Morality of the Draft See page 5
No Ban: Unite 4 people see page 6-7
Monthly Spotlight: Marc Anthony See Page 9
Fremont High School
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by Maggie Bernauer & Emily Wright
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“All children in the United States are entitled to equal access to a public education, regardless of their or their parents’ actual or perceived national origin, citizenship, or immigration status.” This begins the Fremont Union High School District Resolution #161712, a policy adopted by the FUHSD Board of Trustees at their meeting on Feb. 7, 2017. This new policy protects all students, regardless of documentation status, relating to the detection and arrest of undocumented students and families using district resources, unless required by law. District employees and volunteers are not allowed nor required to release information regarding a student’s documentation. However, with a warrant, police can access such information. “Resolutions are important documents designed to let the community know
how we feel about certain issues,” Assistant Superintendent Tom Avvakumovits said. “But the real teeth of the actions is in the board policy and administrative regulation. And the administrative regulation in particular is the document explains how we manage student records. And there
PHOENIX
Vol. 5 Issue No. 5 march 10, 2017
IMMIGRATION NATION
are times we do have to give student records over if there is a compelling legal reason, but nowhere in that administrative regulation does it say we have to turn over student records to [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(I.C.E.)] agents.” With the political rhetoric that has been going on the past few months, the district found this an appropriate time to take action. In particular, President Donald Trump has directed his administration to enforce immigration laws more aggressively, leading to fear and unrest among immigrant communities, according to The New York Times. “We wanted to come up with a document that stands the test of time, even when the political rhetoric of today is different,” Avvakumovits said. “We don’t want to make a resolution or board policy that is only valid as long as the president is saying these kind of things.” The policy has been a long time in the works.
schools in the district and there are other teachers at some other sites who really took this on,” Lowell said. Lowell had previously written and circulated a rough draft of his letter to the board. By gathering signatures and working with other faculty members like Riccardo Agredano, Dan McCune, Wynn Nojopranato and Anastasia Zamkinos, Lowell worked within the community and was finally able to make this resolution possible. Lowell also said that another teacher at Monta Vista High School, Bonnie Belshie, simultaneously wrote a resolution similar to his on behalf of the teacher’s union. “It was really helpful to hear from students themselves, both documented and undocumented, about what they wanted to hear the school say and what their families wanted to hear the school say because I think that made it a much stronger and more inclusive message then it would have been otherwise,” Lowell said.
Ben Lowell, a FHS science teacher, started the process when he read a letter on the behalf of staff and faculty members across the district urging the implementation of such a policy at a board meeting in December. “We started at Fremont, but we also, through the teacher’s union, spread this information to other
In particular, Lowell worked closely with Latino Student Union member Ana Vasquez to craft the message to the board. “I want them to know that even though they are undocumented the district doesn’t take that into account when they are protecting our students,” Senior Ana Vasquez said.
“They see them just the same as everyone else. You are welcome here!” Lowell says he was motivated to send the message because of the rhetoric involved in the 2016 election. “I found myself thinking a lot about my AVID students who graduated last year, a number of whom are currently undocumented and I thought about what it means for them and also the students that I have now,” Lowell said. “I think that it’s important that as an institution whose main job is educating students, that we stand up to protect all of the students and make sure that fami-
AP
The court found that the Texas education reform law that spurred the case was “directed against children, and impose[d] its discriminatory burden on the basis of a legal characteristic over which children can have little control.” “If you are going to offer a free public education you cannot say yes to one group and no to another group,” Avvakumovits said. “That [Plyer v. Doe] really reaffirmed that all kids whether documented or not have the right to a free public education.” Registering for public education at FHS
No ICE Allowed
lies and students know that we are adults who are here to protect them.” In the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court case Plyler v. Doe, it was ruled that under the Fourteenth Amendment, if a state provides free public education to citizens, it cannot deny such education to undocumented children as well.
does not require citizenship or immigration documentation, but rather proof of residency within FHS’s boundaries, according to Avvakumovits. The policy has been embraced by several school principals. However, it is likely that the policy will impact FHS the most due to the diversity of the school.
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“[It’s a] reinforcement of what we try to do already,” FHS Principal Brian Emmert said. “We want Fremont to continue to be an inclusive place that is open to all walks to life. When you are here, we are open and accepting . . . While the resolution particularly focuses on undocumented immigrants, I think it’s important to not narrow it to that [immigration] but to really make sure we are being inclusive.” This resolution is positive addition to the support that is already present for students at FHS. “We explain what different situations there are and what they [students] can do,” Student Liaison Jesus Ramirez said. “I have information for immigration lawyers or different organizations that work with people. And it doesn’t always have to be immigration, it could be refugee, or whatever, there are a lot of different aspects to immigration.” It is clear that the school is prioritizing their students’ safety and right to
free education. “Education is a basic human right that all people deserve to have and so we should make sure that we do everything in our power to allow every student in our district to receive that right,” Lowell said.
Miranda Kushner| The Phoenix Photo courtesy of Bob Vila and Homeland Security
News The next step after FHS
march 10, 2017
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by Suryan Bhatia Staff Writer
Fremont High School, over the past several years, has begun losing its negative image and stereotypes. With that, there is now a larger interest for students to go into higher education. FHS offers many programs, on and off campus, that help students with the college process, exploring noncollege careers and help excelling students achieve more academically. “In preparation specifically, we have AVID,” Lorena Villagomez, College and Career Advisor, said. “We have two classes for every grade level. Those classes are designed to help prepare students to have that extra push that they need. The Advancement Via Individual Determination course is designed to help students who will be the first in their families to attend college. It helps students in many elements
of college from college and course selection to college applications. For the class of 2016, there were 42,418 seniors nation-wide in AVID; 98 percent of AVID students graduated high school on time and 79 percent of AVID students were accepted into a four-year university or college. FHS also offers another program for students who want a more unconventional career. It focuses on struggling students who want to explore careers that do not require a college degree. Outside of FHS, there are many other programs that help students excel. California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science is one of them. Some science teachers at FHS specifically encourage their students to apply to programs like this. “There is COSMOS at the UCs, that help you focus on specific things,” Villagomez said. “It is in correla-
tion with UC expectations and it is a great experience.” COSMOS is a program offered at many of the Universities of California. It is a 4-week summer residential program for high achieving math and science students; it includes topics that go beyond the high school curriculum, such as quantum physics, nanotechnology, physics, engineering, mechanics, astrophysics, biophysics, robotics, mathematics and biomedics. Students stay at the UC campus for four weeks. The tuition for the program is $3,570, however financial aid is available. The goal of COSMOS is to motivate creative minds of the new generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians. So, what have all the programs and other services accounted for? “The number of college applications has definitely grown,” Villagomez said. “I
Career Flex
think we are doing a better job as a community by informing students of more options and programs” From the class of 2016, 73 percent of students were accepted into colleges or universities and over 90 percent of students graduated FHS, an increase from previous years. “Every class that is coming in are a little more prepared,” Villagomez said. The effect of this can be seen in the academics of the student body. “The percentage of students earning at least one D or F grade has dropped over the past 6 years,” Bryan Emmert, principal of FHS, said. Every year, more and more students are getting better grades, graduating high school and going to college. The administrators and staff, through their hard work and programs, ensure that students do better and achieve more. The future of Fremont looks bright.
by Cassandra Gines
Staff Writer
In previous years, Fremont High School hosted Career Day on every first Friday of February. Students used to take a survey in order to be broken into groups and given two of the careers that fit their survey responses as to what they wanted to do. That has changed this year. Career Day was made as a way for students to learn about various professions a student could pursue. Now, Career Day has been replaced by Career Flexes. A flex series in the months of February and March will feature a different career each flex, allowing people to choose which presentations they would like to attend. “This will give students more opportunities to learn about more jobs rather than just two,” Guidance Counselor Lorena Villagomez said. “And it will allow students to sit down at a table and ask one on one questions about that profession.” This is a pilot for how Career Day may be conducted in future years. Based off the feedback for Career Flexes, Fremont Administration will decide how to introduce students to potential careers in future years. The Career Flex series can help student gain an understanding of many careers. By asking questions and gaining as much knowledge about various professions, this will help guide students down the right career path. By using the Career Flex series, students will avoid the struggle of choosing unsuitable classes in college, thus minimizing wasted time spent jumping majors. For students still unsure of their future paths, this is a great way to start exploring the choices open to them.
Fremont inspires women in STEM by Manavi Chandra
Arts and entertainment Editor
According to a recent survey conducted by the Silicon Valley Bank, the amount of women in the technology workforce has been decreasing in the past years. Reasons behind this may vary, with many pointing to negative female stereotypes and lack of information as major culprits. Fremont High School scheduled a trip to Netflix on Feb. 16, open to female students only. The reason for this trip was to offer more career insight into the world of technology for girls, with the program being organized by an allfemale volunteer group. “All of the industries women are the minority,” freshman Kyra Brosnahan said. “This entire field trip was filled with women. If they took both men and
women, men would still be ahead because people are still sexist. It’s inspiring more women to go into the STEM fields because they’re mostly men, so it’s encouraging women to go into those fields.” The program started with participants being offered refreshments, then learning about the chal-
Current Events by Michael Wang
lenges and struggles of some of the workers, including the story of one of the volunteers that staged the program. “One of the women explained how the year that she graduated, there was a 37 percent rate of women graduating and 30 percent of the degrees handed out were to women,” Brosna-
Miranda Kushner | The Phoenix
han said. “She checked back a few years later and it dropped to 18 percent, and she wondered what’s happening and that’s probably why she joined the program.” According to the
Silicon Valley Bank Startup Outlook Report, only 30 percent of women in technology companies hold executive positions on the board of directors for their company. There are many pro-
grams established like this Netflix trip that are founded and run by women. This trip to Netflix will be an annual event, so make sure to sign up for next year.
U.S. News
Fremont High School News
- On Feb. 22 protesters leave their protesting camps against the Dakota Access Pipeline after federal agents ordered them to disperse.
-Rahul Prabhakaran and Abhinav Kotra have advanced to become National Merit Scholarship Finalists.
-President Donald Trump removed guidelines for the Title IX protections for transgender rights in schools. This means that schools now decide what protections transgender students have relating to their gender identity.
Sports Editor
World News -Despite clear harm to civilians by the Syrian Government through chemical weapons, Russia and China vetoed a UN resolution, which regulates the use of such weapons. This has already happened many times in the past. - Many commonly used websites such as Imgur and Soundcloud stopped functioning in their entirety on Feb. 28 because Amazon Web Services, provider of a majority of the platform for their internet services, is experiencing more problems than usual. This could pose a problem in the future if problems are not fixed.
-Wrestling team dominates league championships and placed 5th out of 77 at CCS. Angelo Reyes, Taniela Feliciano Takafua, and Nicole Lee will be advancing to the State Championships. -The Boys Soccer Team had a great season, being league champions of their division and representing FHS in CCS. -Ron Cohen, Tuba; Peyton Chen, Oboe; Sami Jin, Flute; Elliot Ong, Clarinet; and Maya Suresh, Clarinet represent Fremont at the All-State Honor Band.
California News -Heavy rainfall in California causes damage throughout including the Oroville Dam spillway, displacing hundreds of residence .
Sources: San Jose Mercury News, Independent UK, Huffington Post, BBC News Graphic courtesy of Freepik
News
March 10, 2017
The stress of course selection by Vivien Su Staff Writer
Course selection season comes with many tough decisions for Fremont students, and the specific challenge is determining the balance of course rigor for college resumé purposes and genuine interest in taking that specified subject. For many high school students, the perception of colleges has changed over the past years, with the desire of acceptance into prestigious schools, like Harvard and Stanford, intensifying. Many point to an increased academic pressure from peers, parents, and students themselves to succeed academically as the reason for this. Because of the increased pressure, students are taking more Advanced Placement classes in the hopes of bulking up their college applications. Registering for AP classes is supposed to show a student’s willingness to challenge themselves and demonstrate a student’s intelligence on their college applications. However, following this line of reasoning puts students at risk of burning out from their workload in AP classes and hindering their ability to find a true passion. “If students want more AP classes, the drawback would be increased pressure
on students to take another AP class,” Fremont Assistant Principal Jeff Rosado said. “[The counselors] worry that more students will pressure themselves into taking more AP classes because we offer them.” When reviewing a student’s college application, the school administration determines if a student took the most rigorous course by comparing how many APs were available for the student to take and how many they actually took. If a student’s course is deemed advanced enough by these standards, then guidance counselors put a check mark certifying course rigor. In no way does this mean a student must register for every AP class the campus has to offer, but a sufficient amount is required to indicate signs of a student’s willingness to advance ahead of the normal curriculum. While the incorporation of more AP classes “looks good on paper,” as Rosado said, it also increases the pressure on the student to take that newlyoffered AP course so that they get a check certifying their course rigor. But regarding the question of if there will be more AP classes on the Fremont campus, Rosado highly doubts if any new additions will be made in the near
future. “There are no mass movements to offer [certain AP classes],” Rosado said. “Some students, on their own, will study for [these advanced courses]. We have a good number of AP classes and we don’t want to stress [the students]—our major worry.” But at the end of the day, a student’s ethic is what influences their performance in an AP class. Interest in the subject increases motivation and willingness to put in effort, as well as time. However, the opposite of this is true as well.
[the counselors] worry that more students will pressure themselves into taking more AP classes because we offer them Jeff Rosado
Sometimes, an AP class is taken with utter disregard of personal interest, and instead to make a student’s college application look more competitive. Rosado recalled a prior student in an AP U.S. History class,
who revealed he only took the class because he felt like he had to, but deep down hated history. A lack of passion for a class could compromise one’s work ethic and often leads to demotivation, as well as complaints, in response to the overwhelming workload. AP classes are infamous for their large workload, and the hatred for these courses could come from a lack of passion. Students commonly overlook the initial time and work commitment required for AP classes. Rosado recognizes the pressures of choosing AP classes and does advocate for students to challenge themselves to a certain degree. He does this while simultaneously telling students to caution themselves because “the workload is so demanding,” and to question “Why pull your hair out, studying for a class you don’t have interest in when there are other options like honors courses?” It is easy for students to fall into the trap of believing that more AP classes lead to acceptance into better colleges. While that statement is true to a certain extent, guidance counselors still worry that students may experience unnecessary academic stress.
New staff members at FHS by George Luna Staff Writer
Jennifer Buonomo is the new guidance counselor here at Fremont High School. She was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Buonomo graduated from Hollywood Hills High School in 1992, and attended Florida State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in English Education. After working as a middle school Language Arts teacher, she went back to school to obtain her Master’s degree in Guidance and School Counseling from Florida Atlantic University. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and traveling.
Anthony Chen is one of the new physical education teachers on campus. He attended college in South Carolina and did his graduate work in Long Beach. Originally planning to work in the Special Olympics, Chen switched careers to teaching because he needed to pay for graduate school. He had a teaching credential so he took up substitute teaching, which he liked a lot, he decided to become a regular teacher. He enjoys being a full-time dad to his two kids.
Christina DeRuiter is the new Spanish language teacher this year. She grew up in Palo Alto, where she attended Notre Dame High School and later University of California Berkeley for her undergraduate. She continued to San Jose State where she earned her teaching credentials and Master’s degree in Spanish and Educational Leadership. She decided to teach because of the influences in her life. Her parents were teachers, as well as her husband and his parents. DeRuiter enjoys reading, traveling and seeing movies, especially those nominated for Oscars.
Andrea Lanfranconi | The Phoenix
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PHOENIX Editor-in-Chief Maggie Bernauer
Managing Editor Emily Wright
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Arts & Entertainment Manavi Chandra
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Dana Nissan Hannah Butay Center Spread Mira Dhingra Nadia Anees Lead Photographer Andrea Lanfranconi Online Momina Nadeem
Staff Writers
Sofia Agha Karla Alejandro Jessalynn Landor Chirag Bhatia Suryan Bhatia Roei Burstein Natalia Etter Cassandra Gines Lexi Kleinberg Miranda Kushner George Luna Claire Lyon Priscilla Martinez Karen Newmark Jenny Nguyen Thomas Poplawski Sophia Pulido Emaan Rao Patrick Ramos Emmanuel Ramirez Vivien Su Sam Tumkur Ambika Vaidya Fremont High School 1279 Sunnyvale Saratoga Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (408)-522-2400 | fremonthighphoenix@gmail.com Advisor | Emer Martin Mission Statement:
The Phoenix, protected under the California Education code, is a public forum for the students of Fremont High School. The Phoenix staff will publish features, editorials, news and sports in an unbiased and professional manner. The Phoenix is the official student newspaper and is distributed free of cost to the students. The Phoenix publishes eight issues throughout the school year.
Editorial Policy Editorials are the official opinion of The Phoenix. Opinions and letters are the personal viewpoints of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Phoenix. All content decisions are made by the student editors and do not reflect the official policy of Fremont High School, nor the opinions of the administration, faculty, or adviser. Advertise with The Phoenix Contact us for more details at fremonthighphoenix@gmail.com or call at (408)-522-2200. Want to be part of The Phoenix? Letters to the editor and questions for Ask Esteban may be submitted online through our website, room 145, Ms. Martin’s mailbox, or emailed to us. Identities of those who submit questions will remain anonymous. The staff reserves the right to edit letters to conform to styles and policy.
Opinion The corruption of jounalism’s values
March 10, 2017
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by Sam Tumkur Staff Writer
“Journalism is a dead profession.” How many times have we heard this exact phrase when in reality, in this day and age, we rely on journalism more than ever. The need for journalism grows and grows everyday with recent events. Before the widespread use of the internet, there was only a general pool of places where you could get news: newspapers, radio and TV, making it easier to narrow down which publications were the mostly credible and which were simply tabloids. Because of advanced technology, only a small percentage of people read physical newspapers, relying on broadcast journalism or online journalism to get news. As a result of the Internet, the ability to tell the difference between tabloids and news is fading due to the fact that anyone can publish anything and call it journalism. Fake news sites do not
go through the countless hours of fact checking and editing that real journalism publications have. This need for trustworthy credible journalism is a struggle with fake news. It’s not that fake news and clickbait are necessarily credible or newsworthy, but they seem to catch people’s attention with light hearted cat gifs, memes, pop culture and gossip A good example of that sort of website would be BuzzFeed. Filled with pop culture references and irrelevant clickbait, Buzzfeed has a strong resemblance to the tabloid newspapers that are sold in grocery aisles. The company that was once focused on reporting viral internet culture and lists, has recently broadened their reach on from Tumblr gifs to news journalism ever since 2014. However, BuzzFeed is not the sole reason why the attention on journalism is lower than ever. Social media also plays a fair share in the slow downfall of
journalism. Social media platforms are an effective way to spread news and links but credible news stories can get mixed up with clickbait. According to Pew Research Center, 62 percent of American adults get their news from a social networking site and 64 percent of those people get their news from
Facebook. Due to the abundance of fake news, people are more susceptible to believing in the fake news that is passed off as real news. Because of these demographics, fake news sites like
70news, that intentionally publish hoaxes and unverified information seem to thrive in the never-ending depths of Facebook, not leaving any space for real journalism. With tabs about “Hillary’s Health” and “Melania and Ivanka”, it’s obvious that this is a self run blog. However this website poses
as a real journalism publication with 681 followers on Facebook. Although Facebook is trying to combat the increase of fake news by changing its advertising
policies so it would be hard for them to gain money by posting news and flagging them. Even though Facebook is starting to lessen fake news, it is important to remember that because of the people on platforms such as Facebook that believe in the fabricated news that are the main causes of why there continues to spread. It also doesn’t help that President Trump’s media hatred devalues the media as a
whole. As one of the most influential men in this country, Trump has the power to be persuasive his supporters who believe every statement he utters. When a man that has that much power, it is only natural that his words have impact the future of journalism. In a White House press
conference detailed by CNN on February 16th, Trump commenced yet another attack on the media. “The press has become so dishonest that if we don’t talk about, we are doing a tremendous disservice to the American people. Tremendous disservice.” Trump said, “We have to talk to find out what’s going on, because the press honestly is out of control. The level of dishonesty is out of control.” Rash statements can have drastic side effects because of the influence Trump has over this country. Although the fight against fake news continues, there are measures that people reading or watching the news can take to ensure credibility. Looking for publications that are well known for being trustworthy and avoiding sites with a clear political biases are some ways to get accurate information. Even steering clear of sites with a lot of click bait will save readers from the reach of fake news. At the end of the day, we rely on the media to report the truth and hold those in power accountable, so it’s up to the people to determine the fate of journalism.
Hannah Butay | The Phoenix
Importance of being physically active
by Chirag Bhatia Staff Writer
One of America’s biggest issues is obesity. According to the National Institute of Diabetes, over two-thirds of adults across America suffer from this problem, which can inherently get passed down to
younger generations. This means that teenagers and even children are at risk of being obese. There are many negative health effects to obesity, such as an increased risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure. Obesity can even lead to premature death. In addition to this, technology isn’t helping the younger generations fight obesity. Instead of being outside getting their recommended 60 minutes of exercise, they are sitting in their rooms, scrolling, tweeting and texting. For these people, P.E is the only physical activ-
ity they get, and if it is not taken seriously, then their physical health declines drastically. The practice of communicating face to face with another individual is gone, and as a replacement, 7-10 years old are getting cell phones. This is where their social skills decline, and they become addicted to their cell phones. And cell phone addiction enforces bad social habits. It also keeps them from going outside and becoming fit so that they can live a happier, healthier life past high school graduation. Additionally, if a person
does not develop a regular exercise schedule at a young age, then they will likely be unhealthy and lazy. I strongly feel that even outside of school, students should be getting at least 45 to 60 minutes of physical activity, since maintaining a healthy lifestyle should not be forced upon students, but instead should be taught so they can adopt it in their daily lives. Physical activity is considered an outlet to work out the pressures and stress of a high schoolers life. Physical Activity also helps support students’ academic and social life. It is an outlet for frustration, which is
pent up throughout the day. It also calms the mind, elevates the mood, fights depression, reduces anxiety, encourages social interaction and improves sleep. Team sports such as baseball and basketball can also help improve a person’s social life since they must learn to work with people. I thoroughly believe that P.E is more than just a 60 minute allotted time to play games. Exercise boosts endorphins, which gives your body an overall sense of happiness. I believe that living a happy life is very crucial, and it is proven that people who exercise lead a hap-
pier life. A very common problem in students lives is not enough sleep, or excess amount of stress due to school work. It has also been proved that physical activity can help students get better sleep and be happier throughout their lives since school isn’t a major stressfactor. Physical activity should be taken more seriously so that the students can be in better shape past high school graduation and continuing on to the rest of their lives, so that they can be healthy and stress-free.
Photo courtesy of ESPN
Opinion Accepting everyone’s different beliefs 5
March 10, 2017
by Sophia Pulido Staff Writer
When encountering someone who has a different lifestyle than you, the thought of them being weird may come into your mind. Why is that? This could be because the person has a different way of living or has different beliefs that may seem unusual to you. Often people who are victims of this tend to isolate themselves for fear of being judged. They tend to push themselves away by avoiding interaction or tucking themselves away. This is seen a lot in high school for example, if you don’t like going to parties then you may not fit in with the crowd. This might cause you to feel obliged to enjoy partying because everyone else does. Personally, I prefer hanging out with friends rather than going out. There’ve been many
cases where I’ve observed people label others as “that one really religious boy” or “that one annoying feminist that doesn’t shave.” In reality, that really religious boy may only have God to give them purpose in life and that annoying feminist could see shaving as unnatural. Many people don’t understand beliefs that differ from theirs and so instead of being curious or simply ignore it, people tend to judge. Everyone’s views are different, so it’d be better not to assume and judge others because of it. Everyone has unique religions values and varied home-life. Some have the same beliefs as their parents due to pressure while others get to have an opinion of their own. I’ve had a lot of different friends and each of them have had different points of views. By having friends with different beliefs I’ve become more open minded. Personally, I’ve never been the type of person to care about these things. I don’t judge or think it is weird that others have a different beliefs. I love diversity because I love watching people express themselves even if they’re different from
everyone. Watching people express themselves inspires me to do the same, this is why I embrace diversity. Sometimes people have told me that they change themselves to please their friends and I feel bad for these people because they are pressured to change in order to fit in. We, as a growing diverse generation, should acknowledge this. Yes, you may have the desire for people to perceive what you perceive and trust what you trust, but that will never happen because once again our beliefs are different. You shouldn’t expect people to always agree with you, you can’t make them change to your beliefs, and that it’s okay for them to believe what they believe. For example, I’m a hardcore feminist and being an advocate for women’s rights is my dream job. I try to educate myself about this topic and I try so hard to make others understand my point of view. But I have been told that feminists are misandrists, violent women with red horns coming out of their skulls or that they are just women seeking attention. I don’t like that people think these things but I get
Sam Tumkur | The Phoenix
over it. Why? Because those are their views and not mine, not saying that they’re right or wrong but giving praise those who don’t believe in what I believe by sharing my passion about this topic, in hope that they may change their beliefs. But for those of you who are feminists and believe in the equality of both sexes, then go you, you rock. I’ve had a lot of people critize me for being a
feminist, many people have different definitions for that word. Some have told me that all feminist are mean and hate men because of this stereotype many people have disparaged me for my beliefs. Point is, people never got to heard what I had to say about supporting the equality of both sexes, they just followed the stereotype. However, being disliked for what I believe and not who I am made me
even more passionate about feminism. Ultimately, though I’d like you to believe what I believe, which is that we need to not only accept everyone, but also respect them, I am also urgng you to not isolate people who are different.
Questionable ethics of a mandatory draft Should people be required to fight in a war?
by Miranda Kushner Staff Writer
What if you, right after graduating from high school, were sent to fight a war in a country thousands of miles away? This was a scary reality for young men in the 1960s, back when the Vietnam War was in full swing. When a country goes to war and does not have enough volunteers for the army, it turns to the draft, a random selection process to choose who must go to fight. The last time that the United States used the draft was in the Vietnam War, which was highly controversial. The US drafted thousands of unwilling young men into the Army, because so few actually volunteered as soldiers. The war felt insignificant to many potential soldiers at the time because of its distance and irrelevance to American life. Arthur Kushner, my
grandfather, who graduated from high school at the beginning of the war wondered, “why do we [the United States] want to continue to control Southeast Asia?” This led to his opinion on the war which, “[he] thought was dumb.” Generally, if there are not enough volunteers for the war, it is easy to conclude that it is not a war worth fighting. For after all, the draft gives recruits no choice as to whether or not they want to fight. The potential recruits seemed to think similarly; the general opinion was that one would be sent to Vietnam and “become nothing more than cannon fodder”. This futility led to many high school graduates attending college, and then graduate school, to be deferred from the draft. “My choices were go to war, and probably be killed,” said Kushner, “or go to grad school. So yeah, I went.” The main reason the draft was viewed negatively by the young people at the time was how uncertain it was. Even if one got a deferment one year, he might not get it the next. And, of course, there was always the uncertainty of being chosen as a recruit. In this moment, the draft is not active, so all
recruits in the Army are willing volunteers. However, in June of 2016, the United States Senate voted to introduce legislation that requires women to register for the draft upon turning 18. Previously, only men had been required to register, and any women in the Armed Forces were volunteers. This Senate decision led to a lot of controversy in conservative groups. One of these groups, Heritage Action for America, reacted with indignance about their “daughters being forced into combat”. This view is biased, seeing as these groups have reacted with anger at women being drafted, but never spoke up against the countless young men who were drafted in the 1960s. Logically, this view does not make sense because there is no reason as to why women being forced into war is different than it happening to men. Just because the draft is an efficient way to recruit soldiers into the military does not mean it is at all a good system. Dragging thousands of young people away from their lives and families to fight, and die, in wars they have no investment in, is not the right way to recruit. If governments
began to take into account citizens’ opinions on wars, many conflicts, and thus casualties could be prevented. Additionally, the United States spends around $601 billion dollars on the military every year, only $19 billion than the $620 billion spent on education. If the United States were to stop participating in wars that have no effect on the country, more money would go to vital programs.
Although the United States is not involved in any major wars at the moment it is possible that one could break out in this political climate. Given widespread disapproval with the current administration, it is likely that a war would not garner much
support, which may even lead to a reinstatement of the draft. Although a modern recruitment draft would require both men and women to register, the essentials would stay the same; extreme uncertainty about one›s future and a lack of choice.
Dana Nissan | The Phoenix
Special Feature
March 10, 2017
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minorities in today’s am
“Don’t worry, mind Muslims
effects on lgbtq community by Sofia Agha Staff Writer
Every presidency affects certain communities, and it is especially known that Trump’s presidency will affect the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer community. It was just two years ago that the Obama administration granted the LGBTQ community numerous rights, such as officially legalizing gay marriage in 2015. However, it seems that in the Trump era, these rights that the LGBTQ community were previously granted are now being threatened. As known, Trump’s vice president Mike Pence is known to be extremely conservative, and with it, also anti LGBTQ. According to the Huffington Post, Pence signed an anti-LGBTQ “religious liberty” law just last year in Indiana. Pence supported conversion therapy for homosexuals when he was a member of Congress. As a columnist and radio host he stated that marriage
equality leads to societal collapse, as well as just being a choice. Not only that, but Trump’s stance on the LGBTQ community has raised some concerns as well. Trump promised that he will sign the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), which would allow government employees and others to discriminate against the LGBTQ community, such as not giving marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples, allowing employees to not interact with same sex couples, and allowing businesses to refuse service to gay people under the federal law, also according to Huffington Post. According to Fortune, Trump has retracted federal protections for trans students that allowed them to use bathrooms according to their gender identity and not biological sex. Trump’s administration stated that states and school districts should decide whether or not students should use restrooms according to their gender identity or biological sex.
According to transgender rights groups, this is a major setback in the rights of the LGBTQ community, as this sends the message that it is okay for transgender people to be harassed and abused at school simply for being transgender. In just forty days, Trump’s actions may have negative impacts on the rights of the LGBTQ community. However, this has caused the LGBTQ and other communities to stand together and voice their opinions against Trump’s administration. This unity has forced decision makers and political pundits in the government to have discussions on the subject. If this movement stays strong, then the LGBTQ community may be successful in stopping future adverse policies that are against LGBTQ people, and may be able to preserve their rights. In the meantime, the most important thing to do is fight for what is right, and that is preserving the rights of every community.
by Nadia Anees
Centerspread Editor Editor
“It’s okay, at least you don’t wear a hijab.” “You sound American, it’ll be fine!” Although my appearance or my actions may not completely show it, I am Muslim. I don’t wear the hijab, I don’t dress as modestly as others, I may not appear as religious as others but that does not change my identity. Although my religion teaches peace and love, a deep fear of Muslims is developing. Muslims are seen as terrorists and haters. But in my religion, we refer to each other as “brother” and “sister,” terms that connote familiarity and love. We overlook hate and we encourage everyone to come together and unite peacefully. In no way do Muslims strive for division, terror or pain. In 2016, Pew Research Center found that there are 1.6 billion Muslims on the planet. 1.6 billion. How could people believe that a small number of Muslim terrorists represent the beliefs and motives of a population as immense as
How to fight for and keep your rights Join or start a campaign group
Reach out to your local representatives
Organize a peaceful protest
Support other activists and organizations
An undocumented journey by Hannah Butay Opinion Editor
*For the interview, this student has requested to remain anonymous How old were you when you came to America and who did you arrive with? I came to America when I was eleven years old with my older brother who was 14. My dad already made the trip the year before, so we had to go alone. My mom stayed home to watch my sister because she was too young to come.
Why did you come to America? I lived in a dangerous town in Mexico that was run by gangs. I could even hear gunshots outside often. My parents decided that they didn’t want their kids to be raised in a place like that because it was too dangerous. They were afraid that we would end up on the streets and we were already very poor, so they knew that it would be easy for us to be like all the other kids in my area. How did you come to America? In the back of a truck. My uncle knew a guy who could get us across the border for a small amount and so my mom worked really hard until she had enough to pay for it. How was the trip here? It was horrible. I can’t even remember how long I was in the truck. It was hot, it smelled bad, I didn’t have any food to eat and I felt dizzy the whole time. We weren’t allowed to talk at all because they were afraid the police could hear us. Were there any specific events that impacted you? There was this girl who was about the same age as my brother and she couldn’t stop crying. Her parents kept on trying to calm her down but she didn’t. Eventually, the guys who were driving us there pulled over to stop for gas and they opened the back of the truck to let us have a break. The girl was cryi- ng really loud and the man yelled at her to be quiet. She wouldn’t stop. He threatened that if she didn’t stop, he would leave her behind. He started to pull her out of the truck while her mother was begging him not to. He was going to throw her to the ground but then the other man stopped him. He told her mom that if she had sex with the both of them, that he would let the girl stay on. Her mom agreed. How did that impact you? I cried while watching the whole thing happen. It made me wonder if this (coming to America) was really worth it. How does it feel to be an illegal immigrant in America? At first, I was terrified. I was paranoid that everyone knew I was illegal because I couldn’t speak any English. I was afraid for my father, for my brother and for myself. I thought that I could be taken by immigration at any minute and be forced to return to Mexico. And now? I definitely don’t feel as scared anymore. I’ve been here for almost seven years and I’ve been able to make friends, get a boyfriend and go to school with out anyone knowing that I’m undocumented. I even got a couple of scholarship offers and my brother did too. How do Trump’s recent immigration policies affect you? That worries me the most. I think I’m not in danger because Sunnyvale is a more accepting community. I’m worried about the people who are illegal just like me and don’t live in a place where they feel they are safe. They aren’t as fortunate as I am.
Photo courtesy to KTLA 5 News
Special Feature
March 10, 2017
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merica
, they don’t like you.” 1.6 billion? In fact no religion would ever support the act of intentionally harming other people. After the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001, the reputation of Muslims has significantly worsened. Due to devastating terrorist attacks and crimes committed by so-called “Muslims,” the hate towards Muslims has increased. In addition, the immigration laws that have been passed which ban Muslims and immigrants from entering the country are cruel and unusual. The ban is already religiously and ethnically persecuting many people. People of all different ethnicities have been coming to the United States in hopes of finding a safe place, a new start, a better education or a career. Many of these immigrants or refugee-seekers have even risked their lives or their family’s safety to help the U.S. but now they are being denied help from the U.S. They are being denied the chance to start anew and live better, safer lives. In addition, the detainment and interrogation being done to all sorts of immigrants throughout
the country due to Trump’s order is hurting more than just the immigrants. The Atlantic describes the experience of a naturalborn U.S. citizen and NASA engineer, Sidd Bikkannavar, whose phone was forcefully searched after being interviewed and checked at the airport terminal, a big violation of his rights and privacy. His story was just one out of the many hundreds or thousands of people who are being unfairly and unlawfully treated in and outside airports based on their background and appearance. Many reports have surfaced of children being separated from their families or entire families being torn apart or kept from entering the U.S. I’m incredibly fortunate to be able to live in such an accepting and loving environment. However, I still fear for myself with what is happening in the world. I fear for the future and what else may occur to hurt minorities or anyone in trouble. More so, I am afraid for those who are not as lucky as myself and who are more likely to be persecuted.
being muslim in America by Momina Nadeem Online Editor
The 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers happened when my mom, dad and I lived in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. I was a baby, a few months away from turning two. A few months earlier, my dad had applied for an American visa for himself as well as for my mom and I. My dad had already visited the United States to work, and his plan was to bring us along this time to live in the U.S. However, the events that occurred on September 11th brought about a drastic change of plans, as my dad was convinced that we would not receive our visas now that the attacks had happened. Our plans for coming to America had dissolved within a matter of hours. To our surprise, our passports arrived the very
next day because the U.S. Immigration services had approved and sent our visas a couple of hours before the attacks had occurred. Our plans reverted back to how they originally were, and we got ready to leave for the United States. Coming here was undoubtedly a risky move— many Muslims were leaving the United States because of discrimination, and our entire family discouraged us from going to the United States for this reason. It seemed counterintuitive to go to the place where many people like us were fleeing. However, things turned out to be in our favor. When we landed at Chicago O’Hare, we were not stopped. The rest of the way to California went the same way, and everything went well. Although I had lived in the Bay Area with my parents ever since October of Illustrations by Shepard Fairey
2001 when we first arrived, I didn’t know anybody. As a result, I stayed at home and grew up speaking Urdu. By the time elementary school came around, I knew no English except for select phrases I heard off of TV. I got into a lot of trouble in kindergarten simply because I could never understand what the teacher wanted the class to do. However, I improved. I eventually became proficient in the English language at the end of second grade. Throughout elementary school, I was made fun of for wearing traditional Pakistani clothes to school. By the time middle school came around, I stopped wearing shalwar kameez—a tunic with loose pants—to school completely. However, people found a new thing about me to make fun of, as I started wearing a hijab around that time. People even went as
far as to tease me as being related to Osama Bin Laden. They were not being serious, but the fact that they were reinforcing a negative stigma about Islam was offensive to me. I often got odd looks from strangers, but I learned to tune it out. However, it all came back in early 2016. I was waiting for a ride home with one of my friends one chilly April afternoon, and while we waited, a middle aged woman walked past us. I’ll never forget the words she said to me as she walked past: “Who the f*ck are you, you b*tch, you f*cking Muslim c*nt?” Frankly, although it was the first time someone had directly said these words to me, I was not as shocked by the woman’s words as my friend was. This was because I have always been taught that there is a negative stigma around the peaceful religion that I have grown
up with, a fact which had been reinforced with the constant teasing I endured throughout my elementary school years. Needless to say, the words that woman said to me did serve to remind me that just because I had been able to tune out minor inconveniences throughout my life to the point where I had practically forgotten that they still existed. Current events also serve as a constant reminder to the severe degree of discrimination against Muslims that exists to this day. My parents, as well as myself, became citizens in 2013. Before then, we were green card holders, just like the other Muslims who were being detained at airports prior to the revision on the executive order that bans Muslims from seven countries from entering the United States. The fact that the Trump administration is reinforcing a negative stigma about an entire population of people is concerning, not only for those Muslims who are entering the country. Because of this, the nation will undoubtedly become more divided, which will result in more hatred and discrimination against all Muslims. The kind of discrimination against Muslims present during this administration is also playing a huge impact on the near future for me. I’m ruling out many good college options in other states simply because of fear of further discrimination. I’ve been told by a few people that I don’t have anything to worry about, due to my now legal status as a U.S. citizen. However, there are so many other factors that come into play that are solid reason for me and my family to be worried. My family falls into more than one minority group category, so we need to be extremely careful. My parents keep stressing to me and my younger sister that we need to be extremely careful of what we say in public because anyone can take it the wrong way and hold it against us. In a way, we are now living on the defensive and unfortunately will probably have to continue living this way for the next four or eight years.
Arts & Entertainment 8
march10,2017
1984: A prophecy that came true byEmmanuel Ramirez Staff Writer
Due to the political events that are currently occurring worldwide, sales for George Orwell’s 1984 have increased. 1984 is a novel set in a dystopian and futuristic London that revolves around the life of Winston Smith, he and others are governed by a totalitarian government known as the Party. The novel presents certain ideas such as the concept of doublethink, or the acceptance of two contradictory beliefs at the same time and important quotes that connect to the contemporary political climate. People believe that the inhumane and overly strict government in the novel compares to the direction our government today is heading towards. Many of these comparisons come from Donald Trump’s actions and plans for the future. In fact, the main parallel between the novel and politics today is the scandal known as “alternative facts” which is a better way of saying “lies.” The infamous phrase that caused contro-
versy with Donald Trump and his senior advisor Kellyanne Conway—the owner of the phrase—ties in with an important idea in the book. This idea is about the Party’s deceptiveness as they change history, or facts, to instill certain ideas into the members of that society. Similarly, Conway said that Trump used “alternative facts” to describe the falsehoods that Trump has said to the press. This
comparison is a strong one that many feel is important since the society we are all familiar with does not oppress us with false information as the one in the book does. In fact, the severity of controlling what “facts” go out to the public can be acknowledged through this quote from the book, “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”
If Trump can get away with telling a falsehood and call it an “alternative fact,” it will be a step toward tyranny that people will fear just as the society in the novel does. What’s worse is the fear that Trump will be allowed to feed the public lies and get away with it just as the Party in the novel fed society lies to control them. It is a stretch to say that Trump will control society anytime soon as a result of telling falsehoods and justifying them with a different title. However, the similarities between 1984 and politics today remain even if it is a faint comparison. Ultimately, people recognize this but think that reading the classic totalitarianism novel can explain some of the fears that people feel about current events. As a result, the sales for George Orwell’s 1984 have increased.
PHOTOS courtesy of The Mary Sue, LitStack
Origins
of St. Patrick’s Day by Claire Lyon Staff Writer
Many know Saint Patrick’s Day as the day to wear green or risk getting pinched, or as the day of the leprechauns and parades. But in reality, Saint Patrick’s Day was a day to celebrate the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. Saint Patrick was a Romano-British missionary raised in Wales, who converted much of the Irish population from their original Pagan beliefs to Christianity. But before he became a missionary, Saint Patrick was the son of a deacon, a rank below a priest. His first visit to Ireland was when he was kidnapped and was forced to be a slave at age 16 by a group of Irish raiders. He spent six years working as a slave before he found God, and was told by God through a dream how to escape back to his hometown. Once free, he became a priest and went back to Ireland to convert the Irish to Christianity. In olden-day Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Day was a holy day of obligation. Shops and pubs in Ireland were closed and people were more contemplative and reflective rather than
celebrative. Parades were introduced 1903 at Waterford because Irish-Americans always celebrated with large parades in America. Saint Patrick’s Day is a national festival, which was created to show Irish pride, raise spirits and encourage creativity. Saint Patrick’s Day is also celebrated in Great Britain, USA, Canada, Argentina, Switzerland and Russia amongst others. This is due to the Irish diaspora, wherein the last 150 years at least 50% of Irish citizens moved out of the country and Irish traditions soon made their way into foreign nations as well. In the midst of Ireland going through their revolutionary period and spread of culture, the tradition of wearing green on Saint Patrick’s Day remained present. Wearing green is the tradition because it is considered the color of Ireland. Originally, the Irish wore shamrocks or pinned them to their collars, but this was changed to wearing green. The shamrock was said to be what Saint Patrick used to explain the Holy Trinity to pagan Irish as well as referring to Ireland’s original lore.
Saint Patrick’s day is more than just a day to wear green; but rather it is both a religious day that commemorates the arrival of Christianity to Irealand and a celebration of Irish culture around the world.
by Karen Newmark Staff Writer
Fremont High School will be featuring a new student-run production of [Title of show], based on the novel by Hunter Bell of the same name. It stars main characters Jeff and Hunter who are in the process of writing a musical named [Title of show]. The play will be taking place in the Shannon Theater, and will open March 17 and close March 18. It will show universal themes such as friendship, creativity, trust, risks and following your dreams. The play is directed by Leora Gilgur. The play was originally produced by Kevin McCollum and was showcased on Broadway, where it first opened on July 17, 2008. Come see the play in the Shannon Theater at 7:30!
[Title of show] Fremont High School presents
Photo courtesy of PS Print Illustration courtesy of KWLT
March 10, 2017
Arts & Entertainment
Spotlight: Marc Anthony
Defying stereotypes with dance by Lexi Kleinberg, Staff writter
We all get labeled as gay just because we are male and we dance. Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony is a junior here at Fremont High School. He is involved with various clubs and extracurricular but he is most known for his talent in dance. I sat down with Marc to discuss his passion for dance and the challenges he faces in the dance community.
Lexi Kleinberg | The Phoenix
Marc Anthony: I dance at Dance Attack in Sunnyvale near downtown.
Marc Anthony: Well for one, I think the biggest stereotype is that male dancers are not as talented as female dancers. We tend to get labeled as gay just because we are male and also dance. I do think that it’s better to be a male dancer though, we get a lot more opportunities than girls. For women in the dance world it’s a lot more competitive… many women who try out for competitive companies get rejected just because there are so many of them. There’s just a lot less men dancing in the modern world so it’s easier for us to get jobs.
The Phoenix: What kind of dance have you done in the past and what do you practice now?
The Phoenix: Have you ever been made fun of in any way for being a dancer?
Marc Anthony: I’m mainly focused on ballet and modern dance… The company that I dance for focuses mainly on modern. But we do jazz once a week, which is a nice break because I dance every day, Monday through Sunday.
Marc Anthony: Yeah most definitely in high school. Most people think “Whoa a boy dancing he should be doing other things.” I try not to let that kind of stuff get to me because at the end of the day dance is something I want to do.
The Phoenix: Do you view dance as a high school sport or a long-term career?
The Phoenix: There’s a big stigma around the dance community’s negative effect on body image, have you ever been affected by body image expectations?
The Phoenix: How long have you been dancing? Marc Anthony: For about nine years now. The Phoenix: Where do you dance?
Marc Anthony: Long term definitely… I would love to go to either Juilliard or USC solely for their dance programs. Long Beach has a really good dance program as well. The Phoenix: What are some of the major differences between being a female dancer and being a male dancer? What are some stereotypes male dancers face today?
Marc Anthony: Whenever I work without outside choreographers they always tell me that I’m too skinny and that I need to eat more to put on weight. It’s hard for me to build muscle but it’s difficult to hear that constantly. Then again, no matter what you do whether it’s dance or any other form of art, people will judge you. It’s really important to remember that if you are healthy and having fun, how you look shouldn’t matter.
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Arts & Entertainment
March 10, 2017
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Photo courtesy of Spotify
“And the Academy Award goes to . . .” by Thomas Poplawski Staff Writer
The Oscars took place on February 27th at the Dolby Theater and was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live. This year’s Academy Awards were giving awards for things like Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress, to Best Documentary or Best Foreign Language Film. The nominees for such events ranged from Ryan Gosling, Casey Affleck, and Emma Stone to movies like La La Land, Hacksaw Ridge and The Railroad Lady.
Best Picture Moonlight
Best Actor Casey Affleck, playing Lee Chandler in Manchester by the Sea.
Best Animated Feature Film Zootopia by Byron Howard and Rich Moore.
Best Documentary Feature O.J.: Made in America
Best Supporting Actor Mahershala Ali in Moonlight.
Best Foreign Language Film The Salesman
Best Actress Emma Stone, playing Mia in La La Land.
Best Supporting Actress Viola Davis in Fences.
Photos courtesy of Winnipeg Free Press, Getty Images, The Los Angeles Times, news.dailymetro.bplaced.com, Disney, Vanity Fair, ESPN Films, and Memento Films Production
sports Feel the Rhythm and Beat of Winter Perc
11
March10, 2017
by Caroline He News Editor
The Fremont Band program offers activities during the winter season for students to join, one of which is Winter Percussion. This activity offers a creative and musical outlet and community for students to express themselves, with many students joining for different reasons. “I think people do it because it’s fun,” Ben Newsome, Winter Percussion instructor, said. “I think there’s a real primal urge, internally, to do percussion, to hit things. I think the ability to do that, and have it condoned is really rewarding. I also think it’s because percussion is an artistic activity, but there’s also a certain precision to it. It’s really a lot of different things.” Students who join the program are passionate about the activity, all already being members of band, although many playing instruments other than percussion. “People who [join] are determined,” Newsome said. “Who enjoy the activity, who like to perform, who want to put their time in to create an artistic prod-
THE Drumline reaches toward the light in one of their ending sets
uct with others.” A large reason behind this passion is because joining Winter Percussion is a large commitment, approximately 14 hours per week. Practice time is split equally between rehearsing the music and rehearsing the movement. Participants constantly practice their skills with an eye for perfection. “We really do aim for precision,” Newsome said. “You don’t really hear ‘good enough’. We want them to have that internal drive.” This devotion to precision has proved to be effective. Last season, Fremont’s
Winter Percussion placed first at the California Color Guard Circuit Championships held at Oak Grove High School. In previous years, they also won several other competitions. This season, they have already placed first in both of the competitions they have participated in. “It was such an amazing feeling to know that all that hard work that we’ve done was the reason we got what we wanted.” Angelica Soriano, Pit Captain, said. “We got first place because we practiced so hard, we’ve achieved what we wanted from rehearsal.”
I think there’s a real primal urge, internally, to do percussion, to hit things. I think the ability to do that, and have it condoned is really rewarding. Ben Newsome Along with this, many students also feel pride in the artistic side of Winter
Percussion. “They like that they can do that as high schoolers,” Newsome said. “And as high schoolers, it’s hard to be authentic, to express yourself and not get made fun of, and this gives them an opportunity to do that. This gives them an outlet for that. They can be loud, they can be who they are, and it’s rewarded, rather than looked down upon.” Certainly, there is a very prominent sense of community with Winter Percussion or any activity that requires a lot of teamwork. “I’ve been doing it for four years,” Soriano said. “It’s like my home away from home. I come here and feel like this is my home. I practice all the time, even on the off season I still prac-
tice. It means a lot to me that I can just play music and entertain other people.” Yet despite the commitment that comes with Winter Percussion, it is an easier instrument for beginners to start with compared to others. “Anybody can do this,” Newsome said. “Like of course we do this at a higher level. The way I like to describe it is that most instruments, the barrier to get a good sound, it takes a while. And it takes longer to get an excellent sound. With percussion, almost anyone can get a good sound from the beginning. It’s going to be like 85% of the way there. That extra 15%, that takes practice, and that’s what we spend most of our time on.”
Andrea Lanfranconi | The Phoenix
sports The Wrestling Team Dominates Leagues
March 10, 2017
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by Jessalynn Landor Staff Writer
“Teamwork makes the dream work” is a common saying that can apply to any situation, but how exactly is it put into action? The Fremont High School Wrestling team demonstrated this in the Athletic League Championships that took place on Feb. 10 and 11. All of the wrestlers had strong mentalities and put in immense amounts of hard work, defeating their competitors. Winning a match is a reward that cannot be earned without a great deal of not only endurance, but patience as well. The wrestlers have trained every day for weeks preparing for this event, proving their determination to win. “[Winning is a] visual reassurance of all the hard work and effort one puts into the sport,” Senior Ryan Lee, wrestling league champion, said. Even if competitors lose a match, it is still a great opportunity for them to reflect on how they can improve their skills to have a better performance the next time they compete. Some wrestlers use their ambition as motivation to push themselves to do their best. Regardless whether they win or lose a match, it is worth it as long as they continue to do their best. In order for the wrestlers to prepare themselves before match, they try to avoid any negative thoughts or emotions that may throw them off when they wrestle their opponent. “I basically just pace around and try to clear my head of any negative thoughts that may come to mind. I trust my instincts when it comes to wres-
DUUS watches the matches intently
WRESTLING team dyes their hair for a lost bet and team spirit
tling”, Senior Angelo Reyes, another wrestling league champion, said. Essentially, when a wrestler’s greatest motivation is themselves, they must prove that if they have the ability to set their minds to achieve their own goal, they can succeed. Wasting time worrying that their performance may lead to failure make them believe that they are not capable of winning. To prevent that from happening, wrestlers must always have a strong mentality as well as a positive attitude even before stepping on the mat, something that many Fremont wrestlers have. Just as wrestlers come in many different shapes and sizes, each and every wrestler has a different perspective when it comes their greatest strengths and weaknesses. The diversity among the wrestler’s strengths and weaknesses help contribute to the overall success of the team. For example, Reyes and Lee, have two different out-
looks on their strengths and weaknesses in wrestling, even though they are the top wrestlers at Fremont. Reyes says that his greatest strength is his capability to learn fast. “When learning a new technique or move in wrestling, I am capable of catching on quickly,” Reyes said. “I have to keep trying my best to get the techniques down and to not lose sight of my goal of perfecting the move.” Reyes’ greatest weakness is that he tends to overthink before beginning his match. Although he tries to avoid doing so, it has become a habit whenever he competes, and this becomes a huge distraction that causes him to lose track of what he is doing. Lee, on the other hand, says his greatest strength is his ability to keep his cool regardless of winning or losing a match. “[My mentality] ensures that I don’t make any stupid mistakes.” Lee said. Lee does not expect the
outcome to be very good nor very bad, so he does not have a problem dealing with outcome in the end. At the same time, Lee’s greatest weakness is his confidence. His overconfidence in his abilities sometimes brings down his expectations when he sets them too high for himself. Wrestling is not just a sport that teaches people how to pin each other down to the ground; it is something that can bring people of all backgrounds together into one large community. Building strong relationships with one another makes it easier to communicate and work together as a team. Erik Duus, Fremont High School’s wrestling coach, enjoys seeing his students grow as they continue to wrestle in their high school years. “Watching them continue to not only develop skills on the mat, but also getting Grit, becoming tougher, and learning how to persevere things they couldn’t do when they
RYAN Lee struggles as he tries to recover
Jessalynn Landor | The Phoenix ANGELO Reyes faces off against his opponent
were freshman,” Duus said. “Before they started wrestling, they learned how to fight through anything and learned to never give up. You see, these kids totally change from the moment they first step into our room as newcomers to becoming
league champions, team champions.” As we continue to support our fellow Firebird wrestlers, I am sure we can all learn a valuable thing or two when we take the initiative to partake in the wrestling community.
Ashley Ma: the Butterfly in the Water by Natalia Etter Staff Writer
Sophomore Ashley Ma is a part of the Fremont High School swim team. Ma started swimming around the age of three and has been in the pool ever since. She first started swimming mainly to help with her asthma, but over time she realized that it is something she likes to do. “I [enjoy] swimming because you’re training with your team and realizing you are part of a team but then I like swimming individual
events because you improve yourself,” Ma said. Ma has been swimming for Santa Clara Swim Club for a couple of years. She likes the
competitive aspect of swimming because she enjoys racing other people and every time she improves her time it makes her happy. Swimming is truly her passion. While swimming, Ma makes sure she is always
focused and tries to leave practice being better than she was when she first got there. During
practices, students have sets which consist of different skills that will be focused on during the entire practice time. She tries to set herself at a certain pace so she will know how fast she needs to swim during competitions. Outside of school, swimming is her number one priority because it is the only sport she has been doing since she was little.
Ma is also hoping to earn scholarships and swim during her college years. So far, she is interested in University of California Berkeley, University of California Los Angeles and maybe California Polytechnic State University. Ma specializes in the butterfly stroke. She can swim anything but does mainly sprints, because over time she realized that is what she is best at. When swimmers first start out they swim a wide range of events to test out their abilities. In Ma’s case, she chose 50 meter, 100 meter and 200 meter butterfly.
I [enjoy] swimming because you’re training with your team and realizing you are part of a team but then I like swimming individual events because you improve yourself. Ashley Ma So far in her swimming career, she has earned many of medals, proving her passion for the sport. Ma is motivated by and looks up to Dana Vollmer,
an Olympic gold medalist and former world recordholder for the 4 by 200-meter freestyle relay. Vollmer is a butterflier, just like Ma and attended UC Berkeley. “[I look up to Vollmer because she] trained for so long and then had a baby,” Ma said. “After that she went back to swimming, she must have trained really hard for that.” Ashley is working toward attending the Olympics one day. With her deep passion for the sport, nothing can stop her from getting there.
Photo courtesy Ashley Ma