{DESIGN BY JORDAN ROSSEN}
Choosing our choices BY BRENNA DEERBERG AND JULIANN SKARDA
A
s liberal, feminist high school seniors, we believe that the government should actively fight social injustices, woman should make just as much money as men at the same job and P.E. should be optional for everyone in grade 12. As band nerds, we understand the destructive power of one out-oftune euphonium, and the (very) cloaked beauty of dissonant tones.
Thus far, our beliefs match up quite nicely with our affiliations— why is that? Do our lengthy manes send electrical impulses to our brains that whisper “you’re either a feminist or a masochist,” or would we fight for equal rights were we not females? Do the brass instruments’ triumphant call or the subtle singing of the woodwinds move us to act as tone snobs, or is our snobbery an attempt to show off to the other people in our sections? Whatever the case may be, it’s undeniable that we, as humans, strive to fit other people into easily understandable molds. We are going to save a little ink and a lot of time here by assuming you’ve heard that every year since junior high, and leave it at that. What you haven’t heard, however, is how you yourself could be
packaging yourself a certain way in order to fit in. Let us first point out how considerate this is of you—you’ve made everyone else’s task of fitting you into a box much easier. We have one suggestion the next time you decide to join a group or take on an ideology: ask yourself if you’re making a choice because it’s what you want, or because it’s how you want to be seen. Are you joining the math club because balancing equations gives you chills (in a good way) or have you always been told how good you are with numbers, so being in the math club will help you stay within the comfortable stereotype which has been so kindly fostered for you? What we’re trying to say is that if diagramming sentences gives you a secret thrill, but your buddies in choir protest vehemently, you
“
Ask yourself if
you’re making a choice because it’s
what you want, or because it’s how you want to be seen.”
should throw them for a loop by writing for Favonius. Your choices define you, and if you’re not making them on your own, you’re sacrificing who you are. And it’s pretty hard to be happy when you’re being someone else. Oh, and guess what? We secretly like being in shape, and P.E. can be pretty fun.
Why can’t we be friends? BY KATILYN MCCURDY AND LUSHIA ANSON
I
t is strange to think that people can look at you, not know you and judge you based on what brand of shoes you wear, what kind of activities you participate in or even which school you attend. No matter what you do, you automatically get a label. And honestly? Most of the time, those labels are wrong. We have noticed, especially in
light of the recent Diversity Policy, that there is a split of sorts in the community that has led some to jump to conclusions about those who attend school in the East Side or the West Side. Most people seem to have the idea that the East Side is a poverty-stricken slum, whereas the West Side is full of snobby rich kids. As with most stereotypes, the only actual evidence behind these assumptions are the few who do fall under them. But is it right to generalize a group of people based on a few? No, of course not. However, stereotypes are everywhere in society, and they are readily accepted as truth. Granted, the stereotype that surrounds both City and West students has been around for longer than either of us can
remember. However, the Diversity Policy has brought it to the forefront, due to its emphasis on free or reduced lunch levels. Income-related issues have always been a touchy subject, but when you bring them up to teenagers, things are bound to get messy. There has always been a rivalry between City and West, but until now, we liked to think of it as a strong, yet relatively harmless “sibling rivalry” (thanks for that phrase, Mr. Gross). But now, it has gotten to the point where both sides are throwing meaningless insults and accusations at the other. And for what reason? What is it going to prove? West pointing fingers at City and saying “you are lacking in everything” and City screaming “you are all rich snobs” is not going to actually help
anything. The tension between the two schools today is absolutely ridiculous. We are not saying that we have to come together, hold hands and dance in a circle, singing Kumbaya, but we at least need to learn to respect “the other side.” For schools that are both full of wonderful people and facilities and amazing opportunities, throwing around generalizations that are both hurtful and (mostly) false is the worst idea. Instead of trying to win the battle, or coming out as “the correct side,” we should focus on trying to solve the problem so it benefits as many people as much as possible. Once West and City move past these petty arguments, both schools will come out on top.
OPINION MARCH 2013 33