2016 the mark proof

the

MARK

MEDIA POWER POLITICS p.13

Menlo-Atherton High School 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton, CA Volume VI, Issue i OCTOBER 2015

Media, Power and Politics

politics and the poewer of tech

October

The Mark STAFF Editor-in-Chief

COVER

Molly Kearnan

13-23

Copy Editor

Kate Flanagan

Layout Editor

Joanna Vollrath

Features and Input Editor

13-17 POTUS PHOTO ESSAY 18-19 GUIDE TO 2016 ELECTION 20-21 HOW DO YOU GET YOUR NEWS? 22-23 MEET STUDENT BODY OFFICERS

Katie Moffitt

News and Op-Ed Editor Caraline Albro

Social Media Manager Sofia Bergmann

Photography Editor Lauren Bruce

Staff Writers

FEATURE

Leyla Arabian Luis Cruz Reid Diamond Brooke Faulkner Rachel Frost Ellie Goldberg Selim Karahan Lara Karadogan Sophia Karadogan Leah Marcus Taylor Shantz Chantel Stelliga Bradley Stillman Olivia Tai Advisor: Betsy Snow

13-23

2

FEARLESS ON THE FIELD NEWS 4 GOODBYE TO FOSTERS 5 WHEN ROBOTS RULE

EXTRAS 12 13 26-27 22-23

POLICY The Mark, a feature magazine published by the students in Menlo-Atherton High School’s Journalism class, is an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to its readership.

The Mark is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost. The staff welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy, and obscenity. Submissions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of all M-A students or the staff of The Mark.

Send all submissions to submittothemark@gmail.com.

28-29

28-29

COMFORT FROM CHAOS CANDY SWAP COFFE TALK MEET M-A’S STUDENT BODY

PHOTO ESSAY

13-17 POTUS; MEETING OBAMA We had already decided that the cover package of the Mark would be about the power of social media in politics when the opportunity arose for photographer Lauren Bruce to cover the President of the United States (POTUS). Bruce reported that when the President arrived at San Francisco International airport, many people in the crowd immediately turned their backs and took selfies with him. Whether for personal recollection or to share with friends, social media has clearly influenced an attraction to documenting one’s life rather than simply experiencing an impressionable event. In this moment, Obama indulges in the social media craze that both expands his social influence and makes him accessible to the people.

ABOUT THE COVER

Y

n m k F s B f t l b m t t t c a a t n t c w s

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editorial

Y

Silence the Violence?

et another reckless use of the Second Amendment left nine students dead at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon on the morning of October 1st. We need to acknowledge that the responsible use of the First Amendment can end the irresponsible abuse of the Second Amendment.

By withholding the name of the gunmen from articles, news publications will end the glorification and fame so desperately sought by shooters. The relationship between the First and Second Amendments, arguably some of the best legislation ever written, is symbiotic now more than ever. Our freedom of press stated in the First Amendment allows us to publicize the shooter’s name and background, automatically rewarding them with fame and attention. On the other hand, victims of the shootings are briefly recognized and remembered. The emphasis on the shooter may be in response to readers craving the suspense and fear that comes with information about the shooter, more so than the victims.

However, we can also choose not to publicize the shooter by refusing

to name them or denying them the fame that is so valuable to their infamous legacy. We have the power to end the desire for fame and attention, denying shooters what they want. We have the power to change the perception of mass shootings in the media, by forfeiting the right to splash headlines bearing assailants’ names across webpages, in the crawl, and in tweets.

The Roseburg Sheriff made a statement discussing the anonymity of the shooter, saying that he will not speak of the shooter’s name because “[He doesn’t] want to glorify the shooter...his name...his cause.” Furthermore, many national publications have opted out of mentioning the shooter’s name for the same reason.

Some of us have a fascination with fame. We have a natural desire to be successful and to leave a legacy on this world. For some people, that desire is so nagging and intense that it is their duty in life to be remembered. When you’re also faced with a serious mental illness, this mentality can lead to destructive results. The intense desire for fame often

leads to rash actions, and in awful cases, killings or shootings result in order to gain the attention of millions of people, in the hope of being remembered. When your face and name is plastered across the front page of the New York Times and headlining all the evening news stories, you have essentially reached the point of being remembered and achieving fame.

If a mass shooting is what it takes to get your name on that cover, some people will go that far.

But we’re denying that ability.

We’re setting the precedent that you cannot achieve fame if you pull out a gun in a classroom. And, hopefully, the public perception will begin to change and understand this. It’s easy to see that technology and media have more profound effects than ever. We have a great power to change the common perception and spark the immediate transformation of society. Let’s exercise our First Amendment to state the responsibility of the Second Amendment, rather than exploiting it.

by the Editorial Board

high mark//low mark From low to high (L-R), The Mark staff ranks recent events.

Farewell to Foster’s Freeze

M-a mourns loss of beloved security Guard

Surprise day off from school

Feel-good Friday

Victory at homecoming game!

news OCTOBER 2015

Photography Jack Beasley

Saying Goodbye to Foster’s Freeze

F

oster’s Freeze, a beloved ice cream spot on Oak Grove Avenue, closed its doors for good on Sept. 30 after 69 years of business. Children, teenagers and adults alike are sad to see Foster’s Freeze go, because it made an impact in many lives.

Sophomore Caroline Holliday says that she is “so sad to see such a fun place closing” and adds that she will be attending the farewell party at the end of the month.

“Foster’s was a big part of my childhood. I used to ride my bike there every Thursday after school and get a hamburger,” Holliday explains.

She says that she will always remember the owner handing her a chocolate-dipped ice cream cone and yelling “One small dip!” Of all of the items available on the menu, Holliday will miss the chocolate Oreo Twister the most.

4

Holliday is not the only Menlo Park resident who will miss Foster’s Freeze after it’s gone. The owner of the establishment, Sung Lee, was seen cleaning up after the farewell party and was clearly emotional. After learning what a big impact his establishment has had on M-A students’ lives, Lee shed a few tears and stood in silence for a few minutes.

“I had no idea the community loved us so [much],” Lee says, smiling.

Lee was clearly overwhelmed with the outpouring of love towards Foster’s. Many adults who grew up in Menlo Park will miss Foster’s as well.

Bob Arabian, a lifelong Menlo Park resident, says he remembers “getting chocolate soft serve with his mom and his sister in the afternoons” at Foster’s. Although he doesn’t attend Foster’s as often as he used to because of his busy work schedule, he says he will miss the

drive-in.

Chris Burks, a former Menlo-Atherton student and Menlo Park resident, says he is “bummed to see Foster’s closed.”

“I used to go there all the time with my friends. It was our little hangout after class!” Burks states.

Burks also says that Foster’s was a big part of his childhood, because it was one of the only places that he and his brothers could agree on. Of all of the items available on the menu, Burks says he will miss the chocolate dipped ice cream cones the most.

The residents of Menlo Park will forever miss Foster’s Freeze. Menlo Park is grateful for many years of fun times, delicious food, and great service provided

by Foster’s.

by Leyla Arabian

ns’s

me ut

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ill rk s, ed

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ROBOTS R UtheL E WORLD

by Sofia Bergmann

R

ecent studies along with the growth of social media suggest rapid yet concerning advancements in technology; more specifically, artificial intelligence. Action movies like the new “The Avengers” and “The Matrix” captivate the threat artificial intelligence may pose on society if taken too far. Others with a more lighthearted message such as “Her” illustrate a somewhat positive and opportunistic view on artificial intelligence, leaving us anxious as to what our future holds.

Hyper advanced technology is not entirely foreign to some scientists who predict that artificial intelligence will soon be the face of our future generations. Some strongly believe in a world where humans will transcend their physical setbacks through the help of machines. Computer scientist, inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil’s field predicts and explores possibilities for the future based on current facts and statistics. As expressed in his book “The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology,” he shares his theory that computers will be as smart as humans by 2029. In an email to Live-science he explains that “computers will be billions of times more powerful than unaided human intelligence.”

Whether this is a step in the right direction or not is questionable to many. On one hand, certain jobs will become more efficient and error-free, but at what cost? How many people will be replaced by robots and lose a career they have worked hard for? Many argue that this will be the next phase of inno-

vation and as our technology flourishes, so will society. However, the media has put different ideas in our heads regarding artificial intelligence. As portrayed in the movie “Her”, one sees a computer with emotions, experiencing love and connecting with someone. Having a virtual “friend,” a perfect match for you that constantly guides you through life’s obstacles doesn’t not sound so bad.

However, we are also presented with an alternative idea of robots becoming too intelligent and taking over humanity: artificial beings that will slowly eliminate all creative stimulation within our society and become our biggest threat.

It is unknown if technology will ever take us this far, but the idea of jobs being taken over by machines is the most rational thing to concern ourselves with. The ideas behind the technology may be genius, but as our generation’s career options become more limited, it will become a problem in the emerging workforce among young workers.

The cost outweighs the benefit in this scenario if our future workers are discouraged from following their passions because of an automated alternative.

It is clear that whether we like it or not, technology is bound to take a drastic turn towards groundbreaking advancements that seem beyond comprehension. Will robots truly have feelings and intellectual capacity? It’s something that sparks the curiosity of many. However the main concern for the students of Menlo-Atherton lies in the potential competition these robots may present for the future careers of M-A students.

NPR recently released a study that predicts the likelihood of any given profession becoming automated.

These predictions are based on 4 different criteria: creativity, necessity to personally help others, work space needed (crawling into small spaces, etc.), and level of negotiation required.

Each given profession is evaluated based on these four criteria and the results provide us with a good sense of which jobs will be around within the next century. Some results are shocking, leaving many of us aspiring career builders at M-A in a predicament.

There is a 98.3% chance that referees and umpires will become robots. Fashion models are at a 97.6% probability and restaurant cooks at 96.3%. Historians and economists 43% and commercial pilots at 54.6%.

Common professions like carpenters have a 72.4% chance of becoming automated, architects 52.3%, and real

news

estate agents 86.4%. On a more concerning note, there is a 40.1% likelihood for court judges and 33.6% for detectives and criminal investigators.

Although this isn’t a majority, the chance seems almost too high to ignore if those making our legal decisions in court become mindless computers. On the other hand, sending robots into combat rather than humans for example, would drastically reduce casualties during times of war. Nonetheless it is an ambiguous subject that could be beneficial but also alarming.

In fact, these statistics leave some students reconsidering their desire to enter a certain field. What will happen to all the years of studying and hard work when our dreams will soon be replaced by a robot? Zoe Ford, who has considered pursuing a career in criminal investigation, shares that “I don’t want to be in any job where I’m competing with something automated.” Contrastingly, those striving to become doctors, surgeons and engineers run a very low risk (below 1%). Artists and writers as well have a low chance of becoming automated with photographers at only 2.1% while actors are slightly higher with a 37.4% chance.

The promise of new technology could bring us artificial intelligence as portrayed by the media or simply create mindless robots. Whether this will threaten our society or improve it is up for debate. Regardless, it is undoubtedly something our generation must be aware of upon entering the workforce.

5

submissions OCTober 2015

Photography Kasey Love

Comfort from chaos

Comedian Ursus Wehrli has made a hobby of tiding up life—everything from fruit to people to famous works art—and then photographing his creations. In the spirit of his work, and for my love of M&Ms, organizing the candies felt satisfying. I took pleasure in the details of the straight rows, the half-pieces, and the removed M’s. Deconstructing and rearranging items reveals that not only do the individual components matter, but their structure is also integral in the object’s function. The end result: coordinated, aesthetically pleasing rows of candy.

HealthyHalloween a&e

by SoďŹ a Karadogan

Halloween is just around the corner and each year students get so excited for the holiday that they break all their eating habits and load up on candy. By following these simple tricks you are guaranteed to have a fun and healthy Halloween.

Replace

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because, why not? for a handful of

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FEATURE OCTOBER 2015

r o n o H M

How Menlo-Atherton acknowledges controversial holidays and anniversaries

orning announcements Wellington shares, “because 9/11 is an over the intercom went on event that requires historical context without delay, teachers to fully understand.” Jenny Uhalde, jumped right into their lectures, also an M-A history teacher, agrees and students pulled out last with Wellington and says that “the night’s homework without a second biggest reason why I don’t teach it [is] thought on Friday, September 11th.

I just want to do the subject justice.”

The day of September 11th, 2001, Uhalde explains that since many of or 9/11, comes with great deal of her “students were about 1 or 2 when

by Joanna Vollrath respect and caution. Some have 9/11 happened”, it needs “context, so personal connections, others it goes from being a 20 minute warm understand the expectation to up question to being a two or three respect the day. Each year, at the day lesson which certainly has value, earliest hours of the day, the phrase “Never Forget” engulfs if you can find time to put it into your curriculum.” So, overall, social media, ceremonies and remembrances are held in New it seems that teachers would have liked to been able to discuss York and Pennsylvania and flags appear in fire stations and 9/11, but could not find the time at the beginning of the year front lawns. But is it possible that this national anniversary, when the anniversary falls, but instead chose to teach it later meant to remember and mourn a horrific event, is gradually when it coincides with other class materials. being pushed aside in schools, even at Menlo- Atherton, or does Clearly, 9/11 as a historical event still holds meaning it still serve a purpose? and relevance in the classroom, but what about the anniversary Sophomore Breanna Sandoval argues it does. “None of 9/11 itself? Is the relevance of 9/11 only academic or also of my teachers talked about it...I emotional and out out of respect? An M-A feel they should have addressed history teacher who did teach about 9/11 it and talked about the impact it on the anniversary this year, Christina had and how it was an emotional Galliano, shares her thoughts on day, or at least some recognition of these questions.“I think the purpose of it.” Many students, like Sandoval, remembering the day is both educational feel that there is indeed a place for and emotional...I also believe that we are a discussion on 9/11 in the school very isolated and insular here in the U.S. setting, and would have appreciated and need to learn about other cultures one. Out of 80 M-A students asked, and people.” only 21 of them had a teacher bring Anniversaries of horrific events, up the topic of 9/11 on September especially one as recent as 9/11, can both 11th, 2015. hurt and help. For some, they act as On the other hand, there triggers for reexperiencing the trauma, were also students who felt that the while for others, they help mend wounds fact that 9/11 was not discussed was of the experience and serve as respect. understandable. “Of course I am horrified by the events of that Galliano shares her thoughts on the purpose of an anniversary. day, but I guess I don’t feel very attached to that event as I “I think that if we don’t talk about what happened, it will become had no connection through family or anything else” sophomore a normal, everyday incident. The amount of violence we have Jessica Galen shares. witnessed in the past 15 years is ridiculous. We need to look at Ben Wellington, a history teacher here at M-A, sees the the cause of this. Have we been desensitized to this?” benefits of a discussion on 9/11, yet still did not teach on it on the There are countless questions associated with this subject, as 2015 anniversary, which landed on a Friday. He explains that he well as an infinite number of answers. but ultimately, it is up to typically teaches about 9/11 in World Studies later in the year, you to decide. in the more appropriate context of “Globalization”. “I haven’t As Galliano aptly states, “nothing is learned by pretending taught it much in US History in the beginning of the year”, something didn’t happen”.

9/11

Co

FEATURE

A

t this day in age, we have phones that tell us directions and self-driving cars. We have let go of many oldfashioned ways of thinking as a nation. Yet we annually hold ourselves back with our Columbus Day observance.

Students at Menlo-Atherton High School get the day off, just like the majority of students in the U.S., but for a different reason.

Many students mistakenly credit Columbus Day as the source of the three-day weekend. The cause for this misunderstanding could be M-A’s student planner calendars which currently title the date as Columbus Day. In reality,we get the day off for a teacher work day, not to honor Columbus.

Mr. Losekoot, who helps organize the planner, says, “No one has ever expressed a concern or requested that the day be named anything other than Columbus Day.” Herein lies the real problem. By blindly following this tradition and taking no action to prevent it, we are agreeing with the ideas represented

by Columbus Day. California, as a state, should not just

by Rachel Frost continue on this path of indifference to the physical and cultural destruction of Native Americans.

If the day is celebrated at all, as they do in Berkeley as well as in some other Californian cities, it should be replaced with Native American Day. However, it seems the majority of people nationwide, or even statewide, do not care enough to actually advocate the change to Native American Day. Many government employees, like those at NASA, have October twelfth off for Columbus Day. Such an occurrence makes it clear that the logic behind the holiday is not looked at seriously, as there has only been a small effort to inform the public of any changes. There is so much unclarity surrounding Columbus and Native American Day, since new customs are developing that differ from city to city.

The M-A administration says they did not plan the day on purpose and the staff development day was chosen as simply a mid-month break. It sounds like there is no harm in a little extra one-day break but it’s what the day represents that is harmful. Even with the coincidental Columbus Day break, students in San Francisco and New York city hold parades and celebrations and students in the majority of American schools still get a day off.

Despite the recent small scale changes, most states still celebrate the old holiday, possibly out of habit.

The national holiday has been around since 1937 but was celebrated many years before. Many people will take the day off without questioning it. Others have started to wonder why a modern thinking nation continues to honor someone who instigated so much destruction. When speaking with the M-A history department chair, Mr. Alan Perry, he shares this view; “As a history teacher, naming a day after somebody who had some great scientific achievements but some really low points in humanity, is something that’s always interesting; why certain people get remembered and others not.”

For over fifty years, there has been an entire day dedicated to a man who did not actually “discover America” and who destroyed the lives of countless Native Americans.

As citizens of the U.S. we take pride in valuing freedom, equality and modernization. Why then do we continue to honor Columbus in this modern age, even after uncovering all the pain he caused? The answer is simply tradition and a lack of will to make a change.

Columbus day

religious equality

by Leah Marcus

H

olidays at Menlo-Atherton tend to be based off of Christian religion and seem to subdue students belonging to other religions and ethnicities. Students from the Jewish religion and culture, Muslim religion, Hindus, Chinese and Korean ethnicities and Jehovah’s Witness are victims of this.

Students from different religions are obliged to stay home on certain holidays and miss quizzes, tests, labs or important lewssons. Not only do these students have no choice into attending school on those days, but they are expected to deal with the stress that comes along with missing school and use their own time to make up the work they missed. In the long run, it is possible that non-Christian students will start losing their traditions and beliefs to attend school and deprive themselves from the stress. It forces students and parents to choose between their culture or school.

According to Gigi Rutsky, a Jewish sophomore at M-A, “the school prioritizes Christian religion simply because they are the majority. It is hard to make everyone happy so the school thinks of what will make most people happy. However, I think the school can afford to give us at least one day off for a Jewish holiday or any holiday.”

Although it would be better to have the most important Jewish, Muslim, or other religions’ main holidays off, it is true that it is hard to please everyone. In order to, at the very least, show some appreciation, the school should excuse the student from any absent work or simply form a policy which demands that tests and labs are not to be assigned on those days.

Some religions, on the other side of the spectrum, do not celebrate holidays at all and get days or even weeks off.

Irma Gomez, a Jehovah’s witness describes that, “[she doesn’t] think anyone minds having days off, and if it’s making people feel more safe and accepted in their environment, then [she] think[s] the school should give some religions a few days off.”

Students that are put in these situations feel that having school on sacred holidays or even just having tests those days is completely unfair. It is important to recognize and respect the community of students at M-A that don’t follow Christian religion. Though it is impossible to make everyone happy and have the state’s mandated 180 days of school, our school should ensure that students from other ethnicities or religion do not want to lose their cultures in order to not have to deal with the stress that comes along with missing 9 school.

FEATURE OCTOBER 2015

Wasting

18

the

BEAR MINIMUM R

ight now, the future of life on Earth is quite dismal. Almost half of the forests on our planet are gone; thousands of species are going extinct; and global warming has endangered species, altered ecosystems and caused an increased number of natural disasters*.

But at Menlo-Atherton High School, environmentally-minded groups are doing what they can to ensure a promising future for all of us by encouraging sustainability. Most recently, the SEEDS club and AP Environmental Science classes have implemented a composting system on campus in an effort to reduce the amount of garbage waste sent to landfills.

“I don’t know if composting is the super-bullet to get us out this jam,” AP Environmental Science teacher Lance Powell admits, “but I think that just raising awareness and having people participate where they can [will help].”

Last school year was the first year that M-A actually had composting bins on campus, but the process to get them began several years before as a project for APES after the AP exam. After two years of planning, getting approval, spreading awareness and decorating the bins, the group finally put out the containers, which Powell refers to as “functional art.”

The APES group received help from the SEEDS club to spread awareness and aid in creating their “scrap wrap” and decorative compost bins. The SEEDS (Strategies for Ecology, Education, Diversity and Sustainability) club, aims to spread awareness about environmental issues and invoke change through service opportunities. Junior Manuela Velasquez,

a member of the club, explains how “last year many people knew about the [compost] bins and acknowledged that they were there, but I really didn’t see anyone actually using them that regularly; I plan to try to do what I can to change this.”

Although the composting system was not an immediate success last year, the amount of compost did increase substantially throughout the year. By the end of the year, “it [seemed] like a lot,” laughed Powell. “ It definitely started to become a dirty job.”

Students proposed and designed the entire composting project, making the only problem for Powell the fact that his “students keep graduating and leaving.” Besides composting, both the SEEDS club and the APES classes have participated in environmental service projects in the community and have initiated conversations regarding the reduction of M-A’s environmental impact.

Along with those two groups, the Surfrider club has also instigated sustainable change at M-A by pushing to get water bottle filling stations installed in the new buildings in order to reduce the number of plastic water bottles used and thrown away. Though these groups do build awareness about environmental issues, Powell’s main concern remains: “Does learning about the science behind things somehow equate into a behavior change?”

Even though it would be hard to answer that question now, it is clear that the actions of these groups are one step in the right direction.

by Kate Flanagan

gallons of water to grow an apple

36

gallons of water to make an egg

37

gallons of water to make a cup of coffee

IT TAKES . . .

616

gallons of water to make a 4 oz. hamburger

1232

gallons of water to make an 8 oz. steak

a&e

HOW TO SURVIVE

EL NIÑO

by Selim Karahan

U

s Californians have (barely) survived an intense drought over the past three years, and we finally have a wet season to look forward to. A Godzilla El Niño will reportedly bring us heavy rain and warm water over the next few months. Though increased precipitation alone won’t end our drought, we can still look forward to a wet winter. Here are some survival tips for rain and flood.

Build an ark. Avoid floody grounds and ride the big waves while staying dry.

Don’t shower, just go outside. Why waste your own water when it’s falling from the sky 24/7? The same goes for washing your dishes and doing your laundry.

Ditch your car and buy a boat.

Swim to school. Be environmentally friendly while getting a good workout.

Befriend a whale for transportation and companionship. If you can’t swim and you just can’t afford a boat right now, no worries. Make friends with a whale and ask for a ride to school every now and then.

Ask Rihanna for a spot under her umbrella. Now that it’s raining more than ever, I’m sure you she’ll let you stand with her.

Wear trash bags everywhere you go. Who needs a real poncho when you can be more stylish and save money with a day-to-day trash bag?

11

opinion OCTOBER 2015

P

to n e v a h rgeo o t ’ n u on t o s d n i Youa bra ttentils. be pay a detai to the

The

Power

of Paying Attention

I

n fourth grade, after leaving Canada and one month into my new life in California, I was met with my first experience of American politics -- a school-wide mock election. Though we were encouraged not to share our choices, my classmates were eager to learn the gossip that one girl had voted for the Republican candidate, an act that bewildered the slew of 9-year-olds who proudly defended their titles as Democrats. Ironically, had these 9-year-olds been questioned, it’s highly unlikely that they could have spelled the word Democrat, let alone defined the party’s positions. But that’s what politics were when we were nine; our party affiliation paralleled that of our parents, as did all of our political beliefs. I find that when you’re 9-years-old, what you say bears little significance as long as you can convince your opponent that you’re right.

With high school, however, came a new approach to politics. To be able to participate in class discussions, it was suddenly important to have an understanding of what the different

Art Olivia Tai parties stood for and, more importantly, what you stood for. If you didn’t know then, a progression of similar discussions and general life experience helped you develop your opinions. It became evident that, to hold your own, you needed to be able to backup your political assertions, and not just repeat whatever your parents had told you.

What with the upcoming presidential election, the topic of politics has only grown in relevance, whether through class debates, Donald Trump jokes, or Snapchat stories.

And yet, teenagers are unfailingly assigned the description of apathetic when it comes to politics.

Clearly, we’re too concerned with social standards and test scores to care about the future of our nation.

Whether or not this label is accurate, it remains evident that though high school seniors will be able to vote in the next election, the influence remains in the hands of the seniors of America.

In the last presidential election, only 19% of all voters were within the ages

by Molly Kearnan of 18 to 29, while 54 percent were over the age of 45. Such a statistic only perpetuates the stereotype of youth apathy towards politics and elections.

When questioned on their indifference, some young adults have made the argument that politics are irrelevant, either because they believe their one vote won’t have an impact, because they believe elections have become too corrupt for the practice of democracy to still be an effective one, or because they simply do not think they are knowledgeable enough to make a decision. Though one vote may likely be lost in the sea of votes cast by Americans nationwide, the impact of the loss of the millions of the votes that could be cast by young adults with this mindset is evident in every election.

Politics are only irrelevant if we remain too passive to take advantage of our right to vote, of our most direct means of influence. We can’t sit back and let senior citizens, many of whom will not live to see the impact they’re making, vote to shape our future.

cover

THE

P TUS COMES TO TOWN

Photography Lauren Bruce

With a generation edging on social media, politicians have expanded their influence to adapt to current trends. From the President tweeting regularly to creating opportunities for people to meet him, he’s reaching a wider audience.

This photo essay on the President’s arrival and departure from San Francisco Airport highlights Obama’s use of old-fashion meet and greets to expand his influence in social media.

cover OCTOBER 2015

14

T

he chance to see the President and be part of the White House Press pool wasn’t how I expected to spend a weekend. When the chance presented itself I jumped on the opportunity to cover this for the Mark. Many people don’t ever get a glimpse of the POTUS, much less have the chance to photograph him and I felt like I was drowning in anxiety and excitement. While I was engaged in the experience behind my lens, many people in the crowd immediately turned their backs to the action and took selfies with him. As someone who isn’t immersed in the social media craze I was astonished to see so many people desperate to prove they were a part of the event. Social media clearly influences an attraction to documenting rather than simply experiencing an impressionable moment. As a photographer, the allure of being in front of the lens doesn’t appeal to me as much as challenging myself to create artful photos in a hectic situation that I may never experience again.

When I arrived to the remote, industrialized parking lot there were a few scattered news trucks and Secret Service vans already there. After two hours of security checks I loaded onto a shuttle bus with the rest of the press pool and we were escorted to the landing spot of Air Force One. With a White House press pass around my neck I started to feel the stress building in my stomach.

The pressure of being able to get a good image in the few seconds that the President would be in view made me worried, but I felt up for the challenge.

When we got to the riser in front of the landing strip and I filed into place with the other reporters. Standing against the railing with news cameras standing on tripods next to me fencing me into place, I buzzed with anticipation.

But being there in the cold and wind kept my attention sharp and hands clamped to my camera.

Finally I began to see men running around and cameras pointed towards the sky. It was too dark and foggy to see the plane until it had almost touched the ground but then it was suddenly in front of me and camera shutters were going off all around.

President Obama landed at 8:30 p.m., gave a wave as he stepped off the plane and greeted the Governor of California along with the San Francisco Mayor before ducking into his limo and disappearing for the night. All that time amounted to about five minutes of action and when he finally arrived it was difficult to see and to feel my fingers as I fumbled for the shutter release. That first night was anticlimactic to say the least, but my adrenaline was pumping along with my heartbeat. I had watched the President shuffle down the stairs, toes slightly turned together and hands in the same fists he had often made during speeches. He looked exactly as he did on TV. I almost felt as if I hadn’t seen him, since I was looking at him through the eye of my lens. However I had a second chance, and how often do you get to say that.

By the time I had arrived the next morning Air Force One was already prepared for Obama’s departure, one hour early.

This time instead of shivering winds greet15 ing me there was a small crowd of people; many

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gleaming adults standing hands-clamped to young kids - too young to realize the significance of the person they’d come to see.

I started snapping shots of the crowd, all dressed proudly with wild smiles on their faces as the crew of event organizers made the final preparations to ensure Obama’s safe flight. In the next few minutes the flash of police lights began to throb in the distance signaling the line of police cars, ambulances, government cars, and highway patrol that trailed on for a full minute. Finally the identical presidential limos rolled up and stopped right in front of the crowd.

It became clear that Obama’s early arrival was entirely intentional, so the small group of people that were invited could greet him, providing them the opportunity to share their pictures of him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and promoting the Democratic party.

President Obama stepped out of the car into the sunlight and gave a wave, inciting a roar of supporting cheers from the small crowd. I followed him with my lens, snapping and adjusting, stopping only momentarily to refocus.

My hand began to hurt from the weight of my lens but I kept photographing, hoping to come up with one good shot.

In the daylight everything was so clear. From the creases in the smile on his face to way his jacket was a minutely lighter blue than his pants. It was in this moment that I felt the full weight of his presence. The time and effort that went into every detail of his arrival left an aura of prestige. For a moment I let the camera drop from my view slightly, taking in the presence of the President. I had never seen in person anyone of such valued importance and he carried himself with solemnity.

I brought the camera back to my eye as he made his way to the crowd, taking valuable time to shake hands with the ecstatic people. A man lifted his tiny baby into the air and Obama reached over heads of other people and took the baby into his arms. Obama’s intention to make

himself available to meet this enthusiastic crowd demonstrated his effort to be a part of social media. He knowingly created picture-perfect moments, particularly when he embraced the baby, which many people in the crowd would then post on social media to share with their friends.

It would send positive messages about the president like: “Look how kind he is, he’s holding such a young baby” and “he takes time to visit supporters, that makes him a charismatic guy”. His efforts are part of the political trend - the trend to be more social. I thought about this as I watched the crowd raise phones above their heads, their need to document their achievements on social media unintentionally assisting his political purpose.

Once Obama left the crowd and began to step to the plane, my hands began to really feel the weight.

My nerves were tripping out my fingers that gripped the body of the camera and my closed eye began to twitch. Even as I began to lose vision in the eye that was looking through my viewfinder, I just followed Obama with my lens and hoped that my shots were coming out.

I remembered what one of the journalists had said to us the night before as I filmed the plane flying away and fade out. He said, “We’re not here to see him step off a plane, we’re here in case something bad happens.” As a journalist you have to be there first and be there consistently to be the most valuable reporter.

And just like in the world of news Obama takes every opportunity to obtain support from voters. Although Obama’s campaign is over, he still gains support from the people for the Democratic party in the upcoming elections. Through social media, politicians can pursue the interest of more voters by staying connected and creating the illusion of being more available.

The power of social media has influenced politics in this way, as it has also influenced many people in their daily lives to stay connected. While not every person was invited to see the president, they will see his involvement through social media.

by Lauren Bruce

Top right: President Obama steps off Air Force One and gives a wave to the press. Bottom right: The following morning, President Obama holds baby James Gunter III much to the delight of his parents nearby. Top left: Obama walks towards the Air Force One after greeting the crowd. Bottom Left: A spectator snaps a quick shot of Air Force One as it turns toward the runway. Moments after this photo was taken the jets spewed clouds of sand and dirt into the crowd.

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cover OCTOBER 2015

MARTIN O’MALLEY

HILLARY CLINTON Age: 69

Age: 53 Campaign Platform: O’Malley argues for raising the minimum wage, expanding equal opportunity, and supporting women and families.

Bonus points -- he plays in a Celtic rock band.

Position: Former Maryland Governor Quote: “It is contrary to everything we stand for to summarily send children back to death” (on immigration).

Campaign Slogan: Rebuild the American Dream

Campaign Platform: Clinton outlines her presidential platform in four pillars, including an economic plan for the future, supporting families and communities, protecting the nation from potential threats, and amending the political system. Despite these big plans, Clinton is rivaled with the upand-coming Bernie Sanders.

Position: Former Secretary of State Quote: “If I want to knock a story off the front page, I just change my hairstyle.”

Students Weigh In “Hillary Clinton is the most experienced of all the democratic candidates. Hillary probably has the most experience dealing with the government, and she also has her husband Bill Clinton who actually had a fairly successful presidency. Except she seems too detached from many people.”

“I like Bernie... He seems like the most trustworthy candidate and I agree with a lot of his policies.”

*all students choose to remain anonymous

Campaign Slogan: Everyday Americans need a champion. I want to be that champion.

Your Guide to the 2016 Although we still have some time until the 2016 presidential elections, it’s always a good idea to brush up on your knowledge of the current candidates. Even if you won’t be able to vote, it’s still important to have a basic understanding of politics in our world.

The presidential race can be pretty complicated, so here’s a quick guide to the top five democrat and republican 2016 presidential candidates.

the democrats

BERNIE SANDERS

Lincoln Chafee

Age: 75

Age: 63

Campaign Platform: Sanders, another front-runner of the Democrats, supports single-payer healthcare and the expansion of social security. He’s in opposition to free trade. A big problem? He doesn’t have the big funds that Hillary Clinton does. His hashtag is #FeeltheBern, which is pretty awesome.

Campaign Platform: Chafee, a former Republican and Independent, is now giving the Democratic Party a shot. Chafee supports the decriminalization of marijuana and adopting the metric system. Conan O’Brien actually started a campaign to get Chafee 1 percent of the votes in recent polls, after discovering he had 0 percent. Chafee claims to have had no scandals in his political career...

Position: U.S. Senator Position: Rhode Island Governor

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Quote: “Americans’ right to free speech should not be proportionate to their bank accounts.”

Quote: “It’s accurate to call [Hillary Clinton] a hawk.”

Campaign Slogan: A political revolution is coming.

Campaign Slogan: Fresh Ideas for America

MARCO RUBIO

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BEN CARSON

JEB BUSH

Age: 45

Age: 65

Age: 63

Campaign Platform: Rubio is in support of conservative immigration reform and improving Cuban-American relations. He also wants to help people pursue higher education without raising taxes.

Campaign Platform: Carson is a retired neurosurgeon who claims that he is not a scientist. He’s pro-life, wants to keep Gitmo open, and is all about protecting the Second Amendment.

Campaign Platform: Bush favors the Common Core curriculum (here comes four years of testing, kids!). He also wants to create legal status for immigrants and expand citizens’ gun rights.

Position: U.S. Senator

Position: Retired Neurosurgeon

Position: Former Florida Governor

Quote: “Another Clinton presidency would be a death blow to the American dream.”

Quote: “[Obamacare is] the worst thing that has happened in this nation since slavery.”

Quote: “[Planned Parenthood is] not actually doing women’s health issues.”

Campaign Slogan: A New American Century

Campaign Slogan: Heal. Inspire.

Revive.

Campaign Slogan: Jeb!

Presidential Candidates

by Caraline Albro

the republicans

CARLY FIORINA

DONALD TRUMP

Age: 62

Age: 70

Campaign Platform: Fiorina believes marijuana should be regulated as medicine, not a recreational drug. She doesn’t have a lot of political experience, but her personal experiences as a breast cancer survivor and losing her daughter to addiction are relatable and touching.

Position: Former Business Executive

Campaign Platform: Trump, possibly the most publicized candidate in the race, has gotten quite the attention for his controversial comments and opinions. For example, he would build an impenetrable wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. And Mexico would pay for it. He wants to repeal Obamacare, doesn’t believe in climate change, and end Common Core. Well, maybe that last one is for the better.

Quote: “Once I dive in, I dive in all the way.”

Position: Real Estate Mogul

Hashtag: #fiorina

Quote: “You know, it really doesn’t matter what the media write as long as you’ve got a young and beautiful piece of a**.”

Campaign Slogan: New possibilities. Real leadership.

Campaign Slogan: Make America Great Again!

cover OCTOBER 2015 Fox News

How Do You You Get Get Your Your News?

News?

by Brooke Faulkner

S

ince the birth of the ‘millennium’ generation, many are concerned about the negative impacts that technology has on the way we evaluate news, through media and advertising. With new additions to apps like “Snapchat News” and the News app on the iPhone, our generation is becoming more involved in current events and aware of the world surrounding us. With these new additions, current political candidates are being inaccurately portrayed through a variety of biassed lenses. This often creates confusion and misconceptions regarding what each candidate truly stands for. Nonetheless, our generation will progressively obtain their news through forms of social media and technology, foreshadowing an immense change in politics as we know it. I decided to turn over to 100 soon-to-be voting peers to see if they think these apps are affecting their vote. Here is what they said:

Are these apps biased?

22.3% no

77.7% yes

Do you think these apps affected your views?

16.5% no

83.5% yes

Have your views been influenced by social media?

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55.9% yes

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The different ways to get news 4.3% Newspaper T.V. 17%

Other 22.3%

Apps 46.8% Radio 9.6% How often do you check the news?

58.1%

once a day

S

26.9%

once a week

12.9%

1.1% once a year

1.1% once a month

every so often

tudents around M-A seem to gravitate towards these new apps, praising the simplicity they bring to their hectic schedules. Most students realize, however, that what they are reading is only a fragment of a much bigger story that is being told. One aspect that is concerning is that 77 percent of people believe most of these apps are biased in some way, causing a heavy influence in one’s personal political beliefs. In addition, when asked if social media has a general effect on their views, most answered ‘yes’. The power of social media is vital for politicians like Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump who realize that young adults make up a huge portion of the potential voters for the 2016 Presidential Election. Hillary Clinton, specifically, has gone to Snapchat and created her own story, which shows viewers her stance on certain topics that candidates discuss in the race to presidency. This tactic helps her enormously when almost 60 percent of surveyed students reportedly check these apps for news every single day. These seemingly influential apps that are continuing to grow on students have had a noticeable impact when it comes to how news is portrayed. Whether M-A students will change their ways of obtaining news or not remains unknown, as only time can tell us how the media will affect politics in the future.

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MEEt M-A’S STUDENT BODY Officers Who they are and what they do for M-A’s student body

by Olivia Tai

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M

enlo-Atherton’s student government is as successful and robust as it is today because of it’s capable student officers. Although there is a variety of responsibilities and roles all the officers take on, they all work together in order to make M-A a better place for it’s student body.

This year’s Associated Student Body (ASB) President and Vice President are Alex Thayer and Cameron Sheppard, respectively. ASB is one of the two leadership classes here at Menlo-Atherton. In the ASB class, Thayer and Sheppard organize, plan and execute student body activities with their classmates. Basically, they are on the ‘inside’ of the whole operation, and get to collaborate with admin and make final decisions.

Sheppard shares that, “This year a big goal of ours is to integrate more kids into the leadership program […] We want to make sure everyone has a part in the school and feels included and aware.” Sheppard also hopes that this year, even more of M-A’s community will participate in the Canned Food Drive and other service events. As leaders of the entire student body, Thayer and Sheppard are attentive to all students’ needs. These positions are demanding to take on, as Thayer remarks, “This year is just a completely new challenge, because I have so many more responsibilities, which I am super excited about. But it’s been hard to balance that with my outside of leadership life as well as in leadership”.

Despite their many responsibilities, Thayer and Sheppard are optimistic and ambitious. They hope to create an even better sense of community amongst the student body and get everyone involved in student activities.

Another group of government officers are the Class Advisors. Class Advisors and their Co-Advisors can be found in the other leadership class - Spirit.

They run and organize student events that pertain to their grade level and are sometimes more ‘spirit’ based, hence the class name. For example, Senior Advisors will be the main organizers for this year’s prom and Junior Advisors will oversee Winter Formal - a dance that will sponsor the Class of 2017’s Graduation.

M-A’s Junior class Advisor is Hel-

ena Hoover and her co-advisor is Kara Mullarky. Senior class Advisor is Jessica Burgos and her co-advisor is Emily Addicott. Class Advisors play a crucial role in grade-specific events and support.

Until two years ago, all members of M-A’s student government were elected from within the two leadership classes, ASB and Spirit. This was changed when Sheppard and her ASB committee created a new type of student leaders: Student Representatives. Leadership wanted M-A’s student government to feel more democratic, where leadership students were not the only ones allowed to have influential roles. Mr. Amoroso, the teacher advisor of Spirit supported the change, “We felt like from the outside looking in, everyone felt like leadership was a little clique.” When creating the criteria, Sheppard reassured, “We didn’t want to discriminate against anyone, so we tried to make it a really open. No leadership experience required - basically anyone with the drive to get involved.” They were hopeful these new roles would be taken seriously, appealing to any students who had a genuine interest in representing their class. The goal is that student reps are chosen for their beliefs, and not just because people ‘know’ them. This is why during election season, M-A’s student body can watch Debates on the Green, where candidates discuss their plans if elected. Thankfully M-A has nothing to worry about this year - its Junior and Senior Student Representatives appear to be driven and enthusiastic, ready to unite

ASB President Alex Thayer (right) ASB Vice President Cameron Sheppard (left)

Junior Class President Angie Yang (left) Junior Class Vice President Megan McDonnell (right) their class and improve M-A. Student reps are elected by all incoming juniors and seniors - with the purpose of being recognized. Current juniors and seniors are hopefully familiar with their representatives: Junior Class President Angie Yang, Junior Class V.P. Megan McDonnell, Senior Class President Justin Verbo, and Senior Class V.P. James Calhoon. Student reps are seen as the ‘voice’ of their grade, the middlemen between the student body and leadership - as well as means of communication and support. When asked about his role and responsibilities as Senior Class President, Verbo explained, “Issues, concerns, and problems that my peers have will all be sent to me, and I send those over to admin for a possible fix.” The reps also hope they are seen as approachable and reliable. Yang remarked, “We see ourselves as people who the junior class should feel comfortable coming up to talk to and letting us know any concerns they have with the school or in general.” Student reps are also responsible for informing their grade of student activities.

In the past, student reps have considered their peer’s complaints and taken action. As last year’s Junior class President, Verbo says that they were able to add urinal dividers in the boy’s bathrooms, decrease water usage during the drought, and work with admin to reconsider the dress code and the number of food stations. These issues were resolved, or at least improved by admin so current student reps have new goals set for this school year.

Yang and McDonnell hope that they can help all juniors feel welcome and

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comfortable within the M-A community. it, “Those little flyers that may have They also want to increase juniors’ partic- caught your eye, may not this year beipation and spirit at sporting events, ser- cause there’s even more kids crammed vice events, and dances. McDonnell com- into the hallways trying to get to class on ments, “We really try to encourage people time.” Leadership promotes events on a to come, and if they don’t want to come, Facebook page called M-A Student Activwe ask them why - to see if we can change ities, but even then, they aren’t sure how things so they’ll feel more interested in effective it is when not everyone has a coming to these school events” For Verbo Facebook account or is aware of the page. and Calhoon, they hope to make this se- Thayer remarks on the difficulty reachnior year ing out to M-A’s entire student “We felt like from the out- body, “Underclassmen don’t awesome.

V e r b o have Facebooks.” Nonetheless, side looking in, everyone claimed, Thayer and Sheppard creatfelt like leadership was a “James ed a Facebook page called M-A little clique.”- Mr.Amoroso Underclassmen to reach out to and my number younger student who do have one priorFacebook accounts. On the conity is to unite the Senior Class. It is our trary, Verbo finds social media to be very last year together and it is so important effective, “Social Media is huge for me. to spend that last year loving one another Absolutely huge. I added every Senior I and enjoying each other’s presence.” Sim- could find on Facebook and every week ilarly to the Junior reps, Verbo and Cal- I post a run down on upcoming events hoon would like to increase senior turn- as well as recaps of past events.” Verbo out and participation at school events. accredits the success of his campaigns There has already been a couple of orga- to social media and the help of uppernized all-Senior dress up days like Neon classmen. Verbo and Calhoon are active and American day. Verbo and Calhoon members on social media - they oversee also hope that seniors will take charge at the senior class page on a Facebook called sporting events and Verbo states, “As se- Menlo Atherton Class of 2016. Yang and niors, we have to lead by example.” Verbo McDonnell also run a Facebook page for and Calhoon have a vision for this year’s juniors called the Menlo-Atherton High senior class and are in the process of mak- School Class of 2017. ing it a reality.

M-A’s student officers do so much for In order to publicize student ac- their student body - from organizing raltivities, M-A’s student government has lies, dances, the Canned Food Drive, and often relied on social media. In a campus more; to supporting each class individufilled with more than 2,100 students, it ally through Freshman Transition or Jucan be difficult to get all the informa- nior and Senior Representatives. Without tion out. Posters meticulously made in it’s student government, M-A wouldn’t the leadership classes can often be seen have the thriving community that it has in Pride Hall, but as Mr. Amoroso puts today.

“It is our last year together and it is so important to spend that last year loving one another and enjoying each other’s presence.” -Justin Verbo Senior Class President Justin Verbo

Senior Class V.P. James Calhoon

erism Consum

g n i s i t r e v d A opinion OCTOBER 2015

Painting Chantel Stelliga

Y

ou are walking through the mall, the eerie and piercing sound of personalized ads calling your name and commanding your attention fills the otherwise silent walk as those around you realize that capitalism has reached a new peak of invasiveness.

Imagine your life without privacy, an existence without rights to your history, your mind, or your body. To resist would be to question what has now become the center of your universe and that of the zombies surrounding you. You look into the eyes of the person next to you and see nothing, no flicker of thought, personalization, or perspective other than that given to him by the corporations that now govern thought. His mind is a paradox, empty yet full. Full of what, you imagine? Unaware of his mental deterioration, he is no longer a free thinker, his mind shaped to the social expectations and attitudes being formulated by the ubiquitous American consumerism. He sees the world through the lens of the corporation. This scene, depicted by the television series Minority Report, however hyperbolic, critiques the uncannily similar thinking of American consumers today, especially the generation of consumers that has grown up utterly surrounded by advertising, consumerism, media, and that which feeds on our weaknesses.

Advertising, in its prevalence and availability, has consequently evolved with technology to play an important role in implying what is expected and accepted and what is not. Advertising is no longer solely evident and accessible in the mediums by which our parents’ generation was exposed to the values and messages consumerism tries

to impart, such as magazines, television, and billboards. It has permeated into aspects of everyday life that we hardly notice and morphed into product placement, celebrity endorsement, corporation sponsored entities, and other dangerously conspicuous and effective advertising techniques that threaten to “subconsciously influence you without your knowledge or consent,” describes Katharine Keigher, a Menlo-Atherton teacher who uses a media literacy unit to help her sophomore classes understand the messages and intentions of advertising. “If you have lost your agency for a reason you are not even aware of, that is dangerous and that is how we lose our ability to participate successfully in society,” and to avoid this, for yourself and for those around you, is to analyze the messages in advertising and decide whether your choice “is to consume or not to consume, to believe what the advertisement is saying or to disagree with it.”

As a generation that has grown up surrounded by advertising in everything we do, whether it be looking out a window at a billboard or watching ads on television, we are given the “rose-colored glass” through which we are encouraged to look at other people, ourselves, situations, and the world.

Advertising and consumerism, despite its possibility to be a positive way to send a message to a large population, is overwhelmingly negative as advertisers possess that control over consumers and as a result, “create this idea that if you buy this product you will look skinny or tan [like in the ad]. It feeds on this part of your brain that doubts itself, it feeds on that negativity,” comments

Junior Megan McDonnell. Not only does consumerism alter our perspective but it also bring new and almost superficial meaning to genuinity and tradition as, “Holidays like Black Friday and Christmas are now just means for manufacturers and companies to make a profit,” comments McDonnell on the prevalence of consumerism on herself as well as her lifestyle. Corporate madness, in its attempt to reach each person, each viewer on a personal level, has lost that sense of authenticity as this person and that person, however separate, are categorized together under the umbrella term “consumers.” Some may accept that title, even embrace it, but will soon carry that connotation it brings and consequently, lose that sense of self and individuality, not to mention privacy, which we pride ourselves upon.

The danger in that subconscious manipulation is when these messages target a population that is unable to protect themselves from relinquishing a control over their decision-making abilities. Shannon Kirkpatrick, another M-A English teacher, gives the example of body positive ads and campaigns, or so they claim, that, while they are promoting the message that beauty is not surface level, such ads are at the same time counteracting that positivity by, “propping up some certain aspects of typical beauty. Yes, some of those women have thighs bigger than normal model thighs but does anybody have a stomach that is drooping over their pants line? No, they still have some traditionally beautiful shapes. It’s very interesting that they are still picking and choosing in these very subtle ways and I think that, again, they are trying to be very positive but

a&e there are still some subtle things they are reinforcing.”

Stereotyping, assumptions, and loaded messages consequently result from the scramble of businesses and corporations to connect with all audiences of varying age, ethnicity, gender, political views or economic standing. Generalizations about a consumer, whether it be about their wealth or their looks, are too often the source of stereotypes. Why is strong synonymous with bossy and confident with selfish? How did what we now recognize as typical and traditional beauty originate? When did we start confining ourselves to believe “traditional” anything is what to aspire to? Given the diversity of our culture and our country, it certainly couldn’t have developed from common and shared characteristics or values. Keigher provides her theory that, “Stereotypes are prevalent in advertising because they create a sense of familiarity that is very comforting to the consumer.

It’s something that is instantly recognizable and allows a company to make a quick connection with a consumer and [to create] a more nuanced image of a person of a certain age, race, or gender, that nuance takes time to understand and advertisers don’t have time. So they rely on stereotypes because they allow for that quick connection. Stereotypes are troublesome because they are not nuanced and real people are. No one is going to one hundred percent live up to any stereotype that the media portrays even if some elements are true. The fact that they are based in truth is what makes them so easy to believe because we can see parts of ourselves in them, we can see parts of our friends or our enemies in them and we want to assume that they are one-dimensional in that way.”

However, pop culture, media and expression through these means are a part of our identity as a culture and a people. Advertising and consumerism

has that ability to connect us with other ideas and other perspectives on the common ground it provides. Therefore, the solution to this double-edged sword of a topic is not to isolate yourself from it and rather the opposite - to become aware of the messages advertisements are trying to impart and choose whether to internalize that message or not. Technology has made this phenomenon widespread but its effect on you as a consumer depends on your ability and willingness to question the meaning and proceed accordingly. The technology that makes advertising so available and sometimes harmful can also be a tool to combat that which you disagree with. Consumers possess the ability to protect that vulnerably accessible population and stop the cycle of misinterpretation and stereotyping to turn consumerism into a positive forum for change and opportunity.

by Katie Moffitt

Fall Feelings

By Lara Karadogan

Despite the excitement of Halloween and the warmth of Thanksgiving, the falls season seems to fill us with melancholy.

School has commenced, the days are getting shorter, temperatures dropping, and trees shedding their leaves. Menlo-Atherton High School students seem tired, walking languorously through the halls, trying to make it to their next class. Instead of caving into this negative mood, let’s take a fresh look at the season called Autumn, and look at the facts, plain and simple.

1 3 5

Sep. 23 was the autumnal equinox, marking the first day of fall.

Most Americans tend to use the word “fall” to describe this season, while “autumn” is the more colloquial term in England. Although different words, they both come from the 16th century and mean “harvest” In addition to Thanks Giving, Halloween and Día de los Muertos, there are many celebrations such as Ghandi and Miley Cryrus’s brithdays.

2 4 6

The term “equinox” originates from Latin meaning, ‘equal night’ Fall is also one of the two days in the year when the northern and southern hemispheres equally face the sun.

Let’s not forget that Ms. Kennel, Ms. Martinelli and Mr. Carlson all celebrate birthdays around this time.

So, stop feeling low, and embrace the highlights of the season. Many M-A students have come to agreement that the best term to describe this season is, ‘cozy’. Some students also say that they want to “connect with [their] family and friends”. Grab your warm blankets and hot drinks, take the initiative, and make this the best season yet because fall time, is family time.

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a&e OCTOBER 2015

Ca f e Confid ent ial

Why is the one place I Like Always Packed?

For many students, finding a place to study is challenging, and it’s time-consuming to search for the best cafe in town. That is why we have scouted out some of the best cafes in the Menlo-Atherton area for studying and sipping this fall.

Blue Bottle - Downtown Palo Alto Blue Bottle Coffee is famously from San Francisco, but their coffee is not worth the hype. Despite their beautiful interior and minimalist furniture, the food and drink were disappointing. I ordered a cappuccino which was smaller than my thumb and cost $3.75. The barista made a heart-shaped foam design on my cappuccino, but that didn’t disguise the completely bitter taste underneath, despite the additions of cream and sugar.

Out of disappointment, I walked over to Starbucks down the street and ordered a $4.79 pumpkin spice latte. Blue Bottle has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and the service is satisfactory. I don’t think this cafe is ideal for studying if you are the type who needs some caffeine while studying, like myself.

Sadly, this cafe lacks affordable and quality coffee, which the trendy environment doesn’t make up for.

Cocola Bakery - Stanford Mall Cocola is a charming little cafe in the Stanford Mall; though it stands alone and is somewhat unnoticed. Its interior encompasses a few comfy couches, Tuscan-looking walls and has lots of natural light flowing in. The tables and seating are great for studying because there are never an abundant amount of people in there; not to mention cute mosaic tables and chairs. Coffee, pastries and beverages are mediocre but acceptable. Come here if you are looking for a freshly baked pastry like the ones in Italy alongside a hearty sandwich. The employees are always nice and quick with your order, you would never wait over five minutes in Cocola unlike a Starbucks at rush hour.

a&e Philz Coffee - Middlefield Road Philz Coffee is ideal for an after school study session. It has everything a student needs: great coffee and tea, tasty pastries and outdoor seating. When you pull up to Philz Coffee, there is outdoor seating and a colorful mural outside that is perfect for an Instagram post. Inside, there is a huge menu that features all their coffees and what each blend tastes like. My favorite is the “New Manhattan”; it’s brewed with cherries and an earthy taste, making it perfect for fall. The best part about this cafe is how affordable it is: only $3 for a small and $4 for a large coffee. They also have a variety of scones, muffins, and my favorite gluten-free brownie. Another appealing feature is the people who work there. The baristas are friendly and wear matching flannels, like a family. This cafe has great atmosphere and great coffee, however there could stand to be more seating inside. Sitting outside in the fall doesn’t bode well for studying, but you can grab one of the few seats inside. Philz is the most comfortable place to study and enjoy a hot cup of coffee. This cafe makes up for its compact size with its affordability, good service and delicious coffee.

Coho - Stanford University CoHo at Stanford has a cozy atmosphere, an academic environment, decent coffee and lots of healthy food options. This cafe’s selling point would be the food, they have many salads, pastries and sandwiches to offer, all at an affordable price.

Given that Stanford is one of the most elite universities in the world, studying in their cafe is highly motivating. From warm leather couches to diner chairs on wheels, there is bound to be a seat for you. For those familiar with the TV show Friends, you might find CoHo to be remarkably similar to the show’s coffee house, Central Perk. While CoHo’s individual qualities are slightly above average, they add up to an excellent whole.

Coupa Cafe - Downtown Palo Alto Coupa, a humble cafe winging off the main University Avenue, is a Venezuelan style cafe. The food is healthy and puts a modern spin on South American flavor. The set up in Coupa is comfy, including a study room open from 10am to 6pm with wifi. Coupa is a family owned business and only uses fairtrade and organic coffee beans. Try their spicy hot chocolate or other unique drinks for a new outlook on beverages. Additionally, their pastries and house-made chocolates are amazing. Their coffee is relatively affordable but the employees seem a bit ditzy and may or may not mess up your order. Though Coupa is in sort of an odd area in Palo Alto the romantic twinkly lights at night and warm atmosphere make up for the destination.

Our favorite cafe for studying this fall is Philz Coffee in Palo Alto, they have the best coffee, most cozy atmosphere and the best service. If you are looking for a new place to do homework, or meet up with friends, this cafe is perfect.

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by Chantel Stelliga and Taylor Shantz

FEATURE OCTOBER 2015

E

ven though the gender designations on the locker room doors separate Menlo-Atherton freshman Folashade Akinola from the rest of her team, the separation ends when she joins her team out on the field, where her ability is the only thing that matters.

There are corresponding girls teams for all sports at M-A, with the exception of football. Since its origins, football has been dominated by men; this year Akinola has broken that trend in becoming the first girl in the history of M-A to participate on a football team.

For the coach of the freshman football team, Thomas Brown, having a girl on the team is a totally new experience.

He has coached other high school football teams before but he’s very excited to see how Akinola and the rest of the team will come together and improve throughout the season. Coach Brown comments, “I don’t think she sees it as she is a girl playing with guys, she just loves football and she’s got this tunnel vision to just play.”

Akinola plays linebacker, and with four years of experience on the field, she is not afraid to tackle anyone; “ [The other team] always thinks that I’m a weak girl, so I go even harder and get the tackle.

Sometimes being underestimated is helpful I guess; it definitely doesn’t stop me.”

When Akinola first announced her desire to be a player on the football field, her whole family was surprised.

“Most of them thought that because I was a girl I shouldn’t be on the field and that I should be on the sideline cheering. My mom wasn’t sure if I could handle it. It took her about a week to get used to the idea, but now she’s one of my biggest fans.”

Eunice Martin, Akinola’s mother, is extremely proud of her daughter, “Her fearlessness to be on the field is one to be recognized of having a pure heart and the guts to put on the pads, helmet and mouth piece and go toe-to-toe with her opponent to contribute to a winning season along with her fellow M-A Bears.”

Akinola’s aspirations to participate on the football field originated when she was young, watching a family member play the sport, “My brother has always been my idol,” Akinola reminisces. “He played football and I would always like to be on the field but because I was a girl I was never able to [play].

So one year I just decided to actually play.” Akinola then took the initiative and tried out for her middle school team, The East Palo Alto Mastodons, and made

the team. Now, four years later, Akinola is on the freshman football team at M-A. Since the season began Akinola has been extremely focused on learning all the new plays, and she has even started to bond with the team, “Some of the boys are starting to be my friends and they all joke around with me,” Akinola explains. “When I do something great, because I’m a girl it’s even better. Whenever I get through the line or block the kicker it’s amazing because everyone gives me so much admiration.”

For the boys on the freshman football team, the idea of having a girl on the team was a whole new experience, “At first I thought it was weird because it was different. Now I’m used to it because she’s part of the team. She’s like everybody else,” a member of the team explains.

Over the years Akinola has grown used to the occasional remarks about her and her abilities out on the field, “Other teams are just really surprised that I’m a girl. They are afraid they are going to hurt me, but I’ve played for so long that I’ll get back up no matter what, even if it hurts. I know it’s an unusual thing for a girl to play football, so people just need time to get used to it.” Akinola is determined to be a tenacious football player, and to make a big contribution to the M-A team, no matter what gender-centric criticisms are thrown at her.

“The worst thing somebody ever said to me was that I shouldn’t be playing football,” Akinola explains, “Before we even get on the field, people think that because we are girls, we suck or we’re less. But there are some girls out there who don’t care about failing, because they know that they are better than that.” Part of Akinola’s success comes from her ability to rise above gender expectations, just by being herself: the player that she can be.

Football isn’t the only sport that Akinola plays where throwing people down is encouraged; she also wrestles.

Akinola wrestled for four years as part of the East Peninsula Wrestling Club and the East Palo Alto Mastodons, and shares that she “won two state championships and a national championship.”

Martin explains, “After football season she will be joining the M-A wrestling team to continue her legacy of participating as a female in a male dominated sport. She is being a role model for other females to play whatever sport they take interest in whether it be cheerleading or football. If you love watching it from the

sideline, then if you choose to, you should be able to suit up and play to your fullest potential. Fola has done just that.”

Akinola doesn’t want to be judged as a girl playing a boy’s sport, and she’s not trying to make a statement. Rather, she has proved that her individual merits and her contributions to her team, not as a girl, but as an athlete, are all that matter.

by Reid Diamond and Bradley Stillman

FEATURE Photography Lauren Bruce

Fearless

on the

Field Photography Lauren Bruce 29

opinion OCTOBER 2015

police brutality Portrayed Through Social Media

A

re police officers protecting us from the dangers of society? Or are they the ones becoming threats to society?

Police brutality, or the violence towards innocent citizens is a major problem in society that is gaining the attention of many people. There are different opinions on this issue, and many of these opinions are influenced by social media.

Media has been construing the public opinion and affecting law enforcement. Activists and United States citizens against unjust law enforcement use social media to exemplify some truths suggesting that police may not be “protecting” properly.

Recent reports of police officers in California show the increasing abuse of the badge. Police officers are imposing unecessary brutality and violence.

For example, a case on Market Street in San Francisco occurred during which an African American man was standing in public waving a pair of crutches. “What are you doing this for?” the homeless man was asked many times by police officers.

“These are my crutches. I use these to walk.” He repeats this throughout the footage. On a video recorded by an eyewitness, the homeless man continued insisting that he needed the crutches.

The footage shows the police officers brutally hurting the man and stepping on the man’s prosthetic leg. It took four officers to handle this minor problem, and they did so in an extremely violent manner. The officers stepped, held and twisted the homeless man’s leg while he was held down on the dirty ground. This instance was recorded and uploaded to

by Luis Cruz

social media, resulting in many opinions and urguments regarding the situation.

Data From Copcrisis.com states that every 8 hours, police officers kill an American citizen in the United States.

Nevertheless, the officers are indicted in only 1% of these killings. An incomplete data report from this source also states that there have been 4,861 reports of police brutality that involve 6,613 officers.

In addition, 6,826 United States citizens have been victims of police brutality related to these reports. A M-A student, choosing to remain anonymous, reveals that he has dealt with police brutality because of his history with illegal graffiti. He was “painting a bridge late [at] midnight so there were no cops, and [he] wasn’t worried about anything.” When finished, he packed up and started walking down the tracks until he saw flashlights and heard police sirens. “So I hopped the fence and then one of [the police officers] gripped my shoulder and threw me down to the ground. My head slammed to the ground when he threw me. As he placed the handcuffs on my hands, he tightened them really tight on my wrists. I couldn’t feel my blood circulating and that night I had to spend 48 hours in juvenile hall.”

Social media has allowed us to be in touch with events going on all over the world, but is social media another way of exposing the truths of our society? We live in a society in which people are starting riots against police brutality due to racial profiling. Evidence of brutality and deaths in social media give people a reason to react with riots and protests. It is becoming

more common to view law enforcement as the “bad guys” instead of the heroes.

When interviewing M-A students regarding their opinion on law enforcement, half of them were negative responses. M-A student Yuyis Perez shares that, “They are not doing their job right, I don’t support the 5-0, they’re just trying to hurt us, and from my perspective, they take advantage of their power and try taking over blacks and latinos.” The other half of students interviewed claimed that officers are doing their job, and they don’t believe racial profiling influences law enforcement. One student shared, “ I don’t support the negative things that other people say; without cops the world would be chaos, full of crime, deaths and robberies.” After showing the student a video of two officers from San Francisco Police Department discussing shooting suspects and commenting about their heads exploding, the student did not change their mind. Maybe law enforcement is doing their job correctly, but social media doesn’t portray that statement in a positive way anymore. Is it social media that is giving them such a bad reputation? Are police officers doing their job correctly, or do they simply take advantage of their power?

sports

STAND OUT E

ach year, thousands of high school students attempt to be recruited to top colleges and universities across the country, yet only a small percentage of them go on to compete for collegiate teams. Of the 7.4 million student athletes who compete in high schools across the United States, only 460,000, or 6 percent, go on to compete at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Schools. Of this 6 percent, only 173,500 students play for Division I teams.

With talent spread across the country, scouts for Division I teams have their choice of the top high school athletes. How does a prospective recruit set themselves apart from the sea of student athletes in order to secure him/herself a spot at the school of his/her dreams?

As the Recruiting Director for Stanford Football, Mike Eubanks aids the coaching staff in hand selecting the players that will comprise Stanford University’s Division I football team. Some of his many responsibilities include planning and executing recruiting events as well as guiding prospective recruits through the rigorous process required to be accepted into Stanford. As only 10 coaches are allowed to have contact with recruits off the Stanford campus, Eubanks communicates with players via social media as well as email.

For Stanford coaches, a look at a potential recruit’s transcript is the first step towards a possible scholarship. To a high profile school such as Stanford, skill alone doesn’t cut it; a high GPA and challenging academic courses are required to even be considered. As Eubanks puts it, “If we wanted to get excited, we could watch film of 40 [potential players], yet in reality, only 2 of them have the grades for Stanford”.

Using potential players transcripts as the first filter, the next step for Eubanks and his colleagues is to find out more about the prospects. Through

letters of recommendation as well as speaking with high school coaches, the coaching staff is able to get a better idea as to whether or not the player will be a good fit for Stanford. Eubanks describes the ideal recruit as “that very very special young man who is not only exceptional in his sport, but also is high character and high academics”.

When examining a player, Eubanks and his colleagues look for a base athleticism and athletic capability, rather than coach specific technique.

Eubanks believes that such skills are often a reflection of coaching, rather than of one’s capability as an athlete.

He adds, “you love to have someone that is coached in the same way that your college is coached, but that’s rare and that’s not the most important thing. A good player should be be able to come to college and be able to learn [the coach’s] technique and the skills the way [the coach] wants to teach them. What you can’t change are those intrinsic, athletic qualities.”

In many cases, high school students have yet to reach their full athletic potential. For this reason, many coaches look at technique and agility factors rather than simply raw power or build.

Football specific, Eubanks comments that “They can get down low and play from a low positions of leverage [...] that’s something that’s a little bit technique and a little athleticism, those are things that should be apparent at any stage of physical development. That’s not about whether you have a grown man’s strength or whether you have the muscle and advanced body weight that you will have later.”

After evaluating each player, coaches extend scholarships to those they feel would be the most valuable additions to their team. As a scholarship can be offered in a recruit’s junior or even sophomore year, it is imperative to maintain

one’s academic standing as well as athletic skill in order to hold onto their scholarship. Despit the time and effort taken by recruiters to offer scholarships to players, they are unafraid to let a student go if one aspect of their high school career no longer meets the requirements of the university.

As put by Eubanks, “there is a very narrow path [a recruit] must walk on” in order to earn a scholarship. Despite hard work, many students are unable to meet the criteria required to be formally recruited to a high performance football team such as Stanford’s. In this situation, many athletes choose to walk on to collegiate teams. Although walking on as a freshman may be disappointing to those looking to be recruited, through hard work many athletes are able to gain standing and succeed as collegiate athletes. For example, in 2014 alone, five Stanford seniors graduated with scholarships after walking onto the football team as freshman. One of the five, David Parry finished Stanford with a scholarship and was immediately drafted into the National Football League (NFL), where he has every game this season.

To high school athletes looking to be recruited, Eubanks emphasizes the importance of “high character and self-discipline, which is manifested in time management. High school can be very busy and at times overwhelming, with everything expected of the high school student today. You add on extracurriculars on top of that. Managing and balancing real ambition and excellence with that second area of your life on top of being the absolute most excellent student that you can be in the classroom, it takes rare qualities to be able to pull that off. You have to have the drive that settles for nothing less than your best in everything that you do.”

by Elley Goldberg

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