The Wildcat Tribune: Volume VI, Issue 8

THE WILDCAT TRIBUNE April 11 2019 · Vol. VI · Issue 8

PERIODS, PILLS AND PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS: SEPARATING THE STIGMA FROM BIRTH CONTROL

BY ELISA FANG Editor-in-Chief The invention of birth control has historically been hailed as a catalyst for women’s rights and the freedom for women to plan out the course of their lives.

According to Mrs. Rebecca Uscian, English and former Social Justice teacher, “It gave women an option to choose when they can start a family. And that’s so important. We should have the option to decide that ‘I don’t want to start a family until I’ve established myself in my career field’ … It gave women access to plan their families to match up with their beliefs.”

And while birth control has this history, our modern conversation about birth control is quiet and filled with misunderstandings, which give rise to stigmas that surround the women who take it, and the medication itself.

In order to revitalize the conversation around birth control and remove the misconceptions around taking it, below are stories from real women who are taking or have taken birth control, revealing the realities of women’s health.

First, what is birth control?

According to WebMD, birth control is defined as “any method used to prevent pregnancy.” While this is still technically true, modern birth control has evolved into a variety of different forms that can serve health purposes beyond the commonly stated, becoming a common topic in the conversation about women’s health.

The most obvious and perhaps most common form of birth control is the birth control pill. This is the method typically mentioned during the conversation about birth control: a 28-day pack with three rows of seven pink “active pills” and likely a row of placebo ones.

Introduced in 1950 by Margaret Sanger, a fierce advocate for birth control, this method was also the first medically backed

hormonal birth control.

The birth control pill works to prevent pregnancy in a couple of different ways. The combination pill, referring to the birth control pill that contains both a dose of estrogen and progestin, work by preventing ovulation — when the ovaries release an egg — so there is nothing for sperm to fertilize. Different pills contain different amounts of these hormones; according to Medical News Today, “doctors rarely prescribe high-dose combination pills because the low-dose pills work just as well and cause fewer side effects.”

The combination pill also thickens the cervical mucus and thins the lining of the uterus. This makes it harder for sperm to navigate through the cervix and decreases the likelihood of implantation, in the chance that an egg is fertilized. These latter two effects are due to the hormone progestin in the combination pill.

There is also another form of the pill called the “minipill,” a progestin-only pill, that also produces these effects but doesn’t prevent ovulation.

When used perfectly, the combination pill is 99 percent effective — 91 percent with typical use, which encompasses the times when people forget to take it or take it at inconsistent times. The minipill has percentages that are just a tad bit lower.

The selection for different types of birth control has expanded since the 1960s — all of them hormonal, with the exception of copper intrauterine devices (IUDs), which are effective 99 percent of the time because, according to Planned Parenthood, the copper invokes an inflammatory reaction that lasts for up to 12 years that is toxic for both sperm and eggs.

The hormonal version of the IUD also sits inside the uterus and releases progestin over the course of a few years, making it another long-term birth control option.

Another long-term birth control option is the implant, a small plastic rod that is inserted into the arm and releases hormones in a similar manner to the IUD. Both the hormonal and non-hormonal IUD and implant have an effectiveness of over 99 percent,

and since they are incredibly low-maintenance, there is normally no discrepancy between perfect and typical use.

Other various hormonal birth control include the birth control shot, vaginal ring and patch; these options vary in their duration and effectiveness.

There is no medical evidence that any of these methods impact fertility long-term, and when birth control is removed, the ability to get pregnant should return almost immediately.

What does birth control do?

Birth control is mainly advertised to prevent pregnancy, but the way estrogen and progestin (a form of progesterone) interact with the body means that many girls may start birth control well before they have to worry about potentially becoming a parent.

Naturally existing estrogen and progesterone in the body interact with a woman’s reproductive system and are secreted by the ovaries, which, in turn, can be thought of as the crux of female reproductive health. These hormones are necessary for menstruation, fertility and puberty, so similarly the hormones in birth control can supplement an imbalance occuring in the body, as well as any problems associated with the aforementioned occurrences.

“I didn’t have a period for four months, and I was like, something’s wrong, like very, very wrong,” junior Sierra* commented about why she started taking birth control this year. So I decided to go to my doctor, and they said, ‘I think maybe birth control could really help regulate your period.”

She continued, “I also found out that the reason why I’m on this specific brand was because polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) runs in my family, and apparently this is really good for avoiding PCOS, which I didn’t know about.”

PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that causes enlarged ovaries and the growth of cysts, and is just one of many different diseases associated with the crux of female reproductive health.

“BIRTH CONTROL” CONT. PAGE 2

INDEX ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 4 “Captain Marvel” ushers in a new era of female representation OPINIONS | 6 Queerness in Decolonization SPORTS | 7 Nagore enforces football team spirit

GRAPHIC BY SASHA HASSAN PAGE DESIGN BY SASHA HASSAN & TAYLOR ATIENZA

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NEWS AND FEATURES

According to youngwomenshealth.org, birth control falls into the treatment of endometriosis, irregular or heavy periods, menstrual cramps, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), hormone replacement therapy, the prevention of some cancers and even stubborn acne.

Essentially, with most problems that can benefit from the existence of additional hormones, birth control may be prescribed to try to combat that problem.

“I started the birth control pill my freshman year of high school, mainly because I had an extremely heavy flow and bad acne,” senior Monica* said. “My doctor said that [the pill] would eliminate long periods, and because of the estrogen … I would get fewer breakouts.”

“The pills have helped reduce my acne, but the best part is that my period is so much lighter,” Monica*continued. “After starting the pill, I only bleed for three days and it’s light. I skip my period sometimes too, which is nice.”

For people unfamiliar with birth control or who are wary about its hormones, skipping a period may sound unhealthy, but rest assured: according to the National Women’s Health Network, skipping a period is just as safe as having a regular menstrual cycle, given that the woman doesn’t have any underlying medical conditions.

While these benefits are generally applicable to most forms of birth control, the copper IUD in particular can also act as a form of emergency contraception.

“Birth control is mainly advertised to prevent pregnancy, but the way estrogen and progestin interact with the body means that many girls may start birth control well before they have to worry about potentially becoming a parent.”

What side effects does birth control have?

Of course, like any medication, birth control is not a universal savior of women’s health, in the sense that there are side effects to consider, and it may exacerbate certain medical conditions if family history is unknown.

According to Planned Parenthood, people who have a history of blood clots or an inherited blood-clotting disorder should not use birth control, and it is important to bring this up to the doctor prescribing the medication. Other concerns include a history of breast cancer, heart attacks or other serious heart problems, migraines, uncontrollable high blood pressure or liver disease.

Women also report feeling various side-effects after being on birth control, to various degrees.

“I knew with birth control there were many positive effects like lighter periods, less acne, bigger boobs, but one effect that affected me the most definitely is weight gain,” Monica* commented. “I gained [a lot of] weight on the pill. I don’t think the pill caused it, but it’s harder to lose weight on the pill … I know some people are affected by mood swings; however, when I started birth control, I never really had them.”

“My biggest thing is nausea,” Sierra* described. “My first two months I always threw up and I got really emotional. I think one time I cried so hard when I was watching ‘Meet the Robinsons’ and my boyfriend asked, ‘Are you … okay?’ and I said, ‘I think I am.’”

Intermenstrual spotting is also a common side effect, especially in the first three months on the combination pill when the body is getting used to the adjusted hormones.

The medical informational guide that also comes with the birth control pill also lists a series of possible side effects that may indicate that this particular birth control isn’t right for the user — serious migraines, depression and any other irregular pain are often reasons for people to move off the combination pill and onto the minipill, in cases where the excess estrogen may cause these problems.

“Four or five years ago, I started getting migraines, so now I’m required to be on a special form of the pill called the minipill ... because it can increase your risk of stroke,” Diana* said, an adult who began the combination pill when she was 22. “I hate [the minipill], because its not regular and the side effects are unpleasant. And it’s very strict in that you have to take it at the exact same time every day, and if you don’t, it messes with you. But the alternatives really suck, so I don’t know what to do.”

“The combo pill was much better and had very few side effects.

[On the mini pill], the spotting is really annoying,” she continued.

“I don’t feel as good on it … I get really moody right before [my period], almost as if it were a real period. And that’s the thing with birth control it’s not technically a real period, so you shouldn’t have the same effects. There was a two or three month period when I was off it, and I legitimately did feel better. Unfortunately, I went back to my regular periods, which were miserable, so that’s the trade off.”

With more long term options, such as the hormonal and non-hormonal IUD, as well as the arm implant, side effects differ due to the absence of estrogen, but they have side effects nonetheless. For the copper, non-hormonal IUD in particular, it’s common to have spotting, cramping and heavier periods, but they’re still not an ubiquitous experience. The hormonal IUD also may include the possibility of irregular periods and spotting, but for many women, the horror stories of the pain of inserting the IUD is actually what turns them off from getting it. “[The insertion process] was horrible, actually. Now I’m really happy that I have it. I don’t regret it at all. I literally passed out twice.

They said okay, we’re gonna get you some water and then waited until I was [okay]. And then I passed out again and I threw up. I had to have my sister come pick me up from the appointment,” Hannah* said, an adult who is currently on the hormonal Mirena IUD. However, she does admit that she also passes out during blood draws, so she feels that she might just be more sensitive to medical procedures. And even with her horrific experience with getting the IUD inserted, she still encourages it as an option for women who would like to consider a long-term option. “[The insertion process is] just really crampy and horrible. Obviously, it’s an intimate procedure so you’re scared … and even though I had the craziest case scenario, I’m still happy. I love not having to think about it every day and in terms of family planning, I don’t have to worry.”

“I have friends that were totally fine,” Hanna further explained.

“They said, ‘I went in and it was inserted, and then I went for a run afterwards, and we were totally fine.’ So I have heard a lot of people that had no issues.”

The arm implant is similar to the hormonal IUD in terms of spotting and irregular periods being the main side effects, and similarly, the main concern is the invasiveness of the procedure to insert the implant.

“I don’t think there’s a good form of birth control out there. There are so many risks associated with it in general: stroke, heart attack etc.” Diana* commented. “There also isn’t a good form that doesn’t have side effects or doesn’t hamper your daily life in some way. ” What about access?

The average price of uninsured birth control is around $50 per month. Luckily, with most health insurance plans and qualifications for government programs such as Medicaid, the cost of birth control is usually covered. Under the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), most health insurance plans must also cover doctor’s visits that are related to birth control.

In cases of unemployment, or lack of insurance, however, this means that the costs of birth control pills can add up fast — to about $500 a year. Women can still receive birth control for free or at little cost from nearby medical centers as a college student or Planned Parenthood.

“My birth control from Kaiser is free because I have health insurance. However, if you are under 18 and do not make money, you can go to Planned Parenthood and register under the state of California to receive free or low cost birth control. Planned Parenthood prescribed me a year supply of pills which is awesome,” Monica*says.

“My parents know I’m on birth control, but my doctor made it my choice to say whether or not to tell them. They are extremely confidential, especially at Planned Parenthood.”

While in most states, minors are able to acquire birth control from Planned Parenthood without parental permission, different insurance companies and health clinics have different policies of confidentiality that may require parental permission, especially if the minor is covered under the parents’ health insurance.

Because Planned Parenthood has often been in the spotlight for their controversial access to abortions, some women are wary of going there to receive a birth control prescription. However, the institution also provides tests and treatments for many other aspects of women’s health.

“Planned Parenthood gets put under this umbrella of an abortion clinic, but it also does amazing work for underserved women that might not have access to women’s health. Cervical cancer is a huge epidemic among women, and not having access to get regular check-ups is detrimental,” Uscian explained. “If you close [Planned Parenthood] down, you know who still gets check-ups? Wealthy women. You know who doesn’t? Poor women. And so by closing

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CONT. PAGE 1

that off, you’re essentially saying, ‘Sorry, but you don’t deserve access to women’s health.’”

Diana* described her own experience with Planned Parenthood during a lapse in her insurance coverage: “There was a time where I didn’t have any insurance, so I had to go to Planned Parenthood, and they were the nicest people. They were like, ‘Here’s a whole year of pills,’ and, ‘What else do you need?’

When people condemn Planned Parenthood, I just think of how incredibly kind they were when I didn’t have insurance, and didn’t make me feel badly about it, and they understood I had no insurance, no extra money, and they provided me with so much information and resources.’”

Other birth control options, such as the long-term IUD and implant, which requires a medical procedure to insert, cost an average of $1,300 without insurance coverage. However, in Hannah’s* experience with her insurance company, she only had to pay around $100 out of pocket.

What are our attitudes about birth control?

Medically, a birth control prescription falls into the category of “women’s health,” but its obvious connotations carry a lot of weight in the form of stigmas and stereotypes.

“My dad doesn’t know,” Sierra* said. “It’s only between my mom and I, because … there’s a big stigma about it. And, my dad will instantly think, ‘Oh, she’s sexually active!’”

Birth control is used for family planning and preventing pregnancy. But a common perspective is that all women on birth control take it solely for this reason, and that somehow, by taking this medication, they will automatically be associated with sexual promiscuity, or sex in general — an activity that comes with certain responsibillities people may not be comfortable with teenagers taking on.

“A lot of people always assume it’s for sexual reasons … I told some of my guy friends about it, because every month I usually change the time I take it, just to see which is the best time, and one of those times was 10 p.m.,” Sierra* said. “And I’m hanging out with my friends and they said, ‘Why are you taking that?’ and I answered, ‘It’s my birth control.’ And they were just looking at me like ‘[She’s a] slut.’ And I said, ‘Guys, can you not look at me like that?’”

While many women start using the pill because of menstrual problems, hormonal imbalances or any other health issue, women, including teenagers, also do take birth control because they are sexually active. And while everybody’s view of sex may vary, the stigmas that arise from the reality of sexually active teenagers still carry over to the people who use birth control as any other medication.

“There are so many ways birth control can help you, but even if it is for reasons where you don’t want to [get pregnant], why would you shame someone for it?” Sierra* mused. “Some people take it for their periods. Some people take it for sex. Some people need the rationalization that it helps their period. Birth control also helps transgender men. But we also need to remember that there’s still the option of people taking it for being sexually active and we need to be more comfortable accepting that women can be sexually active.”

“‘It has to be your choice.

You should be informed with your doctor ... you want to look at the side effects and consider what those might be,” Uscian said. “Like any drug, you want to make informed decisions and talk to your doctor, and decide what’s right for you.’”

Ultimately, among the myriad of birth control options and burdens of stigma, Uscian emphasizes the importance of agency when it comes to making decisions about personal health.

“It has to be your choice. You should be informed with your doctor.

And you should also make sure that you’re not jumping on something new or a trial, or you want to look at the side effects and consider what those might be,” Uscian said. “Like any drug, you want to make informed decisions and talk to your doctor, and decide what’s right for you.” *NAMES CHANGED FOR PRIVACY

REPRESENTUS SEEKS TO MAKE A CHANGE THROUGH LOCAL LEGISTATURE TO CREATE A NATIONAL IMPACT

BY AMRUTA BARADWAJ Assistant Sports Editor In the wake of scandals concerning government corruption and a lack of public representation in higher offices, RepresentUS, a non-profit group founded in 2012, is attempting to find ways to restore power in the hands of the people. The organization accomplishes its goal by offering a bipartisan solution that helps pass anti-corruption laws at the state level.

According to the RepresentUS webpage, the primary aim of the growing movement is to “pass powerful anti-corruption laws that stop political bribery, end secret money, and fix broken elections,” and they strive to do so with the help of multiple chapters in over 20 states. The statistical information detailed on the webpage indicates that members of RepresentUS contributed to the

“The primary goal of the movement is to pass smaller legislation in local communities that will trigger a “tipping point,” eventually leading to changes in city and state legislation.”

successful passage of 23 anti-corrpution reforms across the country, and these numbers are projected to increase by 2022.

Alexis Rudney, a student at Diablo Valley College, found herself drawn to the idea of RepresentUS but was disheartened upon learning that the closet chapters in California were in Palo Alto and San Francisco. She then decided to start her own East Bay chapter by getting connected with individuals at the headquarters of RepresentUS and spreading the word about the organization.

Rudney believes that RepresentUS will effectively passing anti-corruption laws because of the organization’s realistic goals.

“A huge reason that I love RepresentUs is because it’s non-partisan. I think that the political divide and political polarization that we have in the United States is a root of a lot of problems and RepresentUs begins to connect all sides with an issue not many people can dispute. I love

that RepresentUs is founded on research, data, studies and scholars that all point to the same thing,” Rudney says. She mentions that their wellthought-out strategy makes it possible to facilitate connections among people from all over the political spectrum in order to achieve the organization’s goals.

Rudney states that public participation is the most vital element of RepresentUS. The primary goal of the movement is to pass smaller legislation in local communities that will trigger a “tipping point,” eventually leading to changes in city and state legislation.

As for the future of the campaign, Rudney announces that there will soon be a way for people to sign up for the East Bay chapter through the RepresentUS website. She hopes that the chapter will grow to be one of the biggest RepresentUS branches in the country.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

APRIL 11 2019

IT’S A “LOT” OF MONEY: CITY CENTER’S NEW DINING AND THEATER IS WORTH IT 2

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BY RIYA BINDLISH & TEJU ANAND Co-Opinions Editor & Assistant Photography Editor Since its groundbreaking in November last year, the Bishop Ranch City Center has been thriving. Many new features have opened up since then — most notably, THE LOT, which opened on Feb. 30.

Serving roughly 10,000 customers per week and consisting of a movie theater, bar, dining area and cafe, THE LOT is one of the City Center’s most popular attractions and one of San Ramon’s most luxurious entertainment centers.

THE LOT’s high prices are justified by its luxurious features and friendly staff.

THE LOT in San Ramon is managed by Ruby Rodriguez and Darin Sergent. Having worked with the CEO of THE LOT, Adolfo Fastlicht, since 2012, Rodriguez also gained work experience in luxury hotels such as the Beverly Hills Hotel, thus qualifying him to be the restaurant manager of THE LOT location at La Jolla. He was recently relocated to San Ramon.

Similarly, Sergent was also brought in to help manage the new THE LOT location, specifically to work on its appeal to the community. Previously, he worked in hospitality at New York and managed one of Guy Fieri’s restaurants, after which he was relocated to San Ramon to work with Rodriguez to make the new opening more appealing to customers.

Upon entering THE LOT, one is immediately brought to a wide and open area filled with plush outdoor seats and grills, which invokes a contemporary, yet cozy, atmosphere.

Adjacent to it, the indoor seating of THE LOT, complete with a cafe and bar, creates a sophisiticated and vibrant feel which is juxtaposed with the lax climate immediately beside it. Venturing further in leads one to 10 different theatres, each with roughly 50 reclining seats and in-seat dining options. Opposite to these theatres is a larger one, seating roughly 100 people.

“It’s just the full experience of being able to go out and have a nice dinner and a movie … We’ve taken it to a completely different level. Being able to give the guests every single need and every single desire that they possibly want for a night of entertainment and putting it in one location ...

That’s what we pride ourselves on,” Sergent said.

In addition to its San Ramon location, THE LOT is a chain with four other locations, having opened initially in Los Angeles. While the services in each location are the same, each branch is meant to adapt to the ambience of the city and its population. For example, Los Angeles’s fast-paced diverse urban neighborhood contains several pieces of artwork

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representative of the city, fulfilling its mission statement of utmost customer adaptability.

THE LOT’s weakness lies in being inaccessible to the younger generations due to high prices: movie tickets are $18 for children and seniors and $20 for adults — more expensive than other local theatres — and their dining prices are also relatively high.

Dougherty Valley High School senior Megha Bhargava described her experience at THE LOT: “The service is unique in terms of letting people order food from their seats. Because of that and the reclining chairs it is kind of expensive, so it’s probably not the go-to movie theater for teens. But, it is fun for special occasions and if you want to splurge a bit.”

Jeff Dodds, senior vice president of Sunset Development, the company that designed the City Center and led the development of THE LOT, elaborated on this sentiment: “They want to maintain a bit of a premium compared to other theaters because they’ve built a much more grand place that’s worth a few more bucks.”

In addition, the managers state that while they mainly attract families, they are also making efforts to attract a younger, more independent population through a variety of events.

For example, current family-friendly events include Taco Tuesdays, Sunday Nights and unique offers for special events, such as an Oscars party and a special menu to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. THE LOT also offered $12 movie tickets throughout March this year, demonstrating its desire to draw in the community.

Additionally, to incorporate teen interests, the managers listed a variety of initatives and upcoming events, such as DJ nights on every other Friday and premieres for popular TV shows. On April 14, THE LOT is hosting a premiere for Game of Thrones with a special menu designed to reflect the show itself.

The managers are also trying to create an effective work environment, similar to that of local coffee shops such as Peet’s Coffee and Starbucks.

“This is a cafe. You guys have homework. I would honestly probably preach to my GM [General Manager] that we should have a homework spot with maybe a different happy hour menu ...” Rodriguez said.

At first glance, the prices seem relatively high compared to the older and cheaper theatres that the San Ramon population is accustomed to. However, the quality of service and attention to detail provided by the managers is superb.

Like all new developments, time is needed to accurately adapt to a different crowd, but the creativity of events and promotions offered successfully encompasses the spirit of what it means to be conveniently classy.

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1: THE LOT at the San Ramon City Center’s luxury dining area comes at a cost. // RIYA BINDLISH 2: THE LOT provides a large variety of beverages. // RIYA BINDLISH 3: Ruby Rodriguez and Darin Sergent, managers of THE LOT, pose for a picture. // TEJU ANAND 4: The cafe is very accessible, with many quick and comforting delicacies. // RIYA BINDLISH 5: THE LOT offers a modern aesthetic and comfortable seating. // RIYA BINDLISH

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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APRIL 11 2019

“CAPTAIN MARVEL” SPURS A NEW ERA OF FEMALE REPRESENTATION

BY CAROLINE LOBEL, SARAH KIM & CLAIRE ZHANG Co-Arts & Entertainment Editor, Co-Arts & Graphics Editor & Assistant Arts & Graphics Editor

“Captain Marvel,” the newest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, promotes female empowerment and gender equality by featuring the franchise’s first female lead while retaining the generic aspects of superhero movies.

The film met every expectation of a Marvel movie. In fact, it grossed $455 million worldwide during its opening weekend and remained at the top of the box office for over two weeks after its release date on March 8. Brie Larson leads the invasion into fans’ hearts across the world as the charmingly blunt and unapologetic “Vers,” an alien warrior from the planet Kree who struggles to control her superhuman powers and wrestles with her mysterious past.

She ultimately finds herself drawn to Los Angeles, California, in the year 1995. There, “Vers” discovers her true identity as Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot whose body was never recovered from a mysterious crash six years ago, causing Danvers to question the truth behind the intergalactic war between the Kree and Skrull (extraterrestrial) forces.

Danvers, who adopts the moniker “Captain Marvel,” and S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury work together to stop the Kree after discovering that the Kree were actually terrorizing the Skrulls, who are looking for a new home.

Although “Captain Marvel” is the origin story for the titular character, it also provides answers that fans have been eagerly awaiting since the first Avengers movie, such as the story behind S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury’s mysterious scar and the roots of the Avengers Initiative.

It’s no exaggeration to say that by rejecting preconceived expectations about female protagonists, “Captain Marvel “ marks revolutionary progress for female representation

in popular media. Danvers embodies unwavering confidence in the face of confusion and doubt, and does more than stand her ground.

An overarching theme of the movie is female empowerment.

Maria Rambeau, Danvers’ old friend from the Air Force, comments on her heroism, “You are the most powerful woman I knew, way before you could shoot fire from your wrists.” This encourages the message that women don’t need superpowers in order to be powerful. They can be powerful just by being themselves and persevering despite life’s obstacles.

Throughout the movie, Danvers is repeatedly faulted for being “too emotional” by her male counterparts. This phrase is used as a social commentary on how women are held to unrealistic and limiting standards. However, Carol shows how baseless such accusations are, breaking through the restrictions put on her power by the Kree with her fierce passion and determination, fueled by the very emotions that Yon-Rogg discouraged in her. Captain Marvel exhibits that men and their unfounded assumptions about her capability are the last things that will stop her.

In the end, Captain Marvel discovers her superpowers after finding herself as a heroine. Yon-Rogg then challenges her to prove herself to him, to which she responds, “I have nothing to prove to you.” She earns her power by recognizing her worth, independent of outside approval.

Aside from the film’s powerful message, directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck take advantage of every opportunity to stuff the film full of quirky bits of humor, further enhancing the action of the movie without becoming cheesy — which DC Films has yet to master.

“Captain Marvel” is the first Marvel movie to feature a female superhero origin story. // PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR

Overall, while the movie follows a rather unoriginal, somewhat transparent superhero plot, it executes its narrative with tasteful humor, enhanced by Danvers’ winningly unsympathetic, no-nonsense attitude in the film.

Captain Marvel’s powerful entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe ushers in a new era of heroes, one that promises adventure for all audiences to partake in equally.

ILLUSTRATION BY MAI WEBER

“US” CATCHES AMERICA RED-HANDED

BY TAYLOR ATIENZA, MEGAN TSANG & ANIKA GARG Features Editors, Co-Arts & Entertainment Editor Jordan Peele’s newest movie “Us” is a wonderfully dark and disturbing mosaic of scares, symbolism and social commentary that marks his second venture into the horror genre a success.

The highly-anticipated film follows the story of Adelaide Thomas (Lupita Nyong’o), her husband Gabe (Winston Duke) and their two children Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and Jason (Evan Alex) in their struggle to escape a family of murderous doppelgängers — known as the Tethered — that arrive at the Thomas’ vacation home in sunny Santa Cruz.

While “Get Out” — Peele’s explosive, subversive directorial debut — exposed us to a metaphysical brand of fear, “Us” delivered a more instinctual terror that isn’t muddled by the genre confusion of its predecessor. “Us” is sufficiently creepy, maintaining atmospheric tension from young Adelaide’s (Madison Curry) first descent into the house of mirrors to the final confrontation in the tunnels deep beneath the Santa Cruz boardwalk. Especially nightmarish are the scissor-wielding Tethered, whose unblinking eyes, animalistic mannerisms and unsettling smiles make them distinctly inhuman despite their likeness to the characters, making them a more than adequate antagonist for the film.

Nyong’o is the star of “Us,” and for good reason — she brilliantly portrays Adelaide and Red (her Tethered counterpart) with a performance that captures both Adelaide’s paranoia and Red’s terror. Everything, from Red’s

rasping, staccato speech to her unsettlingly puppet-like gait as she pursues her victims — scissors at the ready — adds a distinctly terrifying element to “Us.” Joseph and Alex, in their film debuts, demonstrated an acting capability beyond their years, able to adapt to two starkly different personas with ease.

As a horror film, “Us” isn’t entirely a gore-fest, despite its premise. That isn’t to say that the movie doesn’t have its fair share of violent moments, as it still boasts a few particularly bloody scenes. Instead, “Us” cultivates fear in its viewers by playing with audience expectation and motifs.

“Us” never falters in its pacing, but is simultaneously suspenseful to keep the audience at the edge of their seats.

“Us” feels distinctly like a Peele creation. It is a film that only he — the actor-comedian-director triple threat — could have crafted, with its unexpected, yet not unwelcome, juxtaposition of humor and horror. While most movies try to walk the line between the two genres by using satire (the “Scary Movie” pentalogy comes to mind, where the only impactful death is the death of Carmen Electra’s career) or in a way that feels forced and clumsy (i.e. the almost formulaic Marvel banter), Peele balances the screams and laughs seamlessly.

His jokes, self-aware and ingenuous, still land, without ruining the movie’s carefully-crafted tension.

The film is aesthetically and

atmospherically satisfying, with white rabbits, golden shears and copious accents of red transforming the film into a visual treat. Peele plays with shadows and reflections to emphasize the contrast between us and the Tethered, especially in scenes revolving around Adelaide’s childhood flashbacks.

“Us” also utilizes repetition to steer the audience’s attention, such as how Jeremiah 11:11 is a repeated motif throughout the film. The actual verse both illustrates the plight of the Tethered while also representing a

our driveway,” was inspired by the tagline “They’re here” of 1982’s “Poltergeist.” Similarly, a gorgeous shot of Adelaide traveling down an escalator is reminiscent of Spike Lee’s signature dolly shots, a director who Peele just worked with on the biographical crime film, “BlacKkKlansman.”

In addition to the visuals, Peele demonstrates a command of the sonic. Any sound can become a tense reverb under the hyper focused tuning of Peele — the flickering of a fluorescent light, the churning of a rollercoaster, the clicking of a lighter. Among other ominous

palindrome, or perfect mirror, just as each character is mirrored.

It’s clear that Peele drew from classic horror films and celebrated directors, masterfully paying homage to the genre. The unnerving, bordering on comedic one-liner by Jason, “There’s a family standing in

tracks from t h e film, the remix of “I Got 5 On It” serves as a minimalistic but haunting backtrack that sticks in audience’s heads long after the movie ends.

As the credits rolled, our first reaction was “Wow.” But it was immedi-

ately interrupted by “What?” We were left in awe of the abstract, visceral beauty of “Us,” but were lost in the ambiguity. It’s the details that transform “Us” from a solid horror movie into an intricate social commentary.

As in “Get Out,” Peele weaves bold political statements and identifiable references into his movie, but it’s a loose thread, leaving the audience stunned at the amazement of what they had just viewed, but also questioning given the ambiguity of certain themes/ symbols. Audience theories have run rampant, with some speculating that “Us” is a reflection of everything from economic inequality to sexual fertility.

However, the only concrete information comes from hints from Peele given during interviews.

“I was stricken with the fact that we are in a time where we fear the other, whether it is the mysterious invader that we think is going to come and kill us or take our jobs or the faction that we don’t live near that voted a different way than us,” explained Peele in an interview with Refinery29.

“We’re all pointing the finger and I want to suggest that [when] making a monster, we really need to look at our face. Maybe the evil is us.”

“Us” takes the audience down a rabbit hole of horrors and humor, landing somewhere between classic and avant-garde while further establishing his trademark genre bending.

ILLUSTRATION BY ELAINE PARK

OPINIONS

5

APRIL 11 2019

THE COLLEGE SCANDAL CAN’T CHANGE ANYTHING

“Thus, even though Americans are getting more educated, the value of a college degree becomes constrained to a name-brand schools, effectively creating a barrier that only class can circumvent... ”

for Native American students to visit schools and learn about higher education, in addition to having Native Adviser —demands that have gone unanswered by the Board of Trustees. For comparison, The Columbia Spector wrote that “the Berick Center for Student Advising, which serves Columbia College and engineering students, has been criticized by students of color and white students as inadequate,” leading minority faculty to be forced to take on unofficial advisor roles for students of color.

At Yale, a few years ago, it was big news when the university finally capitulated and changed the name of Calhoun House, named after a Slave Holding vice president, who was previously known as the vice president of the United State of America who happened to own people, as a footnote, rather than a stain on his life, with the brutal crimes being asterisked away.

The burden of activism is never placed on the universities themselves.

I can’t get over how much power the institution has. A friend of mine recently joked that Harvard’s endowment was probably larger than the GDP of some small countries; and yes, Harvard’s $36.4 billion ranks higher than the poorest113 countries.

Earlier this year, I went to an information session for Princeton University at Dougherty. The presentations have such an ironic format, with admissions and aid squeezed at the end, and the rest feeling like an advertisement.

II. Institutional power

OF

EL

RK Elite schools have so much PA E institutional power, yet their N AI age guarantees that they will be marred by scandals of the past– racist monuments and the like. But, I argue, besides historicity, elite universities cannot help but be classist and racist.

Harvard has a famous stained glass window collection, bragging the second largest collection of secular stained glass in the world – though later, a friend told me Yale boasts that same title. I guess the distinction matters to some people. It looks like a church, but I cannot seem to imagine what it’d be worshiping. The windows honor great literary figures, like Shakespeare, Dante and other It’s an unneeded advertisement for people of comparable merit. Chris- an already captivated audience that topher Columbus is memorialized was captive before they walked in. But as well. Amongst the parishioners of in the midst of the last 15 minutes, arts and science and Columbus, it’s the presenter touted financial aid, painfully ironic to think what could be and noted that with Princeton’s enadmired when they look at Columbus dowment, if they “had” to, they could immortalized in glass. This building afford to put every single student on was built to honor Union soldiers, yet a full scholarship. “So why don’t you?” we don’t want to talk about the rest of I wondered, but I couldn’t say it beColumbus’ deeds, like native genocide cause no one else is thinking it. Few and the clearing of a land and the ex- in that DVHS room probably spared termination of a culture. The windows a thought about financial aid, but this make the sunlight more beautiful as faux pas allowed me to revel in the abthey sanitize native violence; it’s al- surdity of it all. most as if Harvard, robbed in old wisDuring Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme dom and permanence, existed before Court confirmation hearings, which the Native Americans themselves. were taking place to replace Justice Columbia University is named after Kennedy, affirmative action’s apColumbus: someone responsible for parent last centrist defender, elite mass genocide. It’s comparable to the university credentials, were used as outrage over Confederate statues — almost as a shield. The Atlantic’s Joe why are we honoring the worst atroc- Pinsker noted that Kavanaugh used ities and not repairing this wrongdo- his alma mater (“I went to Yale”) as a ings? For example, it took three years faux answer to sneer at the accusafor the Board of Trustees to approve tions and insinuate, “Well, how could a single plaque outside John Jay Hall I do something wrong, I went to Yale.” honoring the Lenape. In Manhat- And it was accepted. Every single tan,named for the Lenape word for Justice of the Supreme Court went “Land of many hills,” the administra- to Harvard or Yale Law School and tion opposed a single plaque for years. when Kavanaugh was announced But symbols manifest into policy. as Trump’s nominee, Yale sent out a Indigenous communities are often boastful announcement basically saytoo poor to visit colleges or apply, and ing, “Now, we’re winning the SCOTUS are often alienated if they manage to and stained glass windows competiget in. Columbia’s Native American tion,” while ignoring the fact that his Council asked the administration to rulings were abhorrent. At the time, create “fly-in” programs: opportunities the public didn’t know of the assault

Y

When the news of the massive college admissions scandal was unveiled by the Department of Justice, people were shocked. Collectively, many believed that esteemed educational institutions could never be corrupted to allow children of the rich to get in without qualifications. Others simply believed this had always happened, just that the acts of bribery were under the table but legal. After all, it is legal to endow a professorship and get powerful friends in high places to write a recommendation letter.

“We’re not talking about donating a building so that a school is more likely to take your son or daughter,” Andrew Lelling,U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, said. “We’re talking about deception and fraud.”

In this way, he separated the illegal and legal distinctions between cheating to get your kid into college. It’s an arbitrary line drawn by more powerful elites – after all, what’s the tangible difference between the socioeconomic benefits, the admissions counselors and this? Yes, some rely on student merit, but the conclusion of both is that poor students don’t deserve to be at elite institutions.

Ethan, a legacy student, echoed the sentiment to VICE News, saying, “I think there is a moral difference between donations and bribery. The school benefits from other kids’ tuition. It might pay for new programs or something that can benefit people.

Bribery doesn’t go to the school.”

During the fallout, commentators took this opportunity to delve into several problems with admissions: mass student stress, it disenfranchisement of poor and colored students and that college sports admissions were fundamentally “white affirmative action,” as the Atlantic noted.

Few questioned the underpinnings behind the scandal: why do we allow colleges to hold so much institutional power to exclude?

We all know the admissions process is irredeemably flawed. Not only does the current system of merit hurt poor students, but it is also based on a 20th-century effort to exclude Jewish people from higher learning. There are legacy admissions, as one-third of Harvard’s class are legacy admits, and other unfair intangible characteristics.

The school you to go to rarely affects the skills that you obtain or your technical employability. In fact, studies find that (controlling for education and intelligence), if you are on par with elite college students in terms of intelligence and other skills before college, where you go to college doesn’t determine your future earnings or success. Yet, a 1999 study in The Journal of Human Resources found that the better the school attended, the higher that person’s paycheck. The different conclusions in the different studies can only be explained by the brand, or appeal, of the school. After all, elite schools don’t just offer a degree; they offer institutional power.

We adhere to “rankings” of colleges based on the name value of a brand– derived from metrics rooted in institutional power. Thus, even though Americans are getting more educated, the value of a college degree becomes constrained to name-brand schools, effectively creating a barrier that only class can circumvent, while the university allows a few token “hires.” Not to mention, rankings are usually determined by graduates earnings, which, as mentioned above, are also flawed.

In 1975, U.S. News published a ranking in which Harvard, Princeton and Yale all did not crack the top three. So, U.S. News fired its statistician, rewrote their formula and published new rankings, according to Conrad Hack-

ES

I. All the wrong questions

ett of the Pew Research Center. Since then, Harvard, Princeton or Yale have always topped the list.

We need to question why degrees have this power before we can conceptualize fixing college admissions.

In the status quo, elite schools are playgrounds for the rich, who will run the world, in a system impermeable to minority and poor students.

GRAP HIC CO UR T

BY VIKRAM BALASUBRAMANIAN Co-Opinions Editor

allegations, but his judicial record showed hostility to ‘Roe v. Wade’, immigrants, civil rights, the environment and more.

In 1935, JFK wrote in his college application to Harvard about the “enviable distinction” it was to be a “Harvard man” like his father. Of course, he wrote nearly the exact same essay at Princeton, but that didn’t matter and now we’re applying to the Harvard-Kennedy school. The system is a narrow funnel, acting like mobility and acceptance to these colleges is a possible reality. And for some it is, but to most the “enviable distinction” remains out of reach.

In the Harvard case, The New Yorker reported on the disparities in “Sparse County,” a collection of 20 rural, typically underrepresented states at elite colleges. There, it takes a 1310 SAT score for a white student to receive a Harvard pamphlet, but a score of 1380 for an Asian student. These pamphlets are by no means correlated to admission, but it shows who the colleges want to attract. They are not the “holistic” review Harvard boosts, and nor should they be, but they provide a window into what exactly makes a “Harvard man.” Simply put, white identity is an asset, but Asian identity is something to move past.

I once visited Harvard. On the tour, they pointed to the third-most photographed statue in the United States, another statistic to boast for some reason, of John Harvard, the first president of the university himself. But the statue’s likeness is not of Harvard, as all images of him were destroyed in a fire. Instead, the sculptor, Daniel Chester French, walked around the campus looking for a man that most embodied the Harvard spirit. To be clear, they didn’t look for someone who best represented Harvard’s likeness, but the man with Harvard characteristics. And there you have it, a statue of a white man that looks just like it could have been built to memorialize John Harvard anyways. Centuries later, I am convinced that if French set out to do the same, he’d still have sculpted the same figure.

Or rather, since they can’t change the bronze, they change the students. Elite colleges that accept minority students under the guise of diversity do not do so with authentic intentions.

“To them, the window and slavery and racism was a decoration, and people are okay with being bathed in the light to maintain the image...The new window covers up history with a polished tint.”

Poor students are always made to feel unwelcome: there are the unwritten rules of conduct, the fact that dining halls close during breaks, forcing students to go hungry, and the numerous institutional checks that funnel the best opportunities to the best students – the rich ones. The in-

tention is never to share the wealth of knowledge hoarded by the elite. Rather, colleges recoup their investment in an odd way. Their stature and relevance depend on rich alumni donating copious amounts of money as they look back fondly on their golden days.

Thus, the admittance of minority or poor students is never a blank check – they don’t want the lived experiences but a student “labeled” poor or minority and still malleable. In this way, the university can co-opt their story and assimilate them – poor students become the Harvard Man JFK opined about, and their kids can benefit from legacy admissions.

The goal should not be striving towards a fair and meritorious college admission system in which the limited spots are divided equally among the “deserving” and by race and socioeconomic standing, but an unflinching questioning as to why we give elite universities such a high place in our culture and personal significance.

III. Stained glass At Yale, in 2016, a black dishwasher said he was tired of looking at a “racist, very degrading” stained glass window depicting slaves holding bales of cotton on the job. “It’s disrespectful and it shouldn’t be there,” he said. According to The New Haven Independent, he lost his job “because the university deemed him a potential threat to students.” The worker, Corey Menafee said, “I didn’t commit any acts of violence against anyone or any living thing... I [wasn’t] belligerent, or yell. I just broke the windows.” Before being arrested, he shaved “to make sure I was clean-shaven for the authorities” so he wouldn’t fit the black “potential threat” narrative the university had claimed. Menafee was charged with a felony for “criminal mischief.” If he was in Louisiana or Texas or Florida and charged with a felony he would literally be picking cotton on a modern day prison plantation for the state’s budget as punishment.

Although the charges were later dropped, Patricia Kane, Menafee’s lawyer, believes Yale tried to make an example of the incident. Instead, he became a symbol for the movement against racist symbols on the campus.

In court, Judge Philip A. Scarpellino said, “Yale can wait for their glass... and hopefully won’t put it back together.” After this, Menafee signed a nondisclosure agreement to get his job back– after an “unpaid five-week suspension,” according to the Washington Post; Yale did what it was set out to do– assimilate. Yale doesn’t talk about the windows anymore.

The window won’t be repaired depicting slaves, but the university said it would be “replaced with tinted glass for the time being,” so a passerby can’t see inside the secret, shielded and gilded halls. Light can’t come in unfiltered.

First, it refracted through a racist image that ended up on the other side as beautiful colors. They got rid of slavery as a decoration, but it needed to be replaced by something pretty. To them, the window of slavery and racism are decorations, and people are okay with being bathed in the light to maintain the image, the pristine image of eliteness. The new window covers up history with a polished tint.

A Yale dad, Morrie Tobin, was the one who broke the entire college scandal operation. He feared that he was going to be charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for a scheme to inflate a stock’s price and then sell it. That part barely made the news; it’s so normal for the rich to cheat around. Yale students didn’t really seem to have a problem with the scandal, or at the least the rich ones didn’t.

What is elite about elite colleges?

There’s no faith in the system, and there is a legacy of historical and present day racism. We shouldn’t trust them to be the arbiters of future earnings, self-worth and societal value.

Before we can even acknowledge the gravity of the college scandal, we have to break the stained glass.

OPINIONS

6

APRIL 11 2019

THE QUEERNESS IN DECOLONIZATION

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

BY DRISHTI UPADHYAYA Staff Writer I don’t know how to pronounce my own name.

I know exactly how my name should sound, though. I know how my parents and relatives say it. I’ve tried to mimic their pronunciation for years, but I can’t quite say it. These two, short syllables have made me feel like an impostor in my own skin. I have spent hours listening to a stranger’s voice say my name on howtopronounce.com, attempting to learn how to say the word the way my mother did when she chose it for me. My inability to say my name is a barrier distancing me from my heritage.

I feel separated from my culture and my identity because of my name.

“Connecting the past to the present is not harmful -— in fact, it is the opposite. History continues to teach us about today’s world, but history’s influence is not as great as many believe. A person’s personality and identity is shaped by their environment in the present...”

Names exist somewhere between time. They are able to connect the past to the present. A name can be a legacy one attempts to uphold.

A name can be a dark stain on a family that generations have tried to wipe away. Names tether us to our history, whether that be good

or bad. Through our names, we supposedly find our identity by embracing the path our ancestors treaded.

But what about those who are burdened with the name of a criminal? Or those forced to fill big shoes? What about those who spend their entire lives honoring a past life and, in the process, start to lose their own?

Our names are connected to our identity in some way, but our names are not our identity.

People’s cultures shape them, but in the end, they are the only people in control of their lives. Names aren’t prophecies. We can control our fate.

You do not need to know your name to know who you are. Everyone has a distinct sense of “self” regardless of whether they know their name or history. In fact, research from The Atlantic has shown that amnesiacs retain their overall identity even when their memories and their name fade away. Even without knowing one’s past, an individual can still know who they are.

Some, however, say that only through embracing our name and our roots can we learn who we are as a person. This idea stems from the belief that our history affects our every action, thought, and belief.

Connecting the past to the present is not harmful. In fact, it is the opposite. History continues to teach us about today’s world, but history’s influence on the world is not as great as many believe it to be. People’s personalities are shaped by their environments in the present, not their ancestors’ environments in the past.

Your history does affect who you are. But it shouldn’t become who you are. Every person is much more than their past.

And every person’s identity is much more than their name.

Our histories and cultures can encourage us or deter us. Our histories may be remembered and embraced, or they could be forgotten and abandoned.

The future isn’t solely controlled by the past.

We have the ability to change it. We have the ability to create new meaning in our names that make us worth remembering. We are in control of our own identity. Our names are chosen for us, but our identities are not.

My name is Drishti Upadhyaya, and, no, I cannot pronounce that correctly. But that’s okay. I’ve wasted away years trying to relearn my name rather than learning who I am. My identity is much more than my name.

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with the LGBT+ community because there are far more intricate than the laws associated with it. Ignorance of these issues pushes a false narrative about these countries while pushing a more problematic narrative about the Western ones: acceptance by law does not always mean acceptance by everyone, and even if countries like the U.S. are more friendly to the gay community, is not justified to believe in a static binary that differentiates the West from anyone else.

RT

ed with Shakuntala Devi’s book “The World of Homosexuality.” She was one of the first to write about homosexuality in India and is regarded as one of the first to study the relationship. Devi’s stance stressing the decriminalization of homosexuality was overlooked at the time, but represented an early desire to end anti-LGBT+ imperial law.

The book begins with a historical analysis of ancient India and homosexuality.

Devi cites the “Kamasutra,” considered one of the world’s first writings on the arts and science of sex rooted in ancient Hindu treatise, as the beginning of the documented relationship between homosexuality and India. The writing has

the instilled social stigma against them guarantees that Islamaphobic sentiment will always have some precedent in the U.S. even after the law states they are “equal.”

The West tries to propagate itself as the safe haven for minority communities as a method of hiding internalized prejudice that continues as a result of problematic foundations.

India is not backwards for being slower in terms of societal acceptance of the queer community; this dichotomy that is emphasized between the West and non-westernized countries continues a false stereotype that some places are behind or inferior. It’s important to recognize the history behind every country’s relationship

OU

“Promotion of a heterosexual marriage while demonizing those who do not fit that mold has dissolved the fluidity of gender and sexuality that was modeled in ancient India... ”

perial thought that formed anti-LGBT+ sentiment in the first place.

Let’s recognize this: the West did not create homosexuality. They were not the first to show acceptance toward the queer community. They did, however, publicize all their actions as monumental social feats.

That’s where the hypocrisy lies—we establish this dichotomy between western and non-western, and we associate the West with “acceptance” despite historical atrocities.

There is an apparent messiah-complex; we demonize countries that have a different governing mindsets even if societal acceptance has nothing to do with it. Islamaphobia and anti-communism are other examples shown through the negative stigma put on “sharia” and “commies” that stem from pro-nationalism that embolden such prejudice.

It would not be surprising if 20 years from now countries like France and the U.S., who have a very vocal anti-Muslim population, immediately start forgetting this discriminatory past and start pointing fingers at India for also having strong anti-Muslim sentiment.

The false sense of security created by these countries is detrimental. While the U.S. is relatively accepting of the LGBTQ+ community compared to many other countries, it isn’t totally accepting of them.

Anti-trans rhetoric that emphasizes banning them from the military and defining them out of existence shows the limits of toleration. Setting that precedent in terms of Muslim acceptance,

IC C

Being religious and being queer can often times come into conflict with each other. I am often told that my religion does not justify a “certain, unnatural way of life.” But as a Hindu, I find this connection false and ignorant, explained by a westernized change of Hinduism.

The term “westernized” seems to be a double entendre in reference to society and culture. On one hand, it is used to describe when a region or person becomes more liberal or open to new changes. However, it can also be used to describe inherent “whitewashing” in reference to a culture.

There’s a sense of national pride when a country outside the U.S. adopts a proLGBT stance. “They are being like us.”

We associate “us” with “modernized” and start thinking countries that are not currently accepting as backward.

However, associating backward in terms of a country’s LGBT+ stance shows the hypocrisy of many western countries and ignores their past.

According to an analysis performed by the International LGBTI Association, of the 71 countries where same-sex relations are illegal, more than half are a result of British colonization. Yet, most of the countries based in the United Kingdom decriminalized sexual activity by the early ‘90s. Throughout most of the 20th century, these countries have lacked agency and independence.

Even as many countries begin to slowly decriminalize homophobic laws, the socially instilled belief that was promoted during colonial times holds true to many in those countries.

a chapter titled “Auparishtaka,” which highlights the sexual relationship between eunuchs that often involved homosexual intercourse.

Hindu mythology takes aspects of queerness and gender fluidity even further; from the beginning, deities being able to change their gender have been a common mechanic used in religious stories. Temples with statues that feature homoerotic imagery between women are a spectacle of acceptance in ancient India. Epic poems that depict same-sex unions of deities really prove the blurred lines between masculinity and femininity in a pre-colonized India.

The Indian anti-LGBT stance started with the British Raj’s implementation of Section 377 during the 1860s. The law, which criminalized gay sex, marked the start of anti-LGBT+ sentiment in India.

Victorian-era colonial rule promoted the idea of “family values” and the “nuclear family” while trying to erase everything considered unnatural. Promotion of a heterosexual marriage while demonizing those who do not fit that mold has dissolved the fluidity of gender and sexuality that was modeled in ancient India, and it seems that only recently India has started legally recognizing the legitimacy of queer individuals.

There’s no point denying that colonialism contributed to the discrimination of the LGBT+ community in India, but is there a point that India, rather than becoming more westernized and liberal, is instead returning back to its roots?

“Decolonization”, describes when a region or person becomes independent and undo colonial rule and laws. Imperialism posed a threat to individuals rights and liberties, especially amongst indigenous groups.

India decriminalizing sexual activity for sexual minorities is not their becoming more westernized nor “socially liberal,” rather they are decolonizing the im-

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My own origins reveal as much. India’s historical relationship with the queer community extends from its origins in Hindu mythology. My obsession with the convoluted relationship between India and the queer community start-

GRA

BY PRANAV CHILLAPPAGARI Public Relations Manager

THE WILDCAT TRIBUNE Website: www.thewildcattribune.com Facebook: @dvhstribune Twitter: @wildcattribune Instagram: @wildcat.tribune

The Wildcat Tribune strives to report accurately, fairly and honestly.

It is our policy to correct significant errors of fact. All proposed corrections should be emailed to wildcattribunestaff@gmail.com.

The Wildcat Tribune, Dougherty Valley’s student-produced newspaper, is dedicated to printing the truth, refraining from libel and obscenity and abiding by the journalistic code of ethics. Advertising material is printed herein for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an expression of endorsement or verification of such commercial ventures by the staff, school or district.

The journalism class is located in Room 1205 at Dougherty Valley High School 10550 Albion Road

EDITORS

ELISA FANG, Editor-in-Chief SRAAVYA SAMBARA & DANIEL SHEN, Managing Editors SASHA HASSAN, News Editor MICHAEL HAN, Assistant News Editor TAYLOR ATIENZA & MEGAN TSANG, Features Editors VIKRAM BALASUBRAMANIAN, RIYA BINDLISH & KAVIN KUMARAVEL, Opinions Editors ANIKA GARG & CAROLINE LOBEL, Arts & Entertainment Editors RONIT KUMAR, Sports Editor AMRUTA BARADWAJ, Assistant Sports Editor SKYLER SPEARS, Photography Editor SHEYDA LADJEVARDI & TEJASVI ANAND, Assistant Photography Editors SARAH KIM & ELAINE PARK, Arts & Graphics Editors CLAIRE ZHANG, Assistant Arts & Graphics Editor OCE BOHRA, STEVEN DENG & MICHAEL HAN, Copy Editors HARSHITA NERALLA & KATIE WILLIAMS, Social Media Managers PRANAV CHILLAPPAGARI, Public Relations Manager

STAFF WRITERS SHEREEN AHMED, DIANNE AREDO, MAHIKA ARYA, SIRI BHASKAR, SNEHA CHEENATH, MEGAN DHILLON, ABBY FENG, TESSA GALEAZZI, HELANA GENDY, MARIAM GUIRGIS, AMRITA HIMMATRAOPET, HELEN KANG, ARIA KHALIQUE, NOEL KIM, VIVIAN KUANG, JANVI KUMAR, ADITI LAPPATHI, TIMOTHY LEE, SYDNEY LEWIS, RIYA MEHTA, MXYRA MUZAFFAR, SHRUTHI NARAYANAN, SHRIA NATARAJ, ADITI PRAVEEN, SANJANA RANGANATHAN, RITIKA SABHARWAL, SHAMINI SARAVANAN, SANA SHEHABI, EVA SHEN, DRISHTI UPADHYAYA, MAI WEBER, DANIELA WISE, ZACHARY WOO

ADVISOR

MS. RACHEL DECKER

SPORTS

7

NAGORE RETURNS TO REINFORCE TEAM SPIRIT

BY STEVEN DENG & RONIT KUMAR Copy Editor & Sports Editor

Joe Nagore returns to enforce team work. //JOE NAGORE

Joe Nagore. His name is inscribed on the wall of the DVHS weight room for the bench press school record he set as a football player.

Coach Nagore returned to DVHS as a football coach to reinforce the “team spirit” that he loved while continuing his passion for the sport.

Starting in 2011, Nagore was a player on the Dougherty Valley football team until his graduation in 2015.

He joined the team due to his pure enjoyment of the sport in addition to his family’s football background.

“It’s always fun to watch for me, and my dad played it in high school — so did my brother. So, I decided to give a shot,” Nagore said.

Teamwork is an integral part for a sport such as football, requiring a high level of coordination between players and coaches, both on and off the field. As a player, Nagore always loved the team aspect of the sport. “[I loved] being with friends, practicing hard and working hard with them and gaining the outcomes that come with working hard,” Nagore described.

Returning home from college, Nagore became a coach for the Dough-

WARRIORS (63.2 %)

WIZARDS (3.5%) RAPTORS (3.5%) THUNDER (3.5%)

This poll was taken by 57 DVHS students regarding the winner of the 2019 NBA Championship.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO SPARTANS

erty team during the 2016 and 2017 fall seasons, in which he was able to share his valuable experiences as a player to the incoming players. He took a similar approach to both his coaching style and his playing mentality.

In regard to his favorite aspect of coaching, Nagore said that it was “trying to give them the best time they had playing football, whether it was bonding with teammates or trying to become a better football player.”

When asked about the differences between playing and coaching, Nagore replied humorously, “Well, definitely no running [for me].”

There’s no doubt that the team has changed over the last few years.

“I think they got new uniforms,” he casually replied.

Outside of football, all of his major pastimes are also outdoor physical activities. He loves to watch sports, work out, hang out with his friends, go on hikes and go backpacking.

NBA CHAMPIONSHIP: DV POLL ROCKETS (7%) 76ERS (7%)

APRIL 11 2019

NUGGETS (1.7%) TRAIL BLAZERS (1.7%) CLIPPERS (1.7%) KINGS (1.7%)

BUCKS (1.7%) CELTICS (1.7%) NETS (1.7%)

BY SNEHA CHEENATH Staff Writer

DV was defeated by De La Salle 3-1 in a home loss on Mar. 15. Wildcats took the first set 25-20, but lost the next three 25-23, 25-20 and 25-20, respectively.

In the first set, DLS scored the first point, but DV pulled ahead soon, bringing to score to 2-1. DV was able to keep the lead for the remainder of the game. DLS made many poor blocks and repeatedly hit the ball out of bounds.

DV Head Coach Regina Conley said, “Sometimes, it’s a matter of just ‘give them the ball and let them make the mistake.’”

Dougherty took the lead in the second set, [with a failed hit from De La Salle], maintaining it until DV missed a low block from the Spartans. DLS and DV went back and forth until the game ended, never having a score gap of more than two points.

Throughout the set, DV constantly blew their leads. Conley attributed this to a loss of concentration, saying, “They all have the strength. They’ve been playing long enough. It’s just lack of focus.”

For almost the entirety of the third set, DLS had the lead, largely because of their erratic spikes that landed in different parts of the court each time and created holes in DV’s defense.

Conley said, “We had too many people who were not rotating around or transitioning, and that was causing the balls to just drop on the floor.”

Senior Hemakshat Sharma serves the ball to Foothill. //SNEHA CHEENATH

In the fourth set, DV and DLS were mostly tied, but DLS eventually ran away with the game. Despite a valiant effort for a comeback, the game ended with a crushing loss of 25-20 for the Wildcats.

But on Mar. 29, they lost to Foothill, 3-1. They lost the first set 14-25, won the second set 25-20, and lost the next two 13-25 and 8-25. Wildcats had trouble keeping a lead and covering all parts of the court.

She said, “The pass is the key in this game. If you don’t pass the ball you can’t run your offense. If you don’t pass the ball, you can’t run your defense.”

The Wildcats’ next home game will be against Amador on April 11.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE LOSES SWIMMING HOSTS TRIATHLON TO HIGH-SCORING FALCONS BYANNUAL OCE BOHRA

BY AMRUTA BARADWAJ & SHEYDA LADJEVARDI Assistant Sports Editor & Assistant Photography Editor

SPRING SPORTS RECORDS

The Dougherty Valley women’s lacrosse team lost to the Foothill Falcons 15-3 at its third home game of the season on March 22.

The first half of the game started with Dougherty senior Mei Lani Ferreira and Foothill sophomore Nikki Trueblood fighting for possession of the ball. Nine minutes into the game, the Wildcats scored their first goal, but the Falcons soon tied the score 1-1. The Wildcats persisted and exemplified superior offensive strategies, raising the score 2-1 in their favor with four minutes left.

Junior midfielder Alyssa O’Brien expanded on some of the plays made, stating that a key moment in the game occurred when DV goalie Kareena Naran made an exceptional save and the team “transitioned the ball up the field, leading to a goal.”

The Falcons stayed on the Wildcats’ tails as Trueblood scored a second goal, tying the score with three minutes remaining. Foothill maintained possession of ball for the remainder of the half, and juniors Audriana Templeman and Kayleigh

BADMINTON: Season Record: 5 - 0 - 0 League Record: 5 - 0 - 0

Montana raised the Falcons’ score to 4-2 in the last minute. The momentum of the game shifted in favor of the Falcons as they held the lead moving into the second half.

“I think our biggest challenge just comes down to working together as a team and simultaneously trying to come back from a large point deficit after momentum from the opponent,” junior defender Erin Ku stated. “We did really well starting off, but we need to work on communicating and our stamina.”

Opening the second half on a strong note, the Falcons immediately gained possession of the ball and scored their fifth goal, following an attempted score by the Wildcats.

Shortly after, Montana scored on a penalty, raising the score to 6-2 with 20 minutes left on the clock.

DV stepped up its game, using more advanced defensive strategies and stick work in attempts to halt the Falcons’ explosive offense. The Wildcats continuously won draws at the beginning of the game, but O’Brien wishes that the team improve on their ball possession in the future, claiming that “sometimes the draws determine who wins games.”

Wildcats’ junior attacker Atian Garcia stated that the team’s biggest challenge was transitioning into attack after they won the ball

BASEBALL: Season Record: 4 - 4 League Record: 1 - 2

SWIMMING: Boys: 0 - 2 Girls: 1 - 1

on defense. Garcia added that the team “quickly got by their defense” but had a difficult time scoring against the Falcons.

Continuing into the second half, Foothill’s impressive offensive strategies claimed them another backto-back victory as they increased their advantage to 8-2. Subsequent to the Falcons’ winning streak, the Wildcats reclaimed their territory by scoring a goal to end the half.

For the remainder of the game, the Falcons dominated, continuously extending their lead with 14 minutes left on the clock and ultimately earning a 15-3 victory over the Wildcats.

Ku, Garcia and O’Brien commented on the team’s deteriorating morale toward the middle of the second half. They had begun to give up when they were down a few goals and were unable to make their shots.

Their weakening mental strength contributed to their disheartening loss against the Foothill Falcons.

In addition, O’Brien described the challenge of scoring against Foothill.

“Our biggest challenge facing Foothill was definitely making our shots.

Their goalie was very good, and we were being too predictable when shooting,” O’Brien said.

The Wildcats will next face off Amador at home on April 12.

MEN’S TENNIS: Season Record: 2 - 4 League Record: 2 - 3

MEN’S LACROSSE: Season Record: 6 - 4 League Record: 2 - 4

Copy Editor

Midway into the season, Dougherty Valley’s swim team’s recent events have seen them perform relatively well at home, while faltering at away meets.

The DV Aquatic Department hosted their annual Wildcat Pentathlon on Mar. 16, a swimming event that featured hundreds of swimmers from schools across Northern California as well as every swimmer on the Dougherty’s junior varsity and varsity teams.

Athletes from DV faced stiff competition, especially from schools like Campolindo and Clayton Valley, but managed to place first in seven of the 20 events held that Saturday.

The girls’ varsity team topped one of its events, with junior Nicole Stiles clinching first for the 100-meter individual medley (25 meters of backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle each). Stiles placed third for 100-meter Breast and 6th for both the 100-meter butterfly and 100-meter backstroke for an overall rank of second.

“Athletes from DV faced stiff competition ... but managed to place first in seven of the 20 events held that Saturday.”

COMPETITIVE SPORTS CHEER: Season Record: 10 - 1 League Record: 9 - 1

TRACK AND FIELD: (Bay Area Relays - 3/23) BOYS (4x800 m): 8:01.50 GIRLS (4x100 m): 51.25

Stiles attributed her “good front end speed” as one reason for her victory.

Senior captain Anna Zheng placed third for the 100-meter freestyle.

The boy’s varsity fared better, winning three of their five events. Senior Mattias Blanco placed 1st in both 100-meter Back and 100-meter individual medley, securing his spot as the fastest swimmer in the Men’s Varsity Triathlon.

Sophomore Austin Poon came in 1st for 100-meter breaststroke and second for 100-meter freestyle, earning a close second overall, and senior Ryan Park placed second for DV in 100-meter butterfly.

However, the following week, Dougherty Valley’s varsity swimming teams faced a series of losses at the 47th Annual Mission Viejo High School Invitational on Mar. 23, securing 106 points, a mere 1.7 percent of the total awarded over the course of the two day meet.

They ranked 16 out of the 23 teams.

In comparison, swimmers from Campolindo High School won a combined total of 1028 points, 16.3 percent of the total, and conquered the competition.

Of the 32 competitors from DV, only the two captains, seniors Zheng and Blanco, managed to earn any points –– Zheng for making tenth and nineteenth for 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle accordingly and Blanco for ranking seventh on 100-yard and twentieth on 100-yard Fly. The Wildcats will face San Ramon and California at home on April 12.

MEN’S GOLF: Season Record: 3 - 6 - 1 League Record: 3 - 5 - 0

WOMEN’S LACROSSE: Season Record: 1 - 5 League Record: 1 - 3

SOFTBALL: Season Record: 3 - 6 League Record: 2 - 3

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Season Record: 2 - 10 League Record: 2 - 10

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