February Print by The Bark

NO. 30 | FALL 2022| FREE

IN THIS ISSUE

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hey, Bulldogs! I’m Michael, Editor-in-Chief of The Bark. We’ve got an absolutely jam-packed print magazine for you all this month, including everything from political policy breakdown to 28 movie recommendations in honor of the 28 days of the month. We hope you’re having an excellent February so far, and as always, we thank you for reading our content and supporting student media here at UMD. Go Bulldogs! Michael

The Bark produces this monthly news magazine in addition to publishing content online every day, providing local media to over 10,000 students at the University of Minnesota Duluth. To get involved or to share your voice please contact The Bark at thebarkumd.com/contact-us ADVERTISE WITH THE BARK Contact us at barkumdbiz@d.umn.edu for business inquires CONTENTS OF THIS PUBLICATION ARE 2021, THE BARK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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FEBRUARY

20 22

CONTENTS 2

8-9

Letter from the Editor

Sweeter Than a Box of Candy Hearts

Contents

What is Critical Race Theory?

4-7

A relationship with reading: 28 book recommendations for the month of February

All Bite No Bark

Cover Artwork Done By: Jaylynn Glaus

THE TEAM Editor-in-Chief Michael King King1072@d.umn.edu BarkUMD@d.umn.edu Managing Editor Izabella Zadra Zadra012@d.umn.edu Managing Editor Isabelle Hopewell hopew048@d.umn.edu Business Manager Abby Gaudreau

BarkUMDBiz@d.umn.edu

Reporter

Visual Director Anna Gruben Grube200@d.umn.edu

Creative Author Samantha Garbers Garbe127@d.umn.edu

Sports Director Sara Guymon

Multi-media Journalist Sarah Brown Brow5867@d.umn.edu

Assistant Sports Director

Film Columnist Cory Knudsen knuds241@umn.edu

Guymo002@d.umn.edu

Alyvia Taylor Tayl2181@d.umn.edu

Reporter Nathan Miller Mill7759@d.umn.edu

Reporter Ashley Busho busho023@umn.edu

Crista Fleck Fleck130@d.umn.edu

Graphic Designer Emmett Curran Curra106@d.umn.edu Graphic Designer Quentin Goldknopf goldk003@d.umn.edu Graphic Designer Jaylynn Glaus glaus011@d.umn.edu Advisor Maija Jenson Jenson@d.umn.edu

THEBARKUMD.COM | FEBRUARY 2022

A relationship with reading:

28 book recommendations for the month of February By: Izabella Zadra and Sara Guymon February is mostly known as the month of love with Valentine’s Day being the highlighted holiday, but February is also “I Love to Read Month!” In the spirit of reading, we have compiled a list of 28 books ranging in genre, length and style that hopefully inspire you to put down your phone and pick up a book! 1. “Orphan Train,” By: Christwina Baker Kline, Historic Fiction “Orphan Train” follows the story of a young girl, Molly, who is doing everything to stay out of juvenile detention. As a form of community service, she helps an elder woman, Vivian, clean out her house. In the process, Vivian opens up about her life and how she road to Orphan Train from stop to stop, family to family, trying to find her forever home. This back and forth plot not only helps Molly realize the good things she has in her life but helps Vivian come to peace and reflect on the life that she has lived. Other books like, “Orphan Train:” “Before We Were Yours”

2. “The Round House,” By: Louise Erdrich: Realistic Fiction/Mystery Louise Erdrich is a Minnesotan author who has always been fascinated by 13-year-old boys and the freedom that they have. She took her lifelong interest and used it to fuel her inspiration for her novel, “The Round House.” This book follows the life of Joe, who after a horrific family emergency sets out to find the man who raped his mom. Although

this harsh plot point is consistent throughout the story, “The Round House” also has a coming-of-age feel to it that makes the harder and more uncomfortable themes seem a lot easier to handle. This book will make you laugh and cry and heighten your blood pressure, but it is worth every second! Erdrich has her own bookstore, Birchbark Books, down in Minneapolis where you can not only purchase “The Round House” but her newest book, “The Sentence” and her Pulitzer winner, “The Night Watchman.” Other books like, “The Round House:” “Walk Two Moons,” “In the Footsteps of Crazy House” 3. “The Outsiders,” By: S.E. Hinton, Realistic Fiction An oldie but a goodie! If you never had to read this book during your middle or high school years, your school did everything wrong. This is one of my personal favorite books of all time, and my copy is on the brink of disintegrating. Although the book is only 192 pages, S.E. Hinton makes every page count as she tells the story of two greasers, Ponyboy and Johnny, who are on the run after they end up killing one of the boys in their rival social group. Hinton was only 14-years-old when she wrote this coming-of-age masterpiece, and this really worked to her advantage. Because she was so young and so truthful, she was able to stop herself from thinking and just write down what she felt, allowing her to create some of the best and most well-known characters in book history. Other books like, “The Outsiders:” “Tex,” “Rumble Fish”

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4. “Bird By Bird,” By: Anne Lamott, Reference Work Don’t let the genre of reference work turn you away from this extremely helpful and interesting piece of text. “Bird By Bird” is a collection of short pieces about Anne Lamott’s life and how she uses her life experiences to inspire her writings. This book is full of humor and some extremely useful information when it comes to writing. In the chapter, “Sh*tty First Drafts,” Lamott breaks down how a great piece of work doesn’t just happen overnight, but that it goes through many drafting stages — most of them being, well, sh*t! So whether reading and writing apply to your major, or you might just need some advice on paper writing, Lamott has lots of great tips in this book and lots of jokes to keep you smiling. Other books like, “Bird By Bird:” “Writing Down the Bones,” “Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting” 5. “Helter Skelter,” By: Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry, True Crime “Helter Skelter” is one of the most well know true crime books ever written. It breaks down the entire case of the Manson Family Murders ranging from the cult family themselves to the events that took place in court. From start to finish, this book will send shivers down your spine, as it goes into detail about everything that happened on those two horrific nights in August of 1969. Another interesting

aspect of this book is that it follows the story of the lawyers involved in the case — you are getting more than one side of the story and are able to clearly understand how everything unfolded. Other books like, “Helter Skelter:” “Mindhunters,” “Zodiac,” “Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer” 6. “Just Kids,” By: Patti Smith, Autobiography Patti Smith definitely has a way with words that can be seen through her poetry and songwriting. “Just Kids” doesn’t consist of poetry or lyrics but the story of Smith’s early life in New York City, her complex relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe and the way they made a living. Even if you are not into the whole NY punk music scene of the 70s that Smith highlights in her novel, “Just Kids” is so much more than just a musical biography — it is an emotionally complex, artful story that not only tells the story of a women’s struggles in the big city but the importance of the relationships you make throughout your life. Other books like, “Just Kids:” “M Train,” “Me,” “Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl”

7. “Talking to Girls About Duran Duran: One Young Man’s Quest for True Love and a Cooler Haircut,” By: Rob Sheffield, Autobiography/Humor Another book for the music lovers out there. Music of all types has been a huge part of Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield’s life, and in this novel, he uses different tracks from his childhood and teen years to tell his story of trying to fit in and how to understand the language of girls. Sheffield seems quiet and shy in the first few chapters, but as the novel progresses, he leaves no page unturned and isn’t afraid to tell it like it is! Although this book is written for the music nerds of the world, it could also be a perfect guide for any boys who are just out there trying to impress and understand girls in their natural habitats. Other books like, “Talking to Girls About Duran Duran:” “Love is like a Mixtape,” “Turn Around Bright Eyes: A Ritual of Love and Karaoke” 8. “They Both Die at The End,” By: Adam Silvera, Young Adult/Adventure Fiction What would you do if you got a phone call saying that within 24 hours, you were going to die — you don’t know how or when other than it is going to happen today! That is how the plot of “They Both Die at The End” starts to unfold. When the main characters, Rufus and Mateo, receive this call, they connect with one another and try to live their last day to their fullest with one another. This novel leaves many plot points open for

interpretation which leads to an exciting journey for the reader as they make their way through the book. Other books like, “They Both Die at The End:” “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist,” “We Are The Ants,” “Under Rose-Tainted Skies” 9. “Butter,” By: Erin Jade Lange, Fiction After an obese teen, nicknamed ‘Butter,’ has finally felt his last bit of embarrassment and shame, he claims that he is going to eat himself to death in an online video for the world to see. The tone of this book is expected to be dark and sad when in reality, it ends up being a feel-good, pick-me-up type of story. Just as with “They Both Die at The End,” “Butter” questions life and death and the realities teens face every single day. Other books like, “Butter:” “Skinny,” “Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke,”

10. “Children of The Corn,” By: Stephen King, Horror/Short Stories You couldn’t have a proper book recommendation list without at least one Stephen King book on it! Known for its title story, “Children of The Corn,” this novel actually is a giant collection of some of King’s most underrated shorter stories filled with creepy crawlies and monsters that live under the bed. Disclaimer: This book might be one of the scariest (in my personal opinion) horror compilations that King has ever put together into

one book! Read in the dark with caution! Other books like, “Children of The Corn:” “IT,” “Coraline,” “If It Bleeds,” Pet Sematary” 11. “Is This Guy For Real?: The Unbelievable Andy Kaufman,” By: Brian “Box” Brown, Comic Book/ Biography The best way to physically tell the story of comedian Andy Kaufman would have to be through a comic book! Kaufman was on SNL and other late-night shows performing wacky skits and impressions that lots of people found absolutely hilarious, as well as plenty that, just didn’t understand — that’s how Kaufman liked it! This comedian’s crazy life is the main story throughout the comic book, but it also does a good job at digging into the normalities of Kaufman’s life that he used to inspire his weird side. The graphics also are super fun and original and don’t look like any other artist’s interpretation of Kaufman or other cartoons in general. P.S. This book is in the UMD library, so you can go read it without having to pay for it! Other books like, “Is This Guy For Real?:” “My Friend Dahmer,” “Good Talk,” “Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of The King of Comics,” “Andre The Giant: Life and Legend” 12. “Wicked,” By: Gregory Maguire, Fantasy The book “Wicked” is basically for all the people who hate musicals but still want to feel included. For everyone who LIKES musicals … clear your mind about what you know about “Wicked” on Broadway before you even pick up this book because you will probably be disappointed. Gregory Maguire’s image of what Oz is like before Dorothy is so dark and uncomfortable that it is just as easily enchanting. The plot basically stays the same between mediums. That is the story of The Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and Glinda the Good Witch of the North going to college and becoming friends. Obviously, the book is way better and really embodies the idea of that dark side

of The Wizard of Oz as opposed to the musical that somehow still makes all this misfortune bubbly — the book is so much more interesting and full of details that the musical doesn’t even get CLOSE to covering. Other books like, “Wicked:” “Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister,” “Lost,” “Dorthy Must Die,” Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook” 13. “The Lovely Bones,” By: Alice Sebold, Crime Fiction Truly chilling! “The Lovely Bones” takes place in the ‘70s and follows the Salmon family as they try to move on after their daughter, Susie, is kidnapped, raped and murdered. As the family tries to cope with what happened, Susie is in her own personal heaven where she is able to watch her family and yearns to do anything she can to help her family find her murderer and hold him accountable. The way that Alice Sebold writes out this story taking place in two different worlds is so captivating and makes this situation seem so real that it is extremely unsettling at moments throughout the novel. Other books like, “The Lovely Bones:” “Gone Girl,” “Lucky,” “The Memorie Keeper’s Daughter”

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14. “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” By: Shel Silverstein, Poetry/Humor Nothing can describe my childhood better than a Shel Silverstein book of poems — more specifically, “Where the Sidewalk Ends.” Silverstein’s voice can definitely range depending on what you are reading of his, but in his bigger books of poetry, there is just something there that can make anyone reading it feel something whether that be sadness, happiness or grief. All of his poems make you feel special — like they were written just for you. In a world where there is so much hate and ugliness, “Where the Sidewalk Ends” is a sunny escape that anyone can jump into to just get away from it all for a while. You are also never too old for Silverstein’s writings. Lots of people would look at some of these silly poems and find them childish, but real people are able to see past that and see the true meanings that apply at any stage of life, even college. Other books like, “Where the Sidewalk Ends:” “ A Light in the Attic,” “Falling Up”

15. “Running with Scissors,” By: Augusten Burroughs, Memoir/Autobiography This book is a roller coaster of emotions. It follows the author through his unconventional upbringing after he is adopted by his mother’s psychiatrist. The experience is like no other, and this book tells the story in a way that is alluring and entertaining. I could not put this book down after I started reading it. Unlike most memoirs about seemingly rough

upbringings, Burroughs makes sure to incorporate humorous speech into the novel. Other books like, “Running with Scissors:” “A Wolf at the Table,” “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” “A Million Little Pieces” 16. “All the Bright Places,” By: Jennifer Niven, Realistic Fiction This book captures the struggle of mental health in a raw and honest way. It could be triggering to those who are struggling with mental illness, but I found this novel so powerful. Each chapter is told from one of two perspectives – Theodore Finch and Violet Markey. Both of them have their own internal struggles and are trying to figure it out on their own. Finch has struggled with suicidal tendencies and has very little regard for his life, but that changes when he gets to know Violet. She is grieving the loss of her sister and can’t seem to move forward. You watch as these two grow together and lean on each other for support. It was my favorite book for a very long time, and I cannot recommend it enough. Other books like, “All the Bright Places:” “Looking for Alaska,” “Girl in Pieces,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” 17. “The Sun is Also a Star,” By: Nicola Yoon, Fiction This book tells the classic love story of a dreamer and a realist. Natasha doesn’t believe in fate, but Daniel does. He believes in fate and more importantly, he believes that he and Natasha were destined to meet. Even though their story takes place in the duration of one day, they fall in love. However, Natasha’s family is about to be deported back to Jamaica, and their love is destined to fail before it even begins. This story was a beautiful look into the wonders of human connection. I was mesmerized by Daniel and Natasha’s love story and the chaos of their single day together is captivating. Other books like, “The Sun is also a Star:” “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” “Holding Up the Universe,” “Eleanor and Park”

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18. “The Glass Castle,” By: Jeannette Walls, Memoir/Autobiography This is one of the more serious recommendations. This story tells the reader about the dysfunctional upbringing of Walls and how she overcame those obstacles. I think that this novel is so accurate in showing how the unconditional love that Walls had helped her succeed aftermoving on from her childhood. I think the most compelling thing about this book is that you see how both of Wall’s parents inspired her and held her back in certain aspects of her life. It’s a well-balanced book that expresses both the positive and negative events in her upbringing. Other books like, “The Glass Castle:” “Mermaid: a memoir of resilience,” A Complicated Kindness,” “North of Normal”

19. “Where the Red Fern Grows,” By: Wilson Rawls, Autobiographical Fiction I was in fifth grade when I was first introduced to this book. My teacher read it to every single one of his homeroom classes. My brother had it read to him when he had this same teacher. It was a tradition. It tells the story of a boy and his two dogs who mean the world to him. You experience the bond of friendship between this child and his pets. It’s one of the most beautifully written odes to the love of furry family members that really captures that pets are indeed family. This had such a large impact on my brother and I’s childhood that we named our family dog, Annie, after one of the dogs from the book. Other books like, “Where the Red Fern Grows:” “Old Yeller,” “A Dog’s Life,” “Marley and Me”

20. “A Very Punchable Face,” By: Colin Jost Humor/Autobiography “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night Live!” SNL’s Weekend Update co-host and Scarlett Johansson’s husband, Colin Jost, gives us a peak at what life was like before he was famous. This memoir is incredibly funny and gives an excellent perspective to who Jost really is. For those who are SNL fans, I highly recommend giving this book a read. Jost mixes humor with struggle in a way that works perfectly. Other books like, “A Very Punchable Face:” “Live from New York,” “Born Standing Up,” “Yearbook”

21. “Every Last Word,” By: Tamara Ireland Stone, Fiction This is an interesting book full of plot twists. It’s about a girl named Samantha who struggles with OCD and has a hard time finding healthy ways to cope. Through the help of new friend, Caroline, she begins to allow herself to loosen her grip on her compulsive behavior. The thing that connected with me about this novel was the growth of the main character. You watch as she lets go of what she thought a perfect life looked like and

22. “The Road” By: Cormic McCarthy, Science Fiction/Post-Apocalyptic Usually I’m not a huge fan of post-apocalyptic novels or universes; however, this book is an exception. It tells the story of a father and his son who are fighting to stay alive and holding onto the hope that humanity will prevail even after everything that has happened. They journey toward the sea and avoid other humans who pose a threat to their survival. Unlike my previous recommendations, this book evokes a different level of suspense that makes you want to keep reading. Other books like, “The Road:” “The Children of Men,” “Last Man Standing,” “Station Eleven” 23. “Lord of the Flies,” By: William Golding, Science Fiction I couldn’t make this list without throwing a classic on the list. Lord of the Flies is an unusually dark story about children who get stranded on a deserted island. The presence of mob mentality throughout the story is well presented and leads to the downfall of major characters. I think the idea that children will also do what it takes to survive is a very compelling plot that stuck with me since I read the story in my 10th grade literature class. Other books like, “Lord of the Flies:” “Clockwork Orange,” “The Hunger Games,” “Annihilation”

24. “Emergency Contact,” By: Mary H. K. Choi, Fiction This book is a modern day love story. The author plays with the idea of having one person who can text you at any moment in time and you would drop everything to respond to them. It’s the sweet late night conversations about anything and everything or the early morning texts for no reason at all. The story revolves around Sam and Penny who talk to each other about everything despite barely knowing each other at all. Through the texts and small interactions, the two grow closer and the line betweens platonic and romantic feelings blur. Other books like, “Emergency Contact:” “Alex, Approximately,” “The Unexpected Everything,” “We Are Okay” 25. “The Help,” By: Kathryn Stock ett, Fiction This novel is a moving story about racism in the south during the 1960s. When Skeeter comes home from college, she decides to continue to pursue her dreams of being a writer. Instead of focusing on the usual and more a cceptable topics of the 1960s, Skeeter decides to interview black women about their experience taking care and working for upper-class white families. I think this novel is beautifully written and moving. Other books like, “The Help:” “ Hidden Figures,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “The Secret Life of Bees”

26. “Room,” by Emma Donoghue, Fiction This book is told from the perspective of a five-year-old boy who has never left the room that he and his mother live in. The naivety of the boy is heartbreaking throughout the novel as he only knows what is contained within this small space. We watch him and his mother’s experience through this child’s eyes and have to put together the rest of it. It paints a somber picture of what one person’s nightmare can look like through the innocence of a child. The perspective is so unique. 27. “Milk and Honey,” By: Rupi Kaur, Poetry Poetry and creative writing are something that I hold close to my heart. I read this collection of poems during high school, and I’ve always loved this book. It is filled with relatable anecdotes about pain. The book itself is divided into four sections and each section tackles a different topic. This book is inspiring and touching in a beautiful way. Other books like, “Milk and Honey:” “The Words I Wish I Said,” “Pillow Thoughts,” “You’ll Come Back to Yourself” 28. “The Hate U Give” By: Angie Thomas, Fiction This book was inspired by the recent Black Lives Matter movement and is a powerful, moving story about the gun violence we still witness in America. The novel covers the incredibly delicate topic of racism and police brutality in an elegant and respectful way. The way the author wrote this story is inspirational. I think that everyone should read this book and keep an open mind when learning about the perspective of a whole different person and race. The desire for equality really resonated with me. Other books like, “The Hate U Give:” “All American Boys,” “Dear Martin” “Anger is a Gift”

28 Book Recommendations

embraces self-expression and creativity. Other books like, “Every Last Word:” “Made You Up,” “My Heart and Other Black Holes,” The Way I Used to Be”

THEBARKUMD.COM | FEBRUARY 2022

Sweeter Than a Box of Candy Hearts How Much Do You Really Know About the Weird and Uncertain History of Valentine’s Day? When you hear Valentine’s Day, what do you think of — boxes of chocolates, candlelit dinners, a chubby baby shooting arrows? All those things are modern symbols of Valentine’s Day, but this lovey-dovey holiday hasn’t always been as sweet as a box of candy hearts.

Origins Valentine’s Day dates back all the way to the fifth century and has extremely foggy origins. One of the first traces of this love holiday started with the Lupercalia feast celebrated by the Roman people. The feast was a celebration of the new spring to come and the fertility of

both crops and women (yes, you DID read that right). One of the most exciting parts of this festival might also be the most disturbing. Roman priests were known to sacrifice dog and goat hides and run around the town naked lightly hitting the townswomen with the bloody hides. This was thought to be the best way to get the women fertile for the spring season. There was also a Hunger Games-like draw where the names of all the town’s females would be put into a big jar and men would pick out names. The chosen women were required to ‘date’ the man throughout the weekend of the festival and if things went well during the fest, love would blossom and the couple would end up getting married down the road.

THEBARKUMD.COM | FEBRUARY 2022

By: Izabella Zadra

Where did the name “Valentine” come from? There are a lot of different theories on where the name Valentine actually came from, but the most famous story is that of St. Valentine who married couples illegally in the name of love. Therefore, that’s how Valentine’s Day got its romantic tendencies. Another story that is told is that of Priest Claudius Gothicus II who fell in love with a girl to whom he wrote a letter signed, “From your Valentine.” The final theory that has been tossed around is that Pope Gelasius I made up the holiday of Valentine’s Day to replace the obviously weird holiday of Lupercalia Fest. No matter what story you choose to believe, the holiday itself didn’t truly become romanticized until Shakespeare started showing how romantic he thought the holiday was in his works. This eventually

brought the sweet tradition of exchanging cards with people you loved. Valentine’s Day Traditions and symbols There are a lot of different symbols and traditions that came along with Valentine’s Day, but how did we start to associate these weird things with a holiday based on love? Going back to Shakespeare, after he started exaggerating the romance of Valentine’s Day in his plays, people started to exchange Valentine’s cards with one another. This ritual eventually made its way into the New World and started to grow in popularity.

In 1913, The Hallmark Card company caught wind of sending Valentines’cards and started to create them in mass quantities which led to the big business side of the holiday. According to an NPR article, research done by market firm IBIS World showed that in 2011 Valentine’s Day sales reached $17.6 billion. Another clique symbol of the season is that of love birds. Birds became romantic symbols due to the fact that through observation, many people believed that mid-February was the peak mating season for birds which happened to be right around Valentine’s Day.

How to Celebrate Everybody does something a little different for this February holiday whether it be going on a date or sitting at home eating ice cream while watching The Notebook. Below are just a few things that you and your sweetheart (or your amazing single self) can do on February 14.

1. 2.

Go out to dinner: Sometimes not having to cook is a whole different type of high that all of us just need in our lives sometimes.

Stay at home and cook together: If going out is not in your college student budget, nothing says ‘I love you’ more than a stale pack of chicken flavored Raman that your roommate left in the cabinet.

3. 4.

5. 6.

Artwork By: Quentin Goldknopf

Go on a walk through campus: Although it is still brisk in February, with the right clothing, and the right person, you’ll be able to keep warm while taking in all the beauty of a Duluth winter. Go see a movie: Seeing a movie is a classic date idea not just for Valentine’s Day, but make sure that you pick just the right movie. Nothing too lovey-dovey but nothing over the top — so something like Platoon, Schindler’s List, or even A Clockwork Orange will do just fine!

Listen to music: Music is a language of love and there are so many songs that can help you express your feelings. Once you slow dance to Sir Mix-A-Lot’s Baby Got Back, I promise you, you will get that second date. Plan a homework date: What is one thing all college kids have in common: they have homework! It might not be the most exciting option on this list but sometimes looking into each other’s eyes while reciting math problems really makes sparks fly.

THEBARKUMD.COM | FEBRUARY 2022

What is Critical Race Theory? By: Eliana Sonderup

Britannica explains critical race theory as “an intellectual movement and a framework of legal analysis according to which race is a culturally invented category used to oppress people of color and the law and legal institutions in the United States are inherently racist insofar as they function to create and maintain social, political, and economic inequalities between white and nonwhite people.” This definition states that race was invented by society to be able to oppress people of color, meaning in this theory, race was solely

created in order to be able to oppress. The second part of the statement claims the legal system in the United states is inherently racist because of race being created.

likely to be convicted of the crime. At the same time, one-in-three African American boys born in a year can expect to go to jail. For white boys, this number is one-in-seventeen.

According to humanrightspulse critical race theory says that racism is not something of the past, but it still exists in our lives now. It says that slavery and segragation being legal in the past puts a damper in society and keeps racism around.

If studies have shown a racial bias in our legal system, why are people against teaching critical race theory in schools?

Critical race theory was created as a movement because the civil rights movement had lost its momentum, and there was a chance that the work could be undone. They wanted to show and prove how the legal system was racially biased against people of color. The debate on whether or not our legal system is actually racially biased is a study that has been going on for years. According to sentencingproject, African Americans are more likely to be arrested than white americans. Once they are arrested, African Americans are 5.9 times more

THEBARKUMD.COM | FEBRUARY 2022

Many want critical race theory to be taught in schools so that they can raise the next generation to understand and change how society views race.

Barbara Sprunt for NPR explains in an article how some people misunderstand critical race theory. Sprunt explains that people may explain critical race theory as “any conversation about race that white people are uncomfortable having” including things such as white supremacy, anti-racism, and more. Others deemed critical race theory as racist on NPR’s article. An unnamed person in the NPR article says that they don’t think critical race theory should be taught because it is based on theory and not actual fact. On the other side of things, the people who believe that critical race theory should be taught believe it to be a more honest side of education, according to humanrightspulse.

Artwork By: Emmett Curran

Critical race theory is being brought up quite often regarding it being taught in schools. To understand this controversy, it is first important to understand what critical race theory is.

Ever been stuck living in a dorm where you have to eat subpar cafeteria food? Have no fear your dining center nightmares will be over, for we will be providing cheap, easy and delicious meals for students to make while living on a college budget, or in a dorm.

Saving one student at a time from cafeteria food!

By: Anna Gruben

Fast English Muffin Pizzas Ingredients: 1 english muffin, split Canned pizza sauce Shredded mozzarella cheese Sliced pepperoni sausage Directions: Step 1. Place the English muffin halves cut side up onto a baking sheet. Spoon some of the pizza sauce onto each one. Top with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices. Step 2. Put on a microwavable safe plate, then microwave around 2 min or until the cheese is melted.

Artwork By: Anna Gruben

THEBARKUMD.COM | FEBRUARY 2022

February Print

Articles inside

All Bite No Bark | By: Anna Gruben

A relationship with reading: 28 book recommendations for the month of February | By: Izabella Zadra and Sara Guymon | PG. 4

What is Critical Race Theory | By: Eliana Sonderup