Cultural
Awareness Multicultural Week comes again to SRHS. See back for more
Maintenence Issues
pg. 8-9
Teacher wage protests pg. 4
Annual Tolerance Day pg. 7
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NEWS
Staff of The Santa Rosan EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MANAGING EDITORS EDITORIAL BOARD
BUSINESS MANAGER STAFF WRITERS
ADVISOR
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The Santa Rosan
@Santa_Rosan Note: The views expressed in this newspaper are those of the Santa Rosan staff as approved by the Santa Rosan newspaper staff and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the school, students, faculty or the Santa Rosa City School District. An effort will be made to print all letters to the editor, as long as they are signed. The Santa Rosan reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity, and factual correctness, but will not guarantee their accuracy. Letters should be delivered to Ms. Elsa, room D101, or put in her mailbox. Cover photo by Tracy Fernandez Teaser picture by Lindsay Bribiescas Page layout by Isabella Froman unless otherwise stated
World News Snapshots gabeMULCAIRE STAFF WRITER
Ceasefire in Ukraine On Feb 15, Russian separatists and Ukrainian government forces agreed to a ceasefire in their ongoing conflict. Although it did not seem to take immediate effect, later in February Ukraine began to withdraw its artillery from the front lines of the fighting. In response to Russian actions in the Ukraine, the United States recently stationed hundreds of military vehicles in the Baltic states, heralding a level of distrust between Russia and the West unlike anything since the Cold War.
ISIS The Islamic terror group known as ISIS, or the Islamic State, has continued its string of public executions across the Middle East, with victims including several Egyptian Christians and a Palestinian man. The group has taken control of large portions of Iraq and Syria, and they have recently expanded their influence into Libya. ISIS draws its fighters from all over the world, including North Africa, former Soviet States, and even Western Europe.
Swehla’s class wins Kiss a Pig fundraiser mirandaMCCANN EDITORIAL BOARD
Heifer International Kiss a Pig is the only fundraiser in which the winning teacher gets to lock lips with a squealing swine. The contest ran from February 12th to 25th, gathering student donations through thirteen teachers across SRHS. Heifer International’s aim is to “work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.” Raising $87.81, Ms. Swehla’s class won the competition, giving Ms. Swehla the honor of kissing a pig. “I thought [kissing the pig] would be hectic and stinky, but it was absolutely, positively adorable,” Swehla shares. “He was smaller than I thought and he was dirty, but he was a little scared, so I felt bad for him. He was also hairier than I expected.” Swehla says that her experience with the pig (who apparently tasted like bacon) did not turn her off of pork. “It made me want more bacon, just with less hair.” “I’ve never kissed a pig before, well, if you don’t count my first date,” Swehla recounts. “And if I could get any staff member to kiss a pig, it would be Mr. Horner.” Other students and staff had other ideas on who should kiss the pig. “That’s a good one, kiss a pig? How about Forrest? I think he could take it,” said campus supervisor Al Wheeler. “Elsa, because she made us read The Odyssey,” said Freshman Gabriella Palladino. “I would force Mr. Brennan to kiss a pig for ‘comedy’s sake.’ (Disclaimer: This comment in no way reflects my feelings for AP Government classes),” said Senior Joseph Pharr.
Photo by Miranda McCann Above: Swehla prepares to kiss the pig after her class wins the competition. Her class raised $87.81 for Heifer International. Below: (left to right) Juniors Hannah Lipman and Karina Lochner and Senior Chas Christianson deliver the pig to Ms. Swehla for the ceremony. Page layout by Isabella Froman and Miranda McCann
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FFA Inflatable Night
Grass Area by Softball Field 4:30pm – 8:00pm
10-20
FFA at the Elementary School Biella, Kenwood, St. Rose 8:00am – 1:30pm
Student Gov. Election Packets Due ArtQuest Spring Showcase Night @ Aud., MPR & Various Venues @
11 13-17
16
6:30pm
3-24
3 5 7
ArtQuest Spring Showcase SRJC Presentation
16-17 Jun
Auditorium @ 10am – 12pm
Easter
18 23
Napa Auto Parts Training
Auditorium/Senior Steps @ 5pm
Oral Grades
24-25
25
Battle of the Bands Senior Steps
Historical Society Board Meeting
Quad @ 12:30pm
Student Gov. Elections Quad @ 12:30pm
SRHS @ 4pm – 5pm 3:30pm
Badminton vs. Carrillo 4pm
Softball @ Carrillo 4pm
Swimming vs. Carrillo Ridgway @ 2pm – 3pm
& Field Stanford 3-4 Track Invitational Stanford University
4 Baseball Alumni Game 7 Boys Golf @ Ukiah
Baseball Field @ 8am – 4pm Ukiah Valley Golf Course 2pm – 3pm
Swimming @ Windsor 3:30pm Boys Tennis vs. Windsor 3:30pm Badminton @ Windsor 4pm Softball vs. Rancho 4pm
8 9 Swimming vs. Ukiah Baseball vs. Rancho 4pm 2pm
Vets Building @ 5pm 5:30pm
25-27
Debate State Tournament
26
AQ Advanced Theatre Arts Spring Production
27 28 29 30
Fine Arts Showcase Set Up
SBAC Testing Window all computer labs, rm 58
ACT
Desoto @ 8am – 12pm
Senate Meeting
Last Day, AQ Spring Showcase
SRHS Foundation Polenta Feed Friends of ArtQuest Meeting
Staff Dining Room @ 5pm
Student Gov. Election Speeches
AQ Intermediate Dance Performance @ Auditorium Fri, April 24 @ 7pm Sat, April 25 @ 9pm
SRJC @ 10am
Green Music Center, SSU @ 7pm
AQ Advanced Theatre Arts Spring Production
Visual Arts Exhibit, MPR
Modesto
Black Box, Room 24 @ 2:00 pm Multi Purpose Room
Fine Arts Showcase Set Up Fine Arts Showcase Set Up
Spring Sea son SPORTS 9
Boys Tennis vs. Rancho 3:30pm Badminton vs. Casa 4pm Softball @ Casa 4pm
& Field 10-11 Track Arcadia Invitational Varsity Softball @ Antioch Tournament
2pm
Baseball @ Montgomery 4pm
3:30pm
Boys Tennis NBL Singles 1pm
Softball vs. Ukiah 4pm
Boys Golf @ Bennet Valley 2pm
4pm
Baseball @ Windsor 4pm
17 Baseball Vs. Ukiah JV Softball @ Cloverdale 4pm
& Field SR Throwers/ 18 Track Vaulters Jamboree
SRHS @ 3:30pm – 4:30pm
3:30pm
Ridgway @ 2pm – 5pm
Badminton @ Montgomery 4pm
Swimming vs. Casa 2pm
Softball @ Newman 4pm
Boys Tennis @ Montgomery 3:30pm
2pm
Track & Field vs. Windsor & Newman 3:45pm Baseball @ Newman 4pm
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Badminton @ Carrillo 4pm Softball @ Montgomery 4pm
22 Boys Tennis vs. Carrillo 3:30pm
Track & Field vs. Montgomery & Carrillo 3:45pm
Track & Field Viking Classic @ 9am Boys Tennis NBL Singles 9am
Nevers Field/Back Field 9am – 3pm
3:30pm
15 Swimming @ Montgomery
Fine Arts Showcase
16 Boys Golf @ Foxtail South 22 Boys Tennis vs. Casa 24
10 & Field Twilight Meet 11 Track Boys Tennis vs. 20 Summerfield Waldorf SRMS Track Meet vs. Slater 14 Boys Tennis @ Ukiah 21 Swimming vs. Casa Baseball @ Casa 4pm
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Black Box, Room 24 @ 7:30pm
Trig Star Math Competition
MPR/Staff Dining Room 4th period @ 11:30am – 12:30pm
1 Baseball vs. Windsor 2 Boys Tennis @ Newman 3
23-25
Library @ 6:30pm
Barclay Concert
8 9
April College Info Night
Visual Arts Exhibition, MPR
NEWS
Softball @ Deer Valley 12pm NBL Golf @ Rooster Run 2pm
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Badminton @ Casa 4pm Softball vs. Carrillo 4pm
29
Track & Field Dual Meet vs. Casa @ 3:45pm Baseball vs. Carrillo 4pm
30
Badminton vs. Montgomery 4pm Softball @ Rancho 4pm Calendar design by Isabella Froman
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OPINION
Local teachers should receive wage increase lindsayBRIBIESCAS EDITORIAL BOARD
Let’s talk about respect. Respect for teachers, who spend their days in classrooms, entertaining, educating, and caring about students, who show up to school hours before students do and stay until hours later, who tutor students who may be struggling. Many of them do this because they want to, because they genuinely care about students and want them to succeed. But the simple fact is that while they may love what they do, they can’t survive on love alone. So why are they expected to get by with a meager paycheck? At a recent SRCS Board meeting, Steven Forrest, an educator from Montgomery High, said, “money is a material expression of the respect for teachers [that the district has].” The district recently hired a firm to research and develop a report comparing our budget with those of other comparable districts, like Vallejo and Davis. One of the findings that stands out is that ours had the largest amount of money going to operational needs and consultants, with 21.7% of the total budget going to that category. While, Petaluma’s School District spent 13.3%. The Santa Rosa District has also chosen to hire and pay a variety of consultants $2.48 million in the past year. Spending decisions like these are at the heart of the matter for teachers currently fighting for a salary increase. Over the past 5 years, teachers have taken pay cuts, accepted furlough days, and continued to work well beyond contract requirements. Many AP teachers provide study sessions outside of school hours — sessions they are no longer paid to lead. They advise clubs and other student organizations like debate, yearbook, student government, and history club. Although advising clubs sometimes offers a stipend to teachers, that stipend rarely compensates for the many hours these teachers spend with these clubs. Further, many teachers personally pay for materials not covered by the limited budget; at Santa Rosa High, teachers often spend anywhere from $200-800 each year, regardless of the department — math, science, art— nearly every department has teachers spending their own money. Obviously, teachers are doing enough to deserve respect. So why are they struggling to survive in a “climate of disrespect,” as one teacher put it? Why do they not have district-provided medical health benefits? That revolving door can’t be allowed to continue if we want to support our students. Students need steady teachers, teachers who will be there in coming years, teachers who actually know what they’re doing through experience and consistency. We have that now, but due to the insufficient compensation educators receive for the considerable amount of work they do, many are beginning to look for work elsewhere. “The most important part about this raise isn’t so that I can put put premium gas in my
Photos by Lindsay Bribiescas Top: The SRCS board listens to 14 speakers, most of whom addressed the wage issue. Superintendent Socorro Shiels had paid a visit to SRHS earlier in the day for a long-scheduled meeting with the faculty. Left: Michele Marias pickets outside the school after class. For two days, teachers held up signs and handed out flyers before and after school. Right: Teachers protest at the SRCS board meeting, filling City Hall. Teachers chanted “5% is fair,” as they had at previous board meetings, though there has been minimal movement during negotiations.
car. It’s so that the Santa Rosa School District can hire and retain the highest quality teachers possible. That’s what this is for. Right now, we have teachers who are going to other places, and we have teachers who are thinking about leaving, because they can make much more money elsewhere. That’s what this is about,” said David Franzman, a history teacher at Santa Rosa High. If we really want to support our students, we need to keep our educators. We need to have the best educators we can find working with our students. All of the money the district puts into programs won’t mean anything if we have no one to run those programs. And we won’t have anyone to run these programs if the district continues to treat teachers and the teachers’ union as they have. The union approached the district with a proposal on October 21st, asking for a 3% wage increase and 2% increase in health benefits — this is why teachers have been chanting “5% is fair” at district meetings. District leadership didn’t respond until January 28th, and have repeatedly attended meetings unprepared, if they weren’t outright cancelling meetings or otherwise stalling. The union has filed a lawsuit with PERB (Public Employment Relations Board) against the district for not operating in good faith, as shown by the pattern of stalling. As of Monday, March 16th, the teachers’ union has moved to impasse for the second time. Depending on how mandatory mediation goes, teachers may begin “working to contract” — which
means only putting in hours that they are explicitly required to work, the hours for which they are actually compensated. Teachers need a realistic offer. With the cheapest health care plan for a single person costing $8940 per year (covering a bare minimum of health issues, primarily car accidents and the like), the district’s offer of $1500 per person per year just isn’t going to cut it. Kaiser Direct, one of the two plans offered to teachers, is going to hike rates 12% in the next year. 2-3% raises, including the 2% raise that went into effect this year, aren’t going to cover it, especially considering the fact that the cost of living in Sonoma County has dramatically increased in recent years. But while basic living expenses have gotten pricier, teachers have accepted so many pay cuts that their nominal salary is actually lower than it was in 2008. Although the district presented an offer that looked like a $2000 yearly raise, it was tied to 90 minutes every Monday of district-run trainings. The solution to this is not offering more money for more hours put in, not only because teachers are already putting in plenty of hours, but also because teachers don’t need to be directed for 90 minutes after school on Mondays. We trust teachers enough to educate the kids of Sonoma County for 7 hours everyday; we can trust them to spend their time wisely. As Amy Stern, Santa Rosa Teachers’ Union President, said, “You can’t put educators last if you want to put children first.”
OPINION
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Follow up: Vocational Ed. from another point of view gabeMULCAIRE STAFF WRITER
In our last issue, The Santa Rosan ran an article about the SRHS vocational ed program, and their recent conflict with the school cafeteria. We interviewed Ron Reichmuth, a vocational ed teacher, but we failed to speak to anyone from the school lunch program. This created an obvious imbalance; in the interest of fairness, we spoke to Linda Buck, from the cafeteria. Buck addressed the Santa Rosa school board about her issues with the vocational ed program quite some time ago, sparking the controversy. Buck’s concerns with the program seem fair, and she is not opposed to the goals of vocational education. But according to her, Reichmuth and his program have blatantly violated state-mandated rules and regulations about on-campus food sales, from nutritional content to record-keeping. “He has 35-40 items, most of which are not compliant with the California school wellness policy... I’m not bashing him. I’m trying to find someone who’s compliant with the rules. I support his business, but I don’t support breaking the rules.”
The factual accuracy of her claims is unclear, and many have questioned it. But her wish for compliance with the law is not at all unreasonable. Buck and Reichmuth both shared a feeling of isolation in their dispute. While Reichmuth felt that the lunch program and the district went over his head, Buck felt that she had been ignored for too long. Like most conflicts, it seems that this one may be the result of miscommunications, and hopefully it can be resolved with open communication. Many, myself included, quickly formed strong opinions when they first heard that the vocational ed program was threatened. But opinions formed so quickly are often faulty, and should at the very least be revisited. Just because someone takes issue with something valuable doesn’t mean they’re malicious, or that they don’t recognize the value. Job skills education is vitally important, and so is following the law. And no matter the situation, it’s best not to make anyone out as a one-dimensional villain. This dispute is murky, and the right answer is unclear. Everyone has their own agenda, even in
Photo by Lindsay Bribiescas
Pandy’s Marketplace is run by the students of the Vocational Education program on campus. Its goal of training students for vocational skills conflicts with the cafeteria’s goal of keeping school lunches healthy.
a scholastic setting, and it’s not always clear exactly what that agenda is. But no matter the outcome of this situation, everyone involved should recognize the value of calm, reasoned communication, and the danger of bias and quick judgments.
SAY Dream Center to open and help homeless youth lindsayBRIBIESCAS
severe. Due to their age, many can’t work legally EDITORIAL BOARD and must resort to other Homelessness isn’t something that is often methods of getting talked about, particularly in high school. But with money. And there is a an increasingly large number of homeless youth, high frequency, 45%, of it’s something that ought to be addressed. mental health problems According to SAY (Social Advocates for Youth), in unaccompanied or the homeless youth count in Sonoma County in homeless youth, from 2013 was up to 1128, up 450% from 2009. The anxiety to depression to National Center on Family Homelessness ranked PTSD. If the problems California 48 out of 50, where 50 is worst in repreexist their homeless gards to the extent of child homelessness. Nastatus, becoming hometionwide, the National Coalition for the Homeless less often exacerbates estimates that there are 1,682,900 homeless and them. Among these runaway youth, with the majority being between issues is the startlingly the ages of 15 and 17. high occurrence of The reasons for these extensive numbers are substance abuse, with perhaps even more disheartening. In one study, 30-50% of homeless Photo by Dakota McGranahan 46% of homeless youth had been physically youth reporting alcohol A symbol of homelessness, this couch represents what many take for granted, a comfortabused and 17% had endured sexual abuse of or drug problems in able bed. When this couch was a found, a man named John was sleeping on it. WHen some kind, and either ran away or were kicked asked why he was sleeping there, he said, “This here is the most comfortable couch I have their lives. out. But others are homeless for economic reasons, Suicide is the leading slept on in 12 years.” John has been homeless for over 15 years. and may become homeless with their families, cause of death among street youth; 32% of home- less Services Center at 600 Morgan St. is a drop-in or become separated from their families. Some less youth have attempted suicide. center and shelter for single adults and families. may be homeless after being discharged from the But there are sources of support for these teens. The YWCA Domestic Violence Safe House offers foster care system — more than one in four teens The new SAY Dream Center, set to open this year, shelter to women and children at risk of violence that come to shelters have been in foster care in will provide 63 new units of housing for 18-24 who can’t remain at home. the previous year — and there is a correlation be- year olds, and provide counseling and job trainFor more resources, visit http://sonomacountytween being in foster care and becoming homeless ing. Currently, SAY provides free shelter to 12-17 homeless.org/ at an earlier age for longer periods of time. year olds, and offers help finding jobs. The HomeThe consequences of homelessness are quite
6 Spanish teacher Señor Paulson to retire this year FEATURES
geenaESPINOZA STAFF WRITER
Santa Rosa High School is bidding farewell to a beloved teacher this year with the retirement of Señor Paulsen. His humor and wisdom will be missed in the halls of Santa Rosa HIgh School. The Spanish teacher has been teaching here for a whopping 17 years. Currently, he teaches second- and third-year Spanish, and is known among students for asking trouble makers, “Are you a pee-wee?” Señor Paulsen began his teaching in Napa and Lower Lake over two decades ago, before finally settling at Santa Rosa High. Over his lifelong teaching career, Señor Paulsen has taught every level of Spanish, including 13 years of AP Spanish. When asked why he loves teaching, he responded with “the three A’s” — “Attention, Appreciation, and Affection.” Santa Rosa High School is known for its eccentric student body and strange occurrences, and Señor Paulsen has been around to witness much of it. His favorite thing about Santa Rosa High is “the people.” He chuckles when asked what the strangest thing he has ever seen on
campus is and says, “The strangest thing... a lot of things! But the strangest thing... I don’t know. I couldn’t tell you.” Señor Paulsen has spent some wonderful years teaching here at Santa Rosa High School; when asked to recall a few favorite memories, he said, “Oh my god... I have made many memories.” Not hard to believe, if you remember that he has taught here for over 17 years. He gleefully recounts one incident in which he told an uptight principal to “to get a puppy to play with and loosen up.” “You have to be a people person to work here,” said Paulsen. He says he is very satisfied with our current administrators. Here’s to hoping he hasn’t told them to get some puppies yet. A teacher at heart, Señor Paulsen would like to impart a last bit of knowledge on Santa Rosa High School Students: “Life is about aging.” Señor Paulsen’s plans for retirement include developing his three-acre property, spending more time in his garden, and enjoying his favorite hobbies of chess and philosophy. His parting words for Santa Rosa High School are “Thank you, and wow!”
Beloved teacher Señor Paulsen is set to retire this year after 17 years of teaching at Santa Rosa High School. He is well-known for his valuable advice and quirky personality
Grace Rowand lobbies CA Congressman with synagogue hannahAPPEL STAFF WRITER
It’s not every day a student from Santa Rosa High School gets to talk about social issues with a U.S. Congressman, but freshman Grace Rowand did exactly that. Along with other politically involved teens from her synagogue, Rowand made the five-hour plane ride to Washington D.C., where she spent a weekend learning about various social issues and bills that are currently on the floor of Congress. After that, she and the other teens spent time lobbying the representative about one of the bills they learned about. Unlike other teens, Grace chose to lobby a bill that is currently being drafted. This is a comprehensive, non-discrimination LGBT bill, which would cover issues like workplace discrimination, housing discrimination, and public accommodations. Rowand lobbied for this bill in front of a California congressman’s legislative assistant. When asked about why they chose this bill instead of another, Rowand replied, “Well, partially, I myself am not cisgender, and I am not heterosexual. You got to pick two bills that specifically interest you. I chose women’s reproductive rights and I chose LGBT because those are my causes, those are
the things I’m passionate about.” For Grace, this was a cause that was close to home. Grace and the legislative assistant spent some time talking about the issues that surround the rights of LGBT individuals. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 29 states do not have laws explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Rowand says, “It’s really really hard to get a job if you’re trans, just because of things like [if] the name you use does not match the name on your birth certificate or the name on your driver’s license.” One of Grace’s missions is to bring more awareness to LGBT rights. When asked to describe what nonbinary and genderqueer mean, Grace says, “Gender is frequently thought of as being two categories. You are a guy or you are a girl, and that is not actually the case. It’s more like a spectrum. Let’s just say girls are red and boys are blue, and there are a lot of different shades of purple. You could be bluish-purple, or reddish-purple, or just pure purple. It’s more complicated than people tend to give it credit for.” Grace and the rest of their synagogue hope that this trip has made a difference and that it has helped to bring awareness to the unfair treatment of LGBT people in the United States.
Photo courtesy of Grace Rowand
Freshman Grace Rowand, who is genderqueer, is an activist for women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. She and other teens with her synagogue lobbied a CA congressman in D.C.
NHS puts on annual
Day of Tolerance 1
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FEATURES
7
Things:
amazing women for women’s history month kiraFINDLING STAFF WRITER
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1. Laverne Cox - Cox, an African-American actress on the popular TV show Orange is the New Black, is the first openly transgender person to appear on the cover of Time. 2. Dolores Huerta - Huerta is a well-known Chicana labor activist who was an early member of the United Farm Workers organization. 3. Rosalind Franklin - A prominent Jewish chemist, Franklin was instrumental in determining the structure of DNA; however, her contribution was minimized by male researchers.
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4. Nawal El Saadawi - A Muslim feminist from Egypt, El Saadawai has written extensively on the treatment of women in Islam.
4 Photos by Lindsay Bribiescas and Tracy Fernandez
6. Phoolan Devi - Known as the “Bandit Queen” of India, Devi was a victim of sexual assault several times and turned to crime to revenge her attackers. Later, she successfully ran for Parliament and held office for several years before being assassinated.
1. One presenter describes the way he kept his teeth from chattering on the freezing night he attempted to cross the Mexico-U.S. border. His first attempt was made when he was 14, but he succeed in crossing later on in life. 2.Auschwitz survivor Lilian Judd and her son answer questions on stage. 3. Junior Katie Miller discusses her experiences with coming out and accepting herself in the 6th period LGBT panel. 4. Hans Angress, a holocaust survivor, discussed his life growing up in Nazi Germany and hiding with his mother and older brother in Holland. In his presentation, he showed the audience pictures of his old schools, his classmates, and his family.
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7. Alice Paul - A prominent women’s suffragist, Paul often embarked on hunger strikes in the pursuit of the vote. She also founded the National Women’s Party and campaigned for an Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution. Paul is one of fifteen women being considered for placement on the $20 bill. 8. Aung Sang Suu Kyi - A native of Burma, Suu Kyi spoke out against the nation’s dictator and was sentenced to fifteen years of house arrest. She is currently a member of Parliament, focusing on human rights. 9. Marina Abramović - Perhaps the most wellknown performance artist of this era, Abramović stretches the limits of her body and interacts closely with strangers in order to provoke thought.
5. Lilian Judd displays her holocaust tattoo. She faced some of the greatest horrors of the holocaust in Auschwitz, a concentration camp which killed many Jews and other minorities in gas chambers. 6. Junior Casey Chapman listens intently during one of the presentations. This is the third annual Day of Tolerance at SRHS.
5. Wilma Mankiller - Mankiller, whose name references military strength, was the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation, and advocated for education and health care reform.
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10. Mary Church Terrell - One of the first AfricanAmerican women to earn a bachelor’s degree, Terrell attended Oberlin College and went on to be one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Rats justinDANTE STAFF WRITER
It’s no secret our campus has a rat problem. In fact, just last year, Mr. Reichmuth was bitten while emptying recycling bins in Desoto. And it’s happened before. With constant reminders from staff to clean up after lunch and the sound of seagulls overhead, the trashy state of SRHS is undeniable. But even so, it’s been easy for most students to ignore, as there haven’t been any real consequences. That is, until Mr. Camano, who teaches social studies in room 205, was forced to conduct class in the library and other classrooms for an entire week in January. Attracted by the readily available trash, rats chewed through walls and made their way through the main building. This went on widely unnoticed by students until one of the rats fell through a ventilation pipe and died. The smell of the rotting carcass was so nauseating that it made Camano and others who entered the room physically ill. Fans were brought in to combat the putrid smell, but
Maintena
they did not help enough. Maintenance workers attempted to retrieve the carcass, but found they could only access it by demolishing sections of the wall,—an expensive solution for just one rat. And so it was decided that the only thing to do was to wait it out. Eventually the rat would decompose, and the foul smell would be gone. A reasonable onetime solution, but is this how rats are to be dealt with next time? Surly, with a rat infestation as bad as ours, this won’t be the last to cause a stink. “We need to pick up a few cats from the Humane Society and use them as our own rat catchers. We’ll name ‘em all Pandy and they can be our mascots,” said Camano. Besides an army of cats, hiring professional exterminators is another viable option. However, that entails a certain amount of expense, a tall order for a school district that is perpetually hardpressed for funds. Regardless of how administrators decide to handle the issue, one thing remains true: this is a preventable a problem.—Clean up your trash!
Bathrooms lindsayBRIBIESCAS EDITORIAL BOARD
For those students brave enough to use the bathrooms here at school, there are always the real questions to ask: Will there be soap? Will there be toilet paper? Will the sinks work? Will the stalls be bearable? Many students don’t risk it, and simply don’t go to the bathroom at school. “I don’t have a strong opinion necessarily [on the school bathrooms]. But strong enough to keep me from going to the bathroom at school,” said senior Raven Quesenberry. But others occasionally dare to enter the bathroom and often pay the price. Many students find that the bathrooms are far from peak conditions, and are remarkably unhygienic. Rarely is there soap, in fact, senior Harley Boatsman said, “Nothing’s ever clean, and when there’s actually soap or towels, I laugh out loud.” A survey turned up the facts that roughly 42% of the time, there is no toilet paper for students to use, and 76% of the time
Problems on campus that worrisome — even unhea
How can stu brynaHAUGEN
BUSINESS MANAGER
The state of SRHS’s campus is heinous, but the blame cannot be shifted to the janitorial staff. At SRHS, only five janitors work to keep clean a campus used by two-thousand students — an impossible task at best. In order to keep even just the restrooms, which harbor bacteria such as salmonella, rotavirus, norovirus, and e. coli, as germ-free, odor-free, and nice as possible, SRHS’s student body needs to step up — and the bathrooms are just the beginning of the problems around campus. To begin with, basic everyday “clean up after yourself” rules should apply. The odd milk carton and banana peel are often found littering the floor of bathrooms, hallways, and stairwaysnot to mention less appetizing biohazards, but if you’re the one to put it there, you should be the one to pick it up. Common sense.
there is no soap, surpassed only by the 78% that said there are paper towels to use. The issue extends beyond the basic hygiene of the bathrooms, though. The general cleanliness of the bathrooms appall many students, who may walk into a bathroom stall littered with trash and toilet paper, or who may find graphic drawings etched into the walls of the stall. Senior Emily Fehrman said, “[The bathrooms are] seriously disgusting. But it’s more the immaturity factor — in the girls’ bathroom at least. People soak the toilet paper with water and throw big globs of it all over the ceiling. People bring their food and drinks in and leave it all over the floor, and it just gets all mixed in with the leaky toilet and then you step in it and it’s cringe-worthy. And then people will actually just go hang out in there...I don’t get it.” So until students can safely and confidently enter the bathrooms, there always will be those who avoid them.
The bathroo issues: all of w a few basic rul clogs, you have the toilet. No on finding a crime ter. That’s what Now, while times unavoida there’s not, get teacher afterwa ter on essentia is overwhelmin more everyone take a minute t And finally, per and turning ceiling. Not onl five janitors is g no one deserve
Panther Voices Do you think the bathrooms are clean?
Yes: 9% No: 91% Do you find soap in the bathrooms?
Yes: 23.4% No: 76.6% Do you feel comfortable using the bathrooms here?
Yes: 25.9% No: 74.1% Poll completed by 272 SRHS students.
ance Issues Mold
t have led to gross conditions and althy — environments.
justinDANTE
udents help out?
oms in particular have several which can be solved easily with les. To begin, unless something e a moral responsibility to flush ne likes walking into a stall and scene. Don’t try to preserve wat low-flo is for. this form of grossness is someable, if there’s soap, use it. If t some hand sanitizer from your ards. The amount of fecal matally every surface in a restroom ng, and the more you touch, the else suffers. Pay it forward, and to wash your hands. please stop balling up toilet pag it into a giant spitwad on the ly is it disgusting, but one of our going to have to get that off, and es extra work. Besides, TP is a
precious commodity. Don’t waste it. But there are larger issues beyond just the bathrooms — this whole campus has been disrespected for years by SRHS students. We have a serious issue with rats on campus — yes, big, furry rats. Several have recently died in the walls of classrooms and the only solution has been to teach classes in the library until the rats finish decomposing and the smell goes away. There’s a serious problem with that thought process, but it’s also the fault of the student body who has been flippant enough with our campus’ condition that we have rats at all. It’s not the janitorial staff’s fault the campus is a mess — it’s ours. Let’s clean up our own messes before begging for more staff. Five hundred janitors couldn’t compete with the mess that a few determined mess-makers create daily in the urinals, quad, and fields. It’s simply not fair.
STAFF WRITER
As of March 12th, rooms 6, 8, and 10 in the science wing are off-limits to students and staff due to potentially unsafe levels of moisture and mold. A recent toxicology report, dated March 9th, cites moisture concentrations (MC) on the interior walls as “elevated in excess of 40% MC.” Air samples indicate high counts of airborne fungal spores for Penicillium and Aspergillus – molds that are typically allergenic, but can be toxic in some species. Science Department Chair Lori Simerly and chemistry instructor Connie Rice have suspected a mold infestation since August of 2014 — tipped off by a concerning odor. Numerous emails and maintenance requests were sent over the course of several months; however, the District Office didn’t order a Safety Clean until November. Following a number of preliminary investigations and attempted clean ups, the smell still persisted into February. The source of the odor was finally located in January, meanwhile, classes have been exposed to these spores for the last 8 months. “It seemed like the district office didn’t take us seriously and were very unresponsive. Negligent even.” Said Rice about the late reaction. Maintenance workers are currently working to repair leaks in the water lines that caused the mold growth. A wall in room 10 will likely be demolished completely as the infestation is irreversible in some areas.
One janitor justinDANTE STAFF WRITER
Photo by Lindsay Bribiescas
A real, unstaged photo of a mess in a student bathroom. Toilet paper, water, trash, food and graffiti cover the walls and floors of each bathroom. It makes for an unsightly and unpleasant bathroom experience on campus. Spread layout and illustrations by Isabella Froman
Former head custodian Marty Rosales was a familiar face around campus. On a rainy day he might have been found in black boots, wielding a squeegee. Or he might have been seen guiding a lost freshman to class. Or he might have been silently praised as he delved into the ugly, and sometimes horrific, bathrooms, equipped with only a bucket of chemicals and a mop. The disgusting state of our bathrooms is no secret; in fact, it seems students here have grown far too accustomed to it. Clogged and unflushed toilets, apples in the urinals, and even giant spit balls stuck to the walls are the norm. But surprisingly, Rosales said these problems are unique to SRHS, and do not exist at the middle schools. How is it that 12 and 13 years olds have better potty training than a bunch of high school students? “When I was a kid, this just wasn’t a thing we did. I don’t get it,” said Rosales.
The bathrooms are cleaned, at a minimum, once a day after school. They’re mopped, sprayed, wiped, disinfected, and pristine at eight o’clock in the morning. And by three o’clock that same day, many of them are uncomfortable to use, riddled with the day’s string of abuses. It certainly doesn’t help that the custodians are terribly understaffed. Typically, there is only one janitor working during the day at SRHS, the biggest campus in the district. That means one janitor must service over 14 student bathrooms in addition to the numerous teacher bathrooms, classrooms, and outside areas. “Just having one more custodian here during the day would be a huge help. I [was] just one guy with two hands — I [couldn’t] do it all” said Rosales. Rosales is a proud father of Santa Rosa alumni, a soccer coach of seven years, and active volunteer for project grad. Let’s do him, and the current custodians, a favor and clean up our act, so they doesn’t have to do it for us.
10
COLUMNS
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Sincere Sarcastic An advice column
I just got rejected from my reach school, and I’m feeling kind of depressed about it. What do I do next year while all my friends go to their favorite schools? isabellaFROMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
It’s okay to be sad about a college rejection, especially when it’s from a school you may have wanted to go to for a long time. But it’s important to keep perspective with this: your college is not your future. It may seem like it is because sometimes it feels like it’s the only thing that people, especially seniors, care about. But college is just a place to learn, and while each one is unique and comes with its own culture and reputation, no specific experience is so vital to your life that missing out on it will hinder your life in the long run. The added benefits of attending one school in particular won’t be as significant as you may think, especially since most majors are offered at most schools and the quality of education you will receive will be about the same anywhere you go. It’s alright to be upset that you won’t go to the school you wanted, but you shouldn’t let it consume you. As for what to do next year, there are many options. First, you could go to the other schools you may have been accepted to. These other schools will also offer exciting and enriching experiences. If you did not apply anywhere else or were not accepted to any other schools, but you still want to begin your higher education, you can attend SRJC next door. If that isn’t your preferred option, you can take a gap year to work or travel. Don’t take a gap year to do nothing — be productive. Mentally stimulating yourself will keep you inspired to return to school and less likely to abandon your long-term plans. While working, you can save up the funds you will need to foot the heavy tuition bills you’ll be paying. While traveling, you’ll have the pleasure of seeing the world from a broad perspective (assuming you have enough money to afford it). You could combine the two for an especially busy gap year. But it’s very important to move away from comparing yourself to your friends — they may have gotten into schools they wanted, but you can’t forget that your friends and you have different strengths, interests, and goals. Not to mention that the college application acceptance process is more complicated than you think and the reasons behind your rejection aren’t based on your worth as a person.
thomasPASTIS
EDITORIAL BOARD
Well, first of all, I didn’t… know you could get rejected from a college. Maybe I’m just the perfect human being, but I got into every last college I applied to. And I applied to, like, forty-five. I got into colleges I didn’t even apply to. Oxford practically ruined my mailbox with their offers, and I didn’t even think England existed. I learned a thing today. Neat. But, just for the sake of argument, say that a college doesn’t accept you. That says something about you. You didn’t specify, so I’m just gonna assume that your reach school was something like Harvard, Stanford, Chico, Yale. You know the type of school. Harfordyalenell. Where everyone aspires to go and, apparently, not everyone gets in. Your friends will obviously shove it in your face. They got into their dream schools, you didn’t. What sane person wouldn’t have a bit of fun at your expense? So, lie. Lying solves all problems under all circumstances for an indefinite period of time. Pretend you got in. Then, when the time rolls around to go to college, never, ever, ever speak to your friends again, because they might figure out you don’t actually go to Harfordyalenell. Another potential option is to spam the college to let you in. I’ve never heard of one, so I have to assume that rejection letters are more of a suggestion than anything. Rejection letters must be just to weed out those who don’t really want to attend. The colleges know that the people who really want to attend are those who will fight through the multiple rejections and cease and desists. Just send in your application, over and over again, without any changes. When they block you, bring it to them in person. Over. And over. And over. Eventually, any college will see that you’re serious and let you in. However, since you’re the only person I’ve ever heard of who didn’t get accepted to a college, maybe you should look into jobs that don’t require a college education. Don’t worry. Robots are going to take our jobs anyway in, like, ten years. Everything’s moot. It’s fiiiiiiine.
Need advice? Send your letters to D101 or message them to the Santa Rosan Facebook page. They will be printed anonymously.
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COLUMNS
Insight from a quiet observer: South Korea’s
first on-screen same-sex kiss
tracyFERNANDEZ EDITORIAL BOARD
Press play, press pause. Loaded with excitement, raw emotion, and the unexpected, Korean dramas are a widely popular pastime. Yet one particular Korean drama, Seonam Girl’s High School Investigators, has recently delivered South Korea its first on-screen lesbian kiss — without the punchline. And homosexuality isn’t the only issue the show’s lips aren’t sealed about. When five female students at Seonam Girl’s High School decide to form a detective club, they begin unraveling the mysteries around them, tackling real-life issues such as bullying, abortion, and
suicide. A gem among stones, the show, unlike others, offers a candid portrayal of homosexuality — but for that same reason, it may now face repercussions. According to AFP, the Korean Communication Standards Commission has received several complaints about the episode featuring the kiss between actresses Kang Seung-ah and Kim So-hye. Currently under evaluation, the episode will be reviewed for any “material” in violation against the broadcast policy of KCSC. Unfortunately, this is not the first time a show with homosexual undertones has been confronted with social stigma in South Korea. In 2011, the show Daughters of Club Bilitis was set to launch, following the lives of three lesbian couples: 50-year olds Choi Ran and Choi Hyang Ja, a 30-year-old career women Han Go Eun and her partner Oh Se Jung, and high-schoolers Jin Se Yeon and Ahn Ji Hyun. However, a bombardment of online protests, such as “This will negatively influence the youth,” and “This drama is a crime against humanity,” caused the show to have a 19 years and up rating, preventing it from ever airing beyond the first episode. Without shows like Seonam Girl’s High School Investigators or Daughters of Club Bilitis to provide exposure and awareness, homosexuality becomes prey to negativity — and even worse — someone’s perception of a joke. Recently, the
Korean drama Kill Me, Heal Me presented a kiss scene between male actors Ji Sung and Park Seo Joon. However, the scene was not intended to acknowledge or explore the feelings and conflicts experienced by the homosexual population. Rather, it was intended as comedic relief. When homosexuality isn’t the punchline or condemned, South Korea doesn’t make much of an effort to extend any room for acceptance. However, the jTBC program aspires to change that. “We produced this project in aims to raise acceptance of diversity. We do not think that it is up to us to decide whether homosexuality is right or wrong. Homosexuality was the very first topic that producer, Yeo Yoon Hyuk had wanted to touch upon when we were in the midst of preparing Seonam Girls High School,” said a representative from the show. In South Korea, the public often claims homosexuals are non-existent, but what they don’t know is that, from Monday to Friday, many Korean homosexuals exist in secrecy, acting as straight fathers, husbands, wives, students, and co-workers. Friday night to Sunday is the only time allotted for them to be themselves — members of the homosexual minority. They are there, they have always been there, so why did it take a kiss for us to finally see them?
Get some glasses: Male sexual assault victims
lindsayBRIBIESCAS EDITORIAL BOARD
There is a lot of stigma that comes with being a rape victim. And the stigma doesn’t lessen whether the victim is a man, woman, both,
neither, or anywhere else on the gender spectrum. All that stigma does is mutate, and become something else that is just as ugly as its usual form. So when male victims of sexual violence are dismissed, it is a legitimate issue. They didn’t deserve to be sexually assaulted, they aren’t lucky that it happened, and they aren’t weak because they were attacked. And yet, these skewed ideas have permeated far too much of society, from peers to the criminal justice system. Research has shown that social workers and police officers are more likely to minimize reports of child sexual abuse when the perpetrator is female. This means that most victims that have been sexually abused by women aren’t believed or taken seriously, which only feeds into the already hostile environment for victims. Even laws meant to protect victims or potentially victims don’t adequately address males. The legal definition of rape, from the U.S. De-
partment of Justice, is: “Penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.” This definition excludes different types of sexual violence, such as forcing victims to receive oral intercourse, and leaves room for individuals to evade the law by forcing vaginal intercourse onto a male victim. All of this aside, we can’t ignore the fact that 2.78 million men in the US alone have been victims of sexual assault (which includes molestation, fondling, and the like) or rape. That is a terrifying number. But often when male victims’ plights are addressed, it’s a way to get feminists or female rape survivors to be quiet. Victims should not be silenced. Ever. If someone is brave enough to speak out, they should be supported and cared for, not shut down. And supporting victims means respecting them and not acknowledging them only when it serves to silence others.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Worst and Wackiest Games: the weirdest, wildest, wonkiest experiences available kathyPHAM
thomasPASTIS
STAFF WRITER
EDITORIAL BOARD
Don’t let the name of this 2-D racing game mislead you. Fun Run 2 is not fun. Running is not fun. Sequels are not fun. Instead, Fun Run 2 is the epitome of all things evil. Similar to Mario Kart, Fun Run 2 tests your luck-- and your composure. The game includes mystery boxes that provide multiple powerups, which can either boost, shield, or kill. The controls are simple: jump and use your power-ups. I would tell you to try not to die but that is inevitable because I am 102% sure that Fun Run 2 is secretly named Die Dash 2. Instead, try not to throw your phone across the room. Despite the horrific deaths by beheading, electrocution, and detonation, there is an option to change and customize your character too. I’m a scruffy dog with a watermelon hat, a lei, and green crocs. Aesthetic. Truly, nothing is better than playing as cute animals and massacring each other to get to first place. To get to the point, Fun Run 2 is frustrating (but I’m secretly addicted). It’s heartbreaking being in first place and ending up last because you were suddenly killed three times right before the finish line. #struglife If you want to play Fun Run 2, go for it. Prepare to die a lot and maybe cry a little. However, it’s not recommended to play with friends as it’s not guaranteed you will walk away the same.
There are multiple levels of badness when it comes to bad video games. You have games that just aren’t very good, like whatever Final Fantasy we’re on now, games that are disappointments, like the famed ET disaster, games that are so bad that they’re good, similar to something like Ride to Hell Retribution, and games that have no reason to be good, and are by all rights terrible, but are at the same time the greatest things to ever hit the gaming market. See Tales of Game’s Presents Chef Boyardee’s Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden, Chapter 1 of the Hoopz Barkley SaGa. This game...oh, this game. It’s impossible to sum up its brilliance here, but I’ll do my best. This game is a spin-off of Space Jam (which is canon, by the way), where you play as Barkley in a JRPG-style adventure. Think Final Fantasy in terms of gameplay, but with action commands. The plot is ridiculous. Without spoiling it here, Barkley and his son Hoopz (with a Z) must work to clear their name in a postapocalyptic world caused by a massive explosion known as the Chaos Dunk. Along the way, you’ll meet Wilford Brimley and Harriet Tubman, fight Ghost Dad, and so much more. Every single aspect, save the plot, is stolen from another game. The music is taken, the level design is lifted, and the sprites are pilfered (my personal favorite is Michael Jordan, whose sprite is stolen from Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker). Despite all of this, the game is… weirdly good. Not even in a sarcastic sense. It’s a legitimately good game. They do everything right with typical RPG’s. The gameplay doesn’t get stale, there’s a weirdly complicated and fun battle system, and there are optional bosses and sidequests. With many JRPG’s this day *cough Final Fantasy cough*, it’s becoming more and more obvious that the developers don’t care as much. On the flip side, it’s obvious that the five-ish developers of Barkley really, really care. They put love into this game, which is something that a lot of RPG’s clearly don’t have. The plot is amazing. It’s witty, and it knows what it is--sarcastic and not to be taken seriously. For example, every single time you have to save, the game forces you to scroll through seven pages of a fanboy ranting on an internet forum. Every time. Impressively (or depressingly), if the characters weren’t, well, Barkley and et cetera, the plot would be really good, doing the post-apocalyptic theme in a subtle and cynical way. The gameplay knows what it is as well, cycling from an adventure game to Monster Hunter to Chrono Trigger and more. And, yes, the aspects are taken, but the developers took the good aspects from these games. The level design is great and the music is great because it’s great in other games. Great game. Seriously. Play it.
THE
jakeESPINOZA STAFF WRITER
GAMING CORNER
Have you ever wanted to tap on a blank screen while someone yells the word “cow”? Have you ever wanted to have a cow dispassionately moo at you when you eventually find it? If you have, then you should definitely play Find the Invisible Cow. And even if you haven’t ever had the urge to do either of those things, you should play Find the Invisible Cow. The main appeal to this game is the simplicity. It’s a game you can play with one hand, or even just your nose. You’re supposed to have sound to play, but it’s just as entertaining while muted. Another thing that makes this game appealing is the comedy. For some reason, it is hilarious to hear the word cow repeated over and over, until you successfully locate the cow. Once you find the cow, it lets out a moo that is part sarcastic and part annoyed. It makes you feel good about finding the cow, but also like you’re disrupting its day. This game is also an example of how an absurdly simple idea can lead to an amazing game. We have seen this simplicity in many other hit games, such as Temple Run and Flappy Bird. People seem to gravitate toward games with easy mechanics and a simple theme.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
13
Gray morals in 50 Shades of Grey abbyVOLZ
STAFF WRITER
Photo by Lindsay Bribiescas
50 Shades of Grey is supposed to be centered around a BDSM relationship, but it actually paints an extremely unhealthy and abusive relationship. This is harmful because it perpetuates dangerous ideals and glorifies non-consensual sexual acts.
Probably one of the most talked-about movies of 2015 is 50 Shades of Grey, a movie based on the bestselling book. What isn’t talked about is all of the abuse, neglect, and overall disgrace to people who practice BDSM that is present in the book. As was stressed in the recent, very well done, school presentation about rape culture, consent is SO important to any sort of relationship. In the beginning, they actually do everything right, setting up a contract and a safeword, only to completely disregard it just a few moments later. Many times, Anastasia expressed that she didn’t want to have sex, but Christian ignored her wishes, at one point threatening to tie her up, rip her clothes off, and ultimately have sex with her. That isn’t sexy; that’s rape. He shows some of the textbook signs of being an abusive partner, including controlling who she talks to and what answers she can receive on things she researches. At one
point, Ana even expresses that she’s afraid of him hitting her again, which definitely isn’t in any sort of healthy relationship. The book it was originally based on, Twilight, isn’t the best role model for relationships either as it clearly shows another abusive relationship, but that’s an entirely different topic in and of itself. The book is littered with sexist tropes and disregard for minorities, as well as shaming of all types. There are no LGBT+ characters, and the only character of color is considered a rapist. Despite the book being based around a certain kink, it is filled with shame towards that activity, showing it to be abnormal and saying that doesn’t belong in a long-standing relationship, when that is exactly wrong. All in all, this book glorifies rape, kinkshaming, and discrimination, all while playing it off as “sexy” or “deep.” Instead of seeing this movie or reading the book, donate money to a women’s shelter or organizations that help abuse victims. You’ll feel a lot better about that than anything the book can give.
The CW impresses with an authentic and groundbreaking new comedy
Illustrations by Isabella Froman
opalWHITE
MANAGING EDITOR
Jane the Virgin is the CW’s breakout show about a young woman who was artificially inseminated. The main character, Jane Villanueva, played by Gina Rodriguez (who won a Golden Globe for the role), is many things: a college student hoping to become a teacher, a closet writer, the girlfriend of a nice detective, and a virgin. In the first episode, viewers meet Jane’s Spanish-speaking grandmother and eccentric mother; Jane is also accidentally inseminated and proposed to, all in just forty-five minutes. Throughout the rest of the first season
(new episodes are aired each Monday night), viewers see clips from Jane’s childhood and get caught up in her now- crazy life as she loses love, finds it again, meets family members for the first time, and faces the everyday challenges of being a pregnant virgin. The show has been praised for featuring a woman who happens to be Hispanic, as opposed to being a show about a Hispanic woman. The show focuses on Jane’s life and the little mishaps and adventures she goes through while pregnant rather than the racial side of the story. Gina Rodriguez said the show was “the most authentic, genuine representation” of a Hispanic family she had seen on television. The
New York Times has done two very positive reviews on the show, as have several lesser-known publications. The show won not only the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Comedy or Musical) for Rodriguez’s acting, but also the AFI Award for TV Program of the Year, the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association’s Award for Best Campy TV Show of the Year, and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy. If anything, all the awards prove that Jane the Virgin is a perfect, funny, and spunky TV show that just about everyone needs in their lives.
Jane the Virgin is about a young woman who is impregnated by a freak accident -- as if by a miracle. The show follows her jouney through carrying a child and attempting to continue her previous life. Page layout by Opal White
FOOD/HEALTH
Illustration by Isabella Froman
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Myths about penises
brynaHAUGEN
BUSINESS MANAGER
The purpose of this article is not only to inform and educate about the human body, but also to spark discussion about topics that have long been viewed as ‘wrong’ or ‘inappropriate’. Teenagers deserve to understand their own bodies, their own sexuality, without shame. Genitals are the subject of many web searches‘is my penis/vagina the right size?’ or ‘how can i make my penis/vagina larger/smaller?’- the list
goes on and on. However, neither Google nor Yahoo Answers is a particularly reputable source when it comes to understanding sexual organs, leading to large amounts of confusion, particularly in the case of teens, who are often left without a fully comprehensive sexual education. So let’s get some stuff straight about the penis. 1. Penis size doesn’t matter There is an enormous, international industry for making money off of making people feel bad about themselves — this extends across all areas of our commercial culture, from hair color and volume to genitalia. With a few exceptions, the size and color of one’s penis simply does not matter; in terms of fertility, sexual prowess, or general health, it does not indicate health or determine how strong or attractive someone is. It does not affect how enjoyable sex is for anyone involved. There is a huge market for “enhancers,” which brings us to the second myth: 2. There is no way to make your penis larger No matter your personal feelings regarding your genitialia, you cannot change the size of your penis, aside from major reconstructive surgery. There is no miracle pill or diet that can change that part of your body.
However, smoking damages your circulatory system, and can “shrink” your penis, as can a particularly unhealthy diet — but there are far greater negative ramifications to smoking and having a non-ideal diet. Nevertheless, changing these things can change erection size and/or durationbut will not add inches as junk mail from “Dr. Oz” would claim. 3. There is no “ideal” shape/size/color of penis Human beings procreate sexually, and massive genetic variation has evolved over time in our species — no one person is completely identical to another (with the exception of identical twins). Variation is healthy and normal, and extends to penises. There are medical issues that can arise because of genetics or disease, but as a general rule, penises work quite well, no matter what they look like. There is no “perfect” penis. Much like eye color, the shape of toes, and even the length of forearms, genitals are an integral part of the body, and despite the taboo that follows them, penises are a part of 50% of the world’s body. There is unlimited variation within this 50%and all are equally good. Appreciate all aspects of your body. It’s yours, and there is no other quite like it.
Special benefits of household spices cassyMORETTO STAFF WRITER
Nowadays, with so much technology and science-based research, humans have all sorts of information available to them on how to stay healthy. “Do this, do that, eat this, eat that,” and etc. But there are some very simple and overlooked changes one can easily make to their diet to improve their health. One of these changes includes eating certain types of spices. There are many varieties of spices that offer different benefits. Some spices reduce the risk of cancer, while others help upset stomachs; some even prove to help individuals lose weight, while others have more effects. These spices are curry powder, rosemary, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper. Here are their benefits:
Curry Powder Curry powder contains curcumin, which is a powerful antiinflammatory. This makes the spice 50% more effective than Vitamin C or Vitamin E. Curry powder also helps prevent the growth of many types of cancer.
Rosemary Cooking meat at a high temperature produces a compound called heterocyclic amine, which may cause cancer. But marinating meat in a rosemary mixture prevents the formation of this compound by as much as 84%.
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
When a person’s blood sugar level is low, their brain can disguise certain signals as hunger and result in cravings for fatty and salty foods. The antioxidants in cinnamon can prevent these signals by improving the way cells metabolize glucose.
Nutmeg helps prevent cavities in the teeth. Each mouth hold millions of bacteria; when one consumes nutmeg, it fights away the germs with antibacterial compounds. Nutmeg reduces plaque formation by 50%.
Ginger
Cayenne Powder
Ginger can relieve an upset stomach and help with workoutinduced soreness. Gingerol is a chemical in ginger that reduces inflammation and blocks nerve pathways that process pain.
Capsaicin is a compound found in Cayenne Pepper that gives the spice its “burn.” When consumed, it warms up your body internally, which fires up one’s metabolism and helps to burn extra calories and fat. Illustration by Isabella Froman
15 Senior Kylie Oden earns three-year basketball record SPORTS
mirandaMCCANN EDITORIAL BOARD
Scoring over 1,000 points in a three year span and earning herself the title of “ThreePoint Oden,” senior Kylie Oden has certainly made a name for herself at SRHS. Oden first picked up a basketball when she was just three years old, and has stuck with her sport ever since. “I kind of. . . just started playing, but had people along the way to always inspire me. Especially my Papa!” “My most memorable game was in Reno in 8th grade,” Oden shares. “I had thrown up from food poisoning, smashed my knee, and broke my nose, and still played though. Hit seven threes in a row in the game, had a total of 24 points, and helped lead my team to end up winning the game by two for the championship. The energy was insane. We had drawn a huge crowd just to watch us play, even parents and fans from other teams.” Oden has been noticed outside of SRHS. She has been written about in the Press Democrat, as well as USA Today High School Sports. Nothing goes unnoticed by Oden, and she appreciates the praise she acquires. “I have been blessed to have been awarded with high honors and awards from tourna-
ments, coaches, leagues, the paper. I am truly thankful.” When she’s not on the court, Oden volunteers at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts in the kindergarten classroom and helps out at volleyball practices with her mom or basketball with her dad. “I go to the gym. . . a lot,” Oden says. “Time management is a huge thing. If I don’t have it, I’m toast. I figure out the practice time, generally 3-5, go to practice, come home, and shower immediately, then it’s straight to homework or studying. For game days, the time before the game was crucial to get the homework done since I would be getting home late.” Oden doesn’t let injuries stop her. “[I have seriously injured] my nose, wrist, ankles, fingers, knees, [and have had] concussions, muscle tears and strains. But I play through all of them. Injury is a part of the sport.” “Don’t stop believing in your dream through your sport. . . Work harder, train harder, play harder because there’s always someone right behind you working for the same thing. No matter what, though, you have to play with your heart and passion. If you love it, try and work for it.”
Photos by Sunce Franicevic and Lindsay Bribiescas
Above: Kylie Oden cheers at the Welcome Back Rally earlier this year. She has been an active member of Student Government since her junior year. Left: Oden awaits a pass during one of her basketball games. Oden has been dedicated to basketball since she was four years old, and has played for the girls team at school for all four years of high school. She ended her high school basketball career on the very successful girls varsity team.
Track and field’s Big Cat Invitational 1 2
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1. An SRHS student competes in the discus competition. Discus, as well as many other track and field sports, are important parts of the Olympic Games. 2. Freshman Rico Mazzantini, sophomore Chandler Garrison, and Junior Toby Alongi ran in the boy’s 1600 meter run. Over 20 other boys competed in this race. 3. Junior Sarah Catching competes in the pole-vaulting competition. “It was such a great time. Everyone had such positivity and the new members of the team did really well. I was proud to be there,” said Catching. 4. A student from Technology High School in Rohnert Park succeeds in the high jump competition. Students from all over the county came to Nevers Field to participate in this special Big Cat meet.
Photos by Siena Lake and Lindsay Bribiescas Page layout by Milena Duarte
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PANTHER LIFE
Multicultural Week 2015 1 2
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Photos by Tracy Fernandez and Dakota McGranahan 1: The Aztec dance was performed by a group of volunteer dancers. The Aztec culture originates from Mexico City, and the dance is called “Danza Azteca” in Spanish and “Mi’totiliztli” in Nahuatl. 2: The dance on Asia day was organized by the Sonoma Vietnamese Association which invites local students to particpate in this performance. This dance has been a central part of the SRHS Multicultural Week for the past few years.
3: Senior Ian Johnson plays the drums on Africa Day. Many students were invited to participate in the drumming on the senior steps.
5: One dancer performs during Latino Day’s dance. “The dance represents the eternal search of man for cosmic harmony and integration,” says SRHS student Jessica Arroyo.
4: Junior Maria Isabel Ruiz performs during the Aztec dance on Latino Day. “[Dancing is] the way we pray to creator and mother earth, the dancing is our way of offering. It’s the way we connect to the energies around us and the cosmos,” said Ruiz.
6: One dancer, David Luo, played one of the lion heads during the dance on Asia Day. He has been dancing the part for 4 years. During the dance, the lions eat lettuce because the words for lettuce and for fortune are pronounced the same way in Mandarin.