Devil's Advocate (Volume 40, Number 2, January 2024)

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE STANTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL

JANUARY 2024

safety in our schools

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STUDENT LIFE

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

10

Adviser: Larry Knight Editor-in-Chief: Zoey Larson Managing Editor: AnaSofia Girardot Business Manager: Anusha Anna Photography Editor: Spurthi Nrusimhadevara Digital Media Editor: Sarah Bernardo Assoc. Digital Media Editor: Katya Sniriova Art Director: Hawi Said Marketing Assistant: Jade Bateman Videographers: Rishi Mudiganti, Arvind Mukund Podcast Producer: Rowan Kershner Section Editor (Features): Grace Larson Section Editor (Arts & Ent.): Amani Okero Section Editor (Opinions): Shravya Nalla Section Editor (Sports): Cliona Joy Piligan Staff Writers: Mena Alchi, Lindsay Johnson, Ariyani Thompkins, Erica Truong, Katie Wong, Emily Zickuhr Staff Photographer: Garrett Lawrence Staff Artist: Amina Umar

Contributing Advocates The Devil’s Advocate is searching for contributing writers, photographers, artists, and filmmakers.

Visit our Instagram @scpnewspaper or contact Editor-in-Chief Zoey Larson at zoeylarson16@gmail.com to complete an application for the chance to be featured on our website or in a print issue.

photo by Spurthi Nrusimhadevara

The county has issued chipped student IDs as part of new safety measures.

Student Life

8

16

4

SURVIVING 204: ROOKIE PHOTOGRAPHER

BATTLE OF THE BRAINS

By Amina Umar

Quiz Bowl is a Stanton hallmark with a presence dating back to the origins of the newspaper. It continues to expand on it achievements today.

TO THE SUN: NATURAL HAIR

By Hawi Said and Spurthi Nrusimhadevara

Students celebrate their natural hair as a hallmark of Black beauty and excellence.

Ads and Sponsorships The Devil’s Advocate is dependent on our advertisers and our sponsors. When you purchase an ad with us, it reaches a diverse student population that can help your business.

We can also design your ads. Our prices are: $45 (1/4 page), $70 (1/2 page), $125 (full page), $150 (back page). For additional small fees, we can advertise your business digitally.

Contact Business Manager Anusha Anna at anushaanna06@gmail.com or Adviser Mr. Larry Knight at knightl1@duvalschools.org.

Arts and Entertainment

6 FOR ALL TO SEE

By Lindsay Johnson Profile by Mena Alchi

Street art is unique because of its public nature and the potential to express ideas, elicit emotions, and unite a community.

Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @scpnewspaper Instagram: @scpnewspaper YouTube: Devil’s Advocate Newspaper Facebook: Stanton Devil’s Advocate Snapchat: @scpnewspaper Spotify: @scpnewspaper TikTok: @devilsadvocatenewspaper photo by Garrett Lawrence

Rookie attempts to help with the Photography Department’s workload; hijinks ensue.

Features

By Ariyani Thompkins

10

Opinions

SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS

18

By Erica Truong Cover photo by Spurthi Nrusimhadevara

PERFORMATIVE ACTIVISM

By The Editorial Board

New safety measures have been introduced at Duval County Public Schools, including Stanton College Preparatory School.

The Editorial Board discusses the prevalence and dangers of performative activism and how to avoid it.

Sports

19

15

A PERSPECTIVE ON THE WAR IN GAZA

FRIEND OR FOE?

By Katie Wong

By Emily Zickuhr

The Israel-Hamas War emphasizes the need to avoid the generalization of groups of people in times of conflict.

Players experience pressure and rivalry among those who wear the same school colors.

Printed at Florida Sun Printing Please recycle this magazine.

devilsadvocatepaper.com

VOL XL, NO. 2 | 3

STUDENT LIFE

“MY LOCS ARE A DISTINCT PART OF WHO I AM. THEY REPRESENT MY culture WHILE adding to my own unique LOOK.” —janelle stroughter, 12th

TO THE SUN:

NATURAL TO THE SUN: NATURAL HAIR HAIR

Students celebrate their natural hair as a hallmark of black beauty and excellence.

by HAWI SAID, Art Director, and Spurthi Nrusimhadevara, Photography Director

4 |JANUARY 2024

STUDENT LIFE

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Ë t Ë S o l for al Street art is unique because of its public nature and the potential to express ideas elicit emotions and unite a community.

By LINDSAY JOHNSON, Staff Writer

There are various pieces of public art on display throughout Jacksonville, and while locating these pieces may be easy, categorizing them is much harder. While the term “street art” has been used to describe art found in public spaces, people within the community have adopted varying views. Despite the labels, public displays of art allow for greater accessibility and a wider appreciation of the medium.

While more populous cities such as New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles are known for their vibrant street art, a similar scene has emerged over time in Jacksonville, creating a thriving community of artists and muralists.

One of those artists, Shaun Thurston, has been creating art for decades and has been inspired by his contemporaries. To Thurston, street art is about confronting problems in society.

“Sometimes, street art is super confrontational, [which] has been argued [to be] the best version of it,” said Thurston.

“There is a whole side of street art that is about taking people out of their comfort zone and making them really question the power structures.”

photo by Garrett Lawrence

Curator Shawana Brooks’ project, Color Jax Blue, upflits the voices of her community.

6 | devilsadvocatepaper.com SEPTEMBER 2021

photo by Garrett Lawrence

The “Four Florida Cracker Cow “by David Nackashi showcases Jacksonville’s rich history below the Acosta Bridge.

Because its goal is to challenge, street art is not just meant to be pretty; many pieces are about making the viewer question existing conditions. Art that is less refined can be more powerful and these are the pieces that inspire Thurston the most.

“Street art [in the beginning] meant it was coming from the street,” said Thurston. “Not that it was just on the street, but that it came from people that were part of street culture.”

While people less familiar with art may consider all public art to be street art, those within the community see it differently. Street artists create because they feel compelled to, not for recognition or pay.

By this definition, commissioned murals and other pieces on public display cannot be considered street art.

Despite not being considered street art, other pieces of public art still impact Jacksonville’s communities. Two large pieces are located near Stanton College Preparatory School: the Sugar Hill mosaic on the S-Line trail and the Color Jax Blue project on Myrtle Avenue North and 18th Street . Exposure to the public allows artists to display their pieces to anyone who passes by, making it free and accessible.

Because of this, any messages or feelings conveyed have a wider audience. The 2019 Sugar Hill mosaic was created by Kate Rouh and her late husband Kenny Rouh with six panels displaying the history of the Sugar Hill area and promoting positivity.

“I just wanted it to be positive, colorful, and [to pull] people together, whether it was [including] their ideas or all-hands-on-deck to participate,” said Kate Rouh.

photo by Garrett Lawrence

This multi-layered mosaic by Kate and Kenny Rouh shows the vivid, and intricate local landmarks that surround Jacksonville.

Another prominent piece of public art near Stanton is the Color Jax Blue project. Created in 2020, the piece takes up three sides of the building, each with a different focus. One side titled “Black Votes Matter” focuses on the value of African American votes. Another side, “Mothers of the Movement,” portrays various female activists. The last side is called “Injustice in Jacksonville.” Shawana Brooks, curator of this project, described how it brought out the best in the surrounding community.

“Once we started working, we saw how the community started to respond to us being there. They would come out often to ask us questions about the project,” said Brooks. “We loved on this community and the community loved us right back.”

Bringing communities together is one way public art can be impactful, but the messages conveyed can be just as important. Art displayed in neighborhoods can communicate ideas.

“I think [public art] gives people a platform for what they believe in,” said freshman

Ashlynne Deason. “Some of our best ideas come from sharing them with others, and new ideas can come from [those ideas].”

The concept that ideas can be shared through art is shown in a panel on the Sugar Hill mosaic, which portrays a face with “LOVE” written in the teeth. Rouh described how this panel was initially inspired by a piece of graffiti in the same spot of a similar design.

“I never knew who did that [graffiti], and probably never will, but I thought it acknowledged the idea of whoever did [it],” said Rouh. “I wanted to appreciate their message.”

As defined by the artists themselves, street art is not just art on the street, but a style of art that is influenced by graffiti, which includes its own unique subculture.

However, public art can include pieces of art commissioned to beautify a community space. Both are valuable styles of art but have different intentions and effects, which can be seen when walking through Jacksonville’s streets.

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David Nackashi

By Mena Alchi

scan link to read

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 7

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT AS A NEWLY SEASONED MEMBER OF THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE,

I’VE DECIDED TO EXPAND MY HORIZONS TO HELP OUR MODEST PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT.

HANDLING 5 STORIES AND DIGITAL.

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ROOKIE TO THE RESCUE!

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BANG

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BUT NO LONGER!

WE HAVE 2 OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS ON STAFF,

S N AP !

WHILE YEARBOOK IS BRIMMING PHOTOGRAPHERS THIS YEAR ...

LATER ON....

ROOKIE’S PHOTOS

SPURTHI AND GARRETT’S PHOTOS

8 | JANUARY 2024

RY E I’LL T ...MAYB INSTEAD...

G WRITIN

The largest bookstore in Florida with two locations and a cafe.

celebrate originality Expertly Crafted, Uniquely Designed Gear Exclusively for Stanton

SSS.GIVES/STANTON

safety in our schools

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FEATURES

infographic by Grace Larson

On the first day of the 2023-2024 school year, students at Stanton College Preparatory School were lined up around the front of the main building.

They were told to take out their binders, laptops, and metal water bottles as they approached the entrance. There, students passed through a metal detector-like machine with faculty members on both sides sliding yellow buckets full of their school supplies. This procedure has become standard practice every morning as students enter school. This scanner, formally known as an Evolv detector, was installed as a safety measure alongside chipped IDs and smart-button badges to keep students safe from threats of violence that have become increasingly prevalent in schools nationwide.

“We’re always trying to find better ways to make sure [students] can come to school and be kids,” said Mr. Jim Culbert, chief technology officer for Duval County Public Schools. “[We want students to] concentrate on learning [without having] to worry about the safety aspect of it.”

The introduction of safety measures is nothing new at Stanton. In “Drawing the Line,” the cover story published in the February 2020 issue of Devil’s Advocate, then staff writer Charlotte Rogers discussed various new equipment and measures,

several of which parallel ones seen this year, such as metal detectors.

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Originally put into effect January 2023 at Riverside High School, these detectors are currently being implemented in all DCPS high schools.

According to Mr. Culbert, Evolv detectors work by a combination of radar-like technology and artificial intelligence to search for various weapons and potential explosives. If a student is flagged by the detector, they are pulled to the side to get their bag checked.

photo by Spurthi Nrusimhadevara

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DCPS has opted for Evolv detectors over traditional metal detectors because they can scan high amounts of people with lower rates of false positives. When using traditional metal detectors with security wands, some schools were delayed up to 45 minutes. The new system is meant to minimize this hold-up and check students in a timely fashion.

“You can do a high volume of students every day and it assures students that there are no weapons on campus without disrupting their entry into the school,” said Mr. Culbert.

According to Mr. Culbert, another aspect that makes the detectors unique is they are intended to not flag harmless items such as phones and keys. However, they do signal some objects, such as laptops and three-ring binders, because they appear similar to weapons.

Along with the Evolv detectors, new IDs have been introduced to students this school year. They are mainly intended to be a part of a new bus protocol where students will tap their IDs on a card reader as they enter and exit the bus. IDs will be connected to an app that notifies parents of their child’s transportation movements, allowing them to see the location of the bus.

This system has emerged from the shortage of bus drivers that has been a prevailing problem over the past couple of years as some buses have had to merge multiple routes, eventually delaying when students get home and causing concern among parents. Although this system has not been fully adopted at Stanton, DCPS plans to implement it district-wide by the 2024-2025 school year.

“We’re ready for the buses to start the process,” said Stanton Assistant Principal Mr. Michael Kerr. “We’ve given the IDs to students. It is up to the buses to get the equipment since they are a separate company.”

DCPS also has plans for this new ID to be used when purchasing food from the cafeteria and for attendance. These IDs are believed to be more efficient than the bar codes previously used. In many instances, scanning them is a long process and they are often obstructed by their plastic holders. Although the new IDs are quite costly, their practical use is a valuable tool for the district.

The IDs would also be used after emergency evacuations. According to Mr. Kerr, they are meant

infographic by Grace Larson

to reunite children and their parents following such events.

“The IDs, especially the newer ones, are used as a reunification process,” said Mr. Kerr. “If there was an evacuation and we bring [students] outside, a district team would come to scan [their] IDs to release [them] to [their] parents.”

Another safety feature students may have noticed is a strange alarm in every classroom that flashes various colors. These alarms, or sensors, are connected to smart-button badges designed

by Centegix. Faculty members are required to possess them at all times and use them in the event of an emergency.

According to Duval County Public Schools Police Officer DJ Burkitt, the various flashing colors correspond to different types of emergencies. As of now, schools are primarily using red for instances of a lock down and green for all clear. In cases they flash red, the speakers play a pre-recorded audio detailing basic lock down procedures while also displaying them over all school-issued computers.

They alert the school police, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and certain district-level workers through the Centegix app.

“In instances they are pressed, we’ll coordinate with staff and find out if it was accidental, a drill, or legitimate,” said Officer Burkitt. “If it was legitimate, then the school will go on lockdown, and we’ll try to determine the source and have [other school officers and JSO] come in too.”

Reactions to the new safety equipment and protocols have varied. Some teachers have questioned if the new changes make much of a difference to the school’s safety.

“I always have my phone so I feel like I can dial 911 in the same amount of time I could [push the button] but there may be some benefits [depending on who it alerts],” said Mr. Ben Mackay, a history teacher at Stanton. “If it is a quicker response time, then it is an improvement. Hopefully, we won’t have to find out.”

Similarly, some students have also felt conflicted over the new safety protocols. As the new Evolv detectors become a regular procedure in their lives, some believe it is a hassle to go through every morning.

“It’s great that the school is doing something,” said senior John Ferreira. “But I do find the measures counterproductive, especially the whole metal detector thing since it just really crowds people up at the entrance.”

Another concern regarding the new equipment is its cost. In a special Duval County School Board meeting held in August 2022, the district revealed the cost of the detectors to be around $8 million, which will be paid over the next five years. Similarly, Mr. Culbert said purchasing the ID system costs roughly $600,000 a year. While some students feel the prices for the equipment are not worth it, others believe this demonstrates the district’s commitment to safety.

With the new measures the district has implemented for school safety, responses have been both positive and negative. Although the new equipment may be valuable, Officer Burkitt believes they should not replace human eyes and ears.

“No technology or resource is 100% accurate so it’s up to us to be aware of what’s going on,” said Officer Burkitt. “We are our biggest proponents for safety, so [if you hear or see] something, say something. That’s the biggest way to keep schools safe because we’re going to hear and see things long before someone presses a button.”

Violence at schools is a common problem that has arisen in recent times. This school year, various safety measures have been put in place to combat this issue, and data for their long-term effectiveness is still being collected. Although technology cannot completely solve safety issues on campus, DCPS is striving to make school a safer place for all students and staff, where they can focus on working and learning instead of lingering safety issues.

photo by Spurthi Nrusimhadevara

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DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 13

STUDENT LIFE

SPORTS

Friend or Foe?

The feelings of rivalry among one’s own teammates make players feel first-hand pressures due to the constant comparison of those with the same school colors.

By EMILY ZICKUHR, Staff Writer The different aspects of a team sport include competition, cooperation, and the performance of each player and coach. The players are picked for their respective assignments on the team and the coaches direct them in their plays for maximum performance. However, not all players can live up to the skills of their fellow peers when out on the field or court. In competition, facing one’s teammates is a reality for every player from when they start the process of tryouts to after they make the team.

When a student participates in a sport at Stanton College Preparatory School, their goal may be to gain friendships and advance their skills. The first part of taking this step is trying out and making the team. This not only creates hardships for students when competing for limited spots on the team but also in relationships with those whom they are up against. If a player tries out for the same position as their friend, heated emotions could arise in their relationship, leading to extra work to maintain the relationship.

“In my sophomore year, my best friend, Owen Pottenburgh and I were both competing for the same spot, and we were best friends for about three years,” said senior Raza Cottey, Stanton boys varsity basketball player. “But when it came to basketball, we had a little bit of competition between each other.”

Though these situational feelings resolve, fierce competition does not go away after an athlete makes the team. Feelings of self-doubt and underperformance may come when the game results are unexpected or undesirable.

“Sometimes, I get extremely jealous or insecure over the fact that I’m not as technical or skillful on the ball as some of the other teammates on my team,” said junior Peyton Burris, Stanton girls varsity soccer player.

photo by Garrett Lawrence

Benched players from the boys varsity basketball team watch their teammates compete against Samuel W. Wolfson High School.

Many athletes, including Burris, know exactly what they need to work on for their maximum selfperformance in their sport. When playing a game, however, the performance depends on the player’s position and skill level on the team. If the coach only plays a certain number of players each game, feelings of jealousy and resentment may arise from those players not in the starting lineup.

“Because there are only so many spots on the field, you have to work your hardest week in and week out to earn your starting spot,” said Burris. “When I was a freshman, I was extremely nervous whether I would play at the beginning of the season.”

Through these complex emotions like anxiety, student athletes must also balance the relationships they have with their teammates and the collaborative skills each member contributes. If someone notices a teammate underperforming, they may try to assist them to improve. Through supportive communication from their peers, Stanton athletes build on each other to make headway in their gameplay.

“They might have just had a bad game or couple of games, but we always want everyone to perform so we try to help them out,” said Cottey. photo by Garrett Lawrence While athletes help each Coach Rob Burnett guides his athletes towards teamwork, other mentally, it is the coach’s regardless of competition among players. job to make sure the team

is the best in numbers and physicality. Coaches aim to prepare their team for the utmost amount of participation possible. However, there is also bitterness that comes with the players’ opinions on their skill placement. Players also often overlook the naturally occurring phenomenon of competition that comes in contributing one’s best effort in sports performance.

“I think it’s human nature, we just have it in us. All of us just want to get better at something,” said Mr. Josh Westfall, Stanton football assistant coach and boys assistant soccer coach.

While the competitive nature of a team causes rivalry among teammates, the coaches do little to limit this environment each season when designing their team. Coaches want to have the maximum level of performance possible from their athletes, regardless of the feelings of competition amongst their players. The attitudes athletes bring create opportunities for coaches to implement those strong energies into drives for practice. However, there is a time for coaches to interfere and limit these interactions among their players.

“We try to rein it in,” said Mr. Westfall. “If you see something that’s getting out of hand, we have to rein it in because we don’t want someone ultimately getting hurt.”

Though the fans see the sports team’s united front, each player confronts underlying pressures when they are in constant comparison with those alongside them. The competition among one’s teammates is a struggle each athlete faces during their sports career. This internal competition created brings the need for athletes to sharpen their physical and mental game while playing high school sports.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE | 15

SPORTS

BATTLE of the BRAINS Quiz Bowl is a Stanton hallmark with a presence dating back to the origins of the newspaper.

It continues to expand on its achievements today.

By ARIYANI THOMPKINS, 6WD௺ :ULWHU In October 1983, Stanton College Preparatory School’s Quiz Bowl team was mentioned in a cover VWRU\ IHDWXUHG RQ WKH ¿UVW SDJH RI WKH ¿UVW LVVXH of Devil’s Advocate. In a story headlined “Stanton 6WXSH¿HV 6DQGDOZRRG ´ WKH FORVH PDWFK EHWZHHQ Stanton and Sandalwood High School was documented. Writer Kellie Montgomery reported how Sandalwood took a 6-point lead up until the last question where the Quiz Bowl president would give Stanton a huge turnaround, leading them to a victorious win.

Similar accomplishments would gain Stanton recognition, yet Stanton’s Quiz Bowl team seldom receives a wider acknowledgment. Though the school has a reputation for being an academically rigorous magnet school, Quiz Bowl is often overlooked by its students despite it being an LQWHOOHFW EDVHG JDPH 6LQFH ¿UVW EHLQJ IHDWXUHG in this publication 40 years ago, the team has managed to withstand the expanse of time and make numerous achievements along the way.

“I think people should know more about Quiz %RZO LW LV MXVW D UHDOO\ LQWHUHVWLQJ VSRUW ´ VDLG VHQLRU Sam Pacanins, who has been on the team since freshman year. “It’s fun to play and I believe pretty much everyone can be a good player should they dedicate time and study to whatever they want to specialize in. I think that distinguishes it a lot from other sports, academic or otherwise, because you just need to learn about something you’re LQWHUHVWHG LQ ´ The players seem to share similar sentiments, like Pacanins who was drawn to competitiveness, community, and camaraderie. This makes Quiz %RZO QRW MXVW D FRPSHWLWLRQ EXW D FROODERUDWLYH HႇRUW towards a common goal.

“Quiz Bowl is a very interesting and fun way to FRPSHWH ZLWK RWKHUV DQG VKRZ Rႇ \RXU NQRZOHGJH ´ said Teja Datla, a junior who joined to expand his NQRZOHGJH LQ GLႇHUHQW NH\ DUHDV ³,W¶V D WHDP EDVHG game where everyone must contribute. Working WRJHWKHU LV D YDOXDEOH DVVHW IRU WKRVH LQWHUHVWHG ´ The members are drawn to the many compelling components of Quiz Bowl. They derive from it a fondness for its challenging nature, fun spirit, or DELOLW\ WR JDLQ QHZ VRXUFHV RI VSHFL¿F NQRZOHGJH in various areas.

“Quiz Bowl questions can be way more particular than the sort of questions you see on something OLNH -HRSDUG\ ´ VDLG VHQLRU -RVHSK 0HQ]R ZKR KDV been in the team since junior year. “This makes the game a little harder, but it feels especially rewarding ZKHQ \RX NQRZ DQ DQVZHU ´ Under the pressure of a time constraint, their performance depends not only on a correct answer, but on doing so in a timely manner. The

questions range from an array of categories such as literature, history, science, and math. A GLVWLQJXLVKLQJ FRPSRQHQW LV WKH ³EX]]HU V\VWHP ´ 7KH SOD\HUV ³EX]] LQ´ WR LQWHUUXSW WKH TXHVWLRQ JLYHQ by the announcer when they believe they know the answer.

“There is a sense of hesitance and stress ZKHQ \RX ¿UVW VWDUW XVLQJ WKH EX]]HU GXULQJ WKH competition, but this lessens over the course of the FRPSHWLWLRQ RU GHSHQGLQJ RQ WKH GLႈFXOW\ RI WKH FRPSHWLWRU ´ VDLG 0HQ]R The team has been participating in competitions for years, obtaining experience on the regional and national levels. In 2021, following the pandemic and a year of competing online, the Quiz Bowl team successfully advanced to the National Academic Quiz Tournament’s annual High School National Championship Tournament competition, their B team clutched eighth place in the country out of 224 teams. They continued this exceptional streak and in 2022, their A team placed 39th out of 272 teams.

“I would say every competition is special since they are relatively rare, but getting a game winning question right is a very satisfying feeling that simply FDQQRW EH UHSOLFDWHG ´ VDLG 'DWOD The memories they create at each competition carry over into every practice in which they participate. Once a week on Thursday over the course of the entire school year, the team meets in their sponsor’s classroom to sharpen their skills and strengthen their bond.

“Individual practices are not necessarily as PHPRUDEOH DV WKH SOD\HUV ´ VD\V -DPHV %\HUV D senior player and captain who has been playing since his freshmen year. “I like helping out new SOD\HUV DQG XQGHUFODVVPHQ ´ Together the team exudes a light-hearted energy through the fun traditions they share such DV KRVWLQJ D ³ZURQJ DQVZHUV RQO\´ FKDQQHO RQ Discord. Though the competitions may be tense, WKH WHDP¶V WLPH VSHQW WRJHWKHU LV ¿OOHG ZLWK ODXJKWHU and relaxed socialization.

“Sometimes when you’re in the heat of the PRPHQW \RX EX]] LQ ZLWK DEVROXWH FRQ¿GHQFH \RXU DQVZHU DQG LW¶V VR IDU Rႇ WKH PDUN ´ VD\V Pacanins. “The room will explode into chaos and despair, and when everyone, including the person who answered, is done laughing, particularly funny answers will end up immortalized on our wall of EHVW ZURQJ DQVZHUV ´ From their competitiveness to being knowledgeable in a variety of topics, players gain lasting relationships that make Quiz Bowl memorable. The team intends to continue to make notable strides in the Stanton community as one of the school’s longest running competitive teams. infographic by Cliona Joy Piligan

16 | JANUARY 2024

STUDENT LIFE

OPINIONS

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE Est. 1983 I Stanton College Preparatory School

2023-2024 Editorial Board Zoey Larson AnaSofia Girardot Anusha Anna Sarah Bernardo Spurthi Nrusimhadevara

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Business Manager Digital Media Editor Photography Editor

iiiiiThe Devil’s Advocate serves as the official newspaper of Stanton College Preparatory School. It is produced quarterly by members of the Journalism class. The editors reserve the right to edit any material submitted into the paper for content, grammar, length and accuracy. iiiiiThe Devil’s Advocate is a public forum for student expression, which encourages free exchanges of opinions concerning controversial and noncontroversial community and school related issues.

The advertisements and ideas expressed within the newspaper are not necessarily those of the newspaper staff, Stanton administration, or the Duval County Public School Board. iiiiiThe Devil’s Advocate accepts advertisements from all businesses in the Stanton community. The ad contract can be given to a staff member or newspaper adviser Mr. Larry Knight. iiiiiReaders may contact any staff member or the adviser at (904) 630-6760 or at knightl1@duvalschools.org.

Letter from the Editor photo by Spurthi Nrusimhadevara

In this issue’s cover story, staff writer Erica Truong investigates the recent changes to school safety measures. As students who interact with these measures every day, we need to consider the purpose of them before defaulting to complaining about them. While taking binders and computers out of one’s bag may seem like overkill, it is in response to the scary amount of violence, particularly shootings, at public schools across the country. This makes these protocols a necessary part of keeping students safe.

Like everyone, I recognize the current procedures are not a perfect system, and there are still unresolved safety concerns. But these flaws will not be mended by complaining without taking action; such a complex problem involving school board bureaucracy will not have an immediate fix. For now, we should acknowledge existing flaws in the safety systems while also acknowledging the ineffectiveness of complaining about them. It is also important to recognize who is responsible for the addition of the safety measures. As explained in the feature story, this is a district-wide policy. Keeping this in mind, we should not be blaming administrators for carrying out a district policy intended to keep us safe. In short, new safety measures can be annoying, but a brief annoyance is a small price to pay for safety.

18 | JANUARY 2024

artwork by Amina Umar

Performative Activism

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD In the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict that began with a surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023, there has been an uptick in activism, particularly among Gen Z. Groups have called on President Joe Biden and the United States Congress to act, while varied stances on aid and support for citizens in Gaza have taken the spotlight on the platforms of political figures and ordinary users alike. As people attempt to address such a complex subject matter on social media, the dangers of performative activism can become apparent. However, it is important to differentiate activism of a performative nature, one founded in a desire for approval or personal gain, from activism rooted in volition and a genuine desire for change.

When Hamas launched Operation AlAqsa Flood, support for Israel appeared on various social media sites. Initial views of the conflict saw Hamas as the aggressor, leading to immediate responses of solidarity with Israel. As the conflict has intensified, public support for Israel has been in steady decline. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted on Oct. 13-14, 32% of respondents said the U.S. should support Israel, which was down from 41% in their previous poll.

Online support often takes the form of infographics or other easily reposted images.

While these can be beneficial for spreading awareness on a larger scale, they can often leave out necessary contextual information, resulting in a skewing of the original intent of the post. The obligation people feel on social media to weigh in on political or humanitarian issues can lead to the hasty sharing of these graphics without fully understanding the complexities of the issues.

According to a May 2023 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, although 46% of participants reported being politically active on social media in the past year, 76% agreed social media “makes people think they’re making a difference when they really aren’t.”

This phenomenon is something people must continue to balance. Spreading awareness

of an issue is an important and achievable goal of online activism; however, awareness is not action. In addition, it is crucial to assess the accuracy of a source before reposting its content so this awareness is not considered a form of misinformation.

Political figures are guilty of this as well.

Politicians may aim to publicly advocate for causes they know will garner them support, without necessarily believing in these causes or taking effective action related to them. For instance, President Joe Biden has continued to advocate for Israel side in the conflict, and even visited the country in October of this year to back its military campaign.

His approach to the war has an “element of political performance,” according to George Bisharat, a professor at the University of California College of the Law, in an October 2023 interview with Al Jazeera, a Middle Eastern news network. This corresponds with the opinion among experts that President Biden is attempting to dodge criticisms from Republicans and the public that frame him as “weak.” With the 2024 elections fast approaching, the public must be wary of politicians’ performative activism to verify they will act on their promises rather than only advocate for causes to gain voters.

With public opinion being largely driven by social media feeds, it is important to fully understand the causes one advocates for and to ensure all opinions are being formed based on real news sources rather than fabricated or sensationalized social media posts. If users are not diligent about their consumption and spreading of news, social media’s nature of promoting engagement over factual news can lead to widespread misinformation and an artificial swaying of public opinion. Along with this, fully understanding the conflict before expressing a side can help eliminate the prevalence of performative activism. This ensures actions called for by the public are the result of informed decision-making rather than a desire for personal gain or attention.

A Perspective on the War in Gaza

By KATIE WONG, Staff Writer iiiiiOn Oct. 7, 2023, the terrorist group Hamas launched its largest and most unprecedented assault on Israel, killing an estimated 1,400 Israelis and abducting 240. Since then, Israel has retaliated, displacing at least 1.4 million photo by Sarah Bernardo Palestinians and killing 15,000 more, while simultaneously conducting a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, the smaller of the two Palestinian territories. The ferocity of this conflict has fostered global polarization, further magnified through the media. With the war raging on, generalizations must not be made about the groups involved, considering not all Israelis and Palestinians agree with the actions of their leaders.

It is important to understand the complex history of the conflict starting from the early 1900s, when the Palestinian region experienced a surge of Jewish immigration due to increasing antiSemitism throughout Europe. This was intensified

by the Balfour Declaration, a British pledge that proposed a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and was facilitated even more by the Holocaust, a genocide of six million Jews. Following this, according to the United Nations, Resolution 181 and the Partition Plan was passed, allotting 55% of Palestine to the Jewish state, 42% to the Arab state, and 3% of Jerusalem to international control. At the time, the Arabs made up the majority of Palestine, with the Jewish minority owning only a small portion of Palestinian land as they recently immigrated from Europe. Nevertheless, Jews received the majority of the land and the most fertile parts of Palestine. The Palestinians felt this change was an insult, as they were being driven away from what they perceived as their homeland. Consequently, five surrounding Arab countries invaded Israel to prevent the establishment of the Jewish state, causing the Arab-Israeli War, which eventually resulted in Israel’s victory and new borders being formed.

In 1967, Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights from its victory in the Six-Day War, which started due to border disputes. It returned the latter two to Egypt and Syria, respectively, but retained the West

Bank and Gaza Strip. Although the Oslo Accords of the 1990s allowed Palestinian self-rule in the two areas, their resentment only grew, resulting in resistance movements, which formed the first and second Intifadas, and eventually, Hamas.

Though it may be easy for the Israeli government and Hamas to engage in combat, they should consider the negative implications of the conflict for civilians on both sides. The Israeli government will justify defending their country after being attacked, while Hamas accounts for resisting what they perceive as apartheid and theft. However, not all Israeli and Palestinian civilians are content with the actions of their leaders. In fact, the war has prompted people to question what it means to be pro-Palestine or pro-Israel, and the two movements have intensified over time.

Many opponents of the “Free Palestine” movement believe it advocates for terrorism and anti-semitism. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 due to security concerns and the belief that Gaza leaders would create a state that would coexist with Israel. While the Gazans knowingly voted for Hamas, they unknowingly elected an oligarchical power that outed other parties and became intent on destroying Israel. Hamas has left the people in Gaza in destitution and fear, and the prospect of local stability is crumbling due to a split in Palestinian leadership and Hamas’ unrelenting animosity towards Israel. Therefore, being Palestinian doesn’t mean being a terrorist or being anti-Semitic. On the other hand, opponents of the Zionist movement believe the Israelis have committed apartheid and genocide, robbed land, and oppressed Palestinians. Additionally, some anti-Zionists believe Hamas’ actions can be justified as resistance efforts, while others take an even more extreme stance, where they equate those who remain neutral to those who stand with the oppressor.

Many countries have become involved in the conflict, including major world powers such as the United States, Britain, and Iran. For example, Iran plays a significant role in the Israel-Hamas War by training Hamas in making weapons. According to Hamas leader Ismael Haniyeh, Iran had provided $70 million to the group in 2022 alone. Thus, Hamas can be motivated by monetary benefits to Iran and separate their connection to the Palestinian people. This tie can explain how other countries have become relevant in the conflict. In the case of the U.S., Hamas’ relationship to Iran can pose a threat to homeland security, and for this reason, the conflict raises concerns for American leaders.

When looking at history from a moral standpoint, the answer would be simple: free Palestine.

But, unfortunately, the world is not that simple, meaning important distinctions need to be drawn and a political position should be considered.

When looking at politically complex situations like this, groups of people should not be generalized, regardless of one’s personal beliefs. Because this conflict may only be resolved if both sides find peace, it can only begin with understanding.

Columns published in the Devil’s Advocate represent the views of the writers, not those of the newspaper.

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