The Highlander September 2016 Vol VIII Issue I
Carlmont High School — Belmont, California
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BMI less than 30 Deep voice
height exceeding 6 feet
Confident stature
AVERY ADAMS
Picking apart the successful professional
Certain physical features determine dominance in business world Megan Tao
No suit, no tie, no promotion. Unfortunately, the idea that looks matter doesn’t stay in the high school environment. The high school election isn’t the only competition determined by popularity and looks, as the workforce has also fallen victim to the idea that looks matter. Some important traits of a successful business leader are being organized, credible, and devoted to their work. “A successful business leader needs to be somebody who is not afraid to stand out, which requires risk taking and courage because success comes at the risk of failure,” said ASB and leadership teacher Jim Kelly. These are all reasonable adjectives that describe CEOs. However, people don’t talk about the other traits that one looks for when choosing a CEO. The physical traits. According to a study done at the Australian National Univer-
sity, a 6-foot tall man can earn about 1.5 percent more than a workmate who is 5-foot-10. “The wage gain from another 2 inches of height is approximately equal to the wage gain from one more year of labor market experience,” said Professor Andrew Leigh, who led the study. Leigh explained the results of the study to be stemmed from the idea that taller people command more respect than shorter people. “I think that height shouldn’t matter because it doesn’t define anything that you’re capable of doing,” said freshman Sarah Stulbarg. Having a tall stature is linked with confidence, which helps with being a successful leader, but there are other ways to contribute and lead a team. “While I lack in height, I try to make it up with having a big presence in whatever organization I’m leading by establishing credibility, being productive, contributing, and building strong relationships with my peers,” said ASB Presi-
THE FUTURE REALITY
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dent Liam Jocson. Another physical attribute that is associated with successful business leaders is having a deep voice. According to The Economist, “[students] from the business schools of University of San Diego and Duke University listened to 792 male CEOs give presentations, and found that those with the deepest voices earned $187,000 a year more than the average.” This isn’t a new trend. In the late 19th century, successful businessmen were stereotypically overweight as they could afford to indulge themselves. Although the idea that looks matter affects the majority of business people, its effects are seen more so with women. One issue that is ingrained into our society is the belief that women can’t be successful in leadership roles. Women tend to be shorter and have higher-pitched voices. Now, this poses the question of
whether the physical attributes we associate with successful business leaders are intentionally based on traits women don’t have or if the traits stem from already successful business leaders of this century. “These attributions are set because they are based on society’s perception of what successful is; if you look at Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs, you see white males being at the top,” said senior Sydney Pon. Pon attended a workshop for women of color and building resilience in a changing world. “I met a lot of women who were top executives in their field, and I think they were qualified, if not more capable than their male counterparts. A lot of these women of color I met have a lot of weight in their backpack from experiencing racial prejudice and being a woman. I think that resilience can serve women well in the business world,” said Pon. However, what if women don’t even get the chance to use that re-
BEYOND THE SCALE
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silience in the business world? Not only have studies shown that taller people get paid more, but they have an edge over shorter people in obtaining the job. In an article by The Guardian, Oxford University clinical psychology Professor Daniel Freeman said, “It’s obvious that you can have great success whatever your height, it’s just that greater height confers a bit of an advantage.” Freeman suspects that the advantage is that tall people are believed to have been better nourished as a child and to have grown up in a healthy environment that shaped them to be leaders. Seemingly, physical appearance plays a big role in who has the chance of being a successful business leader, but the core of being a leader still lies in how well one is at their job and that’s determined by non-physical characteristics. The suit, the stature, and the voice matters, but the passion and devotion to the job matters as well.
A LOOK INTO FALL SPORTS
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2 CAMPUS
September 2016
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF LATE START?
Nathan Dougherty
Natalie Troglio
Nastasja Stahl
Andrew Ramroth
“I’m still getting used to it because of traffic in the mornings. From my mom’s house, I have no problems. From my dad’s, there’s a lot more traffic due to schools starting at the same time.”
“I enjoy [late start] a lot because I can go to bed later and get more homework done. It still does affect me in the morning because my mom goes to work early, so sometimes I take the bus.”
“I like it a lot because normally when I go to school, I walk and there is always a lot of traffic. I almost got hit by a car once. Now, since there is less traffic, it cuts 10 minutes off my time.”
“I love late start so far since I don’t have a zero period and I like that flexibility in the morning; it doesn’t feel rushed. I’m hoping the students feel the same way.”
senior
junior
math teacher
sophomore
ADRIANA RAMIREZ
Required classes lead to hidden passions Brooke Chang Up the stairs, through the hallway, around the group of lost freshmen, past the office, and up two more flights of stairs; 256 steps. This is the path that he must take to his art class. Every. Single. Day. Every time this class rolls around, he finds himself staring out the window and daydreaming as the teacher lectures in the front of the room. After days of instruction, they begin their first project. Now, at least he can do something. As days go by, something changes. Each addition to the project is carefully planned and executed so he won’t mess up his masterpiece. Finally, his project is done. Instead of the relief that he expected, he feels pride. He is certain that he will receive an A+ and is actually excited to begin the next project. “I realized that art is really fascinating,” said senior illustration and design II student Brenan Lasala. “The fact that I can actually make something out of all of the random things that I’m thinking about is really cool. I’m glad that I took an art class because I realized that I enjoy it a lot.” As students get closer to their senior year and graduation, many find that the only required credit that they are missing is in the arts category, leaving them with the need to fufill a requirment.
ESTELLA LIPPI
Art student Kyle Kawakami enjoys working on his assignment in studio art. According to the official Carlmont website, all Carlmont students are required to take classes in the categories of fine arts, physical education, and foreign language in addition to their core classes, such as history, English, math, and science. The goal of this requirement is to create more well-rounded students who have a bit of experience in a variety of career fields and specialties. This allows students to be better prepared for their lives after high school, whether they choose to go to college or straight to a career.
“Each class teaches students about a new aspect of thinking,” said Carlmont art teacher Julia Schulman. “Art, for example, gives students a venue for self-expression, teaches students creativity, and stimulates intellectual, yet abstract thinking.” According to The New York Times, Ellen Winner, a professor of psychology at Boston College, claims this self-expression and abstract thinking can benefit students in many ways. “Students who study the arts are taught to envision, to persist, to learn from mistakes, and to
make critical judgements,” said Winner. Despite the benefits of taking an art class, many students resent this class requirement. These students think that it is simply a waste of time and takes their focus away from what they are truly passionate about. Junior Rhea Subramanian chose to take Art I as a sophomore and quickly realized that she did not have any hidden passions for that subject. “I won’t start doing art on my own any time soon, but I didn’t hate the class,” said Subramanian.
“I thought it was nice because I had an hour each day where I wasn’t stressed. However, I did find myself wishing that I could use the time to do homework or study for tests in my harder classes.” Other students, such as junior ceramics student Maddy Meier, discover something new and intersting while completing these class requirements. “When I first started ceramics, it was my easy class that I didn’t have to pay much attention to. I thought it would be fun and I was glad to be getting my art credit taken care of. However, as the days went by, I found that I actually enjoyed it a lot. It surprised me and I wish that I could spend more time in the class,” said Meier. Melinda Meier, Maddy Meier’s mother, also believes that arts hold hidden gems for students. “I think art classes help students by serving as an outlet for their stress; it helps to relax people. They allow the analytical parts of the brain to rest while the creative parts get a chance to work,” said Melinda Meier. Whether students enjoy fulfilling their class requirements or not, many agree that they became a more well-rounded person by learning about the different career options that they will have after their high school years are over. “I definitely recommend going into required classes with an open mind. They could help you later in life or you might find something that you really like and want to keep doing throughout your life,” said Lasala.
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CAMPUS 3
September 2016
Competition between AP scores Mackenzie O’Connell “There is no pressure from the administration or district. The pressure is a natural competitive drive. I want to win,” said advanced placement teacher Jayson Waller. Waller is not talking about a Friday night football game or an election for school president. He is talking about the reason students come to school: education. Each year, Carlmont students take advanced placement (AP) classes. Teachers and students study each day in preparation for the final AP exams, which take place in May, to prove their cumulative knowledge of the subject. The goal of AP is not only to let students challenge themselves in a college level course, but it also benefits students’ college careers, as passing these courses may allow students to save money on tuition. Though the AP exam is optional, 747 Carlmont students were enrolled in one or more AP classes and 631 students paid to take the exams last school year, according to Instructional Vice Principal Jennifer Cho. AP tests have caused students to compete all over the country for high test scores. Although the focus is on the kids to pass, teachers and parents tend to brag of high test scores. Cho said, “534 students received a three or better on an AP exam last year. All our teachers take pride in what they do.” Teachers at Carlmont compete against
each other to see who is able to get the bragging about certain teachers and occahighest passing rate at Carlmont each year. sionally the scores of their child. AP U.S. History teacher Jarrod Harrison Scots parent Jennifer Webb said, “I said, “It has been a joke between me and think there has been a lot more education Mr. Gomez. I think a lot of new teachers and discussion about encouraging kids to teaching AP feel like they have to measure find the right mix of AP and non AP classup and will be first to ask what your pass es. In general, the parents I’ve interacted rate is, but not share their own.” with tend to keep their students’ classes and AP U.S. and European History teacher scores private. “ Waller competes against Harrison, as the To some parents, the bragging of their two teach the same information to a differ- childrens’ grades and scores appears as if ent group of students. those parents have an insecurity. “AP teach“Ever yone ers are espeshould be proud “While the AP pass rate of a specific of their kids, but cially careful to examine their you shouldn’t teacher is not publicized by our passing rates them on a school nor is it the only factor that put and continuhigh pedestal. determines a good teacher, students Some parents ously improve one year to the go on and on often talk amongst themselves next. AP teachand push it too and form perceptions about which much by putting ers have the desire and also feel teachers have the highest pass rates kids higher than the pressure to the kids who on AP exams.” prepare students haven’t taken Jennifer Cho the best they those classes. Instructional Vice Principal can. Teachers Parents like to often eagerly over shoot it. It’s await their retheir insecurity sults and have conversations around what and they have to boost their kids up,” said went well and what needs improvement,” parent Denise Pace. said Cho. Some students feel that competition As teachers achieve high pass rates, par- is overrated, and that the learners are the ents aim to get their child into a certain ones who give teachers their rates and declass in hopes of a high test score. Parents serve more credit. gossip and share their knowledge of classes, “I think talking about pass rates and the
different pass rates between classes is not fair because it’s all based on students. The material is the same and they should not brag about their smart students because we are the ones taking the test,” said junior Liz Boman, who is currently enrolled in an AP class. Ultimately, the chat between students and parents does not benefit them in the long run as Carlmont’s policy does not allow students to choose their teacher based on preference. The administration believes Carlmont is filled with prepared teachers, as there are many factors that go into a successful teaching style. Cho said, “While the AP pass rate of a specific teacher is not publicized by our school nor is it the only factor that determines a good teacher, students often talk amongst themselves and form perceptions about which teachers have the highest pass rates on AP exams. These perceptions are sometimes accurate and sometimes misguided.” Many high school students all over the United States participate in the AP exam each year for a series of subjects. The AP total registration website recorded approximately more than 370,000 students who registered themselves online for over 730,000 AP exams. Webb said, “In the rare cases that someone has bragged, I find it initially obnoxious. Then I realize that they are probably insecure and feel a little sorry for them.”
Students take on summer internships
Experience gained through summer opportunities Celine Yang
Watch out, summer job. Internships are on the market, and they’re proving to be popular. According to a Pew Research study, the number of teens taking on a summer job has dropped from 58 percent in 1978 to 38 percent in 2014. This trend has been in the making for decades. Many students are choosing to invest their summers in internships rather than in jobs. Paid or unpaid, they offer something that summer jobs may not have. “It was about the experience. If I was working out of a garage, that would’ve been great as well. However, at an internship such as this, you can do programming in a professional environment with other people who share similar interests,” said junior Edward Vendrow. Vendrow interned at Lockheed Martin, an American aerospace company. He’s one of the several students who interned at techoriented companies. One factor for this change in priorities is due to college tuition. According to the Atlantic, an average student’s annual college tuition is equal to 991 hours of work. That doesn’t mean that paid internships pay more. Vendrow’s salary would cover “maybe 1.5 percent of a year’s college tuition.”
Either way, paying for college by working over the summer isn’t as realistic as it was for many students. Due to this impracticality, many teens have changed their game plan for their future. Money isn’t a priority for everyone. Some choose to focus on finding their interests, such as junior Maddy Li, who interned at an online publishing company. Li said, “Money isn’t a priority, whereas experience helps me so that I can learn more about what I want to do [in the future]. For example, from this internship I realized that I would rather not work in an office.” Instead of money, internships offer a boost that could help students in the long-term -- experience in a specific field. “The experience from this internship could help me in the future when applying to companies. I can get a higher-paid job and make more than minimum wage,” said junior Josh Vendrow, who interned at cPrime, a computer company. The modern college application is formulated in a way to emphasize experience. In The New Yorker, author and journalist Malcolm Gladwell illustrates the history of college applications. Gladwell claims that in modern times, the most important category is “that mysterious index of ‘personal’ qualities. According
ESTELLA LIPPI
Edward Vendrow utilizes his knowledge from his summer technology internship at Lockeheed MArtin, an American Aerospace Company, by writing codes. to Harvard’s own analysis, the personal rating was a better predictor of admission than the academic rating.” One way for students to increase their ‘personal rating’ is by showing interest in and excelling at a particular field. Internships offer that appeal. These three students were able to gain experience not possible without the opportunity given through internships. It’s not that internships are necessarily better than a summer job. Priorities are evolving, and they differ for every student.
“One thing that’s good for one person might not be good for another. For me, I think that kids need to learn how to be hardworking and be responsible for themselves, which is why I chose to get a job,” said junior Kalea Pasion, who lifeguarded over the summer and continues to do so throughout the school year. For students who take on an internship, it could mean the difference between being good and great. As for Edward Vendrow, he already has an interest in program-
ming and coding. One extension that he coded to help out with his brother’s internship reduced a week’s worth of data entry into a half-hour’s worth. Edward Vendrow said, “I wasn’t really in it for the money. I wanted to focus on experience. I want to pursue my passion, and it just happens that I got paid for it.” Students will always have a chance to learn, whether that means applying to the local Jamba Juice or calling 15 different companies before finding an opportunity.
4 NEWS
September 2016
America’s waste problem grows
INFORMATION FROM A REPORT ABOUT MILLENNIAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS CREATED BY UNICEF AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Nate Godwin In the months leading up to the 2016 Rio Olympics, there was great concern over the dangerous water quality in Guanabara Bay. Scientists had found dangerous organisms that could harm athletes competing in aquatic sports. In the middle of the Olympics, a Belgian sailor, Evi Van Acker, fell ill and had to drop out of her competition. These viruses can cause a variety of illnesses that can be life-threatening if not treated properly. All of these disease-causing pathogens are found in human feces. The headlines that followed these findings ignored something even more shocking, Rio’s water crisis is not an anomaly, it is commonplace in the developing world. Senior Kyle Kawakami said, “I heard about the dirty water leading up to Rio but once it started no one talked about it. It’s scary to hear how many people are being affected by the waste crisis and
how dangerous it can be.” A report by UNICEF and the World Health Organization found that 2.4 billion people do not have access to proper sanitation facilities. Furthermore, Cholera, caused by poor sanitation, is the cause of over 700,000 infant deaths each year around the world. In India, over a billion gallons of raw sewage and industrial waste enter the Ganges River each day. The glaring reality is that the human race as a whole needs to change how it treats and disposes of waste. “It’s not something you really think about here, in the U.S., that people in the world don’t have the sewage system and plumbing like we have,” said junior Miguel Encarnacion. Large-scale waste treatment is a relatively new development. It was not until 2000, that 90 percent of the United States’ waste was treated before disposal. This was put in place following a mas-
sive engineering overhaul in the 20th Century within the U.S. to build sewage systems. The rest of the world cannot follow the same process as the United States. Building large, underground sewage networks requires time and money; these are not things developing countries have. So to help curb the growing waste crisis there must be innovation and greater oversight. There is now a great need for sanitation technologies that remove waste from the water and make disposal safer. Scientists are actively researching different ways to help developing nations curb the waste crisis. A common idea is “Community Led Total Sanitation” (CLTS) which is based upon the education of a whole community. This idea hopes to spur change to stop open defecation and mobilize communities to actively stop water pollution. Another approach requires local enterprises building sanitation facilities and charging fees per use
of the system. This plan would not be as costly and could allow for faster development instead of requiring large payouts from governments. The third leading idea is using container based toilets that are installed in homes for free and then require a monthly fee for upkeep and disposal. Organizations and companies are already employing these strategies but cannot operate at largescale yet. The waste crisis is not a newly developing problem. Since 1990, The World Health Organization and UNICEF have been monitoring the world’s progress of providing sustainable drinking water and basic sanitation to developing nations. In 2000, members of the United Nations signed the Millennium Declaration which later became the Millennial Development Goals (MDGs). This agreement set forth a goal to half the total number of people living without sustainable drinking wa-
ter and sanitation by 2015. The progress of the MDGs was slowed by the individual difficulties of developing nations who had to battle poverty, instability, and vast population growth. While the MDGs’ goal for drinking water was met five years early in 2010, the goal for sanitation was missed by more than 700 million people across the world. According to the report completed in 2015 by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, seven out of ten people who do not have improved sanitation systems live in rural areas of the world. Rural areas often have less continuous access to a clean running water supply. This issue leads to waste being deposited into nature. As the waste crisis grows and more people fall victim to illness, countries must meet regulations for water quality and invest more in the world’s waste disposal. Without any progress, water pollution could continue to grow and possibly worsen.
Jamba Juice returns due to popular demand Jill Albertson
After its departure from the Carlmont Village Shopping Center in 2011, Jamba Juice made a triumphant return into the Belmont community on Aug. 29. Due to popular demand from the community, Jamba Juice is back in the position where Yoppi Yogurt once stood. This time, its management has high hopes of staying there permanently. Carlmont Village Shopping Center Operations Manager,
Mike Picone said, “We believe that bringing Jamba Juice back into the village will have a positive impact in our community. There have been multiple requests to bring it back for a while, and we try to accommodate to the public as best as we can. Jamba Juice is the type of business that attracts a multitude of different people across the demographic, so it will encourage a lot more business for the shopping center as well.” After its grand opening on Aug. 29, Carlmont students are
already excited about the return of Jamba Juice. Sophomore Paul Trembley said, “I am thrilled that Jamba Juice has made a return to the shopping center. It was very upsetting when it left. I am definitely a huge Jamba Juice fan.” With 14 other storefronts on the peninsula, Jamba Juice is known for their customer service and healthy food options. Belmont Jamba Juice store owner, Steve Maltz said, “We were corporate before and we
just became a franchise, which has been successful on our other storefronts, so with great customer service, we plan to keep up the trend.” Many Carlmont students find Jamba Juice convenient, not only as a close food option but also for job opportunities. Junior Emma Posern said, “I’m really happy they brought Jamba Juice back because it’s a great place to work. After school, I just walk down to the shopping center and I get to make smoothies all
day, which to me, is a pretty great way to make money.” The return of Jamba Juice has received mostly positive responses from Carlmont students as well as others in the area. According to Maltz, the reopening has been met with great success. Maltz said, “All we’ve heard so far is great feedback from the community. I’d like to thank the community and all of the Carlmont students for such a warm welcome.”
FEATURES 5
September 2016
Society’s false sense of security Hanelei Pham
Shoes, jacket, belt, and jewelry in the plastic bin. Remove your laptop and all large electronics from your bag. Please step up to the metal detector. Every student has heard tales about the old days. This was the time when people could arrive at the airport 20 minutes before a flight or meet loved ones at the gate right as they got off the plane. But in the post 9/11 world, airports are guarded by TSA and security has increased significantly. The Sept. 11 attacks sparked the creation of the Travel Security Administration (TSA), an agency committed to “ensuring the freedom of movement for people and commerce,” according to the TSA website. However, many believe that TSA doesn’t provide security but rather the illusion of it: security theater. According to Bruce Schneier, a cryptographer, computer security and privacy specialist, “Security theater refers to security measures that make people feel more secure without doing anything to actually
improve their security.” So while the long security lines, screenings, and random pat downs at airports promote the facade of safety, reports show that TSA isn’t always able to intercept threats. In 2015, the Department of Homeland Security conducted a series of tests across the nation in which “red teams” attempted to smuggle banned items through security. TSA failed 67 of the 70 tests. This would be like the terrorists getting an A with that 95 percent. Though the term was originally coined to describe TSA protocols, security theater is more widespread than just airport security. For example, according to Schneier, checking ID badges hasn’t proven to increase safety in any way. However, the image of burly security officers checking ID cards gives the impression of safety. “A good example of security theater is bag checkers at baseball games, concerts, or amusement parks. They don’t really check what’s in your bag. Sometimes they just glance in and assume that it’s clear, even though you could have hidden a knife or something dangerous at the bottom,” said
junior Sammi Owyang. Security is something done to promote safety. Nonetheless, for some, security is also a feeling, and the perception of security can be more powerful than security itself. Additionally, security theater can serve as a deterrent; those intending harm are scared off by the fake measures put in place. “The idea of tricking ourselves on safety is both genius and stupid. The idea of security in our heads allows us to do more; it calms the masses. We aren’t frozen with fear and can keep functioning as a society. At the same time it makes us extremely vulnerable and easily manipulated,” said junior Edison Bai. To some, security theater exemplifies a societal weakness and reflects poorly upon human nature and modern culture. Owyang said, “Security theater is an example of how society covers up problems rather than directly addressing or fixing them. We trick ourselves into feeling safe and blindly believe that everything is alright.” In the grand scheme of things, security theater provides small benefits for its economic costs. The President’s 2017 Fiscal Year budget
gives $7.6 billion to TSA, according to the TSA budget. Schneier writes in an essay “Beyond Security Theater” that “If we spend billions defending our rail systems, and the terrorists bomb a shopping mall instead, we’ve wasted our money. If we concentrate airport security on screening shoes and confiscating liquid, and the terrorists hide explosives in their brassiers and use solids, we’ve wasted our money.” Not only do people perceive that their money is being misspent, but also their time. According to sophomore Nicole Turk, her father and elderly grandmother were once detained by airport security for three hours in order for the secuirty to perform a random check, delaying the entire flight. Despite security theater’s apparent flaws, many believe that it will continue to be treated as real security. Bai said, “We are deceiving ourselves, wasting time and resources to pull the wool over our own eyes. However, the fact remains that security theater is probably here to stay. People are good at denial, if we can’t actually be safe, then we will try our hardest to convince ourselves that we are.”
High school athletes crumble under pressure Rachel Borshchenko According to the National Alliance for Sports, 70 percent of student athletes quit sports by the time they enter high school. With their rigorous high school schedules, many students quit the sports they used to love because of the changes in high school. There are many reasons why high school students would quit sports they’ve been participating in since childhood. Sophomore and former gymnast Michelle Tenin quit because of the pressure that she feared high school would put on her. “I wasn’t ready for next season, and I knew it would be stressful balancing homework and practice. The time commitment was huge, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to take it,” said Tenin. Sophomore Katie Fetterman, who quit basketball as a freshman, was also stressed because of sports. Fetterman said, “Basketball became really stressful for me with all the classes I was taking. It wasn’t something I was 100 percent passionate about and I didn’t want to hold back my team like that.” The social aspect of teams plays a big part in why people choose to play or quit a sport because of the bond that is created within the team. Tenin said, “I also quit partially because my entire team quit too. Everyone else kind of just followed each other’s
lead because nobody really liked it that much anymore, so once one girl quit, another quit, and another.” Soccer coach John Wilkinson coaches three competitive girls soccer teams. He said that the reason behind girls and boys choosing to play a sport is different, and therefore can lead to different reasons for them quitting. “Girls are different than boys, because many [girls] play for the socialization. Girls will quit mainly around a high school age once they gain independence like being able to drive, and have other options,” said Wilkinson. Injuries are common in high-level sports, and are one of the reasons parents are reluctant for kids to play sports. Sophomore Elise Haugerud, a former gymnast, said, “I quit gymnastics because I had two stress fractures in my elbow and I had to have surgery. With three and a half hours of practice everyday, it was too much for my body to handle.” According to a study done by Kim D. Barber Foss, high school sports cause 2 million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits, and 30,000 hospitalizations yearly. Additionally, 21 percent of traumatic brain injuries are sustained by youth sports players, according to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting Pre-Conference Program. Although injuries can be an issue, Wilkinson said he has never seen someone quit just because of an injury. “I have seen a lot of ACL tears in soccer. [That] can take someone out for a season, but I’ve never seen someone
drop out permanently because of these injuries,” he said. Getting injured can be detrimental to high school athletes, whether or not they quit because of that injury. Twenty seven percent of boys and 29 percent of girls reportedly quit a sport because they were injured. Some feel that teenagers are pushed too hard when playing sports, and that changes should be made. “It really depends on the person, but I think it’s stressful for high school students because it’s hard to balance sports get good grades at the same time. It’s also a huge time commitment as well,” said Fetterman. Jillian Osheroff, a senior at San Mateo High School, felt that there was not a place for both sports and academics in her life. Osheroff quit volleyball, basketball, and soccer upon entering high school in order to better balance her time. “Both academics and sports take up so much time. It’s tough to succeed in school and fully enjoy playing on a sports team if you’re stressed about both,” Osheroff said. According to a study done for the United States Tennis Association, the number one reason that students provide for quitting sports is a lack of fun. Tenin saw this firsthand as she continued to advance in gymnastics. “When you first start it’s fun, but it gets more intense. The higher you go up, the more they expect of you, and some people just can’t handle that pressure,” she said. Whatever the reason may be, high school students have a tough decision on whether or not to continue with sports. Since 2002 R
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VIRTUAL REALITY BLURRIN Justin Som Virtual reality is by far the most immersive way of combining video games with a person’s surroundings. Originally limited to the gaming world, the concept of virtual reality was limited because of the lack of technology that sufficiently adapted to the idea. In the 21st century, virtual reality is resurfacing with the help of its much more attractive cousin, Augmented Reality (AR). Unlike its predecessor, AR takes advantage of a pre-installed camera in order to place virtual objects into a local environment
instead of creating a virtual one. “Since the technology is relatively new, there are only a few things that are actually immersive so far,” said Carlmont junior Earl Kwofie. Kwofie used the Samsung VR headset in gaming. “With the huge business incentive though, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be improved upon it.” The key to success with AR may have been in the idea of placing virtual objects like Pokemon into one’s real life. While virtual reality transports users to different worlds, AR places virtuality and its objects directly into a person’s life and surroundings. As such, that feeling of going through
mere role-playing is diminished. But the applications of AR aren’t limited to gaming. AR also allows medical instructors to present virtual anatomical structures to students. These virtual constructions not only create a better understanding for visual learners, but also help to maintain the interest of the viewer.Viewers can walk around a virtual model that has the same properties of an original tissue sample. Utilizing an array of sensor and location trackers, the simulation will monitor a person’s movements in order to display the correct angle of the virtual model. Then, using another program,
instructors can si ies which have alr It is possible to different layers of past dissections. Michigan State employed such a medical student Called the M.I.D Immersive Digi Nexus), the prog seemingly 3D ho dents wearing “s which are similar “We really ge the human body dre DaSilva, the Headache and Effort lab, at th
GAMERS Rachel Borshchenko It’s 2:35 a.m. on a Thursday night. Carlmont senior Raffi DeSotto sits at his desk, controller in his hand, in another world. Piles of unfinished homework sit beside him, pushed aside and replaced by a TV screen and a gaming console. His brand new game just came in the mail, and he has to play it. With the releases of new technologies by major companies like Google, Samsung, and HTC, some, including director Steven Spielberg, who thinks virtual reality could be dangerous, are worried that young adults are becoming and will continue to become more isolated from the real world. According to the M&A advisory firm Digi-Capital, the virtual
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Michigan in an interview with the tech magazine, Popular Mechanics. “You can cut into the brain [or] jump into the body. The experience is really inspiring.” Similarly, the United States military started using VR as early as 2012. Locked into a closed training environment with specially designed gun models and VR goggles on their heads, soldiers currently experience simulations without the need for an advanced physical training environment. With VR in use, practice missions and drills are repeated with great ease. According to an article published by the military, soldiers can experience any environment imaginable with a few simple downloads and a brief “reset time.” Instructors modify the environment in
whatever way they see fit; obstacles like furniture or windows can be added at will. “You can mold the situation, and you can do it as many times as you want and give younger guys a chance to step up and be leaders,” said Sgt. Charles Haywood. “I can see us in the future using this system to conduct rehearsals.” In general, the applications of the new VR and AR technology are almost endless. The two applications bog down the costs of any simulation made prior to their induction, and arguably, the feeling that comes with the technology is much more realistic for users.
S FIND DEEPER IMMERSION reality industry could be worth an estimated $30 billion by 2020. Such a growth in the industry could make virtual reality much more accessible and common for people to use in their daily lives. While virtual reality could be considered a new and innovative concept, some believe it has the potential to harbor isolationism and social issues, especially for the younger generations. In their book, “Infinite Reality”, which discusses the human brain and virtual reality, reasearchers Jim Blascovich of UC Santa Barbara and Jeremy Bailenson of Stanford claim that virtual reality users will be distant from society. According to Blascovich and Bailenson, “The Internet and virtual realities easily satisfy
such social needs and drives— sometimes so satisfying that addicted users will withdraw physically from society.” The novel “Ready Player One” explores the issue of using technology to be isolated from the real world, but it portrays a much more extreme version of an issue that is already evident today.The world that “Ready Player One” predicts is one where teenagers are extremely isolated from the rest of society, to the point where they attend school online. DeSotto does not believe virtual reality could go to such extremes, but he does think it may change the world from what it is today. “Since virtual reality is so extremely immersive, I’m sure it could bring society more into interacting through technology than
in real life, possibly more than smart phones already have. I’m not sure if it will come to how the book predicts the future to be but I think it definitely will impact the way the world works,” said DeSotto. Junior Adrian Afif has been following virtual reality since it was just an idea on Kickstarter, an online community of startup products. Though Afif is a fan of virtual reality technology, he does believe that it may change the way society operates. “Virtual reality will definitely lead to a more isolated society. It is one of those systems that is really meant for one person; you can’t just have a friend come over and play together. I feel like people will start meeting and playing online more,” said Afif.
Senior Monojit Chakraborty tested Samsung’s Oculus virtual reality glasses in a PC gaming store. “I believe that virtual reality and augmented reality combined will change the game of screens, monitors, and TV’s. Instead of televisions, people are going to have the TV follow them on the top right of their vision as they go about their day,” said Chakraborty. “On facebook you can communicate whenever you want, with literally anyone in the world. However, that connection does not feel the same as if you physically meet them.” Many could take this as a sign that people will become less social and more isolated, but Chakraborty believes that it will simply change the way that people communicate.
8 LIFESTYLE
September 2016
Eating habits influence the recovery from sickness Nicole del Cardarye
A pain on the side of your throat. As miniscule as this pain may seem, it has the possibility, within only a matter of days, to create one of the most common illnesses, a cold. When it comes to sickness, there are many common misconceptions between what can aid the recovery and what can harm it. Fruits and vegetables have natural sugars that are good for the body and provide it with fuel. Unfortunately, foods with high sugar content such as oreos and ice cream contain refined processed sugars that no longer provide the body with long lasting energy. When one becomes ill, their immune system begins to fight the bacteria or virus, but because of the stress that the immune system is already experiencing, the immune system undergoes further suppression. Glucose is a common component of foods that is consumed daily in many different forms. According to Donna Deforbes, a writer for Eco-Mothering, glucose competes with Vitamin C in humans’ bodies , resulting in a weakened immune system. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that repairs connective tissues and acts as an antioxidant. Vitamin C can be found in many citrus fruits or green vegetables such as bell peppers, oranges, broccoli and cucumbers. Most plants and animals are able to produce their own Vitamin C by converting metabolized glucose. However, humans do not have this same capability, because our bodies cannot process glucose as efficiently
as other living animals and organisms can. According to the Huffington Post, when one feels themselves beginning to fall ill, all refined and processed sugars must become off limits. “Sugar is really bad for you in general; whenever I eat it I can feel it weakening my immune system. I believe that natural foods like fruits and vegetables have significant vitamins that will boost your metabolism,” said junior Shelby Young. It is a scientific myth that dairy has the power to create an excessive amount of mucus or worsen your cold conditions. However, recent studies conducted by scientists suggest that only a certain type of milk will cause respiratory inflammation. In a study produced by Medical Hypotheses, specific breeds of cows produce milk that contains a certain protein called beta-CM-7. This protein has been proven to stimulate the mucus glands in one’s digestive tract. “As I am a huge milk drinker myself, knowing that milk could possibly worsen my cold conditions is shocking,” said junior Matthew Matias. When your body is fighting a cold, there is already an overproduction of mucus. By consuming the beta-CM-7 protein during this time of vulnerability, you are creating more stress for your immune system. Not all types of milk need to be avoided during a time of sickness, however the ones with the beta-CM-7 protein have been scientifically proven to thicken one’s mucus. Along with eating healthy and staying clear of dairy, a very important aspect to staying healthy is getting the right amount of sleep. According to Nationwide Children’s
ESTELLA LIPPI
Foods such as nuts, broccoli , pepper, and supplements boost metabolism and strengthen immune system when one becomes sick. Hospital, the average teenager needs exactly nine and a half hours of sleep, however, the average amount of sleep a teenager gets every night is around seven hours. Sleep has a pretty basic role when it comes to general health. While sleeping, one’s blood vessels and heart are being repaired. Optimal growth time for the human body occurs when one is sleeping. “I make sure to get a lot of sleep as sleep is important for your growth. Freshman year I got really sick and even developed mono. My doctor said it was partly due to my lack of sleep,” said Young. According to Eric J. Olson M.D., an author for the Mayo Clinic, sleep impacts how fast one can recover and how well they can fight off viruses. During sleep, cytokines
are released which help induce sleep as well as fight off infections or take down inflammation. Little to no sleep will decrease the amount of these proteins released into one’s body and allow diseases and sicknesses to suppress one’s immune system. According to the website todayifoundout.com, people become far more susceptible to illnesses during the fall and winter. Certain viruses can become more stable during the fall or winter due to the decrease in temperature. Additionally, the cold weather suppresses people’s immune systems as they are not maintaining homeostasis. “If I feel myself beginning to develop a cold I’ll try to keep warm and not do anything crazy that will cause me to use too much energy,” said senior Gia Stavros.
Fast food giants losing business to local restaurants Jackson Monge McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, KFC, Carl’s Jr., and Taco Bell. These are a few of the names that pop into a person’s head when fast food is mentioned. Despite their status as mega corporations, many of these chains are losing ground to their biggest rivals, small local startups offering healthier and higher quality foods. To counter this they have made desperate changes to maintain their current following. Take McDonald’s for example: in commercials they use photo editing to make their burgers more appealing. Ronald McDonald, originally marketed towards young children, is now been portrayed as a hip cool clown for the adolescent crowd. Startups have never had to make these drastic changes in the presentation of their product, they already have the taste, look, and texture established after a few visits from the customers. Many of the small businesses that are popular in the Belmont-San Carlos area do what the fast food giants seek to accomplish: create a more chic menu with healthier foods with fresher ingredients. For example, McDonald’s now sells Gilroy garlic fries. However, the only reason
the location of Gilroy is in the name is to give an idea of freshness and locally sourcing ingredients. Fare PDQ on El Camino is a reflection of what fast food restaurants are trying to be: a restuarant that uses locally sourced ingredients, and fresh hand made sliders (instead of reheated). Steven Spitts, the owner of Fare worked for a money management firm for some large fast-food chains. “At the firm I worked at we noticed that the stock value and income of many fast food restaurants were falling. While the better burger industry [such as In-N-Out, Five Guys, and the Counter] were gaining more customers, more income, and more recognition. Quality and freshness are what people want.” Because many people enjoy fresh ingredients, many fast food restaurants are shifting towards higher quality ingredients. According to their website, McDonald’s is taking steps to remove high fructose corn syrup and preservatives from their meals. Mike Andres, the president of McDonald’s USA, said, “More than ever, people care about their food – where it comes from, what goes into it and how it’s prepared.” Ironically, one contributing factor to fast food mega-chains losing revenue is the
attempt to appease the growing desire for fresh and healthier meals, but higher quality ingredients means higher prices for customers to pay. Carlmont sophomore Andrew Joo reflects on fast food chains’ drastic changes: “I used to go to McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and other fast food [chains], but I slowly grew out of it. The french fries tasted soggy and reheated several times. The burgers really had no substance or a lot of flavors. And then they updated their menus which made all the prices almost double. That didn’t make a lot of sense; fast food chains are supposed to be cheap and a quick meal, but changing that gets rid of loyal customers that they rely on for business.” According to the NASDAQ stock exchange website, Wendy’s has lost over $634,945 in profit from its stocks. McDonald’s itself went through a similar rework of its menu and ingredients, and it lost over $2 million in revenue. This happened to Coca Cola in the 1980s when they introduced a new formula to compete with diet soft drinks. Loyal customers were against changing the formula even though the taste would hardly change if at all. The feedback was so negative that to save their own company they had to resort back to the classic formula.
Falafel, a startup restuarant that sells vegetarian street food, also noticed how the fast food industry is changing. The owner of Falafel, who wishes to only be called Rawan, said, “I think it’s surprising when you go to other [restaurants] and you don’t have the crunch from the vegetables, and tastes like it was prepared much earlier and reheated. And customers enjoy the [crunch] of salads. We put a lot of effort making sure what we make tastes fresh, healthy, and clean. This is because more and more people are wanting to be healthier and more energetic. I think that the fast food industry is changing, because of all the documentaries attacking the industry. And people are eating fast food less, because they know more of what is inside of it.” Despite company mottos and slogans of “I’m lovin it” or “Now that’s better”, many customers are realizing that they just don’t love what the fast food chains are serving and doing. This is a large reason why people are gravitating toward local startups rather than large fast food chains. Spitts said, “People like higher quality foods and freshness in their foods.” This trend has begun the rise of startup restaurants, and the slow downfall of the fast food mega-chains.
LIFESTYLE 9
September 2016
A deeper look into summer learning loss Summer vacation causes students to fall behind during the school year Lily Bakour “Ugh! I can’t remember!” Most students can relate to this feeling in the beginning of the school year. Students are found forgetting large portions of what they learned the previous school year due to the extended summer vacation, usually lasting around three months long. According to RAND Corporation, a non-profit organization made to address issues involving security, health, education, sustainability, growth, and development, students can lose one to two months worth of the overall knowledge the school year brings throughout the time of summer. After months of tests, finals, late nights, and accumulated stress, the last thing students or administrations want to hear is that hard work has been lost. Summer is a time where students can get a job, take time to relax, travel, explore their hobbies, and simply participate in activities that they otherwise can’t take part in during the school year. Academic training involves students’ participating in off-campus work to enhance their overall learning experience. Senior Jen Dirstine does not participate in any academic training over the summer. She said, “The school year is challenging, and I don’t think that I need to bring that stress into my summer. Getting back into school takes me a little time to adjust, but I still wouldn’t do summer work to make up for that lost time.” According to Oxford Learning, about two and a half months of math knowledge is lost, as well as two months of reading skills. Also, to prevent any learning loss, a student would need to spend around two to three hours a week doing something academic. The loss of knowledge over summer has lead schools to consider or transition to year-round school years. These consist of the same number of school days as a traditional school year, but with different breaks. The year-round style school year tries to end the “summer-slide” that most get. This is done by dividing the vacation time throughout the whole year, instead of a straight twelve week break where some students tend to find themselves lost in boredom. However, this type of school year can be detrimental to family time. As parents are not able to adapt to their child’s different schedule, they are forced to spend less time
Summer learning loss
2.6 months
of math skills are LOST over the summer
by end of
Grade 6
students who have experienced summer learning loss over the years on average are 2 YEARS BEHIND THEIR PEERS
2-3 hours
during the SUMMER VACATION is needed to prevent any learning loss
6 weeks
in the fall are spent re-learning old material
2
of reading skills are months LOST over the summer equivalent of
One Month
of overall learning is LOST after summer vacation https://www.oxfordlearning.com/summer-learning-loss-statistics/
ISABEL MITCHEL with them. As a result, students are not partaking in quality family time, creating a completely different problem to this type of school year. However, in a traditional schedule, parents have the ability to take out a chunk of their time for family, or allow their kids to sign up for summer camps while they are at work. The California Department of Education notes that teachers are found to be more tired going through an all-year school process, without a break that the long summer usually provides. This exhausted attitude directly influences the students, providing an unproductive environment in the classroom. History teacher Marcello DiCicco said, “Year-round schooling prepares you for the real world where you don’t have summer vacation, but it’s also easy for students to burn out. Summer gives you time to reset, reflect, explore, and just relax, which you don’t get the opportunity to do during the year.” On a different note, studies at John Hopkins University show that students with low-income families are collectively backtracking months of the school year’s
knowledge, while high-income students are slightly gaining more knowledge from the summer. Cara O’Connell, an elementary teacher and private tutor said, “In most cases, it really comes down to family income and the resources that are available to them. Although there are programs made to help people living in a lower sociological area, it is still not the same as other families who can get tutors and more.” Summer after summer, low-income students are slowly falling behind. This adds up to months of learning loss, affecting their academic experience at their school. Math teacher Andy Ramroth said, “Unfortunately, we can see a difference in outcome - that is not a necessity, there are tons of counterexamples - but we have a lot of students who have to take on other responsibilities, and some with privileges that all affect their academic results.” Since the families with high salaries can be surrounded by books and sent to camps, the summer does not usually affect them as negatively as others. This is a problem that different educational providers are looking into, and teachers realize the need to create a review gap in
the beginning of the school year. Senior Millan Kanaya participated in SAT Prep classes over the summer, and usually has an academic hobby to keep her on track. “Overall, I didn’t spend much time getting back to school, but I resented it because I feel like I didn’t get a break at all, and never got an emotional break from academics,” said Kanaya. Although students are falling behind academically during the school year, the break allows them to cleanse their body and focus on their emotional and mental health. Ramroth said, “It probably takes about four to six weeks for students to get back into the groove of things, but it is important to rest and have time to pursue interests and passions.” There are both pros and cons to the different types of class schedules that need to be considered. Summer may be a setback for students, but most wouldn’t give it up for anything. “It’s worth being a little behind to be able to take care of yourself and your own hobbies over the summer,” said Dirstine.
Opening Hours
1785 San Carlos Ave, Suite 2B, San Carlos CA, 94070
Monday
10:00AM-6:30PM
Tuesday
8:00AM-5:00PM
Wednesday
8:00AM-2:00PM
Thursday
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Phone: (650)-592-6396
Website: www.doctormorad.com
10 LIFESTYLE
September 2016
Looking beyond the BMI Skylar Weiss Arnold Schwarzenegger is obese. At least, he’s obese based on his body mass index calculation, according to Health.com. Finding this calculation tends to be a standard protocol in life for staying aware of your health; your doctor measures your weight and height on a systematic basis to calculate a number. You are given that number to understand how healthy your weight is. That number is identified as your body mass index, or commonly referred to as your BMI. Think about it. From a doctor’s perspective, it’s a quick, easy way to analyze weight in context with a person’s height. Each “fit” individual’s body mass is thought to correlate with his or her height, but does it always? Although there are concrete notions behind a BMI measurement, it is not the most reliable way to measure one’s fitness level, according to Medical News Today. Since BMI measures mass relative to height, it is used to estimate one’s amount of body fat. A body fat estimation may be used to represent a person’s overall fitness and health, yet the calculation does not always consider important factors of the body. According to Unity Point Health, the formula for finding a body mass index is the subject’s weight in pounds divided by their height in inches squared, then multiplied by 703. Depending on the number a person scores, he or she is classified as underweight, healthy, overweight, or obese.
Bamboo Core Fitness states an area of body fat weighs significantly less than the same area occupied by muscle. For average body types, this doesn’t completely throw off a BMI calculation; however, the body of an athlete may produce somewhat inconclusive results. “A strong person who’s dense with muscle can have a BMI that tells them they’re too heavy,” said Dr. Jason Clark, a Carlmont parent and pediatrician. “My son is a wrestler,” said Clark, “He’s stronger than most kids I see. Because he has so much muscle, his weight is considered over relative to his height, when really he’s on the leaner side because he lacks body fat.“ Although exercise and living habits make a substantial difference, a person cannot completely control his or her ability to gain or lose weight, according to CNN. The body’s structural components are important factors; stocky people and slender people alike have body types with a foundation set by genetics. “If I have a tall and thin patient with tall and lean parents, I’m generally not concerned with the fact that his or her BMI says he’s underweight or even anorexic, especially after I talk to the parents, who say that the patient eats plenty and has regular living habits,” said Clark. Health is also influenced by the location of body fat on one’s body. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, belly fat increases one’s risk of diabetes and heart disease, whereas peripheral fat, or fat be-
neath the skin in other parts of the body, is considered to be less of a health risk. So what is the point of calculating someone’s BMI if it encompasses a wide range of inaccuracy? “It’s good to look at the trends of someone’s BMI over time,” said Clark. “As long as the BMI works with the overall person, you only worry if it lowers or shoots up dramatically.” Other than calculating BMI, there are alternative methods one can use to get an idea of his or her condition of health. Body fat monitors are sold commercially. The New York Times stated that these monitors run a low-level electric current through the body. The monitor estimates fat mass using the magnitude and number of times the current is disrupted by fat masses. Measuring one’s resting heart rate is another way to have a basic understanding of endurance levels relative to one’s age and sex. Exercising also gives one an idea of his or her health and fitness such as aerobic capacity. Although it may be beneficial to have an idea of one’s BMI, fitness usually comes down to a person’s ability to do a wide range of physical tasks along with how he or she feels while conquering everyday life. “I’d define a healthy and fit person as someone who’s involved in some sort of challenging physical activity most days and who maintains a healthy diet. I’m aware of what I have to do to stay healthy, so numbers like BMI and weight don’t matter to me as long as I stay on track,” said senior Neda Sohrabi.
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Your dream is our reality
OPINION 11
September 2016
The Meredith Mindset
Survival Guide to Carlmont High School
Anya Meredith
“And I believe that good journalism... can make our world a better place.” -Christiane Amanpour
The DL on the Donald
Most people I know hate Donald Trump. Not only has he been criticized by the public, but denounced by prominent Republicans like South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. That’s pretty much unavoidable in the Bay Area, but hatred for Trump seems to be spreading beyond the liberal bubble. Many people seem inclined to vote for Hillary Clinton, but don’t know why. When I ask people why they are voting for Hillary, I usually get responses like, “Well, have you seen the competition?” Honestly, I can’t argue with that response. But I decided then that I would actually look into the competition; starting with The Donald’s website. A wave of nausea hit me as I realized that I was giving his website the satisfaction of more page views. But when I started to look around I realized that his website wasn’t completely the nonsense we hear come out of his mouth when he gives speeches on TV. Of course, I cringed at the sight of the tab that said, “Pay For the Wall,” but his website wasn’t completely repulsive. Before researching The Donald’s economic policies, I assumed that they were aimed towards pleasing his rich donors that are looking for a tax break. I learned that there actually aren’t any rich donors that could be looking for a tax break because according to his website, The Donald funds his own campaign so he doesn’t owe anything to lobbyists and special interests. Seeing this made me think that maybe The Donald isn’t solely the ignorant businessman with wispy hair that we make him out to be. I’ve realized that it was naive of me to believe the statement on The Donald’s website without researching it first. Given the past few months of public statements, I should’ve known that The Donald would flat out lie on his website. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, The Donald does not solely provide to his campaign. More than $12 million of the campaign money is from donations to the campaign. And let’s be real. All politicians lie, it’s basically a job requirement. However, The Donald is the only one I’d expect to openly lie on his website. At least Hillary lies subtly. Hillary’s email scandal resulted in many people finding it difficult to trust her. In an interview given by Fox News anchor Bret Baier, Hillary denied being guilty of anything within the email scandal because “nothing she sent was marked classified” or “the rules of her email usage were unclear.” At least Hillary attempts to hide her lies while The Donald just airs his dirty laundry out in public. Many people I know are only voting for Hillary because The Donald looks bad, not because her policies look good. Hillary may not have an entire video on political correctness on her website that’s captioned, “Political correctness takes too much time. We have too much to get done!” like The Donald, but she is often criticized for being hawkish. Hillary has demonstrated that she finds it important to keep the military involved in foreign policy unlike current President Barack Obama. In 2002, as a senator for New York, Hillary voted for the authorization of military force in Iraq. According to the website Foreign Policy, “...she claimed it was to ensure President George W. Bush was ‘in the strongest possible position to lead our country in the United Nations or in war’ and to show Saddam Hussein that the country was united.” Hillary shows the public that she’s a woman that wants to lock down on gun control but is conveniently subtle about how she wants to increase military involvement. Now, I know you may be thinking, which is the lesser of two evils in this upcoming election? My answer to this is, like it or not, one of them will be the president (unless a third party candidate really steps it up) so, do your research before deciding who you’re going to support. Don’t just blindly follow what the people around you think of the candidates, follow what you think instead.
LEEA IVANEL
Editorial
Seeking new CEO: preferably male
Some people think that women aren’t leaders simply because they don’t want to be. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, last year Kevin Roberts, the executive chairman of Saatchi & Saatchi, a British advertising agency, made a public statement that women don’t aspire to top positions, because, “Their ambition is not a vertical ambition, it’s this intrinsic, circular ambition to be happy.” It seems he’s arguing that women don’t want to be leaders. This statement is riddled with fallacies, and many of his employees thought so too. Two days after he publically commented on the ambitions of women, he officially resigned from his position. Ironically, Saatchi & Saatchi’s chief creative officer at the time was a woman. Women arguably have the potential to be even better leaders than men. This is due to the fact that women are more in touch with their emotional intelligence, and many possess the soft skills needed to be a good leader. They also tend to strive to satisfy the majority, and take emotions into account when making decisions. These common traits among women give them an advantage when it comes to the workplace, and is one of the reasons there need to be more women in positions of power. In high school and college level leadership positions, women account for close to half of the population. Yet that number plummets once they reach the business world. According to the Center for American Progress, women hold almost 52 percent of all professional jobs. So why are there so few in leadership positions?
THE Editor-in-Chief Avery Adams ScotCenter Editor-in-Chief Estella Lippi Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief Megan Tao
One of the most common arguments as to why there are so few women in high business positions is that they should not be hired over a man with the same qualifications if they have the potential to need a maternity leave at any point in their career. It is thought by some that this makes them an unreliable employee due to the fact that they could be missing significant days of work. However, instead of chastising women for taking maternity leave when they give birth, society should encourage men to stay home more often with the newborn. Companies and industries seem to hold women to higher standards than men. This year’s presidential race is an excellent example of this. Regardless of whether or not she should be president, citizens consider Hillary Clinton cold, rude, or calculating. However, these traits in a male candidate would be expressed as assertive, confident, and ambitious. Because Hillary is a woman, however, qualities that would make her a good leader are shown in a negative light. Right here in the Bay Area, there are plenty of examples of strong, successful female leaders. Such as Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo, or Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. These women, along with many others, are living proof that women are capable of much more than “a circular ambition.” Ruling out women for leadership positions in the business world leaves companies with high ranking employees that are not necessarily the best fit for the job, nor the most qualified. Will women have a voice as leaders in these fields? Or will our society continue in the misguided belief that traditional male attributes equal better leaders?
HIGHLANDER Staff Writers
Lily Bakour
Estella Lippi
Rachel Borschchenko
Anya Meredith
Hanalei Pham Justin Som
Brooke Chang
Isabel Mitchell
Megan Tao
Nicole del Cardayre
Jackson Monge
Skylar Weiss
Nate Godwin
Mackenzie O’Connell
Celine Yang
Leea Ivanel
Sophie Penn
Adriana Ramirez
Editors Faculty Adviser Justin Raisner
Jill Albertson Jordan Hanlon Connor Lin Mona Murhamer Sarah Tocatlian
The Highlander is a newspaper dedicated to providing Carlmont students, staff, and the community with high-quality news, features, and opinion articles. We want to keep our readers informed on important issues ranging from events at Carlmont to international news, and want to engage them with unique stories and images. The Highlander is a publication completely run by the students of the journalism classes at Carlmont High School. Story ideas are generated by the students and the published content is up to the discretion of the editorial staff. This month’s editorial cartoon was drawn by Leea Ivanel.
12
2016 FALL SPORTS
ALL ATHLETIC STATISTICS EXCEPT CROSS COUNTRY FROM MAXPREPS; CROSS COUNTRY STATISTICS FROM COACH JOHN LILYGREN; STATISTICS VALID AS OF SEPT. 21
SO FAR THIS SEASON... VARSITY FOOTBALL 1 WIN 3 LOSSES “It’s not that we didn’t prepare enough in the past, it’s that we made simple mistakes. We allowed the opposing team to take advantage and score against us.” Demarii Blanks Junior
GIRLS VARSITY VOLLEYBALL 2 WINS
BOYS VARSITY WATER POLO 1 WIN
GIRLS VARISTY TENNIS
CROSS COUNTRY
VARSITY BOYS PAL 1: 2ND PLACE (OF 16)
1 LOSS
1 LOSS
VARSITY GIRLS PAL 1: 3RD PLACE (OF 12)
1 WIN
0 LOSSES
GIRLS VARSITY WATER POLO 0 WINS
2 LOSSES
PHOTOS BY ISABEL MITCHELL, ADRIANA RAMIREZ, AND MACKENZIE O’CONNELL