THE MARK
The Mark
October 2017
Policy
The Mark, a feature magazine published by the students in Menlo-Atherton’s journalism class, is an open forum for student expression and the discussion of issues of concern to its readership. The Mark is distributed to its readers and students at no cost. The staff welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy, and obscenity. Submissions do not necessarily re�lect the opinions of all M-A students or the staff of The Mark. Send all submissions to submittothemark@gmail.com
About the Cover
This issue of The Mark explores how recent policies have encouraged awareness among students. Following the contentious 2016 election, students have become more engaged in politics at M-A, starting with the walkout in the Fall of 2016 and most recently with the DACA demonstrations held on campus. This upward trend is encouraging: it is important that students continue to stay informed and active within the community. The cover aptly conveys this pattern; students are ripping apart misconceptions to look beneath the surface, to be in the now.
So�ia Karadogan Editor-in-Chief
Lara Karadogan Editor-in-Chief
Reid Diamond Head Content & Op-Ed Editor
Leah Marcus Head copy Editor
Elley Goldberg Social Media Manager
Sarah Friedman Production Manager
Ava Honerkamp
Agatha Medeiros
Sai Sema
Ellie Shepard
Aditya Srinath
Karina Takayama
Nate Viotti
Susie Choe Advisor
Editorial Political Weather
Despite the devastating hurricane season, our congressmen are playing politics with the safety and lives of American citizens. Imperative disaster relief packages have become entangled in the long-lasting polarized debate over the federal debt ceiling, and as a result, aid to hurricane-torn communities has been slow or even non-existent.
In light of the recent natural disasters that hit the United States, the amount of damage that the federal government must address has escalated the debate regarding the debt ceiling. Agreement on this debate is crucial to send aid, but the bill is yet to be approved due to petty political arguments within
Congress. House Republicans are concerned that House Democrats are tying unrelated bills to the debt ceiling, thereby withholding federal aid. In a public statement, Representative Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus said, “We frequently play an unnecessary game of politics with key issues—using must-pass legislation such as disaster relief as a vehicle to sweeten unrelated, contentious bills that may not otherwise pass as stand-alone measures.”
Estimates suggest that combined damage from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria will cost upwards of $300 billion. It took almost three and a half weeks for the House of Representatives to approve a mere $36.5
Hbillion in emergency relief for Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, and parts of California that have recently been affected by wildfires. Though this is a step in the right direction, the Senate has yet to approve the bill, which is predicted to take place towards the end of October. Implementation of emergency relief is not fast enough and our congress carries much of the blame. As American citizens lose their homes to floods and fires, our congressmen irresponsibly quarrel over minor disagreements in disaster relief packages and debt ceiling arguments, inhibiting the renovation of millions of citizens in need.
After the deadly earthquake in Haiti in 2010, former President Obama
mobilized 22,000 military and civilian personnel within two weeks while President Trump has only mobilized only 7,200 military personnel in Puerto Rico within the same time frame. Clearly, the executive branch is not fulfilling their responsibility to the American people either.
Citizens pay taxes to support the federal government so that they can, in return, support their citizens in times of desperation. The negligence of our legislative and executive branch is overwhelming and disappointing and they must be held to a higher standard especially when it comes to the basic safety and wellbeing of American citizens.
by the Editorial Board
Homecoming win vs. Sacred Heart Prep Halloween approaching
CULTURAL
Sinan Karadogan, freshman TURKEY
INDIA
PEOPLE PERCIVE TURKS AS...
Terrorists from a backwards region
Arabic or Latin speakers instead of Turkish speakers
Hostile people in�luenced by the Middle East
Always eating kebabs
HOWEVER...
“Turkey is a great example of a secular, modern democracy. I wish people would more learn about Turkey’s past, and acknowledge its historical in�luence.”
- Sinan Karadogan
by Agatha Medeiros
Ms. Bansal, math teacher
PEOPLE ASSUME INDIANS...
Have to wear the bindi between their eyes if they are women
Only wear conservative clothes and have henna tattoos
Live in poor conditions
Constantly eat curry
HOWEVER...
“India is very culturally diverse, each state in India speaks its own language, the most common languages are Hindi and English.”
- Ms. Bansal
STEREOTYPES
GERMANY
Katharina Voelsch, junior
Ethan Marcus, freshman SWITZERLAND
GERMANS ARE PORTRAYED AS...
Blonde with blue eyes
Sausage and potato eaters
Unfriendly
Serious
Hasselhoff lovers
HOWEVER...
“Not all germans are blonde with blue eyes.”
- Katharina Voelsch
SWISS STEREOTYPES...
People think Switzerland is Sweden
The country is always neutral
People speak Swiss
There is no crime
HOWEVER...
“Geneva and Switzerland overall have the best food ever; we have really amazing skiing in the Swiss Alps, and our cheese is to die for.”
“Swiss is not a language. We speak German or French.”
- Ethan Marcus
STUDY TIPS
TA K I N G S I D E S
PARTY LOYALTY OR REAL ISSUES?
In George Washington’s farewell address, he cautioned future generations of the dangers of political parties. Obviously, we haven’t heeded his warning. In the 21st century especially, partisanship has become synonymous with American politics, as partisan antipathy has risen considerably in the past 20 years. Republicans with unfavorable opinions of Democrats have jumped from 17 to 43 percent and the converse from 16 to 38 (Pew Research Center).
Looking at the dialogue of politicians, their arguments are often full of logical faux pas. If you watched any of last year’s presidential debates, it was much more common for the candidates to attack the character of the other, rather than hone in on their arguments. Politicians, voters, and the media have all become more focused on who said it, rather than what is being said. To test the extent to which we overlook our values to focus on the party loyalties of politicians, The Mark sent out a survey* claiming to test political opinions through a series of quotes with agreeing or disagreeing responses; responders didn’t know the
author of each quote. Here’s the catchknowing that the audience reached by our survey was predominantly Democratic, each quote was authored by a Republican. How much would political loyalties shift when students were forced to ignore their partisan biases?
Of Democratic responders, 90 percent agreed with a majority of the quotes, and 17.5 percent agreed with all six. Surprisingly, results from those who identified themselves as Republican or non-binary did not vary substantially, and Republicans only agreed with more than half of the six quotes 50% of the time, the lowest percentage of any group: Democratic, Republican, or other (note: small Republican sample size).
While these results display a profound contrast between students identified parties and true opinions, they must be taken with a grain of salt. We cannot isolate one sentence from a politician’s career and decide whether or not we agree with them, or if we stand by their party. By the same token, there are some fundamental differences between parties that may not be reconciled.
“We need transparency in government spending. We need to put each government expenditure online so every[one] can see where their tax money is being spent”
“And we should be a welcoming nation. Our identity is not based on race or ethnicity, it’s based on a set of shared values. That’s American citizenship.”
“The invisible hand of the market always moves faster and better than the heavy hand of government.”
Just because 86.8 percent of a 75.9 percent democratic sample group agreed with a quote by President Trump, does not mean that they will, or should, support him. But this is beside the point – while we do have our differences, our commonalities are just as plentiful, and go predominantly ignored. Our preconceptions of political parties, driven into us by our culture, have made us ignorant to the true issues being contended by politicians. While some of the quotes in the survey were easily accepted by any political background (human rights, racial equality, etc), others emphasized traditional Republican values such as the importance of a small, limited government. When asked whether or not they agreed with Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign statement that “The invisible hand of the market always moves faster and better than the heavy hand of government”, 47.5% of Democrats polled agreed. This reveals just how much our political loyalties are swayed by the name of the party rather than the ideas behind them, and just how little we know about those we are voting for.
These results should make us reconsider the divide between political parties and their perceived antagonists. Of course, we are never going to agree on 100 percent of issues, or even close to that. But, we can look for similarities between our values and work constructively towards solutions that bypass partisanship.
This isn’t a kumbaya; we aren’t going to sit in a circle, hold hands, and reconcile our political differences, and wake up tomorrow magically in agreement. But, we can make progress towards creating a society that is open to discussion and less hostile towards those with differing views. To start, we can vote for the candidates whose policies and ideals we agree with, rather than checking the box next to the party our families have always voted for or the party with which the majority of the media affiliates with. We can take the time to learn objectively about the political issues at hand, rather than jumping on the bandwagon of whatever politician du jour. It’s time we start pushing for politics that aren’t as black and white, or, to put it more accurately, as red and blue.
“I like the idea of amending the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include a ban of discrimination based on sexual orientation. It would be simple. It would be straightforward.”
“The debt and the defi cit is just getting out of control, and the administration is still pumping through billions upon trillions of new spending. That does not grow the economy.”
by Elley Goldberg
rethinking curls
Although only a super cial aspect of one’s individuality, the way one embraces their hair o en re ects their self-esteem. e stigma against curly hair and pressure to straighten curls arises from the tendency to associate con dence with control; manageable hair mirrors the ability to control one’s life. Of curly-haired students interviewed at Menlo-Atherton, many admit that their hair contributed to an insecurity at some point in their lives. ey revealed inventive methods to atten their hair with braids or intricate hairstyles, emphasizing the desire of students to tame their hair as a vehicle of control. Junior Sina Kibrom admits to having “subdued [her]curls” but has grown to focus on her unique qualities rather than conform to societal standards; she describes a newfound love for her natural hair as she lets past insecurities go. e relationship between one and curly hair can be described as a “love-hate relationship,” as said by Senior Jayla Hill. e progress to embrace hair identity sheds light on the beauty of texture and bend. Senior Shea Kearns acknowledges the authenticity of each strand and embraces the validity of “untamed, wild, free-spirited, bouncy, and big hair.” She appreciates the strength and richness of voluminous hair,
case for curls
and hopes that those with curly hair will let their hair live.
Jayla Hill and Jamela Sinclair compare existing beauty standards with the natural tendencies of their hair. Regardless that advertisements and high fashion beauty campaigns o en emphasize “long, straight hair,” many in uential people have begun to express a growing appreciation for curly hair. rough social media platforms, women forge new meanings of beauty by promoting natural hair acceptance. e public photos Sinclair nds on Instagram parallel her own con dence, as her feed emulates her experience accepting natural hair and challenges the external pressure to t a standard. Sinclair, Hill, and Kearns agree on the necessary means to challenge the hair ideal, believing that they can use their own platforms to challenge existing notions and let go of minute aspects of daily lives. Kearns believes that “curls de ne [her],” and sees no purpose in trading her hair to t others’ ideals. She urges others to loosen how aware and in control they are of their physical appearance. Once we accept the tangled beauty of curls, we accept bigger aspects of our lives and let go of super cial details.
by Lara Karadogan
REVIEWING NEWLY RELEASED ALBUMS
“TELL ME YOU LOVE ME” DEMI LOVATO “SNOW”
ANGUS AND JULIA STONE
Her new album, “Tell Me You Love Me,” released on September 29 displays Lovato’s powerhouse voice. “Sorry Not Sorry” which was released before the album, sends a strong message to her haters and shows her fans that they shouldn’t let anybody put them. Lovato switches to a calmer feel in her song “You Don’t Do It For Me Anymore” which Lovato describes to be “a goodbye letter to my old self and some of my destructive behaviors.” After a 2 year disappearance, Lovato fans will be happy with the original and new sounds.
Angus and Julia Stone released their new album “Snow” on Sept. 15 that features their mesmerizing voice, perfect for a comeback album. Their hit song “Chateau” is written about a couple looking back at past memories of their experience in the Chateau Marmont Hotel. You may not be an indie fan, but even someone who enjoys rock would love this album.
“ALL
THE LIGHT ABOVE TOO”
JACK JOHNSON
“FREEDOM CHILD” THE SCRIPT
After a four year disappearance, Jack Johnson returns with the soft-rock album, “All the Light Above Too.” The album includes 10 songs, with his signature acoustic guitar. Each song you can relax to, while singing along all at the same time. In the song “My Mind is for Sale”, Johnson expresses his feelings on the current situation on politics. Overall, it is a mellow album that anyone can listen to.
On Sept. 1, the Irish pop band, “The Script,” released their first album of 3 years. The album, “Freedom Child” tackles difficult topics about their view on current politics, heartbreak, and learning to love others and sends a strong message within every song. Their hit song “Rain” has a unique sound which is not heard often on the radio. Lead guitarist Mark Shaheen describes “Rain” as “a juxtaposition of two feelings.” The band brings back some of their old sound with the song “Make-Up”, which includes accepting and loving yourself for who you are.
The “Look at me Now” artist released his new album, “17”. Unlike any of his previous tracks, “17” conveys an R&B feel. XXXTentacion vocalizes about depression and suicide, mirroring the thoughts in his mind. “Jocelyn Flores” flows well with Shiloh Dynasty’s (a featured artist) hypnotizing voice as it speaks of a woman who committed suicide in a hotel room. XXXTentaction reveals a shocking and new perspective of himself, to which fans can connect.
By Sarah Friedman
M ADACA
“Without DACA I felt that I had to hide who I am, but with DACA I didn’t feel different. Even though it isn’t a residency or a citizenship, it made me feel protected, it made me feel safe, and I didn’t fear deportation anymore. I felt like I could just finally be myself,” recalls Senior Itzel Villa. While Villa recieved her her DACA status this past year, she is now one of many who fear that the benefits of DACA may soon disappear. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) allows minors who entered the country illegally to receive a renewable two year period of deferred action from deportation. Villa and Zamora are just two of the many DACA beneficiaries at Menlo-Atherton High School who are now unsure of their futures. For both Villa and Zamora, Tuesday, Sept. 5 was a day that they will never forget: President Trump announced his intentions to repeal DACA. Zamora remembers, “It was like I was in a movie. Everything just stopped and I didn’t know what to think. I left the classroom crying.” Though DACA has not been revoked yet, implications of such a repeal would, as Villa says, “close so many doors.”
Obtaining DACA status allowed Villa to apply for a work permit to get an internship at Aim High, a summer program for middle school students. Villa explains, “I really want to study psychology so I thought this internship would benefit me a lot because it gave me experience working with kids. I wouldn’t have been able to do that internship if I didn’t have the work permit.”
DACA status provides a beneficiary a social security number that is essential in applying for jobs, scholarships, and financial aid. With a repeal of DACA looming, Zamora
notes, “I probably won’t be able to go to a four-year college and it’s really heartbreaking. I worked so hard to get good grades in school and save up enough money for college, but soon none of that may really matter.” Villa feels the same way, as she explains: “without scholarships, I probably wouldn’t be able to go [to college].” Though DACA gives many practical benefits, Zamora explains, “The real thing that DACA gave me was the dream of going to college and getting a good profession. I’ve seen my parents struggle financially and I just want to be the one to help them.”
Though Zamora is still optimistic that DACA will not be rescinded, she questions, “Why would you give it [DACA] to me in the first place just to take it away? Why would you give me this hope for nothing?” Villa agrees. “I never did anything wrong,” she says, “and now I may be punished. It’s devastating.” Despite their apparent and inevitable frustration, Zamora and Villa both elected to participate in a public lunch-time rally to support DACA students at M-A. In front of a crowd of students, Zamora and Villa shared their stories of the role DACA plays in their lives, advocating for its defense.
Villa explains, “I wanted to share my story. Not for pity, but to show everyone that this is an actual problem that impacts so many people at M-A. I know this situation makes many feel like they don’t want to show who they are anymore, and I originally thought that too. But you shouldn’t hide who you are no matter what, no matter what your status is.”
“This is our home,” Zamora explains, “We have jobs here, we live here, we go to school here. We’re not
just random people, we are teachers and students; working, learning people. We are what makes America, immigrants have been and always will be the foundation of America.”
Villa will still apply to college to pursue her dreams, and she encourages others to do the same. “Everyone has their own obstacles” she says, “and for people in my situation, this is a very big obstacle, but you still should never give up. If we give up now, there is no chance of a future for us but if we don’t give up there is still a chance, there is still hope.”
by Reid Diamond
by Nate Viotti
DEAR DREAMERS, NOV 01
RESOURCES & ADVICE FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS
The recent repeal of DACA left many at Menlo-Atherton High School and in the surrounding community dismayed. This action, in tandem with the Trump administration’s other calls for harsher immigration policy, further stoked fears of mass deportations and a national registry on immigration. Fortunately, the Sequoia Union High School District and M-A are vehemently in support of undocumented students. Each institution has taken action in the recent weeks to bolster its support channels for those affected by the new policy.
The district recently passed a resolution stating that the district would work “to ensure that all students and families, including those that are undocumented, are able to receive education in a safe and supportive environment.” The resolution also includes clauses expressing the district’s commitment to not support any action in the direction of a national immigration registry and will not, unless compelled by a court order, disclose information on the immigration statuses of students. Ms. Kennel, the principle of M-A, further echoed the district’s sentiments: “We will support all students, regardless [of their immigration status] to enroll in, to feel safe at, and to be at school.” Additionally, the district created a page on its website dedicated to undocumented students. The site includes links to programs and organizations that support undocumented students in their pursuit of higher education.
Most importantly, you should feel welcome, knowing that the district and school have many resources available. Both organizations are here to support you.
DACA / IMMIGRATION INFO NIGHT
6-8 PM
An event for those affected by DACA and their parents. Different community organizations will be present to give information about DACA and their services. Lawyers that work directly with students and their families will also be there to help. These experts will help students and their families become informed on the issues facing immigrants and help them to create plans in case of arrest or deportation.
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS CAN GO TO COLLEGE
Undocumented students CAN go to college. California is unique because its public universities (UC’s and CSU’s) allow ALL students to qualify for discounted in-state tuition and Cal Grants to pay for their tuition. Students, regardless of their immigration or economic status, therefore can be accepted, can afford, and can attend college in the state of California. DACA does little to change that. Continue studying. Continue working hard. Keep fighting. Having a degree could help you in the future to change your legal status and, in general, to have a better life. Higher education, especially for immigrants, is like a passport to a better future, opening many different doors and opportunities.
E4FC.ORG
Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC) is a great organization created with the mission of helping undocumented students achieve their educational and career goals. The group has a multitude of resources available for students on topics such as higher education and legal aid. Also, they offer several of their own scholarships and have list of additional scholarships for undocumented students to go to college. More information on all of these opportunities is available on their comprehensive resources page, linked below.
LAWYER UP!
THESE LEGAL CLINICS OFFER FREE OR DISCOUNTED SERVICES TO UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
CLSEPA.ORG
A legal clinic located in East Palo Alto with programs for immigrant youth/young adults. The clinic and its lawyers can assist with those trying to renew their DACA applications, those facing deportation, and those seeking asylum.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
YOU CANNOT BE DETAINED WITHOUT A WARRANT THE WARRANT MUST BE SPECIFIC AND SIGNED BY A JUDGE
“DO YOU HAVE A WARRANT SIGNED BY A JUDGE?”
YOU MAY DENY CONSENT TO HAVE YOUR POSSESSIONS SEARCHED WITHOUT A WARRANT, POLICE AND ICE CANNOT ENTER YOUR HOUSE UNLESS YOU LET THEM
“I
DO NOT CONSENT TO YOUR ENTRY”
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
An immigration law clinic with offices Redwood City. The clinic has lawyers who can help with family reunification, citizenship and DACA applications, and obtaining refugee status.They offer services in both Spanish and English.
IIBAYAREA.COM LEGALAIDSMC.ORG
A legal aid clinic in Redwood City with several services available for immigrants. The clinic has programs for teen parents, immigrants facing deportation, and those affected by DACA’s repeal. They offer their services in both Spanish and English.
“I HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT”
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK TO A LAWYER
TALK TO A LAWYER BEFORE ANSWERING QUESTIONS OR SIGNING ANYTHING STAY CALM DO NOT RUN TAKE PICTURES OR VIDEOS
Flip
Dissatisfaction with our current president and his administration is evident in the United States, California, and here at Menlo-Atherton; voting in the 2018 congressional race is one way for students to let their voices be heard. When President Donald Trump was elected in 2016, hundreds of M-A students marched in opposition. Many of those same students have strong opinions on how the current administration is handling issues ranging from health-care and immigration to race relations and foreign policy. Although many M-A students will not be eligible to vote in 2018, understanding the issues that affect students is vital if they want to influence change on a larger scale.
Since the last presidential election, many people have felt frustrated, hopeless, and ill-equipped to make a change. As President Donald Trump’s approval ratings fluctuate around the 40% range nation-wide, the Democratic party is forming a strategic response. The Democratic party is working to unseat incumbent Republican representatives in order to gain a house majority in the upcoming 2018 election. Young voters are a key demographic Democrats are trying to reach. In the 2016 election, only 19% of eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 29 voted. For students who are frustrated with the current political climate, getting involved with the midterm election is one way to do so.
Students at M-A either have Jackie Speier or Anna Eshoo as their current representative, both of whom are Democrats and are not likely to lose their seats. However, students who will move to college next year are able to register to vote in the district that their
the House
college falls in. Registration in a new district can happen the day of an election or take up to a month, depending on the district. It is important that seniors research elections in the district that they will move to far in advance. This will give them time to decide whether voting in the district their college is in or the district they live in at home will be more impactful. In the past presidential election, we have all seen the importance of voting. While districts with candidates running in hopes of unseating the incumbent representatives may seem more pressing, it is always important to vote.
Regardless of your political leanings, it’s important to understand current issues. Many people see California as a Democratic “bubble,” but out of California’s 53 currently filled seats in the House of Representatives, 14 representatives are from the Republican party. There are many examples of how they are influential. Congressman Kevin McCarthy represents California’s
23rd district and is the House Majority Leader who has played a leading role in the movement to repeal Obamacare. One of the movements to flip a district in California is in the 49th district where Congressman Darrell Issa currently holds office. Issa voted “yes” to ban same-sex marriage, but he won the last election by only 0.5%. Congressman Devin Nunes represents California’s 22nd congressional district and is involved in the Russian interference
in the 2016 elections scandal.
Representatives throughout California and the United States have various view-points no matter their party. It is important for all students, no matter their political views, to be active citizens and take a stand for what they believe in.
I met with a Texas Congressional candidate, Todd Litton, to better understand how Democrats are attempting to regain power in Congress.
Litton is running in hopes of unseating the incumbent representative, Congressman Ted Poe. While historically his district has voted for Republicans, in the 2016 presidential election the district voted for Hillary Clinton. Recent events including hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the mass shooting in Las Vegas, and Trump’s vague stance on immigration have caused disquiet within the Republican party. We discussed how these events have affected many voters thus allowing democratic representatives to appeal to many voters in traditionally Republican districts. Especially in recent years, “everything we see in Washington is really distorted. Everything, I think, is viewed through a single partisan lens.”
Said Litton. While Trump has done little to promote bipartisanship, in light of recent events, many voters have begun to shift their views on certain issues. For example, after the mass shooting in Las Vegas, country singer Jason Aldean who was performing during the shooting, changed his stance on gun laws. The
horrific events that have recently occurred have been a wake-up call for many voters.
As we near the 2018 congressional elections, the growing distaste for Trump is evident through the uncharacteristically large spike in financially backed opposition House challengers. In the past, there has been a direct correlation between the number of House challengers who have raised at least five thousand dollars a year before elections and a political party gaining control of the House. In the last fifteen years, the second largest spike in the number of challengers was 78 Republican representatives in 2009 after Obama was elected. This increase in challengers was part of a movement within the Republican party that led to them regaining a House majority. This past June, 209 democratic representatives have hit this mark. This comparatively large increase in financially backed candidates reflects the dissatisfaction with the Trump administration. As we saw in the last election, there is no certainty in elections, but this data shows that there is a significant chance that the democratic party will gain majority control of the House of Representatives. While some people pay little attention to mid-term elections, in the past few years, the common phrase in U.S. politics, “All politics is local” has proven to be very true; there are many issues making national headlines with local effects such as healthcare and immigration policy. Currently, Democrats are poised to regain a majority in the House of Representatives and if they are successful, will increase their influence over these issues.
by Ava Honerkamp
tRICK OR TREAT Street
Oct. 26 marks the 20th anniversary of Menlo-Atherton’s Trick-or Treat Street or TOTS, an all-inclusive event hosted by M-A Leadership. Students and staff come together to organize Halloween themed activities and traditional trick-or-treating for kids. How the event started is shrouded in mystery, much like the holiday itself, but the general principle was built on ensuring safety and fun for those who attend. I interviewed Ashley Tiznado, a Leadership student who is head of the TOTS planning committee, who offered insights on the unique Halloween festivity that M-A helps achieve a unique experience.
By Aditya Srinath
What is the origin of Trick or Treat Street?
“I am not exactly sure who started this event or when, but I do know that the purpose of Trick-or-Treat Street is to guarantee safety and assure that they will have an incredible night, since those that attend don’t have a safe place to trick-or-treat around.”
How does M-A help kids who can’t get their own costumes?
“M-A does do a costume drive for kids that cannot afford a costume. Last year we partnered with an organization and gave them around half of the costumes that we had since they needed costumes as well and did not have as many as we did.”
How do we ensure a safe and fun environment for Trick or Treaters?
“To ensure that the kids are in a safe environment, we have teachers, campus-aids and leadership students wandering all over the event to assist kids, along with other students, spread out in classrooms, handing out candy. We also make sure to have only a small section of the school open for this event since M-A is very big.”
Does MA have any special “surprise” event planned for the kids?
“There is no single year that will ever have any special “surprise” but we want every year to be better than the last. We plan, organize, and talk about ways we can improve and better this event so every year will always be a surprise to all the kids that attend.”
Does MA help educate kids in separating the fun part of dressing up from the tradition of giving candies?
“Everyone has different ways of celebrating Halloween, so we don’t want to infringe on those ways for those who attend the event. We focus more on the kids as our goal is to make sure that we do our best to give them a memorable Halloween.”
Churchill, Manitobas, Canada
August 2017
Photography Sarah Kahle
VER DI
Danae Brister
Taya Ma’afu
Ingold Faleofa
Vanessa Birrueta
SI
“Nobody else had to deal with that, but I did, just because of what I look like.”
- Danae Brister, Class of 2018
"I
guess that people don't associate Mexican with AP classes. They don’t associate Mexican with high GPA."
-Vanessa Birrueta, Class of 2017
“I wish I could say ‘strength in diversity’ reflects M-A’s culture. But I just don’t think so. Not at this moment.”
- Danae Brister, Class of 2018
“Why am I the only Mexican in all of my classes?”
- Vanessa Birrueta, Class of 2017
It’s written on the maroon banner of our logo. It’s painted on the oor of the F- wing. It’s on our walls, our posters, and our school IDs. It’s everywhere.
And to some extent, it’s true. We have a student body that is 42.7 percent Latinx, 40.3 percent white, 4.7 percent Asian, 4 percent African-American, and 3.9 percent Paci c Islander. M-A pulls students from Redwood City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and more.
At first glance, we seem to be living up to our school’s empowering motto. But a closer look at our classrooms — who is enrolled in which kinds of classes — and our hallways — who chooses to congregate with whom reveals a very different story. A story of AP classrooms in which the overwhelming majority of students are white or Asian. Of Hispanics and African Americans disproportionately filling regular classes.
When Polynesian student Ma’afu walked into her AP computer science class at the start of her junior year, she felt her heart drop. She looked around, noticed only two other students of color, and recognized only one face. e other students barely talked to her. She was alone, miserable, and too afraid to ask for help. She dropped out of the class. In AP U.S. History, similar experiences prompted her to leave the class second semester. In AP European History her sophomore year, Vanessa Birrueta was the only Mexican-American in the room. She was the only socio-economically disadvantaged student. When teacher John Florio asked the class who had been to see a famous piece of artwork abroad, almost every other student raised their hand. She remembered thinking, “I’m the only one. I’m the di erent one.” In AP Chemistry the next year, she felt so excluded it brought her to tears.
by Mara Cavallaro
When African American student Danae Brister showed up to her advanced biology class on the rst day of school three years ago, every other student was allowed into the classroom. Upon seeing Brister, the teacher asked her if she was lost. When the thenfreshman responded that she had indeed signed up for the course, the teacher had her sit to the side and wait while she veri ed the roster.
During his rst month of AP U.S. History, Paci c Islander Ingold Faleofa’s peers ignored him. When he o ered to write or play a role in group projects they refused, took control, and sat him out. He was always nervous, avoided speaking, and was constantly worried about students in his class looking at him the wrong way. Clearly, we have a problem. If students of color at schools like M-A are constantly reminded of their di erences— asked if they are lost, told they are not ready, singled out, doubted, and ignored, then their decision not to enroll in or to drop AP classes makes sense. e stakes on these issues could not be higher. e current political context is fraught with explosive tensions that threaten to undermine the fabric of our society. Last month, tensions between white supremacist Neo-Nazis and prodiversity demonstrators resulted in the murder of Heather Heyer. Just weeks ago, President Trump repealed the DACA program, tossing 800,000 of our peers into chaos and uncertainty.
Issues concerning diversity are front and center everywhere in our country. Whether our motto is empty words or an accurate description of our school is up to us. e time to engage is now. Emily Young contributed to this article.
Design Sofia and Lara Karadogan
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is
Women are taught in many South pacific island cultures, at a young age, how to weave and make mats. Mats are incredibly significant to the culture, especially when presenting it to someone as a gift to celebrate an ocassion.
The Masi Kuvui (Ma-see-koo-vu-eee) is a brown tapa cloth worn by noble women when performing the Meke (Meh-keh), a traditional dance. Tapa is made from the bark of the Mulberry tree, where the bark is beatened, softened, and pasted together to become a larger piece of cloth, which is then dyed and designed with ancient motifs.
This dish
called Kokoda (ko-con-da). It is raw fish, squeezed lemon, diced cucumbers & tomatoes, and coconut milk. It similar to ceviche.
In downtown Suva, the capital of Fiji, is the statue of former chief, soldier, and statesman, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna. He was the father of modern Fiji, who was the architech of establishing Fijian administration under the British colonial rule. His work contributed to Fijian Independence on Oct. 10, 1970.
BULA FIJI
by Sai Sema
I returned to Fiji this September due to a family emergency and ended up reconnecting with my cultural roots. Although I am Fijian, I grew up in the United States for the majority of my life, making cultural shock evident through cultural and traditional events I experienced. I’ve learned so much about my heritage, special traditions, and the reasoning imbued in my culture as I attended a beautiful wedding. In addition to adapting to the vivid cultural environment, I was quick to recognize how the colonization by Britain had a massive influence on the country. I noticed this mostly through the education system, structure of government, and even the everyday language and slang. I interviewed
several students from some of the top secondary schools in the area, and asked them about their opinions on the United States and American schools. They responded by elaborating on how developed our country is, in terms of our education, technology and economy. While in Fiji, I had the honor of meeting my neighbors, the Head Boy of Queen Victoria School and the Head Girl of St. Joseph’s Secondary School. Head Boys and Girls are student leaders who are picked by the teachers, usually based on their merit in terms of their good grades, work ethic, and excellence in sports achievements. Through reconnecting with my heritage, I have learned deeply about who I am and I wish to allow readers to take a dip into Fiji.
LEARN SOME FIJIAN
BULA (BOO-LA) - GREETINGS, HELLO, WELCOME
VACAVA TIKO? (VA-THAVA-TEE-KO) - HOW ARE YOU?
O CEI NA YACAMU (O-THEY-NAH-YA-THA-MOO)WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
NI SA YADRA (KNEE-SA-YARN-DRA) - GOOD MORNING
MOCE (MO-THEY) - GOODBYE, GOODNIGHT
VINAKA VAKA LEVU! (VEE-NA-KAH-VA-KAH-LEVU)THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Photography Nessa Fakrai
Periods are not luxuries. Period. Stop the period tax. Period. Don’t charge periods. Period.
Periods are inevitable. Period. Power to the period. Period.
Equi
Females universally unite over the subject of menstruation. Though periods themselves are stigmatized, tampons and pads are legally attacked by an imposing tax. Considered a “luxury item,” feminine hygiene products carry a 7% sales tax. While items such as lip balm, Viagra and condoms are tax exempt, females in 35 states are charged extra for an inevitable biological occurrence.
Rafi Fernandez, a senior at Menlo-Atherton High School, challenges the standard by claiming that, “the tampon tax
reveals the stigma around bleeding.” Fernandez alludes to the social hypocrisy prevalent towards blood: while there is no embarrassment from bleeding from a cut or even the gruesome blood seen in several aggressive movies, female menstruation is deemed a sensitive subject. The tampon tax places a financial burden, given that the average box of tampons is $7 and the additional tax is 49 cents. While the tax seems insubstantial, consider this study conducted by the Huffington Post
that reported females use an average of 11,000 tampons or pads in a lifetime. It is unjust and demeaning to deny the financial burden of paying for period amenities. California Assemblywoman, Cristina Garcia, advocates for the bill. Garcia claims that “we are being taxed for being women,” and that “women have no choice but to buy these products, so the economic effect is only felt by women that are particularly hard hit by this tax. You can’t just ignore your period, it’s not like you can just
ignore the constant flow.” The period tax is unfair because feminine hygiene is inevitable.
The discussion of tampons in public restrooms applies to the bathrooms at public schools. Public restrooms provide toilet paper and napkins to ensure sanitary safety and comfort, yet tampons and pads are offered at a cost, deeming feminine products as inessential luxury items. Here, on our campus, each pad and tampon is charged 25 cents in the female restrooms. Tonya
ty,
Edington, M-A’s Health
Aide, justifies the price of feminine products at school with the abuse of privilege seen in previous years. Tampons and pads were once offered for free, but students would take them by the handful. These products were privately funded and the clear misuse of tampons and pads forced the school to change its policy. Edington claims that students “should have the responsibility at this age to come prepared to school,” raising an even greater argument. Public restrooms offer free toilet
paper, which can be taken advantage of at all times. Increasing the availability of tampons and pads in public restrooms and in public schools reduces the urge to take more than needed. There is no desperation to take toilet paper because it is granted; the same should apply to feminine products.
The existence of misogyny prevalent in restrooms is probably “because men were making the laws when those taxes were passed,” as said by former president Obama during an
interview in 2016. Even Obama admits the tax itself is arbitrary, and he has “no idea why states would tax these as luxury items.” Obama’s words bring to light the sexism behind the tax. Men in charge have passed laws concerning the comfort of women without having any notion of the burden of menstruation. This displacement in understanding has resulted in an unjust tax that burdens women both morally and financially.
The societal stigma around periods must be addressed. We need support from men and women; unity is essential.”
- Laura Parisi, 18 by Sofia Karadogan “
COMPUTER ACADEMY
Menlo-Atherton High School offers a variety of different college preparatory programs and classes that are geared to support students in an array of subjects. The Computer Academy program, referred to as a “school within a school,” is a threeyear college and community college prep program that has been thriving since 1981 Amongst 2400 students. The Academy is a smaller close-knit community that provides Academy comfort to its students, helping them develop and improve their learning skills and grades. Daryl Solomon, an M-A English teacher and the Department Head of Academy, explains that since “teachers stay with their kids for two years,” they already know their students’ strengths and where they struggle. Then, the following year the teachers can hone in on those weaknesses to improve student grades, skills and an overall understanding of the material. M-A can be an overwhelming environment, especially for students who may be shy or particularly introverted, making The Academy a safe haven for them. The Computer Academy Program creates a subdivision of students who connect with each other and their teachers.
The program’s smaller class sizes of about 20-25 students also help build this cohesive community that in turn aids the learning of students and produces a tight-knit society.
Academy offers four classes: English, History, Science, and the Multimedia (a class dedicated to learning tech) class. The program requires that a student who has applied must take all the offered classes and have a relatively consistent attendance. This is because Academy classes go on many field-trips to colleges and do academic activities with their classmates, in order to, once again, create a small community in such a large school setting. The program focuses on integrating technology through Chromebook carts and multimedia classes. The computer class teaches the students the basics of technology starting at Google Docs and builds up to applications like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. The integration and emphasis on technology is the major difference between the Academy and other college prep classes around M-A.
AVID
Advancement Via Individual Determination or AVID is another college prep program at M-A. AVID is a 7th-period class designed for students with B’s and C’s who want to improve their grades but don’t know where to start. The program focuses on organization, collaboration, writing skills, inquiries, and reading skills. The AVID program coordinator, Erika Bland explains, “We focus on writing to learn and reading to learn [...] How do you read an article and take what you read and turn it into something that you can apply” to something else. The inquiry skills concentrate on learning about selfadvocating and asking for help. Bland continues, “They are able to ask questions that actually get at what they are confused about and not just go up to your teacher and go I don’t get it […] we see a lot of that kind of growth” amongst other strengths between freshman and senior year. The program also helps these students for college entrance exams, the
by Ellie Shepard
students visit California college campuses and form interpersonal relationships within the program. The students who are accepted into AVID have the priority of going to college and willingness to work towards that dream with a commitment to studying and doing homework every night. Like Academy, AVID creates a close group within its program. An average class is about 30 students but the bond between students and teachers is strong despite the larger class sizes because teachers and students stay with each other all four years. Bland shares first hand, “A lot of the kids will call their AVID teacher their AVID mom because we look out for them...Its become a culture now where people actually call kids in other classes their cousins”. Students help each other in class and support each other throughout their AVID experience.
“HAVING TO BE A FAMILY... KNOWING EVERYONE PERSONALLY... I DON’T FEEL LEFT OUT OR DIFFERENT FROM THEM” - KARINA, JUNIOR
“MS. BLAND PREPARES YOU AS WELL AS GIVING US THE COMFORT OF BEING IN A FAMILY” - SANDRA, JUNIOR
81.2% of about 100 surveyed M-A students have reported that they nd their routines to be repetitive and 51.8% rated their routine between 7 or 8 out of 10, being extremely repetitive. Routines are crucial to our success, we need repetition to be productive and stay on schedule. Routine is how we remember to lock the door, walk the dog or even put the alarm on without even thinking about it. But with the repetitive duties of students at M-A, waking up and going to school, eating lunch, sports and homework, our lives start getting a little boring. is is probably why 49.3% students surveyed feel the need to switch up their routine, compared to 25.3% who like their routines and 25.3% of students who don’t really care about routine.
Do something you love
Pursuing something you love or just simply giving yourself the time to sit down and relax is one of the best ways to make your routine feel less continuous. is gives you something to look forward to and keeps your days exciting through all the repetition. Doing it before bed also helps as it puts you in a good mood before going to sleep, which according to the Hu ngton Post’s article: “Wake Up in a Great Mood,” helps you wake up the next day in a better mood.
Discover new music
Jamming out to a di erent song everyday when you go to your extracurricular activity or even just when you are getting ready for school is one of the best feelings in the world. Listening to di erent music every day also helps with changing your mood and can even make your days a little brighter. New songs are also a fun way to socialize with other people. Sharing your new nds with peers can spark a discussion and even a new friendship.
routine
how to change it up
Have a different lunch everyday
It is easy to fall back into the routine of eating the same meal for lunch when your schedule for school is so jam-packed. Whether through simplicity or complexity, preparing something new will alter how fun it is to prepare it and interact with a daily activity di erently. Rather than making the same sandwich everyday, take 5 minutes to experiment with a new dish such as a delicious pasta for the next day. Not only does it give you some new avors to spice up your lunches at school, but it may simply excite you more about your upcoming tasty lunch.
byLeahMarcus
Eat breakfast outside
First o , make sure you are eating breakfast: it is the most important meal of the day! Eating breakfast in a new location, especially outside, is something that is extremely easy to do. A change of scenery can lead to a peaceful start to your day and it won’t take up any extra time in your already busy schedule. Eating inside at your kitchen or at your dining table can become monotonous. On the other hand, eating breakfast outside allows you to experience something new on a daily basis. Simply take in the daily, weekly and seasonal changes in the weather and enjoy your time outside.
