VOL. 5 NO. 2
November 2016
An Interview with the President
Garneau Climbs for the Community
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by JEFFERY QIU
n Saturday 22 October, twelve students from Marc Garneau C.I. convened in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre before daybreak to achieve one common goal: climb all 144 flights of Toronto’s famous CN Tower. One of several CN Tower climbs this year, the event was organized by United Way of Toronto and York Region. Jenna Wong, the organizer of Garneau’s team, said “It was a little hectic getting everything organized but in the end everything worked out pretty well and I think everyone had a good climb.” See CN TOWER on P2
Racing the City by VARUN VENKATARANAMAN
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See CROSS COUNTRY on P2
TEACHER FEATURE P2
by HENRY TANG
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very June, members for the upcoming year’s Student Activity Council are chosen through a school-wide election. Representing and coordinating the student body of MGCI this school year is SAC President Zaid Irfani Baig. We checked in with Zaid to ask him a few questions about his experience so far. He said his first month as SAC President was rather rushed. He admitted he spent a lot of his time “bossing around people, reminding them to get this done and get that done.” However, he added that his stress wasn’t because of his fellow SAC members, but rather due to the large number of events they hosted. Fundraisers, recent renovations, Spirit Week, and the Terry Fox Run, coupled with general responsibilities like running weekly meetings took up the majority of his time. Zaid commented that it really was “a hassle to get the game going on.” The main objective of SAC this year is to introduce new events and bring back old ones that “last year’s council couldn’t organize.” A few planned events include Fall Fest, Christmas Show, a Haunted House, Varsity Jacket sales and a graduation trip for the Grade 12 students. All of these events and changes are meant to increase school spirit, which is after all, “the reason why Student Council exists.” This year, SAC also plans to amp up usage of social media. Platforms such as the MGCI Updates Facebook Group, Youtube, and the recently created Snapchat account will be used to keep students updated. In addition, SAC is also in the process of making weekly vlogs that will focus on school events. Zaid
Photo: Sophia Liu said that these will be posted shortly as installments of Garneau News. Because of SAC’s presence on social media, communication with the council has become easier. Any comments, complaints or concerns can be delivered through social media or the new SAC suggestion box outside their office, both of which Zaid checks every day. However, when asked about how SAC responds to these messages, Zaid mentioned, “There is a kind of misunderstanding of the role played by Student Council. Students think we can solve the literacy test at Garneau, or the courses in Garneau, or the toilet paper issue … We can’t fix that. We don’t have the power to do that… We’re just a medium for students to talk to.” Rather, what SAC does is make suggestions about the system to the administration of the school and to the TDSB Student Council.
In the past few years, SAC’s budget has decreased substantially from from $8600 to $7000. This could impact what the council will be able to offer the school throughout the year. Nevertheless, SAC’s president “still feels confident about SAC’s involvement.” When Zaid entered Marc Garneau CI three years ago, he was known by his friends as just a “photographer.” Since then, he has participated in numerous clubs and extracurriculars, including cross country, swim team, tennis team, and his self-created Gardening Club. He has been a part of SAC for every single one of his high school years, but it wasn’t until this year that he became the president. When asked about what his Student Council offers that previous councils don’t, he responded, “Everybody’s motivated. There’s commitment.” ■
Illustration: Hanlin Cheng
have lived abroad longer than I have lived in Bangladesh, the country where I was born. Growing up, I always treated Bangladesh as my home, but can I really call it that? That was the question I pondered over as I boarded the plane to Canada. My move to Canada really didn’t excite me. After living in seven different countries, I saw immigration as an annual tradition instead of a life changing event. Despite constantly jumping from one country to another, I had always known where home was: Bangladesh. It was the one place I was sure I could return to. This time, however, the move to Canada would be permanent and I knew I would not go back. For the first time in my life, the length of my trip was unknown. After conquering half of the world, I was finally invading North America.
During my move, I was concerned about what high school in Canada would be like. In Bangladesh, schools followed the British curriculum, which is undoubtedly rigorous. Although it made you work hard, there was a very limited selection of courses outside the core sciences or business. I wondered if Canada would be the same, owing to its British roots. To my surprise—and disappointment—school in Ontario was actually a lot easier: the topics taught here in Grade 10 or 11 were taught to me in Grade 8. However, I was pleased that there were more courses to choose from and that students had the freedom to study whatever they wanted to. This was especially significant to me because I moved to Canada for a higher quality post-secondary education. Socially, my life in Canada was also very different from my life in Bangladesh. Both my parents were army officers and our family had ruled the country from the shadows since its birth. I grew up in a family that had substantial influence and power. We lived in the best houses and had every sort of luxury imaginable, and our presence was undoubtedly imposing. I was well known in my city, Chittagong, as a national youth advisor on foreign policy. To leave all that for an apartment and an insignificant social status was life-changing, to say the least. And don’t get me started on the drastic cultural change! What do you mean you play football by hand? Who is this guy “Drake” that everyone keeps talking about? How do people not know who Pantera, Alter Bridge or Slipknot are? “Closer” is certainly not the best song ever. Blue Jays? I’d rather watch the Yankees, thank you very much. See COMING TO CANADA on P2
FALL ASK THE FEST RECKONER P2 P3
by MEGAN NIU
ave you ever dreamed of changing the world? Of finding a band of like-minded people and leading a revolution? Of being an environmental advocate? What if you accidentally ended up being the reason for an environmental disaster? In October 2016, a protest group called Climate Direct Action shut down several pipelines that transported millions of barrels of crude oil from Canada to America on a daily basis. This unscheduled shutting-off of pipelines increased the chances for the buildup of pressure and the eventual rupturing of the pipes, which would have posed many problems for the local environment. [1] Thankfully, police were quick to act and there was no permanent damage to the pipes. Although Climate Direct Action’s cause is justifiable, their methods of protesting are problematic. As a result, their message is being tarnished in the news and social media, compelling the public to be less sympathetic to their cause. Clearly, it is crucial that movements carefully consider how they spread their messages. See PROTESTS on P3
Moon Over, Mars OP-ED by ZAIN RASHID and TAZIK SHAHJAHAN
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by RUKNOON DINDER
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Protesting Ineffective Protests H
Coming To Canada: Home is Where the Heart is
Photo: Jenna Wong
n 26 October, MGCI’s Cross Country Team competed in their final meet of the season, the City Championships at Centennial Park. To qualify for TDSB’s biggest race, runners had to be on one of the top four teams, or one of the next eight fastest individuals in their category at the South-West Regional Championships. The SouthWest Regional Championships were held on 18 October, and while none of Garneau’s teams qualified for City Championships, two runners, Jenna Wong and Varun Venkataramanan, qualified as individuals. Jenna and Varun ran 5 km and 7 km in their respective races, on a course that took them through forests, grassy fields, and up a ski hill. The weather wasn’t on their side, as they braved temperatures below 4ºC with winds around 50-60 km/h. This year, TDSB only sent half the number of runners that they sent last year to the Provincial Cross Country Championships (OFSAA); only the top three teams and five fastest individuals would move on. Jenna and Varun both placed in the top quarter for their events, but unfortunately could not earn qualifying spots. When asked about her race, Jenna said, “The weather wasn’t the greatest and I’m a little disappointed in my performance, but I had a great time in my final high school cross country season.” All the runners on the team would like to thank the coaches for their extensive time and effort.
P1
ART P4
ince primeval times, humans have been fascinated with space. And perhaps no celestial body has received as much attention as has Mars, owing to its many similarities with and proximity to Earth. Our dream to go to Mars predates our first foray into space, and today many organizations, including NASA, are working to turn this dream into a reality. Although NASA plans to establish a human base on Mars as part of its long-term goal of making humans an interplanetary species, this endeavour faces a number of financial and technical challenges that make it nearly impossible. Though the prospect of sending humans to Mars is undoubtedly exciting, it is one that would require the investment of hundreds of billions of dollars. This greatly exceeds NASA’s funds—its 2016 budget was just $19.3 billion [1]. The project will require a budget of approximately $100 billion over a span of thirty to forty years, and the numbers are likely to increase; after all, the International Space Station (ISS) was supposed to be a $10 billion, decade-long expenditure, but it ultimately cost ten times as much. [1] With these figures, NASA is unlikely to receive sufficient funding. Although the US Senate recently approved $5.5 billion for space exploration for 2017, the Mars mission may be scrapped in the future under a different administration, as funding for such projects is fickle in nature. For instance, upon entering office, President Obama cancelled the Constellation program, due to the budget. It would have cost $230 billion over 20 years [2] to fund the program that would take the agency to the moon and eventually Mars. However, by utilizing recent technological advancements such as self-driving cars, 3D printing, and partnerships with private corporations, a panel of experts in the scientific community has estimated that a lunar base may be established by 2022 with a relatively paltry $10 billion [3]. See SPACE EXPLORATION on P3
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VOL. 5 NO. 2
P2
November 2016
NEWS Introducing Fall Fest: Autumn with a Bang M
by JESSICA GUO and MEI YI NIU
arc Garneau’s first ever Fall Fest was held on 14 October 2016 at J&J Best Western Banquet Hall. Organized by Social Convenor Fariha Haleem, the first dance of the year celebrated the arrival of autumn. Attendees dressed for the theme of the dance by wearing colours such as orange and green. Tickets were sold at $26 for MGCI students and $30 for guests in the SAC office. The event was advertised through a variety of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram, as well as through word-of-mouth and announcements. SAC also released a promotional video on YouTube that introduced the new dance. A total of 110 tickets were sold, and all the revenue went towards the cost of renting the venue and hosting DJ Special K, the DJ for several of the school’s previous dances. The dance officially started at 5:30 pm, although most people began arriving at 6:15 pm. Bag checks were performed upon entry. As promised, appetizers and soft drinks were served and restocked throughout the night. Because students were able to request songs through an online form prior to the event, most attendees were pleased with the music. The dance ended at 10:30 pm, and gift cards were given out as awards to the best male and female dancers of the night. In general, the students enjoyed the dance. Many were satisfied with the price of the tickets, which were much cheaper than that of previous school dances. “It’s my senior year, so I want to join more school events before I graduate,” said Sara Ahmed. Sara was very happy with the event and its atmosphere, but
by DYLAN XIAO
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s. Elliot is part of MGCI’s Physical Education kids feel bombarded by that. We need to talk about Department, but she also teaches Civics. what ‘healthy’ means to different people in positions of power, and about living a moderate lifestyle Q: What courses do you teach at Marc Garneau? where you eat properly but don’t plug everything A: I teach Phys. Ed. and I teach Civics and I’ve into your head every time you eat something. You taught exercise science, and that’s pretty much it. just enjoy your life and enjoy activity, and enjoy And I wasthe Head of Literacy here for two years. food in a balanced and joyful way. Q: How long have you been teaching? A: This is my ninth year of teaching.
Photo: Zaid Baig wished for a nicer venue and a bigger dance floor. Fall Fest was introduced by SAC due to the uneven distribution of school events during the year. Previously, the only dance in first semester was the relatively expensive Semi-Formal. Fariha aimed to make the price of Fall Fest as low as possible. “I wanted to get students excited early on in the year,” she explained. “This is definitely the least expensive dance, so students should not have been discouraged by the price.” Overall, the event ran smoothly. “I was nervous about how it would turn out, especially as the first dance of the year,” Fariha said near the end of the event, “but I am very happy about how it went.” She hopes that SAC will continue to host this event in future years. The dance was well received by both students and teachers. Ms. Goldenberg commented, “Wonderful dance, well organized, good music, kids had fun, what could be better?” ■
City Championships at Centennial Park CROSS COUNTRY Continued from P1
This year’s team was coached by Mr. Labayen, Ms. Elliott, and Mrs. McIsaac. They practiced three times a week in the mornings, doing a mixture of distance runs (distances greater than 5 km), tempo runs, and interval workouts. Some of the more competitive runners practiced on their own time as well. All runners participated in two mini-meets and regionals, hoping to qualify for the City Championships. Mr. Labayen expressed his hope for a longer training season, saying, “The season is too short and the athletes don’t really have time to get into race shape. You have to come into the season ready to race on the first day of school.” However all the coaches said they are very proud of the athletes and hope they can build on this year’s success. ■
Climbing to New Heights CN TOWER Continued from P1
Photo: Julien Lin Student participants were required to raise a minimum of $50 in order to be eligible to climb. In total, Garneau’s climbers raised $940, over double the amount of $445 raised last year. The top student fundraisers were Grade 9 Jessica Guo, with $80 and Grade 11 Varun Venkataramanan with $60. Donations were collected from friends and family, either in-person or online. When asked about why she
: Ms. Elliot
participated, Abirami Sivakanthan, one of the MGCI climbers, said, “I decided to do the climb because it was a way for me to challenge myself and give back to the community at the same time.” She also stated that she’s looking forward to climbing again: “ I will definitely do it again next year.” Another climber, Saiyam Patel, enjoyed not just the thrill of the climb but also the event itself. “It was amazing to see
how many people had come together for this charitable cause,” commented Saiyam. “Regarding the actual climbing of the stairs it turned out to be a lot harder than I expected, yet it was very enjoyable and exhilarating.” Participants were given a wristband that was swiped prior to and after finishing the climb to determine how long they took. After taking the elevator back down, they received a t-shirt with their time written on the back. The fastest climbers on Garneau’s team were Jeffrey Qiu and Eric Zhao who reached the top in the time of 15:08 minutes and 15:23 minutes respectively! The CN Tower Climb for United Way was an engaging way to raise money for the local community, while attempting to reach a challenging goal. All of the climbers would like to extend a huge thanks to Jenna Wong, Mr. Hillman and Ms. Silva for organizing the climb for Garneau students. ■
Q: What made you want to be a teacher? A: I think it started with teachers that I had in high school. Actually I had a really great Phys. Ed. teacher in Grade 8, who motivated me to take a lot of Phys. Ed. classes when I was in high school. Then I did an undergraduate degree in kinesiology and I met a lot of great professors. The principal of my high school also thought that I would do well in education, and I took his advice because I really admired him and that also propelled me into the profession. I don’t think many of these individuals even knew the impact they would have later on in my life and professional career. I should tell them! Q: What is your teaching philosophy? A: My teaching philosophy is that every student feels included and that every student has some say in their education. In Phys. Ed., this translates into giving students the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities, and finding the one that motivates them to pursue life-long physical activity. I also believe in infusing social justice issues in my classroom. We have such a wonderfully multicultural environment at our school, and I like to explore that with my classes.
Q: Do you see any problems with our current health education system, and if so, what problems do you think will be the hardest to fix? A: I think we have to change our tune on how we deliver standardized fitness testing, like the beep test. What happens here is it leads to anxiety for kids. So, kids feel anxious when they’re expected to meet a specific standard that their peers meet. Perhaps they don’t and then it produces an opposite effect than what we’re trying to do, which is promote lifelong physical participation and activity, right? So, I think it’s important for kids to realize that physical activity means different things to different people and we need to meet the needs of every student. We need to offer a variety of activities and we need to have open conversations about more inclusive ways of bringing everyone into Phys. Ed. class. Q: What sports did you play as a kid? A: I did track and field and I played a lot of volleyball and basketball. Q: What is your pet peeve? A: Oh, my pet peeve, I am very punctual and I really dislike when people are late. That is definitely my number one pet peeve. Q: If you could instill one thing in your students, what would it be? A: “You do you!” So whoever you are, you need to be your authentic self, even if it means questioning what you’re learning in school or cultural norms that you don’t necessarily agree with; in a nice way of course! Great accomplishments can come out of challenging the status quo and standing up for what you believe in! ■
Q: I understand that you are currently pursuing a Ph.D. What is it and why did you choose to do it? A: I started doing my Ph. D. because I wanted to extend my master’s research; I wanted to hear more about what students had to say about how they experience gender in physical education. What I mean by this is students’ experiences with what it means to be a girl or what it means to be feminine in Phys. Ed. class and how that is influenced The full version of the Teacher Feature above by the curriculum and the media. That’s two areas may be found online at thereckoner.ca. where kids really learn about what it means to be traditionally feminine or masculine, though most of my work is focused on speaking with girls, so I don’t have much experience with boys’ perspectives. I don’t know if you’ve heard about the new Phys. Ed. curriculum documents from 2015 as well as the elementary school Phys. Ed. documents that are teaching about gender identity and gender formation. It’s been very controversial, so I’m trying to unpack some of that and I’ve been listening to what the students have to say about that and it’s just very interesting as well. Q: What is the biggest health-related issue to you and why? A: Just based on my research, I would say that the biggest health-related issue is that there is a lot of stigma attached to obesity and the obesity epidemic and that it is heavily gendered in nature. So, girls should look a very specific way to be considered healthy or the ideal, and same for boys. A lot of people say that your generation, especially in North America as a whole, is obese and lazy and there’s this obesity epidemic that has emerged because of this. I would say that, actually, many kids don’t fit this obesity mold, even though they may not be considered the ‘ideal’ body shape and size within health and media standards. Actually, the healthiest person is moderately active and has a few extra pounds of fat on them, though people don’t really talk about that. I think we live in a culture where
Photo: Julien Lin
Start of a New Life COMING TO CANADA Continued from P1
But living in Canada has its upsides too. There is a lot more freedom, safety, and simplicity here. I no longer have to run to stand in an assembly every single day, wear a school uniform, suffer through traffic which could last anywhere between two to twenty four hours, and complain to friends about being forced to study accounting. My parents don’t have to worry that I’ve been kidnapped when I go on spontaneous downtown adventures. I have the freedom to procrastinate until the wake of dawn, and I also have the privilege of joining the Waterloo versus U of T debate. It is believed that after a phoenix’s death, the creature rises from its own ashes, mightier and more majestic than before. Moving to Canada was the death of my life in Bangladesh. I hope I can be a phoenix and rise from the ashes here in Canada. ■
The story above was written by an immigrant who attends Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute. The submission was part of The Reckoner’s Coming to Canada Column: a column featuring the diverse and unique backgrounds of immigrants at MGCI. If you are interested in sharing your immigration experiences with The Reckoner, please contact the paper at editorinchief@thereckoner.ca. Guest submissions are encouraged, and will be made anonymous upon request.
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November 2016
Less Talk , More Action: An Aboriginal Issue
EDITORIAL Too Great a Leap for Mankind? SPACE EXPLORATION Continued from P1
by EMMA WAI
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here is a lengthy history of mistreatment of Aboriginal people in Canada. Abuse in residential schools, missing or murdered Indigenous women, continued lack of support for mental health problems—the list goes on. First Nations communities deserve basic human rights, and it is wrong to deny anyone, least of all the First People to inhabit this land, access to something as vital as, say, clean drinking water. Issues concerning First Nations’ safety, health, and families existed in the past, and it is shameful that they continue to exist to this day. Why haven’t these problems been fixed? Previous governments have failed miserably to solve problems regarding Canada’s First Nations population. Attempts to amend the government’s relationship with Indigenous people, such as the Kelowna Accords, have failed. Even international powers have admonished Canada for its inaction towards solving Aboriginal issues: a recent report by the United Nations harshly criticized Canada for its treatment of its Aboriginal people [1]. With the election of Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister, this was all supposed to change. Throughout his election campaign, Trudeau promised that he would change the tone of politics in the House, and that he would warm the frosty relationship between Aboriginal communities and the government. He campaigned on a platform that included solving First Nations problems, such as vowing to end boil-water advisories on reserves. Soon after Trudeau was elected, he organized several meetings with Aboriginal leaders, and appointed various people of Aboriginal origin to prominent posts in his cabinet. The prime example would be the Hon. Jody Wilson-Raybould, the current Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Especially at the beginning of his tenure, Trudeau focused on the state of Aboriginal politics, meeting and speaking with many Aboriginal leaders. However, actions speak louder than words. Trudeau has yet to offer, much less execute, an effective solution to Aboriginal problems. The issues that he criticized his predecessors for not taking action on are the very same issues that he is ignoring right now. Trudeau has turned his attention away from the concerns of First Nations communities, and in doing so, has walked away from his own campaign promises. He pledged to institute the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within Canada, but didn’t follow through—Minister Wilson-Raybould announced on July 13, 2016 that this goal would no longer be pursued, calling it “unworkable” [2]. Similarly,
PROTESTS Continued from P1
The Best Way to Protest
P3
VOL. 5 NO. 2
ASK THE RECKONER So I have a crush on one of the managers of The Reckoner. Are they all single? And how do I go about it? -Hilarious Klingon
Illustration: Jeffrey Liu Illustration: Sheri Kim Trudeau promised to implement all 94 recommendations outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Act, but this has yet to occur [3]. Despite inaction by the government, the movement to recognize First Nations’ issues has not disappeared. During morning announcements, Toronto District School Board (TDSB) schools have begun acknowledging Canada’s First Nations, recognizing the traditional territories on which the schools are located. Long-overdue amendments to the history curriculum are coming to teach students about the mistreatment Aboriginal people have faced, and remind them of their historical contributions. These actions are important—they indicate an interest in taking steps to help raise awareness of, and eventually resolve, Aboriginal issues. But it begs the question: how will people react to this knowledge? Hopefully, it will inspire us all to take action, and encourage our government to do the same. First Nations issues are Canadian issues, and they should be treated as such. Sadly, Trudeau’s government has yet to fulfill its promises to Canada’s Indigenous population. Trudeau has repeatedly claimed that First Nations people have been neglected by the government, yet he does nothing to change the fact. During the election, and immediately afterwards, voters and the media pressed Trudeau on these issues, and Trudeau took some action, if, perhaps, more symbolic than effective in nature. But as the media spotlight faded, so did Trudeau’s commitment. It is up to us to pick up the slack, and push the government into action. It is horrifying that Aboriginal communities have been wracked with so much abuse and treated with such little care in the past, and it is truly a tragedy that such atrocities continue to this day. ■ Works Cited [1] https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/07/23/ anti-terror-bill-not-in-keeping-with-canadas-international-obligations-un.html
[2] http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/john-ivison-first-nations-hear-hard-truth-that-un-rights-declaration-unworkable-as-law
[3] http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jus-
tin-trudeau-afn-indigenous-aboriginal-people-1.3354747
The convenient saying “No publicity is bad publicity” unfortunately does not apply to revolutionary movements. Sure, if you are the Kardashians, you can always make media attention work in your favour. But for movements that lie on one side of a very controversial issue, bad publicity may be the tipping point that prevents people on the fence from taking a side. Consider the Black Lives Matter movement: it is adamantly against police brutality and unjustified deaths. However, during a protest in Dallas last July, five policemen were shot and killed in the name of “demonstration” by a lone man who believed that his ideals were in line with those of Black Lives Matter. Evidently, they were not. He hypocritically committed the same crime that he had condemned. Black Lives Matter did not condone
In addition to monetary concerns, there are a number of technological challenges associated with establishing a Martian base that are yet to be solved. Technology required for settlement on other planets would be far more effectively tested on the moon, as it takes a few days to get there compared to the 9 months it takes to get to Mars [4]. According to NASA’s official plan, some of the major obstacles to the manned mission are transportation and proper landing on the surface of Mars. The spacecraft would have to carry 20 to 30 megatons of payloads to support the crew, which would mark the longest transportation of such mass in spaceflight history. NASA has yet to develop the technology required to accommodate such large volumes. But it’s not just getting to Mars that is going to be difficult, but also getting onto Mars. Even the most advanced sky crane placed less than 1 megatons of payload onto Mars. Creating a system capable of unloading payloads 20-30 times larger will require “a completely new approach,” according to NASA. Clearly, the technology required to get to Mars is far from ready. [5] A manned Mars mission would not serve much practical purpose. According to NASA, part of the rationale for the Mars mission is the investigation of the existence of other lifeforms [3]. NASA and other space agencies have already sent space probes to investigate microbial life in Mars. Sending human beings would be redundant when the same tasks can be
achieved more effectively with robots. Instead of focusing its resources on going to Mars, NASA should work on building a lunar base, as it would better serve their plans of interplanetary expansion. While NASA might not currently be able to establish a colony on Mars, a lunar base would be the perfect launching pad to test technologies required to colonize Mars [4]. NASA would also be more likely to receive the $10 billion required for this project, and if successful, this could increase the chances of the Mars mission receiving sufficient funding. Going to the moon would not be a deviation from NASA’s long-term goal of establishing a colony on Mars; rather, by using the moon as a stepping stone, NASA will be able to increase the likelihood of establishing our footprint on Mars and beyond. [3] ■ Works Cited [1] http://www.space.com/16918-nasa-mars-hu[2] http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09844.pdf [3] http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/ files/journey-to-mars-next-steps-20151008_508.pdf
[4] http://www.popsci.com/we-could-be-living-onmoon-in-10-years-or-less
[5] http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/venus/q2811. html
Op-eds are opinion articles that reflect the views of the author, but not necessarily those of the Editorial Board or of The Reckoner as a whole. Please note this important distinction when reading this article.
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P.S. The Reckoner’s managers are always super busy making sure their members meet deadlines. In all honesty, they don’t really have lives. Consider this an official warning. ;)
I am a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, but my friends disagree. I’m usually very vocal about my political opinions, but i feel that my friends and I are growing apart because of our frequent arguments. What should I do? Do you think I should continue voicing out my opinions as is my right, or should I just keep it to myself? -Stumped
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The Reckoner EDITOR IN CHIEF PARNIKA GODKHINDI
If you want to know whether someone’s single, there’s really only one way to do it: ask! The managers of The Reckoner are (semi) normal people, and you should treat this crush just like you would treat any other. If you find out the manager is single and want to tell them, just do it. Have no regrets. What matters, ultimately, is that you stay true to yourself.
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There is no doubt that Donald Trump is a polarizing figure. Everyone seems to have an opinion about him, from the things he says to his orangey complexion. However, there’s always a time and place for these opinions to be heard. For example, a conversation about the latest math test has nothing to do with politics. So, try not to bring up your political views at inopportune moments. And as long as you remember that your friends also have opinions and mutual respect is necessary to keep being friends, I’m sure they’ll understand your occasional urge to yell “Make America great again!” (just try not to do it too often).
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the violence that disrupted their peaceful protest, but the action of one person who believed he was effectively protesting against police brutality sullied the image of the entire movement. Black Lives Matter wanted attention from the protest, but the news reports that followed was not the kind of attention they had wished to attract. Instead, the negative publicity detracted from the credibility and traction the social movement had built up. People were less willing to be associated with a movement that had unwillingly provided cover for a murderer. It took one unthinkable act to ruin the public perception of Black Lives Matter’s messages. Regardless of whether you are an individual or an affiliate of an organization, it is essential to ask yourself what effect your actions will have on the public’s perception
of your cause. Ultimately, the goal is to garner support, which will enable you to influence legislators to effect change. The million-dollar question, then, is this: what form of protesting is the most effective? When we cannot carry out stunts like shutting off pipelines, what do we resort to in order to draw attention? The answer, from what has already proved effective, is the standard mob-with-picket-signs protesting at a visible, appropriate location. But beware the pitfalls of the runof-the-mill protest. Larger turnout to a demonstration does not necessarily correlate with more positive change. Often, protester gatherings lack an organized central agency to follow up with the demands of the protesters. As large followings and crowds increasingly become easily conjured with just a Facebook
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page and a few tweets, less planning in general is happening on the part of the people or group that sparked the protest. There is little to no long-term vision, and so all the concern is for naught as it does not effect change. The best way to protest, as it turns out, is to have a picketing mob backed by a strong organizational committee that will sit through long tedious meetings with legislators after the crowd has dispersed. Moisés Naím, who writes extensively about social and governmental revolutions, said it best: without the final push by proponents, “the ‘movement’ doesn’t move.” [2] So, if you are looking to change the world, you can begin by protesting ineffective protests. And don’t be a hypocrite; protest effectively. Carefully consider your actions and remain organized and dedicated to
Illustration: Amy Yan your core cause.
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Works Cited [1] http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/pipeline-cutoff-protest-1.3800926
[2] http://www.theatlantic.com/international/ archive/2014/04/why-street-protests-dontwork/360264
VOL. 5 NO. 2
P4
November 2016
LIFE
Tale of the Two
The World We Live In
by MONAMI SINA
A
by AYMAN ARIK KAZI
s the constants keep changing, The variables become our constants. These variables, diverse as they may be, Achieve a unique unity. And this unity’s uniqueness, Makes it yet another variable. Stability is so fragile that Fragility is the only stable norm. This world is ruled by such fragile stability That even the slightest intelligence can render it broken. And we, the intelligent, are so ignorant That we prefer bliss to knowledge. And this bliss distracts us from aiming higher, As satisfaction fails to satisfy us. For we are beings of endless hunger. This greed divides us. Because of this division, we are kept from ruling this world. We have become too preoccupied by enemies that we ourselves have created. Enemies that have sprung from divided friendships. We find ourselves at an impasse. We wish for uniqueness AND unity. However, we have yet to recognize that unity and uniqueness cannot coexist. Unity can only survive with sameness. And embracing sameness means that we abandon identity. If we achieve this unity, We will find ourselves in a world where identity is extinct, Where sameness is the rule, And where unity is more important than diversity. If we achieve this unity, We are left with only the constants. Which, if you remember, never existed to begin with.
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Monsters “G
How to Stay Sane –
high school edition
H
by AREEBA ASGAR
igh school is a whirlwind of joy, stress, success, and the occasional case of insanity. Regard this guide as a holy mantra and you might find yourself graduating with 99% of your sanity intact. 1. Embrace the Distractions In a world of social media and entertainment, it’s easy for your mind to wander and skip away from daily responsibilities. It is up to you, though, to determine how to face these distractions. You can take a dive and fall into an abyss of leisure filled with movies, cats, and music. However, you can also embrace these distractions, manipulating them to serve as a tool for your work. If you find your hands inching for your headphones, put them on to block the constant chatter of people around. Are your eyes glued to your phone? Switch to the calculator app and do your math homework instead. Can’t stop talking to your friends on Facebook? Message them your entire English essay and ask for an edit (and observe how quickly they ‘disappear’ from the site).
2. Find Motivation We cannot stress how important it is to find motivation to push yourself along. After all, there must be a reason that you devote your life to the strenuous cycles of school. Find that motivation, keep it in front of you, and stare it dead in the eye. If you are looking for fame, put fake medals on your table. If greatness is the dream, Google pictures of Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa, and stick them on your wall. If money is what you seek, frame a hundred dollar bill and stick it up on your wall (this one’s quite hard to do). 3. Stress Relief To avoid random bouts of Illustration: frustration and the occasional tears, find yourself an activity or hobby that relieves stress. After a day filled with quizzes, piles of homework, and a billion staircases to climb, it is understandable that you may feel stressed. Do something that lowers this stress and allows you to get back to your schedule. You could watch a funny video, throw a few punches (hopefully not at a person), or even stare at a picture of Professor Snape (he will scare all your stress away). 4. Prepare for the Worst Don’t walk into the school expecting rainbows, unicorns, and sunshine. Pretend, actually, as if you are about to walk into the
depths of hell. You will find, with this technique, that you won’t ever be disappointed. Be a pessimist and expect the worst. This way, when your math teacher announces a pop quiz, you can be happy that it isn’t a tornado instead. CAUTION: Some may regard you with a sense of incredulity and suspicion for your happiness. 5. Have Fun We know that you are probably tired of hearing this optimistic phrase time after time. After all, it is hard to find fun when you are laden with worries of marks and extracurriculars. You have to remember, though, Lindsey Jin that high school is an experience you will likely reminisce about for the rest of your life. Make the boring drawls of everyday life seem exciting. Laugh with your friends, get to know different people, and most importantly--enjoy your classes. There is nothing more exciting in the world than learning about quadratic equations! So head out there and make some memories, because high school will be over before you know it. As high school students, we all have moments when we are completely frazzled. But don’t let this get to you. Follow the advice listed above and you will likely make it out of high school sane. ■
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by HANNAH NIE
o back to sleep,” they told you. “There are no monsters under your bed.” Yet the monsters are everywhere. It’s the first day of school, or camp, or basketball tryouts, or some other event where you’re expected to talk to people—and you really do want to, but your smiles are warped into grimaces, and eye contact is near lethal. No one wants to be around you, Social Anxiety drawls into your ear as a cold hand grips your shoulder. It’s science class, five minutes before you wing your presentation on cells. Your head starts to blank out. (What even is the mitochondria? you scream inside.) Words are knotted into shapes you cannot comprehend, and the audience seems to multiply. They call it Stage Fright, and it’s everywhere: in front of you, around you, dancing circles around your thoughts. There is no escape. It’s four in the morning, the day your summative essay is due. Your only sustenance is coffee—no milk, no sugar, just a blackness that’s as dark as the sky outside. At first, it lured you in, beckoning to you in that easy-going tone: “Look! A cat video. No harm in giving it a click”. But the videos turned into playlists, and now you are trapped, in a black hole of hour-long marathons. The horror dawns upon you, but Procrastination has already slinked away, satisfied with the night’s bounty. We all have our monsters. Perhaps it’s Loneliness. Or maybe Stress, or Heartbreak. Perhaps it’s Depression. They are masters of disguise, and sometimes even you can hardly see through them. You think you’ve finally outrun them, or by some miracle, even outsmarted them—you bend over, catching your breath--but a quick glance behind, and they’re right on your tail, lurking in your shadow. I can’t say these monsters can all be tamed. But the greatest of them all is one we can fight, and right now, these very words are strapping Stigma down. ■
Illustration: Jeffrey Liu