Volume XIII, Issue III | Knowing the “no” - Page 24 | How conviction changes a life - Page 44
WE DON’T TALK ABOUT IT.
Read on page 27.
Highlander Staff Highlander Editor-in-Chief Isabelle Nunes
Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief Elle Horst
ScotCenter Editor-in-Chief Phoebe Gulsen
Social Media Editor-in-Chief Mira Bhatt
Managing Editors Chelsea Chang Amber Chia
Faculty Adviser Justin Raisner
Editors Allison Raisner Andrew Shu Anika Marino Austin Li Chesney Evert
Claire Tseng Erin Kee Grace Wu Raina Lahiri Rebecca Von Tersch
Staff Writers Aidan Lynd Andrew Tolu Anita Beroza Anna Wilkinson Anoushka Mekerira Cali Shohet Cambell Kirk Carolina Cuadros Catherine Eikelbarner Elise Hsu Erin Kee Ethan Man Gem Kryhina Glydelle Espano Isabel Wright Izaan Masud Hayes Gaboury Hudson Fox Isa Khalak Isabel Wright Jack Hansen Jenica Su Jessica Conley Joshua Barde Julia Roseborough Kai Yoshida
Karla Lee Kasey Liu Katherine Tsvirkunova Kaylene Lin Kayley Ebaugh Keegan Balster Kiana George Leanna Gower Lindsay Augustine Lucy Lopshire Madelyn Mercado Malina Wong Mandy Mah Marrisa Chow Maya Campbell Maya Kornyeyeva Niamh Marren Nyah Simpson Oliver Fichte Payton Zolck Robin Linares Sabrina Lo Soleil Dam Sophia Gurdus Sophia Mattioli Zachary Kinder
Highlander is a newsmagazine dedicated to providing Carlmont students, staff, and community with highquality 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 designs. 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 direction of the editorial staff.
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Dear reader, We hope the new year and semester have been off to a good start! In this issue of Highlander, we address some of the pressing issues that many teens face. From alcohol consumption to the unhealthy norms that pornographic content often perpetuates, many of us have or know of someone who has some sort of experience with these problems. Despite this, conversations surrounding these topics are oftentimes pushed to the side or are held exclusively behind closed doors. For many of us, especially as youths, these subjects are branded as “taboo.” However, healthy and public discussion is vital to ensuring that teens today are given the tools and knowledge needed to make informed choices. Through ethical reporting, we hope our features dispels some of the myths and social fears attached to these topics. That being said, this issue touches on several topics, such as sexual assault and substance use. We understand that this content may be triggering to some readers, which is why we tried to create a balance between heavier and lighter themes throughout this issue. If you’re not comfortable reading features that discuss these sensitive topics, we hope you enjoy our more positive articles. That aside, we are pleased to present this school year’s third issue of Highlander. Please take care while reading, and we hope you enjoy! Much love,
ISSUE 3 / HIGHLANDER 2022
CONTENTS CAMPUS 13 A day in the life of a teacher 14 Shusterman’s class policies prioritize needs
SPORTS 16 Belmont mountain bikers ride through a rainy winter 18 Twirling through the day 19 Inconsistencies in coaching staff cause concern
OPINION 20 Editorial: Standardized tests do not reflect college readiness 21 Discrimination impacts muggles
Scotlight: Student taboos Read on page 27
Art by Hannah Weitz
22 The cost of birth control: Equalize sex education 24 Knowing the “no”
FUN
FEATURES
4 Oh deer: The Columbian black-tailed deer rule the front yards of the Bay Area
35 Carlmont’s rocky racial history
6 What type of map are you?
38 Painting a picture of aromanticism
8 Battle of the muffins
40 B positive about blood drives
10 Rom-com showdown
42 Taking it to the slopes
11 Something 2 celebrate
44 How conviction changes a life
12 Spring in your backyard
46 The light inside mental hospitals
The Columbian black-tailed deer rule the front yards of the Bay Area Kai Yoshida Why are there so many deer in and around Belmont and San Carlos? They always seem to be frolicking on our lawns, chowing down on freshly planted flowers, or being a general nuisance on the streets. This is actually a country-wide phenomenon. According to New Hampshire Fish and Game, 30 million white-tailed deer call the United States their home — that’s almost one deer for every 10 Americans. But their abundance was not always the case. According to the U.S. Forest Service, from 1850 to 1900, the U.S.’s deer population hit an all-time low of 300,000 as hunters sought their hides for trade and meat for food. Although hunting is declining, other factors, such as distracted driving, remain a major threat to the deer population. According to State Farm, there are around 1.25 million crashes between cars and deer, elk, and moose annually.
A big reason for the deer comeback is the decline of their enemies. Since 1900, several laws have restricted deer hunting. Furthermore, the population of the deer’s natural predators, wolves and mountain lions, has grown scarce. Another contributor to the large deer population is that deer share Americans’ love for the suburbs. Deer are an edge species. They hover around areas where separate plant communities meet: a forest and a grassy plain or the woodlands and someone’s front yard, for example. Thus, they thrive in the ecologically fragmented neighborhoods of American suburbs. The plants in our front gardens are better tended, better fertilized, and overall more nutritious than those in the wild. Hence, suburban deer are fatter, bigger, and squishier, according to former UC Berkeley Professor Dale R. McCullough. Protected from predators and presented to numerous “all you can eat buffets,” the suburban deer of the Bay Area thrive, living their lives in comfort.
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Kai Yoshida
FEBRUARY2022 2022HIGHLANDER HIGHLANDER 5 FEBRUARY
What type of map are you? art t S
Which genre of music do you like the least?
Pop
Country
Rap
Order or chaos?
Do you often procrastinate? How would you prefer your peers to see you? Yes
Chaos Order
No
Practical
Funny Which movie genre do you prefer? Rom-com
You are the Dymaxion Projection!
Which do you more identify yourself with? How would your friends describe you?
Kind
Hard working
Action Quirky
You are the Peirce Quincuncial Projection!
Studious
You are the Mercator Projection!
You are the Robinson Projection!
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Art and Writing by Andrew Tolu A map projection is a flat representation of a glove. Because the Earth is a sphere, it is impossible to display completely accurate directions, distances, areas, and shapes on a flat surface. Thus, a variety of map projections have been made to most accurately demonstrate one or more of these qualities to allow for different uses. Many maps today have the goal of being aesthetically appealing. However, several maps, such as the Mercator projection, were created with other purposes in mind.
Robinson
Mercator
The Mercator projection, created by Gerardus Mercator in 1569, was commonly used for navigation. This projection distorts the size of certain land masses in order to preserve its shape, making northern territories larger than they are in reality. Orderliness, practicality, honesty, and hard work are all traits of an individual whose personality aligns with the Mercator projection.
In 1963, the Robinson projection was created to be a visually appealing map. It is unique because computer graphics, rather than mathematics, were used in its production. It minimizes many of the distortions for aesthetic pleasure. Kindness, tidiness, an orderly attitude, and a studious nature are all common traits of an individual whose personality aligns with the Robinson Projection.
Peirce Quincuncial
Dymaxion
The Peirce Quincuncial projection was created in 1879 by Charles Peirce. Distortion is most apparent around the equator of this projection. A drive for seeking the spice in life, a good sense of humor, and an eye for aesthetics are all traits of an individual whose personality aligns with the Peirce Quincuncial projection.
In 1954, Buckminster Fuller made the Dymaxion map to eliminate the size distortion found in other maps and demonstrate the interconnectedness of Earth’s continents. Fuller hoped an accurate map would equip humans to face their challenges. Aestheticism, being hopelessly romantic, and emotionality are traits of an individual whose personality aligns with the Dymaxion map.
FEBRUARY 2022 HIGHLANDER 7
Battle of the muffins Carolina Cuadros February 20th marks National Muffin Day, so in celebration, fourth period journalism voted on the best type of muffin.
First place: Blueberry Second place: Chocolate Chip Third place: Chocolate Fourth place: Banana Nut
Recipe: Chocolate chip muffins Cook Time: 20 minutes Yields: 24
Ingredients:
Directions:
8 HIGHLANDER FUN
5 cups of flour 2 tablespoons of baking powder 2 teaspoons of baking soda 1 teaspoon of salt 1 cup of butter 4 cups of sugar 4 eggs 2 cups of buttermilk 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract 2 cups of chocolate chips (or as much as the heart desires)
Preheat oven to 425 degrees Mix all wet ingredients in one bowl Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl Combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl Add chocolate chips to the batter Divide batter into muffin tins Bake for 20 minutes or until ready
Recipe: Blueberry Muffins Cook Time: 40 minutes Yields: 24
Ingredients:
Directions:
1 cup of butter 2 ½ sugar 4 eggs 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract 4 cups of flour 1 teaspoon of salt 4 teaspoons of baking powder 1 cup of milk 4 cups of blueberries 8 teaspoons of sugar Preheat oven to 350 degrees Mix all wet ingredients in one bowl Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl Combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl Add blueberries to the batter Divide batter into muffin tins Bake for 40 minutes or until ready
design by
Raina Lahiri
FEBRUARY 2022 HIGHLANDER 9
ROM-COM showdown Lindsay Augustine
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Palm Springs
10 Things I Hate About You
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Crazy Rich Asians
10 HIGHLANDER FUN
Something
2
celebrate
Writing and Art by Ethan Man February 22, 2022: 2/22/22. This month, we observe a moment in history that passes just once every 100 years. On this day of twos, let’s celebrate the number and the importance of the number in the world today.
DUELS
There are few events more thrilling than a 1v1 showdown. Chess tournaments and game shows encourage individual competition, often concluding in a final battle by two contestants. Team sports encourage rivalries, where a Warriors and Suns game or a Seahawks beatdown of the 49ers will be sure to draw 10s of millions of viewers nationwide. We love a good competition to see who will rise above the rest and win it all.
DUOS
In the month of love, there have been hundreds of iconic duos throughout the years, from the video game icons Mario and Luigi to the enemies Tom and Jerry to the day-saving Batman and Robin. Whether it be brothers, predator versus prey, or sidekicks, above all, these pairs are best friends and have taught us the importance of companionship and friendship and the excitement that comes with it.
POP CULTURE “22 (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift and “Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington, Jr. and Bill Withers have remained as unforgettable staples in the music industry, still racking up millions of plays despite being released for years. Furthermore, collaborations often soar to the top of the charts within the industry. The practice of partnership and combining musical styles has become one of the most effective methods of reaching a larger audience, speaking to the power of teamwork and cooperation.
FEBRUARY 2022 HIGHLANDER 11
Spring in your backyard Isa Khalak
Spring is a time of growth. As flowers bud and fruits ripen, the aroma of change fills the air. Nowhere is this feeling stronger than in a garden. With spring coming around the corner, people everywhere are starting to plant seeds. Some plants frequently grown during this time are tomatoes, peppers, squash, sunflowers, and poppies.
Jalapeño Pepper
Peppers can be a delight when they start growing, but the process is challenging. “Temperature is critical, and unless it’s warm enough, pepper seeds won’t sprout,” Susan Patterson said in “Jalapeño Plant Care.” However, there are many recipes that are accentuated by homegrown spicy peppers.
California Poppy
California’s state plant, the California poppy, has gold and orange petals that curl towards the sky. Plant the poppy during spring somewhere with abundant sun and leave it alone. Poppies grow best when not disturbed too much.
Sunstripe Summer Squash
Sunstripe summer squash is planted in spring and harvested in the summer. They can be picked early on and eaten as baby squash. However, if one waits for the squash to grow out, they can become quite large. Sunstripes will keep producing throughout the summer, so gardeners will always have a constant supply.
Lemon Queen Sunflowers Sunflowers love the sun. Plant them in March and June in a place with minimal shade and room to grow. Since sunflowers are heliotropic, they will follow the sun’s path across the sky. These sunflowers also attract bees and add a finishing flourish to a backyard garden.
Green Tomatillo Tomato
Tomatoes are the perfect plant for beginners. The fruit is easy to grow and bountiful during harvest. Tomatoes are vines that grow on trellis or supports. Make sure they have something to support them so they can grow without bending or falling. The green tomatillo is also rewarding in the kitchens with its unique tangy flavor.
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A day in the life of a teacher Art and Writing by Sabrina Lo
It’s not uncommon to see students villainizing their teachers, blaming them for the demise of their mental health. It may be true that students’ homework loads are quite significant and that school is a large contributor to the worsening of student mental health. However, school can also be difficult for teachers to handle, too. Teachers have their own stresses and personal matters outside of their job, just like students do. Ryan Chun, a math teacher at Carlmont, discusses what his typical weekday looks like. “I dedicate most of my week to working. On top of the work that I do on campus, I also prepare at home. I think that it can be similar to the amount of time students dedicate to school, but I am on the opposite end. Instead of preparing for exams, I am making them,” Chun said.
6:50 a.m.
Chun wakes up, quickly gets ready, and heads out the door within 10 minutes to get an early start on the school day. Until zero period starts, he uses his time to plan his lessons. Making new quizzes, tests, and lessons; answering emails; and printing copies of math worksheets are all things he has to work on in order to be prepared to teach his students.
8:00 a.m.
Once all his students file into class, the teaching commences. Chun teaches zero to fifth period. In between the hustle of lectures and passing periods, he squeezes in spurts of email replies, prints photocopies, and takes notes on his lessons for improvements for the next year.
4:15 p.m.
When Chun gets home after a hectic day at work, he winds down by exercising, playing with his dog Coconut, cooking a meal, and relaxing. For everyone, no matter how busy their day is, it’s very crucial for individuals to find time for themselves to do things they want in order to maintain mental well-being.
7:30 p.m.
After taking some time for himself, Chun gets back to work. He continues with his prep work and emails to finish up what was not completed during the school day. This can add around two hours of extra work in the evening for Chun.
12:o0 a.m.
Finally, it is time for bed. Wrapping up an exhausting day, Chun goes to sleep around midnight and starts the cycle all over again seven hours later.
FEBRUARY 2022 HIGHLANDER 13
Shusterman’s class policies prioritize needs Photos and Writing by Gem Kryhina “Take care of your basic needs.” While this phrase may seem simple, there is a difference between it being an empty sentiment and it being a helpful piece of advice. Cindy Shusterman solves this difference by implementing a practical policy that allows students to balance academic success with their well-being. Shusterman is the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) coordinator and teaches English IV, more commonly known as the Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC), at Carlmont High School. Among the guidelines for her ERWC class, Shusterman includes a policy that encourages students to prioritize their well-being over academics.
An example within the policy is getting enough sleep the night before a school day. She encourages checking in with oneself to ensure that basic needs — such as adequate sleep, nutrition, and hydration — are being met. In ERWC, Shusterman facilitates this check-in through mindfulness with journaling and breathing exercises. “Sometimes life gets so busy and overwhelming,” Shusterman said. “If our basic needs [...] aren’t met, it makes it that much harder to do all the other things we need to do on a daily basis.” A questionnaire by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found that 41% of incoming freshmen in 2016 felt overwhelmed by their responsibilities, which is a 13% increase from 2000. Additionally, the National Survey of Children’s Health found a 20% increase in anxiety diagnoses from 2007 to 2012 among youth from 6 to 17 years old. Furthermore, a 2018 study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics revealed that anxiety is the leading mental health issue among American youth. Since the beginning of her teaching career at Carlmont, Shusterman has tried to diffuse the “palpable sense of stress and anxiety that permeated the students on campus.” Her “take care of your basic needs” policy was her solution. Inspiration for her unique approach comes from the concept of the growth mindset, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and her own experiences. Most importantly, Shusterman tries to create the best learning environment for her students. Eden Feuchtwang, a senior, reflects on the purpose of Shusterman’s policy. They realize that the policy allows them to be a better learner. “She has this policy in place in order to remind students that until their basic needs are met, they won’t be able to fully function in class,” Feuchtwang said. “Mrs. Shusterman encourages students to take care of themselves. [She reminds us to] put self-care first, and school second.” As part of the policy, Shusterman acknowledges that many students have responsibilities outside of school and considers this when grading. By using this policy, those with demanding extracurriculars, like athletics, aren’t overwhelmed by work. For example, Tripp Garrish, a senior and a student-athlete, values Shusterman’s flexibility because it allows him to maintain his health. “This policy is very beneficial to my health because it allows me to be in tune with my emotions,” Garrish said. “As an athlete, sometimes I come to school tired, or I have trouble turning certain assignments in. This policy lowers my stress level because I know I won’t be in trouble.” The policy was instrumental to Garrish’s academic success when he had four basketball games in one week. He found it tough to turn in assignments on time.
14 HIGHLANDER CAMPUS
Per Shusterman’s encouragement, he took time to rest. On the weekend, when he had more time, he turned in the week’s assignments. Shusterman graded these assignments as if Garrish turned them in on time. Garrish is only one student out of many who appreciate the policy. Asher Pollan, another senior, thinks the policy is helpful. He describes Shusterman’s understanding as a “safety net” to fall back on when one needs help and her guidelines as “radically different” from a typical classroom’s policies. “Mrs. Shusterman goes out of her way to teach in a way that is as comprehensive as it is stress-free,” Pollan said. “[She] has the courage to put her students first.” Although the policy has been 17 years in the making, it only became official this school year when Shusterman added it to her ERWC class guidelines. She explains that COVID-19 was the final push toward making her basic needs mindset into an actual policy. “It’s more important than ever that we take care of our whole selves — mind, body, and spirit,” Shusterman said. “[It] is even harder now during the COVID-19 pandemic because we can’t eat and drink in classrooms. Even a simple act of taking a sip of water during class has to be rethought. Now, I encourage my students to take as many breaks as they need to go outside and take their mask off to drink, eat, or just take some deep breaths.” Feuchtwang recognizes that the policy has positively impacted them this year. They cite having improved the ability to advocate for themself as an example. “It makes me feel comfortable asking for help when I need it, whether that’s taking a quick breather outside or asking for clarification on an assignment or activity,” Feuchtwang said. “Mrs. Shusterman’s quick daily check-ins remind me that she is there for me and that her classroom is a safe space to be myself.” While some students understand that implementing a similar policy schoolwide may be problematic, others think the rewards outweigh the risks. “I think that all teachers should implement a version of this policy. I see too many students stressed out of their minds because their teachers stick to the same routine: teach, give work, grade,” Pollan said. “Nowhere along the way do teachers offer help when a student needs it. If every teacher at Carlmont helped their students like Mrs. Shusterman helps us, the student body would be drastically better off.” Following a successful semester, Shusterman celebrates the policy. She has observed that by improving their well-being, her students can do well in their academics, which every teacher strives to achieve. “[I have found that] they are calmer, more focused, and engaged throughout the period and are better able to focus on the task at hand,” Shusterman said. “Hopefully, they experience less stress and anxiety [in and out of] my class.”
FEBRUARY 2022 HIGHLANDER 15
Belmont mountain bikers ride through a rainy winter Hayes Gaboury With the cold and wet weather at its peak, many people choose to be warm inside their houses. However, members of the local mountain biking community are doing the opposite. The rain and cold temperatures mean that trails are in perfect condition for muddy winter laps, a rare treat for Bay Area residents. While the trails are in vulnerable states due to the heavy rain, the dirt is primed for trail repairs and other maintenance projects. What was once hardened and dusty dirt has now become shapeable and easy to build with. This combination of conditions has led to many riders throwing on their winter riding gear in search of good times, making winter one of Belmont’s most popular riding seasons. “I like riding during the winter because the dirt is better, but rainy rides often lead to a lot of trail damage,” said Sam Stabinsky, a local rider and junior. For example, the soft and muddy ground can easily give way, creating ruts and other such damages. “Several trails are completely unrideable and need rebuilding,” said Remi Vernon, the Carlmont Mountain
Biking Club president. “All the trails are easily altered while people ride them in the rain, especially in areas where the water runoff all flows to.” In addition to the risk of damaging the trails, the early winter sunsets leave riders with less time to actually ride. To help combat this and ensure that bikers can get home safely, local bike shops such as Belmont Bikes sell bike lights and other protective winter gear. “You would expect people to be running in asking for windbreakers and jackets but not this season,” said Jacob Gotshalk, a Belmont Bikes employee. “The big things on everyone’s shopping lists are mud fenders and lights.” Proper mud fenders are a crucial winter riding accessory, as they help keep mud and grime from flying off the tires and into the biker’s face. Paired with an adequate bike light to help illuminate darker trails, most mountain bikers will be ready to take on any trail. While some riders get properly equipped to go ride the trails, other mountain bikers have used the rain to help repair damaged trails and restore forgotten ones. Members of the Carlmont Mountain Bike Club have been working tirelessly on various trails
to help maintain them and repair the damage done by the heavy rain and premature riding. The softening dirt makes it much easier to mend trail damage as the dirt can be moved and compacted into lasting shapes. “It’s important to maintain trails because of how much use they get throughout the year. Since it’s dry for a majority of the year, trails get run down, and we can’t fix them due to the dusty conditions,” said Carl Bussiek, a local rider and junior. Once the repairs are done and people have gotten the proper gear, the trails are typically dry enough to provide the perfect balance of traction and fun. Often deemed hero dirt, this riding period is what is most sought after during the winter months. “The grip is perfect and guarantees satisfactory riding conditions,” Vernon said. “When it is too dry, the dirt is dusty and slippery. When it is too wet, it’s muddy and slow.” When managed well, winter can be the best riding reason for Bay Area residents. It provides the opportunity for enjoyable conditions and gives a chance for hikers and bikers alike to help rebuild and maintain the local trail systems.
16 HIGHLANDER SPORTS
Hayes Gaboury
FEBRUARY 2022 HIGHLANDER 17
Twirling through the day Calista Shohet Freshman Elliana Sabahi is a competitive dancer for Liv DanceArts and a Carlmont dance program student. Sabahi competes from January to May and aims to take home large titles. She trains over 20 hours a week, all while keeping up with school work. While this is hard work, Sabahi finds it worth the effort. “I love to dance because it just feels so right to me. When I dance, I feel connected within myself, and it’s my way of feeling my emotions,” Sabahi said.
6:30 a.m. Sabahi’s day starts with an early wake-up for school, which begins with zero-period.
4 p.m. Sabahi carpools with her friends to Liv DanceArts and starts her lengthy ballet class. “My favorite style is ballet because it’s so technical,” Sabahi said. “You can never be perfect, so every day you work to become better and better.”
6:30 p.m. This is when Sabahi starts her technique class of the day, which is often lyrical. Lyrical combines ballet and jazz styles, with a focus on expression through music lyrics.
8:30 p.m. Sabahi heads home to have dinner and begin an evening of homework.
1:28 p.m. Sabahi gets a quick break from academics with Carlmont’s dance class.
6 p.m. Sabahi has a small break between lessons.
7:30 p.m. During rehearsals, Sabahi works on her technique and pieces they are preparing. She also practices her routines for competitions, which start in January.
11:30 p.m. Sleep is essential to keeping up with a busy schedule! “I try to go to bed at this time or earlier because I find it so important to get enough sleep,” Sabahi said.
Photo by Meghan MacAskill
18 HIGHLANDER SPORTS
Inconsistencies in coaching staff cause concern Maddy Mercado At the beginning of the school year, every class starts with an introduction to the course and expectations. A semester is like an ongoing chess match where you learn what your teacher expects from that point on. As a match progresses, chess players set up a winning strategy, but what would happen if someone came in and told you to change the play? There have been multiple changes in the coaching staff for various sports in the past couple of years. Carlmont’s volleyball program has had a different coach each year since 2019, and the girl’s basketball team had recent changes as well. These modifications in coaching staff could affect the reputation of our teams and how others perceive them.
EFFECTS ON STUDENTS Student-athletes whose coaches unexpectedly quit mid-season have the hardest time adjusting to the new coach. The beginning of a season allows the team and coach to find chemistry with each other, which is often lost when coaches leave, disrupting the atmosphere. The constant change with
coaches also has a possibility of lowering the number of athletes who would want to play for the next season. “[The coaching change] left us in disarray and kind of lost; we didn’t know what to do and how to move on from it. We didn’t have any motivation to play,” said Jennifer Moy, an opposite hitter for Carlmont’s varsity volleyball team. According to The Sport Journal, changes in leadership can affect a sports program’s athletes, support staff, assistant coaches, and athletic trainers. Constant transitions through multiple coaches can affect an athlete’s motivation for the current season and following seasons. Moy wasn’t the only athlete who experienced that feeling; Trinity Chow, a senior who was a setter on the varsity girls volleyball team, agreed. “I lost a little bit of motivation because it felt like our coach didn’t want to stick with us throughout the season,” Chow said.
EFFECTS ON STAFF When coaches suddenly quit mid-season, the first question is usually, “What now?”
Someone needs to take the coach’s place to keep the season going — it may be another sports’ coach or a physical education staff member. Irene Oliveria, one of Carlmont’s PE teachers, had to step in for a JV girls volleyball coach during the 2019-2020 season. Most teachers tend to sacrifice a lot of their time doing the jobs they were hired to do, going further than expected for the benefit of the students. In the Brigham Young University Undergraduate Journal of Psychology, writer Aaron Singh states that the coach must find a balance between helping his or her players and helping their athletes achieve success. When coaches leave and teachers are asked to step in mid-season, it adds a lot of strain to teachers’ workload and personal life.
THE FUTURE OF SPORTS Patrick Smith, Carlmont’s athletic director and sports leadership teacher, explains the struggles of finding new coaches for the upcoming seasons. “There are definitely certain sports where it can be very difficult to find coaches. For instance, our long-time girls’ water polo team stepped down after last season,” Smith said. Different sports will have a different number of applicants. Smith said he struggled to try to find a new coach to replace the old one, but nothing official has been determined. Volleyball faced a similar situation. On the other hand, the girls’ basketball team has had a number of applicants, so there is a wider variety to choose from. “It makes personally makes me feel like no one wants to work with or is excited to play volleyball,” Moy said.
Maddy Mercado
FEBRUARY 2022 HIGHLANDER 19
A
B
C
D
Editorial: Standardized tests do not reflect college readiness Each year, hundreds of thousands of students take the SAT. As they take the test with the same format, length, and testing environment, everything seems to be equal — but a quick look under the surface would tell you an entirely different story. Standardized tests are rooted in racism and grew to be an inequitable tool to demonstrate college readiness. When they were first popularized over a century ago, they functioned as a response to a pool of immigrants flowing into the United States. According to the National Education Association (NEA), many white Anglo-Saxon Protestants “were concerned by the infiltration of non-whites into the nation’s public schools.” As a result, eugenists pushed for testing to prevent immigrants from having the same educational opportunities. Since then, standardized testing has become ingrained in the American education system. SATs, ACTs, and AP tests now function as a regular aspect of the high school process, and millions of students take them each year. Colleges often view these tests as the only aspect of an application that can be objective. GPA, extracurriculars, and essays are factors that can all be judged differently depending on an applicant’s environment. However, many fail to recognize that standardized testing is not excluded from this role. Depending on a student’s race, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic standing, they can face immense privileges or inhibitors of their standardized testing scores. According to the Brookings Institution, the SAT reflects a racial gap through its scores. Despite taking a year dip due to testing site closures, SAT participation has grown steadily in the past decade — and racial disparities have continued with it. For students scoring a 700 and above for the SAT math section, 45% are white, 43% are Asian, while 6% are Hispanic or Latino, and 1% are Black. Beyond these racial and socioeconomic disparities,
standardized tests do not accurately reflect college preparation. When they are used to evaluate a student for admission into a school, students face their entire future determined in four hours. At best, these tests take a general evaluation of math, science, and English topics. The quick-paced multiple-choice layout leaves little room for creative problem solving, analytical thinking, or other types of learning. However, some good has come in the past year or two as many colleges have instituted a test-optional policy, where students are not required to submit their standardized test scores. As a result, more emphasis has been placed on other aspects of students’ applications, such as essays, grades, and extracurriculars. According to NPR news, a new SAT will be launched in 2024 with a shorter, completely digital format. Although the test will be easier to administer, this development fails to address the inequities of price and accessibility involved with standardized tests. One alternative to standardized testing is portfolio-based assessments, depending on an applicant’s field of interest. In this way, administrators could measure students’ progress while adapting to a wide variety of learning styles. Ultimately, a single test cannot determine college readiness or the standard for attending a certain school. If the end to standardized tests is out of sight, test administrators and schools should prioritize their efforts on reform. As long as these current testing methods continue, disparities will persist. If we want to close this gap, students must have equal access to test preparation and tutoring. Moving forward, colleges must value the applicant’s character, their academic standing, and their fit for the school rather than standardized testing scores.
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Zak Kinder The “Harry Potter” series has a special place in my heart as it does for many others. Its quirky sense of individuality gave me comfort about not conforming to stereotypical conceptions of identity. For others, it helped them deal with anxiety, depression, and gender dysphoria. Despite the enormous good the series has brought into the world, it has significant shortcomings that undermine its positive impact, and J.K. Rowling’s actions rarely seem to help. One of “Harry Potter’s” most significant issues is underrepresenting people of color and the LGBTQ community. The best example is that all three main characters are heterosexual and white. Furthermore, most of the other important characters are also white, including the Weasley and Malfoy families, Dumbledore, and Neville Longbottom. Even when people of color appear, they are heavily based on stereotypes. Padma and Parvati Patil and Cho Chang are prime examples
of this. Their names are stereotypical for Indian and East Asian people. For example, Cho Chang is a mixture of the Korean “Cho” and Chinese “Chang.” These three characters also lack development and remain as side characters. The Patil twins are best known for going to the Yule Ball with Ron Weasley and Harry and getting abandoned midway through. Cho Chang is known for her brief romance with Harry, during which she spends most of her time relying on Harry. As a result, the Patils and Cho Chang turn into racist caricatures instead of characters who create racial diversity. The series’ relationship with the LGBTQ community is no better. The books never describe any characters as members of the LGBTQ community, which is a severe lack of representation. Rowling’s actions only exacerbate this issue. In 2007, she stated that Dumbledore was gay, despite no mention of this in the series. Furthermore, Dumbledore has never been portrayed explicitly as gay, even in the recent “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Crimes of Grindlewald,” where such clear-cut portrayal was possible. Alongside her lack of commitment to Dumbledore being gay, Rowling’s relationship with the transgender community is notoriously horrible. She has liked and supported numerous people identified as transphobic, including Dave Chappelle. In June 2020, Rowling published an essay titled “J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues.” There, she purports the transphobic belief that if transgender people use the bathrooms of their gender, crime rates in restrooms will increase. However, a study by the Williams Institute, a think tank at
Art by Kai Yoshida and Anika Marino
UCLA, found no significant correlation between transgender people and bathroom crimes, invalidating Rowling’s argument. The combined influence of “Harry Potter’s” racist caricatures and Rowling’s homophobic and transphobic actions have left a dark stain on the series. Regardless of the series’ overall effect, the harm caused by these stains on equal rights movements and fans’ love for “Harry Potter” is undeniable. Celebrities like Rowling need to take responsibility for their words and think about their effect before they speak. Society looks at celebrities for guidance, so these people’s words have an immense impact, especially on children. However, we must also take responsibility as readers. We must learn to appreciate the immense good “Harry Potter” has brought into the world while also criticizing its shortcomings. While the series has many flaws, they don’t warrant its abandonment. We should keep in mind that Rowling has no credentials that validate her statements about race or the LGBTQ community. We should look to medical professionals and psychologists for this instead. Additionally, we must apply Death of the Author to Rowling’s additions to her story, like Dumbledore being gay. Death of the Author is a concept created by 20th-century literary critic Roland Barthes. It states that an author’s intentions should not influence the reader’s interpretation. Consequently, readers should ignore Rowling’s intentions for “Harry Potter” and postpublishing statements. “Harry Potter” presents an excellent opportunity for societal growth through recognition of the responsibilities of both artists and art-enjoyers because of its wide-ranging audience in regards to age, sex, gender, and race. If we use this opportunity well, a society of more tolerance and awareness may soon arise.
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The of birth control Anna Wilkinson In most countries, birth control is a universal right for women, yet it is not universally affordable. While the cost of birth control can vary, it can be free, but under limited circumstances. Let’s break down a few forms of birth control. According to Planned Parenthood, birth control pills can cost between $0-$50 dollars a month. If you need an exam to check blood pressure, talk about medical history, or any other exam, that can add another $35-$250 to your payment. Other more extreme forms of birth control, such as abortions, can cost up to $1,500. Some people believe the cheapest form of birth control is condoms. According to Planned Parenthood, boxes of three cost about $2 -$6. Compared to other cheap methods, it is still not free and can add up over time. Some other forms of birth control considered an “emergency contraceptive” are more costly at $40 -$50. Luckily, because of the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans must cover all birth control methods at no cost. However, some plans only cover certain brands of pills or generic versions. Your health insurance provider can tell you which types of birth control they pay for. According to the CPS ASEC, in 2019, 26.1 million people did not have health insurance at any point during the year. In 2019 a report showed that the percentage of people who had health insurance that covered all or most costs was 92 percent. Even if birth control is free of financial cost, it can leave costly effects on the body. The first thing society lacks in understanding is that women can take birth control for many things, not just as a contraceptive. For example, many women use birth control to prevent acne, bone thinning, cysts, iron deficiency, and PMS (premenstrual syndrome) to make periods more convenient. Knowing all of these various
reasons birth control is used, it would be assumed that an advanced form of birth control works for everyone. But for many women, the side effects do more harm than good. More extreme side effects of taking birth control include severe stomach aches, migraines, blurred vision, and shortness of breath. Many girls at Carlmont have talked about how our sex education curriculum doesn’t teach us about the cost financially or physically - that birth control can have. A primarily held complaint about this course is that it focuses on pregnancy prevention and scares us away from it over anything else. “Most of what I learned from sex education was where to put birth control on your body and how effective they are at preventing pregnancy. But there are so many reasons why someone would choose or need to take birth control that is completely unrelated to pregnancy,” said Keya Arora, a senior. This can be a factor many people don’t understand, that birth control isn’t used just to prevent pregnancy such as acne, preventing period cramps, or regulating one’s period. If someone uses birth control for any other reason besides preventing pregnancy, it eliminates their ability to use cheaper forms of birth control. “Going on birth control isn’t a light-hearted or easy decision, and I feel like they don’t explain in enough detail the effects birth control can have in our sex education classes,” Arora said. To see if there had been any change in the curriculum over the past four years, Lainey Rodriguez, a freshman, speaks on her experience with the sexual education curriculum. “While taking the course, they mentioned we could get birth control free from clinics, but they also talked about insurance coverage in respect to abortions,” Rodriguez said. While this aspect may have improved, Rodriguez discussed similar issues that Arora brought up. “I noticed they didn’t mention any of the negative side effects of birth control. They were more like, ‘Hey, look how easy and effective birth control is, and didn’t talk about its various side effects,” Rodriguez said. Birth control can take effect on several aspects of one’s life, so it is crucial to become more knowledgeable about this topic.
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Opinion: Equalize sex education School glorifies birth control, so women face a harsh reality when they realize birth control’s toll on our bodies and bank accounts. In ninth grade, when we got the in-depth version of sex education, nothing was mentioned about the cost. Having a male teacher, the conversation felt like he was telling our class that women needed to get birth control, which was the end of the story. The whole tone of the discussion led to most girls in my class thinking they are responsible for any birth control or prevention in the future. There was no extra thought to it. There were demonstrations and an explanation of each sexually transmitted disease, but the details of each birth control were glossed over. As I have gotten older, I have realized that birth control is a burden and, in actuality, not what school has been praised for. What makes me the most upset is that when the school was having this conversation, my teacher addressed the women and talked about how we must be in charge of our birth control method. One, it isn’t just the women’s job. And two, no one ever mentioned how expensive this requirement is. I am lucky enough to have my birth control covered by insurance. Still, not everyone has this luxury, and even if it was accessible for most people, not everyone is educated on what each form of birth control does. To find birth control that worked for me, I had to research and speak to my doctors, but not everyone has these resources. This leads to many people having the wrong birth control and experiencing side effects that could have been prevented with proper resources. California public schools aren’t allowed to Institute programs that advocate for abstinence until marriage, yet it seems that is the only ideal they push on us. By having our sexual education curriculum keeping us ill-advised, it is easy for young women to find birth control with the wrong mindset. We aren’t fully educated on each cost of birth control; what aggravates me the most is that from around 7th grade, women are already being pushed into sexist ideals. Now, this may be extreme, so let’s look at this closely. So many women are shamed for their sex lives. Particularly when someone has an unwanted pregnancy, women are shamed for two options. If one becomes pregnant
KAI YOSHIDA
without a partner beside them, they are slut shamed, and if they have an abortion, they are also shunned for taking “life” away. So when our sex-ed class forces the idea of abstinence on us, they make us believe it is our fault for becoming pregnant, and it is something we deserve for having sex. That same pressure and shame are often not placed on men because they aren’t in charge of the aftermath. I am tired of having a lack of information and frustrated with the sexist ideals being pressured on women, even in a “safe” environment like school. We need to be thoroughly educated on the cost of birth control without the underlying sexist tone.
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National Sexual Assault Hotline
1-800-656-4673
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Knowing the ‘no’ Schools fail to tackle rape culture My first expectations about intimacy, relationships, and sex were formed through movies. I fawned over Noah from “The Notebook,” seeing no issue in his inability to take “no” as an answer from Allie as he relentlessly pursued her. Nothing seemed wrong with Caroline’s night of sex she could not remember in “16 Candles.” “The Little Mermaid” was my favorite — Ariel giving up her voice for a man she barely knew was romantic to me, despite it resulting in him being the only one with the ability to voice opinions and interests in their relationship as a result. I carried these scenes and the unhealthy messages they taught me about relationships through my childhood and into high school. In the first nine weeks of freshman year, as a part of our general health curriculum, we learned about sexual intercourse, condom and contraceptive use, and our growing and changing bodies. We were taught about consent and the fact that no one has the right to pressure you into having sex, ever. While these topics are important, the curriculum failed to grasp more complicated topics relating to sexual assault and consent. Terms like “victim-blaming,” “power imbalances,” and “rape culture” were never a part of the lessons. Conversations about the nuances of consent and the social aspect of sex were also overlooked, despite the fact that hook-up culture plays a big role in the lives of today’s teenagers. Lessons about the role social media plays in encouraging rape culture were completely absent from the curriculum. As I progressed through high school, I found myself struggling to understand these difficult concepts. I began to realize that the curriculum had only scratched the surface when it came to knowledge about consent and sexual assault. I thought about the other boys and girls who had
grown up watching the same movies as I had and likely carried the same false depiction of relationships and sex through their daily lives. This is a huge problem. Unfortunately, it reaches far beyond Carlmont. Research has found that across America, nearly all students receive some sort of sex education, but the subject matter often varies, specifically regarding issues of consent and relationships, according to an analysis by the Center for American Progress. “According to state laws and education standards, only 10 states and the District of Columbia mention the terms ‘healthy relationships,’ ‘sexual assault,’ or ‘consent’ in their sex education programs,” writes Sarah Shapiro and Catherine Brown. “This means that the majority of U.S. public school students do not receive instruction through their state’s sex education program on how to identify healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors.” Additionally, the information is presented to us when we are 14 or 15 years old. It is a good introduction, and it is great that the curriculum starts the conversation about consent from a young age. But as I progressed through high school, I was surprised that the conversation didn’t continue. The information needs to be revisited, even re-taught, to combat increased sexual assault incidents as students age. Continued discussions of these topics will help bring awareness to these taboo topics. This is key to changing a culture of sexual entitlement. It may help end the power imbalances that protect perpetrators and encourage schools to increase punishments for those who commit sexual assaults. Best of all, it will create a generation of educated students who have the tools to protect themselves as they grow into adulthood. *The writer and artist wish to remain anonymous due to the sensitive contents of the article
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Volunteer Tutors needed! Help a K-8th grade student with any of the following: Reading, Writing, Math, Homework, Organization, Study Skills, Self Esteem. You tell us which subject(s) you’re comfortable tutoring. Volunteers needed at San Carlos and Red wood City K-8 public schools
We Provide: Training and support Flexible schedule Opportunities for all ages, our volunteers range from 14-95! Great way for high school students to gain service hours
VISIT https://healthycities.site TO SIGN UP AND LEARN MORE.
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Writing by Hudson Fox and Marrisa Chow Design by Allison Raisner
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Getting to the bottom of the bottle Content warning: this Scotlight discusses topics such as drugs, sex, and alcohol that may be triggering to certain readers. Truly cans and White Claws litter the pavement. High schoolers mill around tables laden with shots of Fireball and Smirnoff, red Solo cups in hands. Music blasts in the background, a deafening roar that drowns out all of their friend’s conversations. The throbbing in their head comes and goes with the bass of “Goosebumps” as they begin to lose consciousness. Eyes flutter. Sweat drips off their face, alerting nearby classmates of the situation. Soon enough, words from concerned party-goers become a blur. Standing up straight becomes difficult. Then it all turns black. Paramedics are called. An ambulance arrives. It quickly carries the heavily intoxicated student out of the backyard and into the waiting vehicle. They are whisked away to the hospital to be treated for alcohol poisoning. Ava Young*, a junior at Carlmont, has witnessed this nightmare scenario play out at a local party and has blacked out herself due to alcohol consumption. According to Young, partying is common among Carlmont students. She has encountered countless classmates and friends at every function she’s been to. National data backs up her assertion. According to the CDC, about two-thirds of high school students have tried alcohol by 12th grade, and people ages 12 to 20 consume about 10% of all alcohol in the United States. “Underage drinking is pretty common at parties. At every party I’ve been to, alcohol has been provided to some extent,” Young said. For some party-goers, the presence of alcohol is a big draw. “Alcohol is nice. My fears and anxieties leave my body for a bit, and I’m just living,” said James Fairfax*, a junior. 28 HIGHLANDER SCOTLIGHT
However, at an alcohol-fueled party, things can go south quite quickly. For Young, a few bad choices with alcohol have soured her experience. “I’ve had negative experiences with drinking where I’ve ignored my limits and drank too much, which resulted in sickness and an overall bad experience,” Young said. As a result of these experiences, Young offered some advice to students attending these parties and planning to drink for the first time. “I don’t think drinking in a large setting for the first time is a wise decision. I suggest that your first time drinking is with your parents, close friends, or someone you trust,” Young said. Daniel Smith*, a junior, has followed that advice. “Prior to parties, I was already exposed to alcohol via my parents so that when the time came, I would be responsible and make smart decisions,” Smith said. However, Smith has still had to contend with peer pressure at these gatherings. According to Smith, he’s felt peer-pressured in these situations and admits that he has been “doing more than [he] would have if [he] was sober.” Smith noted that not only do friends pressure others, but maintaining a particular public image can play a significant role in going past your normal amount. “I’ve been peer pressured to do more shots than I would’ve on my own, but also the environment itself [is a factor]. You don’t want to be the ‘lame’ guy,” Smith said. To combat this, Smith noted that no matter how much he drank, he would always be sure to have a designated driver in his group to ensure a safe ride home. Smith also highlighted that his familiarity with alcohol prior to parties had made his experience a safer one. “[I’m] drinking more than I would [without pressure], but I’m not trying something I haven’t before,” Smith said.
For those who attend parties, Young reinforced the need to be aware of how much they are drinking. “If you are planning on drinking at a party, you should be conscientious of your limits,” Young said. For those who drink a lot, worrying patterns can emerge, such as binge drinking. And it’s more prevalent than one might think. A 2017 national survey titled “Monitoring the Future” reported that almost one-fifth of 12th graders binge drank, which is defined as having five or more drinks in a row at least once in the past two weeks during the prior 30 days. Binge drinking is the most common pattern of alcohol consumption among adolescents, accounting for more than 90% of the alcohol consumed by high school students, according to a study in 2007 titled “Binge drinking and associated health risk behaviors among high school students.” Binge drinking, which often can be triggered by the social setting, creates dangerous situations for the drinker and those around them. At those same parties, the noise and commotion can create a raucous environment. As a result, parties occasionally receive noise complaints from neighbors that necessitate a police presence. “I’ve been at a party that has been shut down by cops. Teen partying definitely [presents] a legal issue, specifically for the legal guardian of the teen hosting. Since the teen’s parents weren’t home at the time, it created a challenging situation,” Young said. This can create major liability for parents, especially if they provide alcohol for teens. Under local social host ordinances, hosts of parties where alcohol is supplied to teenagers can face major penalties, including hefty fines. However, this doesn’t deter some students. “At parties, it seems common to drink, so engaging in it didn’t feel illegal,” Fairfax said. This normalization of illegal substances is worrying. But underage drinking is far from the only illegal activity that happens behind authorities’ backs.
*In accordance with Carlmont’s Anonymous Sourcing Policy, the name of the source has been changed to preserve the subject’s anonymity and prevent any forseeable threat to the source’s safety.
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What’s the deal with drugs? The notion of drug deals happening in a dark, sketchy alley during the dead of night is outdated. Instead, picture this: you are scrolling through Snapchat one day, and you click on a story. You are confronted by the image of a blunt and a price tag, advertising easy access to drugs for the low price of $10. After expressing your interest over Snapchat, you show up to school the next day and make your way to the bathroom at a predetermined time to meet another student, who drops a bag into your hand and walks off. This may sound like a stretch to some, but it is a reality for many high school students in the Bay Area. The paradigm of drug dealing is changing. New-fangled types of payment such as CashApp and Venmo are uttered within the same sentence as “cannabis flowers” and “THC vaporizers.” The ease of access has increased with social
“Drugs were and are always around. Whether you’re spending time with the straight edges or the leaners, they’re going to cross your path, and you’ll have to make that decision.” Liam Anderson*
media. The CDC reports that about 38% of high school students nationwide have used marijuana. Some students have taken advantage to provide for that user base. According to Anderson, about two-thirds of his customer base were classmates or peers from nearby schools. He attracted new customers easily by connecting with them in person rather than online. “Finding new customers was usually word of mouth since you can’t make physical ads, but with recurring customers, they would usually contact me through social media,” Anderson said. In placing their order, customers had to choose the quantity, with a single size for different substances such as “oils, concentrates, and shatter,” and varying sizes for THC vaporizer cartridges and cannabis. In an attempt to further protect himself from legal issues, Anderson preferred that payments be made in cash rather than traceable transactions. However, he was flexible and worked with his clients. “As for payments, cash is always king, but I would accept Venmo, PayPal, or Cashapp if that was their only method of payment,” Anderson said This goal of evading authorities slowed his business enterprise at all avenues, from obtaining substances to dealing with them. One of the trickiest parts of the process was acquiring substances other than cannabis in the first place. “Drugs like stimulants, opioids, psychs, etc., had to be a more thoughtout, thorough process. You would have to jailbreak a computer and use a VPN router to avoid anyone being able to look
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back or track what you were doing. Then you have to continue to look through the dark web, keeping your eyes peeled for delivery ads. Once I found a distributor that worked for me and had what I was looking for, I’d contact them to see when I could schedule a pickup,” Anderson said.
Pickups were no less risky. “Once everything is organized with the distributor, I’d always make sure I had some type of plan in case everything went south and would usually try to have one or two of my partners with me in some way,” Anderson said. Anderson’s involvement stemmed from the desire for financial gain. “I wanted to be making money, but I was too young at the time to get a job. I had some older peers in my life back then that aren’t around anymore.
I would talk to them about how I wanted to work and earn money which ultimately led to them introducing me to dealing and trapping,” Anderson said. He began dealing when he was in sixth grade. Barely out of elementary school and without a driver’s license, Anderson was forced to be creative and resourceful. “[I] had to get around by riding my bike through town or taking the train to get to neighboring cities. Everything got a lot easier once I got my license and had a car to commute,” Anderson said. Anderson saw results almost instantaneously. “At first, I just started out flipping cannabis flowers and saw that it was a good field to make quick and fast money. After I saw how much profit I was making after less than a month, I decided to try and expand,” Anderson said. The transportation barrier and the fact that he was new to the drug scene made it difficult to get off the ground, especially as he tried to expand his reach. Playing the waiting game, Anderson built up a solid foundation of consumers and methodically began to attract new ones, expanding his business. With that, profits began increasing. “After I’d been in the business for some time, though, I started gaining a more secure client base and had more clients to do business with. Once I had a steady flow [of clients], I averaged from $800-$1,200 a month,” Anderson said. Not expecting to be so successful at dealing, Anderson pursued this opportunity. At the peak of his operation, Anderson was dealing drugs to 750 separate customers in a year. It’s easy to sensationalize drug dealing. The promise of a quick buck and the perception of a lighter sentence as a teenager can appeal to many. But the legal repercussions alone make drug dealing an extremely risky venture. Minors found in unlawful possession of drugs can face a number
of legal and financial consequences. California Health and Safety Code 11352 (HS 11352) prohibits the sale, transport, and administration of drugs by any means, and offenders can be charged with a felony. Juveniles found caught in possession of drugs or any other form of drug trafficking may be charged with delinquency. This typically results in appearing in California juvenile court, or in extreme cases, criminal court. Being tried in a criminal court means adolescents can face excessive fines and extended periods of incarceration. Eligibility for the criminal court is dependent on the type of offense, amount of substance in their possession, and an individual’s criminal and substance abuse history. Getting involved can also have deadly consequences. Mohammad Othman, a 17-year-old and Carlmont senior at the time of his death, was a star wideout for the football team. According to Mercury News, on Jan. 7, 2019, Othman was shot in the parking lot of Central Elementary School in Belmont, Calif., in what District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe characterized as a purported drug deal gone wrong. It produced five arrests, three of whom were juveniles. Juvenile misdemeanors have farreaching effects. It can create a host of problems that range from limited employment opportunities to eligibility for public housing and licensure for certain professions. Choices high school students make in their youth can follow them into adulthood. Failure to talk about these taboo topics can have long-term ramifications. *In accordance with Carlmont’s Anonymous Sourcing Policy, the name of the source has been changed to preserve the subject’s anonymity and prevent any foreseeable threat to the source’s safety.
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Let’s talk about SEX, baby... Samantha Williams*, a junior at Carlmont, was scrolling through Tumblr one day when she noticed a link and hovered her mouse over it. That click stripped away her innocence. She was 12 years old. And she’s not alone. A 2006 study from the University of New Hampshire found that out of the almost 600 responses gathered, 72.8% of participants had seen online pornography before age 18. The fact that Williams wasn’t even a teenager when she first viewed pornography is troubling. Even more concerning are the effects of continued exposure to pornography on children and adolescents and the sex culture that comes from it. Pornography is well-known for providing its viewers with a narrow sexual script. It stresses sexual prowess and proficiency — often, actors and actresses can perform any sexual activity for any length of time. Moreover, pornography glorifies violence toward women. Men are constantly painted as aggressors; they are demeaning, derogatory, and aggressive. Women’s responses are submissive or even positive; their purpose is to be used and degraded. This normalizes humiliating and exploiting women, all under the guise of pleasure or “kinks.” Their value lies only in what they can offer to men. “Most popular porn contains some sort of slapping, choking, or hairpulling. These are things that are now mostly accepted to be part of sex and not as boundaries to be discussed with your partner, something that needs to be consented to,” Williams said. The majority of free adult online porn websites promote “hypermasculinity, male domination and the prioritization of male sexual pleasure as the norm,” according to a 2010 study titled “Free Adult Internet Web Sites: How Prevalent Are Degrading Acts?” Through the consumption of this type of media, impressionable adolescents are made to believe that the subjugation of women is
allowed and even encouraged by society. “The violence [in porn] is scary. It shouldn’t be there because it makes young boys think they have to be scary and aggressive to be sexy,” Quinn Peterson*, a senior at Carlmont, said. A 2017 study published by the American Psychological Association titled “Age of First Exposure to Pornography Shapes Men’s Attitudes Toward Women” showed how the age of exposure to porn was correlated with the adoption of warped ideals of dominance and control in the bedroom. “We found that the younger a man was when he first viewed pornography, the more likely he was to want power over women,” Alyssa Bischmann, a doctoral student at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, wrote in the study. What’s more, porn also can shape daily attitudes. That same study noted that the age at which a boy is first exposed to porn is “significantly associated” with sexist behavior later in life. For Peterson, the porn industry’s language represents a worrying trend. “Sometimes, the language revolving around it is really dehumanizing and misogynistic,” Peterson said. Adolescent males believe they have to be buff and domineering because that’s what they see working on screen. They see aggression and violence produce sexual gratification, and they believe these behaviors are normative and even desired. “Porn is purely performative. A lot of times, the boys are mean. That’s toxic masculinity at its worst,” Morgan Phillips*, a senior at Carlmont, said. Pornography, at its core, is a quest for sexual pleasure for the viewer. It’s accomplished through the viewing and usage of other people’s bodies, where other people are tools for the viewers’ gratification. “I knew the sort of content the boys I was getting with were watching; the way that content hypersexualized women to the point they just seemed like objects of entertainment,” Williams said. But female objectification isn’t the
only problem. Porn sets unrealistic standards for body image and sex. A 2012 study by Destin Stewart and Dawn Szymanski of college-aged women and their relationship with male partners found that excessive porn use negatively correlated with women’s self-esteem and relationship quality. “Porn informs a lot of youth, but it’s not reality. It’s fiction,” Peterson said. Still, what porn portrays as conventional is anything but. Performers are chosen for excelling at beauty standards set by the industry. These features are enhanced by stylists, lighting, makeup, and camera angles, furthering unrealistic standards for viewers. “It’s obviously a little bit discouraging because they spend money to modify their body,” Charlotte Moore*, a senior at Carlmont, said. Cosmetic surgeries, STDs, drugs, extreme diets, and male enhancement products pervade the porn industry. “[Porn] puts a stigma on me. You see these girls onscreen — you have to be an attractive person to be using your looks and body for money,” Moore said. Other Carlmont students feel some of the same pressures. “My friend showed porn to me. It affected me because a lot of the things in there aren’t real. Just think about it. Someone is recording that. Why is someone watching it? That’s not sex. That’s porn,” Phillips said. This pressure to perform worries students. Those who shared their first-time experiences found a stark contrast between what’s shown on screen and what actually happens in the bedroom, displaying the inaccuracies portrayed in porn. “My first time, whatever that even means, was completely awful. It
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happened in a back room at a party, with both of us a little intoxicated and therefore unable to consent,” Williams said. Porn heavily saturates sex; it’s oftentimes impersonal and aggressive because it’s based on scripts, roles, and theatrics. For Williams, she maintained that it’s not reflective of how relationships and sex work in reality. “I felt kind of awful and used, and typically don’t even like to consider that my ‘first time,’ but it serves to show the stark contrast between the expectations hetero-patriarchy had set and what actually went down. I think there’s this really interesting dichotomy between a virginal bride and a complete whore. You
get one or the other depending on who you’re with and what material conditions told you to do,” Williams said. Despite the struggles students face individually, some find reassurance in shared experiences. At Carlmont, some students believe that many have bucked the “taboo” label and are quite open about their sexual activity. “For some reason, that’s all anyone talks about. Like having sex, but it’s not a shameful thing. Everyone’s really open and honest about their sexuality. It’s an encouraging and comfortable community,” Moore said.
For Peterson, they stressed the need to think of sex as something that’s simply a fact of life. “Sex is made out to be this scary thing for teens like us and is often thought of as naughty and dirty, but it’s only natural,” Peterson said. To them, it’s about changing the narrative for teenagers. Reinforcing Moore’s thoughts about Carlmont’s open community, Peterson ended with a simple piece of advice for teens. “It’s better to talk about [sex and porn] than pretend like it’s taboo,” Peterson said. *In accordance with Carlmont’s Anonymous Sourcing Policy, the name of the source has been changed to preserve the subject’s anonymity and prevent any forseeable threat to the source’s safety.
Link to full interview
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34 HIGHLANDER FEATURES
Carlmont’s Rocky Racial History
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Sophie Gurdus Carlmont is known for its academic excellence and high-quality learning environment. But that reputation was not always the case. Whispers of “Dangerous Minds” and “Crackmont” are nothing new, but Carlmont’s past goes beyond the campus myths. Beginning in the 1960s, Carlmont was fraught with tensions. Newly developed inter-community busing was introduced, leading schools like Carlmont away from the segregated reality they once had been. The population shifted from a mainly white population to one with white, Black, and Latino residents. In doing so, strong sectional lines were drawn based upon race. “You had a lot of racial tensions here,” said David Gomez, a Carlmont U.S. history teacher. “I mean, you always have racial tension everywhere. But it was particularly bad in the ‘60s and ‘70s. A couple of my older teacher friends that had been here for a while we were like, ‘Wow, sometimes it wasn’t even safe to go to the bathroom. You could be attacked.’” Although Gomez himself was not present to witness the racism of the earlier decades, the same patterns continued into the ‘90s, when he began working. One event, in particular, stood out to him: a not so peaceful protest about the Persian Gulf War, coincidentally in the midst of a parade in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students walked out of class and to the field to hold their rally,
but Carlmont had both anti-war and pro-war sentiments. The two soon broke out in fighting. The administration labeled it as a “racial incident” after seeing Black students involved in the fighting. They called in the local police, which came outfitted in full SWAT gear. At their arrival, the peaceful protest for MLK Jr. rounded the corner. “The police attacked them and rounded them up, hitting one boy in the head when he protested that they had done nothing wrong,” said LouAnne Johnson, a teacher at the time. “The administration rounded up every brown and Black kid and took them by bus to East Palo Alto — whether they lived there or not!” Johnson worked at Carlmont in the early ‘90s, when she wrote and published “My Posse Don’t Do Homework,” which was later adapted into the movie “Dangerous Minds.” It depicted her time as a teacher to a so-called “class from hell’’ and the lengths she took to better their lives. But, Hollywood does have a reputation for dramatics. The students themselves were presented in a more exaggerated manner. The supposed “Dangerous Minds” were really just students coming from a lessprivileged background. Still, they weren’t exactly easy to teach. “Those particular students, because of their socioeconomic background, tended to be a little tougher. Tougher in personality, tougher to teach, and tougher to reach,” Gomez said. Of course, there were the typical
differences in the movie versus the book: a character wearing a leather jacket as opposed to the then-trendy Oakland Raiders jacket or one single character depicting the lives of multiple real-life students. The Hollywood depiction went beyond just that, though. “Everything in my books is true,” Johnson said. “Much of the movie is made up. I gave respect, and I demanded it in return. It worked because I gave true respect. I wasn’t playing.” The movie’s exaggerations did not extend to her influence on her students, though. Her role as a teacher to those students was significant, both to herself and them. Her classes were made up of kids at a disadvantage — kids whose parents didn’t go to college, kids without economic safety nets, kids with problems beyond school. She worked to prepare these kids as best as she could for the real world. “A lot of these kids had never been to a restaurant before. So she would take kids to a restaurant and teach them the etiquette,” Gomez said. “Try to expose them to things that would be good to know. You know, the things you get when you’re going through life and looking for jobs and stuff like that.” To Johnson, bettering her students’ lives was worth everything, especially considering the treatment they got. She worked to teach them how to demand respect, equality, and fairness. “Those kids were not stupid or lazy. They just had no confidence,” Johnson said. “That was my focus with every group. And when they realized I was
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sincere about wanting to help them be successful, happy people, they embraced me.” Johnson’s impact on her students was profound, but she herself could not change the tide of the whole school. The racism plaguing Carlmont remained all throughout the ‘90s. In 1997, around 30% of Carlmont’s population was from East Palo Alto (EPA), and a majority of those students were Latino and Black. Students at the time reported segregation in classes and friend groups. These self-inflicted divides were not the biggest issue. Or rather, they weren’t until violence and aggression were coupled with them. Students vandalized school property on multiple occasions, leaving racist graffiti messages to greet the buses of students from EPA. Past student Natasha Carroll-Ferrany reported messages reading “Welcome to the zoo” and “Don’t feed the animals or the ignorance” following a dispute between white students and a Latino EPA student. Gomez remembered a similar but separate instance. “One day we came to campus, and I remember some racist had painted the n-word because we had a lot of AfricanAmerican students at the time,” Gomez said. “And they painted ‘go home’ in big letters on different parts of the campus.” As these incidents piled up, former Principal Debbra Lindo refused to stand idly by. She held schoolwide respect days, rallies, and community meetings. “It’s kind of like the George Foreman approach to leadership: you get in the
ring, get punched, and then you fight,” Lindo said. And while nobody can deny the rampant racism at Carlmont in the 90s, Lindo also recalls moments where students came together as a community. In 1998, EPA flooded badly. Families were displaced, the American Red Cross was called in, and the state declared the region a state of emergency. In one day, Lindo organized a school clean-up day. “We showed up as a school. 10 busloads of kids got on buses in the same spot where they had been throwing rocks at their classmates from EPA and went down there and helped with cleanup,” Lindo said. “This flood gave us some empathy. It gave us our humanity back.” White, Black, and Latino students all worked together to help the community, lugging carpets out of houses, putting furniture on the street, and picking up glass. The school came together for a rare moment, overcoming their differences to produce real change. This isn’t the only instance of Carlmont’s togetherness in the 90s, though. When the Columbine shooting happened in 1999, students from Carlmont banded together to show their support in a time of immense grief. “Every kid went out on that football field with markers, and they wrote notes to the kids of Columbine, to the students and families. We rolled that up and shipped it to the principal,” Lindo said. “It was another one of those moments that gave us an opportunity to reflect. It gave us an opportunity to be our best selves and then continue the
conversation because it was in our face.” This progress was not linear, and there is still, there is much to do. While things are now a far cry from the racism clouding Carlmont then, its role in the system is not insignificant now. The racial divides lasting from the ‘60s haven’t disappeared. They may not present themselves as violently as they once did, or maybe they are better disguised, but they’re present all the same. “The tensions are still there. I don’t know if they’ll ever go away,” Gomez said. Staff and administration have been working to lessen the harmful impacts of these racial tensions and improve opportunities for underprivileged students for decades now. During Lindo’s time, the AVID program and College Track took off, and they now spread across the country in four different states. Nowadays, efforts have resulted in the newly instated and now active freshman history course, Ethnic Studies, and programs like Sojourn to the Past are designed to educate students about the Civil Rights Movement. Becoming comfortable leads to a lack of change, and Carlmont has plans to be continuously moving towards a more accepting, less racially motivated future. “You start by telling stories,” Lindo said. “They need to be part of yearbooks. They need to be part of the Historical Society. They need to be a part of your story and the stories that you talk through every day in school. That makes the place better.”
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ic t i s n a m ic t m o i s n r a a m m o f r o a e f o r e u r t u t c i c i p p a a g g n n i i t t n n i i a a PP Art and Writing by Kasey Liu
Hugging, kissing, gifting a box of chocolates. These are all actions associated with romantic relationships, but these actions provoke little to no romantic attraction for those on the aromantic spectrum. However, that doesn’t mean aromantic people don’t experience love at all. Alex Golding, a member of the San Mateo Pride Center team, shares his insight on the different types of attraction. “Connections to people are made up of many different aspects. Not all relationships have to involve having a romantic partner,” Golding said. Those on the aromantic spectrum can still have intimate relationships with others, such as platonic, spiritual, and familial relationships. For example, one may feel extremely close to their best friends or parents but not in a romantic manner. Additionally, although sexual and romantic attraction are often grouped together, it is essential to note that they are not the same. While sexual attraction delineates sexual interest, romantic attraction delineates a desire for romantic interaction. Aromanticism, often abbreviated as aro, describes feeling little to no romantic attraction. On the other hand, asexuality, often abbreviated as ace, describes feeling little to no sexual attraction. Though some may identify as aroace (both aromantic and asexual), not all aromantic people are asexual, and not all asexual people identify as aromantic. According to a 2019 study conducted by the UCLA Williams Institute, about 1.7% of United States adults identify as asexual. Of this 1.7%, according to a 2019 survey conducted by the Asexual Community Survey, 38.9% of asexuals identify on the aromantic spectrum. However, it is essential to note that very few studies are conducted on the asexual and aromantic communities, so these conclusions may not be representative of the population as a whole. A common identity on the aromantic spectrum is demiromantic, which describes people who can only experience romantic attraction after a strong emotional bond has been formed. Some may also identify as grayromantic, which describes those on the aromantic spectrum but do not fully identify with the aromantic label. Despite these labels, it can be a struggle to determine one’s place on the aromantic
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spectrum. “What makes figuring out [my identity] so difficult is that I have no idea what I’m supposed to be looking for. With identities like gay, bisexual, and pansexual, it’s easier to figure it out because you feel attracted to people. That just isn’t the case for aros, and for me, it’s really hard to identify something that isn’t there,” Moskovitz said. The struggle to find one’s identity on the aromantic spectrum may be further accentuated by the lack of visibility within the media. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the media shine any light on aromanticism. I’ve seen a very small amount on asexuality in the past couple of years, but I’ve [never seen] any aromantic celebrities or popular characters,” Moskovitz said. Those questioning their identity on the aromantic spectrum may feel isolated as a part of a marginalized group within the LGBTQ+ community. Because this community is underrepresented, knowing surrounding resources and reaching out to others can be helpful. “To the best of your ability, try to seek out others who share your same identity, whether that’s attending groups through the Pride Center or talking with peers. There’s a lot of power in having a connection with others who share your same background, which can validate what you’re feeling and experiencing,” Golding said. At Carlmont, the LGBTQ+ community is welcoming of all identities. Through the Gender Sexuality Alliance Club (GSA), one can find others they might relate to or can connect with. “In GSA, we have a lot of fun and try to create a safe space for everyone,” said Claire Bing, the Vice President of GSA.
Because each identity is unique and individualized, both within the aromantic spectrum and the LGBTQ+ community altogether, it is vital as an ally to understand and support those on their journey. “Being an ally is a verb. It’s something that you have to put effort and work into. You need to listen to those with more marginalized identities, but
don’t expect them to have to educate you,” Golding said. Ultimately, regardless of what identity one aligns with, it is essential to be aware of others’ identities, always support others, and most importantly, always support oneself. “You are valid. Your existence is valid. You are not alone,” Golding said.
Green represents the aromantic spectrum, as green is the opposite of red, which traditionally signifies romance. White represents the importance of platonic and other non-romantic love.
Black and gray represent the sexuality spectrum as a whole, as black is the combination of all colors, which addresses the diversity of the community.
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B positive about blood drives Mira Bhatt Students and teachers await Carlmont’s annual blood drive, eager to give back. The school blood drive encourages members of the Carlmont community to donate to those in need. While last year’s blood drive was canceled due to the spread of COVID-19, this year’s drive is set to be held on March 24 during the school day but is subject to change. The Associated Student Body (ASB) Do Something commission organizes and runs the blood drive. They contacted Vitalant, the local blood supplier, in September to see if hosting a drive was even feasible. Over the last few months, they have been planning and coordinating with Vitalant through in-person and online meetings. “We weren’t sure if we would be able to do a blood drive during the pandemic, but these drives are very important; during COVID-19 and over the past few years, blood has become a lot less available. Students or faculty that donate make a difference and have a huge impact on others’ lives,” said Delaney Paulus, a senior and commissioner in Do Something. Though many people want to participate in the blood drive, not everyone can. There are specific age requirements to donate. “You have to be ages 16 or older to be able to donate, and 16 and 17-year-olds need to have a parental consent form prior to donation,” said Paige Wellman, a senior and the current lead facilitator for Do Something, who has been a member of the commission for three years. In the past, both teachers and students have participated in each blood drive. According to the American Red Cross, each person typically donates roughly one pint of blood. All of the blood goes to helping patients in need of transfusions in nearby communities.
“There’s a definite need for blood. I’ve donated a lot of blood in the past, and I think it’s a wonderful thing to be able to give something that you have and is also so valuable,” said Jim Kelly, the Activities Director at Carlmont. Blood is always needed, and donations are highly encouraged if people are eligible. The Stanford Blood Center states that one in seven patients entering a hospital needs blood. According to America’s Blood Centers, someone in the United States needs blood roughly every two seconds. While all blood donated is very helpful, some blood types are needed much more than others because of rarity. The Stanford Blood Center explains that there are eight possible blood types: O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, and AB-. According to the Associated for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB), O+ is the most common blood type and is present in roughly 37.4% of the population. The AABB states that the rarest blood type is AB(approximately 0.6%) followed by B- (approximately 1.5%). As a result, donations for these blood types can be in high demand if there are few people who meet the criteria. Luckily, everyone is able to receive blood from type O-, which is known as the universal donor. Additionally, Stanford Blood Center states that people with blood type AB+ are known as the universal recipient and can receive blood from everyone. Many people are unaware of which blood type they are; a 2019 CBS News Poll reveals that only 66% of Americans know their own blood type. This information can be found by asking a doctor or healthcare provider the next time you get blood drawn or donating blood. “The blood drive has a direct effect on our community, and by donating, you save lives. That’s not an opportunity that I get all the time, and that’s not something I take lightly. Being able to help someone is one of the most rewarding things in the world,” Wellman said.
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Ladera Garden and Gifts Garden and home decor destination Call (650) 232-7154 2029 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA 94002
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TAKING IT TO THE SLOPES
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Niamh Marren Surrounded by the Sierra Nevadas, Tahoe has an abundance of great mountains for winter sports. Many visiting for the first time go to popular tourist attractions; however, many smaller ski resorts are hidden gems within the mountains. Skiing since second grade, Ariana Goldenshteyn, a senior, expressed how the best ski resorts are away from tourists. “I honestly look for a place that is not too touristy because that usually means more expensive tickets and longer lines. I normally ski at Heavenly, but because of the tourists, my next top place is
Donner,” Goldenshteyn said. Donner Ski Ranch is one of the oldest ski resorts in California, celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2017. Since 1937, the family-owned and operated Donner Ski Ranch has been very popular. With one of the highest base elevations in the Sierras, Donner Ski Ranch guarantees some of the best powder in Lake Tahoe. In addition to non-crowded ski resorts, many skiers look at the size when deciding where to ski. Gabby Lee, a senior who has competitively skied since she was nine years old, prefers smaller ski resorts. “I mainly look at the size of the ski resort. Personally, I like the smaller to medium-sized resorts so that it is less
crowded, and there are a good amount of runs without getting lost,” Lee said. Alpine Meadows Ski Resort is another ski resort in the Tahoe region that features over 100 acres with 20 runs, ranging from beginner to expert. Opening in 1961, the ski resort was first developed as Ward Peak Ski Resort. In Sept. 2011, Alpine merged under common management led by Squaw Valley, now called Palisades Tahoe. For Lee, this is her favorite ski resort specifically because of its hospitality. “My favorite ski resort is Alpine Meadows because I practically grew up skiing there, and everyone is nice and friendly. They have a great variety of runs for all types of skiers,” Lee said.
Heating up the slopes Ski resorts are becoming increasingly more impacted by climate change as the snowfall comes later in the season, affecting the ski industry. From devastating fires to late winter storms, Tahoe is at the heart of climate change. Climate change does not only affect the Sierra Nevadas, but also has a significant impact on the entirety of California. The Sierra Nevada’s snowpack serves as one of the most crucial water sources in the state. In previous years, the frozen snow in the mountains melts during the spring and runs into major rivers and reservoirs that feed into central and southern California. This sustains urban
populations and agricultural fields. According to the California Department of Water Resources, the Sierra snowpack supplies over 30% of California water needs. In the 2011-2015 drought, the human-caused global warming caused a 25% decrease in Sierra Nevada’s snowpack levels. This affects the millions of Californians who rely on its freshwater supply and the ski resorts that need snow to stay open. In today’s climate environment, shorter winters and later snowfall are affecting the ski industry. Although ski resorts have the ability to use machine-fed snow, the annual ski
trips are shortening. “It starts to get colder later in the year, affecting all resorts. Most of the time, they have to make snow at night if the conditions are not right or close the resort together,” Lee said. The mountain range is becoming increasingly more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. But, the student body also believes that we should do more to protect Tahoe. “I have seen a huge effect of climate change. The snow came way later than expected. I feel that we should do more to protect Tahoe. Tahoe is so beautiful and one of the closest lakes to us, which makes it so special,” Goldenshteyn said. Photo By Jessica Conley
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with a DUI charge, a finance company will not hire people charged with insider One mistake and her whole life was trading or embezzling funds, and changed. One stupid teenage decision retail stores prefer employees with no and his future was in the crosshairs. shoplifting or theft convictions. For some, a criminal record can mean “It depends on the type of role as well financial trouble with court fees and as the type of offense,” said Jeniffer Strub, fines. For others, it can have a lasting the head of human resources at Vyond, impact and cause difficulty when it a Bay Area animation company. “DUIs comes to getting back into the workforce. and those types of things that really have In the United States, just one criminal no bearing on their ability to perform a conviction can alter a person’s life forever. particular role, we don’t consider them, It is much harder for an and we just leave those off.” ex-convict to find a job, especially The difference between a felony high-paying corporate jobs that offer conviction and a misdemeanor is a full living wage. also important. While both felonies For many employers, their willingness and misdemeanors show up on one’s to hire someone convicted of a crime permanent record, misdemeanors are depends on the crime itself. A trucking often overlooked and excused, while company is unlikely to hire someone felonies are seen as very serious crimes
Aidan Lynd
that pose a liability to any employer who hires them. According to a 2004 study by Devah Pager, a Northwestern University sociologist, men who reported a felony conviction in job interviews were 50 percent less likely to receive a callback or additional interview across various companies and positions. Especially in the midst of a national labor shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are far more severe implications of difficulty for those with criminal records re-entering the workforce. “Now such a large fraction of the population is affected that it has really significant implications, not just for those people, but for the labor market as a whole,” Pager said.
HOW CONVICTION C HANGES A LIFE
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With fewer people in the workforce, the need for ex-convicts working has increased. This has led to a stronger push for “ban the box” laws, which already exist in numerous states, including California. The box in the name refers to a box on many job applications that asks applicants whether they have a criminal history. Under these laws, jobs can conduct criminal background checks only after they have made the applicant a conditional job offer. “We don’t ask that in the hiring process, but once they’ve accepted an offer, we’ll run a background check.
And that does include a criminal record search,” Strub said. Conditional job offers allowed in “ban the box” laws still allow employers to deny applicants based on criminal history, but only after the applicant has been deemed worthy of the job, which therefore lessens the chances of someone being denied a job due to their record. In a further effort to incentivize companies to hire convicted felons, Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTCs) are offered to employers who hire a convicted felon less than a year after they are released from prison and can give the company up to $2,400 in tax
credit. In addition, a study by Business Insider shows that workers with criminal records may be more productive, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics shows no studies linking criminal records to increased crime in the workforce. The biggest barrier for workers with criminal records re-entering the workforce is the stigma around criminals. When it comes to work ability, people with criminal records are not lacking, yet they still run into trouble getting jobs — a trend that could be costly to the U.S. economy and social stability in the near future.
Claire Tseng
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The light inside mental hospitals Julia Roseborough What’s the first thing that comes to mind when people think of the words “Mental Hospital?” For many, the term “mental” may stand out. Although it is just a common word, it can hold enormous amounts of power and cause entirely wrong interpretations when used in different scenarios. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, mental means “of or relating to the mind.” These words are simple yet so vastly misunderstood. When placed next to the word hospital, many people’s thoughts may create a stigma, leading them to think of mental hospitals in a negative light.
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One can arguably state that mental health is at higher risk than ever before. With this knowledge, one may wonder why so many people suggest that the places that strive to help those in need are something to be concerned about? Society has dramatically stigmatized mental hospitals and made them a topic of questioning and concern, rather than what they are truly intended to be: care institutions. Despite the false notions that surround these institutions, this significant stigma can also refer to general mental health topics. As suggested in the Netflix film, “The Social Dilemma,” one of the reasons for the increase in mental struggles is an evergrowing social media presence in society. This growth in social media usage displays a direct correlation to mental health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. hospital admission for non-fatal self-harm has increased 62% for girls aged 15-19 and 189% for girls aged 10-14. A similar pattern can be seen in U.S. suicide rates, with a 70% increase in girls aged 15-19 and a 151% increase in girls 10-14. “A whole generation is more anxious, more fragile, more depressed,” said Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author featured in The Social Dilemma. “For every hospital admission, there is a family that is traumatized and horrified, ‘my god, what is happening to our kids.’” People may begin to understand the true significance of these care facilities by educating themselves on the considerable concern of mental health in recent years. “Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, as well as inpatient physicians and nurses, are on staff to consult with patients, educate them on and provide them with a variety of medication and treatment options, and provide a range of medical care,” Harmony Healthcare said. Not only are mental health facilities beneficial to patients’ well-being, but they can also be financially beneficial if used in a timely manner. According to PhysicianOne Urgent Care, studies prove that these medical services are
used 90% less by people after receiving mental health care appropriate to their case. Along with decreasing potentially overwhelming financial aspects, mental health care can help prevent mental health from intruding on more significant aspects of people’s lives. The National Alliance of Mental Illnesses (NAMI) states that one in five Americans experience a mental illness each year, and 10% experience interference with one or more significant activities. While depression and anxiety are becoming more common and talked about, another growing concern is substance abuse. NAMI states that 20 million Americas have a substance abuse disorder, and over half of these people are also struggling with another mental illness. Specifically, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an uprising in substance abuse hospitalizations and struggles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13% of Americans in 2020 reported having a start or increase in substance use as a way of coping with the pandemic. Another essential statistic to look at is life years decreasing. As the world has evolved, people have been able to live for longer and longer as time goes on. The effects of this evolution may, however, be reversed. According to the NAMI, American adults, many of which had treatable conditions, are estimated to die 25 years sooner with a mental illness. According to societal reaction theory, if a person has been labeled as mentally ill, their ability to function in normal societal roles will be dramatically flawed due to the reactions of others, and they will be channeled into a deviant role. This description, however, is exceptionally abrupt and prejudiced and cannot be held as truth in today’s society. With so many Americans struggling with mental illnesses, society’s definition of mental health facilities must be rewritten and corrected to recognize the importance of addressing these illnesses. If they are properly addressed, hope can be regained that people can restructure our society away from the mental illness epidemic society is headed for. The first step is to remove the stigma surrounding mental hospitals so more people will receive the help they need before heading down a potentially destructive path.
Art by R
aina
Lahiri
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: ARTIST HANNAH WEITZ WEITZ
“I’ve been creating art for as long as I can remember, but it was not until recently that I let my art convey everything that I can not verbalize. I love art because it does not judge me, it does not shame me, it does not tell me who I am or who I should be. My art is created for me, it exists for me, and it is me.”
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