according to Yale University. Not only does deforestation have negative effects on native animals, burning down the forest floor to clear the way for cows releases more carbon dioxide into the air.

After learning this about livestock agriculture, specifically the cattle industry, I was shocked. I felt guilty for being blind to its negative effects all my life. I am angry at myself and the world for contributing to such a harmful practice and am determined to change it.

In that moment, fueled by my rage and desire for change, I decided to cut cow products out of my life. But then, I thought, “Is this really going to make a difference?

Why put myself through this when the action of a single person really changes nothing?” For a while, I was conflicted. Now, I believe I can finally answer those questions.

Putting in effort is difficult, especially when you don’t see it making a difference. Sometimes doing things like limiting meat intake seems useless, especially considering the extra time, discipline and discomfort it requires. Actions like buying meat, using non-recyclable plastics and shopping at unethical brands may seem harmless, but contributing to those businesses only prompts them to create more product and further damage our planet. Sure, refusing to eat steak once isn’t going to change the world, but it’s always better to put a little good back into the world rather than harming it further. Doing our part in helping the Earth, however small, is better than doing nothing at all. The only person we can control is ourselves, so why not better the only thing we have control over?

The only way any act or protest will make a tangible difference is if many people choose to make change. A powerful movement needs a leader who believes in their own convictions and changes their behavior accordingly.

CONNIE LIU

If I fought for a solution I didn’t follow through with, I wouldn’t be creating the change I wish to see.

While one isn’t responsible for solving global warming, we must do everything we can. I have tried to eat fewer animal products, ensure the things I recycle are recyclable and bring a reusable bottle. I set realistic goals for myself and knowing that even if I do not make dramatic alterations to my life, doing my part in helping the Earth, albeit minimal, makes an impact.

CHRISTINA WU

Hollywood heroines are too one-dimensional Nathan Green features writer

———

MIKAYLA KALISKI

My little sister’s favorite Star Wars character is Rey. My sister is six years old and has never seen a full Star Wars movie in her life. But for her, Rey is a cool, female action hero to whom she can relate. Rey’s a character who’s good at fighting and can take care of herself, and my sister thinks that’s awe-

on her own in a desert wasteland, but unfortunately, is characterized by passivity.

She has a relatively simple solution to every problem that comes at her and rarely reacts emotionally to them.

Similarly, Black Widow is one of the few female heroes in the Marvel franchise. She hardly has any personality, merely lending her fighting abilities to the plot with only minor complexity; the few times we see her personality, it’s in the context of her relationship with Bruce Banner.

Oscar-winning film “Into the Spider-Verse” faces a similar issue. It features five main male characters, all lovable and interesting, while the only main female character displays a lack of personality beyond not trusting people because of her tragic

“They’re manufactured to be ‘strong,’ and nothing else” some. I’ve seen her before with Rey’s signature triple bun hairstyle, and she proudly wears shirts featuring Rey. And I’m happy that she, and other girls, can grow up with characters like Rey and Black Widow that inspire them and give them windows into the world of fantasy that may have been locked to previous generations.

Recently there’s been an influx of diversity in Hollywood, be it the inclusion of more female heroes or people of color. Even Disney movies, which are notorious for being about a princess in need of saving, are following this trend, with “Moana” (2016) starring a woman of color who is brave and independent, not in need of rescue.

But unfortunately, many of these new Hollywood heroines suffer from a lack of creativity. They’re manufactured to be “strong,” and nothing else.

“The Force Awakens” was the first in a wave of new movies from the Star Wars series, a series which, until now, was dominated by male protagonists. The main character is my sister’s beloved Rey, a scavenger surviving

past — an all too-common character type. When the writers of the movie have displayed that they can write really interesting personalities, it’s disappointing to see the main female of the film written as such a basic character.

Having diversity in media is important. I see myself in Luke Skywalker, and he has been my hero for as long as I can remember, inspiring me to write stories of my own.

I love that the increasingly diverse cast of characters in movies is allowing anyone to have a hero like I do. Being able to look at a character and see yourself in the char-

Force Awakens” not for the highly skilled Rey, but for Finn, who’s main character arc stems from him being a coward, not strong. In “The Incredibles,” a movie about a family of superheroes struggling wanting to fight crime in a world that rejects them, centers around Bob, a formerly world-famous superhero, being selfish and secretly thinking he’s the best hero. Such complex character traits are far more interesting than Helen, whose most defining trait is being … sassy?

There have been tests that examine depth of female characters, the most famous and widely-used one being the Bechdel Test, which checks if the work features at least two women talking to each other about something besides a man.

I understand the good intentions of the Bechdel Test, but I think it is testing the wrong thing. A movie can have dull female characters with very little motivation whose only purpose is to kick butt. I think it’s important to have well written, multi-layered characters, as well as characters who deviate from stereotypes; At this point, the “strong” heroine is a stereotype of its own.

There are exceptions to this rule — not all Hollywood heroines are like this. And perhaps we made progress from the days of female characters whose only purpose is to kiss the studly prince, but we’ve only moved on to even more cliches. I see so many male characters in Holly-

“Perhaps we made progress ... but we’re only moved on to more cliches” acter is incredible, and now people like my sister have that. Nonetheless, I feel that these Hollywood heroines are simply boring.

It feels as though this new wave of female characters gets the short end of the pencil, as more effort is put into writing the male characters. I watch “The

wood achieve complexity and interesting arcs, while many female characters are relegated to being symbols of perfect strength. Why can’t we have complex female characters for young girls to look up to?

We don’t need to show younger girls that they need to be perfect or strong, just that they need to be people.

EDITORIAL/OPINION

MARCH 7, 2019

VOLUME 59 | ISSUE 6

The Outlook supports survivors

This editorial represents the opinion of 13 out of 14 of the Outlook editors.

A sea of students stood in unity at the foot of the baseball field during the Believe Survivors walkout on Oct. 17, 2018. One by one, students entered the inner circle and shared their experiences with sexual harassment, while others voiced their support for the #MeToo movement and those who came forward. Two things became clear that day: sexual harassment deeply affects many students at Aragon, and many survivors, given the opportunity and the support of others, want to tell their stories.

In light of the #MeToo movement and our publication’s current reporting on sexual harassment at Aragon, the Outlook would like to express its support of individuals who shared their experiences. We believe that in

sharing stories, sexual misconduct becomes less stigmatized, and the general awareness of the issue increases.

We also acknowledge that reporting sexual harassment comes with a risk for many survivors.

Unfortunately, some people will go to great lengths to humiliate, blame and discredit victims of harassment and assault. Coming forward with accusations can also put one’s career and reputation on the line. Some people will never feel comfortable coming forward, and that is okay. Victims should not be forced to bear the extra weight and responsibility of others, sacrificing their own well-being to do what’s best for the rest of society. Just as we shouldn’t shame victims for the harassment they experienced, we shouldn’t shame them for choosing to stay silent, either.

Nonetheless, coming forward is powerful, impactful and important. Survivors’

stories lead the discussion of holding people accountable and creating necessary change. As we have seen among different industries across the country, having the bravery to come forward and speak about one’s own experiences encourages others to follow, inciting important dialogue and creating a safer and more inclusive environment.

Speaking up against abusers also breaks a previously impenetrable silence, exposing the power structures that have allowed perpetrators to assault for years. With high-profile perpetrators such as Dr. Larry Nassar, Harvey Weinstein, R. Kelly and Catholic clergy, their abuse was well-known and protected — survivors were either shamed into silence, discouraged from speaking up or threatened. One voice has the power to open the floodgates and bring justice.

When former gymnast Rachael Denhollander first

came forward to accuse team USA doctor Larry Nassar of assaulting her at age 15, she faced massive backlash.

What Denhollander couldn’t foresee at the time was that her voice would bring about a wave of change. After Denhollander, 264 more individuals, many of them teenagers,

7

the perpetrator is ultimately punished or not, each time a survivor has the courage to speak out, they expose an important issue that has been overlooked and systematically silenced for centuries.

The Outlook supports survivors of all forms of sexual misconduct, and we are hum-

“Having the bravery to come forward and speak about one’s own experiences encourages others to follow” came forward and accused Nassar of misconduct. Denhollander’s courage initiated a process that put a serial child molester behind bars.

It’s true that speaking up won’t solve everything. It doesn’t erase the misconduct that occurred in the first place, and more often than not, perpetrators walk free regardless of victims voicing their stories. But whether

bled that the student body entrusts us with sharing their experiences that can be traumatizing and painful to talk about. We hope that by reporting on the issue of sexual harassment, and providing a platform for those who have experienced it to share their stories, the dialogue and changes that need to happen are finally initiated.

Flags held high: The roadblock to ending gun violence

DHRUV SIGNHANIA

Daniel Laird features writer

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shootings might not even be gun control, but we’re not going to find any solution if we can’t even have the simplest national discussions.

A flag at half mast is at least better than one being frantically waved by a patriot so obsessed with the American image of freedom

that they’re unwilling to discuss or compromise on the topic of gun control. Yes, the Second Amendment exists, and yes it does provide civilians with the right

to own and bear guns, but some things are just common sense. No, the government doesn’t want to take your guns — not if you are sane of mind with no serious criminal record, and trained in safely using firearms. It doesn’t matter that according to an analysis of crime statistics from 2007 to 2011 from Harvard University there is “little evidence that SDGU [self defense gun RI

ST

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obsession with fetishizing tragedy. At this point, we as a society are dismayed by shootings because we can no longer be surprised by them. The best answer to

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knives, making such events much less common, and less lethal. There is, on average, one mass shooting per day in America. Japan rarely exceeds 10 gun deaths per year.

IN

“There is, on average, one mass shooting per day in America”

use] is uniquely beneficial in reducing the likelihood of injury or property loss.”

So long as gun ownership is a fundamental American right, people are entitled to own guns, but they should at least enable a discussion on how best to implement gun regulations to preserve their

to do more to prevent them.

So let that flag fly high, because this is the American way. Let that flag fly high, because we as a society should be proud that apparently not even the murder of children will get in the way of the great USA. Maybe next time our thoughts

“At this point, we as a society are dismayed by shootings because we can no longer be surprised by them”

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Unfortunately, we all know the story. Person with deep societal resentment gets gun, person uses gun, mass tragedy ensues. This infamous U.S. tradition has been a centerpiece of American consciousness ever since Columbine in 1999, gay clubs, synagogues, yoga studios and, most tragically, schools have all fallen victim.

And make no mistake, this is an American tradition. No other developed country has this long and continued struggle with gun violence. Other countries have stricter gun laws, like Japan, where guns are so difficult to obtain that people commit acts of violence with

So why does America have so much difficulty with this topic? It’s not like instituting gun control wouldn’t work in America. Take Australia, which was able to actually respond to a mass shooting, the Port Arthur Massacre in 1996. They took initiative after this tragedy by passing laws controlling the possession of guns, and it worked; Australia managed to go two decades without any mass shootings.

One could blame powerful interest groups like the National Rifle Association, who exert considerable economic and political influence over Congress through their highly devoted supporters. However, this problem is far more insidious than that: it comes from A m e r i c a’s reverence surrounding tragedy.

By collectively flying our flags half-mast after tragedies like this, we as a society shut down any chance for discussion on the issue. The most staunch defenders of gun rights attack any calls for reform following mass shootings as “politicizing the incident,” and there the discussion ends, smothered by a national

freedoms while ensuring guns are only in safe hands.

Back in October, I realized a terrible truth. I couldn’t tell what we were

mourning anymore. Was it the synagogue, the bar or the yoga studio? They all blurred together, the token interviews with distraught family talking about how nice the victim was, politicians calling it a tragedy and stopping the conversation there, the one soundbite of a person asking for gun control — and then it’s gone. The media moves on because it’s old news.

Frankly, I’m disgusted. It’s a disgrace and an insult to all those who have died in preventable mass shootings that we aren’t able or willing

and prayers will jam the gun and stop the bullets, because we certainly don’t care enough to stop them.

But this cannot be where the story ends. For the first time in a decade, there has been hope for change: Parkland. In the aftermath of this tragedy, society didn’t just keep a respectful silence, it fought for change.

Grassroots movements like March for Our Lives rallied many to demand more effective gun laws, a debate over gun control was reignited, and many states took action against gun violence.

Fundamentally, the problem isn’t legislators in Washington or influential organizations fighting for gun rights, it’s us, the American people.

Whenever we sit idly by and pay our token respects to the dead, we are complicit in maintaining a deadly status quo. If we reject the respectful nothings around gun violence, and fight, fight, fight for change, we’ll see it — because that is why we fly this flag in the first place.

Aragon Too: an investigation of Movements intended to bring awareness to sexual harassment and abuse have existed for decades, in fact, the #MeToo movement was founded back in 2006 by sexual assault survivor Tarana Burke. However, it wasn’t until a few years ago that such movements gained momentum and global attention — flooding social media, news cycles, red carpets, and even courtrooms.

Disputes over the lasting impact of the #MeToo, Time’s Up and Believe Survivors movements aside, they have all exposed a clear and undeniable truth: sexual harassment affects people of all backgrounds, identities and professions — including students. Aragon students are no exception.

The Aragon Outlook decided to examine sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement in our community for this centerspread. Data used was collected from 830 Aragon students through a survey authored by the Outlook editors and administered during math classes.

AragonToo is an ongoing project by the Outlook in an effort to shed light on sexual misconduct in the Aragon community. If you would like to become a source for the project, please fill out the survey at bit.ly/OutlookProject or contact one of the Outlook editors.

1970s: The feminist wave of the ‘70s builds momentum, focusing on the issues of workplace harassment and domestic abuse, among others.

It increased awareness of the prevalence of sexual harassment and abuse.

1975: The term “sexual harassment” was first used at Cornell University,

regarding former female employee Carmita Wood, who resigned after her boss inappropriately touched her. Wood tried to claim unemployment benefits and was denied.

Wood formed “Working Women United,” an activist organization that helped bring the issue of workplace discrimination to national attention. Studies were conducted on the prevalence of sexual harassment, and new media featured this topic.

Aragon stu harassme stude o

1 in 5 students at Aragon report having been sexually harassed

1986: Michelle Vinson was fired by her boss after he sexually harassed her for

3 in 5 who h rass that i

over 3 years. She claimed that his harassment created a “hostile work environment,” and she won in a 9-0 decision.

This landmark Supreme Court case ruled that workplace discrimination based on race and or sex violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The term “hostile work environment” became mainstream, and many companies began requiring their employees to watch videos and be trained on what constitutes sexual harassment.

Timeline

1991: Anita Hill testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, claiming

that Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas harassed her while they worked together at the Education Department. This became national news.

While Clarence Thomas was ultimately confirmed, Anita Hill’s highly-publicized testimony brought a wave of attention to the issue of sexual harassment and assault. According to Time Magazine, following her testimony, “sexual-harassment complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission doubled, and payouts from court settlements increased as well.”

2006: Sexual harassment survivor and activist Tarana Burke first used the term “Me Too” on her MySpace account.

Oct. 7, 2017: Ashley Judd, among others, accused director Harvey Wein-

stein of sexual harassment. Over 80 actors who had stayed silent on their experiences came forward in what became known as the “Weinstein effect.”

Weinstein was arrested on rape charges in May of 2018.

The accusations against Harvey Weinstein erupted in Hollywood, exposing the industry’s long-held tradition of silencing victims of sexual harassment.

2017: But it wasn’t until 2017 that it really took off, following the accusations against Weinstein and high-profile celebrities such as Alyssa Milano used the hashtag on their social media platforms.

While #MeToo was popularized by celebrities, it spread throughout social media. In the first 24 hours of posting, it was used over 4.7 million times. It brought an awareness to the issue like never before as survivors of all backgrounds spoke out about their own experiences, utilizing social media as a platform.

Jan. 2018: The “Time’s Up” movement against sexual assault and harassment was created and the 2018 Oscars was dominated by actors and actresses who wore black in solidarity with survivors.

Many survivors of sexual harassment within the entertainment industry have spoken up, exposing high-profile celebrities.

Sept. 27, 2018: Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a Palo Alto University psychology professor, testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the sexual assault allegedly committed by Brett Kavanaugh, a nominated Judge for the Supreme Court, at a party 36 years ago. Despite powerful testimony from Ford, Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court with a slim margin of 50-48. An FBI investigation into the alleged assault was found inconclusive.

Her testimony empowered women to speak up about their stories and share their reasons for silence. Once again, bringing sexual harassment and assault to the political sphere.

Perceptions of the MeToo Movement

While most Aragon students agree that there should support for survivors of sexual harassment, there are d opinions on the purpose and impact of the MeToo mov common reservation is that it creates a society where m per-aware of their actions. “While the MeToo movemen for women, it has also taken its toll on men,” said soph “creating an atmosphere in society that makes men alw cused by women, either by accident or for reasons to d Contrastingly, junior Natalie Ku believes that the des rassment has not created a culture of accountability an said. “It’s about balance of power and consent … showi ger be tolerated.” Similarly, junior Austin Porter believe people. “It is important to maintain an innocent until pr of sexual harassment are able to get away with much m afraid to report it.”

While many students believe that MeToo was created ing male sexual harassment, specifically homosexual su Said Senior Elyssa Samayoa, “I remember a girl in the py for her, but at the end her message was like we can’ I do believe men are the perpetrators more often than Regarding the statement if reporting could result in While AP Psychology teacher Carlo Corti has never enc on the environment.

“I think students do a good job knowing when they c they can get away with it,” Corti said. “I could say I don

f sexual harassment Prevalence of Sexual Harassment

udents recognize sexual harassment is a prevalent issue that should be addressed. “Damn near every girl I know has experienced some sort of ent,” said senior David Avak. While only 20 percent of Aragon students report experiencing sexual harassment, an overwhelming 75 percent of those ents are female. “Society has been built to normalize this behavior,” said junior Audrey Yang. “People know if they come out with their experiences often times they will get harassed and the judicial system is not on their side. A big part of moving forward is [addressing] how our culture allows harassment and sexism to occur.”

Math teacher Don Bush also believes that sexual harassment is a prevalent issue, but heavy stigmas keep survivors from coming forward.

“Sometimes [a victim] will weigh the consequences ... ‘I won’t say anything, [if] I think it’s going to be worse,’” Bush said. “I think that’s the problem — oftentimes when people report they end up being the victim again.”

Said senior Gianna Garcia, “Personally, I wouldn’t report [sexual harassment] because it would go around school, people would hear about it, one person would be telling the next, and it would really get blown out of proportion.”

5 of the students have reported hasment also report it was perpetrated by a peer

Addressing Sexual Harassment

A majority of Aragon students believe that sexual harassment is a topic that must be addressed. Junior Aisha Manjarrez thinks talking about the issue will lead more survivors to get help.“I think there should be more awareness and trust into the survivors and I feel society should do something rather than make the perpetrator apologize,” said Manjarrez. “I feel us survivors shouldn’t back down because we are threatened, and if you tell someone and no one believes you, go to different people and let someone at this campus know immediately because they will help you. Just know that you asked for none of this and you are an amazing person regarding what you are or who you are, you are loved.”

Addressing one’s own experiences also impacts one’s mental health. “Understanding your own mental health and what is inhibiting you from being the person you want to be or doing the things you want to do, and understanding the role that some current or past assault or harassment has had in that is hugely important,” said psychology teacher Carlo Corti. Junior Elisa Jee also believes talking about sexual harassment will have a positive impact on mental health. “I think sexual harassment is one of the subjects that affects one’s mental health and is extremely hard to talk about. A lot of people struggle and can’t tell people, especially if the person they were sexually harassed by is someone they might be threatened by or someone who they genuinely love or know,” said Jee. “ I feel like a lot of women are struggling and aren’t able to talk about it, which is why I think that it’s inspirational for people to get help.”

3 in 5 students believe sexual harassment “remains a serious problem that must be addressed”

d be differing vement. One men have to be hynt has done a lot of good homore Christopher Capra, ways worry about being falsely acdefame the person.” stigmatization of speaking up on sexual hand awareness. “MeToo is not about gender,” she ing others that this kind of harmful behavior will no lones accountability can exist without unjustly accusing innocent roven guilty society,” Porter said. “[But] as it stands, perpetrators more than they should, largely because survivors of said harassment are

28% of Aragon students have witnessed student to student harassment on campus

d with good intent, some believe its message has been lost. “The lack of recognizurvivors and perpetrators, is jarring,” said junior Joey Williams.

Layout: Jamie Wang e middle sharing her story [at the Believe Survivors walkout], which I was very proud and hapCopy: Madeline Cho, Brooke Hanshaw, ’t trust men, screw them, we hate them,” Jee said. “It just brings such a bad image to feminism, and Alyce Thornhill, William Tong, Jamie women, but that certainly doesn’t make the movement exclusive to women.”

Wang and Kim Woo more harm than help, 27 percent of Aragon students agree with this sentiment, but 41.6 percent disagree.

Graphics: Jamie Wang countered or witnessed an account of sexual harassment, he believes that students behave a certain manner based

can get away with something, when they can harass someone and not be called out on it, where the time and place is that n’t see a lot of [harassment], but I also know there’s a reason I don’t see a lot of it.”

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OPINION/FEATURES

VOLUME 59 | ISSUE 6

THE ARAGON OUTLOOK

Fast casual dining: Will it dominate the food industry?

MIKAYLA KALISKI

Erika Pilpre features writer

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When walking down the streets of busy San Francisco or even downtown San Ma-

fer full table service and focuses on higher quality food, using less processed, frozen and chemical ingredients. It appeals to those who enjoy the ease and convenience of fast food, but also desire the healthier options and the comfortable, welcoming sit-down environment of casual dining.

Unique items that stray away from the usual menu also pop up, like speciality drinks at milk tea places and seasonal ingredients at pizzerias. Some examples of fast casual chain restaurants are Panera Bread and Shake Shack — more locally are SAJJ Mediterranean and The Habit.

EMILY FENG

teo, one is presented with many types of restaurants, from casual buffets to top-notch Michelin star eateries. However, one type of restaurant that’s been on the rise is fast casual, a combinationt of fast food and casual dining.

A fast casual restaurant is a restaurant that does not of-

Fast casual places are generally more expensive than premade meals at regular fast food chains, like McDonald’s and Taco Bell. The average price for a fast food meal usually ranges from three to five dollars, while fast casual restaurants tend to charge at least twice that amount.

However, according to a Technomic report, consumers are willing to pay a little extra for food they know is healthy.

This is partly driven by research and reports that show up in the news warning people

time to wait can still enjoy nutritious, high-quality meals. A lot of fast casual places have also adapted to the growing immigrant consumer profile in which they take recipes and ingredients and incorporate

“The fast casual trend is revolutionizing our relationship with eating out and the food industry“ of the bad consequences of junk foods. The number of fast casual restaurants is still low compared to fast food and full service, but as more and more people become concerned with nutrition, fast casual is growing. According to Technavio, the market for fast casual food is expected to reach a booming 66.87 billion dollars by 2020.

Fast casual restaurants target customers, especially business locals on a lunch break, that are health-conscious. As society becomes more fast-paced, it’s easier for busy people to pick up a cheap meal from a restaurant than to cook at home.

Fast casual also makes eating out much easier for families. The ambiance at fast casual places is generally more pleasant, and families with children who don’t have the

them in their menu. In many ways, the fast casual food industry includes the wishes from customers for better food for a broader demographic.

However, fast casual food can be expensive, especially in highly industrialized areas like San Francisco. This can be a de-

end up in the trash the next day.

In response to the digital age, fast casual restaurants have been utilizing technology, targeting the younger population.

Sweetgreen, for example, is an eco-conscious chain specializing in salads. The company uses algorithms trained on past purchases, local weather and events to help predict its daily food necessities, thus reducing food waste. They even have a potential partnership with biotechnology company 23andMe to customize and propose meals that fit an individual’s digestive system.

As the popularity of fast food and fine dining declines, I believe fast casual will keep on growing, whether expensive or modestly priced. The

“Fast casual will keep on growing, whether expensive or modestly priced“ terrence to those who don’t focus their budget on food or for students who don’t have money to spare on expensive meals.

Currently, a third of all food is wasted. However, fast casual includes smaller, more finishable portions, and thus less food is taken out, and less is wasted, as leftovers often

fast casual trend is revolutionizing our relationship with eating out and the food industry. As consumer perspective changes, the food industry will be shaped along with us, providing the high quality food, fast service and comfortable ambience.

A look at the rise of the anti-vaccination movement Audrey Smietana features writer

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For 98.7 percent of children in America, vaccinations and shots are an integral part of life. It’s a little prick of a needle to help keep you healthy and safe. But for the other 1.3 percent, it’s a different story.

There have been opponents of vaccination since Edward Jenner first scraped smallpox infected cow pus onto one of his family member’s skin in 1798 and invented the first vaccine. Just as vaccines have evolved, so has the anti-vaccination movement, but many of the reasons for being an anti-vaxxer have not changed.

Religious reasons, personal beliefs, safety concerns and a want for more information from their health care provider are the four main reasons parents choose not to vaccinate their children.

Legally, vaccination requirements range. Vaccines are required for entrance into public school everywhere in the United States. However, in 17 states, personal exemptions for vaccines can be made, and in 30 states religious exemptions for vaccinations can be made. Three states, includ-

ing California, accept neither religious nor personal reasons for vaccine exemptions.

Many anti-vaxxer advocates argue that this infringes on informed consent, but provaxxers argue vaccines are necessary for public health.

Because of the lack of scientific evidence backing up the anti-vaxxer movement, anti-vaxxers are a notably ridiculed and shamed group.

One can find large communities of anti-vaxxers on places like Facebook, where passionate individuals speak in echo chambers. Pro-vaxxers engage in conversation with other pro-vaxxers, while antivaxxers engage with other anti-vaxxers. This may lead a more peaceful Internet, but at the same time it strengthens and fuels the antivax movement.

The pro-vax movement has much scientific evidence behind it, with countless studies proving the efficacy and safety of vaccines. For example, a 2008 study done by the Public Library of Science revealed there to be no correlation between receiving the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. Studies that have linked vaccines

with conditions like autism and irritable bowel disorder have been proven to be pseudoscience, or claims not based on the scientific method.

Additionally, some antivaxxers cite side effects people get after taking

vaccines to support their cause. While there is a one in a million chance of facing a severe allergic reaction after receiving a MMR vaccine, around one or two children will die from measles for every thousand who get the illness.

Some movements encouraging alternative medicine

and pseudoscience can be harmless, but for the antivax movement, this is not the case.

“There’s been a lot of situations where a child died from something basic,” said freshman Megan Chan. “If they just got a vaccination, that would have been prevented in the first place.”

Supporting Chan is the measles outbreak that occurred in Clark County, Wash. in Jan. 2019. Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease covered by the MMR vaccine.

Due to the MMR vaccine, measles has been almost completely eradicated in the United States, but it is highly infectious and can be fatal to small children. All 35 children infected in he outbreak CYNTHIA XIONG were unvaccinated. At the time of the outbreak, in Clark County, 7.5 percent of children in all grades were unvaccinated for personal reasons.

Jessica Valera, a parent and biology teacher at Aragon, urges anti-vaxxers to consider the consequences of their decisions.

“It’s not just about your

children,” Valera said. “It’s bad for other communities, the population and society.

You’re putting people’s health at risk.”

Unvaccinated children risk the health of those around them, as they compromise herd immunity. Herd immunity indirectly prevents the spread of diseases since almost everyone in the population is resistant to it; This protects those who are immunosuppressed and physically unable to get vaccinations.

But in Clark County, the percentage of unvaccinated children was so high that the herd immunity was compromised.

Chan believes in the safety of a vaccinated society.

“Vaccinations don’t only prevent us from getting diseases,” Chan said, “they also prevent us from spreading it towards other people.”

Freshman Frances Chua feels sympathy for children who aren’t vaccinated.

“If I wasn’t vaccinated, I’d be really confused and scared,” Chua said. “There’s some diseases and viruses that are really bad.”

At the end of the day, everyone wants the same thing — to be healthy. The issue is that everyone has a different idea of how to get there.

FEATURES

MARCH 7, 2019

VOLUME 59 | ISSUE 6

11

To believe or not to believe: Teenagers navigate “fake news” Olivia Roxas features writer It’s the first thing millions of people hear in the morning. It’s the voice that comes from the radio as students drive to school. It’s what keeps people from staggering blindly through life, trapped in a bubble of their own making.

It’s the news. And it’s being attacked by a single word resonating from countless voices: “fake.”

The term “fake news” has become omnipresent in today’s vernacular since Donald Trump’s election in 2016. The term has evolved to encompass not only fabricated stories, but also sensationalized headlines and slanted articles that people label as “fake” instead of as alternative points of view.

However, with a generation of teenagers being raised with the news delivered as fact in one ear and undercut as “fake” in the other, the question of what to believe is growing more and more complicated.

Journalist Julia Sulek from The Mercury News speaks about the dangers of the term “fake news” itself.

“The crisis for journalism and the First Amendment is … attacking journalists with integrity as purveyors of fake news,” Sulek said. “What’s dangerous about it is that it undermines people’s willingness to believe the truth, and if people

don’t believe information reported by journalists who are doing their best to get to the truth and only believe some twisted version of it, that is dangerous for the country and … democracy.”

When the term “fake news” permeates top headlines, it’s easy for the public to point fingers at the media. Last year, Facebook was slammed for allowing Cambridge Analytica to access their users’ personal information to formulate content to manipulate the election of 2016 and again for Russian accounts spreading fake news. In an effort to redeem themselves, Facebook implemented a new system to crack down on misleading content, resulting in a 75 percent reduction of fake news shared on Facebook, according to the MIT School of Management.

But are teenagers more susceptible to fake news in a NG world with so FE LY MI E many

platforms? Junior Ryan Tavola believes so.

“With mediums such as Instagram or Snapchat, where there aren’t super reputable journalists curating anything … people just assume … it must be true,” Tavola said. “That’s not to say that all teenagers are

Freshman Sofia Callol finds it difficult to navigate a digital world where legitimate news is easily drowned out on such platforms.

“On Snapchat, if you look at the recommended subscriptions … there’s a lot of weird stuff that just doesn’t sound

“People are so confused about what the truth is because of the term ‘fake news’ ... that they’re tuning out” stupid and have no capability whatsoever, but many are more inclined to go for the hyperbolic sources over more reasonable sources.”

According to the BBC, when asked where they got news from, in their top five, 12 to 15-year-olds listed YouTube and Instagram, platforms where sensationalized titles dominate.

true,” Callol said. “[There’s] a lot of clickbait.”

Skepticism extends beyond attitudes towards newspapers and online sources and into people’s day to day mindsets.

“When somebody hears a story that he or she may not like, whether it’s true or not, it is often categorized as fake news,” said San Francisco Chronicle reporter Steve Rubenstein. “It’s too bad that people are … casting aside their common sense … and they’re letting their slant get in the way of add-

ing up two and two and coming up with four.”

The problem of “fake news,” both fabricated stories and the term itself, reaches beyond the realm of media and politics.

Whether one is a direct or indirect consumer of news, the fake news phenomenon catches up to all.

“People are so confused about what the truth is because of the term of ‘fake news’ all the time that they’re tuning out and saying, ‘Well, I don’t know what to believe anymore, so I’m not going to believe anything. I’m going to tune out, and I’m not going to vote, I’m not going to care, or I’m not going to speak out,’” Sulek said. “And that’s the worst thing for democracy.”

However, this startling possibility doesn’t have to come to fruition: Studies show that adults 65 and over shared almost seven times as many articles from fake news sources as those ages 18-29, according to a study conducted by researchers at Princeton and NYU. The youth seems to be making their own more sound judgements, and many like Rubenstein see a bright future.

“I have no doubt that the teenagers in the world … will figure this out,” Rubenstein said, “I have confidence that you’ll be smart — smarter than we are.”

Clickbait Culture: It’s not going anywhere Rosella Graham features writer The term “yellow journalism” was first coined in the 19th century to refer to the various forms of sensationalism used to draw the attention of readers and secure viewer support.

Although yellow journalism today isn’t as blatant as before, new versions commonly known as clickbait are seen everywhere, from oversensaitionalized headlines to YouTube video titles. Clickbait is defined as something, such as a misleading title, used to entice readers to click on a link, and it dominates the internet.

Clickbait is most prevalent and recognizable in YouTube videos, from over exaggerated thumbnails to doubtful storytimes. Many YouTubers even have clickbait to credit for their rise to fame or infamy. David Dobrik is a popular name in the discussion of clickbait: Instead of trying to disguise his use of clickbait, Dobrik turned it into his brand and even sells clickbait merchandise.

A less blatant platform that takes advantage of clickbait is Buzzfeed. Known for their attention-grabbing quizzes, from “Answer These Random Ques-

tions And We’ll Tell You What You Should Do Right Now” to “Which Disney Prince is Your Actual Soulmate,” almost every internet user has been tricked into clicking through a series of tempting titles.

“I think [Buzzfeed’s use of clickbait] is kind of dirty because a lot of stuff they put is the same things they put a week before, except they just changed the [title],” said senior Emily Gavidia.

Sophomore Mithra Venkatesh takes issue with news companies using clickbait.

“I don’t like the fact that a bigger news production company, such a Buzzfeed, needs to use clickbait,” she said. “It’s one thing for YouTubers to use it, but another when respectable news compan[ies] do.”

Not only do these titles

and online quizzes continue to rack up millions of clicks, they further promote the creation of inadequate, insubstantial content. More views means more money, so for YouTubers, clickbait is the ultimate jackpot. From Dobrik’s “we broke up” video to It’s R Life’s “Finding Out We’re Pregnant and We Had a Break In,” YouTubers have been milking this form of allure for years.

“It just goes back to the fact

[that] there’s a lot of repetition in the type of content that people post,” Gavidia said. “In order [for YouTubers] to separate themselves from those categories and make a name [for themselves], people go that route [of using clickbait] to get more views.”

Since the surplus of enticing titles has become such a norm, most of the audience is aware and bored. Even content creators are aware of this, as

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YouTubers like Caspar Lee and Dobrik are resorting to even more overemphasized titles with the hope of maintaining views and subscribers.

Misleading video thumbnails also have the ability to lose the credibility and trust of audiences. When youtuber Jake Paul posted a video titled “I Lost My Virginity…” that turned out to be him going skiing for the first time, the extremely misleading thumbnail not only resulted in many angry comments, but also broke the trust between the subscriber and his fans, as many were expecting a juicy confession.

With clickbait’s ability to manipulate emotion and provoke curiosity, it’s proven to attract more views, despite the audience’s belief that it is misleading and wrong. People continue to click on outrageous titles and quizzes, despite knowing that there is only a slim chance their curiosity will be adequately fulfilled by its content. Taking advantage of viewers’ curious nature for the sake of profit, clickbait, be it in the form of national headlines or celebrity gossip, is here to stay.

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VOLUME 59 | ISSUE 6

FEATURES / ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THE ARAGON OUTLOOK

Gloria Marquez: From Barcelona to the Bay

Marc Capobianco features writer

———

Barcelona is an artistically decorated cultural city located in the northeast of Spain.

It is home to some of the world’s most creative architecture and art. Junior Gloria Marquez lived and studied in Barcelona for all her life up until 11th grade.

school — were not as ideal.

Marquez noticed major cultural differences in the two countries’ values and systems operated in a way that specifically affected her school day.

“We don’t have brunch [in Spain]. We just have a little pause of 30 minutes, which you can actually eat something if you want to. We have

“I thought America was such as dream — a world of opportunities” “I was offered an academic scholarship, and I really wanted to study abroad and improve my English skills, so I decided to come here to California,” Marquez said.

Ever since she was 12 years old, Marquez always knew she wanted to study abroad and expand her horizons by engaging in new experiences.

“I thought America was such a dream — a world of opportunities where you have everything and it’s always perfect,” she said.

In contrast to the original expectations Marquez held about becoming an American high schooler, some of the realities of being an exchange student — having to adapt to new people, new food and a new

lunch at home … after 2:30 p.m.,” she said.

Spain practices a tradition called a “siesta,” which is typically a nap taken in the late afternoon after a large meal. While lunch in the United States is generally eaten around 12 p.m., lunch is eaten much later in Spain at around 2:30 p.m. and is considered one of the biggest meals and events of the day.

Lunch is a much more social aspect of the day in Spain compared to the U.S., where lunch is often tightly packed into the school day. In Spain, stores and restaurants close; businesses take a break and schools temporarily dismiss their students.

In addition to the sched-

uling differences, the school systems differ in teaching and grading. In the United States, schools use the letter system, whereas in Barcelona, schools have a numbering system.

“We use a grading system from 1-10, which means that nine is an almost excellent grade, and 10 is a top one,” Marquez said. “Here, teachers try to teach students how to learn, and there in Spain they just teach students how to memorize.”

The structure of the classes is also different at Marquez’s school in Barcelona. Instead of the students moving from class to class, the teachers move while the students stay with the same classmates throughout the entire day.

There are also 12 classes instead of seven, but the classes are divided to have six one day and six the next.

One of Marquez’s favorite classes is Biotechnology, which she didn’t know about until she came to California.

“In Biotechnology, we just start[ed] doing a lot of labs,” she said, “I love that because in Spain I didn’t do any labs before coming here, and I didn’t know what [a lab] was.”

Outside of academic classes, she also experiments with new extracurriculars, such as cheerleading which

Junior Gloria Marquez received a scholarship to study in California.

was not offered in Barcelona as an after school activity, according to Marquez.

“I saw some of the friends that I made were doing cheerleading, so I just decided to join the cheerleading team,” Marquez said.

“That was one of the best experiences ever because I didn’t know what American football game [was]. I didn’t know how they were cheering or having such a great time all together as a team,” she said.

Despite the challenges that came with studying in

MIKAYLA KALISKI

a new country, Marquez was able to explore a new environment and step out of her comfort zone.

“A preconception that you have before coming here is that you’re going to have a whole bunch of friends and that you’re going to be okay [immediately],” Marquez said. “It’s a little bit difficult in the beginning, but then you’re fine and you find yourself here.”

Check out our Instagram @aragonoutlook

Thank You to Ariana Grande’s album “thank u, next” Caitlin Kaliski features writer

———

Ariana Grande released her fifth album, “thank u, next”, with Republic Records on Feb. 8. Grande had a successful year in 2018 with back to back hits, such as “No Tears Left to Cry”, “God is a Woman” and “breathin”.

To the public’s surprise, she didn’t take breaks from producing songs, especially after she broke off her engagement with Pete Davidson. In fact, Grande hit the ground running by releasing her album early this year.

The album consists of 12 songs, all unique and authentic to Grande’s style and experiences. All song titles are stylized in lowercase like the album title except for “NASA” and “God is a Woman”. When listened to in the established order, I found the album to be a complete story; however, if I listened on shuffle play, they seem to contradict each other. In some songs, Grande sings about wanting a significant other, while other songs are about focusing on the relationship she has with herself. The outlier is “7 rings,” which focuses on her habit of buying things she wants and spoiling six of her friends.

From getting engaged

to Davidson, mourning the death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller and later breaking off her engagement, Grande had a heartbreaking year, and “thank u, next” is an emotional roller coaster embodying her feelings. While her previous album covered most of the

singer’s emotions and feelings during these events, “thank u, next” focuses on her healing process.

Towards the end of 2018, Grande released a captivating music video for her single, “thank u, next”, which had newly envisioned version of iconic scenes from the movies “Mean Girls”, “Bring It On”, “13 Going on

30” and “Legally Blonde”, staring Grande as the lead for each. The music video also featured some of her

Girls” and Jennifer Coolidge from “Legally Blonde”.

While Grande wrote about her love life in previous albums, she fearlessly PHEOBE PINEDA and explicitly names her exes in “thank u, next”.

She explored the R&B genre in “7 rings” and received some criticism in response to the overindulgent and

previous Victorious co-stars from her Nickelodeon years, as well as other celebrities, such as Kris Jenner, Colleen Ballinger, Jonathan Bennett from the original “Mean

boastful nature of the song, as she sings about buying whatever she likes and shows off her ability to spend excessive amounts of money without thinking of the consequences. The song took the melody of “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music”, which I found lessened the authenticity of the song, but added an element

of familiarity.

On the other hand, the sixth track, “bad idea,” sounds to me like it would be played in a Forever 21 store with its overly poppy tune and stereotypical teenage-vibes. Grande explains her “bad idea” to go back to her previous lifestyle where she is less independent.

In Grande’s earlier albums “Yours Truly” and “My Everything”, none of her songs contained profanity, but in “Sweetener” and “thank u, next”, the majority of the songs are explicit, which changed and expanded Grande’s audience.

I enjoyed listening to Grande’s earlier albums when I was younger; however, I haven’t listened to her recent albums as much because her songs began to express more mature themes. I was excited to listen to the new album because of the many hits Grande dropped throughout 2018 — unfortunately, “7 rings” diluted my anticipation of the album. The R&B style showcases Grande’s new skills, but I ultimately preferred her traditional sound. Though it isn’t my favorite among Grande’s many albums, there was a complimentary balance between her new and old style, making it enjoyable to listen to and leaving many Grande fans satisfied.

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MARCH 7, 2019

VOLUME 59 | ISSUE 6

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Uncle Tetsu provides lighter alternative to traditional cheesecake

Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Cheesecake opened the newly renovated Hillsdale Shopping Center Food Court.

Grace Xia FEATURES WRITER

——— In the newly renovated Hillsdale Mall Food Court, Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Cheesecake effortlessly garners custom-

GRACE XIA

ers in with its scrumptious products and bright atmosphere. Customers can enjoy their purchase in the booths surrounding the shop or take them to go. While activity bustles on the weekends, there is

“Its flavor is much lighter, creating a delicate taste perfect for those who enjoy moderately sweet desserts”

usually no line on weekdays. of a round-faced chef holding Uncle Tetsu’s originated in a big heart in the center, repJapan where it was founded resenting Uncle Tetsu. Uncle by baker Tetsushi Mizokami Tetsu’s original cheesecake who began making sweets at a combines the cheesy butteriyoung age to help his parents’ ness of American cheesecake cake shop. In 1970, he opened the first Uncle Tetsu shop in Fukuoka, Japan, which instantly became a hit among the city’s youth. Fifteen years later, the original cheesecake was born, quickly gaining traction in the media and throughout Japan; Japanese cheesecake, which evolved from American cheesecake, became a staple for many bakeries.

At the Hillsdale location, the menu displays a modest selection of original and matcha flavored Uncle Tetsu’s original cheesecake displays a cheesecakes at $11 cartoon image of Tetsushi Mizokami. and various drinks, such as matcha tea cheese with the fluffy texture and foam, green milk tea and sea eggy flavor of sponge cake. It salt green tea, for $4. is best served fresh out of the Uncle Tetsu’s original oven, in contrast to traditionalcheesecake is a puffy, brown- ly cold American cheesecakes. ish-yellow cake with an image With one bite, consumers

are immediately met by the delicate creaminess of cheese and butter, which seem to dissolve. Uncle Tetsu’s original cake lacks the firm consistency of traditional cheesecake, containing a chiffon-like texture instead. Its flavor is much lighter, creating a delicate taste perfect for those who enjoy moderately sweet desserts.

Uncle Tetsu’s original cheesecake costs significantly less than the 7-inch original cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory, which is sold for $20.95, but The Cheesecake Factory’s rich cake is certainly denser GRACE XIA than Uncle Tetsu’s original cake.

If customers are looking for a cheaper, somewhat healthier and lighter alternative to American cheesecake, Uncle Tetsu’s original cheesecake may do the trick.

Kobe Cuisine & Bar: Japanese-American with a wide variety Penelope King

FEATURES WRITER

——— Kobe Japanese Cuisine & Bar, formerly Taka Sushi Restaurant, faces the Foster City lagoon and is nearby other places to eat or snack, like Quickly and Cooking Papa.

The restaurant is easy to find and finding parking in the Edgewater Plaza was not an issue as well.

etary restrictions and has vegan and vegetarian options available on its menu, too. Among all this variety, the restaurant also has some slightly odd choices normally not found in a Japanese restaurant, such as Korean food and french fries. This combination of fusion food seemed to slightly clash with the traditional Japanese image that the restaurant conveys.

While visiting Kobe, I or-

sushi dishes were also cut slightly uneven. I also found that the squid dish was slightly overcooked in the tentacles, while the head of the squid was undercooked.

Furthermore, the udon was slightly too salty and had a few ingredients I had never seen in an udon dish before, such as bell pepper.

On the other hand, even though eel is an ingredient that can be easily overcooked,

“If you’re looking for a distinctive Japanese restaurant, Kobe might not be the best place to visit” When you walk into the dimly lit restaurant, you are warmly welcomed in Japanese by a few staff members with smiling faces. The restaurant has many tall windows, which allows you to see the lagoon nearby. It has a small sushi bar at the front and tables both inside and outside the restaurant. Along with the friendly greeting and dim lighting, the tables and furniture are black and red themed, which added to the overall calm and friendly atmosphere of the restaurant.

Kobe’s menu has an impressive variety, ranging from udon to nigiri to sushi rolls to donburi (rice) dishes. The restaurant also adapts to certain di-

Kobe’s spider roll and tuna maki were not particularly noteworthy.

warmly and consistently dered beef udon, American I found the eel in the American throughout my whole time styled sushi rolls, tamagoyaki sushi roll was cooked very well. there. They seemed to recog(egg) nigiri, roasted squid and Overall, an aspect I en- nize many of their customers tuna maki. I found that the food joyed in the restaurant was there and would have chats was neither especially good nor the friendly and nice ser- with them as well. The staff bad. The fish quality was aver- vice. I found that the restau- was never rude, and would age for restaurants in this area. rant staff greeted everyone check up on customers often, Furthermore, the pricbut not so often that ing was pretty good it become annoying since restaurant gave or distracting. rather large portions.

Aside from the serOn the other hand, vice, Kobe lacks any some aspects of the particularly special dishes I ordered elements to make it lacked in aesthetics stand out from the and consistency. The abundance of Japatamagoyaki were cut nese restaurants in the unevenly, and the rice Bay Area; it would be easily fell off the egg unfair to compare this PENELOPE KING in my tamagoyaki ni- Kobe’s beef udon had a few untraditional restaurant with the giri; some of my other ingredients. higher end ones you

PENELOPE KING

might find in other areas of the Bay Area, though. Because of its average quality, if you’re looking for a distinctive Japanese restaurant, Kobe might not be the best place to visit. The restaurant’s dishes are not unique, but the service is friendlier than most restaurants.

Kobe Japanese Restaurant adjusted for its customer demographic, as it has adapted well for the American palette.

In general I would categorize it as a classic JapaneseAmerican restaurant with a wide menu selection which would suit local tastes, which is shown with their Korean selections, as well as their vegan and vegetarian options.

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SPORTS

VOLUME 59 | ISSUE 6

THE ARAGON OUTLOOK

Should college athletes be paid?

Hosea Patton (front row, far right) and the 1989 boys varsity basketball team were inducted in the Aragon Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

COURTESY OF EL TESORO

Aragon Alumni in Sports Part III: Hosea Patton

Elizabeth van Blommestein SPORTS WRITER

Head boys basketball coach Hosea Patton has led all three of his Aragon teams to qualify for the Central Coast Section playoffs. However, Patton’s success on the court isn’t limited to coaching: During his time at Aragon, Patton was part of two of the most successful and decorated basketball teams in Aragon’s history.

Patton played on the varsity basketball team during the 1988-89 and 1989-1990 seasons. His 1988-89 team was a CCS Finalist and NorCal Final Four team.

Patton’s 1989-90 team had even more success. They were Peninsula Athletic League and CCS champions, as well as a repeat NorCal Final Four team. They won the CCS championship 87-73 against

Hosea was one of them, and he did a good job.”

Patton is also highly regarded by his friends and former teammates.

“Hosea has always been a hardworking, likable, great guy to be around both on and off the court,” said Kevin Vasquez, Patton’s former teammate. “Whatever it is, Hosea figures out a way to make everyone feel like they’re a million dollars.”

After graduating from Aragon, Patton went to a couple of different schools, trying to find the best fit.

“I attended San Diego State for a year and a half and lost focus on my academics being away from home. I withdrew and came home to [College of San Mateo] and then played basketball at Cañada College for a year,” Patton said. “After receiving my [Associate] of

“Whatever it is, Hosea figures out a way to make everyone feel like they’re a million dollars” Monterey High School. The team averaged 94 points per game and scored over 100 points five times.

“It was awesome being on that team,” Patton said. “We all wanted the same thing, so we fought and competed to push each other to be at our best at all times.”

Patton thoroughly enjoyed his experience at Aragon both as a student and an athlete.

“I enjoyed it more than my college experience,” Patton said. “I felt way more connected and involved as a studentathlete.”

Patton is praised by many, including his former coach and current assistant coach, Lou Murgo.

“He was a member of one of the finest teams I’ve seen at Aragon,” Murgo said. “I had a bunch of boys there that were all good basketball players.

Arts Degree, I transferred to UC Davis where I graduated and received my Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology.”

Patton soon came back to Aragon, first as a Campus Safety Specialist, and eventually as the head coach of the boys varsity basketball team.

“After discovering my calling in life of working with youth and getting the Campus Safety Specialist position here at Aragon, giving back to the game I love and to the school that gave me an opportunity to succeed was a no-brainer,” Patton said.

Patton started off his coaching career at Aragon coaching junior varsity but quickly transitioned to varsity.

“It was seamless as far as the coaching aspect since most or all of my players were with me on JV,” said Patton.

Patton has had success as

a varsity coach. In his three years as a varsity coach, every team has qualified for CCS, with the 2017-18 team going to the CCS finals after finishing 8-4 in the PAL. “I’m glad that he decided to take the job as coach [and] allowed me to sit on the bench with him,” Murgo said. “He takes suggestions. He’s doing a good job … Overall, it’s been a great thing.”

As the current head coach, Patton has seen a lot of players working hard to develop their game and has seen a lot of success in his teams. He enjoys his job and the chance to give back to the school he loves.

“My favorite memory as a coach was watching a kid that barely made the freshman team as a ninth grader to starting and being the leader of the varsity team that went on to the CCS Division II Finals his senior year,” Patton said.

“That kind of dedication, hard work and commitment from an individual … is just second to none.”

Murgo also enjoys reminiscing with Patton.

“Every once in a while we talk about that team, and we remember a certain game that he won on a last second shot ,and we laugh about it,” Murgo said. “You know, that type of thing. We have good memories, that’s for sure.”

Although playing and coaching basketball is a big part of his life, Patton keeps busy off the court.

“Hanging with family and friends is what I love to do,” Patton said. “And maybe go buy a pair of sneakers every now and then.”

Patton was an important part of Aragon’s history when he played for his successful teams, but he’s also making history as a coach; his dedication to both his sport and his school will help him continue his Aragon basketball legacy.

MIKAYLA KALISKI

Amanda Hao SPORTS WRITER

——— Although coaches get paid for their hard work and effort, college athletes aren’t compensated for their continuous work in daily practices and games. Student athletes spend hours of their time involved in their sport — usually missing classes and tests — just for practices, and deserve to be paid for their work.

athletes are typically unable to work due to their rigorous practice and game schedules, and over their years as a student-athlete their debt accumulates, and without a job, they struggle to pay it off.

Worse, when injured, some athletes don’t receive treatment and go right back to practicing. Of the college players who get a concussion, 92 percent return to practice in fewer than seven days. Furthermore, 69 percent who experience loss of consciousness return to practice in that same time frame.

Paying college athletes is the only just way to compensate them for their work on the field. Not only will this will ready them for the real world, it will reimburse them for what they miss out on because of their dedication to being a student-athlete.

Although critics of a wage for athletes say that they get enough from scholarships, the stark reality is

“Of the college players who get a concussion, 92 percent return to practice in fewer than seven days” Being a college studentathlete mirrors a full-time job, prioritizing sports over school and health. A 2015 Pacific-12 Conference study found that 80 percent of athletes said they missed a class for competition during the academic year. Additionally, 54 percent said they did not have enough time to study for crucial exams. Many cannot afford the luxury of having time to study, and consequently are unable to receive high grades. According to The Atlantic, the typical college football player spends 40 to 50 hours a week — more hours than the average American work week — on footballrelated activities virtually year round.

Furthermore, senior Washington State University golfer Derek Bayley said in The Daily Evergreen that he might miss a whole week of school for golf, and he often must choose between focusing on school, golf and sleep — without having enough time for all three.

The majority of students in the U.S. have student debt during and after college; According to CNBC, “the average student loan borrower has $37,172 in student debt.”

Some pay it back by taking side jobs and working extra hours during their four years, as well as working after college. However, college

that student-athletes rarely get enough to cover their needs. According to Forbes, even though college sports programs produce a lot of revenue from season games, much of the revenue collected from college athletics stay “in the hands of a select few administrators, athletic directors, and coaches.”

Additionally, scholarships are rarely given out, as many schools have shifted to need-based financial aid.

CBS News published that only two percent of high school athletes win sports scholarships every year at NCAA colleges and universities. As rent and tuition continue to rise, the other 98 percent of athletes don’t get enough in scholarships to cover their school textbooks, housing and meals.

It’s only just that college athletes get paid. The rising costs of being a studentathlete has long surpassed any scholarship compensation, and with pay, studentathletes can pay off their debt, afford living expenses and recuperate from sportattained injuries.

Check out aragonoutlook.org for the latest sports updates.

SPORTS

MARCH 7, 2019

VOLUME 59| ISSUE 6

Aragon swimming starts off season sharing pool with Burlingame

The swim team lost against Mills on March 1 in their first meet of the season.

Lucy Chang SPORTS WRITER

Due to the Burlingame Aquatic Center temporarily shutting down to make renovations, the Dons are currently sharing the Aragon pool with the Panthers. All practices for the Aragon swim team are from 3:30-5:30 p.m., and Burlingame has the pool from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The swim team has made quite a few readjustments in an effort to accommodate the new circumstances.

This season, the junior varsity and varsity teams have practices at the same time; practices are led by head coaches Bill Barthold and Nobu Kotani. Since they are practicing as one team, the team is split into a red group and a black group

during practices. Rather than splitting the pool exclusively into JV and varsity swimmers, the swimmers are split up by their skills and abilities.

“In practice we split by black and red group, not JV and varsity, and then [in] meets we split by JV and

MIKAYLA KALISKI AND MADDIE GILLETTE

group practices in, there are additional divisions.

“Each lane [of the big pool] is a different speed. The first three lanes are the fastest, and then there’s the middle and the end,” Wang said.

Though the black group consists of more experienced

“[In the big pool, there are] four or five people per lane, which is manageable” varsity,” said senior team captain Jason Wang. “The black group practices in the larger pool and does harder workouts, and then the people in the red group in the smaller pool focus on drills and technique.”

In the big pool the black

15

swimmers, there is a mix of JV and varsity swimmers in the black group.

“The big pool is all returning swimmers and kids that mostly know the technique, and it’s just building up endurance and speed,” said senior Maria Sell.

In addition, the team is bigger than last year, so each lane has more swimmers. “[In the big pool, there are] four or five people per lane, which is manageable … It’s definitely [more than] last year [which] was like three people per lane,” Wang said.

At practice, the swimmers try to match their skill with their surrounding teammates in their lane. One may be moved up or down depending on their speed.

“Each lane is a variety of people that are about your speed,” said junior Kristina Bruce. “People that are maybe on the faster side are usually [swimming] with the faster people.”

Because of the variety of abilities, the coaches have established different intervals for the lanes to swim in. The

division of intervals allows the faster lanes to complete a set in a shorter amount of time.

“Last year in the big pool, we had two groups on different intervals. Today, we’re going to have three,” Barthold said.

Though lanes of different speed have different intervals, the swimmers in the big pool are still pushed to swim under relatively similar times. “[The intervals are] relatively the same — like five to ten seconds apart from each other,” Sell said.

In their first meet of the season on March 1, the Dons lost against Mills.

“I think the oddest part was our surprise at how good Mills was, especially since they have just been moved up from the lower division,” said sophomore Mia Birkelund.

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Dons start season with 17-0 win over Terra Nova Shiho Takatoku SPORTS WRITER

The Aragon softball team (1-0 overall) defeated Terra Nova (0-2 overall) 17-0 in just four innings. After scoring 11 runs in the fourth inning and extending the lead to 17-0, the game ended by mercy rule, which applies to a lead of 15 after three innings or 10 after five.

Freshman catcher and

two players scoring two.

In light of their 17-0 blowout, junior center field Shannon Galliano believes that the Dons have unleashed potential.

“As a team, we haven’t even skimmed the top. We could be really good, so I think we will make it far in CCS,” Galliano said.

Having tucked their first win under their belt, the Dons have high expectations for

“All of the players are really good.

They’re all super skilled, and they have something that they can specifically bring on to the team” third batter Olivia Dinardo contributed to the Dons blowout win with three runs and two hits.

“She was outstanding. She is our catcher, number three hitter and she had a great play. She had a grand slam, triple and a homer,” said head coach Roger Miller.

“I think that I did my part for the team and tried to help with getting the win today,” Dinardo said. “I think the team did a lot of the work too. We just put everything together of what we were working on during practice and made it the best we could.”

Dinardo also excelled on the defensive end with nine putouts out of 10 attempts. The Dons were also very efficient, forcing 12 putouts out of 15 total chances.

Offensively, the Dons were able to spread the scoring across their roster, with four players scoring three runs and

UPCOMING

GAMES

the postseason.

“I think there’s a lot of good things to come. After we get everybody back [from winter sports] ... we can start putting the whole piece together,” Miller said.

When Miller became the head coach in the 2018 season, he changed the style and practices, but the environment as a team stayed the same.

Miller was the head coach at Notre Dame high school for four years before he came to Aragon. When Miller began his career at Aragon, he was adamant about integrating a junior varsity program for softball, which was disbanded in 2016, but reinstated two years later when Miller became the coach.

This year is assistant coach Trisha Davidson’s first year as a high school coach. Davidson coached competitive softball in Foster City before she started coaching at Aragon.

“I love it — they’re so much fun. They are a really great group of girls, personality wise and talent wise,” Davidson said.

The chemistry that the players have developed with their new coach facilitated their success early in the season.

Many of the players have adjusted to the new coaching style.

“It took a lot of adjustment because of the new coach, but overall I think we played well ... We had to shift, but also the coaches had to adjust and learn the players. After the season went on, we all got used to it,” said senior pitcher Cassidy Trizuto.

In their 2018 season, the Dons lost in the first round of the Central Coast Section playoffs 11-7 against Ann Sobrato High. This year, the Dons have a more balanced team in terms of grade levels, with five underclassmen and eight upperclassmen.

“Our team is pretty much going to be the same, but with an additional couple of freshmen that are extremely talented,” said junior outfielder Elisa Jee. Dinardo and freshman shortstop Megan Grant are two freshman who have greatly contributed to the varsity program. Grant has verbally committed to the University of California, Los Angeles for softball.

Due to the amount of rain in recent weeks, the team has been unable to practice on the outdoor field. Instead of taking days off, the players go into the conditioning room where they practice and do drills, along with hitting practices on the weekends.

Since softball is a spring sport, rain conflicting with

March 7. Softball at Mountain View March 7. Boys Volleyball vs. El Camino March 7. Boys Lacrosse vs. Pioneer March 8. Baseball at Hillsdale March 8. Swimming at Menlo-Atherton March 9. Baseball vs. Hillsdale March 11. Softball vs. St. Ignatius March 12. Girls Lacrosse at Hillsdale March 12. Boys Lacrosse at Leland March 12. Boys Volleyball vs. Carlmont

Dons defeated Tigers 17-0 after mercy rule was called.

practice and game times has been a recurring issue.

“The biggest issue we had last year wasn’t specifically involved in our team, but just a lot of our games got rained out last year. So for half the season we had one game per week, and then the other half we had four, it was a lot,” Jee said.

Despite the unusual practice schedule and locations, Davidson feels that these factors had little to no effect on in game performance.

JAMES VEIZADES

... I think that was probably the hardest part of last year,” Trizuto said.

In spite of their schedule changes and injuries, the team utilized their free time for team bonding activities outside of practice. The time spent together helped boost team chemistry and communication.

“I think we had a lot of moments where we were able to bond off the field, and then that transferred over and

“As a team, we haven’t even skimmed the top. We could be really good, so I think we will make it far in CCS” “It made it harder to prepare, because there’s not facility space here all the time, so I think that was a contributing factor,” Davidson said. “But these girls are so talented it didn’t really hinder them at all.”

As with many sports, the softball team suffered from injuries. Last season, Trizuto played as much as she could despite her back injury from pitching.

“It came from pitching and the only thing that would make it act up was pitching

helped us on the field because we were able to communicate better,” Trizuto said.

With talent and a new mindset, the Dons are looking to extend their postseason run beyond their accomplishments in the 2018 season.

“A lot of us are super excited. We have a lot of good players this year, “ Jee said.

“This year, I think literally all of the players are really good.

They’re all super skilled, and they have something that they can specifically bring on to the team.”

March 13. Softball at St. Francis March 13. Baseball at Westmoor March 13. Girls Lacrosse at Hillsdale March 14. Boys Volleyball vs. Capuchino March 14. Boys Lacrosse vs. Sequoia March 14. Girls Lacrosse vs. Washington March 15. Baseball vs. South San Francisco March 15. Swimming vs. Sequoia March 16. Baseball at Sacred Heart Prep March 19. Girls Lacrosse at Notre Dame