the antlerette // october 2016

THE ANTLERETTE

Issue 2

the antlerette

october 2016 IN THIS ISSUE

Be Festive, Not Offensive

by Oliva Ali, Business Manager

As Halloween approaches, it is exciting to make plans with our friends and plan our costumes. While it is fun to become someone else for a night, we have to be careful and ask ourselves, “Is my costume choice offensive?”

Cultural appropriation exists all year long, but always finds a way to be multiplied during the Halloween season. This is due to Halloween being predominantly costume based, but that doesn’t mean we have to offend others with our costume choices. When picking a costume, it is important to be sure your costume is not appropriating a culture that isn’t your own to wear.

Cultural appropriation is essentially reducing a minority’s entire culture into a costume or stereotype, while leaving out everything else that comes along with their culture. This includes but is not limited to the wearing of ceremonial or traditional clothing as a costume while not recognizing the meaning it holds, and expressing harmful and incorrect stereotypes through your costume. This could hold true for costumes as racial stereotypes, or even costumes of transgender icons that exaggerate the false

stereotypes they are forced to deal with every day.

There is a variety of costume choices for us to pick from these days.

Possibilities range from Disney characters to pop culture icons, from superheroes to fairies. There is no excuse to dress up as a part of a nation’s culture when the only part of the entire culture you desire is their outfits or accessories. Cultures are much more than their clothing, but your Halloween costume choices are not helping alleviate the struggle these minorities face every day to be recognized as equal.

Seasonal Drinks Halloween candy, Thanksgiving dinner, and a bucket of coffee to get us through the next two months before break! Why should school prevent anyone from being excited about the beginning of the fall season?

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Is It Treating? Or Are We Being Tricked?

Ah, Halloween! The only day when anyone can dress up in bizarre costumes to be someone we are not, when we don’t have to listen to warnings about knocking, say the words, “Trick or Treat!” and then receive a few sweets, like candy bars.

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Seasonal Drinks

by Katie Goldman, Staff

Halloween candy, Thanksgiving dinner, and a bucket of coffee is what it takes to get us through the next two months before break! Why should school prevent anyone from being excited about the beginning of the fall season? Seasonal drinks are the opening to the holiday season and help put a little bit of fall into everyone's coffee. Coffee houses such as the local Starbucks are contributing to the fall spirit with the release of their seasonal drinks.

These festive drinks are a great way to get excited about fall! Beverages such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte are found all over the city. Even McDonald's is selling this festive drink to kick off the fall season.

However, the one found at McDonald’s is a little sweeter than the one at Starbucks and about one dollar cheaper than Starbucks.

Another fall drink at Starbucks is the Salted Caramel Mocha. If preferred, this can be made into a Skinny Mocha and everything except the caramel will be made into a low calorie substitute. Apple Hill’s Apple Cider is a fan favorite. Hot chocolate by the fire at

home or from a coffee house is always peaceful. If you're feeling the pumpkin flavor in fall It's A Grind has take- home pumpkin spice coffee blend and pumpkin pecan caramel lattes. It's A Grind also serves the N’Orleans-Style iced coffee, blended with chicory and maple to add that fall feeling to the coffee. Peet's Coffee and Tea is serving the Dark Chocolate and Pumpkin Mocha for dark chocolate lovers, and they too are serving a Pumpkin Latte. Even Dutch Bros

serves special holiday drinks, but those are on the secret menu.

All of the local coffee houses are doing their part to keep our spirits up through fall this school year. So to help enjoy a beautiful fall while sitting in your class, it’s always fun to start the morning right with one of these seasonal drinks!

Costumes Do Not Equal Consent

by Mauriana Raye, Editor-In-Chief

Halloween is the one night a year that people are able to dress up and be whoever they want to be for a night. Some people go all out and get completely into character while others just throw together an outfit last minute. Regardless of which type of person you are, it is important to understand that just because someone is wearing a costume it doesn’t give you permission to make lewd comments or touch anyone inappropriately. Wearing “provocative” costumes isn’t an invitation to sexual assault. Many Halloween stores sell costumes such as “Sexy Police Officer” and

“Sexy Ladybug” that are unnecessarily revealing and are often geared towards sexualizing women. Those costumes bring up the invalidated argument that because a woman is dressed provocatively then she is “asking for it”. There isn’t any logic behind ths statement because no one ever asks to be sexually assaulted, but there are enough ignorant people in the world with that mindset that make Halloween unsafe for people who enjoy dressing up.

Many people celebrate Halloween by throwing costumes parties or Halloween themed parties. Although Halloween parties are very fun, it is important to stay safe.

Many sexual assaults occur during Halloween and the victims were at parties during the time of the assault. There are many articles

warning college students how to stay safe during Halloween. While researching sexual assaults on college campuses, I came across many articles about reinforcing the importance of consent and the prevention of sexual assaults; putting more pressure on the perpetrator rather than giving out instructions for people to try and assault on their own. It is important to remember that no still means no on Halloween; there are no exceptions. Also, just because someone is wearing a tight dress or a “provocative” outfit, it doesn’t mean that they are asking to be assaulted. Halloween costumes do not equal consent. While many students don’t worry about being attacked on Halloween, it is important to remember to play it safe. You don’t have to let loose to have fun, you can have fun but still be prepared just in case.

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SAFE HALLOWEEN TIPS

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Is It Treating? Or Are We Being Tricked?

by Tess Sommer, Staff

Glow sticks Add bright, colorful glow sticks to any Halloween costume. This will make sure that you can easily be seen throughout the night and your fellow trick-or-treaters will never lose sight of you.

Check Your Candy When examining the candy you have collected on Halloween night, be sure to only keep candy that you are familiar with and discard any unusual candy and candy that has a broken seal. In addition, discard any homemade Halloween candy. You do not know what is inside of it so throw it away to ensure your health and safety.

HALLOWEEN FAST FACTS

68% Percent of people who plan to celebrate Halloween this year.

19% Percent of people who plan to make their own Halloween costume.

Ah, Halloween! The only day when anyone can dress up in bizarre costumes to be someone we are not, when we don’t have to listen to warnings about knocking on stranger’s doors, say the words, “Trick or Treat?” and then receive a few sweets.

Although, candy is delicious, could it also be dangerous? The answer to that is yes.

Though we may not expect it, there are people who put dangerous ingredients into candy bars. For example, there have been reports that razor blades and needles were dug into the simple Chocolate Eye candies.

Others have reported that poison was put into any candy bar with chocolate because the people who poisoned it knew kids loved chocolate. Some even have reported that strangers lure kids in their vans because of their love for candy, and then kidnap them.

How do we stop this?

Step #1: Put on safe costumes. Though there are so many costumes to choose from, you want to make sure that you and your friends wear something really bright or just bring a flashlight along with you to make sure that the people driving by in the night can see you to ensure your safety.

Step #2: Walk safely throughout the night.

You know the cheesy rule, “Look both ways before you cross the street”. Though we are aware of this simple rule, we tend to forget it because of how excited we trick-or-treaters are for getting our bags full of candy. To try not to forget this rule, remind yourself and

your group of friends to stay together and be sure to cross the street safely.

Step #3: Check the candy to make sure it doesn’t have little things like razor blades or poison. When you are out trick or treating with your friends, remember that the candy comes from strangers who might have put something in there that will harm you. Wait until you get home and get your parents to help you make sure nothing is in the candies that will harm you in any way. If you get homemade candy from strangers, THROW IT AWAY IMMEDIATELY! Because you never know if the stranger stuffed something like drugs, poison or even a razor blade in there.

Step #4: Never go beyond the front door to get some candy. If a stranger told you to come on in and take some candy in the kitchen, DO NOT GO IN! Because of how we dress up in different costumes, most people don’t really know who your parents are. For this very reason, strangers will take advantage of this opportunity to kidnap a little children or young teenagers. So, just remind yourself and your friends to only get the candy from the front door.

And last but not least, have fun!

Just make sure there is a balance between being safe and having fun to ensure your love of trick-or-treating with your friends in silly costumes with a single bag or pail full of candy.

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Beware Little Children

Beware little children Of the house at the end of the street A place where you should never go trick or treat

Beware little children

A house at the end of the street

Be cautious, be safe

Where there were many vanishing little feet

Be alert, be awake

By

Hannah Faith Villareal, Editor

It may appear to be warm, and welcoming But beware little children

Beware little children

For looks are deceiving

For dark is the night and dim is the light

And not everyone is as they seem

For there may be no one to hear you scream

For there in that house

There may be no one to see you fight

Is a masked monster who awaits those who

So beware little children

stray

If you value your life

Those little ones who lose their way Those whose parents they have disobeyed

It Sucks Being An Adventurous Kid In 2016

by Landon Parkinson, Editor

Parents never have and never will stop telling their kids to go outside for a change, yet they don’t allow their kids to participate in many outdoor sports like hunting, diving, kayaking, etc.

Unfortunately, “outside” to parents means in a fenced, or should I say caged, backyard.

Fall brings endless possibilities for outdoor sports. Hiking and backpacking is better in this season than any other time of the year because of the cool weather. The ocean is much calmer in fall making it the best season for diving, spear fishing, abalone diving, kayaking, and more. Deer, elk, duck, and turkey seasons all open in the fall. For an outdoor-loving teen, fall is heaven. School and homework quickly become second priority to getting that deer or going to opening day for duck hunting. Tragically, these exciting, adrenaline pumping activities are being squandered for modern kids because unduly anxious parents don’t allow their children to do them.

Hundreds of years ago, when people lived in nomadic lifestyles, kids’ lives had much more fulfillment. They worked to help the family as much as the adults. Young

men would learn to hunt, fish, trap, or dive for food. They had a responsibility to the family, and had the satisfaction of seeing immediate results. In the modern day, kids yearn for fulfillment in their lives, but that is very hard to attain in school. Students work hard for six hours a day, go home, work more on homework, maybe have time for relaxing with the family or pursuing a hobby, and then go to bed. And for what? All of that work results in an A, B, C, D, or F. These grades can give the satisfaction of doing well and the hope that they will result in a good college and a good job to support themselves and/or a family, but there is no immediate fulfillment. These letters don’t help the family, friends, or even the student; they only give the hope of a fulfilling future.

Some kids can handle this. Most who receive good grades can find fulfillment in knowing they are working for a rewarding future. But what about those who don’t get good grades? And what about those who don’t feel fulfilled having in good grades?

As aforementioned, this beautiful season provides plenty of healthy activities

where kids can find the gratification they yearn for. Fall outdoor sports such as hunting and fishing are a great way for kids to have responsibility and experience much more excitement than being stuck inside playing video games or watching TV. The problem is, parents don’t give their children enough opportunity to pursue interests like these.

Parents do their child a disservice when they don’t allow them to go out on their own or with a friend and learn to be responsible for themselves. It is true that it can be dangerous for a child to go hiking on their own, but these satisfying sports are a perfect alternative to even more dangerous activities. A kid who is finding excitement and fulfillment in these sports will be less likely to seek excitement in more dangerous areas such as drugs, alcohol, and crime.

When kids don’t find gratification in their life, they resort to rebellious behavior that brings excitement and short-term satisfaction.

It is obvious kids need immediate gratification in the high use of drug, alcohol, and crime by teenagers. Would we rather allow them to go on a “dangerous” hunt, or restrict them so much they feel forced to turn to rebellion? It is not enough to tell a kid to “go play outside”. We need to actually let them.

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TOP 5 HALLOWEEN COSTUMES OF 2016

Simple DIY Halloween Costumes

by Chelsea Planesi, Staff

Halloween is just around the corner and one of the most difficult things to plan for this holiday is the perfect costume. You want something fun that defines you as a person, but at the same time, you don’t want to spend all of your money. A brand name costume may sound amazing, but the prices can ruin your enthusiasm. Have no fear! All is not lost! The list below has several cheap, DIY Halloween costumes for you to explore.

Trick or treat is the slogan of this holiday, so why not dress as something sweet? Jellybeans are colorful delights that liven up almost any occasion. This costume is simple, but it requires a lot of plastic.

First, you’ll need a large, clear trash bag. Cut holes for where your arms and legs will go. Then, get several colorful mini balloons and fill them with air. Place these balloons into the bag and tie up the large bag.

Bam! You’ve just become a jellybean. If you’re not into jellybeans, but still like the concept of sweets, then maybe you should be an M&M. Grab a plain colored (preferably green, blue, brown, red, yellow, or orange) t-shirt and a white t-shirt. Cut the M&M logo out of the white shirt and use fabric glue to adhere the white M to the center of your colored shirt. Sweet and simple.

If you want to do a throwback, then here are some options: Rosie the Riveter, Holly Golightly, Indiana Jones, and James Bond. Rosie the Riveter came to be during the 1940’s, when women were called to join the work force in factories. To become her, all you need is a red bandana and a denim shirt. Pull your hair back into the bandana, leaving out some bangs. Roll the sleeves of your denim shirt up to your elbows. Put on a determined look and then you’ve succeeded at becoming Rosie the Riveter. Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s made the “little black dress” an iconic piece of clothing.

She wears a simple black dress, black gloves, a pearl necklace, and a small, silver tiara. This is all that is truly needed to embody this character for the evening. Style your hair into an elegant up-do and pin in the tiara. Pair this outfit with black heels or flats and you will become the famous Holly Golightly.

Harrison Ford became immortalized for his

role of Indiana Jones in the Indiana Jones film series. Indiana was instantly a likeable character due to his smug attitude and classic humor. His costume takes a little more effort than the others. He requires a brown fedora, brown leather jacket, tan shirt, tan pants, and a brown whip. Once you have acquired these items, it is fairly easy to dress as this brilliant character. James Bond is possibly the most famous British fictional character ever. Bond has an elegantly simple costume-a black suit and tie. If you really want to get into character, speak with your best British accent. These classic characters make for a simple Halloween costume.

If you want to do a throwback, but not to a specific person, then be a hippie. All you have to do to is wear a colorful tiedye shirt, a leather headband, bellbottoms, flip-flops, and peace sign jewelry. You’ll be groovy and hip in no time.

If you would prefer not to stick out in a crowd, then this one is probably your best option: Waldo. This character is constantly getting lost in crowds because he just fits in so well. It’s easy to miss him in his red and white striped shirt with a matching beanie. Add blue jeans and round, black glasses to your look and you’ll turn invisible in an instant.

1. Donald Trump / Hillary Clinton

2. Pokémon

3. Game of Thrones

4. Harley Quinn

5. Clowns

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