The Pepperbox Issue 4 by AHS Pepperbox

A LOOK BENEATH THE SURFACE

The Pepperbox delves into the true identities of those around us.

Box Editorial The viral spread of “Joseph Kony 2012” has has shown the growing role social media plays in the way we learn new information. It shows that news and ideas can be spread simply, as millions of people collectively spread or re-tweet a novel idea. Everyone will know of something overnight, before the Times Standard, or New York Times comes out in the morning. The speed at which ideas can be spread with the new technological innovations of our decade leaves any form of “horse race journalism” in the dust. It is no longer relevant that “you heard it here first,” but what is relevant is the relevance of information itself. Contrary to what many may think, the rise of twitter and Facebook as a means of spreading information will not drive publications into extinction. However, it does drive us to hold our content to a higher standard. The role of the newspaper or magazine is to navigate through a sea of extraneous details, opposing viewpoints, and sensationally-charged “news,” and find the genuine, the taboo; our purpose is to find the relevant stories, and cover them to the best of our ability. Instead of covering the opinions of Arcata High students on the recent pregnancy of Snooki, or a follow-up on the outcomes of the AHS staff that we matched with iFlurtz, we decided to cover individuals and groups that are not usually covered in the Pepperbox, and to dispel myths about aspects of our life that we make assumptions about. We attempted to shed light on those who struggle with the secrecy of marijuana growth, those who pursue great talent and ability in their spare time, and those who silently clean up after us. To advertise for the Pepperbox, contact Nadia Al-Yagout at at nadia.alyagout@gmail.com

Disclaimer Questions regarding editorial content of the Pepperbox should be directed toward its Editor. Opinions expressed by columnists are not necessarily those of Arcata High School. The views of and content of the Pepperbox are those of the author and not necessarily Arcata High School.

March

In the Box

Box Briefs

School Board Meeting at AHS, March 13 CAHSEE Test, March 13-14 Winter Sports Awards, March 14 Orchestra Gala Dinner, March 17 THRIVE Day, March 19 Spring Musical, March 22-24, 29-31

April

Spring Week, April 2-6 Powder Puff Game, April 5 ASB Speeches and Election, April 6 Sophomore Dance, April 6 Spring Break, April 9-15

Web Team

Kristyn Payne, Co-Online Editor Kim-Thu Pham, Co-Online Editor Billy Miller, Media Editor

Nirvana Begovic, Reporter Taylor Bennion, Reporter Kasey Cather, Reporter Annie Ewald, Reporter Shea Hamilton, Reporter Lily Hebert, Reporter

Editors

Prop 8 �� Wifi comes to AHS �� Surveillance �� Undercover Alcohol Operation �� Alateen �� Facebook and College �� Latino Mentor Day �� AAI Self Portraits �� Parent-Teachers �� Ping Pong �� Kony 2012 �� Francis Zierer’s Opinion of Kony 2012 �� Gingers �� Parents that Grow �� Asher Critch �� Custodians �� School Mascot �� Exchange Trifecta �� Substitute Teachers �� Argentina �� AHS Speaks Out ��

Toby Shao, Editor-in-Chief Forrest Lewis, News Editor Felicia Watson, Feature Editor Francis Zierer, Opinion Editor Elaine Cunha, Sports Editor Kimber Peterson. Graphics Editor

Staff

Will Kauffman, Reporter Petey Levesque, Reporter Victoria Moroni, Reporter Kimber Peterson, Reporter/ Photographer Michael Scofield, Reporter Kaylee Steiner-Olson, Reporter

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�� 4 �� 5 �� 6 �� 6 �� 7 �� 8 �� 9 �� 10 �� 11 12-13 14-15 �� 16 �� 17 18-19 �� 20 �� 21 22-23 24-25 �� 26 �� 27 �� 28

Sarah Fraga, A&E Editor Andrei Khemelnitski, Audio/ Visual Editor Colin Swenson, Art Director Hannah Luu, Photo Manager Nadia Al-Yagout, Business Manager/ Managing Editor Brian Then, Reporter Zoe Tinseth, Reporter/Photographer Carter Wright, Reporter

Advisor

Danielle Lehman

The Pepperbox would like to thank Western Web, based in Samoa, for printing the Pepperbox 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 and the Pepperbox alive!

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NEWS

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The PB

Gay marriage on its way to legalization in California? Kim-Thu Pham

Appeals ruled the legislation unconstitutional with a 2-1 decision. On the morning of February 7, Although Prop 8 is being repealed citizens gathered outside the fed- at the state level it will be reviewed eral courthouse in San Francisco to on a national level by the U.S. Sucelebrate a historic moment in gay preme Court, where the proposal to rights. Proposition 8, the ban on ban Prop 8 may not survive. Despite praise from the gay comsame-sex marriage in California, munity as a major step in gay rights, was ruled unconstitutional. Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote, “Prop 8 the overturning of Prop 8 was based operates with no apparent purpose not on civil rights for gays and lesbut to impose on gays and lesbians, bians but the suppression of civil through the public law, a majority’s rights for minorities. The 52% of private disapproval of them and voters who supported Prop 8 technically eliminated the right to marry their relationships.” Hannah Luu/PEPPERBOX Prop 8 stated that “only marriage for over 90,000 couples in Califor- The plaza was home to peaceful protesters after the court’s decision. between a man and a woman is val- nia, a right that had existed before id or recognized in California.” It 2008. The court’s reason for repealing was introduced during the 2008 November Elections and triggered one Prop 8 as a violation of minority “Prop 8 operates with no apparent purof the highest funded campaigns in rights made it specific to Califorpose but to impose on gays and lesbihistory (presidential election cam- nia in order to decrease its chances paigns aside), $39.9 million from of being reviewed at the Supreme ans, through the public law, a majority’s supporters and $43.3 million from Court where it could become a naprivate disapproval of them and their opposition. Despite efforts from the tional issue. If the repeal is limited opposition, Prop 8 was voted in by to California (though Prop 8 exists relationships.” in several states) its chances of sura 52% majority. Since then, Prop 8 was heav- vival are greater because the 9th --9th Circuit of Appeals Judge Circuit Court of Appeals is more ily contested, lawsuits were filed, and anti-Prop 8 campaigns contin- liberal than the Supreme Court. ued- but Prop 8 was stalled in the Protect Marriage, a conservative sponsor of Prop 8, plans to take the society, claiming that a gay couple court until the 9th Circuit Court of religious coalition and the original case to the Supreme Court where a cannot biologically reproduce. “Oh, decision could be stalled for up to so should old people also be forbidanother year. “ den from being married because We will immediately appeal this they can’t reproduce?” said senior misguided decision that disregards Kristyn Payne. the will of more than 7 million Cali“I support gay marriage. I think it’s fornians who voted to restore mar- constitutional- whether or not you riage as the unique union of only believe in it morally, there’s no geta man and a woman,” stated Andy ting around it that the constitution Pugno, a lawyer for Protect Mar- allows it,” said senior Felix Hackriage. ett, President of the Gay-Straight Prop 8 raises questions about the Alliance at Arcata High. separation of church and state. ReliSame-sex marriage is recognized gious groups strictly view marriage in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachuas a union of man and woman—gay setts, New Hampshire, New York, marriage to them is a breach of Vermont, Washington D.C., and marriage’s sanctity. Others argue Washington State. Will California Hannah Luu/PEPPERBOX Children protest Prop 8 inequality on the Arcata Plaza. that gay marriage is inconducive to be added to the list? Online Editor

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The PB

Flying high on Forrest Lewis

News Editor

In the year 2000, Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, became the first university to utilize Wi-Fi (wireless Internet) across its entire campus. Starting next school year, Arcata High School plans on dropping its wires and providing Wi-Fi access to the entire student body. “One of our goals,” said Todd Curry, NHUHSD technology coordinator, “is to provide campus-wide Wi-Fi at both schools (AHS and MHS), and right now we’re in the investigative stage of looking at the companies that provide the equipment for Wi-Fi access.”

“I view this process as a tree growing that will branch out and cover the whole campus and eventually will have leaves and fruits on it.” --NHUHSD Technology Coordinator

Todd Curry

AHS is currently in the process of deciding between two different Wi-Fi providers. On February 16 and 17, the company “Ruckus Wireless,” was tested in the library. “The library is a central gathering place for students with phones, tablets, and laptops,” Curry said. “We tested for two days, with the idea of seeing how many people could get on it at once without problems.” The experiment went extremely well with only minor difficulties. “Some of the kids were having problems;

NEWS

some phones didn’t work,” Curry stated. Ruckus Wireless boasted that their service could host up to 100 concurrent connections, but the quality of service would begin to drop after 50. Curry plans on testing another WiFi company, “Hewlett Packard,” at some point during March. Depending on how this test goes, Curry will decide on a company and have the Wi-Fi installed over the summer. “I view this process as a tree growing that will branch out and cover the whole campus and eventually will have leaves and fruits on it.” Students will be able to connect to the Wi-Fi via access points scattered across campus. “AHS will most likely have approximately 30 access points, but possibly more – maybe even one for each classroom,” Curry said. A device connected to the Wi-Fi will be able to smoothly transition between access points, allowing students to browse the Internet anywhere from the parking lot to the gym without having to reconnect at different intervals. To access the Internet, students will have to sign in using their student ID and password. After the first connection, the device will be remembered and will automatically connect every time. Once connected, the student’s personal W drive will appear on their device and allow them to access their files stored on the school’s network. Many students at AHS eagerly await the installation of wireless Internet. “I think that the Wi-Fi at school will allow us to use better machines on the network so we

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: AHS ups its bars

do not have to suffer the login time and terrible Internet browsers that plague the computer labs,” junior Ben McCreath said. “However, I am afraid that the school and district will try to meddle with the WiFi and control it too much, defeating the purpose of having it in the first place.” Junior Sam HuschleFreed added, “I think it’s wonderful that our school is finally advancing in technology. Personally, I think every school should embrace technology and try to do as many things as possible digitally. I do agree with Ben that the school will defeat the point of having the Wi-Fi if they try to control it too much. Its frustrating having to deal with all the restrictions placed by the school, especially when I’m blocked trying to do something productive. However, I think that one of the reasons the school has to restrict so many things is to idiot-proof the network. If it was a perfect world and everyone was responsible and didn’t try to screw with the network, we wouldn’t have as many, if any, restrictions. Otherwise, I think it’s great that they are providing students with free Wi-Fi. Now all the school needs is a little Internet cafe...” The installation of Wi-Fi is being paid for by the Measure Q bond passed last November granting 25.8 million dollars to the NHUHSD, 773,000 of that dedicated to technological upgrades at Arcata High alone. Technology coordinator Todd Curry plans on further advancing the interface of AHS’s computers after finishing the Wi-Fi project. The next improvement will

be seen in the room 400 computer lab where all the software operating systems will be upgraded to Windows 7. Another possible development could be the integration of laptops, netbooks, and tablets into the everyday curriculum. “There is a desire to have some pilot programs where every student in the class has a device no matter what,” Curry said. With individual computers and wireless Internet, students could do online interactive lessons during class. With hardly any of the Measure Q technology funding used up, improvements like these are realistic and may be seen in the near future.

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NEWS

APD drinking operation The Arcata Police Department (APD) carried out an effort to reduce the availability of alcohol to under aged individuals on Saturday, February 11. The entire operation was funded by a grant from the California State Alcohol Beverage Control board, and its chief goal was to catch local businesses selling alcohol to those not legally allowed to purchase it. In the weeks proceeding the operation several Arcata High Students were asked to participate as decoys, but Vice Principal Woods noted that AHS had “nothing to do with the operation.” APD asked students to participate as a “service to the Arcata Police Department.” “It’s important to note that this wasn’t a sting operation or entrapment,” said Officer Richard Bergstresser, the officer in charge of the “enforcement side” of the operation. The operation required for the use of decoys, which typically are individuals eighteen to nineteen years of age, according to Officer Bergrestresser. Individuals were not asked at random, and mostly people that had some information known about them that would make them likely to comply with

Smile! You’re on camera!

such an operation Andrei Khmelnitski This month, seA/V Editor were asked. curity cameras “Catching minors attempting to will be installed around the Arcata buy alcohol was not the goal,” BerHigh School campus with the primary purpose of preventing vangresstresser said. The job of a decoy would be to go up into a busidalism. The security cameras are ness and try to buy alcohol. If the provided as a part of the approximately $150,000 REMS (Readiclerk asked for the their ID the decoy would present their real ID, not ness and Emergency Management for Schools) grant. a fake one, which showed that they were not of legal age to purchase The REMS grant is a federal grant alcohol. If alcohol was still sold to given to the Northern Humboldt Union School district in order to the underage person then the individual store clerk and/or the busimake school facilities ready for emergencies such as natural disasness as a whole faced repermandments. ters. The grant specifically applies If caught, an individual could face to AHS because it is the evacuation misdemeanor charges of providing point for all federal employees in alcohol to a minor; repeat offenders the area. The installation of cameras is less than 10% of the grant budcould face large fines and even jail get and is to make the school better time. In addition to individual penalties, businesses that were accused equipped to handle its responsibilof providing alcohol to underage ity as an evacuation point. The rest persons face action from the State of the budget goes into preparing and training the staff on what to do Alcohol Beverage Control Board including, the revoking of the esin the case of an emergency. tablishments liquor license for up to forever. According to BergstressThere will be four cameras installed er, the operation is usually fruitful around AHS: and “a couple people slip up,” but 1. On the Agriculture building monitoring the road on February 11, no one was caught providing alcohol to a minor. 2. On the gym facing toward the school 3. On the MPR facing the parking lot 4. On the office corner facing the quad. No cameras will be installed in the hallways and the installation of any

Hannah Luu/PEPPERBOX

An anonymous student shows how undercover minors buy alcohol.

The PB

additional cameras will require the approval from the school board. The REMS grant allows AHS to institute a measure they have wanted for a long time. “We’ve

“We’ve felt like we’ve needed security cameras before.” --AHS Principal Dave Navarre felt like we’ve needed security cameras before,” said Arcata High School Principal Dave Navarre. Arcata High School is not known for fights or vandalism, but there are possibilities of incidents happening, Navarre noted. Such incidents include, but are not limited to, vandalism, break-ins, and fights. Security camera footage can be used to determine the identity of a criminal. The application of cameras will be similar to their application on school buses, which are used for clarification of a situation as needed. “It’s important to note these cameras will not be actively viewed during school hours, and only reviewed in the case of an incident,” Navarre said.

The PB

tuesday, march 13, 2011

NEWS

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Alateen comes to Arcata High Elaine Cunha Sports Editor

Take the typical day of a teenager: waking up, eating breakfast, going to school, etc. Don’t forget the usual sports practice, or orchestra practice, or work, or other additional extra-curriculars most high schoolers take part in after school. Include the dinner that has to be eaten and the daily conversation our parents are waiting to have. Add in the pressing Facebook status that must be updated, the email that must be checked, the mountains of homework that must be done, not to mention the recommended nine hours of sleep that must be slept, and one wonders how we all do it. But recast this multitude of activities with the overwhelming sense of isolation, fear, anger, shame, confusion, hopelessness, and helplessness that comes with an alcoholic parent, and being a teenager becomes simply impossible. Despite the high number of alcoholics and addicts we have in our community, there are few programs specifically for teens affected by alcoholic or drugaddicted people to cope with the physical and emotional impacts of the diseases. Steve Smith and Calvin Walsh* hope to change this by bringing the Alateen program to Arcata High. Smith and Walsh, both members of the adult support group, Al-Anon, are currently sponsors of the weekly Alateen meetings at Eureka High. They decided to start the program in Arcata because of its success in Eureka. “I’ve been a sponsor of the Eureka Monday night Alateen meeting for more than two years, and it has been a great experience,” Smith said. “I love the kids and I’ve seen them grow and experience a lot more peace and serenity in their lives,

whether their parents are clean and sober or not. I was inspired to start a meeting at Arcata High because I figured there were students who could benefit from it.” Alateen, commonly dismissed as the teenage version of Alcoholics Anonymous, is a division of AlAnon Family Groups. The organization is based on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and recognizes alcoholism as a family disease because it strongly affects the health and emotions of those close to alcoholics.

“They can say things like ‘My mother’s a pothead,’ ‘My dad got locked up for a DUI again,’ or I got so pissed at my mom I punched a whole in the wall’ and people will understand.” --Alateen sponsor Steve Smith According to the Al-Anon/Alateen website, the program provides a safe, confidential place for relatives and friends of alcoholics “who share their experience, strength and hope with each other in order to solve their common problems.” While both programs are associated with alcoholism, they do welcome people affected by drug addicts as well. Each meeting starts with a reading of the “Alateen Welcome,” which states, “Anonymity is an important principle of the Alateen program. Everything that is said here, in group meeting and member-to-member, must be held in confidence. Only in this way can we feel free to say what

is in our minds and hearts.” The anonymity factor creates a strong sense of safety and trust among its participants which helps them share and learn from each other. “Alateen is unique because everything that you say will not be spoken again,” one member said. “You can literally say anything and no one will put you down, they will just support you through it.” “It felt so good to have a group of people that would not judge me no matter what because they were going through similar problems I was going through,” another participant said. “People in Alateen are definitely a group you can trust.” “I think the most helpful aspect of Alateen is that the people who come can share without fear things that might be embarrassing to say to their friends,” Smith said. “They can say things like, ‘My mother’s a pothead,’ ‘My dad got locked up for a DUI again,’ or ‘I got so pissed at my mom I punched a whole in the wall’ and people will understand.” One of Alateen’s main platforms is that it does not give advice to its members or tell them how to solve their problems. Instead, it helps them accept and understand alcoholism as part of their life, and through this acceptance they learn how to deal with it. “In general, Alateen has helped me cope with the overall situation,” one member said. “I’ve learned not to be angry about things I can’t control.” Another member added, “I found an understanding that alcoholism is a disease. “I now know you can still love the person but hate the disease.” The program is unique in that it is completely voluntary. Participants do not have to come every week, and if they decide it is not for them,

there is no binding commitment to keep them from doing what they think is best for them. “I have come to realize that [Alateen] is not what I need right now, but when I needed it, it helped a lot,” a former member recalled. “[The program] allows teens to do things in their own way and at their own pace,” Walsh said. “We do suggest, however, to try several meetings before deciding if it’s for you or not.” A common reaction among Alateen’s members is that the program simply works. “Before Alateen, I had no respect for my alcoholic dad, and we didn’t talk much - I was too afraid he would be drunk,” one member said. “Thanks to Alateen, I can now look my dad in the eye and talk to him, without fear.” “It has helped me realize that I have a say in how I want my future to turn out and how I want to be treated,” another member stated. Smith and Walsh hold weekly Alateen meetings thursdays during SSR in Room 504. *Names have been changed to abide by the anonymity rules of Al-Anon.

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The PB

Facebook haunts you in college Hannah Luu

Photo Manager

Felicia Watson

Feature Editor

Facebook and other social networks are slowly becoming essential parts of human life. As soon as one accomplishes something noteworthy, it needs to become “Facebook official.” People post statuses, pictures, and wall posts, without a second thought. They live in the moment. However, what so many students fail to realize is that Facebook is not limited to youth; parents, teach-

“Students who think folks aren’t interested in how they present themselves online, should think again!” --HSU Admissions Counselor Romi Hitchok ers, and future employers can have Facebook accounts too. Nobody really recognizes the monumental fact: what you do on Facebook is viewed by other people forever. Most students argue, “My profile is private; nobody can see what I post unless I approve them.” But, in reality, a private setting on your Facebook account does not hide everything. Any person can click on your so-called private profile and see at the very least your profile photo, hometown, gender, and other personal information. In general, what happens on Facebook isn’t really that important; an hour after your post, somebody else will post something more ridiculous. Yet, there can be consequences to what you post, even if it is not immediate. Romi Hitchcock, Humboldt State University Admissions

Counselor, explains that Humboldt State cannot review student’s social networking site as part of the application system. “We don’t Facebook or Google our applicants because we, in the CSU system, are beholden to one set of admission requirements. Our Student Judicial Department (who handles students after making poor choices) wishes we could make that part of the admission requirements, however we stick with our completely objective set of common requirements for all CSU students,” Hitchcok said. “I do, however, know admissions evaluators from private schools use all sorts of methods to evaluate their perspective students including checking out your social networking behavior.” Private universities have the resources and money to monitor prospective students’ Facebook accounts. College is an extremely competitive and as a result, small things such as pictures of partying can affect a student’s admission into a university. “I would recommend that students be cautious of the type of information they choose to share on all public social media websites and to avoid unlawful and offensive behavior as it can possibly jeopardize them in their future endeavors,” said Kevin Finley, Admissions Counselor UCSB. Decisions made online in high school can have a profound effect on the rest of a student’s life. Facebook also can have an effect on job opportunities. “I check the social networking activities of students I’m considering hiring, as do many companies,” Hithcok said. “Students who think folks aren’t interested in how they present themselves online, should think again!”

Los Bagels owner, Bill Prescott, says that he friended an employee on Facebook. “The employee posted all sorts of pictures of himself partying with alcohol and drugs. When I showed him the pictures on my phone, he definitely was embarrassed, and I learned some interesting things about that young gentleman.” Prescott said. If you are wondering if your so-

cial network site is appropriate, just think: What would my parents say if they read my site? If you have information that they would disapprove of, then most likely it has no business on your profile. “Follow the mantra: What Happens in Vegas, Stays on Facebook…those images are there forever. They really could come back to haunt you,” Prescott said.

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NEWS

The PB

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Latino Mentor Day: Si se puede! Yes we can! Hannah Luu

Cesar Chavez led protests with the chant “Si se puede!” Barack Obama united millions behind “Yes we can!” This year’s Latino Mentor day was centered on a similar idea— the idea that we have the ability to do anything. Latino Mentor day is sponsored by Humboldt State’s Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (M.E.Ch. A) club to encourage Latinos to attend college. Volunteer Jairo Zelaya says, “I was a first generation student. These workshops are the reason I attended college.” Latino Mentor day began with speaker and HSU professor Don

Reality Check, Environmental Racism, School to Prison Pipeline, movement leaders, and LBGTQ. All these workshops were meant to provide resources for students to graduate. The schedule was Don Anton’s speech, a workshop, lunch, college 101, another workshop, and then a volunteer panel. These four hours devoted to Latinos could actually change their futures. In the School to Prison Pipeline workshop, fifty students were asked to raise their hands if their parents had attended colleges. Two hands shot into the air. During School to Prison Pipeline, leaders discussed ways that schools fail students

problems rather than just punish people. Why don’t schools put more money in drug prevention programs instead of an on-campus police officer? The same fifty students were then asked to raise their hands if they had experienced racial profiling. Around nine hands slowly rose. Arcata High student Vanessa Carillo says that she was pulled over once for going a few miles over the speed limit. The police officer asked if she had any drugs on her and thoroughly searched her Tahoe. Carrillo explains that “it felt like the only reason he pulled me over was because of my race.” Multiple students had similar sto-

school I had a 1.8 GPA. The M.E.C.H.A. events I attended helped me learn so much and are the reason I am here today.” There was a strong sense of community by the end of a day. Xochitil Cabrera, Fortuna High student, said that, “speaker Don Anton really communicated with us. He came from the same place as us.” This is perhaps one of the strongest points of the program. It is run completely by Latino college volunteers who had similar cultures as the students. Arcata High student Johnny Bravo notes that “today was really inspirational. It encouraged me to step up, I am a first generation student.”

Anton who was dressed in a bandana and aviator sunglasses. He asked the audience of 200 Latino students, “Who do you see when you see me?” Don Anton went on to explain that we are “governed by sight and trained to see in a certain way.” Don Anton’s outfit suggested he was a “chulo” or a “gangster” but once he removed his disguise, a completely new character emerged. He gave off the air of wisdom and experience. Latinos are half as likely to graduate as other students. After the speech a selection of workshops were offered: Job Readiness and

stuck in poverty. A school’s funding is affected by low CST scores. As a result, students who score lower are sometimes reassigned to different schools. Further evidences of this societal “pipeline” to prison are the many practices found within a school. For example, the constant presence of police officers on school campuses shows distrust of the student body. One student said, “To me it shows that cops are lazy. They are just chillin’ and trying to find drugs on students.” In this discussion, it was suggested that perhaps cops should help solve

ries to Carrillo; there is an understated amount of Latino racism still present in America. In some states it is more obvious—in Arizona immigration laws were passed to basically allow racial profiling. California still experiences racism too, though not as severe. California is 38% Latino, and 40% of the jail population is Latino. At the last event, a volunteer panel, one volunteer explained that, “the only options for Latinos are to die, get pregnant or go to school.” The volunteers were here to ensure these students went to school. Another boy says that “in high

Anna Guerrero, Fortuna High student, also felt like Latino Mentor day was a very beneficial experience. Guerrero says she came to “learn more culture and about getting into college.” The one thing she learned from today was “to be proud of my culture.” We often forget about our advantages, but today was a reminder. Most students have a strong sense of hope for a good future and access to the necessary sources to achieve their goals. The minority is often forgotten--overridden by the majority’s prosperity. Latino Mentor Day offered the minority a chance.

Reporter

Hannah Luu/PEPPERBOX

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The PB

AAI takes a look in the mirror Nadia Managing Al-Yagout Editor

Objective: Research a culture that you may or may not belong to and as a result, create a self-portrait intertwining the researched culture. Mission Accomplished. When the term “self-portrait” pops up in one’s head, sometimes thoughts automatically lead to Van Gogh’s iconic “Self Portrait with a Bandaged Ear” or Picasso’s “SelfPortrait with Palette.” How does this relate with our own adolescent artists? The Arcata Arts Institute (AAI) challenged its artists to create an ethnic self-portrait. These unique and artistic cultural self-portraits were displayed on the walls of Bon Boniere and Redwood Yogurt for the entire month of February. AAI has an annual portrait unit, where each student must create a self-portrait. But this year, the instructors took a different spin, to incorporate some sort of ethnic background into their projects as well as strictly making it a black and white drawing or photo. “It makes for more interesting pieces,” AAI Instructor, Johanna Mauro said. “We purposely develop challenging curriculum that pushes the students to do, bigger, better artwork than they ever have before.” The students had only six weeks to create their self-portraits, which created stress for many of the artists. “This assignment was a definite challenge in my art career,” said Treyce Meredith, media student. Meredith works mainly with photography and graphic design but

decided to branch out of his comfort zone with this assignment. “I had gone to a summer art program to learn to draw more effectively, and this project really showed my growth.” While this portrait assignment may have been more challenging than others in the past, students responded well to the idea. “It was cool incorporating myself in a different culture. It made me feel connected to the Renaissance,” Julian Gordon said. Gordon is an Advanced Placement (AP) Studio Art student, who is known for his remarkable portraits of his peers as well as famous historians, but had a more difficult time with this project. “It felt weird staring at my face for so long, I’m not used to it,” Gordon said. Many students spent all six weeks from developing their concept ideas to produce their final pieces, yet that was not the case for Juniper Rosen. “I did it last minute… but I definitely had a connection with my topic, so it was very easy to create a piece so quickly.” Rosen is also in AP Studio Art, but had trouble using a different medium then what she was used to. “I was frustrated a lot because I usually work with oil paints, but I wasn’t allowed to for this project, but overall, I’m happy with it.” AAI has a great amount of support from the local community, such as Bon Boniere, Redwood Yogurt, North Soles, Japhy’s, Iron Side Gallery, and many more. Scott Winfield, the owner of Redwood Yogurt has given up the walls of his shop for AAI to be able to display their art-

AAI artists cultural self-portraits (clockwise from top-left) Nicole Goodin (French), Kaylee Savage-Wright (Japanese), Julian Gordon (Renaissance Italy), and Juniper Rosen (British Pagan). work. “Young people need a start- with their self-portraits. “The energy ing venue, it’s a good motivator. portrayed in the art is amazing, and It’s like getting your first job, you people can see that. It doesn’t seem have to start somewhere,” Winfield like the art is coming from high said. “This show was well received. school students,” added Winfield. I probably got about a dozen people The self-portraits have brought the every day who ask me where the art community together to celebrate the is from; and a lot of groups of peo- excellence of the students in AAI. ple come in to look at the work.” AAI has impressed the community

“It was cool incorporating myself in a different culture. It made me feel connected to the Renaissance.” --AP Studio Art student

Julian Gordon

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page 11

The peculiar lives of teacher-children Petey Levesque Reporter

God forbid anyone find out you actually have parents. I do not think there is anything worse than that. But how can students show their faces around school when their own parents are wandering the halls of Arcata High? Think of the humiliation, the embarrassment, when friends and acquaintance actually realize that there are two people out there who conceived you, and they see one of them on a daily basis. There are several of these teacherchildren on the Arcata High campus and further research reveals the pros and cons of their peculiar situation. While some students would not be pleased to hear that they will be attending the same school their parents work at, most try to use it to their advantage. “If I forget money, I can just swing by my mom’s room,” Jesse Bareilles, daughter of German teacher Carolyn Bareilles, said. “If I need lunch money I can always stop by the office,” Jacob Navarre, son of Principal Navarre, said. “I always visit if I need money for lunch,” Anna Peters, daughter of

“If I need lunch money I can always stop by the office.” --Jacob Navarre, son of Principal Navarre

science teacher Mr. Peters, agreed. morous. “Had your dad today, he Let’s hope they are sly and try to said something funny,” Anna Peters fool their parents into thinking they mocked fellow acquaintances. just miss them and want to visit. The staff does recognize that there Apparently Anna Peters is doing a are potential concerns. It could good job of this. Her father, Earl cause conflict having his son Ryan Peters, stated, “I like knowing I’m Ghisetti in his class, but Troy Ghihere if she needs something from setti would not have it any other me.” way. “Arcata High School is the Of course, there are several othbest and I wouldn’t send my chiler advantages to being a teacherdren anywhere else,” Troy Ghisetti child. proclaimed. Ryan Ghisetti feels the It is always difficult to remember --AHS science teacher and only downfall could be the small important deadlines and due dates, parent Earl Peters percentage of students that are not but when Ryan Ghisetti needs a fans of his father. parent’s signature, he just heads up own person.” Jesse Bareilles, however, isn’t to the gym - something much easier “He is so uncool that he’s cool,” worried. “Some people don’t like than what everyone else is stuck Anna Peters commented. her—I don’t really care.” Teacher-children also find it weird There are ups and downs to almost with (forging their parent’s signahow everyone is around their par- every situation. I will say that these ture). Despite popular belief, most of ent when they are not. Friends will students seem to have a fairly northese teacher-children do not receive often tell them stories about their mal high school experience. special treatment because of their parent, assuming they’ll find it huparent’s profession. They are, however, introduced to their teachers well before they attend Arcata High. Given that there are many “friendships” on campus between staff members, this would seem like an advantage, but according to Ryan Ghisetti, “I can’t get away with anything, he always talks to my teachers.” “They can always be in your business,” Dash Rowe agreed. It appears that teacher-children have a little less privacy than others, but this could potentially help them stay out of trouble. You would think parents would be pleased to have their children on campus, but some have issues with the effect on their social image. “People associate me with her too much,” Earl Peters said about Zoe Tinseth/PEPPERBOX his daughter Anna. “She is her Principal Navarre roughhouses with freshman son Jacob Navarre.

“People associate me with her too much.”

tuesday, march 13, 2012

LIFE

page 12

The PB

“Ping pong? You mean the sport?” Toby Shao

Editor-in-Chief

ARCATA, CA. Let’s face it, life in fast paced Humboldt County can get stressful. Commuting through the busy trails of the community forest, squeezing through the crowded sidewalks of the plaza, and making it through rush hour traffic jams that happen every day in the AHS parking lot can undoubtedly be overwhelming. Every Monday and Wednesday evening, five tables are rolled into the peripheral rooms of the Arcata Community Center. A group of about twelve ping pong enthusiasts bring their own custom constructed paddles costing hundreds of dollars, and transform an otherwise quiet Senior Room into a society of fervent ping pong players (officially known as the “pacific force” ping pong club). At 6 p.m., the crisp chirps and clicks of ping pong balls striking tables and paddles resonate through the senior room. Though the program official-

Toby Shao/ PEPPERBOX

Wu returns a lob from McKinney.

ly ends at 8 p.m. some players stay for an extra hour, and play in a separate room. These ping pong players have benefited fruitfully from these hours of practice and competition, and they often travel together to compete in table tennis tournaments in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Sacramento. The Group is diverse. From the teenagers from McKinleyville and Arcata High School, to the Chinese owner of a Chinese restaurant in Eureka, to the elderly lady that will beat YOU in ping pong, it seems that any type of person can be drawn in to this type of game. “It’s fast, it’s relaxing, and it’s a great way to stay in shape,” said Larry McKinney, the supervisor of the drop-in ping pong program. McKinney contended that even though the game can be very physically demanding at times, that it does not require the most amazing of athletic abilities, and is therefore a great, worldly game. “Whenever I go to a new town, I find their ping pong club, or try to make it to a tournament,” McKinney said. Competition in these tournaments is fierce. “I’ve been playing ping pong three to five times a week for 20 years, and I’m only in the middle of the skill level.” Drop-in ping pong has been running almost without interruption for two years, since McKinney started the tradition. “In the beginning, there were very few people, there were few sessions when I came here and sat by myself for a few hours,” McKinney said. “Once you sit here a few times, you get frustrated,” he said. “I found Matt and Jackson, I told them that if they stuck with it, that I’d teach them everything I know,” he said.

Toby Shao/ PEPPERBOX

McKinleyville students Matt Labelle and Jace Jackson take a serious rest after an exhausting game of serious ping pong. Two of the best ping pong players are students at McKinleyville High School, Matthew Labelle and Jace Jackson. “I play because not many people play it, and even though it’s athletically challenging, you don’t have to be the best athlete in the school,” Labelle said. “It’s the fastest sport in the world.” he added. “Playing ping pong gives me Spiderman-like instincts, and it helps me get chicks!” Jackson said. “Hand-eye coordination with a ping

pong ball and a table really comes in handy in your social life.” I thought that I was taking ping pong seriously enough when I showed up with sweatpants and my own rubber paddle, but the moment I entered the room I felt intimidated, to say the least. Some ping pong players ported lightweight athletic shirts touting their favorite brand of professional ping pong gear Butterfly or Killerspin, and they even >>

Why do you like to play ping pong? It’s the fastest sport in the world! - Matt Labelle, McKinleyville High School It gives me spiderman-like instincts! And it helps me get chicks! -Jace Jackson, McKinleyville High School

tuesday, march 13, 2013

LIFE Other members include retired Ar-

The PB

Toby Shao/ PEPPERBOX

Larry McKinney, founder of drop-in ping pong.

have shoes that are designed for the sport. Beyond their appearance, their game-play was exceptional. “When I want to find out how good someone is at ping pong, I usually ask what kind of paddle they use,” McKinney said. “If they use a paddle that was custom constructed, I know they’re good. But if they used the paddles that came with the table, I know we’ll beat them.” He has coached me in ping pong before, but I have not mustered the confidence to challenge him to a game.

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cata Soccer coach Pete Sheppard, who is in his sixties, have been playing ping pong for even longer. “I started playing this game when I was five, and I played in a club for a while before it shut down,” Sheppard said. Thinking I could defeat Pete, who according to Labelle was with my young athleticism, I challenged him to a match. I lost my match to Sheppard 11-1. Aside from ping pong drop-in sessions that happen twice a week, the community center organization has also hosted three local tournaments, and it seems that the emperor has been overthrown, as Jayce recently beat McKinney, winning the title of the North Coast Winter Classic tournament. Recently, drop-in ping pong has grown to six tables, and even with six it is sometimes hard to find a match. “We’re starting to see turnout like never before,” McKinney said. The inspirational motivation that I got from this experience a formerly confident ping player is this: you are never better than everyone at anything.

Hannah Luu/ PEPPERBOX

Colin Swenson dreams of playing as well as the members of the ping pong club, pacific force.

Colin Swenson/PEPPERBOX

The anti-Kony documentary that hit the web and spread like wildfire accomplished its goal: Joseph Kony is now famous. However, the documentary failed to give sufficient information on the problems in Africa that allowed for Kony’s rise to power. As a start, African countries have a high proportion of people in poverty, which has led to 184 million people suffering from starvation, 300 million without access to safe water, and children accounting for half of all civilian war casualties. Between 12 and 14 million children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Africa, and one out of every six African children dies before the age of five due to the high mortality rate that comes with poverty. Along with this, corrupt governments are common in African countries. Unfortunately, more often than not, children are dragged into the conflicts that arise between political leaders. Ever year in Africa, 200,000 children are sold as slaves, as well as abducted from their homes, forced to become soldiers, and more. Now, Joseph Kony is the man who has been identified with ordering many of these atrocities toward children. The leader of the LRA, or Lord’s Resistance Army, Kony began forcing children into slavery and war in Uganda in 1980. Since then, he has been pushed out of Uganda, and instead has utilized the LRA to terrorize villages in Congo, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan. He is yet to be stopped.

Other Issues In Africa

7 March near Arcata

Carter Wright

Invisible Children, started a campagin to help capture Joseph Kony, an African war leader, who kidnaps thousands of children and forces them to become child soldiers. Jason Russell, co-founder of Invisible Children and the filmmaker for the Kony 2012 video, graduated from USC’s film school.

Invisible Children

How It Ranks

7 March near San Diego

Invisible Children

Video Views 74,000,000

Shares 10,000+

Activity Log

Who's behind StopKony? It’s a strand of "Invisible Children," a $13 million dollar non-government organization started nine years ago in reaction to the LRA's presence in Africa. Despite the swelling support for the StopKony 2012 campaign, critics of the organization are making themselves heard. Invisible Children is rated by the reputable Charity Navigator as only three out of four stars, its ranking downgraded due to its poor score in Accountability and Transparency. Invisible Children does not allow an independent auditing board to review its books, and only 32 percent of the NGO's budget made it to Uganda. Of course, the organization focuses largely on public awareness, much of donations probably go towards driving public opinion against the warlord Joseph Kony. Jason Russell and the other two founders of Invisible Children, are each making $90,000 dollars a year from their charity. Are they really more than self-entitled rich white kids, helping America's youth be

Reporter

7 March via Facebook for Tablet

Shea Hamilton

President Obama’s Inaugural Speech 2009: 37,800,000 views American Idol Finale 2011: 30,000,000 views The Super Bowl 2012: 80,000,000 views The Academy Awards 2012: 39,3000,000 views

Friends

Update Info

UNICEF The United Nations Children’s Fund was created in 1946 by the United Nations General Assembly to provide emergency food and healthcare to countries recovering from World War II. It is estimated that 91% of the money raised goes directly to aid over 200 different countries in child survival and development, basic education, gender equality, HIV/AIDS education and aid, child protection, and all general medical needs. In 2011, the U.S. fund raised $455 million dollars.

The Sun Catchers Project The Sun Catchers Project was founded by Rita Riewerts, a veterinary scientist who traveled to Madagascar in 2006 to study lemurs. She noticed the poverty and lack of health care in Africa, so she organized a group of medical students to bring supplies to remote villages in Africa. She later returned to Africa with a solar cooker and traveled to different countries teaching schools and orphanages how to use the solar cooker as opposed to coal. Rita returned to the United States and developed the non-profit organization called the Sun Catchers Project. She now travels throughout Africa meeting with officials from schools, hospitals, and orphanages to teach them how to properly use solar ovens.

Invisible Children has undergone immense scrutiny because only 31 percent of their proceeds goes to helping Africans. Here are some other charities you can support:

Other Charities

9 March near Arcata via Facebook for Android

William Kaufman

There are thousands of charities and movements in this world. Most people would say that almost all of them are for a good cause, from abused animals to clean water, but how many people actually get involved and what is considered “getting involved?” The official Kony 2012 film, just 30-minutes long, encourages people, targeting the youth, to share this video on social networking sites and among friends immediately, but, how many people will actually share this video and, more importantly, how many people will research Kony 2012 and the Invisible Children Inc. before they do? Many people all over the world, including many celebrities, immediately hit share after watching and being effected by this inspiring 30-minute film. They did no extra research and most knew nothing about the movement other then what the video had told them. What is the significance of sharing this video or stating your support? By doing that are you taking action? Are you doing your part? To some people you are, and the sharing of the video could even be the equivalent of a vote for a presidential candidate or a large donation to a charity. Would any of you give money or votes without doing research? Most wouldn’t, and this cause should not be any different. The Kony 2012 film brought awareness, hope, and inspiration to many people, but this isn’t the first movement that has or the last movement that will. You cannot be passionate about something without being knowledgeable about it as well. Do some research and then decide if you really want to hit share.

Research Before You Share

9 March

Zoe Tinseth

The Kony 2012 video is amazingly effective at capturing and keeping people’s attention. There is no denying all the time, effort, and money that went into the video, but what makes it so effective? 1. The film begins with the world. It shows that this issue affects everyone, so viewers feel captivated before they even know what the video is about. 2. Jason Russell, the filmmaker gets personal. He uses his son, possibly the cutest child in the world, to add humor and emotion to the video, as if to say, "There is no way that this tiny, adorable, innocent child can support anything bad." The use of his son makes the cause human and real. 3. The video invites people to join the cause, not the organization. The video focuses on the issues in Uganda and the fight to stop Joseph Kony, which gives people hope that, with their support, something can be done. 4. The video appeals to the youth. It makes supporting the cause easy by using social media: share it on Facebook, retweet it on Twitter, or blog it on Tumblr. It also pertains to the interests of teens and young adults with songs by Nine Inch Nails, Mumford and Sons, and Flux Pavilion, and feeds on their inner rebel with “Cover the Night.” Putting up Kony posters, stickers, and flyers around town at night sounds wild, independent, and dangerous. What teenager wouldn’t want to do that? Especially with all of the local connotations of April 20th. 5. The video gives the illusion that Kony 2012 is already a huge movement. It shows large protests with people from all over the world. The interview with George Clooney that fit so perfectly wasn’t even about Kony; it was his view on the issues in Syria. Its sensationalized depiction makes people feel like they should do their part and join the cause.

Why The Video Works

9 March near Arcata

Kimber Peterson

just informed enough to want to spend money to StopKony? What are the real goals of StopKony? It promotes itself as an awareness campaign towards stopping Kony by keeping American military support in Uganda. Yet there are no existing threats of the government pulling support out of Uganda. In fact, the LRA hasn't even been in Uganda since 2006, and the Ugandan army seen by many as corrupt and ineffective, especially at tracking the LRA. Some critics suggest that this video was designed not to bring public aware enough to stop the LRA, but instead to revive a cause that would result in more profits for Invisible Children. There is also criticism of the way that StopKony proposes to stop Kony. The devastation occurring in the Middle East serves as an example that U.S. military involvement doesn’t always end well for occupied countries. While the African people in the video claim to embrace outside support, there is a question of whether or not the people of Uganda, a country that has gained much peace in the past years, truly want U.S. involvement.

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tuesday, march 13, 2012

LIFE

The PB

Kony 2012: This, my dear reader, is propaganda “But this perfection of production is exactly what first bothered me. I try not to let myself bandwagon, and that exactly what this is video aims to do.” Francis Zierer Opinions Editor

By now, most of you probably know about the KONY 2012 campaign run by the charity organization Invisible Children. You hopefully also know about the organization itself. As of writing this article, a few days after the infamous video’s release on Monday, March 5, the video has 74.2 million views on YouTube. I can guarantee you, dear reader, that anyone who has been on a social networking site, or most anywhere on the Internet in the past four days, knows about KONY 2012. But that’s the thing. With most discussions of the issue, the focus of the conversation stays mostly on the campaign and the organization itself, rather than Joseph Kony, the war criminal that the campaign aims to take out. Now, you might think that everyone could easily get behind something like this. Invisible Children makes charity cool. The production of the video is expertly orchestrated to contain everything modern youth are attracted to. Toddlers, civil disobedience, bracelets—remember LIVESTRONG? All seven of the songs used are almost painfully up-

to-date and popular: Mumford and Sons, Flux Pavilion, Bloc Party, and more. The producers of this video know the modern youth; they are fairly young themselves. But this perfection of production is exactly what first bothered me. I try not to let myself bandwagon, and that exactly what this video aims to do. The video features Shepard Fairey, a master of modern propaganda. It’s propaganda, simple as that. And while propaganda can be good, it serves to hide the truth. Since the release of this video, it has been put through the vigilance of the internet. Invisible Children has been described as “shady,” and “corrupt,” specifically in reference to their fiscal policies. I have researched their finances myself, and I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on how much of their spending actually relates to their cause. But I am wary of what this video aims to collect money for: military spending. The narrator of the video, Jason Russel (who is one of the co-founders of the organization), states specifically that his plea is for money to fund the Ugandan military. This is, they say, the key step in stopping

Kony. And this is a good thing! They want him to be either killed, or ideally, arrested by the International Criminal Court (ICC). This is very important, as this whole campaign thus sets a precedent in citizen interaction with the world, and the establishment of a global society. However, while the ICC does need to arrest Kony, there are flaws with this method. Not only have there been many reports of corruption in this military, but even Russel states in the video that Kony has not been in Uganda for years. Your charity dollars are going towards training a corrupt military to take down a man who is not even in their country— not directly, but essentially. You see, one third of the Invisible Children’s funds go to actually improving the situation in Africa, one third goes to video production costs, and the last third goes to staff expenses such as salaries and traveling. None of the money goes directly toward military aid, but that is the goal. They spend money to raise awareness of the situation to awaken the power of the citizenry, which is then meant to harangue the government to sustain and improve military advising in Uganda. Their agenda is not one

of cloaks and daggers: it is transparently presented on their site. But my problems with this campaign and organization do not end here. What shocks me more is that people are acting like they didn’t even know about what has gone on across Africa for years. In some ways, this is good—it gives people a renewed drive to fix some of these problems. But this should not be necessary! Remember Hotel Rwanda? Remember Haiti? I know Haiti is not in Africa, but these are both humanitarian issues that have arisen over the years, triggering massive social movements, such as KONY 2012. People only care for a while. It disgusts me that they feel empowered simply by becoming aware of the situation. Now, I won’t lie: I don’t donate to charities, and this video gave me no desire to. I believe that these are problems that need to be solved, but I do not think that simply raising awareness and intervening militarily are the answers. These are both very temporary solutions. This could easily become another failed attempt at changing the world, but at least it will be that: an attempt. What else can we do, as members of humanity?

“Your charity dollars are going toward training a corrupt military to take down a man who is not even in their country...”

tuesday, tuesday,march march13, 13,2012 2012

LIFE NEWS

ThePB PB The

The ginger life

page page 1717

Shea Hamilton Reporter

You’ve all seen us, strange, exotic creatures with red hair, pale skin, maybe some tell-tale freckles. A quick scan of the AHS yearbook shows that there are around twenty of us at this very school. But what is it like to walk these walls as a ginger? “Ginger” is English slang for a red-head and the term ginger can be both an insult and an adjective. While some people find the word “ginger” offensive, red-haired Declan Cowan, AHS senior, does not. “I find it empowering,” Cowan said. It really just depends on how you take it. Personally, I think “ginger” is a less annoying nickname than “red.” The word “ginger” may refer to the spicy ginger temperament or the color of the plant’s flower: a reddish yellow. Whatever the word refers to, this does not change the fact that gingers are pallid mutants with fiery tempers and are, maybe, soulless vampires.

“When freshmen shouldercheck me… I go kray [crazy],” --Flame-haired ginger Treyce Meredith

Most of us can confirm that we have souls. As for being vampires, “I do glitter in the sun,” said the flame-haired Treyce Meredith, AHS senior.

Gingers, with our bizarre coloring, are technically mutants- but no more than the rest of humanity, which is a melting pot of mutating genes (known in the science community as “Evolution”). The red-haired gene spread across Europe during conquest of Vikings in 9th century A.D. in the time of the great Leif Ericson. But it has existed in the north from a time before even the fierce Queen Boudica (c. 60 A.D.); and despite circulating rumors, red hair is not a dying gene. Still, only 1-2% of the world population is ginger. Because of this, there is much speculation that all redheads are related to the Weasleys. The infamous “red-head temper” is said to come from this Viking ancestry; and while this is mostly stereotypical, be careful. A provoked ginger may suffer from blood thirsty sword-wielding urges. Lapses in memory surrounding these urges are called “red-outs, as my people call them,” according to Cowan. “When freshmen shoulder-check me… I go kray [crazy],” Meredith said.

so that’s good,” Meredith said. “I love gingers,” said AHS senior Erin Hagen, a wannabe ginger. She’s not alone, even space/time-traveler Dr. Who loves gingers. There are many gingers in pop cul- Kimber Peterson, AHS senior, spent ture, from Cowan’s ginger heroes: part of her junior year as a (fake) Dave Mustaine and Shawn White, ginger. “It made me feel beautiful,” to Lindsey Lohan, Nicole Kidman she said. and the infamous Carrot Top. Many “ginger-kids” (a term coined by the popular TV show Southpark) are bullied because of their appearance. Discrimination toward redhaired kids in some schools has risen to such levels that there is actually a “Kick a Ginger Day,” and there are those at this school that think red-heads deserve it. “I hate gingers,” AHS senior Ruby Landen said, “They are an interference in everyday life.” Still, being a “ginger” is actually a lot of fun. Red-heads have a unique look and get compliments everywhere they go. Also, with a head of orange hair, every day is spirit day for an AHS ginger. “The best part is all the attention,” said Cowan. “Some people have a ginger fetish,

Growing Up

The impact of Humboldt’s hidden Payne industry on the family KristynOnline Editor

and works in all parts of his parents’ hydroponic grow. “It takes constant care and attention and is very stressful.” One student admitted that her pot-growing family “struggles financially just as much as any other middle class family.”

To Urban Dictionary and to most of the world Humboldt County is “the haven of marijuana”, the “place But stronger than economic rationale (stable or not) was where weeds grow high and the people get even parental rationale. To most, pot-growing served as a safety-valve in the event of financial struggle: a way to higher”. This we know. secure for their children “the things they need to beBut, contrary to common belief, our “weed haven” come well-rounded people.” In the words of their chilisn’t entirely run by hillbillies, hippies, and, well... dren, most of these parents are just “doing what they potheads. In reality, pot growers, who account for can to survive”… just “making sure we have decent lives.”

nearly twenty percent of Humboldt’s population, are indistinguishable from the rest of our communities.

So are their children. Indeed, most would be surprised by the number of pot-grower’s children in our friendship circles, in our classes, on our sports teams. They have learned to dodge questions. They have learned to lie. To survive, they have learned to keep their parents’ source of income a secret.

“To me it was just another chore. Get up, feed the chickens, then water the plants.” Keeping the Secret

While growing marijuana is technically legal within the county as long as one has a 215 card, the federal govMost pot-growing parents in Humboldt turned to the ernment criminalizes all activities associated with the industry in search of a supplemental source of income plant. Because of this, students must be incredibly to their ordinary jobs; “a little something extra to get by.” careful about who they trust with the secret of their One parent attributed his work in hydroponics to the in- parent’s profession. stability of the housing market, stating that his previous job of remodeling homes was simply not enough to pay A freshman who attends school in Humboldt County the bills. confided that he “only tells friends whose parents also grow, because you can’t trust that everyone will Yet the “stability” of hydroponics so hailed by potkeep your secret.” One parent admitted that he growers really isn’t so different from the “stability” has not yet told his youngest son about his (or instability, rather) of the housing market. Like source of income for fear of him “[running] any other farmer or businessman, the economic and [telling] people how his father is maksuccess of a pot-grower depends heavily upon ing money.” good weather, demand, and season. And the costly start-up, unexpected equipment failures, plantThe cost of having parents that grow can specific diseases, insects, and regulations don’t be severe. “Once a teacher mentioned make it any simpler. that someone in the room smelled like pot, but didn’t specify who it was,” recounted “Growing marijuana isn’t easy,” says a senior a student. “I knew it was me he was talkwho attends high school in Humboldt County ing about.” The Northern Humboldt

Marijuana: Source of Economic Stability

“Once a teacher mentioned that someone in the room smelled like pot, but didn’t specify who it was,” recounted a student. “I knew it was me he was talking about.” Union High School District has a zero-tolerance policy on substance possession on campus, putting additional stress on students whose parents grow, but are not users. Consequences for possession and/or use can range from suspension to expulsion.

The Morality of Marijuana

Next Generation of Pot Growers?

When asked whether the students planned to continue in their parents’ footsteps, all, in essence, replied no (though the answers ranged from “never” to “possibly, but just because I know how the process works”). This decisive attitude seemed to be supported by their parents. One parent remarked: “I want my son to reach his full potential without the help of weed. I don’t want him to travel the same path I had to to make money.” Yet at the same time this parent claimed that he had no regrets of living the “growing life.” He quoted Bob Marley: “Who are you to judge the life I live? I know I’m not perfect and I don’t live to be. But, before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean.”

When asked if he agreed with the source of her parents’ income, a senior boy replied, “I eat every day, and I’m well dressed, of course I’m happy with what they do.” A girl added, “Well, I do like shoes.”

Humboldt’s Marijuana in Numbers

The rest of the interviewees were equally nonchalant. “To me it was just another chore. Get up, feed the chickens, then water the plants,” said one student. One student explained that talking about marijuana is “no different than [talking about] school or clothes.”

“Arcata, home of Humboldt State University, where town elders say roughly one in five homes are indoor grows.”

But although parents may be open with their kids in discussion, most tend to exclude their kids from the actual pot-growing process. One of the interviewed parents has still not told his youngest son about his source of income and doesn’t plan to for another two years. A high school senior described his middle-school memory of when his parents told him about their business: “They sat me down and explained everything to me when they started.” These cases are typical. Most students don’t find out about their parents’ growing marijuana until they’re teens, and even then their parents usually keep them out of the process. A senior admitted that he helps out “but not as much as [he’d] like to.” “My parents try and keep me distant due to the morals we have in our house,” he claimed. These parents seem to care more about raising good children than raising good bud: encouraging good work ethic, and discouraging criminal activity. All those interviewed agreed that their parents would be upset if their own children smoked weed. “Smoking would definitely not be allowed,” said one student.

-New York Times “Marijuana Hotbed Retreats on Medicinal Use” June 9, 2008

“1000 out of 7500 houses”

-Arcata Fire Chief on KHUM’s former Humboldt Review radio show with host Kevin Hoover

355,122 marijuana plants

were seized from both indoor and outdoor marijuana grow sites. The street value of this marijuana at harvest would have been approximately $1 billion.

- The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit, 2007

tuesday, march 13, 2012

LIFE

Page 20

The PB

Rising up through dystrophy Forrest Lewis

News Editor

The first thing I saw when I entered Room 503 was Asher Critch and his one-on-one aide, alone in a room, staring at a laptop screen. As I got closer, I noticed Asher was writing an essay. Only instead of using a pen, or even a keyboard, Asher was wearing a black microphone headset and was dictating his thoughts while they magically appeared as text in Microsoft Word. I leaned in toward the computer, and watched as Asher’s narration formed a sentence so powerful that I was left speechless: “The life I’m living now is a life that I enjoy, and I hope I have a life like this for the rest of my life.” Asher has a rare condition known as Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Asher is 15 years old. He is a freshman at Arcata High School. You might have seen him during passing periods, tooling around campus in his custom electric wheelchair, equipped with a “May the force be with you” Star Wars bumper sticker. His clothing is casual - sweatpants, logo T-shirt, fleece jacket, and monochrome socks visible on his shoeless feet. On Tuesday, February 8, I followed around Asher Critch and his paraprofessional aide, Joe McKinzie, who has been assisting Asher since the beginning of 8th grade at Sunnybrae Middle School. Asher’s classes range from his one person study skills class to his more than 20 person English class, but he adapts to each environment individually. McKinzie helps Asher with

“The life I’m living now is a life that I enjoy, and this for the rest of my life.” basic tasks: when Asher needs to write, Joe places a piece of paper on Asher’s wheelchair tray and slides a pencil in between his gentle hands. Joe opens the door for Asher every time he leaves or enters the room. Joe helps Asher eat his lunch. “He’s basically the same as anyone else, other than his limited movement,” Joe McKinzie said. “I try to make him as independent as possible.” Once I got to know Asher, I realized that on the inside, he is no different than the average high school student. Like most high school stuForrest Lewis/PEPPERBOX dents, Asher preAsher and his paraprofessional aide Joe McKen- fers playing video zie. (DMD), a degenerative muscle disease effecting 1 in 3,600 boys. Of the nine types of muscular dystrophy, DMD is the most common and most severe. In DMD, muscle tissue is slowly replaced with fat tissue. As of now, there are no known cures for DMD. The average life expectancy is 25 years.

games to doing schoolwork. Asher is passionate about playing Skyrim, Battlefield 3, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on his Playstation 3. He invites anyone who likes to “game” to give him a call. Forrest Lewis/PEPPERBOX Asher remains Asher drinking Hansens soda during his lunch break. optimistic, despite the enormous obstacles he years and see how far we can push faces everyday living with muscu- him. I certainly will help him get lar dystrophy. “It’s really not too wherever he wants to go.” bad…it’s just a little tougher than Asher’s mother, Samantha Critch, people without it,” Asher said. I notes that raising Asher and Zane asked Asher if there was anything requires some special equipment. he wished he could do, but was “We had to buy a specialized van prevented to by his condition. His with a wheelchair lift,” said Samantha. “It was expensive, but it was exI hope I have a life like actly what we wanted. It makes our life a lot easier, without it our family couldn’t go anywhere.” When --Asher Critch I asked Samantha what it was like response was heartbreaking in its raising two children with a degensimplicity: “Going up the stairs, I erative condition, her response was guess, and driving when I get old- inspiring: “It’s really nothing difer.” These two actions, often taken ferent. I love my two kids just like for granted in our lives, are Asher’s every mother.” dream. While the average teenager complains when they forced to walk upstairs or drive somewhere, Asher thinks about what life would be like to be blessed with this privilege. Asher’s older brother, Zane, also has muscular dystrophy. He went to Arcata High for four years and is now a student at HSU. Asher plans on following his brother’s path, even though he would far prefer to stay home and play videogames. Asher’s teachers plan to support him through his education process. “I am so happy to get to know him this year” said Mrs. Kiritsy, Asher’s Forrest Lewis/PEPPERBOX life science and mathematics teach- Asher in his electric wheeler. “I get to work with him for four chair traveling between classes.

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Experiencing Arcata High’s nightlife Colin Swenson Art Director

If you’ve had a bad experience with an Arcata High Janitor, you seriously need to learn to clean up after yourself. This is coming from someone who doesn’t even have a single binder, and has probably lost or forgotten over $2,000 worth of expensive teenage bull-cocky* on and off campus. Being the absent minded under-professor* that I am, I have interacted with the night custodians before, having left many a thing in many a place many too many a time. I wandered into the mostly vacant gym (save for the cheerleaders dutifully practicing) about 6:00 pm, and found Dennis finishing up cleaning the girls locker room. Dennis, if you don’t have the pleasure of knowing him, is a short mustached man, and one of our fine evening custodians. I announced my presence. “Hey Dennis,” I said. “My name’s Colin, if you forgot. I’m here to follow you around for an article I’m writing in the school paper.” I always like to make sure people with name tags know my name, it seems like an unfair advantage otherwise. “Hi Colin, how are you? I didn’t forget your name,” Dennis responded. He flashed me a smile, and thus began our evening on the job. For a while, I followed Dennis while he swept, scrubbed, and sprayed. On an average school day for an evening shift janitor, work starts at 3:00 pm, and ends anywhere between 11:00 pm and 1:00 am, whenever the school is clean (nights are longer when there is a basketball game, or other event that has to be cleaned up). These custodians don’t get the breaks off that the students and other faculty members do. When we don’t have school, they move to working in the daytime, be it summer, or spring

break. The day after school gets out for summer, all items abandoned by students like me are stuffed into as many as 15 trashbags. These are then left in storage all summer, as a very kind gesture to the locationcasual object-owning student, who may return for their sweatshirt or calculator. Dennis told me about his jurisdiction in keeping AHS clean, which starts everyday in the shop classes, moves through the science rooms, and ends in the gym. When

with that we trudged off toward the janitor’s break room. Gary was already there, getting out his food. The two custodians greeted each other, and Dennis explained my presence. Gary looked at me and smiled. “This is what we do at seven. Want some Spaghetti?” I gladly accepted a plate of food that Gary scooped out of his own portion. “Want some meat too?” Dennis asked, gesturing at the steak he just microwaved. I expressed that

truck driver, and Dennis worked in a saw mill. Working at Arcata High was easier, more pleasant, and made them feel happy to be part of a community, interacting with students and faculty was definitely something both men thought of as a perk. The two men told me about the hardest part of their job, which they agreed was cleaning up after homecoming week and setting up for graduation. Gary expressed an expected (if only slight) distaste when I brought up the German classroom, which was still neatly covered in an ever so slowly shrinking layer of glitter after Valentine’s Day festivities from a couple days before. “We basically do whatever anyone needs,” Dennis said. “We’re handymen.” Gary agreed. “Whatever it is, we just find the time to do it.” This was not something either of them wanted to stress, or even really cared about, but it seemed important in my eyes. Our custodial staff consistently goes above and beyond what they are required to do, because that in itself, is their job. If there is something that no one else has time for, or is too lazy to do, then they do it. Even letting students into classrooms isn’t something they are required to do, but they are always willing to take time out of their day to help someone out. “Opening rooms to get stuff is a favor,” Gary told me. “If we don’t finish in time, then we work overtime.” Colin Swenson/PEPPERBOX Our custodians are friendly, willDennis the custodian always has a smile on his face at work. he is done cleaning, he goes back to I didn’t want to eat all of the food ing to help, attentive, effective at check every single door and make they had brought for themselves. there jobs, and just generally nice sure it’s locked. “Don’t be shy,” he said. “Want people. This is something to think “What time is it?” Dennis asked some mashed potatoes?” about the next time you’re about to me after finishing up the boys lock- The three of us sat and talked for a scrawl how much you have a crush er room. little under an hour. Both men start- on Cindy-Lou in a bathroom stall, “About Seven.” I replied. He ed working at Arcata High in 2002. or whatever it is you kids do. raised his eyebrows, as if to express For their first year they were only that time had moved faster then he part time employees, even though *Mrs. Lehman doesn’t like it when expected. they did the same amount of work I make up words, but I do it any“Time for lunch!” he said. And they do today. Gary used to be a ways.

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Unmasking the mascot Forrest Lewis

News Editor

Never have I sweated so much in a single basketball game. And I wasn’t even playing. On February 7, 2012, I dared the near impossible: I decided once and for all to experience first-hand what it is like to be the school mascot. My original intention was to keep my actions a secret. It was a foolproof plan: no one would know who was in the tiger suit and I could make a fool out of myself without facing embarrassment at school the next day. It failed. Rumors spread faster than drama on Twitter, and people came up to me saying, “Hey, Forrest,” before the end of the first quarter of the Arcata vs. Eureka Varsity Boys Basketball game. I arrived at the game thirty minutes early, at approximately 7:00 p.m. I decided it was a good idea to put the suit on immediately, despite it being senior night, thus delaying the start of the game for almost an hour. As I engulfed myself in furry tigerness, I was relieved to notice the absence of any foul smelling odors. But the lack of stink was quickly compensated with a subtle stickiness lining the inside of the costume. I

The PB

don’t know exactly how or why the stick got there, but I am just thankful I didn’t have to experience any profound stenches. Being inside a giant tiger costume isn’t exactly like anything else I’ve ever experienced. First off, the suit is heavy. But that didn’t bother me at all compared to the problems I faced with the head piece of the outfit: mainly the fact that you cannot see out of it. Contrary to popular belief, when Photo Courtesy of Tim Baer you put your head inSenior cheerleaders Felicia Watson and Carli side the tiger costume McKenny took a fond liking to the mascot. you are not looking through the tiger’s eyes, but rather high? How does it feel to be a logger, its mouth. It’s hard to explain, but logger? We don’t know, we don’t essentially your eyes are tonsils sit- stoop that low!” is not a fun little ting in the back of the tiger’s throat song designed to rouse the crowd. and you can see only a slight line Instead, it is strategically sung at of vision directly in front of you. the precise moment so as to spark a The only way to see above or be- subtle war between the two squads. low you is to physically move your During the Arcata vs Eureka match gigantic and weighted down head up, the placement of this cheer ocin the direction you would like to curred immediately following tumview. I learned this lesson the hard bling sequence stunt performed by way. Midway through the game, a Logger cheerleader, which the sophomore cheerleader Dayna Na- Arcata cheerleading coach deemed ish happened to be standing directly “illegal.” I guess it’s a big no-no to in front of me, only her short fig- tumble past the half court line on the ure fell directly below my line of basketball court, which the Eureka vision. A basket was scored, and I cheerleader (whose name I cannot thus began to charge forward in cel- reveal due to her juvenile activities) ebration, plowing over Naish in the did not once, but twice! According to the Arcata cheerleaders, this proway. During my mascot excursion, I found event should have resulted in was exposed to the mass quantity a technical foul against the accused of cheerleading drama that occurs school’s basketball team, so I at in the average basketball game. For once attempted to alert the referees example, apparently the order of of this urgent cause. Unfortunatecheers selected is not random, but ly, the tiger suit did aggrandize my rather meant to seek revenge on the credibility, and I was disregarded. opponent. The legendary cheer, Grrrrrrrr. “How does it feel to be a tiger, ti- When the final whistle blew, I was ger? How does it feel to be way up near fainting from the ensuing heat

The PB stroke. As a final act, I joined the victorious basketball team in line to high-five the opponents. This, perhaps, was the most curious and abnormal part of the night. About half of the opposing team recognized me as a member of the Arcata squad and willingly met my hand, while others intentionally dodged it, and one even gave me a slight tickle. My mascot career was over as soon as it started. So I thought…until on February 17, 2012, during the final minutes of sixth period, when something strange and unexpected happened. I was sitting next to senior cheerleader Felicia Watson in my AP Environmental Science

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class, when she received a text. Lo and behold, it just happened to be the Arcata cheerleading coach, asking her if “that one guy” wanted to be mascot again that night at the HSU arena for the Arcata vs Fortuna championship game of the Dick Niclai Tournament. My initial instinct repulsed the idea, but once I learned that the admission price at the game was eight dollars and only players, coaches, cheerleaders, and mascots were admitted for free, I sacrificed my body for the sake of my wallet. Only this time, I somehow persuaded fellow Pepperbox reporter Kasey Cather into using the other mascot costume and being

Colin Swenson/PEPPERBOX

my partner in crime. Round two of being the mascot began quite like round one, only this time the suit was accompanied by a slight stench…but I won’t go

page 23 pecially scary looking Fortuna fan. But in the final minute, Arcata took the lead, and I continued to annoy the other team. When the moment of truth arrived, Arcata came out

I won the game for Arcata, and there is no convincing me otherwise. into details. In all honesty, I found that by my second game, I was already accustomed to the heat within the outfit, and I looked forward to an enjoyable game. Unfortunately, Cather experienced something more similar to my initial game weeks prior, and he retired the job at half time, leaving me alone on the court next to the angry Fortuna fans. Arcata was getting their butt kicked to say the least, and it seemed clear to me that Fortuna’s crowd was getting in the Arcata players’ heads. So I took it upon myself to lower the morale of the Huskies. Through loud cheering and Michael Jackson like dance moves, I successfully angered the Fortuna crowd. I received many death threats during the process, including, “Watch your back after the game Tiger” from one es-

victorious: 49-48. Although if you asked anyone else, they would say Arcata’s win was a direct result of a sudden boost of morale from senior Matt Gulley, but I don’t care what they say. I won the game for Arcata, and there is no convincing me otherwise. If you are still unconvinced of my superhero-like capabilities, here is some more evidence: I began my mascoting career on February 7, following Arcata’s first league loss of the season five days earlier. After helping lead Arcata to a triumphant victory over Eureka, the Varsity team went on a remarkable winning streak, until on February 29, I was unable to make the trip down to Richmond for the NCS semifinals game against Salesian and Arcata suffered a loss. Coincidence? That is up for you to decide…

Colin Swenson/PEPPERBOX

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The PB

The Exchange Trifecta Zoe Tinseth

Reporter

16-year-old Grace Julie Lovell had lived her whole life in McKinleyville,. Last year, she bravely applied for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. The program would send her to a foreign country for the entirety of her junior year to live with host families, go to school, and be immersed into a brand new culture. Lovell, a good student with a great personality, was soon accepted into the program and is now living in Talca, Chile, which has a population 17-year-old Noemi Schonenberger grew up in a small town in Switzerland called Muri. She left her mother, father, and younger brother for the 2011-2012 school year to do a Rotary Youth Exchange in Arcata, California. Schonenberger is currently attending Arcata High School and living with a host family. She has been in Arcata for about five months and is enjoying meeting new people and seeing the United States in a more personal way then she would have if she was just on vacation. Her exchange year has already 17-year-old Faviana Schectman, and a senior at Arcata High School, was sixteen when she embarked on Rotary Youth Exchange to the exotic country of Brazil. She spent her junior year living with two different host families and attending traditional Brazilian high school. She lived in Campinas, a large urban city with a population of one million people: the polar opposite of Arcata. She left her family, with little knowledge in Portuguese, and immersed herself into a new culture. Schectman’s exchange brought

of 200,000 people. Talca is about three hours from Chile’s capital, Santiago, about an hour from the ocean, and an hour from the Argentinean border. Lovell had always loved to travel but never connected traveling with going on exchange. When she heard about a meeting at Arcata High for Rotary Youth Exchange she decided that could be a possibility. “That night I told my mom that I wanted to go on exchange. It was

shown her incredible differences, opened her eyes to new things, and promises to bring much more. Schonenberger

sort of a spontaneous decision.” Lovell said. Lovell’s first choice in the country she wished to travel to was Germany because she had taken German in school, but Rotary Youth Exchange is unique in the sense that they choose the your country for you and Lovell got sent to Chile. “I didn’t even know Chile was an option, so it came as a big surprise to me, but I am so happy to be here,” Lovell said

has a l ways enjoyed traveling and that played a big part in her decision to go on exchange. She started learning English about

truthfully. One difference is the meals. She has some simialar choices as she did at home, but with some key differences. Tragic differences. “Pancakes and waffles don’t exist,” Lovell said. In Chile lunch is the most important meal of the day and is always eaten with your family. Different from the United States, dinner is non-existent in Chile and instead you eat supper, which is just a small meal. Another big difference is the teenagers and their families. “Most teenagers here drink and smoke and>>>cont’d on page 25 four years ago in her school in Switzerland and picked it up fast. “My top two countries I wanted to go to were the Unites States and Canada, the United States being first,” Schonenberger said. When she learned she was going to the United States she was thrilled and was prepared to go with an open mind. When she got here she found many differences between Switzerland and the United States and some took much adjusting too. >>>cont’d on page 25

Artwork Courtesy of Zoe Tinseth

portive and friendly. She picked up Portuguese fast but was not truly fluent for about six months. She made friends fast as well. “The in. She had to adjust to not living in friends I made on exchange are a small community and make sure lifelong friends and by the end of she was more careful when living in my exchange we were practically a larger city. Her day-to-day sched- family,” Schectman affectionateule became completely different, ly revealed. However,while these starting with the fact that her school friends were good, the thing she day went from 7:00 a.m. to noon. missed most about the United States The classes were in Portuguese and was her friends in Humboldt. “They were hard to understand but her are my biggest support system and classmates and teachers were sup- it was so hard >>>cont’d on page 25

Clockwise: Grace Lovell, from AHS, is on exchange in Chile, Noemi Schonenberger, from Switzerland, is on exchange at AHS, and Faviana Schectman, who is returning from exchange from Brazil. her challenges and adventures, but overall was the best experience of her life. From the beginning, Brazil was completely different than anything Schectman had ever experienced. “The food, the language, the people, it was a huge adjustment,” Schectman said. Campinas was much larger than any city she had ever lived

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Grace >>> cont’d from pg 24 their parents are aware and okay with it,” Lovell said. Chileans are always out clubbing. Lovell is currently on her summer vacation; the seasons are switched in the southern hemisphere. A typical summer day for Lovell consists of sleeping in, and then eating a lunch with her family or host sister. Barbeques are very common. After lunch she generally hangs out with her friends: biking, shopping, hanging out in the park, or even swimming in the river. After a supper with her family, she either relaxes at her house or goes out with her friends. A typical day in the school year can be very different.

Lovell usually wakes up and takes a taxi or bus to school, which begins at 8:00. At 1:00 she goes home for a lunch with her family and then at 3:00 returns to school for afternoon classes. School in Chile doesn’t end until 6:15, which is very different from our school days at Arcata High. “By 6:15, I’m so tired that I go home, eat supper, and fall asleep. I certainly won’t miss the Chilean school day, that’s for sure.” Lovell said. Lovell attends a Catholic school, which is very normal in Chile. In her school, Colegio San Ignacio, the students never have to switch classrooms; the different teachers always come to them. Lovell stud-

ies 15 subjects, includeing physics, philosophy, and religion. In a regular school day she studies in ten forty-five minute periods a day. Her first host family lived out in the country, about twenty minutes outside of Talca and school. The house was out on a dusty dirt road and all the walls were painted different bright colors. The yard was full of animals, from horses to chickens, a cornfield, and a swimming pool. “The house looks just like what you would picture if you pictured a Chilean house,” Lovell said. Right now Lovell lives with her second host family, across the street from a circus, and a fifteen-minute drive from the town center.

There are many things Lovell misses about the United States, first being her family and friends. She also misses the food, showers, clothes, and not having to spend so much money on sunscreen. It’s much warmer and sunnier than the weather back home. One of the biggest things though, is a bathroom with toilet paper. Public bathrooms in Chile never have toilet paper in them. “You always have to remember to carry your own. Even my school doesn’t have toilet paper,” Lovell said. Despite all of the challenges and differences that Chile brought her, Lovell is having the time of her life and truly adjusting to the Chilean life.

Noemi >>> cont’d from pg 24 “The schooling system is the biggest difference between Arcata and Muri,” Schonenberger said. Almost everything is different from her school in Muri. In her school, the students did not switch classes each period and everyday when they finished their work they could leave they did not have to wait for a bell. Another difference is the nightlife. In Switzerland the teenagers have much more independence and the drinking age is sixteen-years-old. As well as differences in lifestyle, there are new holidays that Schonenberger has been able to experi-

ence. “My favorite holiday I have experienced in the United States is Thanksgiving, there was so much food!” Schonenberger said. While on exchange Schonenberger has picked up some new hobbies such as watching Dora the Explorer, photography, and eating all kinds of new foods. Schonenberger enjoys photography because the United States is so much larger then Switzerland and there is so much more to see. The language was hard to adjust to, but Schonenberger has picked it up very well. Meeting people is something that helped Schonenberger

learn English and is one of her favorite parts of being on exchange. On an average day in the United States, Schonenberger wakes up, eats breakfast, and goes to school. After school she will go to track practice, go home, eat dinner and finish her homework. She usually spends her weekday nights watching TV with her host family. In Switzerland, Schonenberger’s days are pretty similar but she does not go to track practice every day and she receives a lot more homework. “I had a lot more homework back home and it made my days much longer then my days here in Ar-

cata,” Schonenberger said. She has loved living with her first two host families. “They were the best that I could have ever imagined. I felt like I was really a part of their family. I definitely want to stay in touch when I return to Switzerland,” Schonenberger said. She does miss Switzerland, though. “I miss my friends and the public transportation the most,” Schonenberger said. Her exchange has already taught her very much and has given her an appreciative view towards Arcata, our culture, and our country. She is very glad she came here, and will miss Arcata.

Favi>>> cont’d from pg 24 not having them by my side all of the time,” Schectman said. While on exchange, Schectman experienced new customs such as the Brazilian Carnival and the nightlife of teenagers. “Teenagers have a lot more freedom in Brazil, and the nightlife is completely different,” Schectman said. She was not used to the independence and she made sure to still be responsible. Schectman was also able to travel while on exchange. She went on a rotary

sponsored trip and explored the Amazon jungle and even took a trip to the famous Rio de Janeiro. The people of Brazil were completely different, they had a different lifestyle then Schectman had ever seen. “I miss the lifestyle of Brazilians. Everyone I met was so happy, friendly, and laid back,” Schectman said. They introduced her to new food, music, and even dances. She enjoyed school and exploring a new culture and became a true Brazilian. When it came time to return to the

United States she had mixed feelings. The hardest part about leaving Brazil was saying goodbye to her new friends. It was very sad but at the same time she was beyond excited to return home and see all the people she had missed the most. Returning home was a whole other adjustment however. “It was almost like going on another exchange, there were so many things to readjust to, and it almost felt like a dream.” Schectman said. After living a year in Bra-

zil and working everyday to fit in, it was difficult getting used to her old lifestyle. This period of adjustment lasted a while for Schectman but just as she had adjusted to Brazilian lifestyle, she settled back into life in the United States. She misses Brazil everyday and the friends and experiences it brought her but she is confident that she will return one day. Her exchange taught her many things and opened her eyes to new opportunities. She looks forward to traveling more in the future.

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The PB

Substitute teachers refrain from losing their class Carter Wright Reporter

As you enter the classroom and look at the board, something seems different. Instead of an agenda for the day, there is instead written just one name and– yes! You have a substitute teacher for the period. When entering a classroom filled with new faces for the first time most people will admit to some sort of anxiety. The unknown factor of how one will be received by the class is enough to make anyone’s stomach churn with nervousness, and walking into a classroom as the new object of interest and center of attention does not help. For a substitute teacher this is a regular scenario. It’s their job. “You have to be ready for surprises,” local substitute teacher Lief Johnson said.“You have to have a good attitude. You have to be patient.” Johnson recently filled in for Julie Angles, an English teacher at AHS, who caught a bad case of the flu and had to call in sick for over a week. “They (substitute teachers) allow

teachers and staff the ability to attend workshops and conferences that enhance student learning,” Monica Puzz, Secretary to Principal Navarre, said. Ms. Puzz handles the scheduling of substitute teachers— and she also meets with those who wish to be selected for future substituting at Arcata High. “When someone wants to be considered for substituting, they typically come in to introduce themselves and bring a resume,” Ms. Puzz Brad Hunkins, busy at work grading papers said. Some candidates ways a pleasure when you have a don’t make the cut. “A woman once good group of kids, and you don’t came in impersonating a sub. She have to grade anything or create lesdid not bring a resume or a picture son plans,” Johnson said. I.D,” Ms. Puzz said. For those that “There’s a new routine every time do make the cut though, future work you come to work,” Jennifer Coriis something to look forward to. ell, local substitute teacher, said. So what is it like subbing for a However, there are also drawbacks teacher? “It’s never boring. It’s al- to consider.

Sarah Fraga/PEPPERBOX

Substitute teacher Brad Hunkins introduces himself to a social studies class. To many students, he is just another teacher.

“We don’t make a lot of money, and it’s difficult when a teacher doesn’t leave a lesson plan,” Johnson said. “Kids will try their very best to take advantage of you,” Coriell said. Students have admitted to exploiting subs; they eat in class, use their cell phones, and more. A few students even said that they once got a sub to let them leave campus and get popcorn for the class at a local grocery store. As far as student opinions of substitutes go, perspectives vary. “They contribute a lot without expecting much,” Mason Bell, junior at AHS, said. “Some of them are grouchy because of all the stress they’re put through.” “I learn well when there’s a sub be-

Sarah Fraga/PEPPERBOX

cause I always get my work done,” senior James Luchessi said. Regardless, it is certain that substitute teachers play a vital role in any school. They take the stress off of teachers that must place their attention somewhere other than the classroom, whether that be for a conference, an emergency, or sim-

“I learn well when there’s a sub because I always get my work done.” ply recovering from an illness, and they do it with little in the way of thanks. They keep the school running, and therefore they deserve respect, appreciation, and recognition.

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United States vs. Argentina Victoria Moroni Reporter

When I first came here, the only negative thought I had was, “Now I have to start school again!” because in Argentina, school starts in March. So when I came here, I hadn’t had a summer vacation yet. Now I get to see all my friends’ pictures of their happy summers on Facebook while I have this cold Humboldt County weather around me... but at least it is not raining like everybody told me it would when I first arrived here. Some stereotypes Argentineans have about “Americans” (a term we actually don’t like because we think that we are Americans too) are that people eat a lot, have beautiful houses, and are mostly rich. We also think that popular girls are cheerleaders and cute blond boys with blue eyes play baseball or American football, that they all go to fancy prom dances, are thinking about being accepted into a good college, and watch a lot of Disney movies and musicals. My day starts at the same hour here than it does at home. I have breakfast with my family and then I go to school, but here is where the differences start to appear. We can’t choose our classes, and we all have to take the same thirteen subjects, but I’m so glad that we don’t have one hour of each class everyday like you do here! Then we come home and have lunch. That’s another thing I had to get used to during my first few weeks here. In my fifth and sixth periods, I kept imagining I was at home taking a nap like I always do, but now I have to be awake listening to teachers and writing notes. I have to confess that I’m still not used to it. Sports are also very different in

Argentina than here in the United States. I have never seen such competitive practices! Now I understand why the coach in the movies is always pushing their players so hard at practices and screaming so loudly during the games - it’s the way it is here. But that’s also why everybody is so good at what they do. Maybe it is because being a good athlete scores points with universities. I guess that’s why we don’t care, because we don’t have to pay to go to college. We don’t need to start our applications a year early, because most of us don’t even know where we want to go until maybe three months before we are there. “Everybody has a car.” That was one of my first thoughts during my first day of school. We can’t get our drivers licenses until we are seventeen, but nobody actually has it until they are eighteen, when it is time to get out of their parent’s house and go see the world! But one thing compensates for another... we start going to night clubs and drinking when we are fifteen. I have never seen so many types of potato chips and cereals in my life until I went to the supermarket here! And I have never been to a Mexican or Chinese restaurant before either. When Argentinean people think “American” food, we imagine McDonald’s or Burger King, places we only have in big cities like Buenos Aires. We also think that people eat a lot here, but that’s not true - we eat the same amount of food in Argentina. Fatness is one impression that we have that is not true. The biggest difference here is that people spend the hours of the day differently. Argentinean students also take classes after school if they are interested in music, art,

Victoria Moroni/ PEPPERBOX

Victoria Moroni (right) poses with her peers from Argentina. or sports, while here you have everything at school. Almost every teenager in my country comes home after school, eats, takes a nap, goes to their activities, visits with friends, comes home at eight, does homework, watches TV, eats dinner, then goes to sleep. Here the normal routine is go to school, eat at school, hang out with friends after school, go to sports practice after school at school, come home, eat dinner, do homework, then start your free time. I still can’t get used to it because after dinner, my day is supposed to end! When I go back home, I will miss my friends first. It’s crazy that I now have friends all over the world. I hope someday we will meet again. I will also miss the food! Pancakes, cinnamon rolls, cookies, donuts... all of the things that I know will make me fat, but I can’t stop eating them because they are really tasty! I will miss the perfect landscape with trees, beaches, and mountains. I will miss a lot of things,

but I will also take things with me as well. This year has taught me that it doesn’t matter if you live on the other side of the world because there is no perfect place to live, but understanding how people live in other countries can help you know how to better yours and appreciate the things you already have.

Understanding how people live in other countries can help you know how to better yours and appreciate the things you already have.

Arcata High Speaks Out About KONY 2012 “I think it’s horrible, and it’s time for us to take action.” -Freshman Ryan Ghisetti “I don’t get why people think it’s a scam. I bought the helpful box and posters and I’m ready to put them up on April 20th.” - Junior Gwyn Caughy

“I think that the movement is positive and productive. They used social networking in an effective way, however it is past due and the false information in the video makes me question it.” -Senior Sonja Goetsch-Avila

“It made me feel kind of ignorant, because I wasn’t aware of it before I saw the video.” -Senior Sadie Trush

Can you locate Uganda on a map? Out of 20 students surveyed, only senior James Lucchessi successfully located Uganda on a blank map of Africa. Of those 20 students, 7 claimed Africa to be a country.