THE SKYLINE VIEW The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, Calif.
March 2, 2022
theskylineview.com
Issue 1
Skyline students to embellish a communal area with murals After five years, the mural painting class is back to paint another community-based project By Christian Carlo Ceguerra Copy Editor
Art professor Amir Esfahani’s ART 221 class is partnering with a nearby community to complete a community-based mural project that aims to beautify and depict the culture and history of a San Mateo neighborhood this semester. Esfahani, who teaches digital art and gallery practicum among other art courses, spearheaded the inception of the class at Skyline College through his love with graffiti art. With the help of the Center for Innovative Practices through Hip Hop Education & Research (CIPHER), his passion to teach graffiti transcended from Rock the School Bell’s workshop to a formal art course. “As time went on, I started seeing that the aesthetic of the younger generation, the things that they like, most of it is really influenced by graffiti art,” Esfahani said. “This was a chance that I thought, ‘Well, I can introduce them to that kind of thing in a safe environment, where they won’t get in trouble.’” For him, the Community Mural Project (CMP) is important as it allows students to go and engage with communities to create visual representation based on “what they want,” while exposing them to the craft. Some instructors have to fight
tooth and nail to have their class authorized or approved, but for Esfahani, he said that the administration has been supportive in offering back the class. For now, the class would only be painting murals in various communities, but he said that the administration’s also open to the idea of having a mural wall on the campus. “When I mentioned the mural on campus wall, the last administration, they actually didn’t want me to do that, but this administration, they’re all for it,” Esfahani said. Esfahani mentioned how the CMP also aligns with Skyline College President Dr. Melissa Moreno’s People’s College Initiative, which gives great importance for the students to value civic engagement. “This new murals on-campus class, we want to start having other communities come to our college to not just us go out to schools, but then have people come to our college here,” Esfahani said, explaining how this would allow students to have the chance to paint murals on campus and represent their communities. In 2020, Skyline College granted the project the President’s Innovation Fund, which amounts to at least $25,000. This allows the class to be zero-text-
Christian Carlo Ceguerra/The Skyline View
Professor Amir Esfahani prepares the color palette his class would use for their grid and scaling exercise.
book cost and be more accessible for students with tight budgets as materials are derived from the grant. This is the first time the class was offered on a Saturday, which Esfahani said that he is okay with as it allowed students of different ages who are busy during the weekdays to join. Mauli Vora works as an engineer during the weekdays, so she is most happy that she gets to be in Esfahani’s art class every Saturday. “I have always liked colors, painting, but I never learned before,” Vora said. “So, this, I feel was a wonderful class to start.” Juyoung Ku, who goes by Jay, is a Skyline College alum and a BFA
graduate from San Jose State University, opted to audit the class. “Whoever teachers that I felt like, left an impression or an impact in my art, I usually try to keep in touch with,” Jay said. “Amir is one of those teachers that influenced me a lot, and I look up to him, he helped me out a lot.” In previous semesters, the CMP partnered with Daly City to paint electrical boxes around the area, as well as the Thomas Edison Elementary School Mural for their kindergarten classes. They also participated at the Michael B. Jordan (MBJAM) in 2017 and 2018 to raise aware-
ness of and funds for Lupus LA. Esfahani said that they are looking for a place where students can get to easily, where they can park and bring equipment, which wall has a smooth texture and where students would have more opportunity for creative freedom. For this semester, the class is eyeing painting murals to one of the four nearby areas in San Mateo County: Sellick Park, Alta Loma Park, and Airport Alcove in South San Francisco and also the Millbrae Elementary School District. Esfahani expects to do the production by early to mid-April once the designs and mockups are done and their pitch is approved by their partnered community.
People’s College Initiative aims to democratize campus The plan consists of four major campus constituents to create change By Steven Rissotto Editor-in-chief
As the spring semester begins, Skyline College continues to move forward with a new program focused on transforming the school into a healthier learning environment. The People’s College Initiative (PCI) is a campus-wide plan developed by Skyline President Dr. Melissa Moreno, which was first introduced last semester. The idea revolves around the college’s goal to address challenges in a different way — one that involves almost every major council on campus. To create more transparency and access within the administration, the PCI has focused on key issues to improve the quality of the decision-making processes. As a part of the democratically-run system, four major goals accompany the initiative. “I started thinking about the principles upon which community college and the whole system was built on: principles of democracy,” Moreno said. “And we were not functioning as a democracy at Skyline. Now we are and we’re starting to get the democratic wheels turning.” Creating an antiracist and equitable culture has been a top priority, along with the act of engaging in climate reviews to make sure Skyline’s environmental transformation is up to par with the current scientific suggestions. An emphasis has
The Lotus Blossom visualizes the process and newly revamped system.
also been placed on graduating students with civic mindsets. In doing so, participatory governance was formed to make sure each possible organization on campus was heard. The four main senates and councils that make up the College Governance Council: Associated Students (ASCC) are Classified Senate (CS) Academic Senate (AS) Management Council (MC). The Classified Senate is responsible for representing the needs, concerns and viewpoints of classified employees at Skyline. The senate raises money for scholarships, produces lesson plans for staff professional developments and provides other general support.
“The classified professionals are excited to be part of this initiative and engage in this critical work in improving our campus culture; becoming an antiracist institution, and developing a civic mindset for our students,” said Sherrie Prasad, president of the CS. “We look forward to helping to create an open and transparent environment where our classified voices will be heard and be able to make an impact.” When she took over as president in June 2020, Moreno embarked on a year-long listening tour for any noticeable discussion regarding how to improve the campus. In her investigation, she uncovered that many believed there was secrecy and one-way communication happening within the school, creating a strong anti-faculty and anti-admin-
Skyline College
istration sentiment. A negative climate report was sent to Moreno’s desk on her first day as president, a survey that is infamous and usually kept out of the public eye. Moreno, however, released the information for all to see. The move was among the first to trigger transparency with the administration as a key item touched on in the PCI and they feel they’ve been more accessible. “All of us in the administration are walking the campus and joining students and college hour trying to just be way more approachable and accessible,” Moreno said. In the first year, Moreno dismantled her cabinet’s votes during College Governance
meetings. Since it’s a body that recommends ideas and plans to the president, Moreno felt she was “double-dipping” if the hierarchy wasn’t rebuilt. Skyline created a diagram of a lotus blossom that visualizes the process and newly revamped system. The college feels that the blossom is symbolic in describing the transformation of the school through the work of the PCI. All of the petals on the design are centered around the aspect of community engagement. “We are excited to engage in the work with the long-term goal of transparency and increased participatory governance campus-wide,” said Lindsey Ayotte, Academic Senate president and communications professor. “The conversations I have been a part of are looking at the past, and reimagining what a healthy campus climate can and should look like moving forward for students and employees.” The AS focuses on the philosophy related to all things education. They tend to discuss policies related to grading, curricula, and other development matters. Ayotte says the PCI meetings are in full force and have begun discussing many of the key issues related to campus. “My goal is to create a future for Skyline that is sustainable, that is created by the people, with the people, for the people that sustain, that’s democratic, that’s fair, that listens to people’s voices far after I’m gone,” Moreno said.
2
News
The Staff Editor-In-Chief Steven Rissotto News Editor Steven Rissotto Focal Point Editor Anoush Torounian Arts and Entertainment Editor daniela Ossa-Lopez Opinions Editor Zachary Navarra Sports Editor Izzy Herrera Chief Copy Editor Christian Carlo Ceguerra Photo Editor Ama Bayar Digital Editor Adriana Hernandez Social Media Editor Kassidy Corbin Staff Writers Isaac Camacho Armando Reynoso Faculty Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel
Want more news? www.theskylineview.com Or maybe you have news for us? (650)738-4302 Want to yell at us? theskylineview@gmail.com Or use snail mail: The Skyline View c/o Language Arts Room 8-8110 Skyline College 3300 College Drive
San Bruno CA 94066
The Skyline View is a First Amendment Publication. The Skyline View is published bi-weekly during the spring and fall semesters by the journalism students at Skyline College. The Skyline View is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writers and should not be interpreted as the views of Skyline College, SMCCCD, the faculty, administrators or the newspaper adviser. Additionally, the paper does not endorse any of the products or services advertised. The Skyline View welcomes Letters to the Editors; letters must include full name, address, and phone number for verification. The Skyline View reserves the right to edit letters for length, libel, clarity, and taste.
March 2 , 2022
Students react to changes with SAT
The student-run event was District-wide and held virtually By Steven Rissotto Editor-in-Chief
The Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) will be administered digitally to students in the U.S. beginning in 2024, the College Board announced on Jan. 25. The shift to online requires students to take the SAT on their own smart devices, desktops, or one issued by the College Board. Although the setup will be online, examiners will still be required to take the test at an authorized testing center. The test is expected to be shorter in time. According to the College Board, the not-for-profit organization launched its first test run with select international students and U.S. students as the examinee. Eighty percent of the students found the experience less stressful and 100% of educators enjoyed the trial run. The decision comes amid speculations about the future of the well-known type of standardized test, which many colleges rely on for test scores and admissions. As the evaluation process of students becomes less reliant on test-taking, many four-year college districts have already taken the step to modify or eliminate the SAT requirement. The California State University (CSU) system already suspended the necessity for undergraduate applicants to require standardized testing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the college district’s board of trustees voted to permanently abolish any standardized testing altogether.
Jordan Sweidan/The Skyline View
The shift to online requires students to take the SAT on their own smart devices and desktops.
“I took it at the start of senior year,” said Riley Choy, a Skyline College middle college student. “I didn’t study hard because I had planned on going to a UC school, and they weren’t counting it at the time.” Choy acknowledged that the switch to online standardized testing could raise the likelihood of cheating, or gaining answers from an outside source. Through all of it, he still believes colleges should be shifting their admission departments to focus on more personable aspects to a student’s track record: GPA, the difficulty of classes, and extracurricular activities. “I feel like the test puts a lot of stress on students when it could be avoided by abolishing it,” Choy said. Logan Chan, a senior at the
middle college, feels a similar way. After only taking the PSAT. the practice SAT, the idea of an online version of a standardized test feels convenient to him, yet useless. “The PSAT was stressful and my score was OK,” Chan said. “But I feel it didn’t really show anything. I’d just say don’t take it. The extracurricular activities and entrance essays are probably more important.” Some high school students have spent years dreading the idea of taking the SAT, as the nature of the test could be viewed as an all-or-nothing type of assessment for college acceptance hopes. Joseph Zuloaga, a high school junior in San Francisco, was relieved when he noticed the AP tests initially started to roll out online. He viewed it as a step in the right direction and a chance to take some pressure off without being barricad-
ed in a quiet space with 20 other students. Now with the SAT’s relevance seemingly plummeting, Zuloaga is calling for colleges to “prioritize” student transcripts and recommendations, two items he thinks depict an accurate summary of success. “For people of my age, we view the SAT as some bureaucratic, olden test that isn’t updated to modern times,” Zuloaga said. “With nearly 90% of schools making the test optional, it personally makes the SAT useless.” “Additionally, the nature of the SAT makes it seem as if your acceptance into college is all centered on this test and it could be nerve-wracking,” he followed.
County residents react to Tanforan mall closing
The decades-old venue will be transformed into a biotech campus, housing By: Christian Carlo Ceguerra Copy Editor
After 51 years of serving as a staple shopping destination in San Bruno, The Shops at Tanforan will soon close after it was bought by a Pasadena-based real estate developer. Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (ARE) from Los Angeles envisions turning the 44-acre lot into a biotech campus and housing units. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the Bay Area to be a “bright spot” in the biotech industry as the region’s a great source of graduates of “well-educated graduates and research opportunities from UC Berkeley, Stanford and UCSF.” The Peninsula Museum of Art exhibits artworks curated by students from the San Francisco School and pieces donated to the organization inside the mall since May. Volunteer art ambassadors Vivian Walz and Billy Kaktis said that rumors of the mall closing have been on the air for a while now. “It’s not surprising because we’ve seen the way that malls have been going with online shopping becoming such a dominant way to purchase,” Walz said. “And, of course, we’ve seen the decline of shopping in general over the course of COVID-19.” “It’s more like confirming speculation,” Kaktis said. “I heard about it like, three or four months
Christian Carlo Ceguerra/The Skyline View
Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. officially owns The Shop at Tanforan’s retail space and food court.
ago, and I’ve been kind of talking to people here in the mall.” Over the summer, San Bruno rolled out its redevelopment plan to revitalize “Tanforan as a modern, mixed-use development that includes office, hotel, retail, entertainment, and housing. Former Skyline student Bella Cortezzo works at one of the retail stores in the mall. She said that she was aware of the rumors through the years, but working at the establishment and witnessing other stores close only confirmed her suspicion. Cortezzo described Tanforan to be a “dead mall,” as it struggled against its competitors like Serramonte Center at Daly City and Hillsdale Shopping Center at San Mateo. “I feel like people only come to Tanforan for Target, the movies and Barnes and Nobles,” Cortezzo said.
Business management student Andrew Jimenez felt a “bittersweet” ending with the mall’s denouement after learning that it was bought. “I used to hang out there with my friends after school on Fridays, get some food, watch a movie, go home,” Jimenez said. “It’s kind of sad seeing that kids won’t get to experience that similar experience.” Aside from being sentimental, San Mateo County residents are also concerned about how the redevelopment might gentrify San Bruno as a whole. Cortezzo said that changes might affect people who commute using public transportation. The Shops at Tanforan serves as a convenient stop and nearby transfer point for different transportation systems like SamTrans buses, CalTrain, BART and the San Francisco Airport (SFO). Skyline College custodian Israel Angeles expressed his opinions on the development of housing units at
the estate. “I’m afraid of all the apartments, they didn’t want to build any more like single-family houses,” Angeles said. “My concern is about the rent. People, they can’t afford.” The property was bought for a total of $328.5 million, broken down into three transactions, as reported by The Mercury News. Alexandria first acquired the JCPenny sector, followed by the Sears’ and the mall’s galleria. Before buying the San Bruno Mall, Alexandria also purchased properties from Menlo Park and Palo Alto. The mall historically served as an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II. Recently, the Tanforan Assembly Center Memorial Committee is set to construct a memorial plaza outside San Bruno BART station, with a bronze statue in honor of two girls who were imprisoned at that time. The assembly committee, together with the Contra Costa Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), sponsored a photo exhibit inside the same station, documenting the internment of Japanese Americans through the lens of renowned photojournalists Dorothea Lange and Paul Kitagaki Jr. The bronze statue of the memorial plaza was based on one of Lange’s photographs. Their works have been displayed since April 2012.
3
Opinions
March 2, 2022 Feb. 24, 2021
Editorial
Skyline needs to support Ukranian students As current events unfold, we should show solididarity with Ukranians Over the past week, our community has been all eyes and ears as Russian forces invade Ukraine, causing heightened tensions across the world. Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine is both unreasonable and irresponsible. The pretext for this invasion is predicated on lies and the desire for conquest. With reports that the Russian government is indiscriminately bombing civilian and military centers throughout Ukraine, it is clear that the world cannot stand by idly. While Americans might not be the perfect messengers, wars of aggression and blind greed have no place in the 21st century. The Skyline View stands with Ukrainian students and believes our school and the surrounding community should do everything possible to help during these hard and difficult times. One such action of solidarity would be to publicize drop-in sessions with school counselors to help navigate students through distress. For those looking to send financial relief, NPR has compiled a list of organizations where donations will go to support Ukraine that can
Adriana Hernandez/The Skyline View
Peace in Ukraine would be the besy scenario to resolve the current conflict.
be found here: Want to support the people in Ukraine? Here’s how you can help. During this time of great stress and uncertainty, we must remember that Russian Americans and Russian international students are not responsible for the actions of the Russian government. It is important to remember that the students who
attend Skyline have no say in and may not even support the actions taken by Russia. Our community should resist the calls made by some lawmakers, Eric Swalwell being one, designed to punish innocent students. We do not need to look far back into our history to see the dark stain demonizing ethnic groups based off of the
The fatal flaws with colorism in Hispanic communities
actions foriegn adversaries leaves on our country. From cruelly persecuting Middle Eastern Americans after the fallout of 9/11 to the inhumanity of Japanese internment camps, our country has repeatedly chosen to frame Americans as other, as the enemy. We should learn from our failures and focus our anger at the
Russian government, not American citizens. Our collective goal should be relief and support, this is what our community should stand behind. The Skyline View editorial has no byline because it is the voice of TSV’s edditorial staff.
The self-installment of colorism harms the Hispanic community
Zachary Navarra/The Skyline View
We should avoid a future that highlights virtual reality and the metaverse.
The metaverse will lead to a dystopian future
By Zachary Navarra Opinions editor
Adriana Hernandez/The Skyline View
A woman self-reflects on her own insecurities that aren’t accepted in society.
By Adriana Hernandez Digital editor
Colorism in the Hispanic community is why racism isn’t going to end at any point. We want the Hispanic community to be united but it never will be if the discrimination within us never is spoken of. Communities of color have pushed racism within themselves by changing their appearance to please others or to get better opportunities. When coming to America many often change their given name to fit standards and survive in certain situations, along with bringing the culture of skin whitening to the states to push on to others. There are many advantages to being light-skinned, which is why so many aims to get fairer. The goal is to pass the look of being “American” since being dark-skinned isn’t accepted. The concept of whitewashing is rooted in racism and is meant to erase cultures and ethnicities. Yet we have also pushed this upon ourselves in the way we view paler skin tones as more successful with more opportunities in
America. Being light-skinned is a privilege to assimilate; whiteness is a luxury of survival. Sometimes you are recognized for being a person of color, but you are considered the acceptable kind because you look more similar to what an “American” is supposed to look like: white. Many may feel like true citizens after these types of positive encounters and use this validation to put others from their own communities down. Many immigrants come to the United States with the customs of using creams to keep your skin pale. So when a child turns out to be darker than their siblings, they are prone to be treated differently. Children with lighter skin usually are seen as better, smarter and more presentable. While if you’re the darkest in this circumstance, you’re seen as dirty or slow. Seeing how much better life is when your paler is convincingly enough to go through certain treatments to “fix” your appearance. Throughout the years having a paler skin color has been the
ideal look in many parts of the world. As seen on Hispanic television shows, they mostly cast Hispanics with paler tones. When a dark-skinned person is cast, they are portrayed as ugly, dumb or have the role of side character. In many Latin American countries, we use nicknames like “blanca” or “negra’’ that we have convinced ourselves are terms of endearment when in fact, it separates you from others. Some go as far as getting with a person who is lighter than you so your children will have a high possibility of being lightskinned. These are customs that will continue to grow colorism in Hispanic communities. There is this facade that Hispanics can’t be racists since they are the oppressed. Many want to be identified as white so bad that they look down on darker skinned people. The standards we have installed upon ourselves have mentally enslaved us. This is why we must have a conversation about why we place importance on physical standards reinforcing colorism.
As our knowledge and capabilities continue to grow, we will continue to reach new frontiers in the world of technology. The question is not can we do something; I believe if it can be dreamed it can be made possible. The question is should we cross into the new frontier? Should we cross into the metaverse? The answer is no. We cannot use the virtual world to escape from the realities of our own. We should not subjugate future generations to fake lives filled with fake experiences. We must refuse to allow a corporation to control and monitor our every interaction we have with each other. While it may be enticing to escape the horrors of our world and the difficulties of our everyday lives, the solution should not be to run away to the online world. The problems we have will not just go away, ignoring them will only make things worse. Wealth inequality will still exist, rising prices will still exist, deaths of despair will continue to rise. Hiding online does nothing to stop any of it. If anything, it delays the action we need to take to address the problems in our society. Much is said about younger generations being glued to their phones, missing the wonders of playing outdoors as a child. The metaverse is a giant leap in the wrong direction, one
with horrible potential consequences for America’s youth. Future generations will be at risk of destroying their eyes with constant virtual immersion, increased obesity from lack of exercise and may face increased levels of depression from spending their whole lives online. Besides the potential depression, children will be missing out on experiences the rest of us enjoyed and disdained. We need to protect their health and well-being along with their potential life experiences. The experiences children are not the only ones we should be worried about, the prospect of corporations watching our every move should be concerning if not downright terrifying. It can be argued that big tech corporations have too much insight and control over our lives as is, imagine how bad this could get if we spend our entire day locked into a virtual reality set. This isn’t a far-fetched concept, the metaverse has been marketed as a place to hold office meetings and hang out with friends. Everything we say, everything we do, will be monitored and monetized. We should not consent to this blatant violation of our civil liberties. If it is true that we get to choose our own futures, we should choose one that is centered in the real world. We should choose one that steers clear of a dystopian future spent in the metaverse.
4
Opinions
March 2, 2022
Artistic License
The view from here: Back at last
By Steven Rissotto editor-in-chief
Kassidy Corbin/The Skyline View
Vote yes on an $18 mininum wage.
California needs an $18 minimum wage
By Zachary Navarra Opinions editor
In 2016 California led the way in the fight for 15. Now we have the chance to take a new step forward in the fight for a living wage. Joe Sanberg is leading the way on a new ballot initiative that could reach the voting booth in the upcoming November election. The Living Wage Act of 2022 would increase the minimum wage by $1 per hour each year until 2025 for businesses with 26 employees or more and 2026 for businesses with 25 employees or less. The end result will be a minimum wage of $18 per hour. This type of initiative will be invaluable for the residents of San Mateo County who are burdened with high costs of living that render $15 per hour inadequate. If you were willing to support a $15 minimum wage six years ago, I see no reason why you would oppose a $3 increase set for the next three years. The truth is, the majority of arguments in favor of a $15 minimum wage apply to an $18 minimum wage as well. The bottom-up framework for the economy the state has championed can only be improved upon by increasing the minimum wage. The minimum wage expansion is necessary for the students and community members of Skyline College who live in the county. Raising wages will allow community members to survive the increasing rent, higher costs of groceries and ever-growing personal debt. If our county wants to create an affordable future for the generations to come, this action must be taken. Without it, young adults will move elsewhere as established community members get priced out of their homes. The neighborhoods we see today will cease to exist without an increase in the minimum wage. While some may fear the policy will hurt small businesses and lead to job loss, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. By raising the minimum wage, you are raising the incomes of everyday consumers who will go out and buy more products. When consumers buy more products, small businesses will reap increased profits that can be used to support their workers’ raised wages. What is especially important about the Living Wage Act of 2022 is that it staggers the minimum wage increase, so large businesses will have to raise wages one year before small businesses do. This means that over half of California’s workforce will be able to consume more without raising the costs on small businesses. This will increase profits allowing for a smooth transition when small businesses do have to raise wages for their employees. If we were willing to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, we should be willing to raise it to $18 per hour. After all, if the minimum wage kept up with productivity as it had for the first three decades of its existence, it would be $24 per hour. An $18 living wage is an important step towards ending wealth inequality in our county. It is a step we should all be able to unify behind.
Democracy dies in darkness
Elected officials fail democracy when they fail to vote on legislation By Zachary Navarra Opinions editor
The motto of The Washington Post holds true today: when the American people lack insight and information into the political system they lack any true ability to vote in their best interests. How can citizens make informed decisions at the ballot box when there is no information to draw from? This question must be posed anytime a legislative body refuses to vote on legislation – tabling it instead. It must be posed now in the aftermath of California State Assemblymember Ash Kalra’s decision to table the universal healthcare bill dubbed CalCare. Kalra is the author of AB 1400, CalCare, and his decision to table the bill is understandable but ultimately misguided. The calculation was made that more harm would come to the bill if it was voted down, giving the impression that it was unpassable. With CalCare tabled, the voters now have close to no information on which representatives supported and opposed the piece of legislation. When Californians go to the polls this June, they will not be able to oust officials who voted in a way they disagreed with. Supporters of universal healthcare, which there are many in the Golden State, will not have the ability to target the
Kassidy Corbin/The Skyline View
Vote yes on an $18 mininum wage.
bill’s opponents because they do not have that information. On the flip side, voters who oppose universal healthcare are deprived of that information as well. San Mateo County is lucky that we have some data that reveals how our representatives think on the issue. Josh Becker, the state senator for District 13, was a co-author of AB 1400. Kevin Mullin, speaker pro tempore of the Assembly and state representative for District 22, voted in favor of moving the bill through the appropriations committee. While we are lucky to have any information at all, neither actions are equivalent to the ironclad position of voting for or against CalCare in the assembly. Regardless of their true intentions, our representatives will have the luxury of saying they support CalCare without having to actually take the vote.
In addition to being unable to judge the actions of our representatives, it becomes harder to evaluate Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stance on universal healthcare. The governor has previously expressed his support for a universal healthcare system but has shied away from it of late. A high-profile vote in the California legislature could have been an opportunity for Newsom to show voters his commitment to the policy he supported while running for office. Now voters are left wondering where he stands and how much effort he would have put into getting the policy passed. If the bill truly was doomed to fail, Newsom should have taken responsibility for it not passing. He should have to take responsibility for not fulfilling a campaign promise. The ability for any legislative body to punt off important issues undermines the reasons we elect officials in the first place. While representatives have many jobs, voting on legislation is supposed to be their main duty. We cannot allow our representatives to hide from tough votes. It is our duty to pressure the politicians to do more than just take a stance. They must be pressured to act. They must be pressured to vote. After all, democracy dies in darkness.
The return to in-person classes at Skyline College is finally here and it’s a very welcoming sight. The classroom energy trumps anything Zoom could offer and the face-toface interaction has reignited the fire back into my social life. It’s the productivity that has rejuvenated my daily routine, which has looked bleak since COVID-19 tried to abolish it in March 2020. I’m setting my alarm in the morning, a task that I consider exciting for the time being. My adrenaline builds up during the course of my short 15-minute drive from my home in Pacifica with excitement brewing as I make the right turn into campus. Even the process of sitting at a desk — a function my body hasn’t performed in almost two years — has been an enlightening experience based on nostalgia alone. Should I plop myself close to the front of the classroom? Do I have an obligation to play cool toward the back? The constant mind games will take a long time to control. I have been reporting on Skyline for three semesters from the friendly confines of my overly crowded room. As a journalist, I feel an obligation to tell stories that could make a strong impact on the community. Taking classes online and away from all the action was isolating and seriously made reporting twenty times harder. That issue has dissolved. The chatter and buzz about the lively campus atmosphere was always alluded to by the folks that have witnessed it first hand. Since we’ve been back, I’ve been most impressed with the activities staged at the outside venues. The main student stomping ground, dubbed “the Quad,” has already hosted a few events with some student turnout. Despite many students still conducting their studies online, the sight of back and forth traveling at the Quad is an intriguing bright spot in the return to campus. That area hasn’t even reached the peak of its powers yet; there will only be more traffic coming. People — faculty and students alike — appear to be acclimating, despite the continued chaos happening in the outside world. Over the previous few semesters, Skyline experienced a long layover of bareness with minimal to no sign of physical students anywhere. Now that we’re finally back, the beauty and gleam of the campus displays minimal rust or decay. It’s good to be back.
Americans should not be deifying their favorite former and current presidents Americans should stop viewing our presidents as divine but as real people with real flaws By Zachary Navarra Opinions editor
The Founding Fathers, early presidents and major figures in American political history do not deserve deification of their memories. George Washington was not a man greater than life nor was any other U.S. president. This is not to say they are not vitally important to American history nor that they did no good. However, they were just men, influential men, but at their roots they were not unlike any of us. They had their moments to be proud of but they were also very flawed individuals. If Americans stopped deifying presidents, they may find that the left-right battle lines would start to break down. We may find that polit-
ical tribalism will start to decline if we can accept our leaders’ flaws and recognize others’ triumphs. It may have been said a thousand times before but it is important to bring up again that President George Washington, along with 12 other former United States presidents, owned slaves at one point in their life. Our Founding Fathers were deeply flawed men. The former president’s accomplishments should still be taught and praised, but the men themselves should not be lionized. It is important that Washington is recognized for setting the precedent that presidents should only serve two terms as it became instrumental in ensuring the presidency would not become a monarchy under a different name.
Washington is just a man like everyone else, and he deserves to be looked at in his entirety. Every action he took should be viewed on its own merrit; setting up presidential norms does not take away the evils of owning slaves just as owning slaves does not take away the greatness of the presidential norms he set. This thinking can and should be applied to all American presidents, especially the heroes of the major modern political parties. President Franklin D. Roosevelt is rightly recognized for his New Deal programs that helped millions of Americans. Democrats who favor him should also be able to call out how those programs were not accessible to non-white Americans or that he is responsible for Japanese internment
camps. If we apply this to modern presidents, we can potentially draw down the tensions we see in our everyday life. If Republicans were able to praise Biden for leaving Afghanistan, something Trump had wanted to do, the harsh rhetoric may slow down. If Democrats were able to praise Trump for correctly calling out the problems with globalization, common ground could be found. I am not saying we have to ignore one side’s negatives or act as if we view each party as equal. However, if we can stop treating our leaders like supreme beings that we fall in line with, we might be able to find more common ground with each other. Our leaders are just men. They are not gods.
5
Features
March 2, 2022
Black Student Union recognizes Black History Month February is a time for reflection and solidarity for the Black Student Union
By Adriana Hernandez Digital Editor
to show their support towards the Black community, but the BSU believes that there is more to recognize. “It’s as if slavery is the only thing that Black people have gone through or represent,” Muhammad said. “We have so many important people, figures, or events in the Black community to just reduce it to slavery.” Muhammad believes that the Black community doesn’t get a high platform like white people. Schools add to this situation by not keeping their history books up to date. “Many educators still teach a colonized curriculum,” said Brianna Clay, BSU advisor and a TRiO counselor. “All the history that has
Every February, the Black Student Union (BSU) leads to unite students together to commemorate Black History Month. The BSU is a club that brings students togetwher through cultural enrichment and empowering self-advocacy through African Diaspora. They are open to students of all races and backgrounds, and they have created a safe space for Skyline’s Black students by emphasizing that they are not a monolith. This year’s theme is “Health and Wellness,” trying to decenter attention around Black trauma like slavery. “I feel like if you’re a Black
that the colonized curriculum has created. The BSU aims to recruit more African American students to keep them connected with resources and engaged with others as much as possible. Even though February is coming to an end, the BSU will continue to acknowledge Black students after Black History Month. “Just because February is over, the grind doesn’t stop nor does the history stop,” Clay said. “We will continue to voice our opinions and work together.” As the Black Student Union does its part to create inclusivity within the campus, Clay would like to know what the college district plans to recruit more African
“Many educators still teach a colonized curriculum” - Brianna Clay person seeing all these events centered in your own trauma, it is really triggering,” said Aryssa Muhammad, vice president of the BSU. “Constantly seeing that the only thing people have to say about Black History Month is slavery is demeaning.” A lot of people share awareness about the history of slavery
been left out leaves us with watered-down information that only scratches the surface of what happened back in the day, but not all the facts are incorporated into our history books.” An Ethnic Studies requirement was established for students to be eligible for graduation, which shows progress from the ignorance
American students. For her, there has been a lack of acknowledgement for Black students on campus. The BSU has been coordinating events throughout February partnering with other clubs like TRiO and Women’s Mentoring and Leadership Academy (WMLA). Some events include the “African
Kassidy Corbin/The Skyline View
February is Health and Wellness month at BSU
American Student Welcome Back through Zoom.” They’ve created open conversations to allow students to share experiences and ideas to make their voices heard. Even after their February events, the Black Student Union will continue to meet bi-weekly on Fridays at 3 p.m. Member Caroline Cotton considers it a privilege to be part of the student union. Cotton shared how she feels pressure to uphold a certain image since, no matter the setting where she is the only Black person in the room, she becomes the representative for the entire Black community. The BSU has become an outlet for her and many other members.
“I feel a sense of community and genuine love from the BSU,” Cotton said. “I know if I feel the need to share something positive in my personal or academic life, the BSU is a safe space to share.” The BSU has brought together a diverse community to an open space to share talents, experiences, and opinions. They united people who are relatable and who wthey can look up to. “We wear many hats in our homes and on campus but what brings us together is that we all share the Black experience in America,” Cotton said. “I see so much Black excellence in the BSU, it makes me proud.”
What do Skyline students like to order at the café?
Caitlin Esteban (left) - Soy Chai Arianne Sturtevanf (right) - Vanilla latte
Chris Dabit - Macchiato
Marina Gasparini Chai Tea
Jaycer Pidlaon - Hot Chocolate
Lexus Bisland - Vanilla Latte Photos by Ama Bayar
6
Features
March 2, 2022
Skyline weighs on the reliability of RateMyProfessors
Skyline students and faculty express how much credence they give to the review site
What it takes to be a good reviewer
Many students view RateMyProfessors as an important tool in selecting classes
Courtesy of ratemyprofessors.com
“Any number of things can go wrong in a course, so it’s a website I think that people should sort of temper their reliance on because it’s very difficult for it to be anywhere near accurate” - Tony Jackson By Christian Carlo Ceguerra Copy Editor
When the registration period starts, middle college student Riley Choy said that he always looks up professors to choose for enrollment. Aside from asking his peers about the class and the instructor, he also checks their ratings at RateMyProfessors. “I always go in with an open mind about the professor,” Choy said. “I don’t think the ratings are necessarily an accurate reflection of them, but they are something that I can base something off.” Choy believes that professors are likely to get higher ratings if they are friendly, have open availability for office hours, and respond to email efficiently. On the contrary, he believes that professors are likely to get lower ratings if they have unclear grading scales and don’t offer adequate support to students. Nevertheless, Choy’s perspective believes that the website could potentially be misleading, no matter how positive or negative a rating
could be. “People could have a different account of how they view their professor based on how good of a student they were, or maybe the student remembers an account of when the teacher was having a bad day,” Choy said. Over the years, RateMyProfessors.com has been an online destination for students to see public reviews of educational institutions and to learn the
esting to read than the positive reviews, and students can have a very different experience in the same class.” Based on the reviews, Jackson is described to be a tough grader and provides a lot of readings in lectures. For him, this is something he takes on seriously, especially in teaching psychology. “Reading is very, very important; to be able to integrate the material is very, very im-
sors had a “chili pepper pepper” that measures the “hotness” of a professor. “To me, when [attractiveness] is a factor in whether or not you’re recommending a professor, that’s not a legitimate reason to take someone’s class,” Gibson said. “It should be, ‘Are they good at teaching?’ ‘Do they know the content?’ ‘Do they support their students,’ but whether or not they’re attractive, based on anonymous users,
Choy believes that professors are likley to get higher ratings if they are friendly, have open availability for office hours, and respond to emails efficiently. educators’ teaching style.. With the website allowing users to leave anonymous reviews, having no sort of identification is potentially harmful, especially for professors who are left to deal with reviews that pile and curb their reputation. In the eyes of the faculty
Psychology professor Dr. Tony Jackson has been teaching for 27 years at Skyline College. Over the years, he comes to acknowledge how he gets unfavorable ratings from users on the website. For him, his 2.2 RateMyProfessors overall quality score has never curbed his enthusiasm for teaching and supporting students. “Any number of things can go wrong in a course, so it’s a website I think that people should sort of temper their reliance on because it’s very difficult for it to be anywhere near accurate,” said Jackson Adriana Hernandez/The Skyline View “… I think some of the negative reviews are much more interRating are scored from 1 to 5
portant.,” Jackson said. “Clinically, you’re working with human beings, and you want to take the research and apply it to human beings.” He also stressed that college is different from high school. “In college, a student should probably read more than they have read in their lives,” Jackson said. RateMyProfessors, a platform for biases Jackson believes that the website is biased and does not accurately reflect teachers’ quality of instruction. Language Arts Division Dean Chris Gibson agreed and explained how the website is superficial. Until the feature was taken down in 2018, RateMyProfes-
is a very flawed way of evaluating someone.” “First of all, it’s superficial, and it’s objectifying. So, it’s probably a problem in many ways,” Gibson followed. Gibson worked part of the language arts division as an English faculty for 16 years before he was promoted as the permanent division dean in July 2019. His previous experience has made him aware of RateMyProfessors and guided him on what he could change in his classroom. According to Gibson, the district is bound to follow a faculty union contract that covers faculty evaluation procedures, timelines, forms, and surveys that were agreed upon. RateMyProfessors is not included in the said contract.
“I don’t use it at all in evaluating faculty because I have to make sure that I’m following the contract,” Gibson said. “And so, if I’m starting to use something that’s outside of the contract, and that might influence my perception, it’s not fair to the faculty.” Public perception through RateMyProfessors could also be dependent on a person’s biases. For Jackson, he believes that users have been unfair in giving ratings to Black professors at the college. “...Years ago, I looked up professors at Skyline who were African American, and the interesting thing was that all of us had a mean a large share of negative RateMyProfessors reviews, whether it was warranted or not,” Jackson said, who is also involved with the African-American Success Through Excellence and Persistence (ASTEP) Learning Community at the college. “... There’s room for racial bias to come into play.” Computer science student Gene Orias isn’t aware of the website, and he claims he’s never used the website in choosing classes. He utilizes word of mouth and recommendation of his peers, and he prioritizes the flexibility and time schedule of the class. “I’m pretty sure [reviewers are] pretty biased to the experience they had with the professor…” Orias said. Students tend to feel jaded in registering classes with a professor who has negative reviews from the website. But for Jackson, he is optimistic that by the time the students get to know him, and he gets to know them, the students would find that the reviews inaccurate.This happened to allied health student Stephanie Munoz Martin, who learned about RateMyProfessors through her sister. “It makes me more anxious before I start the class, because I go in thinking, or having all these negative comments in mind about the professor,” Martin confessed. Martin shared a time when she enrolled in a class where a professor had great reviews, but she ended up struggling in the class. Not disclosing the instructor, she did admit that it was mainly because of the topic and rather than the teaching style. Both faculty and students have something to say to people who tend to leave reviews on the website, but one thing remains constant. “For me, it’s not that different from just my normal way of looking at the world,” Gibson said. “Be honest and be ethical. Tell the truth.”
“It makes me more anxious before I start the class, because I go in thinking, or having all these negative comments in mind about the professor” - Stephanie Munoz Martin
7
Features
March 2, 2022
Skyline students reveal their skincare routines
Skincare is a vital mechanism through which students of all demographics express self care.
Kassidy Corbin/The Skyline View
Many couples are enjoying the act of watching romantic comedies.
Romantic comedies set a high bar for relationships Students are noticing the unrealistic features of the popular entertainment genre
By Adriana Hernandez Digital EditoR
skincare industry to evolve and go green. “(Sustainability) has gotten more important the older I get,” Valencia said. “70% or 80% of my products are either from Lush, which is vegan or vegetarian or cruelty-free… I want to try to reduce my footprint and use products that don’t cause any more landfill.” While some products do justice to both the skin and the environment, others do the opposite. “I think most girls who do skincare would use the St. Ives Apricot Scrub that will just make you break out,” Ruderman said forebodingly. “Don’t even go near it. Don’t even look at it.” Before the MicrobeadFree Waters Act of 2015, this scrub contained harsh microplastics that polluted the ocean and created harsh abrasions in the skin. St.
Anoush Torounian/The Skyline View
Ives has since switched to a walnut-based formula, which dermatologists suggest also may cause microtears. A product that resulted in a similar effect was the Neutrogena grapefruit cleanser, which Valencia swears against. “The second that I put it on, I was like ‘Oh! This feels great,’ and then it completely burned my skin” Valencia said. “I have no idea what was in there, but I started to stray away from skincare products that might not be good for people with acne skin.” An ingredient that has been hailed by users as a great fit for
However, he warns against the overuse of any product. “My experience with overuse is that facial products can be kind of acidic and take away some of the layers of your skin,” Landas said. “Using them too frequently can damage your skin because it’s a constant application of a foreign substance.” In moderation, skincare is a hygiene tool that should be accessible and normalized universally. Unfortunately, many skincare products are marketed towards women. When asked why men are excluded from the pervading skincare narrative, Ruderman Skincare is often a staple in students’ morning routines
Longing to be the girl whom people write poems about, Skyline College student Maggie Macalisang has raised their standards because of romantic comedies. “I feel like a hopeless romantic because I’ll see all of these love gestures in movies,” said Macalisang, who has had past relationships. “But in real life, I’m just disappointed in how men are these days. I want that love but I know it’s not going to happen.” Many people compare their love experiences to those special moments in movies. From 2020 to 2021, romantic comedies have sold around an average of 573,659 tickets, according to The Numbers, a website that shows box office history on movies. “In my lifetime, I’ve watched around 30 or more,” Macalisang said. ”Rom-coms are my favorite genre. It really sets standards super high, but I know in my head it’s not real.” Hopeless romantics develop unrealistic expectations due to the influence of media. There are moments where people wish for something staged on TV. “It sets my bar really high,” Macalisang said. “If I were ever to be in a relationship, I would notice the little things, like opening the door or holding hands, which are most pointed out in romantic comedies.” Rom coms usually show the journey of two people who may or may not be ready for a relationship but depict them as “the one” for one another. Tania Tam, a psychology professor at Skyline College, believes that the idea of “the one” is misleading. Movies usually begin when someone who doesn’t want to be in a relationship meets a special person and changes then lives happily ever after. “If someone doesn’t want to be in a relationship, they may have attachment issues and not be someone who is good at relationships,” Tam said. “Falling in love is less about finding a special person and more about your own atftachment style.” Romantic comedies are known for their cliches like love at first sight or the idea of soulmates, fate, or “the one.” People are left to ponder if they have experienced some themselves or made someone else experience them. “Every time I would watch romcom, I would sometimes copy how they interact with each other,” said Vincent Patrick Llamas, a student at Skyline who has made it out of
the friend zone with his high school crush. “I always wanted a relationship like that, and now that I have a girlfriend, I’ve been doing it. When I am with my girlfriend, I feel like I’m in my own movie. Every situation I’m in, I feel like it’s one of those special scenes or moments.” When reflecting on their love life, many ask themselves if they are doing everything right since movies portray love as a monolith. “Some people aren’t that romantic and rom-com make you question like ‘oh, why is this person not doing this to me’ or ‘ Why can’t he make an effort like that for me?’“ Lamas said. “But not everyone has the same kind of love for each other due to having different love languages.” There are five love languages: words of affirmation, physical touch, receiving gifts, quality time, and acts of service developed by Dr. Gray Chapman. Each effects people differently. Romantic comedies only show certain love languages. “Rom-coms communicate the fact that love exists but could be confusing to people who are inclined to more of a different idea of what love is,” said Shanon Maguey, a student at Skyline who has never been in a relationship. One of the most showcased love languages in romantic comedies is receiving gifts and words of affirmation. “A man buying a woman flowers, serenading her, buying her gifts and saying ‘I love you,’” said Tam. “These are superficial aspects of love but can form unnecessary expectations. Real healthy relationships involve more mundane and less showy things that involve acceptance and compromise.” One thing romantic comedies have in common is that the bad aspects of relationships, like breakups or miscommunication, are romanticized. It causes viewers to believe that after a toxic relationship they will go back together and everything will be solved. “I didn’t know that it’s physically painful to go through heartbreak,” said Maguey. “They always show in movies that they are don’t hurt as bad as they do. You’ve spent your time with this person and regardless of whether they were a good partner, it’s still going to hurt because you gave them your time, energy, and love.” Romantic relationships can’t be perfect as they are depicted in movies. Understanding the false expectations depicted helps create happier moments and heightened appreciation for your partner.
By Anoush Torounian Features EditoR Endless shelves of pillowy creams inside delicate curvilinear bottles, replete racks of elegantly packaged sheet masks, enticing colors, textures and aromas drawing in the impressionable consumer — navigating the arena of skincare can be confusing and tedious. With so many options, choice overload is expected. Through trial and error, Skyline student Faith Valencia has found a skincare routine that works for them. “Usually in the morning I start off with a face mask, either ‘Mask of Magnaminty’ by Lush or ‘Fresh’ products from Sephora,” said Valencia. “I wash off the mask after 10 or 15 minutes, and I start to use my cleanser, ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ by Lush.” Valencia understands that the skin is the largest organ of the body, so keeping it soft, fresh and hydrated is an important step in their routine. “After I do my cleansing, I moisturize my face since I just stripped it of a bunch of stuff. I’ll use a hyaluronic acid caffeine solution by the Ordinary for my under eyebags, and then I’ll apply a toner,” Valencia said. “From there, I apply my makeup routine.” Alternatively, Joshua Landas likes to keep his routine simple yet consistent. “My skincare routine just goes along with my daily showers,” said Landas. “When I go into the shower, I’ll probably use a facial soap, wash my face and all that. It’s a bit basic and simple, nothing too complex.” Communications major Atara Ruderman aims to strike a balance between an elaborate and straightforward skincare routine. “I usually just take my makeup off with this reusable pad,” said Ruderman. “Then, I wash my face with whatever cleanser I have and put on some moisturizer and
responded matter-of-factly. “Same reason makeup is, same reason tight-fitting clothes or revealing clothes are. It’s just because women are supposed to be this ideal version of themselves that doesn’t even exist,” Ruderman said. “But men just don’t have the same standards.” As with Ruderman, Valencia combats the pervading idea that skincare is vain and a solely feminine activity.
“It feels nice to treat yourself. It feels good to take care of yourself in simple ways” Faith Valencia sometimes Vaseline under my eyes. That’s about it.” As the steady movement towards sustainability grows, consumers are increasingly vying for products that reduce their footprint, like Ruderman’s reusable makeup removing pad. Valencia has undergone this shift in priorities that is putting pressure on the
acne-prone skin is witch hazel, which Landas recommends. “When I apply it to my face, it wipes away all the dirt or whatever I had from the day,” Landas said. “I’d use those mostly at night with a cotton swab or something. After using it, my face would feel wet, but at the same time would feel lighter.”
“It’s seen as really girly to take care of yourself, but it shouldn’t be,” Valencia said. “Even with my own boyfriend, I convinced him to start liking skincare because he believed (skincare) was hurting his masculinity in a way. It feels nice to treat yourself. It feels good to take care of yourself in simple ways.”
3
Arts and Entertainment
March 2, 2022
What are the students currently watching?
Students reflect on their current content viewing habits
Victory” on Netflix. “My favorite genre is military non-fiction, whether it be documentaries, podcasts or videos,” Mariano-Smith said. “I do this to understand the mindset needed to face the unknown and how to reach our full potential.” To gather different perspectives on world news, Mariano-Smith browses through YouTube and Reddit to track down the latest headlines. Along with military-based podcasts like “The Team House” and “Jocko Podcast,” he frequently mixes in his passion for climate change for even more brain fuel. The bottom line is that TV shows are more accessible than ever, and more people are watching the same types of series like never before. As word spreads, a seed is planted to grow a trend. With social media live-tweeting as powerful as it is, the trend of TV show recommendations only grows. As a result, Skyline students will continue to keep up with the popular trends but also pivot their way to expand their knowledge.
By Steven Rissotto. Editor-in-Chief
From Netflix to YouTube, Skyline is feeding their mind with intrigue. Choosing a television series has never been easier. The blueprint used to revolve around a couch, a remote control, maybe a few pillows and blankets and a high-quality flat-screen TV. Even the TV guide — oh, the nostalgia of flipping through those pages every week — has slowly found its way into the rearview mirror of millions of Americans in recent years. Plain and simple: it was the traditional way of watching audio-video content even after streaming services started, creating big splashes in the entertainment industry. Fast forward to the current happenings: television series could be viewed on a laptop at work, or even a cellphone while waiting for the endless BART excursion to conclude. More streaming services have created more options for viewers. Whether it’s the old and reliable leaders, Netflix and Hulu, or fast-rising newbies, Disney+ and Peacock, there is always something for everyone. As of May 2020, 70% of subscribed members of streaming services were in the 18-34 age group. The assumption is that the number grew significantly because of the bonus free time opened up by COVID-19. For many, keeping up with the latest entertainment trends is a priority. Jackson Henley, a student studying kinesiology and nutrition at Skyline, is currently rewatch-
Mark Magat
Netflix has the largest subscriber count among streaming services. Over 600 accounts are currently active in the United states itself.
ing “Ozark,” a Netflix original series centered around a financial advisor’s association with the Mexican drug cartel. He describes the show as being “crazy.” “I’m a fan of character development,” Henley said. “So, I like seeing how they interact with each other. The drama genre is pretty captivating to me.” Drama has a way of gluing the viewer tightly to their seat. HBO’s
“Euphoria” has taken center stage in the last three years and has grown extensively, becoming one of the most popular shows currently running. Although scenes can be excessive — nudity and sexual scenes galore — the show has been praised significantly by critics in a generally positive light. Jonathan Mariano-Smith takes a similar, yet very different ap-
proach to watching content. There’s no doubt that recent global events have shifted the focus of many in the United States, Mariano-Smith included. After Russia invaded Ukraine, he began diving into shows that would further educate him on the many different angles of world news. To understand the brutality of the last world war, he recently watched “WWII in Color: Road to
“My favorite genre is military non-fiction, whether it be documentaries, podcasts or videos,” Mariano-Smith said. “I do this to understand the mindset needed to face the unknown and how to reach our full potential.”
Instagram is bombarding their users with advertisements
Instagram has a new update and here is what you need to know about it By Daniela Ossa Lopez. Arts and Entertainment Editor
Ama Bayar/The Skyline View
Instagram user, trying to hide adds.
Last week, while I was looking into my friend’s Instagram stories, I realized that ads keep popping up for every two stories I swiped into. The first days weren’t that annoying but now I started to feel like Instagram has been advertising more than actually allowing me to see what my friends are up to. Users on
Twitter haven’t been pleased about it. Some users stated that they deleted the app after “feeling like a product that Instagram is selling to companies,” and they are not far from reality. It looks like Instagram is losing its purpose instead of being a fun and free social app. Now, they are shoving ads on your face. I don’t mind seeing ads now and then, but the amount of ads they are doing is ridiculous, plus the products they are showing aren’t even targeted for the right groups. I have seen ads about pregnancy and baby products, and things that I definitely cannot relate to, or maybe the app knows things about me that I don’t. Instagram has been having lots of issues and reasons to lose relevance. Their Instagram stories is a feature they implemented a while ago since many users were on Snapchat more often than Instagram. They also implemented reels to try to compete with TikTok, but with this latest update, they are just want to give you everything in
the same app: shopping, video calling, and now there are ads and “suggested posts” to advertise and hide your actual interest and the account that you decided to follow, friends post and things that are relevant for the user. They could instead develop features filtering or combatting cyberbullying comments. Take down posts that promote misinformation, violence, and pornographic content. When you see an ad and you click the three dots on the upper-right corner to press that you are not interested, the information they give you isn’t helpful at all. They state that the number of ads you see might not change so basically there’s no way to run away from all the advertisements. If you are an Apple user with the latest iOS update, the limit ad tracking has been removed but even if you have the option “ask app not to track,” they will still be showing you ads based on data about your activity from partners. They say that data has been “given from their partners” about instagram users in certain
uses or apps ––– as well your most recent purchases ––– but Instagram assure their users that they “will never” sell our data. I’m not sure to which degree that’s true. I constantly worry about my online presence and how much of my information is shared between apps and businesses. They basically know everything about me. The good news is that you can block certain content to be shown, topics that can trigger many or sensitive talking points such as alcohol, social issues, elections or politics. Their first update was with the “suggested post” and they did it smoothly. The feed and algorithm were a little messy for a while, but now they are giving the users a ridiculous amount of ads in the stories. The shift in the last five days has been a drastic one. It’s been downhill for Instagram ever since Facebook bought it because the bots are out of control and they look desperate for money with all the ads they are selling.
“They basically know everything about me.”
Instagram’s “improvements” are more about the business side, but they are not listening to their customers, who in the long term will end up making or breaking their business. If you want to know more about Instagram ads, how to create one, filter yours or just need additional help? Visit the Meta Business Help Center for more information and support.
“I constantly worry about my online presence and how much of my information is shared between apps and businesses.”
9
Sports
March 2, 2022
sports
Women’s basketball team reflects on playoff-clinching season Despite the omicron surge, Trojans remained focused and motivated By: Izzy Herrera Sports Editor
Skyline’s Women’s basketball team has had quite the season so far, with a current standing at the number two seed and an overall record of 20-5 with a ranking of 14th in the state. Despite major setbacks the pandemic put on their season, the team managed to push through and play solid basketball for the entirety of the year. The club has been especially successful at their own gym, establishing an 11-2 home record. During their 24 games, they’ve averaged 75.3 points per game. With the regular season coming to a close, head basketball coach Chris Watters is looking forward to a promising postseason. “The season is looking really good, we are definitely a playoff team,” Watters said. “We will qualify for the California state playoffs. We could potentially host a second-round playoff game. This would be a big event for us at Skyline, which has never hosted a round of playoff games before. We are really excited.” With the post-season coming up, team captain Nicole Brunicardi looks back on what made this team so strong and the factors that played a role in their successful team. “I think because it’s a new group, mostly freshmen,a lot of us have learned together through adversity, whether that’s injury or mental errors.” Brunicardi said. “Each of us has improved a lot, whether that’s just wanting to get better each day and/or being willing to learn every day.” Brunicardi also spoke on the team’s highlight of the season so far. “I think making it to the playoffs in general, statistically speaking,” Brunicardi said. “But again, I think just improving as a team. Whether that’s in the sense of individual
Skyline’s Women’s basketball team currently has the number two seed and an overall record of 19-5. schoolwork, or just as a team being a team player.” The team’s top player, Malia Latu, committed to the University of San Francisco in December. The freshman guard has risen as a key scorer for the Trojans, averaging 23.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. She’s also been a stellar long-distance shooter, recording 38.9% from beyond the three-point line.
Just like everything in life, an easy road to something such as the playoffs is not possible without some bumps in the road. A few injuries occurred at the beginning of the season that caused them to put their team-building skills to the test and find other
ways to build momentum. Right when the chemistry was built, another roadblock hit: a new COVID-19 surge. With a new variant on the rise, it put a halt to the team’s season. “When we got hit with COVID, we got shut down for three weeks,” Watters said. “We lost a lot of our momentum, we were feeling good about ourselves. Then we got shut down, that was like our second round of adversity that we were faced with as a group.” When it came time to step back on that court, it took time, but eventually the team gained their rhythm once again.
Skyline Athletics
Malia Latu recently committed to USF to play basketball
Skyline Athletic
It’s time to stop worrying about the future for middle school athletes The rankings and scouting of young, preteen athletes has been pushed too far By Steven Rissotto Editor-iin-chief
There’s a new trend in prep and collegiate sports that undoubtedly needs to self-destruct: openly recruiting and offering scholarships to athletes as young as 12 years old. In one instance, a 13-year-old Northern California football player posted on his Instagram page the four different high schools he was thinking about choosing. In his graphic, he described the schools as “the final four,” and a few of them range from all over the state. Granted, this is normal for high school athletes to publicize during their hunt for the perfect college, but middle school kids? Really? It’s not normal for preteens to consider high schools that are hundreds of miles away from each. At that age, it’s important for them to enjoy their childhood and understand that playing sports with friends will never be a constant in their lives. Sure, a good athletic program could dictate their decision to attend a high school or not, but it is too much of a factor that parents would allow their kids to move
away at a young age. Let’s talk about the parents: They are partly responsible for this trend gaining traction. Parents should know their child very well; sending their child hundreds of miles away to play football is reckless parenting. Many approve of outrageous ideas like this because they have visions of living basked under the athletic glory of their sons and daughters. If a solid sports program is an essential part of picking a high school, that’s fine and dandy. But what’s the difference between going to a local powerhouse and a statewide powerhouse team? Kids are worried that if they don’t attend the most prestigious high schools, they won’t be seen by the prestigious colleges. This is simply not true and the conspiracy should’ve never spread the way it has. Decades before the internet simplified visibility, recruiters and scouts did their work through word of mouth — rumors travel. If you’re good, important personnel will hear about it. That’s how it’s been forever. And if one thing is certain, the best athletes in the country were always found, no matter the rating of their high
school sports team. Local press has always been strong in covering prep sports. However, the new age of ranking athletes from the time they’re in middle school is ridiculous and shameful, and colleges are stupid enough to take the bait. As a result, the age for universities to offer scholarships to young athletes is getting lower and lower. For some unbeknownst reason, college institutions suddenly can
predict how a 13-year-old will play nearly a decade later. It’s pure blasphemy because they’re not taking into account the physical and mental developmental spurts that may or may not happen until then. It’s putting an awful amount of pressure on these children who should be focusing on school and playing PlayStation with their friends. Instead, we’ve somehow normalized preteens being groomed to become professional athletes.
The notion that this is an acceptable action is utterly disturbing and nauseating. Let kids be kids and not have them stressed over choosing a high school or figuring out which showcase to go to next. The ride of sports isn’t a long one for most people and youngsters need to enjoy themselves. If that’s not the main focus in middle school, then we have a huge issue on our hands.
Skyline College
The idea of imagining a seventh grader as the next best college quarterback is gross and harmful.
10
sports Opinions
Sports
March 2, 2022
What San Francisco needs to do during free agency The 49ers have work to do as they look for a deep playoff run next season By: Armando Reynoso Staff Writer
NFL free agency is less than three weeks away from starting and the San Francisco 49ers have their hands full as they have 34 pending free agents starting 2022. Top names include DJ Jones, Jason Verrett, Raheem Mostert, etc. The 49ers need to figure out who they want to bring back and who they don’t want to as they have a championship-contending team built up already. The 49ers also have young talent that is looking to sign new contracts with the team including Jauan Jennings and Azeez Al-Shaair. Both had breakout seasons last year as Al-Shaair played a big role in the success of the 49ers and filled in spots when injuries hurt the team. At one point he took the LB 2 spot when Dre Greenlaw went down with an injury. Jauan Jennings, wide receiver for the team, stepped up at the end of the season and made some important plays during week 18’s win against the Los Angeles Rams to advance them to the playoffs. Free agency begins on March 16 and every NFL team can start signing players. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel had an outstanding season last year and finished top five in receiving yards and seven in rushing touchdowns, He is also looking for a
The Nevada Sage
Jimmy Garoppolo’s future is uncertain as the 49ers look towards rookie Trey Lance.
contract extension that would earn him millions, a value he prove that last season. Another top-name player that would be looking for a contract extension is defensive end Nick Bosa. Bosa last season finished top 4 in sacks with 15.5 sacks after having to sit out last year with an ACL tear. Both players are seeking monster contracts but will not likely happen until the end of summer.
The big question is who’s gonna be the 49ers quarterback? Will they bring back Jimmy Garoppolo for one more season? Will Trey Lance’s era in San Francisco begin? All of these questions are questions that will not be answered until the beginning of the season. There are six more months until the NFL season starts but would that be enough time for Lance? He started two games last season in
which he went 1-1. Lance would be a major upgrade from Garoppolo as he can run with the ball which Garoppolo wasn’t able to. Another plus is Lance has a stronger arm than Garoppolo. But until then we will have to wait and see what route the 49ers choose. Maybe there’s a chance that Tom Brady comes out of retirement and signs with us!
“The big question is who’s gonna be the 49ers quarterback? Will they bring back Jimmy Garoppolo for one more season? Will Trey Lance’s era in San Francisco begin?”
Brady announces retirement from storied career
The San Mateo native is hanging up his spikes after a historic 22-year run By: Armando Reynoso Staff Writer
Wikimedia Commons
Tom Brady has announced he is retiring from the NFL after 22 seasons. This comes as a shock to many people because just this year, he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the NFC divisional round of the playoffs. In his 22 seasons in the NFL, Brady played 20 seasons with the New England Patriots and two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T,” said Marc A. Rivera, a student at Skyline College. “You can never underestimate the G.O.A.T. Brady won seven rings in his 20th career in the NFL with the Buccaneers for their second Lombardi since 2002 with Gruden. It’s surprising that Tom Brady won his seventh ring in his 40s.” Brady has several accolades that may never be broken in the NFL ever again. We never know if it was too late or too early for his retirement. “As of right now his decision is a bit confusing because he
Brook Ward/Creative Commons
Brady’s career began when he debuted with the Patriots in 2000.
said he wants to retire, but he wants to stay to get his eight Super Bowl with any team he picks,” Rivera said. Skyline student Yash Tandel shared his reaction to the announcement of Tom Brady’s retirement. “I was kind of surprised,” Tandel said. “He is overall well-skilled and has top awareness, which he can use to
single-handedly carry the whole team on his back.” In his first year with the Buccaneers, Brady won the Super Bowl. Brady made the Buccaneers team great with him being the quarterback. This year, which was his second year with the Buccaneers, he fell short of winning his eighth Super Bowl. “He shouldn’t have retired this early, he still has a few more
years in the tank,” Tandel said. “I feel like Tom Brady should sign to play for the 49ers.” Fans wanted to see new teams rise up and become contenders for the championship, Brady was not allowing them to do so as he dominated every team he played against. “I would say I was surprised,” said Antonio Lucin, a student
at Skyline. “ But also thinking finally because he’s been in the league for a while.” Lucin shared his thoughts on whether Brady retired too early. “I don’t think he retired too early. I think he wanted to go out in fame while he could still give it his all,” Lucin said. “Any later he could be more prone to injury.”