Jan 20, 2005

Page 1

Volume 48, Issue 5

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2005

Castro Valley, CA 94546

CVHS cabinet proposed changing dance title Members said Sadie Hawkins is a sexist name By Katie Parr Staff Writer

Alexia Laines / Staff Writer

Seniors (from left) Landon Nash, Derek Music, Sean Rothi, Ryan Sandoval, Jake Haas get in touch with their feminine side at the Mr. CV competition.

Vandals defaced teacher's poster

Homophobic slurs marred science room's door art By Denise Wong Staff Writer

Recently, science teacher Melissa Kindelspire found one of her door posters had been defaced by an anonymous vandal. The vandal had taken the poster off the door, wrote homophobic slurs on the poster, and spat on it before crumpling it up.

“I left the room for [a moment], then when I came back, I saw it on the ground. “It was during third period,” said Kindelspire. The incident was reported to administrators. However, Kindelspire does not think there will be much to find out about this incident. “They can't do anything about it because it was kind of random,” explained Kindelspire. “[And] I don't know of anyone else that has had someone deface school or personal property with homophobic slurs this year.” Nevertheless, Kindelspire does know a lot of people who have had things said to them or about them. They were close enough to hear the remarks. There were a few that have had

things thrown at them, too. “One student that I talked to says that they have gotten more harassment this year than they have the previous three years combined,” Kindelspire added. Homophobia has been a big issue at CVHS, and still is, because it is such a diverse community. Many people, like Kindelspire, have observed that the homophobia is increasing. “Everyone has a responsibility to address [homophobia] when they hear it, rather than ignore it,” said history teacher Kathleen Cassidy. Staff members, as well as some students, have noticed the increase of homophobia. It seems more obvious this year than any other year. They believe that most people

PHOBIA: Page 8

Members of the Castro Valley High presidential cabinet proposed changing the name of the Sadie Hawkins dance because they believe its title and tradition are sexist and homophobic. Senior Amanda Gelender instigated the idea and other cabinet members enthusiastically supported it. “The Sadie Hawkins dance is a very outdated idea,” said junior Shara Neff, a member of the cabinet and president of the Spectrum club. Girls traditionally ask boys to the Sadie Hawkins dance, which is also the junior class fundraiser. Sadie Hawkins was a 1937 cartoon character who was so ugly that her father was afraid that she would never marry. He decided to hold a contest in which every man in town would run away from her, and the first one Sadie caught would have to marry her. “A 1937 ideal is not helping us today,” Neff pointed out. ASB President Tim Cole brought

Gelender’s proposal to the House of Representatives, where it was not received well. When they brought up the issue of homosexuals and the dance, Gelender said a representative shouted, “Why don’t the bitches just ask the butches?” The outburst led to uproar and the matter was not resolved. “We are going to attack it more adamantly when we get closer to the date,” said Cole. The Sadie Hawkins dance is scheduled for Feb. 25. “Everyone needs to feel comfortable going to the dances,” Cole added. “We’re working to find a common ground so it doesn’t have to turn into a huge political debate.” Cole said that the House might eventually vote on the matter, but it is ultimately up to the junior class officers. Students have mixed feelings about Gelender’s proposal. “Many students that I spoke with do not support the idea of the change,” said junior treasurer Alex Barbour. Junior Melissa Rocha is one. “I believe people who oppose Sadie Hawkins just want attention and don’t know what they’re talking about,” said Rocha. Either way, there will still be a dance. According to junior class President Kelsey Hayes, changing the name of Sadie Hawkins probably wouldn’t have a big effect on class funds. “If it were replaced, the dance would be a dress-up dance,” said Hayes. “We would just put a lot more focus on the theme.”

Bush supports abstinence over safe sex By Krissy Bussell Staff Writer

President Bush has proposed spending $170 million on abstinence-only education in 2005, but this will not affect CVHS. The re-election of Bush guarantees that more federal funds will go to teaching kids abstinence but California state law requires that teachers include a discussion on sexually transmitted diseases and the benefits and consequences of all methods of birth control. Jean Emrich, a health teacher at CVHS, commented that all the health teachers teach the same. They teach about both abstinence and contraceptives. “The only way to be 100 percent safe from sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy is abstinence,” said Emrich. Emrich said that she tells her students the information she is giving is not just information for

tomorrow, but it is information for the rest of their lives. “It’s important to know, for basic knowledge, about how your body works,” said

Emrich. Pat Parker, a health teacher at CVHS, stated that since Bush has been in office, teaching has not

changed. “We always have taught abstinence,” said Parker. “We are right in line with what Bush is asking.”

Melissa Love / Staff Writer

Education about contraceptives such as condoms will not be funded by Bush.

Parker stated that the health teachers teach about contraceptives and family planning. “We teach all commercially available contraceptive ways,” said Parker. Senior Chris Murphy said that he thinks teaching abstinence will not make kids have sex any less. “Bush needs to talk more about safe sex and not only abstinence,” said Murphy. “I don’t think teaching abstinence will stop kids from having sex. It isn’t going to change anything; he is just wasting money.” Senior Jeremy Barton agreed partially with Murphy’s view on Bush's plan. “I think that teaching abstinence will stop kids from having sex temporarily but when they do have sex they won't know what type of safety methods to use. I feel that Bush should teach abstinence but he should also show the kids safety methods to use in case they do decide to have sex,” said Barton.


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