Verde Volume 18 Issue 3 by Verde Magazine

V. DEVOS THE BOSS What will the Trump administration do to our schools? pg. 27

february 2017

VERDE MAGAZINE WANT TO ADVERTISE WITH VERDE? visit verde magazine.com

for more information

November 2016 Volume 18 Issue 2 Editors-in-Chief Danielle Macuil Tara Madhav Alicia Mies Managing & Profiles Editor Josh Code Design & Digital Editor Laura Sieh Features Editor Madhumita Gupta Culture Editor Gabriel Sánchez Perspectives Editor Alia Cuadros-Contreras News & Launch Editors Emma Cockerell Frances Zhuang Michelle Li Stephanie Lee Art Directors Vivian Nguyen Aishah Maas Annie Zhou Photo Director James Poe Business Managers Irene Choi Deepali Sastry Digital Archivist Riya Matta Statistician Thomas Chapman Staff Writers Allison Cheng Ashley Hitchings Ashley Wang Amira Garewal Angela Liu Asia Gardias Daniel Logan Eoin O’Kramer Julie Cornfield Megan Chai Noga Hurwitz Olivia Brown Rebecca Yao Riya Sinha Saurin Holdheim Stephanie Yu Tamar Sarig Adviser Paul Kandell

Publication Policy Verde, a feature magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Magazine Journalism class, is a designated open forum for student expression and discussion of issues of concern to its readership. Verde is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost. Letters to the Editors The staff welcomes letters to the editors but reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to veics-1617@gmail.com or to 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301. Verde can also be contacted through social media, preferably Facebook. All Verde stories are posted online and available for commenting at verdemagazine.com. Advertising The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with Verde, please contact the Verde business managers Irene Choi and Deepali Sastry through our adviser at 650-329-3837 for more information. Printing & Distribution Verde is printed five times a year in October, November, February, April and May, by Folger Graphics in Hayward, California. The Paly PTSA mails Verde to every student’s home. All Verde work is at verdemagazine.com.

verdemagazine.com

In this issue BOOKSTORES

Inside

pg. 44

6 Editorials 8 Launch 13 News

Staff writers Gabe Sanchez and Stephanie Yu explore the history of Palo Altoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bookstores.

Photo by James Poe

DIFFERENCES IN EDUCATION

Features

pg. 27

With the confirmation of Betsy Devos, Photo by Verde delves into Stephanie Lee how East Palo Alto education with change.

18 20 23 27 30 33 35

Laning Stigma Artifical Intelligence Prisons in the Trump Era Education Inequality Residentialists versus Pro-Growth Video Gamers AIDS and the Community

Profiles 38 40 42 44 46

Ananda Church John Hester Kevin Ji Bookstores Dignity on Wheels

Culture Photo by Alicia Mies

ON THE COVER

pg. 27

Betsy DeVos, the new Secretary of Education, is beginning her crusade to bring school choice, a policy that allows students to attend private and charter schools, regardless of income. School choice on a national level is sure to have serious affects on funding towards the public school system. Art director Vivian Nguyen and Aishah Maas created this image of DeVos on a literal crusade, armed and ready to fight for a controversial policy.

4 february 2017

48 50 52 54 56 58

Oscars Movie Review PACE Neuroscience Big International Movies Valencia Asian Market Urban Hiking Atlas Obscura

Perspectives

61 62 65 66 69 70

TechNOlogy: Popping the Bubble Vegan Feminism Small Businesses College Perspectives Muslim Ban Column: The Plight of Blended Classes

Facebook: /verdemagazine Twitter: @verdemagazine Instagram: @verdemag Issuu.com: /verdemagazine

ATLAS OBSCURA

Photo by James Poe

pg. 58

Staff writers Julie Cornfield and Thomas Chapman adventure some of the Bay Area’s most unexplored spots.

VALENCIA ASIAN MARKET pg. 54

Photo by Emma Cockerell

FROM THE EDITORS

Teaching new generations From new forms of communication to advancements in the classroom, the technological boom has shaped our generation and the rest to come. Yet technology also often exacerbates the achievement gap we see across districts, and presents us with dilemmas such as fake news. With Betsy Devos as the new Secretary of Education in the United States, public and private education are likely to see drastic legislation affecting their systems and the availability of public education. Staff writers Amira Garewal, Alicia Mies and Frances Zhuang explore the stark differences in educational opportunities offered to students between East Palo Alto and Palo Alto. Both districts, one solely public and the other filled with charter and public schools, will be affected by Devos’s legislation. Continuously, staff writers Emma Cockerell and Stephanie Yu examine the impacts of technology on education as artificial intelligence becomes a turning point for education. Pro-

grams such as Khan Academy and Grammarly have allowed students to seek help online, outside of the classroom. However, sources point to an eternal need for human to human interactions in learning, ceasing teachers from fretting the security of their jobs. We also see the use of technology affecting other aspects of our lives as teenagers. Staff writer Ashley Hitchings examines how students are blind to fake news appearing on our newsfeeds and social media. With tremendous statistics concerning whether teens are able to differentiate real news and fake news, Hitchings writes her opinion on our ability as teens to protect ourselves from misinformation. Similarly, Hitchings writes about what being surrounded by people with similar opinions as us does. Our social media platforms show us what our close friends are thinking and sharing, which leads to a cycle of echo chambers and a lack of fresh perspective.

Students in our district strive to better education reform. With staff writers Allison Cheng and Irene Choi writing about Kevin Ji, a Gunn student who has worked on education reform at the national level, we see students who are making a true difference for our education system. Finally, staff writers Noga Hurwitz, Tara Madhav and Ashley Wang express their opinions on the college admissions process as juniors, seniors and sophomores respectively. Their varying sentiments express their concerns in three different grade levels and places in the process. Ultimately, as technology and artificial intelligence become over-consuming, it is crucial to stay accurately informed about what is true and what is not, and see new perspectives on issues we feel strongly about. Education is the root of our decision-making and we must stay informed as we pave our path through adulthood. —Dani, Tara & Alicia

verdemagazine.com

EDITORIALS

Speaking out on political issues is a right

HE SAG FILM AWARDS ON JAN. 29 SHINED A spotlight on, not only the award winners, but on their opinions about the current state of our nation. From the best actress in a comedy series, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who spoke out about the Muslim band to the best supporting film actor, Mahershala Ali, who shared his personal story about coming to terms with his mother after converting to Islam, the film and TV stars of Hollywood converted an entertainment show into a platform for political debate. Although many applauded these stars for using their influence to speak out about injustice in our country, many also critiqued them for bringing politics into entertainment, specifically during a large awards ceremonies. With the Oscars Awards fastly approaching on Feb. 26, the debate about the place of award shows in our society has become hotly contested. Despite the controversy, we hope to see other popular public figures using their platform to voice their opinions. We believe celebrities should utilize their influence and their access to large

“

audiences at awards ceremonies, like the Oscars, to raise awareness for important issues that negatively impact our population and to motivate people to take action. Now the question is, how can we as high school students, who don’t have the influence of celebrities, have our voices heard? We can make a difference by giving ourselves importance and instilling faith in our ability to speak out on issues that matter. Much like celebrities, teenagers and young adults are often told they’re too immature to have a fully educated opinion on important issues — their role in society isn’t to speak out, it’s to do their societal job and be happy. As long as there is such mass discontent in the American population, we must respect the right of every member of society to protest, whether it’s through writing an impassioned opinion article or marching for Planned Parenthood in San Francisco. If you, the reader, are compelled to speak out on issues that concern you, Verde urges that you take every opportunity you can to do so. Whether we’re discussing a world famous actress or a high school freshman, each person has the right to speak out.

Take every opportunity you can to speak out.

How to make your voice heard 1. Reach out to your local politicians.

3. Write to local representatives.

According to our local congresswoman Anna Eshoo, “it’s important to hear from constitutents, whether it’s a suggestion, a criticism, an observation, or advocacy for issues on specific legislation.” Here are some addressses and phone numbers of local politicians.

With the Democratic and Republican Party Headquarters located just around the corner, getting involved with political parties is a surefire way to impact the progress of the political party you support — you’re able to work out the nuts and bolts of what goes on in a political campaign.

2. Express your opinions on the air. With the Democratic and Republican Party Headquarters located just around the corner, getting involved with political parties is a surefire way to impact the progress of the political party you support — you’re able to work out the nuts and bolts of what goes on in a political campaign.

6 february 2017

Congressman Anna Eshoo: Address: 698 Emerson St, Palo Alto, CA Phone: (650) 323-2984 Senator Dianne Feinstein Address: 1 Post Street, San Francisco, CA Phone: (415) 393-0707 Mayor Patrick Burt: Address: 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA Phone: (415) 388-8639

Public education is central to democracy Our modern education system reflects the ideal vision of our Founding Fathers — the vision that every child should have access to an education and a way to inform themselves about the world around them. Our government’s method? Public education. In the Palo Alto Unified School District, we have experienced first-hand the benefits of top public education. Without our parents having to pay tuition, we receive a high quality, college preparatory education from kindergarten through senior year. Although our experiences at our public school district have been admittedly unique, they represent the intentions and the ideals of public education. However, as of this month, our public education system is in jeopardy. On Feb. 7, Betsy DeVos became the Secretary of Education of the United States, making her the representative of all educators in our nation. DeVos, who advocates for charter schooling and private school vouchers over public education, now has the ability to create policies for education throughout the country. Although her title makes her the spokesperson for education, Verde believes her views blatantly contradict the ideals of our democratic nation and we, as citizens who value our right to education, should be alarmed that she has been empowered to invoke change in our system. Given her background, DeVos is completely unqualified to be making decisions for our public education system. DeVos has neither attended public school nor has she had any of her children

“

attend public school. Having no personal experience with public education, one would expect our Secretary of Education to have a plethora of professional experience in the field. Shockingly, this is not the case with DeVos. Further adding to the complications surrounding DeVos’ nomination is her donations to the Trump campaign and her status as a member of the billionaire class. DeVos has said it’s “possible” she gave 200 million dollars to the Trump campaign, a vague and concerning figure. If DeVos has indeed gifted such a large amount of money to the President’s efforts, there are ethical concerns that can be raised as to why she was given the position of Secretary of Education. Someone with so little experience in such a powerful position should be raising questions that are not currently being asked. Overall, Verde believes that the solution to increasing success in public schools is not to reroute money to charter and private (often religious) schools, rather, it’s to manage the budgets in public schools to reach full efficiency. By defunding public schools, DeVos will make accessing a quality education harder for many students, especially those in low-income households. As we believe that all students should have a right to quality schooling, we firmly support public education as the ideal method to educate the next generations of this country. If we stay silent in a time of unfair action, DeVos may jeopardize the future of our nation.

DeVos is completely unqualifed to be making decisions for our public education system.

Art by Vivian Nguyen

verdemagazine.com

Arti Miglani – Long time Palo Alto resident – Offers top notch service for buyers and sellers – Shrewd negotiator – Tech savvy marketing specialist – Former hospitality Chairperson at Palo Alto High wSchool

“

It is rare to find a person who excels in every aspect of her job. [Her] energy, passion, intelligence and skills are a rare mix.”

Verde thanks its sponsors: Ms. Cheng Ms. DeLeeuw Ms. Garewal Ms. Jain Ms. Joshi Ms. Logan Ms. Mies

8 february 2017

Mr. Nguyen Ms. Pynchon Ms. Pang Ms. Saxena Ms. Xu Ms. Yang Mr. Zhuang

— Aditya and Florence, former clients

Reporting by MICHELLE LI

ASB ANSWERS What can we expect at the upcoming throwback dance?

“

I am personally really excited for the dance. Throwback music, or music from the 2000s, is the best music to dance to. I think the atmosphere will be different, because people will be excited to hear old throwback music. This event will be a great time to spend with friends."

Michaela Forgarty, ASB Spirit Commissioner

Unearthing Unclaimed Gems

alking into the bustling Main Office, it is easy to overlook the small table nestled near a wall brimming with unclaimed items. These myriad of lost belongings stay waiting to be claimed by their respective owners. Nestled inside a wood cabinet, a small cardboard tray holds a variation of lost belongings. Among those strange items are precious, more common items: Vineyard Vines keychains, jewelry, and an abundance of key chains. Paly’s secretary, Jennifer Gardiner, will happily greet you when you enter the door of the main office. According to Gardiner, an average of seven to 10 items are dropped off per day, with two items not being picked up every week. “It sometimes gets to be too much,” Gardiner says. by OLIVIA BROWN

RELATIONSHIP ADVICE FROM TEACHERS

Photos and reporting by REBECCA YAO

“When you’re about to get into an argument, sleep on it. Stop arguing, sleep on it, see how you feel the next day. That will solve 90 percent of your arguments.” — MICHAEL LUPOLI, science teacher

"Be interested in the other person’s interests. Because whatever is interesting to them is important to them, and you want to be able to share those interests." — PAUL LEGRIS, biology teacher

verdemagazine.com

VERBATIM:What's the weirdest thing in your backpack? by ASIA GARDIAS

"I have a pack of unopened paper. It's there just in case I need an extra sheet of paper." — EMBER SWEDISH, freshman

"I have a pair of white jeans with a coffee stain on them. I was in a rush this morning and I spilled my coffee on myself." — KHADIJIA ABID, sophomore

"I have a hard drive in my backpack because I had all of my stuff from my old computer on it and didn't want to move it to my new one.” — HALA ELHANDI, junior

Leap Day Birthday by MICHELLE LI

What is it like having a birthday on a leap day? NS: Having a birthday on leap day is probably less exciting than what most people think. Other than being a potential 30-second talking point in a conversation, I don’t really think about it at all.

E 10

february 2017

NS: The question with celebrating leap day birthdays is whether to do it on February 28th or March 1st. I have no preference or tradition on which day I choose to celebrate my birthday on, whichever day is more convenient.

Art by Aishah Maas

very four years, we observe a strange phenomenon: leap day. This unique day at the end of February is observed because one revolution around the Sun takes approximately 6 hours longer than 365 days. As a result, leap day is added to account for this lag every four years. But what happens to those who are born on that special day? Nitan Shalon, a junior at Paly, is 1 of the 187,000 people in the United States who is born on the Feb. 29 2000. Verde sat down with Shalon to see what it is like to have such an unusual birth date.

How do you celebrate your birthday?

How do people usually react when they find out you’re born on a leap day? NS: People usually ask me the same two questions: When do you celebrate your birthday usually? How old are you? If I tell them that I also have a twin, people usually tell me how weird or cool that is.

TEACHERS TRY SNAPCHAT FILTERS by TAMAR SARIG

napchat is well-known as a favorite social media app among Paly students, but that doesn’t mean that teachers can’t participate as well. In an attempt to bridge the gap between students and educators, I asked four teachers to experiment with Snapchat, take some selfies, and reflect upon their experiences. Here are the results.

ALICIA SZEBERT, science teacher V: How often would you say you use Snapchat? Szebert: I got it when it first came out years and years ago, and then I tried it again and it was so different, and I really don’t find it user-friendly, so I don’t use it very often. Right now, that was probably the third time I’ve ever used it. V: Did you enjoy your experience with Snapchat today? Szebert: I did. I still don’t think it’s very user-friendly, but I think the filters are very fun and hilarious.

launch

OBSCURE MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS by STEPHANIE YU

lthough a sizeable portion of the student population often prefers to remain in the safe confines of mainstream pop music, others would rather explore obscure genres of music. Whether that be defined as unkown, mysterious or baffling, we have compiled a list of songs you have probably never heard of, ranging from songs that could barely be classified as music to those sung in a language you most likely can’t understand. This is for you adventurous souls.

I Fink U Freeky DIE ANTWOOR

JACK BUNGARGDEN, history teacher Although Bungarden reluctantly agreed to venture into the world of Snapchat, we ran into difficulties when the app’s facial recognition software stubbornly refused to recognize his face. Thus, we unfortunately could not take any filter-adorned snaps. Disillusioned with Snapchat (and with teenage behavior as a whole), he left me with one exasperated final message to millennials: “Dear god, this is how you spend your time?”

Razzmatazz PULP

Drinkee SOFI TUKKER

Pen Pineapple Apple Pen PIKOTARO

Where is the Line BJÖRK

Cows With Guns DANA LYON

Squeeze Me Macaroni MR. BUNGLE

Tunak Tunak Tun

JOSEP VERICAT, Spanish teacher V: What do you think about Snapchat? Vericat: It is a funny, interesting… I don’t know… activity. V: What do you think people use it for? Vericat: Just to have fun. Probably. V: Would you use Snapchat again in the future? Vericat: Um… I’m not sure about that. V: And how was your experience with using it today? Vericat: It was funny.

DALER MEHNDI

Juice KRIS WU

Black White (AB) TAO

Spotify playlist link: goo.gl/Lis7af

verdemagazine.com

FEBRUARY FASHION Stay up-to-date this season with February fashion

ate February is a bit of an awkward time to decide what clothes you want to wear to school. It’s not hard to get in a mini argument with yourself about your outfit of the day while getting ready in the morning. Should I continue to wear the same North Face jacket I’ve been wearing for the past four months? Or should I suffer through the cold and strut into school wearing spring clothes? Argue no more. Verde’s Stephanie Lee and Thomas Chapman have each compiled an outfit that will combine winter and spring fashion so you can come to school wearing something new while staying (relatively) warm.

navy sherpa

glass necklace

leather jacket

heathered gray tee

light pink tee

cuffed light washed jeans

apple watch

light tan ankle boots

black and white grid skirt by STEPHANIE LEE and THOMAS CHAPMAN Photos by JAMES POE

FEBRUARY 2017

news By the

NUMBERS

Percent 404,638 prisoners released from state prisons in 2005 who had been rearrested by 2010. page 23

DEEP IN THOUGHT Palo Alto High School sophomore Jeffrey Yu does his homework intently. Yu is one example of the kind of Asian-American student that the Asian-American stress forum will discuss. fix caption later. Photo by Eoin O’Kramer.

Asian-American student stress forum stirs controversy

SB WILL hold a discussion on February 28 in the Library’s English Writing Center concerning the Asian-American Palo Alto High School student population and the different forms of stress the population experiences. According to ASB member Cezanne Lane, this is the first time a discussion will focus on a particular ethnic group rather than a specific grade-level or the student body as a whole. “The dialogue allows for a place for students, mostly from the Asian-American community to talk about their background and culture and experience as Paly students and have a place to have a dialogue about what that means,” Lane said. The discussion is already receiving mixed reactions from the student body.

“I’m glad they’re focusing on just my ethnic group, because I feel as though the rich conservative white parent’s voice sometimes gets heard as more important than that of Asian’s,” sophomore Bryan Yang said. One on the other end of the spectrum, some students oppose singling out a whole ethnic group. “I don’t think Asian Americans are the only ones that need to be de-stressed,” freshman Alex Liu said. Liu isn’t the only one who holds this opinion. “I feel like there must have been some reason why that specific group was seen as very stressed, so it’s not bad that they’re focusing on the specific [ethnic] group as long as other groups are acknowledged as well,” sophomore Riya Kumar said. v by EOIN O’KRAMER

The approximate number of showers that nonprofit Dignity on Wheels provides daily to homeless. page 46

The number of years filled if a moment of silence was taken for each AIDS related death since the 80’s epidemic. page 35

Percent of teens who check their phones hourly. page 61

verdemagazine.com

City prepares for future storms P

HISTORIC ISSUE The October 2016 issue of Verde detailed Ron Jones’ high school experiment and its implications 50 years later, Cover art by Vivian Nguyen and Aishah Maas.

City plans for ‘Third Wave Experiment’ event

N EVENING program discussing the ‘Third Wave’ experiment and its tie to current topics will be held March 22 at the Cubberley Community Center auditorium. According to event organizer Nancy Peterse, the event will feature a screening of the film “Lesson Plan,” a documentary created by Jones’ students Mark Hancock and Philip Neel featuring interviews with Third Wave students. A discussion lead by Hancock, Jones and Neel will examine how current politics relate to the experiement, along with the role of education and journalism in democratic society. The program will end with an open mic for people to talk about freedom and social justice. In April 1967, Ron Jones conducted an experiment on his Cubberly High School class called ‘The Third Wave,’ which Verde covered in its first issue of the school year, to demonstrate fascism and Hitler’s rise to power. Jones proved that charismatic leaders have the ability to gain full control instilling fear in people and targeting certain groups. v

ALO ALTO residents can expect water-use regulations and water-saving ethics to persist despite the heavy downpours in the recent months as recommended by the city. Palo Alto’s water supply is largely dependent on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, SFPUC, which receives its water through the Hetch-Hetchy reservoir and distribution system in California’s Yosemite National Park. Catherine Elvert, Palo Alto Utilities Communication Manager, said that Palo Alto is currently at a zero percent water conservation target due to the recent weather. “State resources have been filling up and they’ve been brimming with water,” Elvert said. “Reservoirs up in the Sierra Nevada are in a pretty good shape.” However, Elvert, along with the Palo Alto Utility Department believe that the practice of saving water should be practiced on a day to day basis. “We like to remind people that regardless of drought conditions, California itself is perpetually in a semi arid state,” Elvert said. “San Francisco voluntarily sets goals to conserve at least 10 percent [of their water]…[in order to] maintain a water supply for a multi year drought we have permanent water use regulations.” Regarding the numerous state and city regulations concerning lawn and garden maintenance, Elvert advocates taking little actions like purchasing native plants that are water-conservation friendly and irrigating your garden only when necessary rather than following a predetermined and often unnecessary schedule. To ensure the safety of residents during rainy months, Elvert recommends a number of convenient sources. These include signing up for alertSCC, an emergency alert system used throughout the Santa Clara County that sends warnings through text messages, along with the Palo Alto Police Department’s twitter @ PaloAltoPolice, to receive regular storm and flood updates. v

by OLIVIA BROWN

by ANGELA LIU

ASB to host Healthy Relationships Initiative

HE WELLNESS Center will host the Teen Dating Violence workshop on Feb. 21 during flex period in the EWC of the library, as the first installment of its Healthy Relationships Initiative. February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and the Wellness Center is partnering with the YWCA-Silicon Valley to hold a workshop on healthy and unhealthy relationships, including discussing teen dating violence. The initiative, which piloted for the 2017 spring semester, will consist of on-campus presentations hosted by various community partners, in-depth discussions facilitated by experts in the field and outreach events to directly engage students, including tabling and

FEBRUARY 2017

visual campaigns to encourage students to participate. The initiative was spearheaded by Wellness Outreach Worker Julia Chang and Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator Jonathan Frecceri to raise awareness about violence between teenagers in relationships and to highlight the importance of having healthy love lives. “Through the Healthy Relationships Initiative, we hope to spark conversation around the various facets of healthy and unhealthy adolescent relationships,” Chang said. “Our goal is to educate and empower teens to make healthy, conscious choices as they engage with others.” v by THOMAS CHAPMAN

news

HISTORIC PERFORMANCE: After four years of anticipation, seniors Alia Cuadros-Contreras, who plays Belle, and Jackson Kienitz, who plays the Beast, are finally rehearsing for their senior musical. Having acted together since elementary school, they are ecstatic to be performing together in their last Paly show. Photo by Rob Wilen.

Theater to perform “Beauty and the Beast”

HILE PALY Theater has produced Meghan Hawkes, and the first time both several successful plays in the past, choir teachers are collaborating. their latest production, “Beauty and the “Because this is such a big producBeast” is promised to tion… it’s nice to have difexceed all expectations. points of view,” Woods The PAC is the ferent With the musicawl besaid. ing performed in PALY’s “All of these new perperfect space for a new state of the art Perspectives and additions forming Arts Center musical as elabo- promise to make this play one (PAC), there are many rate extravagant of the best productions PALY new features, such as an has ever put on,” Woods said. “It’s refreshing to get more orchestra pit and a new as ‘Beauty and help, because we have such a constellation sound systhe Beast.’ big cast, big production, and tem, that will enhance — JACKSON KIENITZ, in a new building,” the musical to make it senior However, the technical like no other PALY production. According to director Kathleen aspect of this play is not the only thing the Woods, everything in the PAC is bigger cast and crew are excited for the audience and more professional. to see. It is the first time that the play is be“This is one of Disney’s most classic ing co-directed by a theaterworks teacher, stories,” Woods said. “The music is won-

“

derful…it has a strong female character, it’s a really fun story, it appeals to children, but has a more mature story about two young people going through a lot and maturing.” The cast has had a great time working together to put on this show. “The most exciting part of the play is putting on a big musical in the theater and mixing all the performing art groups together ,” says Gil Weissman, who plays Lumiere. Fellow cast member, Jackson Kienitz, agrees. “This particular production is exciting because I feel like it’s the first time we really get to take advantage of the new theater,” Kienitz said. “The PAC is the perfect space for a musical as elaborate and extravagant as Beauty and the Beast.” For more information on show dates and times, visit www.palytheater.com. v by RIYA SINHA

ASB to host Winter Throwback Dance at Mitchell Park Library by MEGAN CHAI ALTO ALTO High School’s 2017 winter dance theme centers on a throwback to 2000’s music, and takes place at the Mitchell Park Community Center from 7-10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24. The theme features popular music from the late 2000’s and early 2010’s, including songs from the Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Katy Perry and Maroon 5, making this dance stand apart from past dances.

ASB members and seniors Isabel Black and Joao De Pina came up with the theme together. “We just decided to have a dance that incorporated [a] throwback to middle school songs to reminisce on middle school days,” Black said. “These songs really hold a special place in people’s hearts... so if we bring those back, it will just pump everyone up.”

Rocko’s Ice Cream Tacos will cater the event, along with other snacks and desserts. The success of CREAM, a local ice cream store, that catered at a PALY homecoming dance a few years ago inspired ASB Social Commissioners to have Rocko’s Ice Cream Tacos cater the dance. Tickets for the winter dance can be purchased on the PALY ASB Webstore for $5 with an ASB sticker, and $10 without. v

verdemagazine.com

PiE funding deficit to affect Paly staff by ASHLEY WANG

OR THE first time in years, Palo Alto’s Partners in Education, a non-profit organization that raises money for the district’s public schools, has failed to reach its funding target. In August 2016, PiE launched their annual fundraising campaign, aiming to secure $5.6 million in donations for the 2017-18 school year. While targets have been reached between late February and early March in the past, PiE is seeing a donation gap this time around and will most likely end the year under their goal. PiE has been pushing for more contributions and asking school principals to send emails urging parents to support the organization, which has donated more than $30 million to the Palo Alto Unified School District since 2005 to support science and art enrichment, emotional well-being programs, and additional electives. However, most of the funding is utilized to pay for personnel. Last year, Paly received more than $800,000 from PiE, with around ninety percent going to guidance counselors, outreach counselors, and teacher advisors, according to Paly Principal Kimberly Diorio. With this year’s drop in donations, many such provisions could be reduced or canceled. “[PiE funding] is pretty necessary,” Diorio said. “But I’m not too worried. I think Paly has enough of a buffer so we can pay for personnel costs even with the deficits.” As the limited college counseling services at Paly have been unable to support the needs of students, with many unable to schedule meetings, Diorio has hoped for a while to be able to hire an additional college advisor. But the lack of donations combined with district budget cuts makes this possibility seem unlikely. However, Diorio says that few PiE-funded benefits are essential. “We’ll make it work,” Diorio said. “The idea is to keep the impact out of the classroom.” v

Paly and Gunn theaters collaborate by STEPHANIE LEE A STUDENT-DIRECTED play starring two crosstown actors — one from Palo Alto and the other from Gunn — debuts at Gunn Studio Theater on Feb. 24 and 25. Written by Nick Payne, “Constellations” features a pair of starcrossed lovers whose love is shown through different universes, time and space, according to Paly senior Zoe Sego, who plays Marianne, the female lead. Gunn’s Sam Hyrkin will star as Roland, Marianne’s lover. “It’s a love story about a theoretical physicist and a beekeeper and how they kind of interact in different parallel universes,” Sego said. “It’s very much a thinker play.” “That [the script] was definitely the biggest factors that resonated with me while I was doing it,” Sego explained. “Also working with the people too — that has also been a big factor in pursuing it and devoting a lot energy time to.” v

Paly to welcome Career Month Speakers by EMMA COCKERELL

ALTO ALTO High School’s ninth annual Career Month will take place from Feb. 27 to March 9 in the LCR and SSRC. According to Career Month organizer Stella Wan, the goal of the two-week long speaker series is to provide students an opportunity to explore jobs they were arlready interested in while learning about new professions. “We want students to earn about the journeys of successful adults and what their experience were like when they were our age and in college,” Wan said. “Our goal is also to encourage students to pursue what intriguesthem, and to give them an in-person connection to adults who have found seeking parent volunteers to help set up and fulfillment in their work.” clean up before and after each talk. According to Tilak Misner, a co-orgaA free lunch, catered from Spot Pizza nizer of the event, the Career Month team is or Como Estas. will be provided to the first

FEBRUARY 2017

250 student attendees each day. Parents seeking to volunteer should contact Beth Martin at bmartin@pausd.org with their availability. v

Come enjoy freshlyprepared mexican food!

$5 off a $15 order or $10 off a $30 order! 3990 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306

(650) 424-8599

**Expires 3/31/17 **Only eligible at this Baja Fresh location **Cannot be combined with any other coupons or offers

DO YOU HAVE A LOVE FOR ART? -Painting -Mix-medium -Drawing -Creation -Print-Making -Art Appreciation -Special Course for Art Portfolio and AP Art

[STUDIO TIMES]

M 3:30-6:30PM, T 3:30-9:00PM, W 3:00 - 6:30PM, Th 3:30 - 6:30PM, F 3:00 - 9:00PM, SAT 9:00AM - 5:00PM, SUN 9:00AM - 5:00PM

[SUMMER CAMP] June 5/2017-Aug 11/2017 Monday-Friday 9:00AM - 3:30PM

CONVINIENTLY LOCATED A 10 MIN BIKE OR BUS#22 AWAY FROM PALY

CONTACT INFORMATION: 4141 El Camino Real, Palo Alto (415)385-4268 bpcstudio@gmail.com

BPCART STUDIO verdemagazine.com

The Delaning Dilemma GAPS BETWEEN LANES CONFOUND STUDENTS Text by DANIEL LOGAN and ANGELA LIU Art by Vivian Nyugen

ALO ALTO HIGH SCHOOL junior Nandini Relan is trying a new way to cope with her boredom during the 90 minutes that seem to drag on for an eternity. Today, she’s twirling her uncapped pen with one hand while her other hand supports her drooping head and glassy eyes, her focus slowly giving out to anything but the lecture. Everything about her new class seems to be too easy for her. Before she decided to drop a lane to this new reality, Relan could handle her honors class. The homework was highly difficult and time consuming, the labs required great care and quality work from partners, and the tests could seem unfair in the ways that they were challenging. But Relan was able to persevere, for the most part, so that she could deliver on the course load she had signed up for. Then came tech week for Paly theater. “For about a week, you are at school until around 10 p.m. rehearsing for an upcoming show again and again and again,” Relan says. “During tech week, managing school work is obviously a lot tougher [...] for the ‘Importance of Being Earnest,’ there was [an honors] test during the same week, and that [test] did not go well.” As extracurricular and academic stress built up, Relan chose to drop from honors to the regular class, a common solution for many students. What Relan sought through laning down was a slight relief from some of the workload of her academic life. What she got was a class so reduced in its rigor that it was unrecognizable. Unfortunately, many students say this is a regrettably familiar story. The Problem Supposedly, students in lower lanes should have the opportunity to work at a slower pace, and upper lanes provide kids

FEBRUARY 2017

features with a chance to explore their interests around laning. “I think that laning is a way of speand abilities to dive deeper into a subject. Therefore, the main difference between the cializing and that specializing can become regular and honors courses should be the narrow,” says Erin Angell, Escape Literature depth that the subject is explored. In the- teacher in the English department. “It can ory, the lower lanes offer not just different potentially restrict some students’ potential homework loads and learning speeds, but in academic achievement.” a variety of advantages for their academic Conversely, like students, teachers are disuccess. In particular, the Trigonometry vided in their opinion, with some standing Advanced students are allowed to retake behind the difference in low and high lanes. all their tests for a higher score, along with “It’s like night and day,” says Misha Stemsome teachers grading with a rubric rather pel, a Math Department teacher who has than the traditional point-system, allowing taught both the upper and lower lanes over her years at Paly and supports a noticeable full scores even on work with mistakes. “It’s like jumping over a pond and then gap between higher and lower classes. “If jumping over a lake,” says sophomore Kate we make the lanes too similar, why would Lee, who moved up lanes from freshman we have two different lanes?” In the past, students who to sophomore year to were enrolled in Geomreturn back to the lower lane. “There’s It’s like jumping over etry, a prerequisite math lane to Trigonometry no middle.” a pond and then and Algebra 2, were pre“There is too much of a jump be- jumping over a lake... pared and expected to take AP Calculus AB, tween a [physics] there’s no middle the lower of Paly’s two normal course and an -KATE LEE, sophomore highest calculus math honors course,” juclasses largely reserved nior Ryan Feitzinger for seniors. Now, they says. “When I was in LA for school, there was a midlane are exempt from trigonometry altogether course that did a better job of providing op- after taking Geometry. According to Stemtions to people with a variety of skillsets,” pel, the depth and vigor difference between Feitzinger says. “The gap in the challenge math lanes used to be significantly lower, between the two classes is just too big not with the extra support and advantage in lower lanes being a more recent change imto have anything in between.” In particular, Ryan suggested that the plemented by the administration in order to better assist struggling math department needstudents. ed to change around Perhaps now it is apsome of its courses. propriate for Paly to He believes that there I think that laning review their decision of is too much differis a way of specialestablishing such a difence in rigor between ference between upper Analysis and Intro- izing and that spelower lanes. Overduction to Analysis cializing can become and whelming student and and Calculus. faculty feedback points Students like narrow” -ERIN ANGELL, English teacher to the administration at Feitzinger, Lee, and Paly to not only considRelan are among er opening new middle those affected by these changes, but others in the Paly com- lanes, but to re-address how they choose to munity have their own opinions on the define and divide these lanes that often dictate students’ lives. matter. As for the present, “There are some ways to improve on the difference between reguTeacher Talk Students aren’t the only ones who lar, honors, and AP courses,” junior Kasra have some complaints about the current Orumchian says. “But, we need to be carelaning system. Some of the faculty at Paly ful in making these changes because they also don’t agree with some of the methods could cause unwanted consequences.” v

“

Verbatim: How do you feel about the difficulty of regular lanes versus honors and AP lanes at Paly? “The content between AP and Honors classes and non-honors classes is roughly the same but the speed at which it is taught varies. I feel like these dstinctions should be made clear as students are signing up for different courses.” — Lucy Volino, sophomore “I feel like many of the regular classes barely challenge me and the atmosphere become less oriented towards the subject and more towards the people in the room.”

—Edan Sneh, junior

“There’s a huge difference between regular and honors classes,it seems to me that there is no in between. I think it would be cool to see that get implemented.“ — Henry Badger, senior

verdemagazine.com

Artificial Intelligence in Education THE REVOLUTIONARY POTENTIAL OF AI IN THE CLASSROOM Text by EMMA COCKERELL and STEPHANIE YU

HE TERMINAtor an eerily humanoid cyborg assassin sent to Earth to destroy human civilization. Hal 9000: the homicidal red computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey, hell-bent on sending astronauts into the depths of space.

Westworld: an amusement park operated by android “hosts” who end up murdering their guests. Ava: the Machiavellian robot from Ex Machina that utilizes her intelligence to manipulate human affections, ultimately for personal gain. Hollywood has produced a wealth of movies featuring omniscient, futuristic robots, the majority of which depict AI (artificial intelligence) as having a destructive agenda. If stripped of media-influenced misconceptions, however, today’s AI is composed of no more than lines and lines of code. Far from being a manipulative force, artificial intelligence is a computational device capable of executing tasks traditionally performed by humans, an apparatus with the potential to change the landscape of learning whether in the form of interactive robots or mere software downloaded on existing devices. AI’s pivotal role in the classroom is a reality that many Palo Alto teachers and students may be the first to discover.

The Learning Landscape According to Martin Freed, the program director of the Artificial Intelligence Center at Stanford Research Institute International, academic success is not attributed only to traditionally desired qualities such as intellect and a strong work ethic. Curiosity and perceptiveness, Freed says, play just as large

Art by Vivian Nguyen

a role in learning, along with non-cogtional and economic impacts induced “Generally, technology has helped us, nitive factors such as drive, personaliby AI, the reality is that it is still in especially in education, more than it’s ty and resilience. These elements have its developmental stages. Although AI harmed us, so I think [AI] would also shaped SRI International’s education, has the conceptual capacity to revolube cool to experiment with,” Kapoor research and technological creations. tionize education on a national scale, says. “Mentors are the key to helping it currently lacks the potential to reSenior Kenneth Cheung, captain you through that much larger process place demand for jobs. of the Paly Robotics Team, believes [of learning], but not everybody has “Teachers are absolutely central that debating morals on this issue is a mentor,” Freed says. “Technology is and a lot of AI work focuses directly useless, and that owing to mankind’s where you start to ask, ‘Is there a techon their needs,” Lane says. “The idea limitations, the development and funological way of delivering the same that there’s any interest in replacture expansion of AI is inevitable. experience or the same value that a ing them [teachers] is way off base, “I think it’s going to happen anymentor delivers, in a software which it’s more about how we can improve way, no matter what, and not just in can be replicated as many times as you them — they’re a limited resource.” education but in everything else too,” want?’” Esther Wojcicki, Paly journalism Cheung says. “So I guess you can deH. Chad Lane, associate profesteacher and author of “Moonshots in bate whether it takes away people’s sor of educational psychology at the Education,” a book that explores the jobs or whatever, but I think computUniversity of Illinois, says AI will be future of digital education, echoes ers have the potential to do better. It’s instrumental in promoting more indiLane’s sentiments. She adds that AI just a matter of when.” vidualized learning. If AI were to be imcould mitigate the issues of the curExploring a different facet of plemented in rent schooling AI’s future influence and role in sothe classroom system, includciety, Paly Escape Literature teacher as software ing staffing Erin Angell toys with ideas of techdownloaded shortages. nology surpassing mankind through “I think we need to be a lightonto existing “The state of her instruction of Philip K. Dick’s house district ... we have a redevices, the Nevada — novel “Do Androids Dream of Elecsponsibility to be on the fronissues of large they were short tric Sheep,” and approaches AI with tier.” classroom a thousand a “healthy skepticism” regarding po— MAX MCGEE, PAUSD superintendent sizes and teachers this tential implementation in the classteachers’ limyear,” Wojcicroom setting. “I think it [AI] has the itations reki says. “And capacity to be really helpful but that garding specialit’s only going depends on its design — whether the ized learning needs would be resolved to get worse; not a lot of people are user is designed into the interface or by freeing teachers from the more going into education. You don’t get whether it’s designed to replace the repetitive aspects of teaching. Online paid a lot; the average salary is about user,” Angell says. services such as Khan Academy and $45,000 a year. Here in Palo Alto, you Angell acknowledged the imGrammarly work towards actualizing couldn’t even live.” portance of face-to-face interactions his vision by tracking students’ progress between teachers and students, which through personalized videos and tests, AI in Palo Alto Unified School facilitate the improvement of interoffering hints and providing feedback District personal skills. Communication and based on that progress. Although much of the discussion conversation, Angell says, are central “We want your time spent valusurrounding AI to learning. ably — this does not mean just giving in school set“I think answers; it means providing the student tings remains that human “I think that human interaction the help that’s needed at that moment,” speculative, interaction Lane says. “That’s really what the curthe Palo Alto is important is important for learning, which rent technology is capable of.” High School for learning, is one of the reasons that I don’t From Lane’s perspective, AI would community which is one think AI is going to be something eliminate the need for expensive new has formed diof the reasons that replaces a teacher.” hardware, assisting financially-chalverging opinthat I don’t — ERIN ANGELL, Escape Lit teacher lenged districts and closing the achieveions on its pothink AI is ment gap. Freed, however, asserts that tential impact going to be any changes made to realigning curricin the classroom. something that replaces a teacher,” ulum may constitute a section of hidNeil Kapoor, a freshman student Angell says. “I think that we are alden costs. who uses Khan Academy, an online serready seeing technology impeding our vice that delivers personalized feedback to ability to communicate, but again it AI and Teachers students in all stages of learning, holds just depends on how you design the Regardless of the potential educaa positive outlook on the future of AI. interface.”

STUDENT VERBATIMS

What is your opinion about incoporating AI into classrooms?

hat might be helpful for studying. It’s probably going to be more interactive ... [but] it could glitch a lot when it [initially] comes out, but eventually, it will be fine. — Dejo Almathkour, freshman

here’s no way it could fully replace teachers, because it just wouldn’t have the capability to actually teach students if they are confused or need help. But in some ways it would be good — it would be a lot more fair in terms of grading tests; [it would] be more impartial to students. So I think it would just really depend [on] how it was used. — Mary Fetter, sophomore

think the idea that AI can somehow replace a teacher neglects the human element necessary to having a successful learning experience. For me, what keeps going to school interesting is the human to human interactions I have with teachers and friends. In my opinion, these uses [AI] should be limited to allowing the school environment to be focused on human interactions. — Tilak Misner, junior

february 2017

think that when technological advancements occur, they get incorporated into educational curricula. I would totally be open to seeing what that could do if it could enhance the learning experience. — Dhara Yu, senior

Angell’s qualms surrounding AI encompass the fear of increasing the achievement gap between privileged and underserved areas. “There’s a baseline of literacy that one must have with digital technology so that they aren’t completely out of the loop,” Angell says. “So people in socio-economically disadvantaged districts or school environment will be behind [without equal access to AI technologies].” Max McGee, superintendent of PAUSD, reiterates Angell’s sentiment of the importance of increased access to technology and AI in schools. “You’re successful if you have as much curiosity and creativity as seniors as you did in kindergarten,” McGee says. “I think artificial intelligence really can help not just ignite it but sustain it … and create connections that are now almost impossible to make unless through individual relations.” His 45-year career has taught McGee that although certain changes have been enacted in the America’s schooling system, the fundamental concepts remain. “One of the major changes that have transpired in regular classrooms are now we have better projectors; we have computers; we havew smartboards,” McGee says. “But by and large, the structure is still the same. We still have one teacher for 25 to 35 kids.” McGee believes that education needs reforming, and says that AI is just what the system needs to improve in leaps and bounds. Monetary concerns, he says, won’t prove to be large roadblocks to making AI available to PAUSD and other school districts, and AI would become less cost-prohibitive as technology advances. “I think we need to be a lighthouse district,” McGee says. ‘I think with our human and financial resources, frankly we have a responsibility to be on the frontier and to help school districts realize some possibilities to help them grow.” v

Rethinking Prison

EXPLORING REFORM IN AMERICAN PENITENTIARIES

PON FIRST GLANCE, THE impressive building seems like a prestigious university or an upscale hotel. The majority of the building’s exterior is made up of sleek, curved glass windows, giving the building an exceedingly modern aesthetic, and an American flag rests near the entrance. This aesthetic continues upon entering the building. A comfortable lobby rests behind the doors, and colorful designs line the walls. Little details seem off, such as the protective glass window behind which the receptionist stands, but the illusion is only shattered when Correctional Officer Patrick Lucy walks out from a locked door in full police uniform and welcomes us to the Maple Street Correctional Center. This newly-constructed correctional facility, at 1300 Maple Street, Redwood City, was built with the motto “correction with care.” It is the pinnacle of prison reform, with rehabilitative programs in spades. However, not all prisons are created equal; private prisons, or for-profit prisons run by private organizations, are particularly controversial due to doubts about their effectiveness and quality.

Private Prisons Under the Obama administration, the phasing out of private prisons was begun, and was met with much support. However, with the election of Donald Trump, private prisons could make a comeback; according to NPR, within a single week after Trump’s election, the stock values of prominent for-profit detention companies increased by up to 40 percent. “Private prisons should be shut down and closed,” Lucy says. He claims that government facilities not only have to abide by much higher standards than private prisons, but that the majority of people who work as corrections officers are motivated to serve, whereas staff at private prisons are merely seeking profit. Stanford professor of law Larry Marshall agrees; because the sole motive behind private prisons is profit, he claims that they provide the fewest services possible in order to maximize their income. Additionally, because they are often in remote or desolate locations, inmates are much less accessible to their lawyers or to friends and family who may wish to visit them, and will lack a community to return to upon release.

Text by JOSH CODE and SAURIN HOLDHEIM

verdemagazine.com

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen offers a different perspective on private prisons. According to Rosen, private prisons are currently incentivized to hold the largest number of inmates for the longest amount of time; however, the system could easily be altered in order to incentivize rehabilitation. Rosen claims that through a simple plan, whereby private prisons receive payments for each released prisoner who does not relapse into a life of crime — and has to pay a fine each time a released inmate does end up back in jail — a capitalistic drive to offer quality rehabilitation would exist. These private organizations, which have more resources than government-run prisons, could devise new ways to effectively rehabilitate inmates and reduce recidivism. The problem of recidivism Recidivism is a large problem in the criminal justice system, according to the United States Bureau of Justice, and its reduction is one of the main goals of modern prison reform. The Bureau’s report shows that 76.6 percent of 404,638 prisoners released from state prisons in 2005 had been rearrested by 2010. “Recidivism is high, it has always been very high,” says Palo Alto Police Department Sergeant DuJuan Green. “Sadly, until we’re able to create a more stable environment, you’re always gonna have recidivism.” According to Larry Marshall, a Stanford professor of law and fierce combatant of wrongful convictions, part of this problem stems from the fact that the focus of the prison system has shifted over the years from rehabilitation to retribution. “Rehabilitation has just really, really gone by the wayside." Marshall claims that this was a byproduct of the politicization of the crime issue, which began when Richard Nixon ran on an anti-crime platform. Consequent politicians, such as Bill Clinton, would later follow suit, demonstrating their toughness and strength of character through crackdowns on crime. According to Defense Attorney Jeffrey Hayden, during the past 10 to 15 years the drive of politicians to be tough on crime has substantially decreased, and an increasing number of reform bills have been passed. Most recently, Proposition 57 (or the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of

february 2017

recidivism noun | re·cid·i·vism

2016) passed, the primary purpose being to increase the availability of parole options. This followed a chain of other propositions, including props 36 and 47, which were vital in reducing punishments for minor crimes and first-time offenders. Prop 47 reverted many felonies to misdemeanors; according to Hayden, this was a huge help for many, as offenders were able to appeal to have their past felonies retroactively changed to misdemeanors. Not only would this reduce sentence times for current inmates, but the alteration to prior inmates’ records allow them to more easily gain professional licenses and jobs.

Rehabilitative programs in prison One particularly potent form of prison rehabilitation comes in the form of education. According to California’s Office of Correctional Education, many programs, such as the High School Diploma Program, exist to prepare inmates for life on the outside. Additionally, career-oriented classes such as Construction Technology, Carpentry and Auto Mechanics, are common, which the OCE claims reduce recidivism by allowing Wrehabilitated inmates to earn living wages upon release. Lucy says that correctional officers are integral to rehabilitation as they offer

Prison Statistics at a glance

76.6%

of 404,638 prisoners released from state prisons in 2005 had been rearrested by 2010, according to the US Bureau of Justice.

40%

Art by Annie Zhou

The tendency of prisoners to relapse back into a life of crime upon release from incarceration. guidance to inmates. “I’m like a parent in a way,” Lucy says, describing his relationship with prisoners. The aforementioned Maple Street Correctional Facility, where Lucy works, offers many programs to prisoners who choose to turn their lives around. “They [inmates] get to learn how to have a career, and from there they can get jobs where they can hopefully never come back here,” Lucy says. However, Lucy makes it clear that the inmates themselves must make the commitment to rehabilitation in order to truly benefit from the available programs.

Unfortunately, not all prisons are as rehabilitation-oriented as the Maple Street Correctional Facility. However, according to Lucy, many programs — such as Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous and personality and job training courses — are very common among prisons nationwide. Progressive alternatives Jane Mitchell, founder of The Reset Foundation, claims that traditional prison programs are insufficient. This belief inspired the creation of her foundation, an organization whose core goal is to “help

the amount that private prison stock increased after Donald Trump's election, according to NPR.

The Prison Yoga Project has reached inmates in

145+ 24 United States jails and prisons across

states.

verdemagazine.com

The Prison Yoga Project

n a mission to spread yoga to peple other than wealthy white women, James Fox began teaching classes at California’s San Quentin prison in 2002. “Based on my experience of teaching there I began developing a methodology and a curriculum [for teaching yoga].” Fox says. Fox published this curriculum in a book that he began sending out to prisoners for free in 2010. Thus came the birth of Fox’s non-profit, the Prison Yoga Project, which has now affected inmates in more than 145 penitentiaries in 24 states. The mission of his organization is to establish the practice of yoga and mindfulness in prisons as a method of rehabilitation. Fox, who has practiced yoga for many years, found meaning in spreading yoga to others — specifically prisoners. “I knew I didn’t want to work in a yoga studio,” Fox says. “My primary motivation was to bring yoga to populations that weren’t being exposed to it.” According to Fox, the Prison Yoga Project has caught the attention of prison employees in many countries around the world, including Sweden, Norway and Germany. Fox has travelled to these countries to teach yoga and mindfulness to prisoners abroad — as well as teachers in foreign prisons who have then replicated his lessons, extending the organization’s reach. In fact, Fox’s book has recently been translated into Spanish, preceding the official launch of the Prison Yoga Project in Mexican prisons this month. Fox feels that the effectiveness of yoga in prisons comes from an emphasis on one’s sense of self. “The real DNA of a yoga practice is all about increasing self-awareness [and] self reflection,” Fox says. “Increasing self-awareness is the beginning of behavioral change.” Ultimately, Fox believes that his organization’s work reaches far beyond the lives of inmates during their sentences. “If you’re providing programs for them [prisoners] while they’re in [prison], you’re helping to impact the recidivism rate,” Fox says. “You’re helping to provide life skills, education [and] lasting behavioral changes that are going to carry over once they’re out.”

people break out of that cycle” of prison to Reform going forward poverty and then back to prison again. Donald Trump's election has the po“There’s entire generations that are tential to alter the progress of prison reform; growing up expecting to spend time in pris- however, according to Hayden, because the on,” Mitchell says. “I used to teach in jail, vast majority of cases are prosecuted in state and in one of my classes I had a guy who and local court systems as opposed to federmet his father for the first time [in prison].” al, major effects may not be felt. In cases such as these, where people “California is clearly going in different expect to be incarcerated for significant directions than the nation voted in the last portions of their lives due to their socio- presidential election,” Hayden says. Howeconomic status or family ever, he does think fedhistory, Mitchell expresses eral meddling is possible: There’s entire doubt that in-prison pro“At what point does the grams are enough to end to government start generations that federal the problem. prosecuting things beare growing up To remedy this situacause they disagree with tion, Mitchell is working the way states are running expecting to on expanding the “network things?” of campuses that serve spend time [in Hayden also specuyoung people who otherlates that the federal govprison.]” wise would be sent to prisernment could resort to — JANE MITCHELL, CEO of on.” The people selected by holding funds from CalThe Reset Foundation the foundation, who typiifornia’s prison system. cally face sentences of up As of now, however, the to ten years in prison, instead (with court Trump administration has made no such approval) attend one of the foundation’s strides, and based on the way the prison residential campuses, where they live rent- system has been moving in recent years it free and gain an education over two years. seems likely that California prisons will After those two years, participants are free continue to institute reforms which further Art by Annie Zhou to go back to their lives without having set reduce overpopulation and recidivism. foot in prison, and are far less likely to end "A true conservative would acquiesce up back on trial. to the state, but who knows," he says. v

“

Art by Vivian Nguyen

DeVos and Education: Effects of School Choice DEBATING HOW TO BEST EDUCATE OUR FUTURE Text by AMIRA GAREWAL, ALICIA MIES and FRANCES ZHUANG

MID THE CHATTER OF HIS peers, Rayshaun Jordan, a senior at Eastside High School, rolls up the sleeves of his red and white Eastside hoodie and gestures purposefully, speaking about the differences between his education in public school and his current experience in a charter school. “If you were focused, you suffered,” Jordan says, describing his experiences at Costaño Elementary School in East Palo Alto, where he says class disruptions were the norm. After entering Eastside, which he describes as “a diamond in the rough,” Jordan has found a place where he can thrive. Less than five miles away from Palo Alto High School, public schools in East Palo Alto lack resources and face challenges their counterparts across the freeway often do not. The Ravenswood City School District, which serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade, reported that 17 percent of students perform at grade level

in English and 12 percent in math, while Palo Alto Unified School District disclosed that 83 percent of students perform at grade level in English and 84 percent in math. With this knowledge, parents like Jordan’s often opt to send their students to charter or private schools instead. Could an expansion of school choices begin to break down the long-lasting problems with East Palo Alto schools? Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trump’s newly confirmed Federal Secretary of Education, seems to think so. DeVos is one of the nation’s most enthusiastic proponents of school choice, a system in which parents send their children to the school they decide best fits their student. She also suggests relocating funds to charter and private schools, which would strip public schools of much of their federal funding and advocates for “vouchers,” which redirect taxpayer funds to allow parents to send their children to the private schools of their choice.

Since a community mere miles away from Palo Alto already uses a system similar to the one DeVos has championed in Michigan for years, now is the time to discuss the changes that will occur on a national level. Regardless of one’s stance on DeVos’ advocacies, it is apparent that her confirmation will drastically change the way we approach education reform. The most pertinent question following her appointment will be a matter of what types of change she will bring — will she throw East Palo Alto’s struggling public schools a lifeline by reforming existing systems, or will she do so with school choice as she has in her home state of Michigan? Criss-cross, applesauce, we ended up with DeVos Before becoming the Secretary of Education, DeVos spent two decades in her home state of Michigan championing charter schools. The rise of charter schools,

or publicly funded schools that are independently run, has had direct impacts in Michigan. Brian Wilson, a Palo Alto High School journalism teacher with 18 years of experience teaching in Michigan public schools, saw the hardships that students had to endure first-hand as a result of DeVos’ actions as lobbyist. “There were schools that were open one day, and then there would be a sign posted on the door the next day saying the school had closed,” Wilson says. “A lot of that lack of oversight and lack of regulation led to some difficult situations for students.” One of the major problems with charter schools, according to Wilson, is that they are run more similarly to for-profit private schools or corporations instead of public schools, which are run entirely by the government and do not produce profit. “There’s a huge concern when you start to treat entities like public schools as a business,” Wilson says. “There are certain things where there’s such a human element to them — we’re not factories putting out a product.” Although Wilson says that the bulk of charter schools performed similarly to the public schools in Michigan, he also says that charter schools are not necessarily the solution to the problems that country’s education faces.

Percent of Students at Grade Level 17% English RCSD

PAUSD

12% Math English

83%

Math

84%

In the Ravenswood City School District the majority of 3rd through 8th grade students are below grade level in English and math, in contrast to Palo Alto public schools. Source: California Department of Education.

“The families that live in those districts are incredibly poor,” Wilson says. “To think that there’s not a correlation between the two [poverty and low-quality education], to think that you can just make things magically better by opening a charter school — is more than a little silly.” Palo Alto Unified School District school board member Ken Dauber confirms Wilson’s claims, saying that DeVos’ passion for charter schools and lack of experience in office makes her ill-suited for her new position. “DeVos is a terrible choice for Secretary of Education,” Dauber says. “She seems

remarkably ignorant about the actual issues of public education.” Case study: A student-dubbed diamond in the rough After East Palo Alto’s only high school closed in 1976, students were redirected to public schools in neighboring cities. This caused 65 percent of students to drop out of high school, with less than 10 percent enrolled in four-year colleges, according to the Eastside website. Since the opening of Eastside in 1996, 100 percent of graduates have been admitted into four-year colleges, speaking to the quality of education offered by the school. Students who do not attend Eastside have other options for high school, with most being redirected to the Sequoia Union High School District and attending Carlmont, Menlo-Atherton, Sequoia or Woodside High School based on their address within district boundaries, according to the RCSD website. They can also opt for private or charter schools or transfer out of the district through the Tinsley program. “Over there [in public school], I didn’t get as much help as I would’ve liked,” says Wendy Avilar, an Eastside senior. “Here I have teachers who support me, help me out and guide me through the process.” Although Avilar speaks confidently and attributes her success to the increased PIGGY BACK RIDE Middle schoolers at Eastside relax during their lunch break on a crisp day. "My favorite thing about Eastside is that it makes us feel like a family," one student says. The first generation students, many of whom live on campus, enjoy the benefits of a modern private school education. Photo by Alicia Mies.

february 2017

features attention she receives at Eastside, students at neighboring high schools tend to be less sure of their academic abilities. Carolyn Blatman, the executive director of All Students Matter, an organization which provides over two hundred volunteer tutors in public elementary schools in East Palo Alto, echoes this statement. “These kids [in public schools] have very low self-esteem and don’t really think that they are going to be able to achieve anything,” Blatman says. “Some of the statistics aside from academics are pretty shocking. A third of the kids we work with are considered homeless. 94 percent are low income.” In addition to economic factors, social norms play an important role in the drastic differences between local public schools such as Menlo-Atherton, where Avilar would have attended, and Eastside. “Something I notice about public schools is that the kids there always get sent to the office and don’t care about their homework,” Avilar says, reflecting on her earlier experience at Brentwood, an elementary school in the Ravenswood district. “If I went to a public [high] school, I wouldn’t have cared as much about my education. I’m happy that I’m not over there. Here, we have a mission to go to college — we want to get somewhere.” Eastside senior Jocelyn Banuelos chimes in, and expresses her gratitude for the camaraderie she found at Eastside that she says contributed to her experiences. “It’s like a second home,” Banuelos says. “We’re a big happy family here.” Other Charters in the Bay Although Eastside students thrive both socially and academically, charter schools are not a one size fits all model that can be

scaled up and adapted to the nation or reBraxton’s perspective differs slightly gion as a whole. from those of DiBrienza and Dauber, al“What makes charter schools success- though he does agree that DeVos’ champiful in underperforming communities is that oning of charter schools, if successful, could they innovate and target their local commu- damage the health of the current education nity,” says Anthony Braxton, an eighth grade system. Simultaneously, he believes that Deteacher at Cesar Chavez Vos will not be able and Green Oaks Acadto create reforms that There’s a huge emy, a public school, in will last following East Palo Alto. “There concern when you the duration of her may be things that they as Secretary of start to treat entities term need to focus on that Education. other schools do not.” “She has a sense like public schools as Braxton’s views on of what she can ina business.” charter schools are influence that is prob— BRIAN WILSON, Paly journalism fluenced by his experiably not realistic,” teacher ence teaching at public Braxton says. “I don’t schools similar to those think the changes she in East Palo Alto in San Lorenzo and San would want to be embraced on a national Francisco, as well as private schools. level would actually be effective.” As a former teacher and current Palo Although the odds that DeVos’ lobAlto Unified School District board member, bying suggestions will be translated into Jennifer DiBrienza feels that DeVos’ model real policies are slim, Braxton believes that of school choice avoids the problem instead underfunded school districts could benefit of solving it. because DeVos’ advocacies shed light on the “I think it’s important to remember that underlying issues at hand and could pave the we have a commitment to educate everyone, road to progress. “[DeVos’ confirmation] is and if we have a situation where that’s not not a real positive sign,” Braxton says. “It’s happening, we have an obligation to fix that, a mixed bag, but if it were possible for her not take a percentage of those kids elsewhere [DeVos] to put a spotlight on students who and leave the rest,” DiBrienza says. go to schools in underperforming districts, Although Palo Alto public schools re- then that’s a positive change,” Braxton says. ceive the bulk of their funding from property taxes instead of the federal or state gov- To be continued ernment, other districts remain vulnerable While schools such as Eastside have to financial deficits. brought students closer to their dreams of “I think [DeVos’ confirmation] will attending college, these educational instituhave a larger impact on schools that have tions remain imperfect, especially in terms higher needs,” Dauber says. “The govern- of the drastic achievement gap between stument should give more money to schools dents in wealthy districts and their underwith more lower incomes or students with privileged counterparts. special needs [like] East Palo Alto schools.” “Day by day, we’re helping those students make the determination whether they will be part of that predictive power of demographics or whether they will supercede it,” Braxton says. As DeVos embarks on her journey as the Secretary of Education, only time will tell whether her four-year tenure will bring progress, as Braxton hopes, or whether she will spread the Michigan model of struggling charter schools that often leave students disappointed across the nation. v SCHOOL CHOICE DeVos stands for the system known as "school choice" which allows families to choose the school that best fits their child. Art by Vivian Nguyen.

verdemagazine.com

To Grow or Not To Grow or Not to Grow to Grow PLANNING THE FUTURE OF A CITYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LANDSCAPE THE FUTURE OF DEVELOPMENT IN PALO ALTO

Text by ASIA GARDIAS and ASHLEY HITCHINGS Photography by JAMES POE Art by AISHAH MAAS

features

HUSHED SILENCE PER- Back to the Beginning meates throughout the room, Nestled in the Green Acres neighboronly to be disrupted by a hood, between apartment complexes and council member murmur- the remnants of an orchard, lies a site that ing into their microphone. resurrected a long-standing dispute. The Walking into the council chamber of Palo largely-residential plot was to hold 60 units Alto City Hall, one is greeted by rows of of affordable senior housing and 12 single taupe couches, nine council members peer- family units, but controversy resulted in the ing down at the crowd from behind an arc- 2013 creation of Measure D. If passed, the shaped podium and a jumble of citizens ballot would shift the zoning of Palo Alto exiting and entering the chamber. from low-density to high-density. Idling in the back of the room are Proponents of the measure argued that several residents with something to say. these housing units were necessary to proAmong the congregation stands Peter vide the elderly with affordable housing. Underhill, a resident of Palo Alto for the Opponents argued that the city’s traffic past 28 years and a researcher at Stanford would become congested, quality of life University, who waits to voice his concern would suffer and developers would take adabout three large homes simultaneously be- vantage of the situation and create dense, ing built around his small cottage. for-profit market-rate housing. “I guess it’s an example of creative de- By a margin of 13 percent, the propostruction,” Underhill says in a grave, gravel- sition was denied, halting the development ly tone. “Change of any type is always chal- and maintaining Palo Alto’s limitations on lenging. You know, I’m zoning. not against the project but I have a few conSlow and Steady cerns.” After the debate regardChange of any Known as a coling Measure D, a polittype is always lege-town-turned-subical action committee urb and a cutting-edge calling for slower dechallenging.” hub for creation, innovelopment was formed. vation and technology, Focused on maintain — PETER UNDERHILL, Stanford researcher Palo Alto’s perks are ing Palo Alto’s current also the sources of its status as a residential problems. In particusuburb and ensuring lar, a housing shortage, sky-high prices and that transportation doesn’t become concongested traffic cause concern among its gested, Palo Alto for Sensible Zoning adcitizens. vocates that housing should maintain a low The Comprehensive Plan, Palo Alto’s density and that development should focus land-use guidebook that incorporates citi- on housing. zen committee views and has been in the Many advocates of slower growth, works for nearly a decade. Several key com- known as “residentialists,” share a common ponents of the plan were omitted on 5-4 sentiment — for Palo Alto to retain its invotes by the City Council during a January timate, small-town charm. meeting. “I have a strong sense of wanting to Following a notable council election preserve what is ‘Palo Alto’ about Palo Alto,” and the recent controversial modifications says Doria Summa, a member of the PASZ to the Comprehensive Plan, the trajectory leadership team. “Retaining housing for exof Palo Alto’s future growth is shifting. As isting residents and providing more below Palo Altans approach the crossroads of their market rate housing in the future is a big part city’s future, they are faced with the ques- of what is ‘Palo Alto’ about our city to me.” tion — to grow or not to grow.

“

In the Fast Lane On the other side of the debate is Palo Alto Forward, a non-profit organization, advocating for more development to address the problem of transportation, with solutions such as creating more local housing allowing people to access their work spaces easier. To maintain Palo Alto’s vibrant economy and community, PAF says more housing and development is necessary. “If we don’t fix housing in Palo Alto, it will be very hard for people to have a good quality of life,” say Eric Rosenblum from PAF. “It also impacts their jobs, education and many other things.” New Council: Where They Stand Following a notable council election, the 2016 city council election has swung the majority to pro-growth. New council members play a crucial role in the future of Palo Alto growth, as evidenced by Lydia Kou is one of the recently-elected council members who advocates for regulated growth. A long-time organizer of community preparedness events and groups. Kou says she is ‘for the residents’ and is not affiliated with either of the organizations. “I would prefer to be thought of as a pro-resident,” Kou says. “I’ve worked for years and years in the community ... so I see myself as a pro-resident and maybe that might translate to a residentialist. If residentialist means I’m a pro-resident advocate, then I’ll take it.”

Kou campaigned against extra devel- discord. opment of office spaces in Palo Alto, saying Demographic and economic that focusing on the building of schools, changes have resulted in polarization affordable homes and transportation will over these issues, and resihelp solve the housing problems. dents hold firm stances. “It is only in one area that we’re devel- “When I was a little kid, oping, and we’re forgetting housing and re- there was not much here and I tail,” Kou says. “We’re forgetting about the think it should’ve stayed that way,” says residents that already live here and about Wendy Wachhorst, a Palo Alto resident their quality of life.” and court reporter. “The more commercial Kou says she is not a proponent of no- spaces they build the more it drives up the growth. pricing. When I was younger, people could “I think Palo Alto is definitely going afford to buy a house here. Now I can’t afto grow, it’s inevitable as our population ford to buy a house.” grows,” Kou says. “It is mainly important Others, however, welcome developthat we do it in a manner that is responsible ment as a means of solving issues of housas well as sensible.” ing and transportation. Adrian Fine, another newly-elect- “I think we should have an emphasis ed council member, advocates improving on having more diversity in the costs of housing and transportation issues through housing so you can actually afford to live an increase of development. More flexible here even if you don’t have a million dolto growth, Fine says Palo Alto needs to lars,” says Laura Docter, a teacher and Palo adapt to future change and will transition Alto resident. “We shouldn’t be afraid of into a “mid-urban” community over the height. I think people around here get sucourse of the century. per paranoid if things go over two or three “We’re going to be a city of neighstories. I don’t think it’s a problem to go up borhoods with denser, commercial cores,” just so long as we pay attention to things Fine says. “University [Avenue] may be like traffic.” a couple stories tall. I Most citizens share the think to preserve our same goals — increase nei0ghborhoods, the affordable housing, Low-income housbest way is to grow El improve traffic, maining allows me to Camino, University tain a robust economy and Cal Ave.” and manage growth. be successful in a Through devel“From my perspeccompetitive envioping commercial tive, low income areas, Palo Alto can housing is more of a ronment without adapt for growth while blessing rather than a having my finanpreserving its culture of curse,” says Palo Alto innovation. High School senior cial situation as a “I think it’s really João-Gabriel Carvalho barrier.” important that we have De Pina. “I’m able to — JOÃO-GABRIEL CARVALHO DE the ability for young live in a high-income PINA, senior folks to move here to community and go to live here and to conschool in a high-intribute to our economy, our business[es]… come community even with my financial and, in the past few years, some of that’s situation. Living in low-income housing shifted,” Fine says. “The ecosystem has allows me to be successful in a competitive changed and I’m not sure Palo Alto’s doing environment without having my financial everything it can to maintain a vibrant eco- situation as a barrier.” nomic business and retail presence.” Citizen approval of zoning, whichdictates types of development in a given Moving Forward area, has been decreasing, dropping to 38.3 Opinions on local development vary percent, according to the National Citizen across neighborhoods and people. Trans- Survey for the City of Palo Alto. The abilportation access, parking in neighborhoods ity to find affordable and quality housing and types of zoning all serve as points of has followed a similar trend, dropping to

“

February 2017

8.2 percent, which is why it remains a priority of the city council. “Palo Alto does provide low income housing opportunities but the selection process is very difficult and there’s a huge waiting list,” De Pina says. “There’s definitely room for improvement, specifically in regard to providing more apartment buildings in Palo Alto for low income families.” While the concern about transportation and housing is shared, most Palo Altans, off and on the council, agree that some degree of regulations are necessary. “It would be nice to accommodate the needs of the less fortunate people or younger people,” Underhill says, echoing the sentiments shared by many Palo Altans. “How that’s done is really the big challenge.” The debate over development stems from means, not motivation. At the end of the day, most citizens of Palo Alto share the belief that development should benefit the people. “There is an agreement between the two groups that we want the best for the welfare of the city,” Kou says. “We all want vibrancy for the city but through different methods.” v

A LOOK INTO PALY’S HIDDEN GAMING COMMUNITY Art by Eoin O’Kramer

RASPING OPPOSITE SIDES of a chunky, 1990s-reminiscent television, sophomores Anthony Xie and Francis Peng shuffle out of the English department offices and into room 204. Everyone is already there, either in the middle of unpacking their lunches or untangling knotted cords. All heads snap towards the TV once it’s carried in. Not a single eye deviates from its path while the TV is set down and powered on. A couple seconds later, an annoyingly iconic Nintendo tune jingles from the speakers, and the freeze in time is shattered as everyone suddenly cheers and scrambles for the controllers. Video gaming in the media Boasting a gifted student body famed for its distinctive individuality and array of talents, Palo Alto High School’s

Text by EOIN O’KRAMER and ASHLEY WANG

diversity is practically undeniable. But worldwide, with video games generating don’t just take anyone’s word for it. Walk a lofty $91 billion in 2016, according around the school’s lunchtime scene, to a report from SuperData Research. for instance. Artists, athletes, debaters, There are also massive video game tourtheater kids — there are groups big and naments like The International, which small of people interwoven together by brings teams from around the world into their unique interests. a single city to compete for over $20 milAnd then, clumped together with lion. Thousands come to a physical stadiperhaps as many laptops as there are peo- um like Seattle’s Key Arena and millions ple, is another group. watch the livestream footage every year. They are gamers, a group that gets a Despite there being a negative perbad rep from the media and perhaps even ception towards the video gaming infrom themselves. dustry, and it remaining on the cultural Xie jokes, they are, “A margins of society, it bunch of lowlifes hiding has proven itself to be I was too scared to tell in their blankets drinking them I played videoga goldmine of wealth energy drinks.” and popularity ames” But video gaming isn’t — ADAM PELAVIN, sophomore a neccesarily societally subPerspectives standard practice; in fact, “Gaming culture it’s a large-scale business enterprise. is the media,” sophomore Adam Pelavin There are more than 1.8 billion gamers says. “It’s just not the one people are see-

“

BATTLING IT OUT Paly sophomores Anthony Xie and Francis Peng go head to head in a game of Super Smash Bros Melee at Paly’s weekly Smash Club. Photo by Emma Cockerell.

verdemagazine.com

ing. So many people are a part of it, but people don’t know it exists.” According to Pelavin, mainstream media means something different for everyone. While non-gamers may rely on Facebook to stay updated on the most recent phenomenon, most gamers use Reddit. There is a whole community out there — within reach but also too far away. In Hearthstone, a game played by over 50 million people according to its developers, Pelavin zipped up the leaderboards to rank No. 2 in all of North America at one point. While this was a huge achievement for him, it only made him feel more out of place with his football-playing clique. “I was too scared to tell them I played video games,” Pelavin says. “People are surprised when I tell them I play [Hearthstone].” Now, Pelavin’s comfort in following his own interests is unmistakeable. With his closest friends all aware of the world of video games, he no longer feels the necessity of secrecy. But there’s still a slight weariness in being more open with this hobby, which he doesn’t believe others are interested in. “I don’t want to be public about it,” Pelavin says. “In sports, people brag about their achievements. Everyone knows football and soccer so they can relate to them. But people don’t care about video games and people who don’t know about it will stay not knowing.” Kevin Kim, president of Paly’s Smash Club, a club dedicated to playing Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros., feels similarly about this disconnect from gaming, but also sees it as an area that’s in the midst of big change. “[Video games] don’t really show up in big name media,” Kim says. “But it’s growing and it’s starting to become a bit more normal.” Though Kim and Pelavin may not agree on where gaming is headed, they can both attest to the positive impacts it has had on their lives. “It’s an escape from the social expectations,” Kim says. “At Smash Club, you can let go of these fears and just chill with people — play some Smash.” The future of gaming is shrouded in mystery, yet the community that gamers

February 2017

have created over the past few decades remains accepting and diverse. “I don’t judge people by the way they look because of gaming,” Pelavin says. “I didn’t choose to like them by how they look, their race, if they’re short or tall, if they’re attractive or not. Imagine meeting It’s an escape from the someone and not caring social expectations” about anything except who — KEVIN KIM, Smash Club President they are. It’s meeting people for their personality, and I want everyone to have that opportunity.” v

“

FAST FINGERS Nintendo GameCube controller in action during a match of Super Smash Bros Melee. Photo by Emma Cockerell.

profiles

An Ageless Epidemic

THE LINKS BETWEEN AIDS AND TODAY’S POLITICS Text by ALIA CUADROS-CONTRERAS, FRANCES ZHUANG and JULIE CORNFIELD Art by Vivian Nguyen

F YOU TOOK A MINUTE OF silence for each [person who died of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome since the beginning of the 80s epidemic], we’d have the equivalent of 66 years of silence,” says Vince Crisostomo, a program manager at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. “The thing about this [AIDS] is that … we had the tools to prevent infection, but not the political will. Knowing [about] those 35 million people, I feel like we owe it to them to stand up. Those of us still here have an obligation to stand up for the next chapter.” In the Bay Area, the history of the AIDS epidemic lives and breathes in our healthcare systems, our schools and most prominently, the minds of those who witnessed the suffering of thousands. Many remember how, during a time of fear and uncertainty, the government failed to react until at least 19,000 people in the United States had died from a disease wrongly identified by popular culture as “gay cancer,” a disease about which the country’s populace knew almost nothing. With a conservative, “alt-right” presidential administration coming into power three and a half decades after the start of the AIDS crisis, some conerned individuals apprehensively wonder how another epidemic such as AIDS, one that primarily targets a minority community, would be addressed by our national government. Looking towards our future, we are forced to reflect upon our past.

“

PAST AND FUTURE: Reagan’s reluctance to deal with AIDS leads us to wonder what the Trump administration holds for the future of conditions that primarily affect minority groups.

verdemagazine.com

“There is a conservative constituency in our country who is very anti-gay,” Crisostomo says. “Almost everything this whole administration has done has been challenging for our [LGBT] community. I think it [the HIV/ AIDS epidemic] is going to be the greatest teacher of all time.” Where It Started The AIDS epidemic began with a few cases of an immune deficiency disease, usually associated with immunosuppressive drugs or drugs that weaken the immune system during cancer treatments, in San Francisco. Although the disease grew rapidly during the early 80s, there was no diagnosis for AIDS or even HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus which causes AIDS. However, one fact known for certain was that the gay community was disproportionately affected by the illness because of the ease with which the virus could be transmitted during anal sex. At the time, gay men were subject to ridicule and discrimination and were often told that they were responsible for their ill fortune. “At some point at that time [the 80s] it was said that AIDS was a gay community issue, not everybody’s issue,” says 48-year-old Albert Sandoval, a gay man who lived in San Francisco during the epidemic. “I guess the gays were also pinned that title because the straight community always says that it was our fault. We were the ones who were promiscuous and didn’t care enough. That was kind of the message from a big section of the community here [in San Francisco].” Such homophobia was not limited to radical individuals — it seeped into legislature in the form of Helm’s Amendments, which barred the federal funding of any educational materials that intended to “promote or encourage, directly or indirectly, homosexual sexual activity.” The intended effect of these rules was to discourage gay sexual activity, but in reality, the lack of support for the AIDS-affected community kept solutions for the epidemic at bay. When all major, federal sources of support seemed to ignore the ever-growing epidemic, the gay community came together. “Gay men banded together,” says Philip Pizzo, former dean of the medical school at Stanford University. “They simply did not accept the fact that there would not be effective treatments. They organized, they pushed the medical community, they pushed the regulatory community, the Food and Drug Admin-

istration, they pushed the NIH [National Institutes of Health] to say ‘You have to develop things’ and it had an effect.” Let’s Talk About AIDS In response to the gay community’s action, many organizations designed awareness campaigns to combat these homophobic sentiments and to deconstruct the misconceptions surrounding HIV and AIDS. Yet the awareness induced by these campaigns was not enough to spur conversation. Even in liberal communities like Palo Alto, AIDS was discounted and failed to be discussed in schools like Palo Alto High School, according to math teacher Arne Lim, who began teaching at Paly in 1985. “The awareness of something like this was slow,” Lim says. “It was slow because it was hard for people to believe that it was actually happening. We [Paly teachers] weren’t told to discuss it [AIDS]. We weren’t told not to discuss it, but we weren’t told ‘This is what you need to say.’” This lack of discourse about AIDS was representative of the mystery shrouding the disease. Community members failed to comprehend how it was transmitted or even how it spread beyond the gay community, allowing unsafe practices to persist and discrimination of AIDS affected individuals to continue. “One of my clients told me ages ago, they didn’t fear the disease, getting sick and dying, they feared people and what people would do to them,” Crisostomo says. “People with closed minds don’t help. It’s one of the challenges. I long for the day when the quality of life and human life of my clients is not dependent on who’s in office, not dependent on who has more money.” After years of silent, distressed suffering, AIDS patients finally began feeling support from the community during the late 80s. As education spread and the disease began to be taken seriously, the community eventually came to the understanding that HIV, and consequently AIDS, could affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation. An Enduring Lesson According to Pizzo, the experience of an incredibly debilitating disease such as AIDS is shaped by the surrounding community that supports the individual. As demonstrated during the AIDS epidemic, when the government fails to support a minority group and educate the general populace in times of distress, communities across the country falter

profiles in supporting the affected minority. In our current political scene, as the targeting of minority groups is increasingly prevalent, the government’s involvement has become increasingly crucial, according to Crisostomo. “There’s a lot of fear mongering and they [the Trump administration] also create situations where people don’t make the best decisions,” Crisostomo says. “The ban on immigration was highly discriminatory. Any time you can discriminate against one group of people, nobody is safe.” Where we once saw laws preventing AIDS education, we now see the government threatening to withhold funding from crucial, modern sources of medical information. “They’re also defunding Planned Parenthood,” Crisostomo says. “You wouldn’t think that’s relevant to our cause [AIDS], but in some states, that’s where people get their education and learn of HIV.” Further, President Trump, according to multiple of his statements, strongly opposes vaccines, a method scientifically proven to reduce disease, according to the

Centers for Disease Control. To Crisostomo, Trump’s disregard of evidence in favor of crucial health measures is another way that our country has failed to learn from past mistakes and part of the lasting shame assigned to HIV and AIDS. Although it’s been years since the height of the epidemic, Crisostomo feels that society continues to look at the gay community with prejudice, especially in the context of the new administration. “There’s a lot of stigma about being gay; we’ve managed to address a lot of that but it’s still present,” Crisostomo says. “There’s criminalization in California and other states. There is a conservative constituency in our country who are very anti-gay, anti-HIV, anti-a lot of things.” Yet Pizzo, who views the issue from a more scientific perspective, believes that both society and medicine have made great strides in combating the disease. “It’s not where it started,” Pizzo says. “It started with fear, blaming, stigmatization, frustration, anger — but it ultimately galvanized the set of approaches that really led to tremendous progress. It’s a very good

example of how fear can dominate a reality, create judgements that are not appropriate, things that we’re dealing with once again in different sphere of our life.” Though Pizzo and Crisostomo experienced the HIV/AIDS epedemic in dissimilar ways, both agree on the persisting relevance of that period in history. In Crisostomo’s mind, the trauma that AIDS patients endured is everlasting, and the mental health of those individuals is still influenced by the apathetic response to their struggle. He believes that society owes it to the millions of people who suffered at the hands of apathy to take a stance on current day controversial issues and to inspire change. “Maybe you don’t want to educate your whole community, but you can educate a family member and at least engage with them,” Crisostomo says. “We had this thing: silence equals death. To me, that’s still true in a lot of ways. The first time it happens it’s understandable because you maybe don’t know what to do, but hopefully it wakes you up, next time you’ll be better prepared.” v

verdemagazine.com

seeking joy within

LOOKING INTO A JOURNEY TO SELF-REALIZATION Text by RIYA MATTA and DEEPALI SASTRY

N THE HEART OF PALO ALTO sits the Ananda Church, an oasis of tranquility amid the bustle of the city. As the sun set on a cool Friday evening, Ananda church community member, Rose Atwell laughs as she watches the kids of Ananda’s church daycare center rolling around in the sand box of the church’s playground. She actively works with children of the daycare center, a small service that’s part of the church’s offerings. “The purpose of Ananda Church of Self-Realization is to [help you] realize within your own self the divine and that ever-closeness of spirit that exists within everyone,” Atwell says. The members of the Ananda church don’t seek relationships with a higher power, but instead with spirituality. The Ananda community acknowledges both the difficulty in taking the individualistic spiritual journey and the benefit of a supportive community to help overcome obstacles that may get in the way of self-realization, or realizing within your own self the divine. Despite the serenity advocated by

Art by Annie Zhou

february 2017

Ananda, the church has faced conflict in school, was introduced to Ananda through the past after facing accusations of being a her family and fell in love with Yoganancult and sexual assault case against church da’s philosophy. After attending the Living leader Swami Kriyananda. Wisdom high school, she learned not about However, the messages of the Ananda a religion, but about a shift in mindset that church continue to spread as one of its Liv- continues to help her feel more confident ing Wisdom high schools is set to open in and calm in her daily life. the fall at Cubberley Community Center in “It [the Ananda education] was conPalo Alto. stantly about what’s best for my next step as a person, as a whole person — happiness The Ananda Church as more of a holistic approach,” Atwell says. The Ananda Church of Self RealizaAtwell attributes her current happition is a spiritual community with its values ness to the mindfulness and introspective centered around the teachings of Paramah- practices of Yogananda that she studied at ansa Yogananda, a yogi who brought yoga the Living Wisdom school, as well as to and meditation to America in the 1920s. Ananda’s community in Palo Alto, where Yogananda propagated the belief that spiri- she resides. tuality and a higher “I think power exist within knowing that There’s nothing more imeach person. there’s a love and Started by Yo- protant to me than being a joy within my gananda’s disciple own self that I able to experience joy.” Swami Kriyananda can tap into no in 1968, Ananmatter what is — ROSE ATWELL, Ananda community member da Village, also happening in my known as one of the World Brotherhood life is completely priceless,” Atwell says. Colonies, is located in Nevada “There’s nothing to me more important City, Calif. In addition to housing than being able to experience joy — a joy a Living Wisdom High School, that is independent of outer circumstancthe village is composed of gardens, es.” businesses, monasteries and family residences. Chakmakchi Family “He [Yogananda] was interestA mother of two former Paly students, ed in bringing places where people Esther Corona has widely experimented … and things could get togeth- with faith and spirituality. She was raised a er [and] inspire [the community] Catholic in southern Spain, but felt that rebased on principles of unity and ligion was largely something she practiced kindness and respect,” Atwell says. to fit into her community. “[So they] live together in a sup“I went to Catholic schools all through portive, harmonious way that is eighth grade but I was never really in tune,” also sustainable for our environ- Corona says. “We went to church because ment,” that was what people did in Spain.” Atwell, a former Living WisSince then, Corona has widely experdom high school student and a cur- imented with faith and spirituality. As a rent yoga instructor at the Ananda young child, she was intrigued by HinduChurch and teacher at Ananda’s ism, which eventually led to her lifelong Kindergarten through Grade 8 passion for yoga. Shortly after, in college,

“

she developed an interest in Islam after taking a class on Arab Studies, a subject she then decided to major in. After traveling to Tunisia and Jordan as an exchange student, Corona fell in love with Sufism, a smaller sect of Islam known for its mysticism, poetry, art and music. It was back in the U.S. that Corona began to lose touch with the religion she had been so entranced by back in the Middle East. “Slowly, I lost all kind of spirituality and religion and became out of tune with anything spiritual,” Corona says. In 2014, Corona’s mother began attending meditation and yoga classes at the Ananda Church in Palo Alto and shared her experiences with Corona. After hearing her mother describe the welcoming atmosphere of the church in Palo Alto, Corona proceeded to visit the village in Nevada City in 2014, which piqued a sense of interest similar to what she had previously felt SISTERS TOGETHER Asia Chakmakchi, 15, (left) and Ayah Chakmakchi, 17, (right) pose together with other religions. Corona attributes this in their home in Palo Alto before leaving for the Living Wisdom school in 2016. “At this school [in Nevada City], teachers teach about life and how to be a good person, which teachers at Paly don’t connection to the church’s tranquility and do,” Ayah Chakmakchi said. Photo by Esther Corona. integration of people of all spiritual beliefs dom high school in Nevada City. ically from the individualized curriculum and backgrounds. Ayah attended Paly her freshman year, and close relationships with teachers. The “Meditation brought me a lot of peace and calmness,” Corona says. “It was chang- transferred to Notre Dame High School in curriculum is student-led, meaning that the ing my health and my mind and was an San Jose for her sophomore year, returned school creates classes for students based on endless source of getting better and better to Paly for the beginning of her junior year what they want to learn. “Teachers aren’t constantly using state that gave me a sense of unity and oneness and then attended middle college for the with the world. It [meditation] became not remainder of the year. Ayah now believes curriculum that have certain standards and that she has found strict deadlines,” Asia says. “Here, if the just something the perfect learning classroom shows interest in a specific topic, that I read but It [meditation] became environment at Liv- the teacher can spend time on it, even if it’s a practice in my ing Wisdom. not explicitly in curriculum.” heart.” not just something that I “Teachers have Because her daughters attend the LivIn the sumread but a practice in my background in ... being Wisdom high school, Corona has bemer of 2016, ing present and ex- come closer to them. While they may not Corona sent her heart.” panding love to ev- always see to eye to eye, being part of the two daughters — ESTHER CORONA, Ananda community eryone which makes Ananda community has opened up a conand former Paly member and former Paly mother you feel more secure nection the three of them have never had students, Ayah that you’re dealing before. Chakmakchi, “We now have something in com17, and Asia Chakmakchi, 15, to a summer with people whose values you know.” Ayah mon,” Corona says. “Before there was no camp at the Ananda Village in Nevada City. says. For Ayah, the spirituality and values conversation available in that matter of reExhausted by the high-pressure atmosphere in Palo Alto, Ayah and Asia fell in love with taught at Living Wisdom are what differen- ligion and spirituality, but now we are able to discuss these things.” the relaxing, accepting and diverse atmo- tiate it from Paly. “In Palo Alto, every kid is different,” Corona is currently training to besphere in the village. “I really didn’t want to go at first,” Asia Ayah says. “You might get spirituality from come a yoga teacher and has also begun an says. “But they integrated the yoga and your home, but it’s not part of your every- online Ananda ministry for Spanish speakmeditation in a way that we actually under- day life. There, [in Palo Alto] I had spiritual ers. life and school separate, and it was hard to “I was deeply touched by the tranquilstood why we were doing it.” They liked it so much, in fact, that integrate those. Here it is unified and every- ity and it’s like filling a cup that was empty with calmness,” Corona says. “Everything they decided together to leave Paly and one is on the same page.” Both girls have also benefitted academ- has become a self realization.” v complete high school at the Living Wis-

“

verdemagazine.com

Text by MADHUMITA GUPTA and RIYA SINHA Photography by JAMES POE

JOHN HESTER

A PASTOR LOOKS BACK IN A TIME OF CRISIS

“

’M A STORYTELLER, SO I’LL just be telling my stories today. Is that okay?” Father John Hester, a pastor at the Thomas Aquinas Church in Palo Alto asked as he leads us into his living room. He almost totters around, repeatedly adjusting the sling on his right hand. He sets his notepad and pencil down, and folds his hands, ready to begin. Looking at him now, it seems impossible that this man not only marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the historic Selma, Alabama, march in 1965, but also defused landmines laid out in front of the protesters and, along with other members of the clergy, threw his body on top of protesting men and women to take the worst of the Alabama state troopers beatings. Upon the election of President Donald

february 2017

J. Trump, marches have erupted all over the nation, carrying on a rich history of peaceful protest for civil rights. Hester, however, is one of the few brave Americans left who participated in the start of this tradition, marching alongside famous civil rights advocates like Malcolm X and Rep. John Lewis, demanding an end to segregation in the most famous mass peaceful protest in American history. 1965 When Hester arrived in Selma, he realized that marching for civil rights wasn’t going to be that easy. Within hours of his arrival, he saw just how much racial disparity there was. “I remember going to Selma, and the first thing we did was sit in the car … We

start off and we get to a stoplight, and I hear someone yell, 'Don't move. Don't look!' I turned over, and I saw two state troopers. The man looked at me in absolute disgust, and took his cigaratte out of his mouth, and flicked it into our car. And that was the first encounter we had about what we were to expect at Selma." Later, when he sat in church, preparing to march, he was stunned to see a 16year-old boy stand up and tell them how to die — the women and children on the ground, with the men on top, and the clergy on top of everyone. “A man stood up and asked the 16-year-old boy, ‘Do you really think you can make a difference?’and the boy replied, ‘All I know is that I am one link, and you are another. If we all link together, we can

make a difference,’” This inspired Hes- self remembering the lessons he learned in ter to stay with the cause, but as quick as Selma. the first night of the march, his willpower “Young people are the future of protest was put to the test. in this country,” Hester says. “I’ve been see“A little girl came out of her tent and ing a lot of violence recently, lots of anger. came up to me, she was cold. And I said In times like these, one of the most importI knew where some blankets are. And I ant things to remember is to not be bitter. picked her up and went to turn, and all Nothing is worth losing your inner peace the security guards of the camp, who were over.” supposed to be protecting us, aimed their Hester also emphasizes the value of guns at us, because we were now outside community in turbulent times like these. the camp. And I looked at them, I held her “I will never forget all of us sitting in up in front of me, and I don’t know where that field before the march and began singit came from, but I said, ‘Do you really being. People sang songs they knew, and we lieve that this is the enemy?’ … By the time sang songs we knew … but it was people I got to the tent, my whole life changed,” reaching out to each other. And what ever Hester recalls. “When you put your life on happened in that moment is one of the the line for someone, because you believe greatest experiences of my life of what real, that much in life, you genuine community find out, we are the is all about. … I don’t same. And you find When you put your life know how we will get out, what matters is that back.” on the line for someone, nothing matters.” In response to Hester remem- because you believe violent protests that bers these stories erupted around Amerand lessons as some- that much in life, you ica when Donald thing that needed to find out, we are the Trump got elected, he be heard by all the recalls certain values people of this world same. he feels America could — the story of the — John Hester, pastor relearn now. “We need to young people. re-establish non-viWith protestolence, and we need to have people actuing a large part of American culture today, ally come together, and learn non-violent Hester emphasizes having your whole mind and body present, every step of the way, as behavior. … We have lost ground already with Selma. We have reinitiated the flames he did in Selma. “Fifty of us were selected for securi- of hatred and bigotry and violence. And We went and walked at the edge of the that frightens me. … But the biggest thing ty. march to make sure there were no landmin- I would say is, don’t let it overcome you. es. It was very real, it was not a storybook There is enough goodness in people around issue. It was a real issue of, I could die out us to make a change.” here, every step I took,” Hester says of the As youth across the country try to unSelma March. derstand the best way to express themselves, “That was one of the biggest lessons I whether it be through social media, writing learned from Selma, that life is truly lived or marching, Hester cautions protesters to when you live it for another.” It was then stay true to what really matters. that Hester realized that he wanted to work “Stay involved,” Hester says. “Put for the community and spread messages of your body on the line and link with peopeace, unity and selflessness, and that is ex- ple, affirming the qualities of the life that actly what he did. we know as the genuine life. Work at that. The underside of that is do not become bit2017 ter or cynical. And that’s hard. When we Now, as a pastor at the Thomas Aqui- deal with issues like this, you have to get nas Church, Hester spends his time giving the venom out, you have to get the vitriolic sermons and doing community service. mess out. And then you have to deal with With the recent election of President Don- it. Remember, and I mean it when I say ald J. Trump, however, Hester finds him- this, goodness overcomes evil.” v

“

THE ROAD TO SELMA 1962-1963 People come to Selma and protests start Fall 1963 350 African-Americans line up to vote at the Dallas County Courthouse: now called Freedom Day Dec 1964 Doctor King presents the SCLC plan about mass action and voter registration Jan 1965 Selma movement begins, led by King

Feb 1965 Then President Lyndon B. Johnson expresses support for Selma protestspublicly March 1965 Johnson orders federal protection for protesters March 1965 25,000 protesters join the Selma to Montgomery march August 1965 President Johnson signs Voting Rights Act

Whiteboard to White House GUNN SENIOR’S WORK IN EDUCATION Text by ALLISON CHENG and IRENE CHOI

“

’LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO,” Kevin Ji says before walking off to a Mitchell Park Community Center staff member to pull strings so he can step into a conference room that hasn’t been reserved. Through his multitude of education-related projects, Ji, a senior at Henry M. Gunn High School, has befriended and worked with community members in Palo Alto and across the nation. His efforts toward emphasizing the importance of education have benefited several communities around the Bay Area and have recently taken him to the White House to former First Lady Michelle Obama’s council to advance education. Working for Equality As the founder of Financial Literacy for Youth, an organization that teaches Bay Area youths financial literacy and money management, and a member of the Better Make Room council, Ji commits himself to closing THINKING POSE Ji ponders his role in improving college culture in the familiar setting of a Mitchell Park Community Center conference room. These conference rooms were the origin of many of the education gap beyond Palo Alto. FLY is a peer-to-peer modeling program Ji’s ideas to advance education. Photo by James Poe. Ji created in 2013. He was inspired to create Palo Alto, and nearby East Palo Alto. thinks his teamwork-based approach helped FLY after seeing a lack of financial literacy Ultimately, Ji’s dream to make education him address community issues. education in the Gunn “You could say that one person changes equity a reality across curriculum. America led him to the world, but I disagree,” Ji says. “It’s that one “It seems when you “You could say that the organization Better person with an idea, but you need to have a become an adult, you’re Make Room, a feder- team to spread that idea.” one person changes supposed to know how Ji accredits his FLY committee and Hisal effort to encourage to manage your money, students to attend col- tory Club staff with helping him find soluthe world, but you but you never learn that lege. As the program’s tions to his self-proclaimed “crazy ideas,” need to have a team during your education,” regional liaison, Ji says through late-night message conversations Ji says. “I realized that fihe plans college-signing lasting hours. to spread that idea.” nancial education needs With his efforts and accomplishments days for underprivi — KEVIN JI, Gunn senior to be integrated into our leged Bay Area stu- in promoting the importance of education curriculum.” he says he hopes to bring about even more dents. According to Ji, FLY is making progress change in the future. in its mission — from holding tutoring ses- Team Player “I want to make an impact,” Ji says. “I sions at the Mitchell Park Library to creating Evidently, Ji has gained national recogni- don’t want to sit on the sidelines or in a confinance electives at JLS and Terman Middle tion from his work, in the form of articles and ference talking about issues. I want to make School, FLY now reaches many students in his nomination to join Better Make Room. Ji change.” v

“

FEBRUARY 2017

410 California Avenue, Palo Alto CA 94306

Serving Palo Alto for 75 years!

Palo Alto High School’s 13th Annual

SPEECH AND DEBATE CAMP • Taught by nationally ranked team • Gain confidence • Speaking skills • 4:1 student-to-staff ratio • Master research and argumentation

PALYSPEECHANDDEBATE@GMAIL.COM (650) 391-3083 50 EMBARCADERO RD, PALO ALTO, CA

verdemagazine.com

ABOVE: A balcony shot captures the scenery of the bookstore below. Photo by James Poe. TOP RIGHT Bell’s Bookstore, located at 536 Emerson St, is located just off University Avenue. Photo by James Poe. BOTTOM RIGHT: Kepler’s CEO Praveen Madan and Manager Amanda Hall pore through one of the newest teen novels. Photo by Emma Cockerell.

Turning The Page

THE ROLE OF BOOKSTORES IN THE MODERN AGE Text by GABRIEL SÁNCHEZ and STEPHANIE YU

OOKSTORES HAVE BEEN historically regarded as the center of the community — an environment conducive to freedom of expression where individuals congregate to exchange ideas and speak their minds. The evolving changes of this age and gravitation toward all things online have, however, created various challenges for bookstores the past few years — a majority have failed to triumph over or even compete with the rising popularity of ebooks and online retailers, according to the New York Times. As these essential hubs of activism and learning are placed in peril, their potential disappearance moves towards becoming a reality. Verde set out on a mission to investigate a few of the remaining bookstores of the community and their methods of survival in the digital age.

FEBRUARY 2017

BELL’S BOOKS 536 Emerson St., Palo Alto Bell’s Books, a modest, two-story institution previously named the College Book Company, was established from humble beginnings by Herbert Bell 80 years ago for a simple purpose: to supply college students with supplemental textbooks and survive in the Bay Area. Today, the modest two-story building houses a whopping collection of 325,000 books ranging from first-edition signed copies of classics to stained historical encyclopedias, with another 50,000 stowed away in a nearby warehouse. Staying Relevant Confronted with the challenge of staying relevant in our digitally oriented society, Bell’s is conscious that the convenience and

reduced cost of online shopping have resulted in bookstores’ declining sales. More and more customers now visit with the intention of window shopping — bookstores have, in essence, become museums. “It’s interesting to me that people will come in and take pictures of the ISBNs on the books, and then order them from Amazon,” says Faith Bell, CEO of Bell’s. “And so we become basically a ‘showroom.’” According to Bell, our society has often indulged in the experience of poring through palpable books, only to turn around and make the economically advantageous choice of ordering them online. But this comes with a cost. “If they do that enough, there won’t be any place where they can walk around and [pick books up] and look at [them] and enjoy [them],” Bell says.

But regardless of the changes they have experienced through the centuries and society’s progression into the digital age, bookstores have remained a haven for free thinking. “I think bookstores have always been, if not a hotbed of radical activity, very influential in the sharing of thoughts,” Bell says. “And that’s a role that I’m very proud to play in the community here.”

KEPLER’S BOOKS 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park Kepler’s bookstore is a local establishment with deep roots in the Bay Area that has received global attention for its role in the development of print-based media. However, the institution has struggled in the 21st century, prompting multiple changes in its structure and ultimately, a change in Kepler’s vision for the future.

The Significance of a Book Bell says that a book’s significance transcends the messages inscribed in text, elaborating that only pages can elicit emotions and recollections. “If you want to have the experience of feeling and smelling a book that was given to you by your grandmother, you’ll never get that on a screen,” Bell says. In addition to the memories evoked by personal connections, Bell regards past societal influence as an integral part of a book’s identity — a book’s intricate backstory breathes life into the pages. “In the lower shelf, [you will find] some books that are maybe 300 years old,” Bell says. “And when you think about all the people that have handled them … and had their lives influenced by them, I find that quite profound.” The physicality of a book serves to “objectify” it, allowing readers to appreciate external attributes such as fine bindings, marbling and gilding, to the same extent that they enjoy the content, Bell says.

Down, But Not Out The dawn of the new millennium illuminated new trials for Kepler’s. The expanding use of the Internet had rendered Kepler’s economic model nonviable — in August of 2005, the store closed. “One day people … saw a sign that said Kepler’s was closed,” Madan says. “And within 30 days, the community rallied by itself. School buses full of kids started to show up at the plaza; rallies started around Menlo Park. The mayor formed a task force and started beating up the landlords.” In the end, the community came together, raising money to form a board of directors and rework the business model. While this served to revive the store, the decline continued — in 2011, the store found itself again in peril. But the community united once more and developed a strategy to lift the bookstore out of its recession.

The Philosophy Going Forward The Early Years Following the failure of their capitalFounded in 1955 by Roy Kepler, Keistic business model and the community’s pler’s bookstore began as an important center support for the historic establishment, for activism in the Peninsula. Kepler’s new policy is to focus on a social “He [Kepler] was a peace activist … part mission — a communal undertaking that of several anti-war movements and protests targets public literacy and education. and started Kepler’s as a form of community activism,” says Praveen Madan, CEO of “We think this is really a worthy social Kepler’s. mission — to make people readers, to make It was through his vision that Kepler’s them realize the value of concentrated longbecame a meeting spot for many creative inform reading as a way to learn new perspecdividuals who have developed into famous tives,” Madan says. musicians and activists, says Madan. Part of the transition to a more ideolog“Back in the 60s it was The Grateful ical business policy has been the formation Dead and Joan Baez that were hanging out of a nonprofit organization, Kepler’s Lithere and holding erary Founimpromptu salons, I think bookstores have always dation. This talking about poorganization been, if not a hotbed of radical litical activism.” creates over Madan says. “It was activity, very influential in the 200 proall very organic and grams a year sharing of thoughts” grassroots.” and brings in — FAITH BELL, CEO of Bell’s Books The store top historiquickly rose to the ans, writers, political and technological forefront of its photographers and intellectuals to speak to generation. As one of the primary leaders in the community, targeting the underserved the Bay Area of the paperback revolution of and underprivileged. According to Madan, the 50s and 60s, Kepler’s assisted in distribut- the foundation is especially important, being cheaper, paperback books to the masses. cause companies like Amazon and other After the business was handed off to online buying sites, are working to domiin the 80s to Kepler’s son, Clark Kepler, the nate the literary market. store developed into a more formal system “If print books completely disappear. of outreach programs, centered around the We’ll keep shrinking the retail book chain objective of delivering books and other reand keep expanding the nonprofit,” Madan sources to the surrounding community. says. v

“

verdemagazine.com

Art by Annie Zhou

GROUP PROVIDES CLEANLINESS TO HOMELESS Text by EMMA COCKERELL and TAMAR SARIG

T’S EARLY SATURDAY MORNing, and the streets are still wet from last night’s rain, but a white trailer parked on a street behind Town and Country is already bustling with activity. A woman in an oversized red sweater, hauling her belongings in a plastic bag, opens a door in the side of the trailer and pulls a load of clean laundry from the dryer hidden inside. The inside of the trailer reveals a spacious bathroom, complete with a toilet, sink and shower, while another set of doors leads to two washer-and-dryer sets, one on each side. This one of two trailers operated by Dignity on Wheels, a non-profit organi-

FEBRUARY 2017

Tunison says that the organization zation founded in 2009 by East Palo Alto Pastor Paul Bains and his wife Cheryl Bains. does much more than provide “basic huDignity on Wheels provides homeless peo- man rights,” such as food and clothing. ple around the Bay Area with shower and Tunison and other trailer managers use laundry services free of charge. With hous- Dignity on Wheels as a tool to establish ing prices soaring in the connections and enarea, the organization’s gage with homeless We’ve seen individuals be people. From there, services have become more urgently needed in able to re-engage with soTunison invites them ciety, get back into living” into his office, where recent years. — ANITA BLOUNT, project manager he creates personalized “Right now the plans for their re-entry homeless population is growing in Santa Clara and San Mateo into society. “I think the problem that people don’t Counties because the market rent is so high,” says Paul Tunison, head of the Palo realize is that when an individual is out Alto trailer. “When you’re 55 or 65 and there in the streets for a long period of time, you’re only on a fixed income or you lack they don’t realize the difficulty it takes to income, you’re being displaced by the high get the individual back into self-sufficiency,” Tunison says. “Our mission is to basirents.”

“

culture cally get them back as fast as possible.” Tunison’s own history with homelessness and the foster care system has aided him immensely in understanding how to best help his clients, who come to him hoping to wash their clothes and take a shower, but also to seek job advice and housing. “My career background is 25 years of homelessness, 25 years of substance abuse and 9 years of incarcerations,” Tunison says. “That’s what makes me effective — my own experiences, along with some educational background.” After being homeless in San Francisco for the latter portion of this adult life, Tunison entered his ninth treatment program in 2009, and his life began to improve significantly. Religion played a large role in his re-entering of society; Tunison cited his faith as the main catalyst for his return to education. After receiving a college degree, he got a steady job working at Mcdonald’s. “Things didn’t start to change for me until I hit the age of 40,” Tunison says. “I can tell you that God had worked in the lives of other people to help me. The beginning wasn’t easy but [change] was achievable.” A man and his dog For Jim, who has been homeless on and off for many years and whose name has been changed for privacy reasons, Dignity on Wheels is a source of support that he can consistently rely on, as is the Opportunity Center, which Dignity on Wheels

ABOVE Jim, a Dignity on Wheels beneficiary, kneels beside his dog Smokey, who received surgery for an injury because with DoW’s help. Photo by Emma Cockerell.

works closely with. Both organizations have helped to provide him with laundry services, food, clothing, and most recently, housing, which Jim will likely be receiving this month. In addition to supplying him with basic needs, Jim says that Dignity on Wheels has consistently gone beyond the call of duty. In fact, his first introduction to the organization came when the staff went out of its way to help his dog, Smokey. “When my dog got hit by a car, there was somebody who sent an email and my dog ended up getting this high-end hip surgery on him,” Jim says. “I couldn’t afford it, I didn’t have money for something like that … but they made it possible.” The staff has also been instrumental in helping Jim find employment. His “computer illiteracy” and twelve-year residency in the Foothills has made the job search more difficult, and Jim has benefitted from receiving technical help from staff. The people behind the magic Anita Blount, project manager of Dignity on Wheels, agrees with Tunison that local homelessness has reached crisis levels. “I’d say that homelessness has become an epidemic [in the Bay Area],” Blount says. But what worries her most is that, in addition to traumatized veterans and displaced senior citizens, the typical faces of homelessness in America, her organization has now sees entire families in need of aid. “We’re seeing families that are living in their vehicles, or in motor homes, or doubling and tripling up in houses,” Blount says, mostly because they can no longer afford to pay rent in the Silicon Valley and in neighboring areas. Santa Clara County, where Dignity on Wheels makes many of its stops, has long been a hotbed of homelessness. The county holds the nation’s ninth-highest homeless population, according to a 2015 report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. With roughly 6,556 homeless individuals in Santa Clara County alone, Dignity on Wheels staffers have their work cut out for them, but Blount is optimistic about the number of people that her organization can reach. She warns that the true number of people who use the trailers is difficult to record, but estimates around one hundred individuals per trailer.

ABOVE Mark King, who attended Jordan Middle School and has benefitted from Dignity on Wheels for years, strikes a pose. Photo by Emma Cockerell.

That’s a lot for an organization formed less than ten years ago, but Blount says that Dignity on Wheels has ambitions to expand. The organization hopes to acquire “a couple more trailers” by the end of the year, and is in the process of increasing its case management services, according to Blount. Case managers “will go out and help to connect clients to other services, medical appointments, things like that,” Blount says. These services are vital for homeless people, who often suffer from the type of chronic health problems that fly under the public’s radar. Foot care, for example, is a “very serious issue” among the homeless, Blount says. Dignity on Wheels’ commitment to well-rounded, long-term healthcare makes it unique among the dozens of local organizations. Its staffers don’t simply pull up a trailer six days a week to let its clients shower and do laundry; rather, they see the trailer as an opportunity to forge deeper connections and formulate long-term solutions housing and job solutions “Last year we [at the Opportunity Center] were able to house 33 people, and out of those 33, six came off of this truck,” he says. But beyond the more tangible results of Dignity on Wheels’ work, Blount sees a transformation in her clients that cannot be measured in numbers and statistics. “[W]ith us providing showers and laundry, we’ve seen individuals just be able to re-engage with society, get back into their lives, get back into living.” v

verdemagazine.com

Art by Megan Chai, Aishah Maas and Eoin O’Kramer

Text by MEGAN CHAI, EOIN O’KRAMER and LAURA SIEH

VERDE’S OSCAR PICKS

LAST YEAR’S MOVIES EMPHASIZE DIVERSITY

S THE FILM AWARDS SEASON comes to a close, the 89th annual Academy Awards are set to air on Feb. 26, honoring some of the top films of 2016. With the Academy responding to criticism about the lack of racial diversity in Hollywood, seven of the 20 actor nominees were people of color, although Asian and Hispanic individuals were still conspicuously underrepresented. We reviewed some of the biggest Oscar-nominated movies and have come up with our predictions for this year’s winners. v

Manchester by the Sea “Manchester by the Sea” tells the story of Lee (Casey Affleck), a minimum wage worker living a simple life in Boston. After the death of his brother, Lee returns to his hometown to take care of his nephew, Patrick (Lucas Hedges), and face his tragic past. Together, they face the emotional pain and grief following the trauma of death head-on. The movie moves languidly, showcasing beautiful, expansive shots of the Massachusetts Bay. Despite its slow pace, the film masterfully portays the details of everyday life, and provides meaningful insight into human nature in the face of tragedy. Simply because of the raw emotions that he portrayed in the film, Affleck is bound to win the Oscar for Best Actor.

We Predict:

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Moonlight Moonlight follows the story of Chiron (portrayed by three different actors) as he grows up in a drug-filled neighborhood in Miami. Throughout the three acts, each representing a different stage in his life, Chiron learns to establish and embrace his identity and sexuality with the aid of several mentor-like figures such as Juan (Mahershala Ali), a drug trafficker who develops a bond with Chiron, and Paula (Naomie Harris), an imperfect mother to Chiron. The film explores the intricacies of finding oneself and delves into issues of sexuality, all while featuring an all-black cast. Ali especially impresses in his likeable and relatable portrayal of the traditionally antagonist drug dealer, making him deserving of his nomination for best supporting actor.

We Predict:

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

culture

Fences Through the viewpoint of the hardened blue-collar father Troy (Denzel Washington), Fences follows his rocky relationships with his wife, brother and children. Taking place in the 1950s, the film ventures into heavy content like mental health and abuse framed under the increasingly relevant backdrops of gender and race. Viola Davis brings an especially compelling performance as Troy’s wife Rose, who copes with Troy’s flaws as a father and husband within her constrained role as a woman. Although the actors shine in their respective roles, the plot is not aptly adapted from its original stage format and feels contrived at times.

We Predict:

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

La La Land Aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) embark on a romance that seems too good to be true. The two lead characters pursue their dreams as artists in Los Angeles, while struggling to maintain their core values and artistic authenticities. Stone and Gosling are relatable and charming, as is the movie itself. The film combines the magic of old Hollywood with a modern setting, and the original and catchy music, combined with the colorful production design, makes for a stunning product that is sure to win Best Picture. The showstopper of the year, “La La Land” will most definitely bring home the most awards.

We Predict:

BEST PICTURE BEST ACTRESS IN LEAD ROLE PRODUCTION DESIGN MUSIC (ORIG. SCORE) DIRECTING verdemagazine.com

Text by DEEPALI SASTRY and DANIEL LOGAN

The Institute Presents:

NEUROSOCIETY

NEW PACE GALLERY EXHIBIT EXPLORES THE MIND

“

HO ARE YOU? WHO are we? Are you in control of your own destiny?” Since its opening in October, Pace Gallery’s exhibit titled “Neurosociety” offers a series of experiments involving technology and psychology to help each participant work towards answering these very questions. In the rundown lot between Palo Alto and Menlo Park lies a hidden gem, but only until March 31. Neurosociety, located next to Pace gallery, is an opportunity for people to see the ins and outs in neuroscience while participating in the experiments themselves. The Beginnings of “Neurosociety” We had become 18-inch ragdolls, and the transition was seamless. As we looked up and down, left and right, we realized the room we were in had not changed, but our perspective had.

In Neurosociety, co-creator David Byrne brings you an experience unlike anything before it. Through flashing lights, sharp contract in perceivable color, and other gimmicks and tricks, he brings you a certain sense of clarity. But, more than that, what he brings you is a question that burns in the back of your mind: “Is what I’m seeing the same as what surrounds me?” Byrne is a singer-songwriter best known for his band Talking Heads, which was most active between the 1970s and 1990s. Throughout his musical career, he has exhibited visual art and published novels, many of which are about music. Byrne, much like with his music, transported us to a fantasy meshed with certain aspects of reality. Byrne’s fellow co-creator Mala Gaonkar is a technology investor at an investment advisory firm that works on innovative ways to improve public health and

education. Gaonkar also is on the digital advisory board of The Economist. Inside the Exhibit On the outside, the “Neurosociety” building looks like a newly refurbished shack with the exhibit’s black and white logo plastered on all sides. As we walked through the door, however, we saw a simple waiting room with lime green walls and exhibit memorabilia. The fee to enter is $20 and the mix between show and exhibit lasts for about an hour. The time is spent venturing through demonstrations of various experiments in neuroscience. We anxiously followed as a proctor led us through a set of curtains to the first experiment: a brightly lit blue room with scattered podiums, each of which contained a tablet. The proctor then proceeded to present us with scenarios and choices,

PACE ART + TECHNOLOGY

EXTERIOR “Neurosociety” has a logo composed of a question mark that forms a face, representing humanity’s questions. The logo is featured twice on the exterior of the newly renovated building where Neurosociety has temporarilly set up shop. Art by Annie Zhou.

FEBRUARY 2017

QUESTIONS One experiment of “Neurosociety” involves participants answering questions to reveal how moral dilemmas affect our choices. Through their questions, you may learn something new about yourself. Art by Annie Zhou. forcing us to reflect on moral conflicts we faced internally and externally within three seconds. We answered either “yes” or “no” on the tablets, attempting to push the guilt out of our minds after making such seemingly selfish decisions, even if we were in hypothetical settings. As if to comfort us, the proctor revealed on the screen how our group’s choices were similar to those of others who had previously explored the ethical pathways of their minds. The next curtain rose along with our sense of curiosity as we continued into yet another radiantly-colored room, featuring an opaque orange display case with stationary windmills. However, once we put on special goggles, we could see an entire model town featuring its people, a train set and the windmills that were now spinning. Though the stark contrast made us slightly dizzy, we learned how visual perceptions of the world can distort our thinking and trick the mind. The following set was a classroom, complete with a chalkboard and books piled atop the teacher’s desk at the front. The projector screen showed us two congressional candidates. We pondered which we thought had won his or her year’s election and then promptly answered on the tablets. Afterward, we were asked to explain our reasoning, and we hesitated most times, since we often just guessed. Though we didn’t know why we selected each candi-

date, we often found ways to defend our selections.” Like most people, we took pride in being correct and continued to uphold our opinions. The final room was blindingly white with comfortable chairs facing a stage veiled by a curtain. The opening to this experiment was the aftermath of a series of lights that went hand-in-hand with previous perception experiments. As we stared at objects, such as our hands and a handheld mirror as a light flashed, they grew larger into a black silhouette, and our eyes took a while to adjust to the drastic variation between flares of light and complete darkness. Later, the curtains separated to reveal a single chair occupied by a doll. Little did we know that soon after we put on virtual reality goggles, we would assume her identity and look down to see her legs in place of our own. Our brains tried to comprehend the sensation as we looked down to see the doll’s legs being prodded by tools though we could feel them on our real legs. While some of the neuroscience might seem difficult to follow, and other aspects may seem too dumbed down, overall, PACE has created a remarkable interactive experience worth the time and money. While neuroscience is a dense and ever changing field, and a brief glance into it can be highly daunting, PACE’s Neurosociety exhibit gives viewers a glimpse into the complex world of the human brain. v

Psych. Teacher

Perspective

dvanced Placement Psychology teacher Melinda Mattes ventured beyond the psychology classroom to participate in Pace’s new neuroscience exhibit. “I think it was really cool the way that they grab some seminal research in psychology, and the attempt was to allow the visitor to sort of experience a part of it,” says Mattes. “I’m excited about the way that they take scientific research and try to make it into experiential art. I would have liked a little more of a debrief for each [experiment] and tell us what’s been discovered [in psychology].”

Quick Neurosociety Facts Address: 350 El Camino Real Menlo Park Entrance Fee: $20 Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 11am-7pm until March 31

verdemagazine.com

The World through Film THREE PERSPECTIVES INTO THREE CULTURES Text by IRENE CHOI, NOGA HURWITZ and RIYA SINHA

HE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN THROUGH SPORTS, POLITICAL CORRUPTION IN THE MIDST OF A national disaster and teenage love in a split nation — all are subjects that act as critical lenses into different cultures when featured in international movies. In our interconnected world, it is important to keep an open mind of the cultures that make up the world. Watching movies from varied cultures provides an easy way to learn about the ways and habits of vastly different societies, from India to Israel to Korea. Verde reviewed some recently released international movies. v

Dangal

Art by Vivian Nguyen

FEBRUARY 2017

Reviewer: Riya Sinha

"Dangal" (2016), directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is a biographical sports film about two Indian women who overcome prejudice to become world-champion wrestlers. After national wrestling champion Mahavir Singh Phogat (Aamir Khan) can't fulfill his dream of wrestling on an international scale, he trains his daughters, Geeta (Fatima Shaikh) and Babita (Sanya Malhotra) instead. After many road bumps, Geeta becomes the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games for wrestling. Though it’s nearly three hours long, "Dangal" flies by in a whirlwind of female empowerment and strong acting. The catchy musical score engages the watcher at all the right times. Aside from its solid plot, "Dangal" also addresses the treatment of females in socioeconomically disadvantaged places. In the movie, Mahavir gives his daughters the op-

portunity to grow up as more than mothers and wives, they become world-renowned athletes. This is a unique message for the Indian media to promote, as it is not often seen in Indian movies. "Dangal" is also one of the most realistic portrayals of India. Mahavir, who ardently claims that only boys can wrestle and be strong, is a typical portrayal of most men in small town India. As Mahavir transitions into the ultimate feminist, he shows the important issues often seen in every day Indian society, and demonstrates how to overcome gender barriers. The movie also does an incredible job of depicting the struggles of women athletes, in a place where sports is often not considered a feasible profession. As someone with a lot of extended family in India and having experienced the society there firsthand, I related to a lot of the scenes in the movie where boys were inadvertently favored over girls. Until the girls proved to be exceptional, nobody looked at them twice. Meanwhile, mediocre boys were given all the encouragement needed to succeed. I really appreciated how the movie highlighted several of these themes of feminism while not being too overbearing on people in India who are more hesitant to accept a changing society. With it’s exceptional acting, strong plot and feel good music, "Dangal" is the whole package. It’ll makes you feel the whole spectrum of emotions, from laughter to tears. For everyone looking to better understand Indian Society and women in India, "Dangal" is a must watch.

culture

Train to Busan

Reviewer: Irene Choi

"Train to Busan" (2016) is a macabre zombie horror-thriller that follows a group of terrified passengers as they fight their way through a zombie pandemic while trapped on a gruesome train ride to the southern Korean city of Busan. The plot was well-paced, though the characters lacked originality and fell into tropes. The protagonist, Seok-Woo (Gong-Yoo), played the classic Korean businessman who's too busy for his kid, and a wealthy but self-centered CEO named YonSuk (Eui-Sung Kim), who served as another stereotype in Korean films. Nevertheless, I still found myself rooting for him as he ran through zombie-infested train stations with his daughter, Sooan (Soo-an Kim). Beyond nail-biting action, "Train to Busan" also provides critiques of modern Korean society, and

Reviewer: Noga Hurwitz

particularly of the government’s lack of action during crises. The film blames the apathy of businessmen and large corporations for the increasing death toll of the train’s passengers while the government plays virtually no role in helping people survive, and is thought to be covering up the truth with assistance from the media. Rather than think for themselves and aid regular passengers, the train attendants follow the orders of businessmen, ultimately leading tothe death of many people. This underlying story of Korean society is reminiscent of the Sewol Ferry disaster when the media fed false information to the public and in how the tragedy was caused by corporate greed. "Train to Busan" could be seen as a greater critique of humanity, but its connections to modern Korean events provide a lense into Korea’s prioritization of service to the rich and powerful.

A Borrowed Identity

“My father is a terrorist,” announces young Eyad (Razi Gabareen) to his class in broken Hebrew. In actuality, his father is merely a fruit picker, but a public demonstration against the Israeli government branded Eyad’s father with the label “terrorist” in a prominent Israeli newspaper. “A Borrowed Identity” (2015) perfectly captures Israel’s volatile political climate and the two contrasting worlds that reside within the nation’s borders. Initially a semi-autobiographical book written by renowned Palestinian journalist Saayed Kashua, “A Borrowed Identity” has received a multitude of awards for its message of the importance of merging cultures in the face of social opposition. The plotline follows Eyad, an intelligent Palestinian boy from a poor Arab town’s journey attending a primarily Jewish boarding school in Jerusalem and his experiences growing up, falling in love and inevitably assimilating in a country where he

is considered the enemy. I was shocked by the film. As a Jewish-Israeli teen, I have always recognized a strong degree of inequality between Arabs and Jews in Israel — the message of the movie is nothing new. However, being able to visualize and experience Eyad’s story alongside him has provided me with an empathetic insight towards others in Israel that I have missed my entire life. After watching this film my perspective on Israel has not massively shifted — the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is far more complex than a multi-dimensional Romeo and Juliet story. However, more than ever before I feel empowered to deepen my understanding of 20.8 percent of Israel’s population and strive to gain a better insight to all aspects of the Israeli story.

verdemagazine.com

A Taste of Fusion

ZEN BUNCHIEN The parent of a former Gunn student opened VAM after a wave of suicides in the district in 2015. Photo by Emma Cockerell

Text by AMIRA GAREWAL and REBECCA YAO

VALENCIA ASIAN MARKET BLENDS CULTURES

HERE’S A REASON WHY Zen Bunchien comes to work everyday. Besides making money, creating new and unique foods, and singing to customers, he comes to work on a mission to spread joy. 2015 was a difficult year for Palo Alto. With a wave of suicides, especially within the high school community, it was clear that something had to change. “At that time I noticed that there were crazy negative vibes, so I felt like if I opened up this restaurant it would be a place for the

FEBRUARY 2017

kids to come to,” Bunchien says. “We had $1 tacos and $1 milk teas, so we had a lot of Gunn kids who came here. It also gave me the chance to talk to the kids, to mold the way they think into a positive way.” As we entered through the door, casually dressed employees surrounded by brightly colored walls enthusiastically welcomed and directed us towards a paper menu taped to the wall. Intrigued by the soft voice flowing from across the room, we noticed restaurant owner Zen Bunchien dressed in a light

blue apron, edgy sunglasses and smile. The songs — diverse in genre and language — clearly reflect Bunchien’s accepting outlook on the world and his mission to spread joy through delicious food. As a young child growing up in New York, Bunchien was inspired by cooking shows that he saw on television. Since then, he has lived in Houston, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Thailand and San Francisco. His world travels have allowed him to develop a sense of passion for cultures and their different foods.

culture After already having opened three restaurants in Los Angeles, he thought of something new. His love for Mexican, Korean and Vietnamese cuisines led Bunchien to create something unique — a fusion of all three cuisines. Trial and error have led him to create VAM’s signature dishes — the Korean BBQ burrito and the Vietnamese Saigon sandwich. One one side of the restaurant, a shelf displayed designer hats, a plastic jack-o-lantern filled with fortune cookies and board games for customers to play while waiting for their food to arrive. On the other side, the kitchen was hidden behind metal shelves holding a miscellaneous selection of items: iPhone cases, packs of gum, shampoo and packaged noodles - each with a unique and colorful label in a different language. “We pride ourself in getting things that are different and are hard to get,” Bunchien says. “I’m always in search of more strange and different things from other countries.” Bunchien also created VAM to employ students and help them learn basic skills such as cooking and cleaning. “I’ve noticed that a lot of kids in Palo Alto don’t have working skills,” Bunchien says. “Once they graduate from high school, they still don’t know how to mop, how to wash dishes or even how to cook. So I’m here to teach them a few life skills.” Besides singing, Bunchien also uses his ability to speak multiple languages to host exchange students from across the world. He speaks Chinese, Spanish, Thai and a host of other languages. “We cook for them, we speak English with them and I bring them over here to work,” Bunchien says. “So we actually combine two businesses into one.” v

Vatos Vatos Tacos Tacos

S’morrito S’morrito

After a short wait of about five minutes, we were presented with a gluten-free taco piled high with flavorful chicken, fresh veggies, and oozing with melted cheese. A delicate layer of spicy Korean gochujang sauce was drizzled on top, giving the taco a perfect balance of spice and savory. The pile of contents towered above the tortilla, which made it almost impossible to eat without spilling. Despite this, the flavorful and filling dish was quick to gain our approval.

The S’morrito, Bunchien’s own creation, is exactly what it sounds like: a s’mores burrito. It is an exquisite blend of nutella, rice krispies, graham crackers, melted marshmallows and green tea ice cream layered inside a warm tortilla. The green tea ice cream contributes an Asian twist to the otherwise traditional American camping treat. The contrast of textures, flavors and temperatures provided a unique and delicious dessert that was the perfect way to end our meal.

SIDE BY SIDE Placed togehter on a paper plate, these two tacos were both filling and delicious. with a variety of textures and flavors. Photo by Emma Cockerell.

Korean BBQ Burrito This filling twist on the typical burrito included a unique combination of cheese, avocado, kimchi rice, gochujang sauce, a sweet and spicy Korean sauce, and a choice of meat. We ordered the bulgogi beef after a worker recommended it, which was slightly dry and difficult to chew. The rest of the ingredients were fresh and melded in perfect harmony, leaving us satsified and full.

SERVED ON A PAPER PLATE VAM’s signature burrito filled with fresh produce serves up a filling blend of sweet and spicy flavors. Photo by Emma Cockerell.

verdemagazine.com

Photos by THOMAS Stephanie Lee Text by CHAPMAN Art by Annie Zhou

THE URBAN TREKKER A MODERN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL HIKING

VERY ADVANCEMENT UP the patterned steps, mosaiced with the ocean waves, reveals an expansive view of the San Francisco skyline. Rows and rows of gray houses line the sea, and the faint smell of the sea water wafts in the breeze. The sea breeze is eventually blown in the direction of the momentous Golden Gate Bridge. Overwhelming in the senses, the view of San Francisco from the top of the tiled steps of 16th Avenue is only the beginning of an emerging journey of urban hiking. A great way to explore a city, urban hiking allows the same amount of exercise without the deterences of traditional hiking: muddy trails, poor cell service, rash-inflicting plants, meager numbers of bathrooms and more. Its own deterrences of the city traffic is a miniscule implication during the breathtaking hike. Surrounded by the limitless paths in the city, urban hiking instills a spirit of exploration. When embarking on an urban hike, small details that cover the city, such as murals of penguins waddling next to an albino alligator, can be discovered and appreciated in their full entirety. There are some downsides in city trekking. Traipsing up and down the concrete hills wearing socially acceptable clothing in San Francisco, the bar is substantially higher than in Foothills Park is a laborious task. Of the countless paths in San Francisco, Verde decided to begin our 1.8 mile long journey at the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, wander through the hilly city terrain, weave through Golden Gate Park and conclude our journey at Stow Lake. v

FEBRUARY 2017

Text by MICHELLE LI and STEPHANIE LEE

culture

16TH AVENUE TILED STEPS Our first destination, the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps situated on Moraga Street in the Inner Sunset district, closely resembled the uphill hike on a wilderness trail. However, instead of thriving bushes and untampered trees, we found delicate succulents lining the splatter of red, yellow and blue tiled steps. This modern tourist attraction was an effort to connect the neighbors in a community project that would enhance the Golden Gate Park experience in 2003. It wasn’t until 2005, however, that the mosaic steps were unveiled, marking its opening day as “16th Avenue Tiled Steps Day.” As we made our way up the dazzling flight of stairs, the mosaic changed from depictions of jumping fish in the deep ocean to the glowing sun bursting through the horizon. The mosaic of the warm sun peeking through the hazy skyline is mirrored with the view at the top of the tiled steps. A complete view of the city from edge to edge was breathtaking — which didn’t exactly help our breathless condition from hiking the steep steps. We were able to glimpse the Golden Gate Bridge poking above a tangle of trees and hills, the waves from the Bay crashing onto the shoreline and the straight, asphalt veins of the the city.

PLAYFUL A boy slides along the handrail of the 16th Ave Tiled Steps, a popular destination for locals and tourists.

SF MURALS Once descending the glorious steps, we turned right on 17th Ave. The end of the downhill path lined by the eccentric townhouses on 17th Ave leads to one of the many murals painted by the Woodside International School, led by the Hidden Garden Steps project, a community-based volunteer art project. Similar to Tiled Steps, the murals were an effort to enhance and protect the surrounding area so that it would become a gathering place that was representative of nature and the welcoming neighborhood spirit. The intricate murals capture the brimming life and popular tourist attractions of San Francisco. On one side of the street, the mural depicts the symmetric and exacting townhouses, ranging only in their colors of blue and yellow. An approaching BART train can be seen peeking from the corner of the mural, representing the value of public transportation in the city. The opposing mural showed a more general depiction of San Francisco. Fighter jets boomed across the blue-gray sky and over a jungle of trees. Plumes of heavy fog partially shroud the front of the mural, obscuring a segment of the Golden Gate and AT&T Park. The skyline lined the back of the mural, just above the San Francisco Bay. An alternative to bushy trees and unruly plants, the murals highlighted the urban aspect and the historical community efforts seen throughout the urban hike.

VIBRANT Colorful murals of San Francisco’s city skyline are disaplyed on the walls of Woodside Internationl School.

GOLDEN GATE PARK The colorful houses of 17th Ave ended aburptly at Golden Gate Park. The pathway to the entrance of the park was a sketchy dirt trail — not a sidewalk — at the side of a busy street. To our right, oak tree branches and leaping shoots of grass slapped our faces and legs. To our left, cars flew down Lincoln Way as we cautiously tiptoed through the narrow path. Alas, we arrived at a glistening, green lake surrounded by tall, luscious bushes and taut strands of cattails. Paddleboats glided along the center of the lake while ducks and geese dotted the shores as a Chinese-style gazebo stood solemnly at the other end of the lake. A toddler fed pigeons while another sat in her mother’s lap while many families wandered around the lake, pushing strollers and chatting amiably amongst themselves. Our legs cramping, backs and foreheads wet with sweat, we decided to turn around and head back to the refuge of our air-conditioned car. As we passed by the same towering trees, flying cars and earth-toned houses on our way back to the car, the sun slipped lower in the sky and a cool breeze picked up, as if the city of San Francisco was giving us a pleasant farewell.

SERENE Paddle boaters glide next to a Chinese gazebo through the waters of Stowe Lake, an area nestled in Golden Gate Park.

verdemagazine.com

Atlas Obscura Text by JULIE CORNFIELD and THOMAS CHAPMAN Photos by JAMES POE Art by ANNIE ZHOU

FEBRUARY 2017

culture

Deteriorating structures dispersed around a rusty railroad track along the marsh of the Baylands characterize the grave of a once-bustling town. Rotting and sinking away, Drawbridge in Fremont — formerly known as Saline City — was originally created as a hunting town in the 1880s. Atlas Obscura claims that the structures were abandoned in the 1920s, and visitors can note that the buildings have since become consumed by the marshland surrounding them, providing a canvas for generations of graffiti artists. Phrases like “Welcome to Drawbridge, Home of the Sheep Man” and “Don’t let Mr. Saline Follow You Home” are just a few of the ominous paintings that reside in the town. Travelers who dare to visit Drawbridge have to trek on the old active Union Pacific railroad for 30 minutes, dodging the 10 charter trains that pass through town each day.

Drawbridge

BunkO e DDrea vil w’sbrSildid ge Teetering on the edge of a coastal cliff and covered in a colorful array of graffiti, the Devil’s Slide Bunker is much more than just another roadside pitstop: It’s a destination in and of itself. The bunker, just one of the many remnants of World war II dispersed along the coast of Northern California, is available for public use and serves as anything from a playground without age-limits to a quirky background for a photoshoot. When the weather permits, visitors can trek along the ocean on the nearby Devil’s Slide trail — an old highway positioned on the edge of a steep cliff, deemed too dangerous for driving due to landslides and thus was converted into a hike.

Devil’s Slide Bunker verdemagazine.com

Stanford’s Arizona Cactus Garden is a labyrinth of desert fauna: gravel paths weaving through clusters of cacti artfully dispersed throughout the terrain. According to the Atlas, the garden is home to over 500 species of succulents and cacti, each of which derive from unique locations around the globe. It was originally built to complement the Stanford family’s villa, though now it serves as a botany enclave for curious students looking for a change in scenery. Despite Stanford being crawling with tourists, the garden is secluded — only accessible by following an offshoot of Palm Drive on foot.

Arizona Garden

FrRriz enchona en man’Gard s Tow er A quaint, deteriorating brick tower stands tall on Old Page Mill Road, seemingly out of place in the Palo Alto greenery. Though The Frenchman’s Tower appears as if it were plucked out of a fairytale, Atlas Obscura claims that it was built by French refugee Paulin Caperon, who fled the Franco-Prussian war in 1875. The simplicity of Caperon’s structure is both intriguing and perplexing — what purpose might the single brick spire have served? Visitors can only leave the question up to the imagination, as the area surrounding the building is fenced off with barbed wire. However, this barrier has not stopped curious guests from getting a closer look at the tower and has certainly not stopped artists from leaving displays of graffiti all throughout the inside of the structures

perspectives

Text by ASH

LEY HITCHIN GS Art by VIVIA N NGYUEN

Popping th e b DON’T BELIE ubble VE EVERYTH ING YOU RE

G “

ET OFF MY LAWN!” HAS become “Get off your phone!” In a world of Snapchat selfies and Facebook friends, elders can’t help but look back with nostalgia at a time when children still played hopscotch on the street rather than Pokemon Go. According to a 2016 study conducted by Common Sense Media, for me and the 80 percent of teens who say they check their phones hourly, the thought of going even a day without our devices is inconceivable. In fact, almost all of the information we receive is directly from the web. 62 percent of Americans get their news from social media, according to a 2016 report by PEW Research Center. From finding out who went to that concert over the weekend to staying updated with the latest in politics, social media is reshaping the way we get our news. But while social media and technology do have their benefits, they also have their drawbacks. Just as they serve as outlets for information and connection, they also confuse us with “alternate facts” and isolate us from people and organizations whose perspectives we do not subscribe to. As teens living in the heart of the predominantly-liberal bubble that is Palo Alto, we must remain especially vigilant in the face of these rising threats — the surge of fake news and echo chambers. Newsfeed algorithms sort news based on what stories our friends “like,” according to a 2015 study conducted by researchers at Facebook. But when our news platforms solely show us the opinions of people we choose to friend or follow, every scroll through Facebook further entrenches us in our existing beliefs rather than exposing us to new ones. When every post I see is a reflection of my own opinion, and the only diverging one has been bombarded with antagonistic comments accompanied by

slanderous tirades, the problem is pretty clear: As soon as things get uncomfortable, we climb into our bubbles and tune out contrasting voices. We lock ourselves within self-made echo chambers. Throw the recent influx of fake news into the mix, and things get even more complicated. Despite hours spent traversing the internet, teens are especially susceptible to misinformation. According to a recent report by the Stanford History Education Group, 80 percent of students are unable to differentiate between an advertisement and a news story. Amid a polarizing political sphere and a rise in misleading news, it’s simultaneously more difficult and more important than ever to stay informed with both correct information and diverse opinions. So, what are we to do?

For one, change your filter. Facebook has a “news feed preferences” section that allows you to customize what sources show up at the top of your news. Subscribe to credible news outlets of various political leanings like the Wall Street Journal or the New York Times to get access to legitimate news from an assortment of sources. Second, don’t fall for the clickbait. I know — the more outrageous a headline sounds, the more likely I am to open it too. But checking the link and determining whether a news site is credible allows us to identify what’s true and what’s not. Finally, fact check. Verify a story is true with an established news source or a fact-checking website like Snopes and PolitiFact, that exist for the sole purpose of debunking myths. Facebook is o developing built-in fact-checking technology and other organizations have created browser plug-ins that do all the work for you. Growing up in a time of fake news, implausible policies and an enlarging chasm between political parties, it’s paramount that we stay informed, educated and aware. We are the future of America. It’s our job to step up and ensure that the fate of our country is in capable hands and informed by reliable journalism. Education is essential to a thriving democracy. Only when citizens are well-informed can they make prudent decisions that best benefit our country. We have been provided with a unique and valuable resource that previous generations didn’t have: the Internet. So make use of the Web — utilize social media as a platform to share your narrative, discover other perspectives, catch up on news and find out new information, but be aware of the dangers. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see.” v

verdemagazine.com

“strip meat” PORK, PORNOGRAPHY AND VEGAN FEMINISM Text by MADHUMITA GUPTA

“

T’LL BLOW YOUR MIND!” WITH AN OPEN

mouth and brightly painted red lips, a woman gasps in surprise at a large, meat-filled burger. The implication is clear — she’s fellating the burger. This is an advertisement for the Bacon Burger, produced by Carl’s Jr., and unfortunately, isn’t the only case where sex is used to sell food. To sell chicken wings, an advertisement pictures a woman pictured naked from the waist up, with the caption, “Nibble On These!” Two recurring themes through these ads: always sexualized women, and always meat. The meat industry relies on one rule for advertising: sex sells. Which is why a vegan feminist should stand up for women by giving up all animal products. My reasons for being vegetarian have changed frequently. In fifth grade, it was because I loved animals. In middle school, it was because of the environment. After I discovered Carol Adams’s “The Sexual Politics of Meat,” the answer became clear. I am vegetarian because I am a feminist. Adams’s book helped me notice that our society treats women like meat, and I will not support an industry that uses sexist culture to sell food. In fast-food chain advertisements where supermodels wear bikinis and eat cheeseburgers, everything in the image is meant for consumption. The model’s body is carved up by the viewer — lips, legs, breasts, butt — the same way a chicken is carved for eating — wings, legs, breasts, thighs. The woman and the animal become a sum of parts. Neither is understood as a being with thoughts, an individual with feelings. Meat eating is also inherently connected to power. In Adams’ book “Defiant Daughters,” multiple women talk about their expe-

riences with vegan feminism, and a common theme runs throughout — when a woman experiences sexual harassment or sexual violence, she has the strong desire to eat meat. Why? Because she feels powerless, and the best way to feel empowered again is to exert unnecessary force against someone who can’t talk back. Because meat means power, and meat is considered “manly”. Meat platters are advertised as a “man’s plate.” The Sausage-Bacon Burger from McDonalds is advertised as “Sausageness. Baconess. Manliness.” The idea that meat is for a man makes no sense until we see advertisements for “Rosie the Organic Chicken” and pigs dressed up in high heels and jean shorts, spreading their legs, advertising “strip meat.” By rejecting meat, I am opposing the idea that empowerment must come from expressing dominance over another species. Dairy products and eggs also fall into the category of products to block, because they count as “feminized protein,” or protein that has been taken from female animals by manipulating their reproductive systems for our gain. Chickens are artificially inseminated to provide eggs. Cows are given reproductive hormones to force extra milk production. Even though they are produced without killing the animals, dairy and egg requires a kind of sexual slavery of female animals in particular, which is why vegan feminists avoid them. Sentient beings should not be treated as objects. Animals are not objects designed for consumption, just like women are not objects created for pleasure. Meat plays a key role in the gender imbalance of power, so you cannot reject the first without rejecting the latter. v

Art by AISHAH MAAS

Omnivore’s defense THE ETHICAL FAILURES OF VEGAN FEMINISM Text by TAMAR SARIG

GREW INTO MY FEMINISM SO EARLY THAT I MAY as well have been born burning a bra and quoting Simone de Beauvoir. For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate not only about women’s rights but about the way women are viewed in society, the standards to which they are held and the ways in which they are so often devalued. So why does the concept of vegan feminism — an ideology that seems, at face value, to be a reasonable extension of the fight for gender equality — strike me as such a blatant slap in the face to the values of the movement I hold so dear? For starters, it rests on a central tenet that doesn’t hold up to much logical scrutiny. Assigning a complete moral equivalence to all living things is misguided at best, and leads to some uncomfortable results when stretched to its logical conclusion. Feminism, a movement based on equality between human beings, does not necessarily demand equality between all living things for a very simple reason: human rights and animal rights are separate conversations, fraught with different moral issues that can’t be condensed into the same neat ideological package. Furthermore, the vegan feminist insistence on interspecies equality, while a touching and admirable belief, collapses under pressure. How do we decide which organisms are covered under our belief in equal rights? Any definition is arbitrary, and necessarily reflects an uncomfortable but undeniable human belief: that some living things, no matter how much compassion we may have for them, are simply not equal to us. In most real-life situations, we are capable of recognizing that social justice does not apply with equal fervor to all living things. Even the most devoted of animal rights activists would bristle at the suggestion that the meat industry, which has certainly killed more living things than Adolf Hitler ever did, is an atrocity comparable to those of the Holocaust. And when faced with the choice between saving a child or a

cat from a house fire, the vast majority of rational people would rescue the human being before the animal. But the insistence that feminists renounce all animal products in order to remain ideologically consistent is more than just logically flimsy. More perniciously, it devalues women, placing us squarely on the level of livestock — a place we have fought for centuries to rise from. No, a human female is not comparable with a non-human animal. A woman lives, thinks, feels, experiences the world, contributes to society and suffers from oppression in ways that her nonhuman counterparts simply do not. And the movement formed to fight for her, to elevate her to the status of her fellow human beings, is right to see her as a special case, to fight for her without treating her as if she were no different from a dog, a squirrel, a spider. That’s not to say, of course, that I don’t find the abuse of animals to be unspeakably horrible and repulsive. The same values that infuse and strengthen my feminism — compassion, empathy and a drive to improve our society — lead me to care deeply about the fair treatment of other living things. Without insisting that human women are on par with nonhuman animals, feminists can extend our passion for a more just world to fight against animal cruelty. The consumption of animals need not involve torture or suffering. By all means, if your conscience demands it, extend your belief in equal rights to animals and go vegan. I may not join you, but I’ll respect the strength of your convictions. Just don’t try to stretch feminism — a movement concerned with human rights and the inequality of human society — to cover every aspect of your personal moral code. Change your own diet if you feel you should; luckily. feminism leaves you plenty of room for personal choice. v Art by AISHAH MAAS

WANT MORE?

visit us at:

verdemagazine.com

BE GREEN

February 2017

perspectives

Art by AISHAH MAAS

Mind Your Businesses

THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PURCHASE LOCALLY Text by ASIA GARDIAS

ISITING THE LOCAL book store after dinner was a family tradition of ours. Every time we finished eating, we would all walk over to the nearest book store, split off into our favorite aisles and stay there until all of our food was digested. As I grew up, I discovered eBooks and audiobooks and was no longer forced to visit libraries and book stores as frequently. A few months ago, I decided to go back again with my mom to revisit old memories. We were greeted with a handwritten sign saying ‘We’ve moved’ and my favorite corner empty. It’s not just book stores; walking down California Avenue, you can count a handful of stores that have recently gone out of business or are no longer able to stay on the street due to high rents. While there are many reasons for this, it's clear that online shopping has been a contributing factor. Customers who buy online miss an essential part of what businesses can offer — the social interaction that Amazon or Etsy cannot provide. If Palo Altans don't want local businesses to vanish, they have a responsibility to shop locally first, even if it isn’t as economic or convenient for them. With online shopping’s reach amplifying, citizens need to become more committed to Palo Altan businesses, as without these customers, local businesses will fade away. When gone, these stores will take with them service and connection, the main difference which distinguishes local and online purchases. We are on the path to purchasing almost everything online. A 2016 Pew Re-

search study found that rates of online engage with the local community. shopping have rapidly been increasing. For example, with the support of the Despite the benefits of online shop- community, Vanessa Yakobson and her ping, local businesses create something husband were able to grow their San Franwhich retailers, met through a computer, ciscan blow dry bar franchise, Blo. With all could never create. In an online transaction, that customers give to businesses, Yakobson the product is transferred from the hands of recognizes the importance of giving back to the mailman directly into your home and the community. there is no mandate for the buyer to leave “They [the businesses] are employtheir house. Yet, shopping is not just about ing people from the community and givthe exchange of goods — it is also about the ing them wonderful work opportunities,” human interaction that comes with it. Yakobson says. “Many of our owners will A salesperson will contribute to their help you better find community by hosting what you are looking 18- to 34-year-olds events in their locafor and can tailor a tions and giving back product to your needs. each spend around to charity.” While Amazon has cerIn Palo Alto, local $2,000 annually, tain formulas that help businesses and retailers predict future purchas- making them the have been having troues, they will never be as ble keeping their busilargest demoaccurate as a person’s nesses afloat. graphic for online insights. Research compaLocal businesses ny ComScore found shopping also hold more responthat millenials are Source: 2016 "ComScore State of Retail" sibility over item qualmore satisfied with Report ity than would an ononline shopping than line merchant like eBay. their parents. The largAs companies like Amazon sell prod- est consumer of online products is currectly ucts through private individuals, if a prod- in the 18 - 34 age range, even though they uct is damaged or unreliable, the fault is have lower incomes. placed on the private seller. Current high school student have the If a local merchant sells you a pair of power to decide what their cities will look shoes which fall apart in one day, it’s easier like in 50 years. to go back and tell them about the dissatSupporting your local business is not a isfactory purchase. If your seller lives across difficult task. Shop locally and be a customthe country, your options are limited to an er in your own community. In the process, angry email or phone call. you might find your special place to come Most importantly, local businesses can back to. v

verdemagazine.com

college-bound REFLECTIONS ON THE COLLEGE PROCESS

Text by NOGA HURWITZ, TARA MADHAV and ASHLEY WANG Art by Vivian Nguyen Photo by Tara Madhav

HERE’S NO EVENT THAT WHOLLY CAPTURES THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNTRY’S TOP HIGH SCHOOL students like the college application process. At Paly, every new application cycle brings grade-wide anxiety, hours of SAT tutoring and college counseling and rumors of who’s going where. These are the perspectives of three Paly students and Verde staff writers on the college application process at three different stages of their high school careers. V

Ashley Wang SOPHOMORE YEAR “College” to a sophomore is condensed into a tiny, yet ever-present thought shoved to the back of the mind. Tiny because it seems too far down the road to even bother with it, and ever-present because of its persistent pounding in your head whenever you hear about that classmate who just won a national piano competition or your lab partner who is going to be interning with a Stanford chemistry professor over the summer. For the ambitious (and I mean wealthy) student, private college counselor meetings and community service opportunities are already on the calendar. But the reality is that most sophomores are completely clueless in the face of something as daunting as college applications. Who wouldn’t be overwhelmed when even Club Day, a fun event intended for discovering people with similar interests, is filled with screams of “Join our club, it’s good for college”? However, it’s not like we are completely ignorant of the fact that college is upcoming and important. Far from it. College constantly puppeteers our choices, from influencing us to choose computer programming

over interior design or that sleep-depriving honors math class over the much better-suited regular class. So we continue to make sacrifice over sacrifice to feed this perpetual idea of achievement. Yet at the same time, we also don’t know much about college or the application process. We think about it (sometimes obsessively), but it’s the sheer massiveness of the internet along with a nasty habit of procrastination that keeps us from seeking out what we need. And the constant mentioning of who got into what “Top 20” school is a bit of a turn-off, too. Being a sophomore is like being a tween all over again. You’re stuck in that awkward phase where you kind of just have to idly sit and wait until you grow into yourself — or in this case, until junior year. It’s not freshman year, where we have an excuse to push responsibilities aside. And it’s not junior year, where all of those stress-inducing tests and pesky deadlines are just way too close to ignore. Sophomore year is the gray area. Free from obligations, yet also not so free at all. It’s im-

plied that we have to do something to fill this vacancy, but what? And where do we even start? Should we start by asking about the differences between the SAT and ACT or how many AP classes we should take? Or are these stupid and obsessive questions? As of now, only a small percentage of sophomores are privy to this information. And whether you receive this information is often dependent on how involved your parents are in the Parent Student Teacher Association or how many connections they have. But those seemingly put-together students aren’t representative of the whole grade. It may not seem so, but it is normal to be struggling. Most of us are. Maybe the school administration feels like exposing us to too many details at one time too soon would overload us with stress in this age of harsh expectations. Yes, repeatedly drilling the word “college” into our tired ears doesn’t help. But some concrete information on how to begin the application process would (because not all of us have parents that hand us a detailed plan of our entire summer). Information provided on the school website is helpful, but there is not enough encouragement to read up and self-educate. Knowledge shouldn’t be restricted to a lucky few; if everyone could have this knowledge, maybe we wouldn’t feel so suffocated by the unknown. Maybe then, we would be able to breathe again.

Noga Hurwitz

perspectives

JUNIOR YEAR Groans echo from the Library Resource Center as a group of juniors sit through their first presentation from the College and Career Center. Each member of the audience is given a thick folder overflowing with information about the college process and what lies ahead during the next year and a half of our high school experience. Knots form in my stomach. I remember rolling my eyes in 3rd grade when my friend proudly told me their brother was accepted to the University of California, Berkeley. “But that’s a bad school,” I retorted. In my perspective it was either Stanford or Harvard or bust — UC Berkeley, if you’re reading this, I love you and please accept me. Even as an 8-year-old attending hippie Ohlone elementary, I felt the need to excel academically and attend an elite four year

university. For the most part, this competitive atmosphere is fostered by a combination of the high achievement mentality Silicon Valley exudes, and its embodiment in my friends and peers. Luckily, I’ve grown a lot since then, and have gained a more holistic understanding of the college process and my academic potential. From seeing my graduated friends thrive at universities big and small, elite and unknown, I have now learned that everything is going to be okay. However, to some degree the pressure remains. The jokes about community college, the battle over AP classes and weighted GPA’s and the continuous compar-

ison of SAT scores pushes students down a whirlpool of stress and judgement that most cannot escape. It took me three years of high school to realize that I’m not scared that I won’t get into a name brand school; rather, I was afraid of how others will perceive me if I don’t attend such a college. It took me three years to realize that ultimately, I’ll be happy wherever I choose to attend. As I dive head first into the college application process, I hope to keep myself reassured in the mindset that everything will end up okay. Afterall, I am less than a year away from being a Second Semester Senior!

Tara Madhav SENIOR YEAR It’s late spring, and the mailings begin. The glossy pamphlets, sent from all corners of the country, beckon me to their sprawling leafy campuses, their open fresh lawns, their spires and their prestige. There are a group of colleges, however, that require no aggressive advertising. The Ivy Leagues and a few other choice schools like Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago have established themselves in the minds of the American teen population and its parents as the best colleges a student can attend. In today’s hypercompetitive environment, getting into one of these top schools is supposed to make or break your potential for a successful future. What I realized in the process of my own

college application process, is that these schools are incubators of change and have unparalleled opportunities, but they are not the only ones. As a graduating senior, I want to impart the message that you should ultimately apply to the places you are truly drawn to, not the places with the highest rankings. When I began my college process, I knew that getting into one of these schools meant respect from my friends and family, and for good reason. The elite schools I identified reward those who work hard and excel. The more I researched schools, however, the more I realized the Ivy League only existed in my mind from stories others had told me, having never officially visited any East Coast school. Without any experience to back up my assumptions, I ultimately decided to apply to

only one East Coast school and no Ivies. To clarify, I did apply to at least two schools that are unequivocally elite. Applying to elite schools isn’t bad — what is damaging is the heightened anxiety surrounding acceptance into said schools. This pervasive attitude has distracted us from the fact that there are a number of factors students must consider when applying beyond the label prestigious. My lack of experience with the Ivies and my wish to study andplant roots in California led me to primarily apply to schools in California. There are so many great schools out there for an array of professions. Ultimately, you shouldn’t apply to a school because there is some aura of prestige around it. Apply to that brand name university because you are committed to a major, a campus life or a style of teaching, not because you want that elite school as a button on your shirt. Know that you are in control of your life and that you can be successful no matter where you go.

verdemagazine.com

WANT TO ADVERTISE WITH VERDE? Visit verde magazine.com

for more information

FEbruary 2017

perspectives

Text by RIYA MATTA

America first, empathy last The rise of state-sponsored Islamophobia in the US

USLIMS ARE TAUGHT TO KILL NON- MUSlims one classmate told me. “Is your father a terrorist?” another classmate inquired of a Muslim student whose father is a respected doctor. A friend of mine was even asked if she would be sent back to the Middle East. When she responded that she was born in Palo Alto and that her family was from India, not the Middle East, the student responded that “they,” referring to those of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent, are all the same. On Friday, January 27, a mere week after being sworn into office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order barring travel for non-U.S. citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries – Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – devastating the lives of thousands of refugees. Since the implementation of President Trump’s travel ban, I and my fellow brown-skinned peers, Muslim or not, have fallen victim to a surge of Islamophobic statements made by fellow Paly students. As a brown person in a typically liberal suburb like Palo Alto, I have rarely experienced blatant racism from my peers, nor did I ever expect to, so to say I was shocked at the recent burst of anti-Muslim sentiment fostered by some of my peers would be an understatement. Beyond the actual comments, what was truly shocking to me was the lack of empathy my peers, people with whom I interact everyday, people whom I have seen cry, seemed to demonstrate for Muslims. As I sat in my room looking through Facebook and reading the harrowing stories of stranded refugees, I started scrolling through the comments below the post, and the same thought kept coming back to me. While reading the hateful responses on the posts, I could not help but wonder how people could be aware of the suffering of innocent victims of civil wars and tumultuous governments in Africa and the Middle East, and still have nothing but hate in their hearts. The answer, however, is simple. Empathy is reserved for the innocent, and, regardless of whether they are women, children, or even babies, all Muslims are criminals Art by Vivian Nguyen

by the very fact that they are Muslim. A hijab on your head or a crescent moon around your neck is as incriminating as a bomb in your backpack. It is in this demonizing, dehumanizing light that Trump views and portrays Muslims, and is the belief system behind the racist, fear-mongering, bigoted, and unconstitutional monstrosity that is the Muslim ban. Although federal judiciary James Robart overturned the White House’s ban of individuals from the seven pre-dominantly Muslim countries, the message is still clear: the Trump administration will not simply aim to stop refugees from coming into the United States, but Muslim refugees specifically. When our government commits blatantly discriminatory actions such as the Muslim ban, it perpetuates uninformed hatred of Islam and unfounded xenophobic beliefs that “Muslim” and “terrorist” are synonymous. It also enables those who would ordinarily keep such beliefs to themselves to freely attack Muslims online and in their communities, much like how I and many of my peers have been targeted as Muslims or just as brown-skinned people living in Palo Alto. Despite claims to the contrary, Trump has targeted Muslims as a group. He has purposefully neglected to acknowledge the difference between Muslims and radical Islamists because he believes that “you don’t know who’s who.” He has required faultless Muslims, many victims of radical Islam themselves, to defend their worth and prove that they are not terrorists, perpetuating the wholly un-American ideology of “guilty until proven innocent.” Trump’s actions represent an ideology that will define America under the his administration and alienate the country from the rest of the world. With this ban, Trump has shown a complete lack of regard for the importance of foreign policy and international relations, which makes this ban not only problematic for Muslims and refugees, but for America as a whole. Going forward, I urge my peers to remember that their Muslim and brown-skinned classmates are simply that – your classmates. Remember that we are teenagers, just like you, who eat salads from Trader Joe’s, complain about teachers, and lament about failed math tests. Most of all, remember that we are human beings who deserve your empathy. v

Gabe Gets Serious

Text by GABRIEL SĂ NCHEZ

Failing At Reform

THE PROBLEMS WITH BLENDED LEARNING Art by Vivian Nguyen

F YOU THINK THAT HAVING SOME CLASSES ONLY My disappointment with this class does not just stem from the meet twice a week is the kind of change that is going to fix implementation of strange applications. I also found that the flex our education system, then you are wrong. Recently, the Palo periods did not help with learning the subject of the class, but rather Alto High School administration seems to have developed a gave what amounted to a prep period that was less productive than strange obsession with blended classes, or classes that use both in- an actual class meeting. class learning and online learning to teach the class, with 15 blendWhile flex is intended to help provide time for students to ed courses being offered next year. work on coursework, I can personally attest to the fact that most These classes are supposed to provide flexible learning envi- of the time people are less focused on coursework when they are ronments, develop college readiness and teach technology-based not in class. skills, according to the Palo Alto Unified School District website. As for developing college readiness, we have classes that do While this may sound very appealing at first, it has quickly become that already. They're called Advanced Placement courses. They do apparent that all of these goals are either not attainable through a far better job of replicating the rigor of college courses and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t these kinds of courses or can be require students to use seemingachieved through regular classes. ly out-of-place apps. And if you A school as well funded as ours If you want more flexible think that college is a shift away seems to be expending a great deal from textbook based learning, learning, blended classes are not the place for you. All that these of resources for what has amounted then you are in for a big suprise. classes do is involve online learnNow look, it's not that I deto a subpar attempt at reinvigorating to a greater degree, which spise education reform or think does not make the classes more ing the high school curriculum. that our classes are perfect as they flexible, rather, just more varied. are. But these pointless classes In the end, this creates an amalgamation of teaching techniques definietly invoke the spirit of the phrase "change for the sake of and develops a class that fits no one and is just confusing. change". In terms of developing technology-savvy youths, these courses It is also very concerning that a school as well funded as also fall short. Not only are Palo Altan millennials the last group ours seems to be expending a great deal of resources for what has of people that need instruction on how to use modern technology, amounted to a subpar attempt at reinvigorating the high school but, if the goal is to develop these skills among students, then they curriculum. This is especially worrying when considering how should be implemented as part of required courses and not alter- many of our classes are in great need of new textbooks and other native classes. And finally, the development of these skills is not supplies. even executed well in all of these classes. I found this out first hand I hope that the administration will continue to work on new in Blended World Literature where the only technological skill we programs, but it is important to remember that the quality of stuwere even introduced to was Google My Maps, an app that allows dent learning is at stake and that great care should be taken with people to place points on a map. That's about it. And while this the substance of new classes and the way in which the administramay be helpful to a select few, it is not universaly useful. tion rolls them out. v

february 2017

verdemagazine.com

Palo Alto Unified School District Palo Alto High School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301

Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Palo Alto, California Permit #44

verdemagazine.com