16 minute read
Opinions
Gender-netural bathroom should be a standard in schools
by Shoshana Peck
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OPINIONS WRITER
For many transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people, a task as simple as going to the bathroom is difficult in schools. Gender-neutral bathrooms are necessary to those who feel unsafe in public bathrooms divided into women’s and men’s. The 2021-2022 Guidelines for Student Gender Identity in MCPS require that schools provide bathrooms and other gender-segregated spaces that align with students’ gender, and give access to private areas for their use. The current system at Richard Montgomery is for students to request a pass to single-stall bathrooms from their counselors. Senior Sebastian Sylvester said, “I talked to [Ms. Anderson] about it, and she was like sure, here’s the pass, and that was about it.” This system allows students access to bathrooms even though all student bathrooms are gendered. While providing gender-neutral bathrooms to students is an important step forward, it can be challenging to implement. “There’s only two, they’re both on the first floor, and they’re both inside offices. … one’s in the health room, that’s the one I use, but…I don’t want to walk all the way downstairs to the health room,” sophomore Kayden Siegel said. “And if the people in the health room are on break, then I’m just locked out and can’t use it, so then I just walked all the way downstairs for nothing. It’s not very convenient…it exists at least.” The fact that gendered bathrooms are on every floor while gender-neutral bathrooms can be multiple flights of stairs from someone’s class is inequitable.
Under the current system of accessing private bathrooms, some students must miss significant amounts of class every time they go to the bathroom. Some students have to settle for a bathroom that makes them feel uncomfortable due to the inconvenience of getting to the private bathrooms. A system that creates such a great disparity between different groups of students must be improved upon to promote equity in other areas such as academics and safety. Some of the bathrooms provided to students requesting gender-neutral bathrooms are private bathrooms with a single stall but are still gendered. Sylvester said “I would like it to have a gender-neutral sign, because right now the gender-neutral bathrooms,…the one in the counselor’s office is gender-neutral, the one in the media center, they are gendered. There’s a women’s and a men’s, and that’s still not the best.” Simply replacing the signage on these bathrooms would make students more comfortable. For students who identify as neither male nor female, using a bathroom labeled for men or women is not ideal. Despite the flaws of the current system, the importance of access to these facilities can not be understated. Sylvester said, “The pro, right now, I would say, is I am not as afraid to use the bathroom.” According to GLSEN’s 2019 National School Climate Survey, 82.1% of transgender students avoid school bathrooms. Allowing students to access bathrooms they feel safe in is extremely important because it presents a school environment that they can thrive in along with other students. With the creation of any new system, there are issues that must be solved. Assistant Principal Veena Roberson said, “This is I think something that we’ve really started to work through more and more over the course of this year, and so I think there’s a lot of work that still needs to be done with it.” Due to student feedback and changing MCPS policy, Richard Montgomery should be able to accommodate every student with a system of accessing bathrooms. While it may sound trivial, bathroom access can shape someone’s experience at school. Without access to bathrooms they feel safe and comfortable in, transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming students are excluded from the school building. In MCPS, all new construction includes gender neatual restrooms, and RM itself has requested retro-fitting to include non conforming bathrooms.
GRAPHIC BY MATTHEW ADJODHA
by Max Belyantsev
OPINIONS WRITERS
We are all living and breathing the effects of a tech revolution. As humans, we are a naturally social species, and with the rise of porta- ble telephones in the late 1990s, it was only a matter of time before the first social media applications gained traction. Today, we are presented with several messaging services that each have unique benefits and drawbacks: iMessage, Discord, Instagram, Snapchat and Google Hangouts. iMessage is one of the most widespread ways that millions of people talk with one another. It is a texting method alternative to SMS/MMS text messaging only available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users. iMessage is integrated into Apple’s ecosystem, sends and receives messages through a WiFi or cellular connec- tion and is connected to Apple ID, whereas SMS relies solely on your cellular carrier and cell phone service availability. “One thing which I think iMessage has which none of the other strict messaging platforms really have is basically everyone has it,” sophomore Leo Lidl said. “[using iMessage] is a lot more convenient than having to ask them if they have Instagram or something like that.”
Unfortunately, a divide has formed between blue and green bubbles that differentiate iPhone users from Android users. “Green-bubble” recipients cannot take advantage of iMessage stickers, reactions, “read” and “delivered” status, playing games through GamePigeon and more. In a group chat with only iPhone users, everyone enjoys the features listed above; once an Android user joins, however, everyone loses that added functionality. This division takes away from the platform’s overall benefit however, it is not enough for most to steer
- Daniel Chernyak
away from the app. “In the past, I’ve had problems with it if I’ve been trying to video call people but for straight-up messaging, it doesn’t interfere,” Lidl said. Instagram and Snapchat are fierce competitors in the social media realm.
Both platforms have feeds that let users explore content, directly message their friends and share posts with followers on their Stories. Aside from location tracking and other reasonable concerns regarding privacy, the issue with any app that has thousands of posts at your fingertips is the inevitable zombification that kills productivity.
However, this can depend on how the messaging app is used. “I will scroll through posts and stuff [on Instagram]. If I need to message someone on Instagram, it’s like a separate section,” sophomore Daniel Chernyak said.
Those who want to stay far from the addictive force of social media messaging apps should turn to Discord. A relatively new up-and-comer since its release in 2015, Discord is a semi-private group messaging platform that has seen immense growth over the course of the pandemic.
Communities of users create servers, consisting of specialized text and voice channels, based on common interests and shared experiences. Friend groups can reach each other without external distractions using Discord. “I am a Discord fanatic. It’s very great,” Chernyak said. “The servers are so fun. Like you can or- ganize and all that
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make different serv ers for different things, and it’s very nice. … You form group chats… and it’s very fun.” There are other amicable components to Discord that resulted in its explosion in popularity. “I like to use Discord because it works on my computer as well as on my phone,” senior Arman Sagmanligil said. “A lot of video games or YouTubers or streamers tend to have Discords that I can join where I can get notifications as to their streams or their videos being released.” Discord gives content creators a very streamlined and efficient way to reach their fanbases, a feature also valuable to large school clubs and organizations. For some RM students, the most favorable messaging service is Discord. However, it depends on a person’s needs and preferences for what they want. But, be aware when too much time is wasted and choose the few apps that best fit your needs.
Cartoon Corner
CARTOON BY ANGELINA GUHL
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Black & Gold
Are there double standards in media in the Ukraine invasion coverage?
Yes, media coverage of Ukraine is emblematic of deep-rooted racism No, Ukraine is a unique situation with heavily weighted consequences
by Riona Sheikh
OPINIONS WRITER
The unanimous support of Ukraine in the war against Russia is heartening and critical in this time of crisis. However, the extensive media coverage of the Ukraine war has provided yet another opportunity for the West to gloss over equally appalling events that took place in non-European countries.
Instead of objectively recounting the events that the Ukrainian people had to experience, many reporters have expressed their support for Ukraine simply because they were not expecting the war to impact people who are “relatively civilized, relatively European” as said by CBS News correspondent Charlie D’Agata. Though D’Agata apologized for his remarks, his words are symbolic of racism and xenophobia in the US.
The media’s coverage of the Ukraine-Russia conflict exemplifies the deep-rooted racism within the Western world. “The unthinkable has happened to them, and this is not a developing, third-world nation; this is Europe,” ITV reporter Lucy Watson said. The amount of media coverage reflects the shock that war could take place in a country with the ‘status’ of Ukraine. “Our country has been very Eurocentric with news coverage over the years,” AP US History teacher Lisa MacFarlane said.
Given the circumstance of other countries in war, such as Afghanistan with a projected poverty rate of 97% by mid-2022, it can be shocking to know that a war could occur in primarily middle-class Ukraine. Yet, many are unaware that Afghanistan was not always a country deeply in poverty. Pre-war, Afghanistan was described as a bustling, thriving country. When the Afghanistan War first began, it would have been just as much of a shock as the war in Ukraine.
However, as soon as Russia invaded Ukraine, there was no foot-dragging in the West to decide who to support. European nations and the US swiftly set sanctions on Russian companies. The US set forth a plan for receiving Ukrainian refugees a month after the war began. The intense and immediate support for Ukraine has sparked some to pour out Russian vodka down the drain as a literal demonstration.
Comparatively, US aid for the Afghan refugees was met with a lack of enthusiasm, even after the US delayed the refugee plan for as long as possible. Not only are Ukrainian refugees arriving sooner, but they are also receiving better treatment. The designation for Ukrainian refugees’ temporary protective status (TPS) was announced
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a mere month after their arrival, whereas there was a seven-month delay for the TPS designation of Afghan refugees. And it is not just the US: countries in Europe have exposed their inherent racism by refusing entrance to refugees from other countries. Europe infamously shut its doors to Afghan refugees in August of 2021, but extended a hand to Ukraine. The European Union has even gone so far as to drop their old procedure for refugees to help Ukrainians, which would have been more admirable if their new protocol also applied to people of color. The EU has allowed Ukrainians to live in any country so long as the war continues. This new rule took place at the same time as Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbin called Syrian refugees “Muslim invaders” and legalized the forceful pushing-back of refugees. Conversely, Hungary had open arms to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees. Bulgarian prime minister Kiril Petkov’s racism was even more overt. “These are not the refugees we are used to…these people are Europeans,” he said. “These people are intelligent...educated.” Petkov and many others fail to acknowledge that war-struck regions have little access to formal education. There is no doubt that the Ukraine war
is a serious conflict and should be treated as such, but that does not mean that conflicts with people of color should be ignored or downplayed. SNL celebrated the beginning of the Afghanistan war with a skit called “War Party” where they broke out into song and portrayed the Afghanistan War as merely a “war on terrorism,” blatantly ignoring all the innocent lives that were lost. SNL’s acknowledgment of the Ukraine War was significantly less demeaning, with an opening prayer for Ukraine and no cruel jokes. The war in Ukraine has led to a chain effect, exposing the layers of racism and xenophobia in Western society. Critical as the coverage of the Ukraine invasion is, that does not mean the West should undermine the issues of refugees from non-European countries. The US pushes its image as anti-racist, but with its weak and half-hearted acknowledge of other humanitarian crises abroad, deep-rooted racism has once again been exposed. An asylum-seeker from the Middle East should not be treated any differently than an asylum-seeker from Europe, and as the so-called Land of Freedom, the United States media should know better.
by Francis Paloma
OPINIONS WRITER
The world stands in solidarity as Russian President Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine. The valiant efforts of the strongwilled Ukrainian people against evil imperialistic Putin are reported by every mainstream news source, classrooms and even chilling TikToks. Many view the intensive coverage of Ukraine as blatant bias by the media as many other countries with the same conflicts have little to no western coverage.However, Putin’s invasion is one of the most egregious violations in the 21st century and must be recognized as such.
The media have spelled out correctly and quickly how devastating the full-scale invasion of Ukraine is. Freshman Kevin Si said, “Just pure surprise and disbelief… I never expected an all out war to break out with seemingly no true rhyme or reason.” Civilian and military death tolls vary within the thousands. Millions are forced to flee into neighboring countries as their homes are bombed or stay to fight a David and Goliath battle. Even outlets like Fox Business and CNN Business outline the repercussions as gas and grocery prices skyrocket along with low business confidence across the globe slowing the economy.
Media has to hit the war hard, as its consequences are unlike anything in recent history. There are no rebels, no terrorists, no insurgence, this is black and white: a nuclear power blatantly invading a west-leaning country and facing down NATO and the EU. This completely defies the Budapest Memorandum from 30 years ago that had the West guarantee Ukrainian security against an act of aggression from Russia, and Russia leave Ukraine alone in return for shipping the country’s 5,000 nuclear bombs back to Russia. The breaking of this treaty reveals that Western treaties and promises do not mean the same thing they used to.
The dominoes of escalation have already fallen, a messy Afghanistan evacuation displayed western weakness, Putin pounced on invading Ukraine, the next domino might be Taiwan, leaving many to question what will come next. The reality of two nuclear-armed nations butting heads only takes a misunderstanding to set the whole world in flames must be understood by people through widespread, accurate coverage of the situation.
- Byron Duvall
Social studies teacher Johnathan Taylor said, “Media has an obligation...to report what they see objectively … that’s essential in a democratic society.” With such high stakes, the people of the world must play a bigger role in decision-making. The media has to act as a bulwark of truth
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against radicalism and fear-mongering.
People have seen the consequences when reporting fails to deliver the full truth. In lieu of 9/11, Islamophobia and xenophobia ran rampant, hate crimes against Muslims increased by 1,600%, thousands more Sikhs fell to the same discrimination, and the perception of Brown and Middle-Eastern people was deeply damaged.
- Jonathan Taylor
This mistake cannot be repeated. This is Putin’s war, not the Russian people. Sophomore Byron Duvall said, “When you generalize an entire country like that, it’s harmful to the people in that country.” Heartbreaking stories have already come out of Russian-Americans being harassed and their businesses boycotted according to AP News.
Within Russia, the people have been told lies as Putin promotes Russia as the saviors of Ukraine and a victim of the West while banning foreign and private media. Many of those who have procured the truth have taken to the streets with more than 15,000 arrest- ed. Stories and photos show Russian soldiers not wanting to fight a pointless war, a quarter of them conscripts, many dropping their weapons and walking back, feeling deceived by Putin. Racism in any capacity is wrong, and when echoed by members of the media the consequences are only exacerbated. Former Ukrainian deputy chief prosecutor David Sakvarelidzethat said in a CNN interview, “It’s very emotional for me because I see European people with blue eyes and blonde hair being killed.” The legitimaizing of cruelty in the Middle East is horrible. However, the media’s emphasis on the Ukraine-Russia conflict over other horrors in the world is due to Ukraine’s alignment with the West and the nuclear bombs in the equation, not the color of people’s skin. All of this is not to discredit all the other atrocities in the world, but rather to put a spotlight on the current most important one. The media acts as a vital bridge for information between events, people and leaders that must be used correctly by pushing accurate, unbiased information. Ukraine is one of the largest tragedies in our lifetimes, and hearts and prayers go out to every Ukrainian. The best thing to do is stay informed and spread the truth.
