The Arcata High School
The Pepperbox
April BOX BRIEFS
May 3rd: SAT May 5th-16th: AP Testing May 26th: Memorial Day May 27th-30th: Spring Week May 29th: Spring Sports Awards May 30th: Powder Puff Game
June 4th: Senior Awards June 7th: SAT June 7th: Senior Prom June 9th-11th: Finals June 12th: Last Day of School June 12th: Graduation
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EDITORIAL STAFF Piper Bazard Editor-In-Chief Gillen Martin Editor-In-Chief Lauren McCoy Managing Editor River Sween News Editor Sara Davis Junior News Editor Zoe Ziegler Feature Editor Errol Funk Sports Editor Brooke Coelho Junior Sports Editor Vera Heidmann Opinion Editor Rachael Green A&E Editor
Gabe Schneider Art Director Austin Schuler Graphic Designer Hannah Christen Business Manager Mickenzie Grubb Online Editor Suzannah McFarland Copy Editor Kira Burnett Copy Editor Alex Yeoman Executive Producer Nash Karp Director Indigo Davis Photo Editor Jesse Bareilles Assistant Photo Editor
Speacial thanks to Claire Robinson for all her help editing this issue!
REPORTERS Lauren Blake Lizzie Fernandez Hannah Finley Skyler Wrigley Austin Schuler
Talena Graham Alexandra Harris Lexi Jacomella Alexandra Perry Neel Rao
Alex Rialet Delaney Rice Brooke Schafer Brian Then
The Pepperbox would like to thank Western Web, based in Samoa, for printing at-cost. Western Web supports student journalism throughout Humboldt County and has made publications like the Pepperbox possible for decades. We appreciate their dedication to keeping print media alive. Western Web
IN THE BOX Choir in Italy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..6 New School Nurse. . . . . . . . . . . .7 Open Door Clinic. . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Gnarly Injuries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 LGBTQ Students. . . . . . . . . .10-11 Anti-Prom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Interesting Translations . . . . . 13 April Fools Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Challenge Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Girls Basketball . . . . . . . . . . . .16-17 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Know Your Rights. . . . . . . . . 19 Arcata A’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-21 Prom: What not to Wear. . . . .22 Alternative Sports . . . . . . . . . . 23 Rock Climbing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Feminism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Weekends. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Whaling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Senior Traditions . . . . . . . . . . . 28 College Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Spare Change Review. . . . . . . .30 Eurydice Review. . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Games and Puzzles. . . . . . . . . . 31 Every 15 Minutes . . . . . . . . . . .32 Questions regarding editorial content of the Pepperbox should be directed towards its editors. Opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of Arcata High School.
Advisers Shelley Stewart Danielle Lehman
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Originally published: March 1st, 1974 The girls basketball team had a stellar season this year, which isn’t surprising considering Arcata High has a history of dominance on the court. Pictured above is a winning girls team from back in the day. Check out the long-sleeved jerseys!
BEHIND THE COVER
The cover for issue six was taken by Art Director Gabe Schneider. It features the starting five of our victorious girl’s basktball team (seniors Willow Smith, Abby Puzz, Brooke Coelho, and Lauren McCoy and ferocious freshman Vanessa Holland) looking as powerful and fierce as they certainly are. In the above picture, these ladies look thoughtful while planning out their stances.
EDITORS BOX Welcome back from a very fun and surely safe Spring Break! As the stress and excitement begin to build and the year comes to a close, the Pepperbox aims to review what’s happened over the last month and also look forward to the emotional months ahead. So out comes our second to last issue, covering the spring play, the choir’s trip to Europe, and April Fool’s Day while giving you all the resources you need to be prepared for the coming months: SAT dates, senior activities (check out what not to wear to senior prom on page 22), and some comics and games to amuse you while you stress about graduation, AP exams, and the future in general. Also in issue six, we would like to celebrate and congratulate our amazing girl’s basketball team on their successful, record-breaking season while taking a deeper look into how the experience was for them personally (see pages 16-17). So dig in and savor these last couple issues, summer is closer than you think!
-Editors-in-chief Gillen Martin and Piper Bazard
Quotable. “Show of hands, how many of you own a submachine gun? Oh, guess it’s just me then.” -History teacher Doug Johnson to his second period AP Government class.
“And that’s why physics is sexy...” -Math teacher Will Bagnall while explaining the relationship between velocity and acceleration to his first period AP Calculus class.
“I’m gonna move to Iraq and re-name it I-TRAP.” -Senior Chandler Maskill in a casual conversation in his first period P.E. class.
“Her shins are like a banana, they’re split.” -Legendary track and field coach James Washington in reference to one of his runners with shin splints.
7 Weeks of school left
30 Days of school left
9 Juniors who will be eligible to compete for the 2015 National Merit Scholarship program in the fall of their senior year
180 Minutes of detentions administered to students the last week before Spring Break
Framable. Blossoming sprouts emerge from the newly installed food forest in the senior lawn. The Global Solutions Club has the goal of providing edible and nutritious snacks to students by next fall. Indigo Davis/PEPPERBOX
This photo of Yosemite falls was taken by freshman Claire Bareilles on a family trip to Yosemite over Spring Break.
Photo courtesy of Claire Bareilles
Freshman Deco Morin, sophomore O.B. Kwon, and junior Jacob Barth each placed first in the at the 55th annual Empire Mathematics Tournament at HSU on March 29th. Indigo Davis/PEPPERBOX
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News
Friday, May 2, 2014
Arcata High madrigal choir tours Italy Alex Harris Reporter
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rcata High School’s sensational madrigal choir is a prime example of our top-notch arts program. This year, the choir is taking their talents across the globe-- all the way to Italy. “This year, there’s an excellent blend of singers, and that’s exciting,” said choir conductor Carol Jacobson of her students. “They are very responsive to dynamic contrast, which is really great.” Dynamic contrast is how well the choir responds to various aspects of dynamics, such as singing louder and softer, and how well they pay attention to her conducting. “When everyone actually fo-
cuses, we sound pretty great, I think,” says sophomore and madrigal member Adriana Halligan. Jacobson is very proud of her students and enjoys showcasing their talents all over the world. This is certainly not the first time the choir has travelled. “Two years ago, we went to New York, then last year we went to Paris, and next year I’ll be taking the orchestra to London,” Jacobson said. She couldn’t be more thrilled to be taking this group of 26 students to Italy to compete in the Concorso Corale Internazionale Festival held there. Jacobson was happy to detail the events of the trip for us: “First we will fly to Milan to tour the city, and stay the night there. Then we will take a bus up to Riva Del Garda and listen to the professional choir sing. Then we compete and find out if we place or
ARCATA HIGH STUDENTS:
KNOW & ENFORCE YOUR RIGHTS! THE SCHOOL CANNOT: 1) Search your smartphon without reasonable cause 2) Suspend you for most offenses if you have a clean disciplinary record 3) Engage in viewpoint discrimination by censoring political or social speech on clothing. Law Offices of Peter E. Martin 917 Third Street Eureka, California 95501 Phone: (707)268-0445
not.” Jacobson is also excited about the choir’s special performance at Montova that the festival is letting them give, as well as their tours of Venice, and Verona (yes, the Verona of Romeo and Juliet fame). The students are equally excited about the trip, and can’t wait
This year, there’s an excellent blend of singers, and that’s exciting.
-Carol Jacobson, choir onductor to hear the other choirs perform. “I want to see mature choirs, so that our choir can aspire to be that way,” says junior Eme Farlow. Halligan agrees. “It’s just like, people from other places do [music] differently, and it’s just an opportunity to see how other people do it.”
Jacobson admits that the cultural differences in other countries can affect song choice. “We try to pick the best of American music for our European concerts,” she says. “We pick songs that are popular, but not pop.” “Carol really wants to show classic American songs,” says Farlow. “She also wants to show our diversity by choosing songs we sing in Latin, as well as tribal music.” Jacobson is incredibly proud of her choir this year, particularly the boys. “Usually boys are pretty reluctant to join,” she says, “but we have a really good group of guys this year.” She believes that these boys will inspire new guys to join as well. Certainly the choir seems poised to take Italy by storm. Be sure to wish them the best of luck as they embark on their journey and sing their hearts out!
Friday, May 2, 2014
News
The Pepperbox | Page 7
Who is our school nurse? Lexi Jacomella Reporter
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or years, students of Arcata High have been under the caring watch of nurse Norma Watson. Now, as many of you know, Watson has entered retirement and the position of Arcata High School Nurse has been passed down to the lovely and equally caring Marilyn Thibeau. Thibeau took the position in February after working with Eureka City Schools for several years. She started her career in the field of health care more than 30 years ago, obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Chico State and her Masters from Sacramento State. Coming from a family with a long line of nurses, she wasn’t positive she wanted to enter the field of nursing, but enrolled in school all the same. At the time, she was attending school in Berkley and volunteering at the Province Hospital’s Emergency Care Center in Oakland. A lonesome woman, who coincidentally shared Thibeau’s exact birthday, entered the hospital with a gunshot wound. She had been shot in the face by her pimp with a small caliber gun. Luckily, the bullet was deflected by one of her molars, saving the woman’s life. Still, she needed serious medical care in order to recover. As the woman waited for her surgery, Thibeau acted as an advocate for her and sat by her bedside, listening to the woman tell her story. “I had one of those amazing experiences where I just thought ‘this is what I want to do.’” Thibeau said. “So I worked really hard at being able to understand the body.“ Following this life altering event, Thibeau moved back to Humboldt
County with her husband. She easily found five different local jobs to continue her career in nursing. She started out as a nurse’s aide at Mad River Hospital, graduating with a class of 29 nursing students who had their interim permit to work as nurses until they passed their boards. The only open position for work was with OB helping to delivery newborn babies. Originally, she wasn’t ecstatic with her new position, but soon fell madly in love with it. “I can remember calling my mom and saying, ‘Oh gosh, I can’t believe we all come into the world like that!’ after seeing my first birth,” Thibeau said. She stayed with them for three-and-ahalf years, even moonlighting for them because she loved the work so much. Moonlighting is work on the weekends when it’s difficult to get other workers to come in. Being a hospital nurse is a very large commitment, being on call 24/7. This began to take a toll on her marriage. “I didn’t realize that even my Florence Nightingale ideals would not get me through
a happy marriage if I never saw my husband,” Thibeau said. That’s when she went to work for Public Health, giving her the 8 to 5 job, five days a week that matched her husbands schedule more closely. Then she worked with families with challenged children in their homes, talking to them about their health care and even helping with raising the children. She was then offered a research position with UC San Francisco that combined her nursing and public health knowledge. The study was a five year grant to reduce premature births by educating expectant mothers. After those five years were up, she worked with Social Services and gave Parenting Classes, eventually moving onto teaching nursing at Humboldt State for several semesters. When that job ended, she returned to public health, and became a school nurse in 2001. At the time our now superintendent, Chris Hartley, was in the process of hiring a new school nurse. Because of her long career in Public Health, Thibeau
knew the nurse that was leaving so she applied for the job and was hired soon after. At the beginning of her job she only had her Bachelor’s Degree, which allows a nurse to get a preliminary credential and have five years to convert that to a professional credential. Nurse Thibeau has a very special credential because she did her Masters in nursing and obtained a teaching credential for health so that she can be a heath teacher as well. All in all, Thibeau loves her job as a school nurse and is in love with working in a high school environment. “People say please and thank you here,” said Thibeau. After working under the constant stress in a hospital environment, it is nice for her to be in a place where her work is very openly appreciated, especially at Arcata High with such kind and caring staff. Her overtime work and services are greatly appreciated by everyone. Thibeau is an outstanding addition to our school, and we are so incredibly lucky to have someone as passionate and interested as she is.
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News
Friday, May 2, 2014
Humboldt open door teen health clinic Skyler Wrigley Reporter
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hen you hear about the Humboldt Open Door Teen Clinic, your first thought is probably not of comprehensive teen health care, but of contraceptives, and condoms. If, however, comprehensive teen health care came to the front of your mind right away, then you were correct. This resource is open to all teens ages thirteen to nineteen. It’s open from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. every Monday for drop-in appointments, no prior arrangement needed. The best part about this teen-centric recourse is that it is FREE and CONFIDENTIAL. This means that there will be no charge for mostly everything offered, and if you’re worried about your parents and friends finding out that you have visited, you can rest assured that they won’t. Unfortunately, this place is slightly difficult to find if you have no idea how to get there. It’s placed in the back of Arcata’s Open Door Health Clinic. You can
enter through the back of Umpqua Bank’s parking lot, right behind Renaissance Computing and across the street from the famed Smug’s pizza. Since visits are confidential, you have to knock to get in through the official teen clinic front door. You can go through the front door of the Open Door Health Clinic and say you’re there for teen clinic. They’ll let you in and guide you to the teen clinic office.
The best part about this teen-centric recourse is that it is FREE and CONFIDENTIAL. Once you’re seated in the teen clinic office, you’ll be greeted by one or more of the teens behind the desk. You might even know one of them, but rest assured that they cannot share any information about who or what goes on in the clinic. They might look mean and bored out of their minds, but they’re really nice individuals, and
they are ready to show you that side of themselves if you just want to ask them a question, or even socialize. After the greeting and the questions, they’ll ask you if you have a green card or not. This little green piece of plastic is the ticket to financial freedom in terms of health care with the Open Door Clinic. With the green cards, almost all of the services become free and available whether you need vitamins, contraceptives, pregnancy or STD testing, or just a regular check-up to make sure your body is functioning the way it should. If you have one, it’s just a simple step of filling out a form telling the clinic exactly why you’re there. If you don’t have one, it is easy to acquire one with just a bit of paperwork. Once you have the green card and you have the form filled out, you are taken to a nurse who will help you get the initial part of the check up over with (blood pressure, pulse, etc.). Once this is completed, the medical assistants will help you determine whether or not you need further health care. This place is a resourse for you.
It is there to make sure that you have free, confidential care, with no strings attached. Being healthy is something we all should aspire to, and teen clinic makes this goal accessible to everyone. So whether you want a basic check-up or a prescription of birth control, just drop in.
Recycle motor oil and filters
Recycling motor oil could save over 50 million barrels of oil a day! Do your part! Recycle motor oil and filters at: Arcata Franklin Service 822-1975 1903 Heindon Rd. Eureka Humboldt Waste Management Authority 268-8680 www.hwma.net 1059 W. Hawthorne These certified collection Centers pay 40¢/gallon For information on other sites www.calrecycle.ca.gov/UsedOil/ City of Arcata Environmental Services Department
Photo courtesy of Kira Weiss
Although it may be hard to find, the Teen Health Clinic is a very helpful resource that is available to everyone that needs or wants it.
(707) 822-8184 www.cityofarcata.org Zero Waste – You Make it Happen!
Friday, May 2, 2014
News
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Gnarly injuries are on the rise Nash Karp Reporter
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e’ve seen an abundance of students sporting casts this semester, as well as an unexpected ambulance arrival. And no, these events are not stunts related to Every 15 Minutes; these are real. For some reason, students keep getting injured in extreme ways. So why are Arcata High students so accidentprone this year? We’re not sure. And honestly, exploring that tangent just leads to a bad existential crisis. So here are their stories. Stephen Zazueta: There are many rumors flying around about what actually happened to him. Did he break every bone in his body? Does he have all his toes now? Is he now part robot, part human? Well, no more worries, I am here to tell you the story of Stephen Zazueta’s injury. Over the latter half of winter break, Zazueta went to a ranch in the Redding area to celebrate the New Year. On New Year’s day, around 5 PM, he was watching his two friends ride around on a Yamaha Rhino. Then his friend had to leave to go pack, so Stephen hopped in the passenger seat. They were driving very sketchily, and Zazueta thought about getting out, but decided not to. Then, while turning around a left corner, the Rhino rolled. Zazueta stuck his arm out on instinct, and it hit the ground and was crushed. Zazueta was stuck under the Rhino and the roll
bar crushed his arm. His friend ran to get help, and his friend’s step dad helped lift it off. “If I had not been holding my arm up, it would have probably fallen off. Only the skin was holding it together,” Zazueta said. It took about an hour for the helicopter to pick Stephen up and bring him back to the Redding hospital. In the hospital, they washed his arm up, and the whole time he was wondering if he was going to have an arm. The hospital transferred him to San Francisco in another helicopter. He was rushed into surgery around midnight and it lasted for four hours. The doctors thought they might have to amputate his hand and big toe, but they were able to save his hand, arm, and toe. He had seven surgeries and was out of school for two and a half months. They had to take a vein from his leg and put it in his arm. They took a bone graft from his hip and added it to his arm, and had to take skin from his backside and graft it onto his arm. He still has two more upcoming surgeries, and he should be completely recovered by January. Zazueta looks forward to being able to play sports again like basketball and baseball, and is even thinking about playing football his senior year. When asked if he will ever ride a Rhino again he said, “no way” with a slight chuckle. AJ Christen: The boy who brought the ambulance to school. He was injured in the metal shop, but not many know how. Here is his story: AJ was
working on a lathe making a meat turner for Connor Cox’s project. All of the sudden, AJ’s sleeve on his long-sleeve shirt was caught on the meat turner and lathe. The meat turner started wrapping his sleeve around, and it pierced his arm. It went into his arm, came back out through his arm, and then twisted and pierced his arm again. In his panic, AJ tried to hit the stop button, but he actually hit the reverse button. Finally, he was able to hit the
stop button. Mr. Williams, the metal shop teacher, helped him contain his wound, and someone went to get the nurse. The ambulance came and took him to the hospital where he received 10 stitches for his injury. AJ was very lucky because the meat turner happened to miss all the nerves, veins, bones, and arteries while only harming muscle and tissue. AJ says it is the worst pain he has ever experienced, but he is going to be fine.
IndigoDavis/PEPPERBOX
Stephen Zazueta sports a smile while presenting one of Arcata High’s gnarliest injuries. Zazueta underwent seven surgeries following his Rhino accident on New Years Day.
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News
Friday, May 2, 2014
Exploring our diversity: Piper Bazard Editor-in-Chief
To ensure anonymity, the names and identifying details of some students in this article have been changed.
I
t’s no secret that high school is full of social pressures, and even the best of us sometimes crack under the tirade of expectations, social norms, and presumed conformity within the confines of our campus. But to a certain segment of our student body, these social pressures extend far beyond what most of us have to experience. For LGBTQ students, trying to fit in during high school years is not just an inconvenience, it is a daily conflict. Before we can talk about student experiences, it is important to clarify some definitions. Sexuality refers to an individual’s sexual attraction (or lack of attraction) towards other people. Gender identification refers to how an individual expresses
It’s hard telling people about it, because they don’t seem to understand. -Senior Patch Smith
themselves and/or views themselves, which may or may not be synonymous with the gender assigned at birth. The acronym LGBTQ is used to refer generally to people who have a nontraditional gender identification or sexuality. This includes (but is not limited to) people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. Additionally, many people describe their gender identification and/ or sexuality using a variety of different terms. Because gender identification and sexuality are so varied and fluid, many people simplify their self-identification using umbrella terms such as “gay” and “queer.” Our student body at Arcata High is very diverse, in that we are host to lots of students who identify as LGBTQ. Amy Jones* is a senior who identifies as a lesbian. Facing the challenges of being an openly gay student, she took a chance by coming out publicly. “It was hard at first, I was afraid that people would think of me differently. I wasn't comfortable with coming out until I had made some LGBTQ friends who I knew would understand,” Jones explained. However, with the support of friends and adults, Jones is now comfortable with her own identity. She has found an accepting niche within the open-minded environment on campus. “My experience at Arcata High as an LGBTQ student has been nothing to complain about,” Jones said. “I came from schools and groups of people that were very homophobic, so when I came to Arcata High,
everything was much easier.” However, Jones discussed some discrimination on campus, including a belief that a few staff members unfairly scold primarily gay and lesbian couples for PDA, while ignoring straight couples. Although this generally happens with some specific staff members, the administration makes a conscious attempt to impose the same rules on all students. As Vice Prinipal Jim Monge claimed, “all PDA is unacceptable.” Despite her percieved inequality, Jones has been able to find many staff members who are accepting of
also found support through students groups on campus, such as the Gay-Straight Alliance. “GSA is definitely a big help for the school!” Andrews enthusiastically commented. Juniors Kirsten Hayden and Jen Kelly both identify as queer. Hayden specifically identifies as pansexual, which she defines as, “the capacity to be attracted to not only males and females, but people outside of the gender binary.” Hayden sees the school climate as being supportive, and is impressed by the efforts of most of the teachers on campus, especially compared to her for-
All my friends support me and a lot of my teachers do too. It’s been fun meeting people with the same interests. -Sophomore Amanda Andrews LGBTQ students. Amanda Andrews is a sophomore who also openly identifies as a lesbian. Through the diversity of the student body, Andrews has been able to connect with others who share her non-judgemental philosophy. “All my friends support me and a lot of my teachers do, too. It’s been fun meeting people with the same interests,” Andrews explained. Although she sometimes encounters harassment, mostly through homophobic language, Andrews says her friend group has found a way to deal with it. “There’s a lot of us that just give them weird looks or something, and they stop,” Andrews said. She has
mer school. “Most of the teachers are pretty good,” Hayden explained. “I’ve noticed that in a lot of classrooms, there’s this little sticker that says, ‘this is a safe space for LGBTQ.’ When I came here last year, it was really cool to see that.” Kelly is in agreement, but points out that some LGBTQ students encounter offensive comments, most of which are unintentional. “Usually harassment is just [from] people who don’t realize that they’re being [offensive]. I’ve rarely gotten anything intentionally sexist or homophobic,” Kelly stated. “I think that [students] at this school just need to be taught what sexual harassment is, and what is okay
Friday, May 2, 2014
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News
LGBTQ students speak out and what isn’t.” Both Kelly and Hayden see education and awareness of LGBTQ issues as being vital to ending discrimination. Senior Patch Smith* identifies as a transgender person, but is only out to his close friends. At school, Smith identifies as female to most people, but is thinking about coming out publicly after graduating. Although remaining in the closet has its share of difficulties, Smith expressed that coming out to some friends was equally as challenging because of a lack of education. “When I get to college, I’m not going to be a girl. It’s always hard telling people about it be-
When I talk to people, they get it, and they’re willing to listen and make change. I feel like if people were actually educated, a lot of this stuff would go away. -Junior Emily Carlson cause they don’t seem to understand,” Smith said. Additionally, Smith discussed the misconceptions surrounding transgender people, including the idea that all transgender people are gay or lesbian. “When I was first questioning about who I was, I
thought, ‘oh I can’t be transgender because they like girls.’ And then I figured out that it doesn’t matter. Your gender doesn’t have to do with your sexuality at all,” Smith explained. “I feel like even in the gay community, they just don’t understand sometimes.” The one aspect of high school that is the most uncomfortable for Smith is the bigendered bathroom situation. “Can we just have family bathrooms? Like, that would totally be fine with me!” Smith jokes. Emily Carlson is a junior who identifies as asexual, which she defines as, “a lack of sexual attraction.” Carlson sees the environment at Arcata High as being relatively supportive, but also in need of some improvements. In particular, one such improvement is the frequent misgendering of transgender students. Misgendering occurs when someone is identified using a name or pronoun that is not synonymous with what they choose to be identified as. Carlson believes that if teachers were more sensitive about students’ needs with preferred pronouns and names, many queer students would feel more comfortable. Also, she believes that the use of homophobic slurs needs to be cut down, and treated more seriously by staff. “I feel like a lot of teachers lump slurs in with other curse words, when they’re completely different in how they affect people,” Carlson explained. Because slurs are rooted in such extreme hatred, they often have a very severe impact on individuals. Like many other LGBTQ stu-
dents, Carlson sees education as a solution. “When I talk to people, they get it, and they’re willing to listen and make change. I feel like if people were actually educated, a lot of this stuff would go away.” Despite the negativity towards LGBTQ students, there are many teachers who are willing to be allies. English teacher Jule Angles is adamant that every student should be treated equally. She believes that if any student is facing hardships in school because of their gender identity or sexuality, accommodations should be made at their request. “There are plenty of teachers on this campus that would be absolutely approachable and helpful and do whatever needed to be done. And if the person doesn’t know who, come see me and I’ll tell them!” Angles stated. Art teacher Donovan Clark aims to shut down harassment, especially through the use of homophobic slurs in a casual context. “There’s too much hatred rooted in those words to be able to use them in other contexts,” Clark said. French teacher Davena Bagnall was involved in organizing
the “Day of Silence” in support of LGBTQ students, and sports a “safe space” sticker on her door, letting all students know that they can feel safe and comfortable being themselves in her classroom. “This is a public school; it needs to be safe for everyone. You have a right to be here, and to be who you are,” Bagnall explained. Although every LGBTQ student at Arcata High has a totally different background, they all have some things in common-- mutual support for one another, and the desire to reassure others that they are not alone. From her experience as an openly lesbian student, Jones has some words of advice. “Don't feel pressured to being put into a group or label such as "lesbian" or "trans.” It’s perfectly fine not to know what you are, and its perfectly fine not to identify as anything,” Jones explained. “You are loved, and you have a life worth living. You are wonderful, just the way you are: straight, gay, male, female, bigender, queer, questioning, whatever you are-- you are a valuable person, never forget that.”
You are loved, and you have a life worth living. You are wonderful, just the way you are: straight, gay, male, female, bigender, queer, questioning, whatever you are-- you are a valuable person, never forget that. -Senior Amy Jones
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Feature
Friday, May 2, 2014
Breaking traditions at Anti-Prom Piper Bazard Editor-in-Chief
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magine yourself standing picturesquely, adorned in a starched tuxedo or a pristine new dress. With your right arm around your date and your left hand placed on the shoulder of your best friend, you stand together in a line, smiling at the admiring parent behind the camera. A perfect night of dancing awaits. If this so-called “ideal moment” induces feelings of nausea, anti-prom might be more of your cup of tea. Anti-prom is pretty true to its name: it consists of a night
of music and dancing that goes outside the mainstream norms of what a high school prom should be. Sponsored by Apprentice Entertainment, a local youth-run production company, anti-prom attracts students who are looking for a more alternative prom experience. While some people might be intimidated and even frightened by the intense social expectations surrounding prom, anti-prom is an event that is inclusive to anyone, regardless of financial concerns or tastes in clothing, music, or styles of dance. “Anti-Prom [is a way of] breaking traditions and bringing originality to the high pressure, high expectation environment that prom can be,” AHS junior
and Apprentice Entertainment member Dash Rowe said. In the past, anti-proms have featured a multitude of creative themes and unconventional music, and this year’s event is no different: the theme of the dance is 1980s. Everyone in attendance is encouraged to dress up in retro clothing, and live bands will be playing songs inspired by the music of the ‘80s. You should expect to experience not only the typical vintage leg warmers and neon layered clothing, but aspects of 80s subculture as well: leather pants, punk denim vests, baggy flannels, classic rock t-shirts, disco suits, the possibilities are endless. However, since anti-prom values free expression, party-
goers are encouraged to deviate from the theme and wear whatever makes them comfortable. Anti-prom will be held this year at the Arcata Playhouse on Saturday, May 3, from 9 to 11 P.M. Admission is $7 for an individual or $10 for a couple. All high school students, especially those with a fondness for the unconventional, are welcome to attend. Every antiprom ends up being different, so be prepared for anything to happen. But as Rowe points out, one aspect always stays consistent. “It’s a night when we can all get rid of cliques and all that stupidity and just enjoy music together as humans,” Rowe explains. “Everyone is the king and queen at anti-prom.”
Friday, May 2, 2014
Feature
The Pepperbox | Page 13
I’m sorry, I don’t understand Kira Burnett Copy Editor
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veryone has experienced that moment, that feeling when you just can’t find the right word. The English language ensnares you, and your mind is clouded with confusion and despair. “Am I stupid?” you wonder. No longer. For my peers and fellow tongue-tied babblers alike, I give to you a comprehensive list of brand new words, collected from languages around the world! Each entry is culturally relevant and comes with pertinent, thought-inducing commentary. Kummerspeck (German)- koomär-shpek; Excess weight gained from emotional overeating. Literally, it translates to grief bacon. A word invented for America. Although, I don’t think many Americans particularly need a reason to eat bacon. Shemomedjamo (Georgian)- shemo-med-jam-o; “I accidentally ate the whole thing”. Equates to ‘to eat past the point of being full just because the food tastes good.’ See above paragraph. Subtract ‘emotional’. Insert nonexistent guilt. Hikikomori (Japanese)- he-ke-komo-re; A teenager or young adult who has withdrawn from social life as a result of addiction to/obsession with TV and video games. Because of the increasing approval of and interactions with virtual reality, a gamer is no longer a ‘dork’ or a ‘nerd’. Instead, they need a new word to define obsession with visual media. Fortunately, talented hikikomoris in Japan, South Korea, and other Asian countries are sponsored to play video games all day! No really, ‘professional
gamer’ is a valid career path.
tion’ and ‘AP students.’
Tartle (Scottish)- tär-tl; The act of hesitating while introducing someone because you’ve forgotten his or her name. “Hi, this is...uh...someone who wants to meet you! I’ll let you guys introduce yourselves” [cue awkward laughter].
Donaldkacsázás (Hungarian)- dnäld-kä-cha-zash; “Donald Ducking.” Wearing a shirt but no pants or underwear at home. Besides the nudist on Castro Street, I don’t know of anyone who fits this description. Although he probably prefers a look more au naturel. This word makes me look at my beloved childhood cartoons from a whole new perspective.
Neidbau (German)- nid-bou; “Envy building.” A building (often of little or no value to the proprietor) constructed with the sole purpose of harassing or inconveniencing his neighbor in some way. Like that ridiculous seven-foothigh picket fence? Really? Slampadato (Italian)- släm-pä-däto; Addicted to the UV glow of tanning salons. Why? Really, why? If you wanted exposure to harmful UV radiation, you could head to Antarctica and hang with the penguins. They have much better fashion sense than most spring breakers.
Jayus (Indonesian)- ja-yoos; A joke so poorly told and so unfunny that one can’t help but laugh. Worst-case scenario: the joker thinks you actually enjoyed his/ her fascinating sense of humor, so he/she starts telling another one. So begins the death spiral. L’appel du vide (French)- lä-pel doo
ved; “Call of the void.” The instinctive urge to jump from high places. Strange...one would think NOT JUMPING would be instinctual. Unless Honey Boo-Boo is behind you. Schadenfreude (German)- shäduhn-froy-duh; The feeling of pleasurederived from seeing another’s misfortune. Because that little butthead deserves it. Rewind. Repeat. Eat chocolate chip cookies and let that warm, cozy feeling fill you up with satisfaction. Pochemuchka (Russian)- poch-emooch-kä; Someone who asks a lot of—or rather, way too many— questions. I wonder how they deal with a pochemuchka in Russia... Note: ‘ä’ is closest to ‘ah.’
Esprit d’escalier (French)- esp-re des-cal-e-ay; “The wit of the staircase.” When you think of the perfect verbal comeback too late; in other words, you couldn’t think of a good response until walking down the stairs afterwards. Only fictional characters and politicians manage to sidestep this little road bump. Backpfeifengesicht (German)bäk-fif-en-geh-zehkt; A face badly in need of a fist. Enough said. Desenrascanco (Portuguese)- duhza-räsh-kuhnz-o; The ability to slap together a solution to a problem at the last minute, with no advanced planning, and no resources. Closely related to ‘procrastina-
One example of a neidbau. No one really needs a fence that tall. We’re all friends, right?
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Feature
Friday, May 2, 2014
Stickers, “thotmobiles,” and saran wrap Hannah Finley Reporter &
Delaney Rice Reporter
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midst the everyday monotony of school, there is one special day which makes the whole year worth while: April Fools’ Day. The name describes the feeling, you’re either a fool or fooler from the time you wake up ‘til the time you shut your eyes for bed. The infamous title of the fooler, or prankster, is not readily passed on to just anyone. Only few succeed in following through with sneaky and successful pranks. Many though, can be called survivors of the prankster’s foolery. Here are a few examples of Arcata High’s April Fools’ Day rogue rascality and raucous reactions:
Sticky-note Shenanigans Many pranksters lack creativity or thoroughness, but one Arcata High student put genuine “thot” into her foolery. Junior Avery Kerr’s Mazda MPV underwent a colorful transformation when sophomore Abbi Nevil covered the windows in stickynotes. Though the message could have been intended with a negative connotation, it was said with love. For those that aren’t familiar with the slang term “thot,” it is an acronym for “That H** Over There.” Keep in mind, Nevil and Kerr have a very close friendship and share a love for teasing. We can be sure that Avery will strike back against Abbi’s “Thotmobile” crime; the question is simply, “when?”
Unlikely Mischief-Maker Sometimes the most unlikely people make the best tricksters. Arcata High’s French teacher
Madame Bagnall carried out the famous French tradition of taping pictures of fish to unexpecting victims’ backs. As students passed throughout her class, she sneakily snuck a fish cutout on the back of their shirt. These fish began to cause confusion as they appeared throughout the school. Students were left baffled as to who was the mastermind behind this fish foolishness. Eventually, Bagnall came clean and confessed to her acts of folly as she explained the French tradition of Poisson d’Avril.
Show-and-Tell On April 1st, sophomore Triston Pigg received a present, sealed with shock value, as he strolled to his car during break. Several of his friends successfully saran wrapped his vehicle, leaving provocative images of Triston and a dear friend sealed beneath. Throughout the day, his car served as a display case of emotions. Despite what many may assume, Triston was not embarrassed but rather proud of the accomplishments featured upon his hood (though for his friend’s sake, he did manage to remove the pictures as soon as possible; what a gentleman).
Right: Junior, Avery Kerr’s “thotmobile.” Her friend, Abbi Nevil, stuck hundreds of purple, blue, and orange sticky notes on Kerr’s SUV, speling “THOT” out on the side, to express her undying love for her favorite “thot”.
Photo Courtesy of Avery Kerr
Friday, May 2, 2014
Feature
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Remembering Challenge Day Talena Graham Reporter
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he phrase itself is well known, embossed into motivational signs and mugs. And, for a span of time, to the back of t-shirts given out halfway through freshman year: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Ghandi. The phrase came with emotion to mark a day when judgment was withheld, tears were shed, and truth was told. To mark a time when cliques dissolved (if only for a day) and it didn’t matter who you were or what your background was. Everyone was equal. I have a distinct memory of my first tour of Arcata High. Walking around the empty classrooms, the ones I would be in the next year, my tour guide gushed about how much Challenge Day would change the atmosphere, how much of a difference it would make. I later learned that students went with their English classes, divided into two batches because otherwise there would be too many people to deal with. I was in the second group of students, and was able to hear from the first group about how it really did make a difference. I suppose they were right. After the first awkward minutes, when nobody quite knew how to react, people were able to drop the societal restraints that separated them and truly be themselves. Although society’s standards have slowly crept back
into school, anyone who has attended Challenge Day looks back on it with a sort of irrevocable fondness. That day meant something; for once, people who had never spoken to each other didn’t view each other as static characters who were stuck in the background. People were able to imagine each other complexly. Senior, and Challenge Day attendee, Kaitlyn Lackett said it best; she declared that Challenge Day was successful because “[the organizers] made it really happy and then they made it sad, but you bonded over that.” As John Green stated: “The central problem of human existence: I am stuck in my body, in my consciousness, seeing out of my eyes.” Because you do not know everything that happens in everyone else’s lives (which
Anyone who has attended Challenge Day looks back on it with a sort of irrevocable fondness. is a resoundingly good thing), too often people forget that other people have their own issues and problems. Challenge Day was successful in the fact that for a day everyone saw a little bit more of everyone else. Now, if Challenge Day was so beneficial, why was it discontinued? According to Principal
Navarre the reason is a logical one: cost. To put on one event costs a shocking $10,000 per site. (And each event was put
the district simply couldn’t afford to put on Challenge Day. It is still disappointing that current freshmen can’t experience Challenge Day. Freshman Robin Joyce described the event as “this thing where take all the freshman The return of they ,and it’s all emotional, and you Challenge Day get a free shirt with the Gandhi quote on the back.” Then would mark a there are the other freshman, return of school- like Isabella Loch, who “don’t know what [Challenge Day] is.” wide unity. There is still hope from the administration that some day Challenge Day will return, peron with McKinleyville High.) haps not in the traditional way This $10,000 does not include that all seniors remember, but the cost of food and other sup- as an event organized solely plies associated with the event. by the school. In any method, Furthermore, in previous years there is no doubt that the return Challenge Day was funded by of Challenge Day would mark a grant. Without this grant, a return of school-wide unity.
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My Story
Friday, May 2, 2014
From tiny tots to triumphant tigers: Lauren McCoy Managing Editor &
Brooke Coelho Junior Sports Editor
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‘Supermans’ in one day. For those of you lucky enough to not know from experience what a Superman is, it’s sprinting the width of the basketball court 16 times. With a goal time of 1 minute and seven seconds to 1 minute 12 seconds. Essentially, it’s running hell. Double days are always fondly looked back on as well. With two hours of grueling practice with a break of a few hours before another round, it’s quite the commitment to make when all your friends are off enjoying the slopes of Bachelor. As the season progressed, the practices did make a shift towards mental focus and strength as the importance of each league game increased. After losing the leagueopener game to Fortuna we realized that this season was not going to be handed to us. The next day at practice there was a different air in our warm ups. Everyone had felt the sting of defeat and felt that there were things they could have done better to help us win, and we all wanted to change those things to improve on the season. The numerous Supermans we ran were certainly difficult, but in that loss we found a drive to not experience such a game again. And our coach
continued to remind us that champions were, in fact, made in practice. Progressing through the very difficult league games our team established a certain style of play. The key ingredient to our success became our determination to win and the ability to grit it out. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t perfect, but it won games. That grit was what our team came to “hang our hats” on throughout the season. It won us big games that could have gone either way. All the mental focus we put into practice, and all the stresses we had come to expect from our coaches prepared us to continue to win. All those Superman’s were paying off as we were running our opponents right off the court. “This team, those girls, worked harder than any other group, and that made my job easy,” head coach Dusty Scofield expressed. However, with all of this hard work that won us games, there were some other factors that we felt played a role in our success. Superstitions do in fact still exist, very much so within our team, and before every game a few things had to be completed. First
his year, the Lady Tigers basketball team did something no other girls team has done at Arcata High. We went further than ever before. No, we did not land on the moon, but the journey we went through could be compared to that of a rocket launch. In the beginning, there were the skeptics, those who did not think we had what it would take to be champions. But through hard work, dedication, and grit, we, self titled the “Tiny Tots,” proved our doubters wrong, and made history along the way. We knew the first game of our season was going to be a challenge. We were facing the Piedmont Highlanders. This was the team which had handed the Tigers our second round sections loss the previous year by a mere four points. Walking into the dimly lit Willits gym that day in December, we knew Piedmont was a worthy adversary. We didn’t know we would lose by a whopping 40 points though. After that eye-opening game, our team knew we needed to get to work to reach the goals we had set for ourselves. We wanted to be the champions of the Humboldt-Del Norte League, win another Niclai championship, and win a second round sections game which would send us to the Nor-Cal finals. The Tigers knew these goals would be challenging to meet, but we also knew what it would take to reach them. Practices with coach Dusty are not something be taken lightly. Photo courtesy of Ayden Mazzotti In the early parts of the season, it The lady tigers get pumped before an intense home game. is not unheard of to run multiple
of all, Yerba Mate’ drinks were a favorite and a requirement before games for many of those on the team, Coach Dusty included. Second of all, Junior Anna Nelson had to consume a blue bag skittles in the locker room. In that locker
This team, those girls, worked harder than any other group, and that made my job easy. - Head Coach Dusty Scofield room, many things happened -- listening to a select list of pregame songs (including “Up Down,” “Drunk in Love,” and “Timber”), posting a team selfie, placing an inspirational poster individualized for each game on the whiteboard, and finally the singing of “Aint’ No Mountain High Enough” at the top of our lungs. There were other things that took place that helped ensure the wins, but these were the most notable. All of those superstitions were planned occurrences that got us pumped up for the game ahead of time. But there was never any way to know how we would feel after winning those games. As the season dwindled down and the wins became a bigger deal, the emotions did as well. When it came to seeding for the North Coast Section playoffs, we knew where we should end up. Based on our head to head match ups and wins the four seed was what we were hoping for. But there’s always the possibility of doubt in the eyes of the committee. Luckily our hopes were fulfilled, and the four seed was ours. Once the second round of sections rolled around, we knew that we had our work cut out for us, with a matchup against Cardinal Newman. That game against the Cardinals held
Friday, May 2, 2014
The Pepperbox | Page 17
My Story
Arcata girls basketball makes history the most weight for our goals, for if we beat them we would make it into the NorCal State Champion Tournament, something none of the girls on our team had ever achieved. Perhaps one of our best games was against Piedmont, the team that had previously slaughtered us by 30 points. Going into that game the intensity and desire to win was greater than it had ever been. We had our home crowd cheering us on all the way, and through teamwork and effort that seemed to surprise our opponents we came out as the victors when the final buzzer sounded. “Having had tough losses to them before, and then being able to beat them to get into NorCals, was something really special,” Scofield commented. There was a joy in that win that our team had never experienced yet. There were tears in some of our eyes as we headed into the locker room, for in that game we had proved so many people wrong about what we were capable of and proved ourselves right. And in doing so, earned we ourselves the chance to play in the NorCal Championship Final. Back in the beginning of the season our goals had started out modest in comparison to where we got. By the time we rolled up to the gym at Grand Canyon High School the nerves had certainly caught
up. None of us had ever imagined that we would be playing in the Final Four of the state. Stepping onto that court, we knew we had what it took to win the game. We had put in the time, the sweat, and the work. But for some reason we just weren't meant to win. The chances had been there, but we just could not convert on the offensive end. But when that game ended, though we lost, we still knew we had held true to who we were, for we had never given up. “I could not be more proud of those girls. They showed what hardwork and beliving in ‘team’ can do, and I hope they take that life lesson with them. We also had amazing support in our Assistant Coach Pam Martin and everyone involved in the program. I can’t take the credit for it, because it really was those girls that did it,” Scofield We may have lost that final game, but in our hearts we knew we were winners. We had a phenomenal 26-5 record, 10-0 on our home court. Throughout that season we won more than just games, but also won pride for ourselves, our school, and our community. This season taught us how that feels, and just how far hard work can take you. And that is something no one can ever take away from us.
Throughout that season we won more than just games, but also won pride for ourselves, our school, and our community.
If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, we are here to support you.
Its not your fault!
You are not alone!
North Coast Rape Crisis Team 24 hr confidential hotline: 707-445-2881 TTY line: 707-443-2738 (8:30-5 M-F) collect calls accepted
The Pepperbox | Page 18
Art by Kira Burnett
Art by Kira Burnett
Comics Art by Austin Schuler
Friday, May 2, 2014
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
FREE SPEECH ......................................................................... This issue, the Know Your Rights column focuses on freedom of speech while at school. The first amendment grants citizens the right to freedom of speech, which includes the right to practice a religion, the right to organize a protest or petition, and the right to a free press. Speech is protected as long as it isn’t libel, seditious, disparaging of character, or inciting violence. In a school setting, these freedoms still apply; however, there are some limitations on the way students are allowed to express them. • Students have the right to wear clothing that expresses a personal, religious, or political viewpoint. The administration may not censor your speech by asking you to remove or cover up clothing, even if the message displayed is controversial. However, the administration may place restrictions on clothing that does not convey a message. For specifics on what clothing is permitted on campus, we suggest becoming familiar with the NHUHSD dress code. •Student groups are legally allowed to publish and distribute pamphlets, newspapers, or other materials. If a school group is student-run (a.k.a. a club), their speech is protected under the first amendment. (As journalists, this might be our personal favorite part of the first amendment!) • Students have the right to practice and express their religion on campus. They may do this in the form of a student-run organization. However, students may not be required by a school official to participate in religious activity. • While students may voice their opinions and personal beliefs on a school campus without intervention, the administration has the right to intervene if activities are “disruptive” to the learning environment. For example, a student-run group may organize a protest, but if they are making noise during a class period, they may be asked to disassemble. To guarantee your safety and protection, familiarize yourself with your free speech rights before you engage in expressing speech that could be controversial.
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Feature
Friday, May 2, 2014
Feature Students:
The Academic: Natalie Opalach The Athlete: Cannon Russell Alley Perry
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Indigo Davis
Reporter
atalie Opalach’s academic triumphs began the moment she received her first A + at Arcata Elementary, and ever since then her need to succeed hasn’t faltered. For every school project, History Day, Science Fair, and opportunity to compete, Natalie has been there with a gold medal or a good grade. Between two AP classes, two honors classes, and zero period, it’s astounding that Sophomore Natalie Opalach had even a minute of time to spare for a social life. Natalie has won five county science fairs as well as County History Day six years in a row in the documentary category. She somehow manages to craft an eloquent and historically accurate 10 minute documentary ever year, while juggling the mountains of homework that come with her heavy load of classes. Unsurprisingly, history is Natalie’s favorite subject. “I like AP Euro because it puts everything in context that has ever happened,-well, almost everything,” Natalie said. When she’s not working on an upcoming project or studying for an upcoming test, Natalie practices her flute for the ArMack orchestra, a class she has to get up at the crack of dawn to attend. Natalie tries her best to avoid getting stressed by staying in shape and running, “because it clears [her] mind.” In her rare free time she enjoys browsing through Netflix, and finding new shows to obsess over. Her current favorite is Scandal. “Watch it. Every second of your life is being wasted that you’re not watching it.” Natalie instructed with increasing seriousness. After graduation Natalie eventually plans to attend a four-year university and get a degree in brain neurology, which is the study of how the human brain works, a field that is perfect for her precision, focus, and determination.
Photo Editor
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iery red hair, 5 foot 6 inches, toned, fluorescent skin, sun-kissed freckles, and sparkly ocean blue eyes. He is a freshman, but an extremely rare one; upperclassmen actually like him. This beautiful man isn’t just an angel, he is also a star tennis athlete. Love means nothing to a tennis player, but it means everything to people who know Cannon Russell. Russell describes himself as the type of guy who “always buttons the top button.” He is enthusiastic and a ball of sunshine. Cannon Russell always does the right thing, but with a sense of humor. He gets along with nearly everyone and isn’t afraid to show his love for people. He enjoys wearing plaid shirts, and looking fabulous. Cannon does not have a middle name, and his birth certificate reads “Cannon Blank Russell.” He claims he is an exchange student from Angola, and I completely believe it although I don’t know where Angola is. In addition to his abundance of friendliness towards everyone, Cannon is also number three on the tennis ladder, both very impressive achievements for a high school freshman. He has been playing tennis since he was in third grade, starting because his two older sisters played. He helped Arcata High travel through their season, and also went undefeated at number three on the ladder. When asked how Cannon feels about being the best number three in the league, he said, “It feels pretty good.” Powered by a different Nike tennis outfit every practice, inspired by his team, encouraged by Claire Bareilles, and fueled by Brio, Cannon Russell is a dynamic and incredible tennis player.
Friday, May 2, 2014
The Pepperbox | Page 21
Feature
The Arcata A’s The Activist: Claire Robinson Zoe Ziegler
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Feature Editor
here is something about the way that she walks down the hallway, chest held high, shoulders back, with just the right amount of bounce in her step. You know that she is capable of greatness. Claire Robinson, a junior at Arcata High, takes a sense of dignity everywhere she goes. She is an A student, a devoted friend, and a dedicated dancer. But most of all, Claire finds greatness in others, and never ceases to fight for the underdog. Claire’s dedication to others can be found in her recently formed Women’s Advocacy Club. It’s a discussion-based club that meets weekly to bring up issues that might otherwise be put to the back burner. Recent topics have been consent, body positivity, and objectification. This club gives attendees the chance to have a free voice in a safe environment, no matter what their opinion might be. “I want to gain more members with diverse perspectives,” Claire said. When asked about her personal philosophy, Claire said, “I consider myself an activist and a feminist. I think that an activist is someone who recognizes the problems in our world and hopes to change them. A feminist is someone who believes in the potential of all women and aims to eliminate the barriers to them living up to it. These ideas are very central to my identity.” And Claire is not just talk. In early April, the Women’s Advocacy Club participated in HSU’s Take Back the Night event (TBTN), which sought to break the silence hiding the truths about sexual and domestic violence. “The first step to activism is education,” Claire said. She went to a workshop on creating safe spaces for survivors and applied this knowledge to her participation in the TBTN event. Various group members also came to the event, which involved a speak out during which both women and men were able to tell their stories to an open-minded audience. This is just one of the actions that accompany her inspirational words. Claire is destined for greatness, but it is the potential which she see’s in others that defines her.
The Artist: Coelho Hill Piper Bazard
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Editor-in-Chief
ou’ve probably seen her crossing campus, accompanied by her trademark purple backpack and patterned blanket, and adorned with a lion’s mane of wonderfully curly hair. But who is this mysteriously energetic person? Coelho Hill, known throughout campus for her unique double-bun hair style and abundance of sassy personality, is a spunky advent to Arcata High. With her love for Balkan folk music, world cultures, and hand-knitted accessories, Coelho is an artist, in all connotations of the word. Coelho might be best known for her involvement in the Arcata Arts Institute. She is a member of AAI music, contributing much to the program through her vocal and instrumental talent. While guitar, ukulele, and mezzo-soprano vocals are staples of her musical practices, Coelho can also boast of the ability to play tambura and melodica. She has a fascination for instruments that are out of the ordinary or frequently overlooked. Coelho’s musical taste is as unique as her style; she is an avid listener of alternative, indie, big band jazz, 50s lounge music, American folk, Balkan folk, and anything with a groovy beat and interesting rhythms. “Music is just something that makes sense to me,” Coelho stated. “I just really understand it.” However, music isn’t the only art form that Coelho participates in. Through AAI, she has dipped her feet into the pools of graphic design and figure drawing. “I also dabble in knitting,” Coelho said, which explains t h e hand-crafte d scarves, hats, a n d accessories that she often wears. With a summer exchange trip to Costa Rica, Coelho sparked an interest in world cultures and languages. She plans to attend University of California, Santa Cruz next fall, and major in something that allows her to continue to explore the diversity that exists in the world.
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Feature
Friday, May 2, 2014
Senior prom: what not to wear Jesse Bareilles
Assistant Photo Editor
You may think that buying and choosing a senior prom dress is going to be a stressful ordeal, but as long as you stray away from any article of formal wear that even closesly resembles the dresses below, you will be sure to have an enjoyable senior prom, and hopefully not be remembered as the girl who wore the cartoon character halloween costume to prom.
We all are proud to be Arcata Tigers... but save your school spirit for sporting events. Open backs are for sure in this prom season, but please avoid frontal and dorsal openings. When choosing a dress with print, be careful. Prints are in many cases too over the top and tacky, especially animal prints.
Yes, the dress you choose for prom should be a visual expression of who you are, but you really should try to avoid being the girl who shows up in the sock monkey dress. Yes, I’m sure certain people just love sock monkeys, but there’s a time and a place for most outfits and, unfortunately, a dress like this doesn’t fall into that category.
I really can’t decide what the worst part of this dress is. So let’s start from the top and go down. Spaghetti Straps: spaghetti straps really should be left in the 90’s and early 2000’s. The “Pose”: Just avoid posing like this for any pictures ever, no matter the occasion. Tule: the less tule the better. Avoid dresses that could be mistaken for an animal; this dress shares a striking resemblance with a polar bear, so just avoid looking too “fierce” or “feline”.
Lady Gaga is an inspiration, I guess you could call it, to many young women in our generation. Yes, she is a fashion and pop culture icon, however senior prom isn’t the occasion to try to harbor your inner Gaga. Go for an occasion more like Halloween.
You may affectionately call your boyfriend or girlfriend, “Pooh Bear”, but no matter how fond you are of this childhood standby, leave him out of anything that is related to senior prom. For our sake and his.
Friday, May 2, 2014
The Pepperbox | Page 23
Sports
Alternative sports at AHS Errol Funk Sports Editor
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Neel Rao Reporter
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rcata is known for its excellence in sports; however, many of our school’s athletes don’t make the front page for conventional athletics. Those with a passion for the unconventional have their own alternatives. Here are a few “off-the-court” options that our county has to offer. Mountain Biking: Russ Taylor: “I’ve been riding for about six or seven years. One of my favorite places to ride is Whistler, Canada; locally, I like to ride Red Gate up in Kneeland. My favorite part about riding is the rush you get from going fast.” Cayman Durham Vance: “I’ve been mountain biking for the past two years on and off. One of the best places I’ve got to ride was Pine Crest near Yosemite. One of my favorite things about biking is the individual aspect: it’s a personal outlet, and honestly it’s more thrilling than team sports. One of my worst experiences riding was flipping over my handle bars and landing on a rock.” Quinn Rice: “I’ve been riding for the past six years; I like to ride with Russ Taylor or my dad when I go out. My favorite place to ride locally is Red Gate trail up in Kneeland. One of my worst experiences riding was probably when my bike broke three miles inland, and I had to walk out. Mountain biking is nice because you get to be out in nature.”
Surfing: Luke Graves: “I’ve been surfing since I was four; my favorite place to ride is Moonstone. My worst experience was in Kauai when I was surfing without a leash. I tried to catch a wave but my board came out from under me and washed to shore and I kept hitting the reef with my feet, I thought I was going to drown. But my cousin saw me and picked me up and got me into shore.” Skyler Wrigley: “I’ve been surfing for the past four years. My favorite place to ride is the Jetty in Eureka. I usually just surf with whoever I can bum a ride off of. A few of my favorite things about surfing are the feeling you get up on a good wave, and you harness its power with your board, along with the feeling of the warm towel and car heater after a good ride. My worst experience had to have been at Moonstone during ten foot swells, I ate whitewater minutes at a time for about three hours. I’m looking forward to riding in Santa Cruz while I attend college”
Contemporary: because that’s what I want to pursue as a career. Ballet: just because it teaches you a lot of discipline. I have gotten severe tendonitis and bursitis in my foot, torn ligaments that I then danced on until I could barely walk. My sister tore her ACL, PCL, and meniscus right at the beginning of her ten minute long contemporary pointe dance piece and finished the dance. My greatest achievement in dance is probably getting accepted into a professional summer program, and moving to San Fransisco in the fall to go to a performing
arts high school. I have been very lucky.” Maddy Hapgood: “I danced for 11 years, but with various studios. I dance Ballet, and Latin. I started dancing when my grandpa would try to bribe me to go to dance using candy. Then I tried to hide from him under a table everyday, and he would have to come and find me. When I started going, I started to think I was better than everyone else. I wanted to move up a level because I thought I was better than everyone. Turns out I wasn’t.”
Horseback Riding: Zoe Poyen: “I have been riding horses for 5 years, and in that time one of my greatest achievements was winning Junior Championships. Horseback riding is a dangerous sport, and I have had 5 concussions, but I’ve seen people get their teeth kicked out, have their ribs broken and break their legs. The hardest thing for the “Pony Pals” is to not get abs, due to the intense workout from riding.” Dancing: Delaney Goodman: “I’ve been dancing for 14 years. I dance HipHop, Contemporary, and Ballet. Each one has its own aspect that I love. Hip-Hop: the athleticism.
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The Pepperbox | Page 24
Sports
Friday, May 2, 2014
Climbing: sun’s out, guns out Austin Schuler Reporter
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first started to climb three years ago, starting at Far North Climbing (the local climbing gym). From climbing, I have grown both physically and mentally. When I started climbing, I was horrible; it would take me hours to climb the easiest routes. Even though I was not a good climber, I was addicted. All I wanted to do was climb, so that’s all I did. I would go climbing every day for weeks on end with no rest. Through this passion for climbing, I met amazing people who shared the same psyche. After a while, I started to climb at the local beaches and boulder on the coastal stones.
My life has become mostly driven by the passion to climb and explore new areas. Bouldering is a form of climbing based on power over a short period of time. Bouldering could be compared to sprinting in this way, and similarly involves primarily fast twitch muscle groups. To all forms of climbing, bouldering is very important and is viewed by many climbers as the base of all forms of climbing. Bouldering arguably requires the most contact strength or power. This is because the route, or problem, is usually only about ten moves long. Because these routes are so short, they usually have difficult moves that enable a climber
to move through the sequence. Bouldering has brought me to amazing places that I believe I wouldn't have had the chance to see. One of these areas was Bishop, CA. I first went to Bishop in 2011 over Thanksgiving break. With the Buttermilks Granite jelly bean blocks at 6200 ft. and the Eastern Sierras practically standing over you; the place is intense, to say the least. After my first visit to Bishop, I returned home knowing that I would return. The next year I took two weeks off of school and spent a month living in Bishop. I was climbing as much as possible. Because of this month spent camping in freezing weather, I grew as a person and was able to learn a lot about myself and an alternative lifestyle focused on living in the moment and appreciating everything you have. Although, once I got home, I really appreciated a shower and bed. Bouldering and climbing is a primarily unknown sport here at school, and I think there is only one other kid who climbs every week. Climbing has a rare capability to become a lifestyle. My life has become mostly driven by the passion to climb and explore new areas. The sport also has a far different feel than a team sport because most climbers are climbing for themselves. This creates a community of people who share the same drive and support each other even if they are complete strangers. I think that this is a pretty rare situation, and I believe that it is born from the fact that you are competing against yourself, and that other people’s success motivates you to try harder and become better. I think that climbing is a sport that can show people amazing places, while also teaching them valuable lessons about themselves that are nearly impossible to learn in a classroom.
Gabe Schneider/PEPPERBOX
Stretching to reach to new heights is both mentally and physically stimulating.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Opinion
The Pepperbox | Page 25
A new way of looking at feminism
Lauren McCoy Managing Editor
F
orty years ago there was an "f" word that parents were worried about their children being exposed to. It didn't rhyme with "duck" though, in fact, it rhymed with realism -sort of. What was this word, you may be wondering? Feminism. Unfortunately, people today still share the same fear from a word that simply stands for a shared level of respect and acceptance for all people across the world, no matter their sex or other defining characteristics. Today feminism is not what it once was. It no longer has the correlation of unshaved legs and armpits. It is no longer associated with man-hating agendas of 'extremists.' It makes sense that this word would no longer have the same meaning it once did, because few politically charged
words truly mean the same thing they did forty years ago. Whatever the word "feminism" evokes in one person’s mind is certainly not going to be the same from person to person. Forty years ago, there was a pretty clear cut version of what this word meant; the scary women who were going to shove their feminist propaganda down your throat whether you liked it or not. That was feminism then. Today it looks a little different. Thanks in large part to the world-wide-web, people are able to connect in ways never imaginable in the not-so-long-ago past, and because of these connections more and more people are able to voice their opinions on matters that, well, matter. In regards to feminism there have been lots of opinions and ideas thrown out there by some of the biggest pop stars and politically active talking heads. There is no one definition of what feminism is or isn't for the world that we currently populate. Feminism isn't about being right, or someone else being wrong. It's about being fair, treating human beings with respect, and not standing for any inequalities. But what was just described is only one idea of what feminism is. If you ask ten people what they think it means,
There is no one definition of what feminism is or isn’t for the world that we currently populate.
Feminism isn’t about being right or someone else being wrong. It’s about being fair, treating human beings with respect, and not standing for any inequalities. you are likely to get ten VERY different answers. In pop culture today, there have been a variety of dominant female roles, in film in particular, which have become great role models for many women young and alike. With the characters in movies such as The Hunger Games and Divergent, people are finally being able to see women in the light of strong independence, without the need for someone else to be their saviours. As more inspirational roles of these sorts begin to become the standard, young women will be able to take their examples of individualism and personal prowess. In our country, even today, there are those who see women looking to defend what they deserve in regards to equality as ignorant, uninformed, and unnecessary. Even today there are people who think the wage gap does not exist (which it significantly does; women earning 77 cents to a man’s dollar doesn't seem to be quite up to par), and there are people who will continue to put down the efforts of women who are trying to make a better life for themselves and those who will come after. I am a feminist. Not just because
I am a young woman. Not just because I have the privilege to speak my mind in this country. Not just because I want to rebel against authority. There is no one reason why anyone is or isn't a feminist. You can be male, and be a feminist. You can be 65 and be a feminist. You can be nine and be a feminist. You can be 16, an average high schooler, and be a feminist.
In our country, even today, there are those who see women looking to defend what they deserve in regards to equality as ignorant, uninformed, and unnecessary
The Pepperbox | Page 26
Opinion
Friday, May 2, 2014
Friday, Friday...time to eat food Vera Heidmann Opinion Editor
E
very Friday night, I sit down with a cup of herbal tea and a Netflix marathon. Clearly, I party hard. Since I, like most seniors, have now officially been hit with a crippling case of Senioritis, I have taken to doing this almost every night. How much TV can I really watch on my dad’s ac-
Oh my god, I love this song. This is my jam! Where is the peanut butter? -Rebecca Black count? The limit does not exist. If you think about it, it makes sense: if you are exhausted from the week days, why would you spend the weekend doing anything else but sleeping, eating and watching Netflix? I know, I know, some of us have lives. Some of us have
“obligations”. (Trust me, I know. Track meets are a day long event.) If you are an insomniac, and can’t sleep through the weekend, I can recommend some fun filled activities for you to do. Because we all know you’re not going to do your homework. Watch old episodes of “Saturday Night Live”. If I’m super bored, I watch these on Sundays (‘cause I’m a rebel). You have to watch the old, good ones though. With like... Tina Fey and Eddie Murphy, and Amy Poehler. Watch Mean Girls until you have memorized every line in the movie. I’ve done it. It’s a wholesome ritual. Stop watching TV, and do something productive. Go walk around on the plaza by yourself (or with a friend), and give compliments to random strangers. There are some beautiful people down there. All you have to do is go up to someone and say, “Just so you know, you look absolutely ravishing today.” It will probably make their day. Or, since you just watched Mean Girls, you can spout random quotes at them and see their reactions. Give out free hugs. Rebecca Black, after the “Friday” phenomenon, wrote a new song called “Saturday” (Look it up). I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t wait for “Sunday” to come out. Be like Rebecca and write your own songs about the days of the week! Throughout the course of the weekend, you should probably watch the movie Frozen at least 10 times. Also, listen to the soundtrack at least 20 times. This movie is amazing. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Never LET IT GO. Unless you hate this movie. Then, do let it go. Grab a couple of friends and play “Chubby Bunny”. It’s a great game. If you don’t know what “Chubby Bunny” is, it’s this game where you try to shove as many marshmal-
lows in your mouth as humanly possible, then try to say “chubby bunny” without choking and dying. One person dance parties. Sometimes they can be more fun than multiple person dance parties. Now see? Aren’t these things more fun than going to a lame
party? Don’t you think they sound more fun than homework? (YES) So please, next weekend, don’t go by the status quo. Don’t waste your weekend partying, or writing that ten page essay for English. (Sure, it’s due the next day, but you have all of lunch to do it).
If you don’t know what “Chubby Bunny” is, it’s this game where you try to shove as many marshmallows in your mouth as humanly possible, then try to say “chubby bunny” without choking and dying.
Zoe Ziegler/PEPPERBOX
Friday, May 2, 2014
The Pepperbox | Page 27
Opinion
Everyone’s just whaling around Lauren Blake Reporter
S
imilar to the planking craze of 2010, “whaling” is the newest fad sweeping across America. With whaling, however, the common form of proof on the internet is a short Vine video. Whaling consists of a person crouching behind an object (or crouching out of the camera frame), jumping up, and hurling themselves backwards, inspired by whales breaching. Have a good #whaling video? Share it with The Pepperbox on Twitter (@ahspepperbox) or Facebook (The Arcata High Pepperbox)! We will be retweeting some of our favorites and posting some of our own! Un Internal Court of Justice rules on Japanese Whaling The issue of commercial whaling was brought to public attention in 2008 when Animal Planet first premiered the series “Whale Wars,” which follows Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, during Sea Shepherd’s campaigns to stop Japanese ships from killing whales in the Southern Ocean. In 1986, the United Nations council created a moratorium on the slaughter of whales for commercial purposes. However, Japan has been slaying whales for “scientific research” to the tune of 950 Minke whales, 50 Fin whales, and 50 Humpback whales per season. While the whales are killed for “scientific research,” after the test-
ing has been completed, the vessels are allowed to sell the whale meat, a traditional Japanese delicacy (despite public health warnings due to the high levels of mercury, and other toxins, found in whale meat) to the Japanese public. However, on Monday, March 31st, the United Nation’s International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that the research retrieved under Japan’s JARPA II (their, now former, whaling program) was not substantial enough, nor were the quotas justified, and placed a temporary halt on the Japanese whaling program. While some conservation organizations, such as Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace, are hailing the decision as a monumental milestone in the war against whaling, Japan still has several options. They are now faced with the decision to either halt whaling, modify their scientific programs, or withdraw from the International Whaling Commission. “Blackfish” creates waves for SeaWorld In the four years since a SeaWorld performing Orca, named Tilikum, killed his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, the park has faced a tsunami of international controversy. Immediately following the autopsy of Brancheau, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined SeaWorld $75,000 for safety violations in relation to the Orca arena and Brancheau’s death. In January, 2013, Gabriela Cowperthwaite released a documentary, titled Blackfish, at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Blackfish focuses on the life of Tilikum, starting with his capture in the Atlantic Ocean to the harassment he suffered at Sealand of the Pacific, and continuing through his years at SeaWorld. Throughout the documentary, Orca experts
protest misconceptions about the Orca lifespan, Dorsal Fin Collapse (a phenomenon that occurs in less than 1% of wild Orca populations, but 100% of male SeaWorld Orcas suffer from), and activity levels. Recently, several petitions have spread on the internet calling for SeaWorld to end its “successful breeding program” (to sign the petition, visit Change.org). Since SeaWorld began breeding Orcas in 1985, there have been 37 recorded pregnancies while only 18 of the calves survived. The controversy surrounding the parks appears to be damaging the park’s revenue and at-
Recently
tendance. Between January and March of 2013, there were roughly 3.5 million visitors to the chain; in the same interval this year, attendance was at 3.05 million, a 13% drop. In April, California legislators will vote on a bill that would make Orca performances, breeding, and captivity illegal, as well as retiring the whales already in captivity into sea pens. No one wants to see Whale Tails Ladies, no one wants to see the backs of your thongs. The only whale tails we want to see are Beluga and Orca. Lacy, pink, and bedazzled are not endangered species.
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The Pepperbox | Page 28
Opinion
Friday, May 2, 2014
Dying senior traditions Mickenzie Grubb Online Editor &
Rachael Green
P
A&E Editor
art of the essential high school experience lies in tradition- events and rituals that leave a lasting imprint of these four years. At Arcata High, we see traditions in the shaved heads of the varsity soccer players, and the powder puff football game, but are these traditions beginning to dwindle, specifically in the most revered year of all, Senior year ? With the pressures of junior year behind us and graduation nearly in our grasp, senior year is a time of transition, a period of limbo. Despite all the uncertainty, there are many perks. Many seniors boast slacking attendance records, while others enjoy four or five period days. Some choose the option to take easier courses, allowing more free time. But has this prevailing “laid back” mentality turned to laziness in ignoring some of the cherished senior tradi-
Rachael Green/PEPPERBOX
tions? Beyond the sanctioned standard activities, such as brunches, trips, and pictures; senior classes have slowly lost interest in uniting and making their mark on Arcata High’s campus. There is no organized mass participation in causing mischief through Senior pranks, or successfully executing a senior skip day (let’s be honest, last year’s was a bust!). Why is it that no one has the time or interest to join a prom committee or to assemble and cause critical mass within the parking lot ? Arcata High Seniors need to reevaluate their role on campus and make the most of our limited time left as seniors. For comparison, here are some examples of what others have accomplished their senior year, though I’m sure we could do better: *Planted one hundred seedling trees on campus *Constructed a slip n’ slide down one of the hallways *The Juniors took a car apart and reassembled it in the school courtyard; then spray painted “SENIORS RULE” all over it. Guess who got blamed?! *Seniors handed out scissors to the teachers that said “that’s a wrap.” Turns out they needed the scissors to cut the saran wrap that was around every teacher’s car. *Filled principal’s office with balloons *Senior sunrise and sunset -all class members gathered at the beginning of the year to watch the sunrise, then on the night of graduation, met again to watch the sunset *put alarm clocks in as many lockers as possible and set them for the same time With unity as a class comes unbreakable bonds that will remain with us through the rest of our lives. The memories made during senior year last not only with you, but with those around you, and with your school. Rather than just showing up to an event, why
not get involved beforehand, and make the most of the experience? And to all of the current Seniors,
please note: we still have time to create the legend of the Class of 2014.
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Friday, May 2, 2014
Opinion
The Pepperbox | Page 29
I’m Board of this College scheme
River Sween News Editor
I
gave more than $2,000 to the College Board in three years. Some may say that’s because I applied to too many colleges. Some might say it’s because I chose to live a rigorous high school life of AP tests and extracurricular activities. But one person’s shot at the Ivy League, at a Division 1 school, at any excellent institution, at achieving that supposed universal truth that inspires us all in this country--the American Dream-should not be determined by how much money you have. The College Board claims to be a non-profit organization. However, assume each student at Arcata High School will spend at
Because the College Board and its satellite test prep companies demand so much money from some who may not be able to afford the cost, the College Board is creating a greater gap in income inequality.
least $1,000 on the College Board in their high school career. There are X amount of students at AHS, so by the time this year’s freshman graduate, the College Board will have gotten about $Y from AHS alone. Although there are many criticisms a student could pose for the College Board and its SAT-regional bias, judgement by a numerical score, and deviation from high school curriculum to name a few--one issue stands out: cost. When I was at the American Legion’s California Boys’ State last summer, I met a man who made a grand fortune from preparing children in the richest of neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles for standardized tests. Each year families will spend thousands of dollars on one SAT prep class to ensure their children will be among those in the 99th percentile. Moreover, in a TIME magazine article, president of Bard College, Leon Botstein claims that “The richer one is, the better one does on the SAT.” This painful fact holds true in many cases. Students from high income families tend to do disproportionately better on the SAT than students from the middle- and lowerclasses. Yet we remain addicted to this organization that leaches our families’ savings through one test. This test acts as a barrier between childhood and adulthood. It is our new rite of passage, given to us in the same neatly packaged test booklet and answer sheet with an unseen price-tag and unseen consequences. In the spirit of Divergent’s popularity, this test is what many college administrators, job employers and admissions officers expect to determine the rest of our lives, to place us in the privilege of Erudite and Amity or in the poverty among the factionless. However, dare I say, the system is broken. Because the College Board and its satellite test prep companies de-
mand so much money from some who may not be able to afford the cost, the College Board is creating a greater gap in income inequality. In other words, someone born in Detroit, Michigan doesn’t have the same chance of getting a high score on the SAT as someone born in Beverly Hills simply because that person in Beverly Hills was born into a richer family. Yes, the College Board offers fee waivers for many of their tests and purchases. In fact, I received several of these fee waivers for college applications from the college board, but they seemed to be missing something: instructions. So, if anyone reading this can figure out how to use a fee waiver with no PIN number, no barcode, no mailing address, no instructions, and virtually no details beyond “Congratulations,” come talk to me; I have some (disclaimer: I don’t actually have any authority to give away my fee waivers). Furthermore, It’s no secret by now that I come from a disadvantaged background, but I was lucky enough when applying to these colleges, when taking these tests, when sending these scores to have support elsewhere from
other family members. Imagine the child in Compton or Detroit or Bedford Stuyvesant or the housing projects scattered throughout this country who may never get the chance to achieve his full potential just because some self-proclaimed non-profit organization gained a monopoly over college entrance exams. Imagine a child aspiring to be the next Kendrick Lamar or even the next President of the United States, who wants to escape the confines of his past and become a messiah to his people. This child won’t last long in our educational system unless the College Board deems him or her intelligent enough. So study for the SAT, invest in the College Board (we don’t have many other options), but keep in mind that this system is flawed. As a nation that rides on the middle class and the potential for upward mobility, we must realize that the College Board works, perhaps unintentionally, against the American Dream. As for the changes the College Board brought to the SAT, ask yourself, are they addressing the real problem or just adding another patch to Frankenstein's monster?
Imagine a child aspiring to be the next Kendrick Lamar or even the next President of the United States, who wants to escape the confines of his past and become a messiah to his people. This child won’t last long in our educational system unless the College Board deems him or her intelligent enough.
The Pepperbox | Page 30
A&E
Friday, May 2, 2014
Eurydice: an abundance of theatric talent Alex Rialet Reporter
E
urydice, written by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Melanie Zapper and Ken Klima, is a play inspired by Greek mythology with some major differences. The opening night of the play was April 4th with additional performances on April 5th, 11th, and 12th in the AHS multi purpose room. It is a great play with a small but talented cast, original music composed by AAI music students
Gaizah Wagschal and Carson McHaney, and costumes designed and built by the AAI visual art students Alison Wood and Fiona McClelland-Bishop. “Eurydice” is the story of Orpheus (Joey Lawrence) who descends into the underworld singing a song to get his wife back. Eurydice (Kayla Kossow) had to choose between staying with her father (Tristan Ford) in the underworld or returning with Orpheus to the world of the living. The cast of the play was small, but they are all great actors and know the play well. This play was adapted from a tragic Greek myth, but they decided to make some
parts funny and some sad with the music and the action, making the play more interesting. The costumes were appropriate for this play. A white dress and a tuxedo were used to represent the wedding. In the underworld, characters called “the stones” wore 19th century dresses, and the father wore an old-fashioned suit. The stage was small to represent the two different worlds, but we were able to see the difference by the age of the costumes. The corner of the stage was elevated to represent the world of the living, and different lighting helped to enhance the two separate worlds. The set of the play
was enough to understand and not too busy. The actors had enough room. Technically speaking, the back of the stage needed more lighting, and they could have been more creative with the lighting in some parts of the play. However, I saw a great play, one which is not usually produced in a high school setting, performed by the AAI students. Melanie Zapper makes the plot and characters easy to follow and understand. Overall the play takes the audience on an interesting journey. The play surprised me by the professionalism and the great performance of the actors, the music, and the costumes.
Spare change assembly wows the audience Lizzy Fernandez Reporter
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pare Change preformed Friday, March 21 at Arcata High School, starring some of our own AHS students: Alia Ajina, Lexi Jacomella, and Emmy Owen. Spare Change is a program of Six Rivers Planned Parenthood. Spare Change members are local high school students from all over Humboldt. Spare Change is about raising awareness and teaching local youth about sexuality, STDs, healthy relationships, and respect, so teens have the opportunity to make informed, healthy decisions. This year’s spare Change performance consisted of multiple educational skits. One of the crowd favorites was the Lord of the Rings skit. The Spare Change skits and performances are approved by Planned Parenthood employees, medical professionals, and school superintendents. “Each skit is reviewed by Six Rivers Planned Parenthood staff and board members. In addition, all skits are reviewed
by the Humboldt County Office of Education. During the review process, we make sure that performances meet state education code criteria, are medically accurate, and are appropriate for youth,” Spare Change Program Coordinator Ranjan Hatch said. Arcata High has its school nurse, crisis counselor, principal, and a few AHS Spare Change members discuss, approve, and choose which skits are to be performed at Arcata High. “We usually chose skits that teach prevention of HIV, educate about STD’s, abstinence and using condoms,” former AHS school nurse Norma Watson said. “We want students to be educated so when they chose to be sexually active, they know how to stay safe, prevent transmission of STDs, and pregnancy.” Spare Change also travels, and teaches at local middle schools. The middle school lessons are about learning how to maintain healthy friendships and romantic relationships. “We go in and we teach seventh graders about stereotypes, bullying, how to be a good friend,
and how to treat people with respect. In the eighth grade classrooms, we teach more about health and relationships,” AHS senior Lexi Jacomella said. Robin Lancaster, a Spare Change member and senior from Academy of the Redwoods, says the reason he is a member is because, “we get great opportunities, we learn so much and pack so much information into little things, and then we get to have a ton of fun! It’s also a passion for youth advocacy and teaching, and knowledge is empowerment when it comes to our age because we get treated as some how lesser because we know less and have less experience.” Jacomella describes the Spare Change program’s atmosphere as, “the only place I can really be myself without worry that someone is gonna think I'm weird. I really like the environment we're in, I think that Spare Change coordinators provide a really good environment for us to grow.” Lancaster says he joined at first because he was passing by the auditions by chance and liked acting so he tried out and got
in, but now he says, “It's become my drive to give people a voice and knowledge to speak up and have people actually listen to them.” According to Hatch, Spare Change actors on average will volunteer up to 450 hours depending on their schedule and availability. Lancaster says, “The time is dependent on how much time you have to give, obviously people have jobs, lives, college applications, and homework to do, so they're not going to be able to make everything. It really depends on the amount of time you have and the amount of energy you're willing to put in.” Auditions for Spare Change are in May and April this year, but exact dates are still to be decided. Hatch says students interested should contact Spare Change members to see if it’s for them to find out and about dates. Jacomella claims, “Anyone can join, you don't need to be active in social justice, you don't need to know everything about reproductive and mental health, you don't need to already be able to do suicide prevention. You just go and you learn all these things.”
Friday, May 2, 2014
The Pepperbox | Page 31
Games Word Search:
Crossword:
Academic Arcata Basketball Bond Candy Challenge Challenging Championship Chocolate Choir Cliques Coach Confidential Day Dork Dynamic Easter Eggs English Equal European Feminism French Games German God Graduation
Hare Headphones Health High History Holiday Homework Human Ishtar Italy Jayus Juliet Lady Language Lot Madrigal Memories Milan Motivation Nerd Orchestra Parking People Piedmont Pranks Prom
Propaganda Realism Respect Romeo Russian Senior Sprinting Standards Stressed Sunday Superman Superstitions Swag Tammuz Team Teen Tigers Tiny Tots Traditions Unbreakable Upper Vitamins Year
Across: 2. What grosses out to be 2.1 billion dollars for Easter? 3. Ishtar’s Sunday was created for the memory of who’s death? 8. Who took a car apart and reassembled it in the courtyard? 10. How many times has Natalie Opalach won history day? 11. Where will the choir land? 13. What is the word for “dork” or “nerd” in another country? 14. What workout involves sprinting the with of the basketball court 16 times? 16. How many years ago was it pretty clear cut what the word feminist meant? 17. What is the word for a face badly in need of a fist? 18. During challenge day, everyone was___? Down: 1. Where did choir go last year? 3. What is the name for hesitating while introducing someone because you forgot their name? 4. What rhymes with realism? 5. What club is Claire Robinson in? 6. What dictionary is used to define clique? 7. What is happening on June 3rd? 12. What color is the membership card issued by Teen Clinic? 15. How much does the Open Door Teen Clinic cost?
Games page by Brooke Schafer and Brian Then
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