The Monarch: March 2017

Inside:

BEST AROUND THE BAY (Pages 10-11) Serving the Archbishop Mitty Community

Volume 26 Number 3

March 2017

Monarch Madness The Greatest Night To Be A Monarch

By Brian Chan Staff Writer

The year was 1992. That year what would eventually come to be a long-lasting tradition experienced its very first edition. With the simple goal of playing a few games, showcasing dances, and giving students a good time, “Monarch Madness” began as a night rally in Fien gym—though it would eventually blossom into an annual event larger than life itself.

“The origins of this event are very special to me,” says mathematics teacher Mr. Bill Hutton, who was the student activities director at the time. “When all’s said and done, it may be one of the biggest contributions to our community that there has been.”

The very first night, the crowds of people waiting to enter extended all the way out onto Mitty way, ensuring that the event would become a staple for years to come. “At the end, there was a dog pile that I ended up being on the bottom of with Mr. Eagleson [then a student] and the trophy,” Mr. Hutton reflected, “and Brian (Eagleson) looked at me on the bottom of the pile and said, ‘Hutt, this is going to be huge next year.’ Well, we are 25 years into it and he was right.”

Through the years, classes have performed themed dances ranging from Michael Jackson and Nike to literature and even Presidential elections. The game itinerary has also evolved over time—for example, the original Monarch Madness featured Skateboard Derby, with students sitting on skateboards and propelling themselves across Fien using only a plunger.

As ASB President during the very first year, current English teacher Brian Eagleson remembers this one fondly: “I was allowed to be in one of the events, and I thought I was hot stuff—being involved with the planning and everything. I thought I had my strategy all planned out. But when the time came, I didn’t leave the starting line for quite awhile and then I had to cheat about three or four times.”

Another game featured pugil stick dueling, where competitors tried to knock each other off a platform in the center of the stage with huge foam-padded staffs.

The class representatives’ relay, for instance, was once Dodgeball and, at another point, Musical Chairs.

On the Inside

As the incredible artwork each year began to cover the walls, ceilings, and rafters, it became obvious that a bigger venue was needed. It was now 1998, and Mr. Bill Kroenung was the student activities director. “I remember walking through the Civic auditorium, asking the workers there where we might hang posters, trying to brainstorm where classes might sit. Seems like a long time ago now!”

From that point on, the Civic Center was then reserved by Archbishop Mitty for two entire days every March.

“When all’s said

and done, it may be one of the biggest contributions to our community that there has been.”

—Mr. Bill Hutton This year’s 26th edition still begins with a blank slate, much like how Monarch Madness was initially conceived. Once again, murals and banners begin as blank paper, dances are created from nothingness, and a bare auditorium becomes adorned with incredible art and creativity.

“After working so hard to come up with all these ideas and concepts, it becomes really cool to see everything come together into one coherent event,” says sophomore class representative Jackson Walker. “I love the spirit and pride students have not only for their class, but also Mitty as a whole. Monarch Madness is one of the coolest things to be a part of, and it will always be something I’ll remember and love.”

News...................................1-3 Opinion..............................4-6 Arts & Entertainment........7-9

Freshman class representative Jasmine Yee comments, “My favorite part of Monarch Madness is definitely the hard work and dedication everyone contributes to reach a common goal. The classes grow closer and closer as we continue to spend time together during practices, and this gives students and fellow gov. members the opportunity to strengthen old bonds and create new ones with each other.”

Asked about his favorite part of the event, Junior Class Media Coordinator Derek Jones said, “The silence before the Roar. After the cheers, and the dances, and all the games, all of a sudden the Civic goes quiet and that’s when you know things are beginning to wind down. But you’ve just been through a whole lot during the event and it’s the weirdest silence you’ll ever hear!”

On the other hand, Senior Class Spirit Commissioner Panayiota Good sees the practices with the Monarch Madness team as her favorite: “The best part of Monarch Madness planning takes place as the representatives teach the dance to the team. Sure, they might be confused or maybe even weary initially, but once they get the hang of it, the dance becomes something that they, too, are excited about and proud of.”

This year sees the freshmen presenting the magic of basketball in Space Jam, sophomores with the colorful tale of Mulan, juniors with the feel-good action from Ghostbusters, and seniors with the intrigue of Stranger Things. Students, parents, faculty, and alumni alike wait in excitement for this year’s edition of what is termed “the greatest night to be a Monarch.”

Though the process takes several months, it always passes by in a blur, Jones says. “Working on everything for Monarch Madness is definitely a long process, but as you go along, especially with a great group of reps. and team working alongside you, you don’t notice how much time it takes. We all look forward to the night of, when every aspect we work on, from the soundtrack and choreography to costumes and artwork, will all be put together, and that’s when we really see how much our work has paid off. But beforehand, you kind of just take it one piece of the puzzle at a time and trust that eventually it’ll all fit together.”

Focus.................................10-11 Justice Awareness........ .....12-13 Science & Technology.......14-15

Sports................................16-17 Photo.................................18-19 Art..........................................20

Page 2

March 2017 • News

Courses to Come

By Erica Vacca Staff Writer Next school year, Archbishop Mitty is introducing four new classes to its curriculum: AP Economics, Written Composition/ Dramatic Literature, Visual Arts 2/Cinema Arts, and Calculus 3.

Visual Arts 2: Cinema Arts

Cinema Arts, which will be taught by Mr. Petersen, is a year-long Visual Arts course based on film-making. Students participating in the class will learn the history and basics of film, such as shot-type and film composition. Then, students will plan and direct their own films, capturing their own passions. Students will learn how to use lighting, color, and other cinematographic techniques to create their films. Then, Mr. Petersen will lead the students in postproduction to color correct and add music to finalize their movies. Through teaching this class, Mr. Petersen hopes that students will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for film.

Dramatic Literature

Next year Ms. Folena will be teaching Dramatic Literature, a new year-long English course which will focus on putting written words into action. She designed this course to “give a voice to the marginalized” and to help students overcome their fear of

public speaking through assignments such as class oral interpretations, monologues, and small performances. Throughout the year, units will focus on a variety of social issues, such as sexual orientation, diversity, and the search for one’s identity. Ms. Folena will teach students about the unique nature of plays that “activates in a certain space” which allows the words to become “physical.”

Theater Tech

By Kristine Chang Staff Writer Mitty’s plays are widely acclaimed, winning awards annually as well as entertaining the school’s students for six weeks every school year. While the actors and musicians bring musicals and plays to life on stage, it’s the tech department within the theater program that works backstage to make the magic possible.

Calculus 3

Taught by Mr. Greene, this is a yearlong course designed for students who have completed Calculus BC as juniors. It will be divided into four units: linear algebra, multivariable calculus, ordinary differential equations, and discrete math.

AP Economics A/B This course will be taught by Mr. Oleson next year and is a new Advanced Placement course that combines AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics.

Students taking this course will learn about the different aspects of economics, such as economic performance measures and international economics. This course also offers opportunities to learn about current events and to apply concepts of the class to the real world. Students will be taking both AP exams for macroeconomics and microeconomics in May.

Tech Crew is a group of approximately 30 students who carry out the behind-thescenes work for each show. The team creates most of the sets and props needed for performances and manages lighting and sound effects.

There are a variety of positions available on the team, divided into three categories: those in the booth, those backstage, and those at the front. People in the booth work the technical parts of the show, such as lights and sound. Meanwhile, the students backstage handle props, set changes, makeup, and costumes. Those at the front serve as ushers, handing out programs to audience members entering the theater.

Because of how fundamental their role is within the theater, Tech Crew members have an intensive schedule. The team does not only meet during performances but in the months between shows. In fact, just after the winter musical, Rock of Ages, ended, the team began working on the set for the spring musical, Les Miserables.

On the weeks leading up to the play’s

opening, the team meets for “builds” on Tuesdays and Thursdays to split into small groups and work on making the props. The week before the show premieres is especially intensive, as it entails dress rehearsals in which the crew puts all the technical aspects of a performance together. And when the show arrives, those on the crew are assigned to their specific roles, working during each performance during the two weeks that the show runs.

Despite the time commitment and work, senior Sofia Generali states, “I really enjoy being on crew and getting to participate in each night of a show.”

All told, the skills learned from being a part of Tech Crew are distinct. Students learn how to use power tools such as screw guns, build and take apart props, sand and stain wood, and measure wooden planks and then organize them based on size and shape.

Moreover, students can immerse themselves in the theater experience in a nontraditional way, learning how to collaborate with other members of Tech Crew to run a great show.

Senior Joyce Lin explains, “My favorite part is really the people. It is amazing to see how much all of us have in common, and that is what makes the atmosphere so enjoyable.”

For students interested in becoming a part of Tech Crew next school year, there is a page for each theater production on myMitty which lists the schedule for builds and show dates.

Student Life in Sobrato

By Kayla Riggs Staff Writer “This is a wonderful moment in the life of this great high school. I thank the Sobratos for their generosity. I look forward to next year (2017) and the ribbon cutting ceremony for this new building.” Bishop Patrick J. McGrath will have to wait no longer: the John A. Sobrato and Susan Sobrato Science and Student Life Center has officially opened its doors to eager Monarchs! This state-of-the-art facility is complete with a new offices for Student Activities and Outreach, a terrace, a lounge for busy students, a Robotics Lab, and plenty of new classrooms.

Of course, long before this building surfaced, there was an overflowing library, limited Robotics space, and a number of new science classes waiting to be added to the curriculum. Mr. Keith Mathews, Associate Principal and English teacher, explained that these and more were reasons to build an additional structure on campus. According to Mr. Mathews, the new building has already created a space “for studying, relaxing, casual conversation, and meetings for groups of different students.” And the classes that come with the new building are equally interesting: Design Thinking, The Science of Food, The Science of Music, Feeding the Future, The Science of the Big Bang, and Human Health and Disease in Society.

As for the Robotics team, the new building has already proven to be beneficial. The group’s improved engineering shop consists of two rooms and four new 3D printers. Programming lead Ishan Shah says, “We’ve been able to prototype parts faster than ever, and the new tools are absolute delights to have in the workshop.”

Systems Engineer Danning Yu corroborates this, adding, “the new tools allow us to

have much more precision when developing parts.” More space and additional equipment has allowed the team to be more efficient and ultimately have more fun.

However, some of the best features of this two-story building may be its small, overlooked nuances. Upon entering, students are met with inspiring quotes that encourage them to be creative, hopeful, just, spiritual, and generous. The wall with the quotes was designed for and by the students, with Mr. Brosnan being the “primary architect of the vision” and Ms. Leather of the Visual Arts Department acting as the person who pulled this creativity “into the beautiful display we now enjoy,” according to Mr. Mathews.

Mr. Mathew’s favorite spot in the new building is a favorite of many: the upstairs corner that overlooks Jack Russi Field. He even joked that he might “auction this location off as the best seat in the house for Night Football!”

From these reactions, it is evident that this top-notch building has clearly impressed both students and faculty at AMHS. Perhaps Mr. Mathews explains it best: “Ultimately, the new John A. and Susan Sobrato Science and Student Life Center allows the school to continue to provide a cutting-edge college prep experience while providing a setting in which young men and women can enjoy a full-fledged high school experience, one that includes a healthy mix of first-rate academics, high-quality co-curriculars, and the necessary spaces in which to build friendships and memories for a lifetime.”

The new building is but one privilege among many that Mitty provides us. It offers innumerable opportunities for the entire student body, so don’t be shy. As the saying goes, “When opportunity knocks, don’t let fear hold you back. Open the door and embrace the opportunity that has come forth.”

Go on, Monarchs: Open the door to our new building!

News • March 2017

Page 3

Teachers Before Their Time

By Soo Min Cho Staff Writer A tall, thin, man with white hair and glasses, Dr. Greg Scott, Mitty’s new Physics and Science of Sound and Music professor, declares, “Teaching here is like

Dr. Greg Scott a ministry...We are here to look after the students, and that is what I really wanted to do.” His experience at Mitty, he says, has created a more meaningful life for him and helped him to be a part of a supportive community.

Since 2014, Dr. Scott has taught science at Mitty. He graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1981 on an ROTC (Reserve Officer’s Training Corp) scholarship, which led to his service in the army the four years after college. He then applied to graduate school and attended Stanford University to earn a Ph.D in electrical engineering.

Following this lengthy education, he began working in the Silicon Valley at various companies, on projects ranging from manufacturing computer chips to designing the circuits. With his experience, he joined a startup company that was bought by Apple and he then became an Apple employee. In that capacity, he worked on chips for mobile products at Apple, including the iPhone, iPod, and iPad. After working at Apple from 2008 to 2013, his outlook on life began to change.

Unfortunately, he witnessed the deaths of influential people in his life. For one, the cofounder of Apple, Steve Jobs, died in 2011.

When he attended Jobs’s funeral, Dr. Scott was reminded of Jobs’s words “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

Jobs’s premature death affected Dr. Scott deeply. Additionally, Dr. Scott’s older brother also passed away during the

Dr. Greg Scott in his younger days

same year. Dr. Scott realized that life was too short to waste, so he decided that he wanted to do something more meaningful with his remaining time. He applied to Santa Clara University for a year-long credential program and began to teach at Mitty soon

Dr. Larry McAdams after. His children had attended and were attending Mitty, and he knew that he wanted to work in this supportive community.

Similarly, Dr. Larry McAdams, who is currently an AP Physics teacher, graduated with a Ph.D in electrical engineering in 1990 from Stanford, specializing in fiber optics. After graduating, Dr. McAdams was hired by his professor to work on government research. After five years, he began to build optical switches for fiber optic networks for a variety of companies.

However, when he was serving as a director for a small start-up company, the tech-

nology boom went bust, and his company had to close down. Dr. McAdams decided that he would take a short respite before planning his next move. After idling for two years, he chose to open a new chapter in his life as a high school teacher Finishing his internship at Menlo school, Dr. McAdams applied to many private schools, including Mitty. Mr. Brosnan was convinced by Dr. McAdams’s passion and inclination to teach and offered him a position.

Dr. McAdams is currently in his thirteenth year of teaching, and Dr. Scott in his third. For both teachers, Mitty has marked a turning point in their lives.

Dr. Scott states that, “I can take care of students and see what is really going on in their lives. It isn’t just teaching; I’ve been on six Quest retreats. I loved it, and I like all the ministry aspects as well as the education here at Mitty...I want to be here as long as I am breathing.”

Mr. Larry McAdams (left) in 2000

Sports Hall Of Fame

By Ali Bell & Charlie Pyle Staff Writer & Staff Editor Mitty’s athletic program has been ranked #1 in California a number of times. Earning this prestigious recognition isn’t just due to our phenomenal athletes — the many talented coaches and administrators that have served at Mitty have all contributed to what has become an athletic powerhouse.

The Archbishop Mitty Hall of Fame was conceived in 1998 to honor and recognize these athletes, coaches, and still others who have made significant contributions to athletics at our school. There are three categories in which one can be selected for the Athletic Hall of Fame: Individual, Team Inductee, or Special Category. In order to be selected, one must be elected by a voting body comprised of Mitty’s most influential members, including Prinicpal Mr. Tim Brosnan, Associate Principal Mr. Keith Mathews, and Athletic Director Mr. Josh Walker.

To qualify for the Individual Category, an athlete must be an alumnus or alumna of five years and must have contributed significantly to his or her team(s). But many these athletes, of course, don’t stop playing once they’ve graduated. Often, these individuals continue as professionals. And athletes like Kerri Walsh Jennings (’96) haven’t just gone pro—they’ve become interna-

tionally recognized. This year ten individual honorees were inducted: Alex Balog (’10), Erin Downey Biederman (’05), Tyler Davis (’11), Amanda Gil (’08), Mitch Haniger (’09), Michaela Matulich (’11), Renisha Robinson (’07), Nora Soza (’06), Jakaria Stewart (’94), and Rachel Williams (’10).

In the Team Category, four teams made the list of inductees this year: the ’94-’95 Women’s Basketball Team, the ’00-’01 Women’s Soccer Team, the ’05-’06 Men’s Soccer Team and the ’08 Women’s Tennis Team.

This year’s Special Category included three standout coaches who continue to work at Mitty, along with the late Mr. Luie Lopez, whose photography captured Mitty athletics in a way no one had done before him.

The three current coaches are a roll call of excellence in their fields. They are Varsity Swim Coach, Mr. Tom Miller (’83); Varsity Women’s Volleyball Coach, Mr. Brett Almazan-Cezar; and Varsity Women’s Basketball Coach, Ms. Sue Phillips (’86).

Mitty’s Athletic Hall of Fame ensures that the legacies of those who have contributed to our school’s outstanding athletics program will never be forgotten.

The plaques in the Northwest corner of Fien gym remind us to honor those in our community who played well both on and off the field.

Volume 26 Number 3 Advisors Mr. Mick VanValkenburg & Mr. Craig Whitt

News Charlie Pyle, Ishan Shah, & Madelynne Zenk

Opinion Ana Gonzalez, Alisa Khieu, Anna Tseselesky, & Danning Yu

Justice Awareness Suzanne Golshanara, Michelle Mallari, & Raymond So

Focus Sanghavi Srinivasan, Kirthana Sarathy, & Quynh-Lam Tran

Science & Technology Ankush Bharadwaj, Justin Bui, Kaushal Partani, & Sachin Vallamkonda

Arts & Entertainment Giuliana Calia, Mary Celestin, Jose Lopez, & Alexis Rambac

Sports Alec Jo, Henry Phan, Kaeleigh Smith, & Harika Veeramacheneni

Photo Sofia del Cano, Nina Myers, & Scotia Tobin

Art Ella Garfunkel & Nichole Wong

Hall of Fame Inductee, Coach Sue Phillips

Hall of Fame Inductee, Coach Brett Almazan-Cesar

Archbishop Mitty High School 5000 Mitty Way, San Jose, CA 95129

OPINIONS

Opposing Viewpoints: The Changing Face of Journalism

Fact or Fiction?

By Tiina Otala Staff Writer The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false.

Confused?

That appears to be the general consensus these days as our news cycle gradually becomes all too similar to that two-sentence paradox. Sources across the political spectrum consistently propagate both dubious articles and angry debunkings, accusing the other side of being the true liar in whatever situation is at hand. There are fictitious stories of Donald Trump insulting Republicans, a murder-suicide of an FBI agent investigating Hillary Clinton, and illegal immigrants skewing the election.

In such a politically charged online environment of click-baiting and quick sharing, it stands to reason that legitimate news organizations would attempt to be as accurate as possible. After all, preserving true news is integral to resisting waves of misinformation proliferating our media.

Yet, with Buzzfeed’s release of an unverified dossier concerning President Trump’s behavior in Russia, that standard of journalistic integrity seems to have been shaken. As part of its original post, Buzzfeed defended the decision to publish as an effort to allow “Americans [to] make up their own minds about allegations about the [president] that have circulated at the highest levels of the US government.”

However, opinions should not be formed around allegations. Allegations are uncertain. Allegations are unresolved.

Allegations do not constitute evidence, and therefore cannot be evaluated as such to ascertain any “truth.”

Moreover, just because the report was distributed among government officials and the media does not make it any more true than it previously was. The dossier remains unproven, no matter how many reporters or politicians agree it should be “seriously reviewed.” Publicizing inflammatory hearsay, supposed significance aside, detracts from productive discussions on confirmed facts, leading instead to arguments around hypotheticals that should not even be debated until they are either affirmed or denied.

Now, this is not intended to be an attack on the liberties guaranteed in our constitution. We do have freedom of the press and freedom of speech, but we still impose limits to prevent the dangerous distribution of falsities. You shouldn’t scream “Bomb!” in an airport because of the security risk of frightening other passengers. Similarly, you shouldn’t disseminate unverified accusations that could mislead the common reader.

We have seen the damage such rumors can produce, ranging from the extreme incident of the Comet Ping Pong shooter believing fabrications of a Clinton child-trafficking ring to the more absurd falsehoods over the size of the inauguration audience. Though not every unclear report will result in the radical repercussions of “Pizzagate,” we cannot afford to disregard fake news as inconsequential. Ignoring the issue can be detrimental to public trust in the media for years to come. If we render the decision to publish the Buzzfeed dossier acceptable, we raise the possibility of widespread indifference to whether or not an article is factual or not.

With an administration that has demonstrated a blatant lack of concern about “alternative facts” like that of a fictional “Bowling Green massacre,” public vigilance is key to combatting duplicity. Avoid unsubstantiated articles, and exercise critical thinking by doing the fact-checking for yourself with websites like Politifact, Snopes.com, and FactCheck.org.

Refuse to be content with half-true content, and refuse to accept con-artist journalism.

News for a New Audience

By Anna Krause Staff Writer In our modern technological age, news is more readily accessible than ever before.

This is due in part to the growth of a form of journalism called “informal” news. Informal news is quick and easily obtainable information spread through social media outlets like Twitter or platforms like Buzzfeed. This form of news ranges from a series of tweets with a limited number of characters, to daily snapchat stories, to articles that imitate a traditional news format while including slang and other pop-culture references. With its more casual nature, informal news rarely has the thorough editing and fact-checking that stories published in other news sources contain. What it lacks in formality, however, informal news makes up for in its ability to write for the people; this type of news is so accessible that it fully integrates young or lesser-educated Americans who may be excluded from some less-consumable articles.

Informal news articles are often written using techniques that spark the interest of the audience and create a desire to learn more about the subjects discussed. They provide some of the basic facts and descriptions needed to understand the surface level of an issue. Informal news makes it easy for readers to absorb facts and then research further, share the story, or simply move on with their day with a heightened awareness of this new subject. It is from this accessibility that informal news’ benefit to young people stems.

It is no coincidence that informal news can be found primarily on platforms that are geared towards America’s youth: the practice of informal news is an indispensable means of sparking discussion among young people about current events and problems society faces.

Not only is this a noble intention, it is an effective one as well. A compilation of studies concerning the effect of social media and informal news on politics by publishing group Taylor and Francis suggests that social networking sites– like Twitter and Snapchat– incited 82% of citizens to participate in a form of civic or political engagement, with this participation being highest among youth populations. The informal news phenomenon is extremely beneficial to our country. Higher youth involvement in politics means that as teens become adults, they are already educated on the history and context of many issues facing their country.

Youth involvement directly translates to an increase of advocacy for important issues as well as an increase in involvement in political systems as teens age and become eligible to participate more fully. Ultimately, informal news allows people of all ages and backgrounds to be more active contributors to modern-day politics. With weak voter turn-out among young people already a well-documented issue, informal news can potentially be a powerful agent of change in engaging a younger demographic.

By no means should informal news be depended on for nuanced political commentary.

But these sources create the potential for more people, previously alienated by complicated and intimidating jargon, to participate in such discussions. We should treat informal news as a general gateway into topics which, if they interest us, can be further and more thoroughly researched.

Take a “Chance” on Voting

By Koji Flynn-Do Staff Writer “The plan was to drink until the pain over. But what’s worse, the pain or the hangover?”

Kanye West’s words from “Dark Fantasy” gained newfound meaning after Donald Trump’s shocking victory. Indeed, Kanye himself went on a tirade just after the election, revealing that he hadn’t voted at all. Most shocking to his followers, Kanye came out in support of Trump. His reasoning is the interesting part—Kanye argued that Trump’s election is a wake up call, since in order to

“understand what to do in the future to be able to get your way,” you “have to not get your way” sometimes.

In effect, Kanye has chosen the “pain” over the “hangover.” He believes, like many, that Hillary Clinton would not have been an effective vehicle for change. Instead of resigning himself to the “hangover,” where America elects an establishment politician without any real change, Kanye has chosen the immediate pain. Some might liken Trump’s presidency to Kanye’s “Dark Twisted Fantasy,” but Kanye characterizes his argument as accelerationist: you can’t combat racism unless it’s visible. His approach, then, is to catalyze change through rants that seem outrageous or inflammatory. And while I love his music, I can’t say the same for his current paradigm for social change.

Participation is the heart of our democracy. Kanye only commented on the presidency, but there is always much more at stake in other political races. Progress doesn’t just come from federal mandates and reforms.

Instead, down ballot races and direct referendums produce much of the legislation that actually affects day-to-day life in most states. At the local and state level, encourag-

ing voter turnout is one of the most important decisions a leader can make in their community. In his position, Kanye should use the platform granted by his music and advocacy to spur positive dialogue and voter participation. Kanye might believe he’s doing that, but his mercurial rants stir controversy at the expense of discussion.

While Kanye West hopes to galvanize reform through outrage, Chance the Rapper, Kanye’s self-proclaimed “best prodigy,” preaches a message of activism and hope. Off the back of his gospel-infused album “Coloring Book,” Chance led hundreds of people to early voting in his “Parade to the Polls” on November 7. Ultimately, the two Chicago rappers have taken dramatically different paths toward the same goal.

Kanye has historically been a fierce advocate for social reform, from combatting homophobia in hip-hop to tackling classism in broader society. Unfortunately, his current methods are dubious at best.

Instead, we must push for justice through engagement and, like Chance, not “make songs for free,” but “make ’em for freedom.”

Opinions • March 2017

Page 5

American Déjà Vu: Xenophobia is Nothing New

By Anna Tseselsky Opinions Editor

Friday, January 27, was a day many Americans had been waiting for, whether in fear or in fervent anticipation.

President Trump’s Executive Order, which put a temporary immigration ban on seven majority Muslim countries, sent shock waves throughout America and the international community. Airports erupted in chaos as the general incompetence of Trump’s administration translated into the order’s disorganized implementation. As word spread of families being separated, recently granted visas being revoked, and even valid green card holders being detained, airports flooded with protesters and attorneys working pro-bono to help stranded individuals. Diplomats from the blacklisted countries condemned the order as offensive; some nations even instituted their own temporary bans in retaliation. Politicians and military strategists criticized the order as a rash and dangerous decision, one that could potentially play right into the hands of extremists while compromising relationships crucial in the fight against terrorism. Now, Americans are holding their breath as the Executive Order, currently overturned, bounces around federal courts and perhaps seeks new expression in a new, more narrowly defined, order.

Among the most prevailing sentiments is that Trump’s Executive Order is an affront on a nation of immigrants. Politicians across the spectrum condemned it as “un-American.”

Unfortunately, this order is all too American. While founded on principles of religious liberty, equality, and freedom, America’s aspirational identity has been in conflict with its nativist tendencies from its very conception. To be clear, Trump did not invent Islamophobia. His racism is

not a historical anomaly, but rather a continuation of a trend that runs deep and far into American history. Consider the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Or the 1906 “Gentleman’s Agreement” that ended Japanese immigration. How about the shiploads of Jewish refugees we turned away from our borders, unknowingly sending them straight to their deaths in concentration camps during WWII? Have we also forgotten that the first inhabitants of this “nation of immigrants” were not immigrants at all but indigenous peoples whose populations would be decimated by colonizers and who continue to fight for their land rights to this day? How far back must we delve into America’s history before we find this welcoming safe haven for the oppressed these politicians are talking about?

To pretend that America has always been a champion of multicultural inclusion is to, frankly, engage in historical revisionism. Our humanitarian values have been in a constant battle with our xenophobic anxieties, and as Trump makes painfully clear—too often the latter has won. This cognitive dissonance between the idealized image of America and its historical reality is what allows us to pledge “Never Again” and then repeatedly revert into some of our darkest moments as a country.

It’s time that we critically engage with our past in order to ensure it does not continue to materialize into our future. We can want America to be a bastion of freedom, justice, and equality while still acknowledging how we have repeatedly fallen short of our own ideals. For America to be the country we all need it to be, we must continue holding both our elected officials and our own history accountable.

Duterte: The Petrifying Face of Populism

By Nichole Lim Staff Writer “Forget the laws on human rights”—words of wisdom from current Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, a man endearingly known as “Duterte Harry,” “the Punisher,” and “the Trump of the East.” But aside from Duterte and Trump’s bombastic campaigns and mutual fondness for loud-mouthed populism, the Trump analogy falls hopelessly short. The Philippine leader is far worse.

Trump may equate immigrants to criminals, but Duterte vowed repeatedly in innumerable profanity-laden tirades to kill 100,000 criminals, rapists, and drug pushers within his first six months in office, allegedly having backed numerous death squads in his past political career.

Likening his war on drugs to the Holocaust, he said, “Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now, there is three million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them all.”

Since its start, the Philippine drug war has unleashed an unprecedented wave of violence, with more than 7,000 extrajudicial killings since the start of his six-year administration on July 1 of last year, averaging 30 deaths every day by both police and vigilante killings according to Human Rights Watch—appalling numbers, but predictable given his public proclamation: “Shoot him, and I’ll give you a medal.”

The shoot-to-kill policy of Philippine police has exposed thousands to the threat of extrajudicial killings by “death squads.” These uniformed and plainclothes police officers execute kidnappings, night raids, and fake arrest warrants falsely implicating illegal drug activity.

In rich neighborhoods, it’s only a polite knock on the door or provide a formal warning. In poor neighborhoods, street children, teenage couples, and modest laborers are shot dead in late-night execution-style killings carried out in the middle of bustling streets or in their own homes with their families watching. Combined with ordinary citizens taking “justice” into their own hands at their president’s command, this slaughter has led to the collapse of the rule of law throughout the nation with Duterte now threatening to impose martial law and place the military at the head of his anti-drug campaign. When confronted by UN human rights experts, Duterte responded saying, “I will burn down the United Nations if you want.”

So why did 16 million Filipinos vote for a man who has likened himself to Hitler, joked about the prison rape of an Australian missionary, flipped off the EU, smack-talked one too many global leaders, including President Obama and the Pope, and bragged about the size of his manhood? It owes to his radical platform of law and order which resonated with millions of Filipinos fed up with decades of broken promises. In a third-world country where corruption and crime are rampant, Duterte’s win embodies the people’s yearning for change, but looking back, maybe not quite the change they were after.

So perhaps we’re not staring totally into the unknown with Donald Trump as our president. Though both reject the comparison, Trump’s campaign, victory, and presidency seem similar to those of Duterte, simply adjusted to first-world standards of political depravity. Like Duterte, Trump’s power stems largely from his cult of personality, not his respect for the rule of law. For such leaders, ideology serves only as a tool, not as a purpose—merely a means to an end in which those in power prey on fear in order to enact injustice. Ultimately, Trump and Duterte embody a mindset not endemic to any single nation, so while Trump may not share Duterte’s alarming willingness to employ execution as a clandestine tool of government, the end result may inevitably be the same: the destruction of human rights.

Say Goodbye to “Black Money” in India

By Trisha Karani Staff Writer On November 8, 2016, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi officially proclaimed that all 500 and 1,000 rupee notes would be devalued. In one swift move, 86% of India’s cash: worthless. The intent for this action was to remove all unaccounted wealth or “black money,” that has evaded taxation.

Although new bills are to be integrated into the Indian economy, the development and distribution have been unable to meet the demands of the people, resulting in a lack of cash in one of the world’s most cash-dependent countries.

In fact, up until November, 95% of all transactions in India were with cash, 90% of vendors could only accept cash, 85% of workers were paid with cash, and 50% of all Indians did not even have a bank account.

Because of this sudden lack of money, businesses were forced to shut down due to their inability to receive payments, while people without the updated currency were refused at hospitals. Many individuals could not even buy food.

Sadly, the Indian government has not been helpful during this difficult period of transition. All Indians were only given fifty days to convert their money before it became useless. Most of the outdated notes have been returned to the government, but the lack of the updated notes has resulted in money rationing; individuals are only allowed to withdraw 24,000 rupees per week ($350) or 2,500 rupees ($36) per day. Indians have been ripped out of their daily jobs and lives and forced to stand in lines for hours as they desperately hope to not lose their entire life savings.

Indian banks expected to recover $45 billion worth of black money, but much of the black money is being converted to pristine, white money through questionable methods.

But all Modi’s currency change has done is create a new bill to counterfeit. If counterfeiters could replicate the old bills, then they could just as easily replicate the new ones. There is no major difference between the old and new currency, so all Modi did was buy himself time before the cycle repeats itself once again. In fact, a side-by-side comparison of the old and new bill clearly reveals the lack of difference between the two.

Another aspect Modi failed to recognize is that only six percent of black money is in cash form. Most illegal wealth has already been placed in real estate, gold, foreign currency, foreign banks, anonymous accounts in banks, the stock market, and regular commercial enterprise. Although Modi’s goal of increasing the number of individuals with electronic banking and payment methods has been successful, the repercussions clearly outweigh the improvements. Not only has Modi been unsuccessful with actually finding the black money, but he has also sent Indians into a frenzy as they are forced to use various means to get their money back, often losing some in the process.

Instead of actively seeking out those with illegal wealth, Modi has simply expected them to come to the banks and give it all back, making this demonetization an inefficient and inconsequential move by the Indian government.

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Farewell, Milo A new hero worthy of Greek tragedy has risen and fallen, and his name is Milo Yiannopoulos—self-proclaimed “fabulous supervillain” of the Internet.

Milo is, essentially, a professional troll. His resume includes unsuccessfully creating a charity organization that offers grants exclusively to white men, declaring his birthday World Patriarchy Day—and, for all of his hard work, being endorsed by the leader of the alt-right, acclaimed American neo-Nazi Richard Spencer.

Why was this neo-Nazi-endorsed, self-proclaimed supervillain considered a hero? According to some conservative pundits and College Republican organizations, professional trolls like Milo are the only ones who can defend free speech from its most fearsome enemy: political correctness.

As such, he has been invited to speak at colleges across the U.S. and Great Britain, often being met with ardent protest from “politically correct” students who took issue with his unabashed bigotry. Milo, however, took the protests in stride, using them as evidence of liberal intolerance of free speech, and so racking up even more of a following and even more notoriety along the way.

However, as this is a tragedy, the inflammatory tactics which rocketed Milo to heroism inevitably and spectacularly backfired: with the recent surfacing of his comments condoning and defending

pedophilia in the gay community, those who once praised his fearless rejection of political correctness understandably have turned on him. This former icon of free speech was forced to resign from Breitbart News, lost the deal for his highly anticipated book, and was abruptly disinvited from the Conservative Political Action Congress. Conservatives are sending a clear message here: we might at times condone misogyny, Islamophobia, fat-shaming, homophobia, and racism— but we draw the line at pedophilia.

As tragically fitting as Milo’s rise and fall from hero to pariah is, the fact that he was able to capture attention for as long as he did reeks of a problem more serious and widespread than Milo’s cheeky bigotry.

In an effort to shake what is seen as a liberal stranglehold, conservatives have been too often willing to endorse anyone who opposes values deemed even vaguely liberal. The conflict between political left and right has moved from clash over ideas, to clash over simply being left or being right—a baseless struggle for power.

For his faults, Milo did have one valid point: genuine dialogue is at stake here—but not just because of the oppressive left. Unless both sides of the aisle are willing to de-entrench themselves from ideology and truly examine the values they stand for, trolls like Milo who represent nothing other than childish provocation will continue to capture political attention, distracting us from discussions on the real issues that face our country.

Paying the Price for Textbooks

By Jason Xu Staff Writer Aside from tuition, there’s a big cost for students: textbooks.

Remember that big menacing math textbook you were supposed to buy this year for nearly $150, so you ended up renting it or asking that classmate who illegally downloaded it to email you a secret link. With textbooks priced roughly around $100-$150 and multiple required books for English, you might be spending more than $300 on books alone each year. Basically, the complete high school experience includes an additional cost of upwards of a thousand dollars on textbooks that you’ll likely never read or use again.

So what’s with all the staggering textbook prices? According to The Economist, “the nominal price of textbooks has risen more than fifteen-fold since 1970, three times the rate of inflation.”

In a normal market, the price of a product is subject to two main factors: competition, which drives the prices down, and the supply and demand, which makes the prices fluctuate in both directions.

However, it’s a completely different story in the textbook market. Currently, there are only five major publishing companies in the textbook market, and they hold what is essentially a monopoly on the market. As a result, these companies adjust prices upward with few repercussions.

The textbook market is essentially a cruel joke where students have no choice but to pay absurd prices for necessary educational tools.

Luckily, there is a solution to this economic problem: schools and teachers can advocate for “open textbooks,” traditional textbooks that have been published under an open license.

Open Textbooks are free and open to be used by the public, saving students (and teachers) money. This alternative would allow students to focus on their studies rather than the ludicrous prices of textbooks. In other words, the way education is supposed to be.

March 2017 • Opinions

Tips to Staying Winter-Fit

By Kelly Andreachhi Staff Writer Have you been curled up under a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate, using the cold weather as an excuse to “catch up on things”? While you wait for the blustery storms to pass, do you feel content with the slower pace of life that tends to come with the coldest season of the year? Most of us do.

This hibernation associated with winter does have its advantages—but wait, what’s that hiding in the back of your brain behind the episodes of Netflix you had planned for this weekend? It’s the thought that maybe it would be a good idea to get a quick workout in. Don’t be tempted to scoff at this intruder and resolve to dust off your running shoes come spring—there is a free and easy way to tap into the countless unforeseen benefits of working out in the winter!

Mustering the motivation to brace the winter can not only help you spring into spring, but

also allow you to thrive in spite of winter woes!

First step: give yourself a reward. Pick an after-workout treat that aligns with your specific motivation. For example, if one of your goals is to eat healthier, a hot herbal tea or coffee with soy-milk would be the perfect ending to your workout!

Second step: start exercising as early in the day as possible, as it gets dark quickly in the winter. Exercising after school is ideal, allowing you to preserve your normal after-school routine while slipping in that energy boost you deserve!

Last step: the workout itself.

Harvard Health Publications has found a significant relationship between an athlete’s motivation and exercise attribution. In other words, pick something fun, and you will be able to stick through it through the cold months!

Congratulations, you now have the skills to develop a fun, goal-oriented routine that will remain undisturbed through even the “wintriest” days!

Final tip: use online resources like PopSugar.com to personalize a workout best for you.

Quick Hits:

Short, Sweet, and to the Point

Social Skills that Media Kills

By Supna Kapoor Staff Writer There is no doubt that with the introduction of innovative and life-altering technology, the way in which humans interact with one another has changed. More specifically, the widespread popularity of social media platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat has transformed the dynamics of both romantic and platonic relationships.

Back in the day, it was fairly simple to tell if someone wanted to get to know you: they enjoyed talking with you, and maybe even asked to hang out. Nowadays, there seems to be an imaginary hurdle we have to hop over before we can even approach this “courting” stage...if we ever even get there.

I like to call this period of limbo between strangerdom and budding friendship the “friendly follower” stage because it likely consists of following someone on a social media platform, despite the fact you two have never made eye contact with each other.

In certain cases, even after we get past this stage of virtual acquaintance-ship, we are then tasked with having to sift through cryptic or artificial comments on our Instagram pictures or unopened snapchats to decide

whether or not these “friends” of ours actually value our presence.

Relationships have lost their raw and personal quality. It’s so rare that they are born organically: deciding that you find an individual interesting, funny, cool, and introducing yourself face-to-face. And why is this so? Because it feels easier and safer to interact with others behind a screen.

This also leads to one of my least favorite of all social media’s downsides: the loss of the “mystery factor.” People are like onions, composed of layers, waiting to be unpeeled. The most rewarding part of getting to know someone is slowly discovering all of that person’s unique qualities and passions. Through our online personas we give up discovering these gems too early or paint ourselves to be something we’re not, which creates a feeling of insincerity in relationships.

Despite all this, it would be inaccurate to not acknowledge the ways social media and technology have enriched our relationships with one another.

Through such platforms we are able to meet people we would have otherwise never encountered, or keep in touch with those we love but cannot see everyday.

That being said, we should allow social media and technology to enhance our relationships, not warp or consume them.

Arts & Entertainment

Anyone who knows me knows I love my Soundcloud account and finding new artists on my feed. So when Stephen Jailon’s song “Bezel” came onto my list, I was ecstatic.

“This music is awesome!” I remember thinking, as I clicked on his page and began scrolling through his other songs. “I have a new artist to follow!”

Wanting to help expand Stephen Jailon’s fanbase (as well as reach out to him as a fan!), I shot him a message over Soundcloud and conducted an interview for this issue. So here we are, and I’m excited to introduce you all to Stephen Jailon, an up-and-coming R&B rapper and producer from Raleigh, North Carolina.

This 19-year-old “was born on a drum set pretty much and soon took up learning piano.” Yet, although he’s always loved music he didn’t always know he was going to pursue it. In high school, he used to dabble in other activities such as soccer, where he “played for a couple of youth clubs… but just really fell out of love with it as far as playing as a full time thing.”

It struck him then that he was going to pursue music because he felt it was “worth it and fun.” From there he created his Soundcloud account. When I asked him why he chose Soundcloud, he explained that “it was the easiest outlet. Honestly, I’m just a regular kid making music.”

Now, to talk a bit more about his music. Jailon’s sound is very eclectic. He wouldn’t say his music falls into any specific genre,

By Mary Celestin A&E Editor

stating that “he doesn’t like barriers.” Yet, he describes it to be “night music for lack of a better term. But I now prefer the term ‘After-Party Music”— play this on the way home from a party and you’ll feel that magic you’re suppose to feel during those times being within and without.”

There’s an ebb and flow to his music, a perfect mesh of synthesizers and bass lines to creates exactly that: After-Party Music.

Additionally, there’s an authenticity to his lyrics that allows his songs to resonate with his listeners. When asked about his inspiration, Jailon explained that “most of my inspiration is real life.” For example, his song “Harolina” is based on a real girl named Harolina whom he met during his first semester of college. He explained that the whole story was pretty crazy, but that he was thankful that it led him to create a piece of music.

Overall, Jailon seems blessed to have the opportunity to express his artistic nature and he one day hopes “to do a free album with Kanye, Trav, and Cudi.” (Kanye West, Travis Scott, and Kid Cudi).

He would then, as he puts it, “be able to be at rest.”

I concluded the interview by asking where he envisions his music career going in the future. In response, he exclaimed, “Exactly where I’m needed! We all have something to add to the painting.

The ‘conversation’ has to continue.”

So, I ask all of you to give this talented young artist a listen and support the growing platform of underground Soundcloud artists!

Check Out the Artists’ QR Codes Below:

Whether I am driving home on a late night or I am getting hyped up with my teammates before games, Russ always has the perfect song for my mood. This rising Soundcloud artist’s unique sound and lyrics are unmatched in the rap game right now. He alternates between melodic hooks, fire verses, and bumping bass to make every song sound completely different from the last one. I fell in love with his song “Willy Wonka” almost a year ago and have been following him ever since.

Russ separates himself from all other Soundcloud artists because he singlehandedly writes, mixes, raps, sings, and produces his own songs. Not to mention, he drops a new single almost every week!

With 93 tracks and counting, this man’s passion and work ethic is inspirational. These personal qualities reflect in his lyrics where he focuses on themes of confidence and persistence.

By Giuliana Calia A&E Editor

Russ also stole my heart with his lyrics about his mom. He is definitely a Mama’s boy to say the least. Hearing about how he is working so hard to make his mother happy is a refreshing change from selfish rappers singularly talking about “making bank.”

2017 has kicked off to an amazing start for Russ. His most popular song, “What They Want” went Gold and “Losin’ Control” is close behind. The Real Fans Tour that began on February 3 has sell-out crowds in areas ranging from the Bay to Belgium. Speaking of fans, Russ is all about connecting with his listeners. Over social media, he is always sending messages of appreciation to his listeners, and while at concerts he is always encouraging the audience to sing along with him.

Russ is most definitely on the rise; so watch out this year as his passion for music continues to wow fans like me!

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March 2017 • Arts & Entertainment

How Cruel is Your Makeup Bag

By Shelby Leone Staff Writer YouTube beauty may seem like a trivial industry, but actually Youtube registers more than 700 million views off of beauty-related content monthly.

From ManyMUA to JaclynHill, the power and status held by Youtube beauty bloggers is undeniable.

Over the years, beauty fans have seen trend after trend come and go. And while trends like “Full Face Using Only Highlighter” and “100 layers of lipstick” are charming, the beauty scene has recently taken hold of a new challenge that actually begs an important question: “How Cruel Is my Makeup Bag”? Yes, you read that correctly. Youtube Bloggers are taking on the long-time dilemma of any beauty lover: animal tested makeup.

The cosmetic industry has used animals to test the safety and hypoallergenic properties of products for generations, much to the dismay of animal rights activists. Over the years, newer, safer, and faster testing processes have been developed, but brands usually choose to ignore them for the easier, cheaper option of using animals.

These brands have come under fire in recent years, but despite public outcry, many of the world’s most popular brands continue to test on animals: L’oreal, M.A.C, Avon, Covergirl, and many more.

Beauty vloggers are taking on the challenge of living cruelty free. The challenge calls for vloggers to check each and every item in their makeup bag on a site called https://logicalharmony.net/ : widely considered the most comprehensive list of cruelty free and “blacklisted” companies out there. If the name appears on the site’s “brands to avoid” list, the vlogger tosses it.

“Why use the website? Why not just look on the product?” you might ask. Well, sadly, you can’t always trust what a company says on its label. Makeup companies who buy their formula from larger, non-cruelty free cooperations, can still claim that they do not test on animals since they themselves are not doing the testing… technically.

This is obviously troubling as a consumer–we’d all like to think that we know what goes into making the products we love. But the sad reality is not so ideal. And yes, it is a lot of work. Most of these challenge videos showcase the absolute heartbreak of the vlogger as they part with their favorite products in the name of morality. It is extremely hard to find affordable products that are also cruelty-free, but sites like Local Harmony are excellent tools that make moral shopping a little easier.

If this sounds like something you’d want to try, go to https://logicalharmony.net/ and take the challenge!

NASTY WOMEN IN ART

MOANA: NEW PRINCESS?

By Jenny Park Staff Writer During the third Presidential Debate, Hillary Clinton’s brief speech about social services and taxes was interrupted by then Presidential candidate Trump’s abrupt comment: “Such a nasty woman!”

In response to Trump’s Presidential Inauguration, on January 22, The National Museum of Women in the Arts offered a tour of the museum, titled the “ N a s t y Wo m e n ” tour, to celebrate the feminist heroines of art history.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), founded in 1987, is currently “the only major museum in the world solely dedicated” to recognizing the neglected achievements of women in

By Kaitlyn Wu Staff Writer

the arts.

The name of the “Nasty Women” tour was adopted from Trump’s comment, which had sparked outrage and criticism.

However, NMWA decided to interpret this malicious comment in a more feminist way.

Directly quoting Deborah Gaston, director of education at NMWA, “a nasty woman is someone who refuses to be bound by the place society defined for her, someone who blazes her own trail.”

This interpretation fits with NMWA’s mission, which is to celebrate female artists from the Renaissance to the 20th century whose art had been overlooked, overshadowed, and underappreciated.

No matter how old I get, Disney movies still continue to hold a special place in my heart. Every time I watch one of Disney’s films, I am brought into a magical place that never fails to bring true joy to my life. This magical experience still holds true in Disney’s recent films, most notably in Moana. In the film, a young girl named Moana discovers her great love for the ocean as she yearns to explore her ancestors’ seafaring past. But when food becomes scarce, she embarks on an adventurous journey across the sea to restore life to her land.

Whenever Disney comes out with a new female protagonist we all seem to wonder, “Is she a princess?” Well, in contrast to the traditional Disney princesses like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, Moana is not a character driven by romantic love, but even though the movie does not feature a love story, I think Moana is still worthy of the princess status.

As Disney immerses us in the Polynesian culture and brings us along Moana’s journey across the ocean to pursue her calling in life, we see Moana’s determination and courage. Disney princesses have served as positive role models for young children, and Moana’s strength and perseverance makes her just such a role model, inspiring young women to be fearless in pursuit of their passions.

Whether she is a princess or not, Moana’s story is truly inspiring. From the laughs to the uplifting music, Moana is definitely a wonderful movie to watch with the rest of your family.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ENTERTAINMENT: THE ’60s

1960

Marvel released their first modern comic book, selling over 8 million copies to kids and adults worldwide.

Alfred Hitchcock released his movie Psycho, a monumental occurrence in the field of entertainment.

1961

By Sara Sandri Staff Writer

The Dr. Who series was introduced in almost every store and loved for its goofy mood.

1962 The first James Bond movie, Dr. No, was released and the series eventually became a global sensation with 24 films.

1963

The first Super Bowl aired on household television and has brought together family and friends every year since.

Disney displayed their most famous live-action film at the time: Cinderella.

1964

“Beatlemania” spreads as the Beatles become a global phenomenon.

1965

1966 The first episode of the Star Trek series was released and a chain of novels, comics, and magazines followed shortly after.

1967

Arts & Entertainment • March 2017

Monarch Critics

The Grammys

The Grammys are billed as one of music’s biggest nights, and this year the show included musical performances and tributes from Bruno Mars, Adele, Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Carrie Underwood, Chance the Rapper, and more. As always, the night was filled with some of music’s best talent.

As the night began, The Grammys welcomed the biggest names in music such as Rihanna, who had a jaw-dropping eight nominations for her latest album Anti, and Chance the Rapper, who won Grammys in the categories of Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Performance for No Problem.

But, we can likely all agree the night belonged to our two queens: Adele and Beyoncé.

The past year has been an extravagant time for them both in the industry with the release of passionate and powerful albums 25 and Lemonade. In the time leading up to the Grammys, fans were on edge about who would sweep the categories since both artists have such tremendous and loyal followings.

Adele took home five of the five Gram-

By Yabsera Grum Staff Writer

mys she was nominated for, leaving the crowd in awe as she defeated Beyoncé for Album of the Year with 25.

That left Beyoncé with home two of the nine awards for which she was nominated.

Fans and audiences were astounded and the take away might best be summed up by Brittney Cooper in Cosmopolitan: “American popular culture has always been enamored with the blue-eyed soul, rewarding it to the detriment and exclusion of the very black artists who pioneered these musical traditions.”

Still, Adele gave credit where it was due, recognizing Beyoncé and her incredible work on Lemonade, which unapologetically speaks to current issues blacks confront in America, all the while incorporating healing after heartbreak on an album that not only featured R&B, but also Country and Rock.

Adele humbly gave credit, saying: “But I can’t possibly accept this award...the ‘Lemonade’ album is just so monumental...

And so well thought out, and so beautiful and soul-baring.... And I love you.”

A Year in Review

You can’t talk about music in 2016 without talking about the R&B and hip hop game. This year had an abundance of projects that would leave any music lover’s mouth watering. Kanye, Drake, Chance the Rapper, Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, Young Thug—how could it get any better?

In short, it could.

Kanye’s album disappointed, in all honesty. It wasn’t bad, just not “Kanye good.” Drake’s Vi e w s u n d e r whelmed and had only a few really good tracks.

Chance’s mixtape had some amazing tracks but couldn’t live up to its predecessor, Acid Rap. The Weeknd is still heading toward a more commercial and less inventive sound, but still, Starboy did have some impressive records. And Young Thug— well, Young Thug was Young Thug. Frank’s album was a beautiful piece of work that displayed the human heart so eloquently, but even it had some disappointing songs.

Blonde just wasn’t on the same level as the masterpiece that is Channel Orange.

Despite some missteps by some of the biggest stars, some other artists were able to come through. Anderson Paak’s Malibu

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By Jose Lopez A&E Editor

was a great album full of live energy, raw emotion, and smooth beats. Many didn’t know who Paak was, but now, he is turning into a star by dropping this amazing album.

Chicago rapper Joey Purp outshines Chance’s Coloring Book with his own mixtape iiiDrops, which had some of the best beats of 2016 mixed with Purp’s gritty bars and guest features from Mick Jenkins, Vic Mensa, and Chance himself. This project came out of nowhere to blow me away.

6lack’s album Free 6lack was a great piece of moody R&B music that puts him on the track to stardom.

While rapper Childish Gambino isn’t an unknown, he isn’t a star by any means, but he came out with Awaken, My Love, a soul and R&B album to finally usher himself into the spotlight. The album isn’t the ’Bino I know and love, but you have to respect what he’s doing and doing well.

All in all, this year was good, just not in the ways we expected it to be.

2016 disappointed but also surprised.

Now 2017 needs to make up for 2016’s mistakes and maybe have a few surprises of its own.

In a Nutshell

By Gurisman Mavi Staff Writer

By Lucy Nino Staff Writer

By Kim Hoang Staff Writer

By Marko Ristic Staff Writer

Most of the time, book heroes have the reader cheering them on. The hero is loyal, likeable, and bears a strong moral compass.

Adelina Amouteru is none of these things. Writer Marie Lu brings Adelina vividly to life as arguably both the antagonist and the protagonist in The Young Elites.

One of my favorite characters, Adelina carries a dark, tragic past that she ultimately uses to strengthen herself. Even though everyone told her she was worthless, Adelina dreamed of becoming a powerful queen, and when she eventually finds the opportunity to do so, she demonstrates her strong determination, ambition, and trust in her own individuality.

In most stories, the heroes are idealized characters, but Adelina Amouteru is much more interesting. Throughout the story, as Adelina struggles to control her dark thoughts and feelings, we see how humans are capable of doing and feeling truly bad things, capturing the complexity of human nature. The Young Elites is a must-read.

On Jan. 6, Ed Sheeran officially made his grand comeback, releasing two singles from his soon-to-be-released album, Divide.

The perfect mix of Sheeran’s signature layered vocals, a rhythmic marimba, and pounding drum beat make up the jam “Shape of You.” In classic Sheeran style, more instruments are introduced as the song progresses. The fast singing, as well as the lyrics that outline an exciting relationship remind us of “Don’t” from Sheeran’s last album, Multiply.

The second single, “Castle on the Hill,” perfectly captures the nostalgia in everyone with a powerful, overlying guitar, and also gives the wishful kid inside all of us a voice in the anthemic chorus. The empowering drumline inspires us to pursue that same simplicity of adolescence that Sheeran sings about. The poetic lines Sheeran penned recall the thrills of growing up, experiencing the bittersweetness that comes with remembering. If you didn’t miss your childhood before, you definitely will after listening to Ed croon.

Spontaneous catfights, heated rivalries, and juicy gossip. No, I’m not talking about The Bachelor. I’m talking about UnREAL, a Lifetime show co-created by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, a former producer of The Bachelor.

UnREAL offers a behind-the-scenes look into a fictitious, hit dating competition show called “Everlasting.”

UnREAL follows the lives of Everlasting’s crew as they cunningly orchestrate the show’s drama to draw in an audience that keeps the show a hit. At the center of it all is Rachel Goldberg, a producer whose job is to befriend the female contestants and learn their darkest secrets, only to exploit them on the show. In the process, however, she also brings some of the on-set drama into her personal life and tests her ethical and emotional boundaries.

The show-within-ashow dynamic sometimes leads UnREAL to tell the story of too many characters. Thus, plot lines abruptly start and end, while characters are hastily developed in the chaotic drama that makes the show so addictive.

Moonlight tells the story of a young African-American named Chiron and his experiences growing up in Miami, Florida, where he is often bullied.

Early in the movie, Chiron adopts a drug dealer named Juan as a father-figure.

Despite dealing drugs, Juan shows kindness and compassion to Chiron that is not shown to him by his own mother, who, in a twist of fate, is addicted to crack cocaine.

Full of intense emotional scenes, this movie portrays the struggle of being yourself in a three-part structure that covers childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood in Chiron’s life.

Utilizing beautiful cinematography, Moonlight movingly depicts what it’s like to live in poverty in America, where too many have given up hope of ever leaving the streets.

The actors, specifically Naomie Harris and Mahershala Ali, deliver raw, emotional performances.

Ultimately, Moonlight tells a beautiful story about being yourself and making your own way.

Best of the Bay

Justice Awareness

The Immigration Ban

“Protecting the Nation”: The Executive Order

By Joanne Park Staff Writer A mere week after his inauguration, President Trump signed a controversial executive order called “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” sparking outrage and protests in airports across the country. The order barred people from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States for 90 days. The countries listed in the executive order are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Asked why these specific countries were chosen, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus stated that the countries in question had “already been identified by Congress and the Obama administration.”

According to CNN journalists Kyle Blaine and Julia Horowitz, such presidential justification tends to fall flat, as “the list does not include Muslim-majority countries where the Trump organization does business.” From 1975 to 2015, there have been zero Americans killed by terrorist attacks by people from the banned countries. Immigration expert Alex Nowrasteh pointed out that the four countries with the greatest number of “foreign-born individuals who committed or were convicted of attempting to commit a terrorist attack on US soil” are, in order, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Lebanon.

None of these countries were included in the immigration ban.

The order banned all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days, and Syrian refugees indefinitely. Permanent residents, or those with green cards, were given more leeway, as they were able to enter on a case-by-case basis. However, after the ban was implemented, many were separated from loved ones, jobs, schools, and homes.

The Washington Post revealed that 90,000 people were affected by the ban at the time of its implementation, as hundreds had been detained for questioning and thousands were sent back. Many criticized the nature of the executive order, calling it a “Muslim” ban because of the countries involved.

The Public Responds

By Jennifer Prince & Michelle Mallari Staff Writer & Staff Editor Following President Trump’s immigration ban, a myriad of protests erupted across the nation. Led by people of all colors and religions, the largest protests occurred in major airports including SFO, LAX, and Chicago, but the most violent remains the protest on the UC Berkeley campus. On February 1, the Berkeley College Republicans invited conservative activist Milo Yiannopoulos to speak about cultural appropriation. Political groups such as “Berkeley Against Trump” expected his speech to target illegal immigrants and initiate a campaign against sanctuary campuses—universities dedicated to protecting undocumented students. As a result, “Berkeley Against Trump,” organized a protest, stating that “hate speech, racism, misogyny, and transphobia will not be tolerated.” What began as a peaceful demonstration quickly became an out-of-control riot filled with smoke bombs and fires, resulting in $100,000 worth of damage to the campus.

As outrage toward the immigration ban has continued to rise, social media has become a popular medium to express concern and criticism over President Trump’s administration. #Muslim Ban has become a trending term, and as the term is retweeted, more people are joining in solidarity to support those affected by the ban. STAND, Mitty’s new faculty-student collaboration modeled to advocate for the vulnerable in our communities, has joined in the international movement for solidarity by encouraging Mitty students to display their own support for refugees. The new organization has held a prayer service, led a letter writing campaign to send postcards to support refugees, and asked for pictures of students’ ancestors to create a stop motion video, all part of its efforts to take a stand for justice for immigrants and refugees.

Many CEOs of large companies such as Google, Ford, and Starbucks have openly spoken out against the immigration ban. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, drawing upon his own experiences as an immigrant from India, says that there is “no place for bias or bigotry in any society.” In light of the controversy following the executive order, former President Obama has stated that he “fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion.”

This general sense of distress has spread beyond the airports of America, with a number of world leaders speaking out against the policy. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a message, stating “to those fleeing persecution, terror and war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength.” This sentiment has been shared by leaders of numerous nations, including the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, and Germany.

One irony of the immigration ban some have noted is that, though the ban strives to separate, it has united many toward a common goal.

Visa and Green Card Holders

By Sophia Kaltsas Staff Writer President Trump’s executive order to enact an immigration ban has been at the center of both praise and protest. In the wake of this ban, confusion about how this order would have affected visa and green card holders was widespread.

According to the State Department, 60,000 immigrant and nonimmigrant visas (work, travel, or student) were temporarily revoked in compliance with the president’s order. The order also required the Secretary of State to suspend the Visa Interview Waiver Program, which is required to obtain a nonimmigrant visa. In order to alleviate some concerns, the Department of Homeland Security had stated that the ban “does not apply to Lawful Permanent Residents and dual citizens with passports from a country other than the seven listed.”

Though federal judges have currently halted the ban, contention regarding this policy and the president’s potential revision of it has been ever-increasing.

Another major concern for U.S. businesses is the expected change to the H-1B Visa.

The H-1B program grants temporary visas to foreign workers and is used primarily by tech companies, especially in the Silicon Valley. President Trump’s plan to lower the cap (it’s currently at 85,000) on the H-1B Visa program as part of his “America First” agenda is a major concern for many of the Valley’s tech giants, such as Google, Apple, and Intel.

According to the President of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, Robert D. Atkinson, a change in the H-1B visa would “make it harder for U.S. tech companies to thrive and for tech companies to grow. It’s not going to make America great again.”

Although there has been no specific order regarding the H-1B visa from the administration as of yet, according to Bloomberg News, the administration has created a draft of a potential executive. This new order reads, “Visa programs for foreign workers … should be administered in a manner that protects the civil rights of American workers and current lawful residents, and that prioritizes the protection of American workers—our forgotten working people—and the jobs they hold..”

The Courts Strike Back

By Suzanne Golshanara & Raymond So Staff Editors Immigration policy expert David Bier states that “Trump’s immigration ban is illegal.”

Why does he take such a definitive stance? Because of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, Bier and numerous experts like him have rejected the latest Executive Orders as a blatant dismissal of American law. Propelled in part by the Civil Rights movement, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act, prohibiting any and all immigration systems that are based on national-origins.

The Act is increasingly relevant today, with the president citing a 1952 law as the legal basis for his executive order, a law which permits the president to “suspend the entry” of “any class of aliens” who he believes would be potentially harmful to the nation.

Experts argue, however, that this law and any grounds for its use are superceded by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Legally, Trump’s executive order on immigration, thus, has a tenuous foundation at best, something neither he nor any of his staff has been willing to acknowledge.

In its judgment on President Trump’s “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has found the Executive Order to be a violation of federal law. On January 30, 2017, the State of Washington filed a suit in the Western District Court of Washington, naming the defendants as the President, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of State.

Washington alleged that the Executive Order unconstitutionally “stranded its residents abroad, split their families, restricted their travel, and damaged the state’s economy and public universities” in violation of numerous legalities ranging from the Fifth Amendment to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In its lawsuit against the government, the state of Washington emphasized that the Executive Order was not a means to protect against terror attacks as President Trump had claimed when first enacting the ban. Rather, Washington alleged that the Executive Order was “intended to enact a Muslim ban as the President had stated during his presidential campaign that he would do.”

Two days later, Washington added the State of Minnesota as a plaintiff, and together, the two states jointly filed an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order on the ban. Concluding that “significant and ongoing harm was being inflicted on substantial numbers of people,” the district court granted the temporary restraining order.

The decision was upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which declined to block the lower-court ruling that suspended the ban and allowed previously barred travelers to enter the U.S. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is still possible, though, for now, regular travel has resumed.

Justice Awareness • March 2017

The Obama Era: Looking Back on the Last Eight Years

By Surabhi Bhupathi & Bhavan Chana Staff Writers Friday, January 20, 2017 marked Barack Obama’s end as the 44th President of the United States of America. With the new Trump administration already moving forward, it is important to take a moment and reflect on the past eight years of this country’s history.

In the year preceding Obama’s presidency, America was suffering from a severe recession. In order to alleviate this, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, resulting in a recovery of jobs in the private sector as well as the creation of 3.7 million new jobs.

During his first term, President Obama also changed the student loan process ensuring that low-income students receive their loans directly from the government, as opposed to subsidizing banks for loans. This practice has granted helped many low income students, dramatically altering the student loan process.

In 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. Despite its controversial status, the Affordable Care Act has insured over 28 million previously uninsured citizens. Dubbed “Obamacare,” it has also curbed growing healthcare costs, one of America’s long-term financial problems. Costs are still rising, but analyses from The Commonwealth Fund suggest premiums have gone up slower since the Affordable Care Act passed than they would have otherwise.

Obama’s 2009 Children’s Health Insurance Authorization Act also insured 4 million previously uninsured children.

Moreover, he ensured complete medical services to veterans, along with signing the GI bill which granted $78 billion in tuition assistance to veterans and multiple tax credits to encourage businesses to hire veterans.

The former president made large advances in ensuring justice and equality for lesbian, gay,

bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans, ensuring that all people, regardless of sexuality are protected and regarded as equal.

Early on in his presidency in October 2009, he signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into law, which guaranteed protection to those who were attacked based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. He hosted the first-ever White House Conference on Bullying Prevention, and introduced the LGBT Youth Summit, a yearly event focused on protecting LGBT youth. He repealed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prevented gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans from serving in the military, regardless of their qualifications. Furthermore, his administration encouraged the UN to safeguard rights for the LGBT community around the world.

President Obama was also an avid environmentalist. He raised environmental concerns and prevented the building of the Keystone Pipeline. His administration jumpstarted the “green” economy, granting billions of dollars to environmentally friendly initiatives, and led the EPA in enacting many orders to prevent pollution.

He extended this endeavor globally with the 2009 Copenhagen Accord as well as the 2015 Paris Agreement, the first international document addressing the harmful effects of emissions. Because of the harmful effects of incandescent light bulbs, the U.S. also began to phase out the use of such bulbs during his administration, which also saves Americans millions yearly on electric bills.

The Obama administration has undoubtedly contributed to this country in a variety of ways, ranging from the economy to healthcare to equality to environmental issues. The changes brought forth during Obama’s presidency, controversial or not, have certainly left a lasting impact on America that will not be forgotten.

Page 13

Uniting Against Sexual Assault

By Amelia Kinsella Staff Writer Being sexually assaulted is obviously a traumatizing experience— both degrading and humiliating—and the overwhelmingly negative feelings that accompany such an assault extend to being released from the hospital after receiving medical attention. A necessary yet unfortunate part of the rehabilitation process is to take away all the clothes of the victim in order to analyze them for evidence. This leaves an already vulnerable person further humiliated, as he or she has nothing to leave the hospital in besides a thin paper gown.

In an effort to change this practice, the Grateful Garment Project provides hospitals with clothes and toiletries to give to victims of assault.

This January, Mitty’s very own Female Empowerment Movement club, or FEM, brought the Grateful Garment Project to campus to sponsor a drive for clothes, travel toiletries, and stuffed animals.

FEM’s purpose is to create a safe place to share experiences, foster solidarity, and provide social education and service geared to empower women in the Mitty community and beyond. The club’s presidents chose this drive as part of their effort to begin a conversation at Mitty about the very serious and widespread issue of sexual assault, a topic that has recently gained attention as a result of the new president’s offensive and degrading comments about women.

In the words of FEM co-president Anna Tseselsky, “To be able to do something as simple as buying a $5 t-shirt and be a part of the healing process or helping restore the dignity of someone who’s just had it stolen away from them is an incredible thing.”

So please, when you have a chance, take the time to volunteer or donate money and clothing to The Grateful Garment Project and be a part of the movement to restore the dignity of sexual assault victims.

FEM co-presidents Ana Gonzalvez (L) and Anna Tseselsky (R) with Lisa Blanchard (C), the founder of the Grateful Garment Project.

Terrorism in Africa: Bombings in Mali and Nigeria and create an Islamic state in Nigeria. The terrorist organization has been known to target

By Neharika Iyer & Roshni Varma schools and gained international condemnation after militants kidnapped 276 schoolgirls Staff Writers Africa has been overwhelmed by a series of bombings, most perpetrated by individual from a boarding school in Borno in 2014. This conflict has killed thousands of citizens suicide bombers linked to larger terrorist organizations. These bombings have killed more and displaced more than two million people in northeast Nigeria, according to Satomi than 20,000 innocent civilians. Many of these attacks are the result of terrorist organizations Ahmed—who is with the Borno State Emergency Management Agency.

Additionally, Boko Haram uses young women and babies such as Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram attempting to to carry out their suicide bombings—a dangerous tactic that gain territory and establish strict Islamic law on the continent. tricks refugee camps into admitting these women and chilOne of the most deadly bombings this year took place in dren as common civilians. In December, two female suicide Mali, the eighth largest country in Africa. On January 18 in bombers detonated two bombs in a busy market, killing 45 the region of Gao on the Niger River, a truck marked with the people and injuring hundreds more. In a previous bombing symbol of the Malian army drove into the Joint Operational in the same area, 25 people were killed. Two other suicide Mechanism Military Base that housed army members who bombers attacked the northeastern city of Maiduguri in had recently signed a peace deal with the government. The Nigeria, killing a professor, a child, and injuring 17 others. truck, filled with explosives, detonated, killing 77 people and injuring more than 115.

Bombings in Nigeria have come from both sides. On Al-Qaeda has taken responsibility for this attack—claimJanuary 17, Nigerian fighter jets mistakenly bombed a refugee ing it to be a punishment for Mali’s cooperation with France. camp in the northeastern Borno state, killing and wounding A statement released by Al-Qaeda explained its rationale: A market burns after suicide bombers detonate explo- dozens of residents. The Nigerian fighter jet was searching “We do not permit the establishment of barracks and bases sives, killing 45 people and injuring hundreds in Nigeria. for Boko Haram extremists but mistakenly bombed civilians or the convening of patrols and convoys belonging to the who had been displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency. AlFrench occupiers.” After the attack, Mali’s President Ibrahim Keita declared three days of though government officials cannot provide an exact death toll, Doctors Without Borders, national mourning and vowed to continue negotiating peace with the country’s militants. a medical charity aiding those who have been injured, has counted at least 52 dead and Unfortunately, Mali is only one of many nations that have been hit by these acts of 200 severely wounded. terror. The violence and fear provoked by Boko Haram, a terrorist group stationed in NiThe fight against terrorism in Africa continues, and with the election of President geria, is rapidly extending. Since its emergence in 2002, Boko Haram has been responsible Trump, it is unclear whether America will continue to aid refugees from these African for bombings, assassinations, and abductions with the intent to overthrow the government nations battling terrorism.

Science & Tech Tech at CES Joshua Harmon Staff Writer

The Consumer Electronics Trade Show (CES) is a bustling event composed of companies varying from startups to corporations, all revealing the cutting edge tech of tomorrow.

From the silliest tech that seems to have only niche uses to revolutionary tech based on decades of innovation, it all comes together at the same convention.

Each year manages to impress, and 2017 is no exception.

Delivering the Future

Razer Project Valerie Ever find yourself needing more screen space to fit all those windows in? Feeling crammed in that small 15 to 17 inch laptop screen? Well, fear no more, as Razer has you covered with three 4K displays on a laptop that expand from the sides. Yes, you heard me right. This computer is a beast and provides a unique panoramic experience capable of 12K gaming that only the most fanciful pipe dreams could possibly conjure.

The guts in this machine are the Nvidia GTX 1080 and Intel’s Kaby Lake processor, pumping constant power into that 12K setup. More pixels is always good. Always.

Brian Chan Staff Writer Imagine purchasing an item online—but instead of receiving it several days later, you find it on your doorstep within ten minutes. In the near future, this may be possible thanks to the improvement and adaptation of drone technology beyond the realm of home entertainment and policy enforcement.

Companies are beginning to turn their latest R&D budgets towards the idea of using drones to deliver goods, and early test runs have begun to materialize. 7-Eleven set the races off as early this past July, delivering a package containing a chicken sandwich, donuts, candy, Slurpees, and hot coffee, marking the first time a retail order in the U.S. was ever delivered by a drone. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, and Amazon have also begun to investigate future implementation of drones in their services, with Amazon performing its first delivery back in December.

These new developments, however, are not without roadblocks. Before drone delivery services can be provided to the wider population, new safety regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration, understandable for such an unprecedented technology, are being considered. Unmanned aircraft run the risk of losing power, experiencing collisions, or shattering, all of which could result in the drone falling from the sky and causing damage to people and property.

Even though the technology has surfaced very recently, incredible progress and development have already been made. In the coming decades, drone technology will grow exponentially, providing powerful tools for the future of business, governed by regulations that will seek to ensure they are efficient and safe for society to use.

NeuroClimate LG’s “Wallpaper” TV Pick up your phone, your iPhone, Android, whichever you own, and look at how thin it is. Well, LG just released a new 4K OLED TV that’s even thinner than the new iPhone 7. At just 2.75 mm thick, it’s a TV that can span up to 65 or 77 inches across and weighs only 17 or 27 pounds, respectively. It is so thin that it can be mounted on the wall with just magnets, producing a surreal appearance of looking through a window into another world. This TV possesses all of the same amazing tech that LG is known for, including HDR, built-in WiFi, and its own custom OS to run it.

The Blackberry Mercury The Blackberry Mercury Smartphone: Remember Blackberry? Pepperidge Farm remembers. They have all but vanished in the mainstream, but they came back last year in the smartphone market with their Priv smartphone, and now they have unveiled a brand new smartphone known only as “The New Blackberry.” It features a complete QWERTY keyboard—which can act as a trackpad and navigate by touch curved edges on the screen—and Blackberry’s custom suite of first-party software that makes using the phone unique.

Blackberry has combined the best features of its older phones with the modern smartphone to create a combination that no other company has dared to try.

common in women. A decline in serotonin Malavika Ramarao levels in the brain’s parietal lobe leads to a Staff Writer lack of balance, coordination, and dexterity.

Rain pelting against the windows.

This affects the performance of comDreary fog clouding the streets.

The damp scent of rain when you step plex physical tasks such as driving, contributing to automobile accidents during the outside. winter in the U.S. The mere menDeclines in tion of these words serotonin levels seems to evoke a in the frontal lobe bleak feeling of also lead to diffiapathy, sorrow, and culty with accessing irritability. memories as well There is a scias impairment with entific reason why. judgment and imThe answer repulse control. sides be in the brain.

This also plays A lack of suna factor in why light and an instudents might see crease in cloudy This bear exhibits SAD their grades declinand gray weather ing in these early leads to a decrease in serotonin, a neurotransmitter that acts as couple of months in second semester.

While there is no miracle solution to a mood stabilizer.

Without serotonin, we automatically making our bodies love winter, it is even feel off balance, more emotional, and more more imperative for each of us to sleep likely to lash out at anyone who comes near. well, take time out of our day to relax, and If we succumb to these feelings, we to spend at least 30 minutes exercising in enter into seasonal affective disorder (SAD), order to raise our serotonin levels.

The first response to depression is to which loops us into a continuous feelings of loneliness, fatigue, depression, and social understand why we feel the way we do.

By understanding the reasons and withdrawal.

SAD is estimated to affect 3% of Amer- factors behind seasonal affective disorder, icans with the disorder being four times as we can better survive the winter.

March 2017 • Science and Tech

Page 15

3D Printing: A New Dimension Sahit Kavukuntla Staff Writer 3D printing is a concept that has been around since before Apple had colored screens.

Initially referred to as Rapid Prototyping technology, it was first designed to produce quick and cost effective prototypes for industrial development. Now, most of the modern day 3D printers, scanners, parts, consumable supplies, and printing materials are provided by 3D Systems to both businesses and companies searching for cheaper and more effective material, as well as individual buyers and hobby enthusiasts.

The first step to 3D printing is creating an item: users first import an STL (STereoLithography, invented by Hull) file from an online source as a 3MF (3D manufacturing format) file, or they can create one themselves. The user will then change specifications of the object, like material, density, or size and save its g-code, the universal code for 3D objects, onto an SD card, which can be inserted into the printer, and printed. As for the actual process of printing itself, printing objects in three dimensions is based on simply stacking layers of material. Most printers do this by warming up a nozzle to extrude a variety of materials (plastics or metals, for example) onto a heated bed.

The first commercial 3D printer was released in 2007 by 3D Systems, for a little under $10,000. This printer never really took off, mainly due to the sheer price. It wasn’t until January of 2009 when the BfB RapMan 3D printer was released to the masses in kit form that 3D printing became a feasible idea for everyone. It was still very pricy, but

today, printers and material are extremely inexpensive. 3D printers for your home start at $100, and a 1-kilogram spools start at $20 for plastic.

In the future, 3D printers may, in fact, take their place as a common household item.

Building Your Body Back up

Building Your Own Hot Wheels

Mitty Robotics’ 3D Printer (Lulzbot TAZ)

Ishan Shah Malavika Ramarao Staff Editor Staff Writer You wouldn’t print a car would you?

You survived a life threatening accident. But day in and day out, you suffer the pain Well, maybe not quite yet. You most likely don’t even have a 3D printer, and if you of the devastating injuries. do, it probably isn’t large enough to hold a toothbrush, let alone car parts.

You are 29-year-old Stephen Powers.

But large companies do, and currently 3D printAfter a motorcycle crash in 2012, Powers survived ers are being used to design prototypes of household with a fractured upper jaw, cheek bones, nose, and products to be used for stress testing, wind resistance skull. But thanks to 3D printing, doctors successfully tests, and even for focus-grouping different designs. restructured his face, which now closely resembles its Aerospace companies run plastic models of their appearance before the crash. 3D printing has proven planes through various tests to assess strength and air to be an ingenious method of designing customized resistance before building a larger version. Prototypprosthetics and implants. ing like this is cheaper and quicker than building real In the past, creating a standard implant was a models and allows various designs to be compared. strenuous task, as surgeons would have to precisely use Some companies are even asking why 3D printscalpels and drills to shave pieces of metal and plastic ing has to be limited to plastics. At Huazhong Uniinto a desirable bone graft for surgery. Specifically, versity, scientists are using 3D printing to create new creating a correctly tailored prosthetic for body parts kidneys, printing the cells into tissues which can be like the skull had also shown itself to be a difficult task Scientific Applications of 3D Printing inserted into humans to replace failing organs. This because of the skull’s irregular shape. 3D printers are is both faster, usually cheaper, and even less risky able to solve this problem by producing milled plates than attempting an organ transplant, which always tailored to each patient’s skull.

The fantastic abilities of 3D printing don’t just stop there. 3D-printed models have has a chance of being rejected.

So the original question of printing a car may not be as foolish as you suppose. 3D been used to probe a patient’s specific anatomy prior to medical procedures such as surgery, printing is already booming in the industrial market, so the day may not be too far off further ensuring the patient’s safety.

The benefits of 3D printing transcend mere hobby or structural design. In fact, this when buying a car involves downloading and printing the appropriate model from Honda’s new technology has the potential to impact our lives in exciting and unknown, novel ways. site —actually, why not a Porsche, instead?

Body Time

Getting Attuned to Your Internal Rhythms Darren Omori Staff Writer Some of us can wake up at 6:00 a.m. without an alarm clock, day in and day out.

How? The formal term is our circadian rhythm, a “biological” clock that our bodies use to control our functions during certain times of the day. In addition to sleep, circadian rhythm is associated with the control of body temperature, alertness, hunger, and also thirst, which is where we come to the point of this article.

Scientists have known that mice happen to get more thirsty right before they go to sleep. While this doesn’t seem particularly interesting, consider the idea that they recently discovered it has nothing to do with how thirsty the mice were at that time, but rather as they woke up.

Just as you would want to fill up your car before a long road trip, your body wants you to fill it up with water before you go into the long journey of sleep, where you will be able to get no water at all.

So what’s the point in all of this? In this study scientists discovered the exact pathway that is taken to create this sense of thirst, starting from the “control center” inside the hypothalamus, called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which sends out a molecule called vasopressin to activate thirst neurons.

Without getting too wrapped up in the intricacies, discovering and understanding the pathways that the circadian rhythm uses can help in finding new ways to improve or fix them, perhaps via new treatments or products.

Lastly, an important idea here is preemptiveness. The body is taking measures not only for its well-being in the present, but also in the future.

While this idea has been observed before in cases such as body temperature increases in swimmers before getting into the water, pursuing further research into this phenomenon can help us improve our lives in areas such as jet lag or work outside the normal 9 to 5 cycle.

Eating for Your Ancestors Zachary Koong Staff Writer To you, a meal is a meal—just one of the thousands you will eat in your life.

But, little do you know that what you eat will affect your kids, and their kids, and their kids, and so on.

A recent study at Duke University suggests that a parent’s diet affects the traits of the offspring. In the experiment, researchers took the embryos of two mouse clones and put them in separate mothers with different diets. They found that, as a consequence of the diet of the mouse carrying them, the offspring had different traits and risks of diseases, despite being genetically identical.

Before, it was thought that the formation of gametes reset the effects of external conditions on DNA, yet some effects persisted in the gametes for unknown reasons.

While the cause is unclear, some speculate that this occurs in order to provide an evolutionary advantage to the offspring, allowing the offspring to be better adapted to the diet of the parent.

SPORTS

Basketball: CCS Awaits

By Charles Meng and Harika Veeramacheneni Staff Writer and Staff Editor

Photo courtesy of Mercury News

Sophomore Haley Jones is the #11 national prospect in the Class of 2019.

Rising Star: Haley Jones

By Guiliano Orsi Staff Writer At 6’1”, Haley Jones is a sophomore basketball sensation and one of the nation’s top recruits in her class.

Jones is a big reason why the Monarchs are ranked number one both in the state and nationally.

In 24 games played this season, she had averaged just over 15 points and 8 rebounds per contest, along with an impressive 1.7 blocks and 1.7 steals. Jones leads the team in three of those four categories.

Maybe the most notable aspect of Jones’s play is her versatility. She is able to use her height as an advantage in the forward position, and draw on her ball-handling skills and high basketball IQ at guard. Even though much of her time is spent as a forward, she is still third on the team in assists with 2.7 per game.

Her coach and Archbishop Mitty legend, Ms. Sue Phillips, explains how Haley has perfected her all-around skills: “Haley comes to work and competes everyday—her work ethic is second to none. She can play positions 1 through 5, which makes her invaluable to the team.”

“I’ve not seen a more versatile player at her age in 25 years of coaching,” Coach Phillips told ESPN. “And she’s only 15—I have no doubt she’s still growing.”

According to Ms. Phillips, coaches from a many of the nation’s top schools have visited Mitty to recruit Jones, including UConn, the preeminent program in all of women’s basketball.

The primary goal and expectation of Mitty Women’s Basketball is, according to Head Coach Ms. Sue Phillips, “to play to our fullest potential every time we step on the floor.”

In order to prepare for the season, the team built up its stamina and endurance with countless hours in the gym and weight room. Senior Madeline Holland describes the intense preseason regime: “We did four days a week of conditioning and weights and then two days of playing open gym.” The team spent endless days working hard together, leading to improved team chemistry and the self-professed moniker of “Too Turnt Ten.” The special bond that the Monarchs share can be attributed to the inspiring senior leadership of Holland, Heleyna Hill, Tahlia Garza and Daniella Guglielmo.

Guglielmo explains that the seniors “set the example and the tone for the team.”

These four seniors signed national letters-of-intent to Division I schools: Holland to Saint Mary’s, Hill to San Jose State, and Garza and Guglielmo to UC Irvine.

Tahlia states that “Coach Phillips has truly prepared me for collegiate level basketball by pushing me every day to work my hardest and to be my best.”

Even though the seniors set the standard, it is clear that every player on the team contributes. This is illustrated by the team’s 22-2 overall record (10-0 in league) and #1 Photo courtesy of iolani.org ranking in both the state and the nation by Women’s Basketball squad relaxes after winning this year’s Iolani Classic.

MaxPreps. The team also added preseason wins at the Eastside Prep Classic locally and the Iolani Classic in Hawaii. In the championship game of the Iolani Classic sophomore Haley Jones scored all seven of her team’s points in overtime—a 3-pointer, an inside shot and two free throws —and Mitty won the title 76-75 over previously unbeaten Clovis West of Fresno.

Dominating league wins over Sacred Heart Cathedral, Valley Christian, and Presentation followed, a dominance exemplified by an average thirty-point margin of victory in WCAL play. Ultimately, the team hopes to find similar success in postseason.

Yet despite its lofty goals, the team still manages to have fun. Hill notes that the team “loves being together on and off the court.” It’s clear that the strong bond of the “Too Turnt Ten” is one reason the team is the best in the country.

The Mitty Men’s Basketball team heads into the CCS and NorCal playoffs on a roll. The team won six of its last eight games to finish third in the always-competitive WCAL with a 9-5 record.

According to Head Coach Mr. Tim Kennedy, the team is coming together at the right time, “Our league play has not been as consistent as we want but we are beginning to find our identity in the second half of league. We’re confident in the type of shots we’re looking to get now and our defensive intensity has become more consistent. Riley Grigsby and Mike Diaz have emerged as WCAL all-league players who are consistent double-double threats.”

Grigsby, a junior, averaged 16 points and 9 rebounds, while his senior counterpart Diaz chipped in with 10 points and six boards, leading a balanced attack for the Monarchs.

When our paper went to press, the Monarchs were headed into the CCS Open Division as the #3 seed, guaranteeing them a spot in the NorCal playoffs.

Junior Donovan Wilson knows that it will take a dedicated effort to realize the team’s goals, stating that “Coach Kennedy really focuses on us going hard at all times.” Wilson believes that this hard work is the path to winning CCS and state.

The Monarchs are definitely looking forward to what’s ahead, says Coach Kennedy, “We have high expectations going into the postseason because we feel we played a preseason that prepared us well for the different styles of play that we’ll come across not only in sectional playoffs but NorCal as well. Our first test will be against a league rival Serra and we are excited for the challenge. We realize we have a legitimate shot at winning if we can continue to play consistent and together.”

Eye on the Ball

Junior third baseman Miguel Cebedo takes the grounder.

Henry Phan

By Jake Gieselman Staff Writer After an early CCS playoff exit last season, the Mitty baseball team is looking to win WCAL and CCS titles in the 2017 season. The team consists of both experienced, varsity returnees and young, talented underclassmen who all have high expectations for the season.

Versatile and deep can only begin to describe this year’s team.

The squad has been working extremely hard in the offseason, waiting for the opportunity to showcase their talents. Senior Eric Yang states, “We have put in a lot of work since October. As a team, we do a lot of running, in order to prepare ourselves for the marathon of the season.”

Senior JP Caldwell adds, “Many of the drills that the team does focus on competing against each other. Coach Yocke believes in practicing with intense competition so that when we get into the game we are not affected by the pressure of the situation.”

The boys on the team are looking forward to sharing old memories and making new ones.

Caldwell recalls, “the best experience we had as a team last year was when we went to Holder’s Country Inn for a team breakfast before practice. We all got up early one Saturday morning and hung out. All of the coaches were there with us and we all had a blast while eating some delicious food.”

Yang’s favorite memory of his four years is, “freshman year, we found an old seashell after our game against Sacred Heart. We used it as a good luck charm and ended up stringing together an eight or nine game winning streak.”

With a strong sense of brotherhood and loads of talent, the men’s baseball team looks to add WCAL and CCS champions to their ongoing list of unforgettable memories.

Sports • March 2017

Page 17

Wrestling: Toughness on the Mat

By Alex Veroulis Staff Writer The Wrestling Team has proven its mettle this season with first-year Head Coach Chris Friend. Although several top wrestlers from last year graduated, this year’s crew has made up for the lost skill with hard work, insane strength, and great persistence.

Wrestlers endure many obstacles throughout the course of the season, both physical and mental—scars and bruises obtained on the knees, arms, and ears, as well as the perpetual struggle to “make weight.”

Despite the high demands of the sport, has anyone on campus really heard a wrestler complain about a training regimen?

Nope. That’s toughness.

To prepare for the WCAL season, the program loaded up their schedule with competitive preseason tournaments across

Photo courtesy of Michael Juco

Senior Michael Juco grapples with his opponent in the heavyweight class. the state. The varsity team got off to a strong start in the Webber Lawson Tournament with freshman Marcos Jimenez placing

2nd in his 160-lb weight class.

On top of that, a great team effort led to a 6th-place finish overall at the Nick Bu-

Women’s Soccer: Soaring in WCAL Play

By JP Caldwell Staff Writer With only two games left in the toughest schedule in the CCS, the Archbishop Mitty Women’s Soccer team has put up an impressive overall record of 15-2-3 and has gone 7-1-2 in WCAL play.

Three teams are battling it out for the title of League Champion, and the Monarchs are gearing up for the home stretch of the season while keeping the ultimate goal of competing for the WCAL Playoff Title and CCS Championship in mind.

This year, the Mitty women are leading the league in some very notable statistics. Junior Sophia Mendoza and senior Amaya Zabalza are ranked first and second in total points with 16 and 15, respectively, and junior Paris Fox also leads the league with seven assists.

In addition to the amazPhoto courtesy of Mrs. Calia ing performances by these Senior Monica Hrncir looks to score. players, Coach J.T. Hanley also believes the team’s “success has always come from having everyone on the roster giving their best at every training session, regardless of how many minutes they may or may not play in the next match.”

Coach Hanley has been proven correct: with a total of 13 players scoring 35 goals this season, it is clear that they are reliant on the entire roster.

One of the main goals of the team, per Coach Hanley, is to act “in a way that brings credit and respect to our program and the Archbishop Mitty community.” This past NCAA Signing Day, seniors Monica Hrncir and Zabalza represented women’s soccer when they signed with Cal State Monterey Bay and UC Santa Barbara, respectively. Committing to a college is always an signature achievement, and this year two players were able to sign their names, signifying that they will carry on the Mitty legacy onto the college pitch with them.

In order to prepare for the intense, grueling weeks of playoffs, the girls have been bonding as a team on and off the field. For example, before the first practice after every game, no matter win, loss, or draw, the team gathers in an “affirmation circle” on the field to acknowledge something that a teammate did that was impressive or noteworthy.

Coach Hanley regards this activity as “a chance for everyone to hear sincere, positive feedback about their contributions from each other. It is always a powerful bonding experience.”

Fox enjoys affirmations because of how it always “gives everyone confidence and additional respect for and from our teammates.”

On game day, Coach Hanley says he likes “the players to find the ’sweet spot’ between being loose and focused on the task ahead.” And with the end of the season fast approaching, the Monarchs hope to find the sweet spot not only in themselves but also as a team. Looking toward the postseason, there will be many challenges ahead, but the strengths and talents possessed by these girls should carry them far against their opponents.

zolich Classic, where 26 teams competed for the title.

Finally, Senior Captain Michael Juco placed 6th out of 64 wrestlers in the 285-lb weight class at the Coast Classic Tournament held in Aptos.

After completing these preseason competitions, the team began WCAL league play. Although it lost some close matches to tough WCAL teams, Mitty defeated St. Francis and Valley Christian, leading to a 2-3 record in a tough division this year.

And with league play just about complete, Juco succinctly describes his desire to be successful in postseason matches, asserting that a season-long goal was “to make it to state and place. That’s it.”

The team has had a history of doing well at the state level. And led by wrestlers like Juco, that mentality is bound to transfer over to all wrestlers.

Lacrosse: Big Expectations

By Abby Mangilog Staff Writer Hopes are running high this season for the AMHS Men’s Lacrosse. The team finished last season fourth in WCAL, with a league record of 10-5.

Senior Nilan Emmanuel says that “one of our biggest aspirations is to defeat defending champions, St. Ignatius.” He and the rest of the team believe they have the skillset to do so. For starters, the team has a new head coach: collegiate coach Coach Trevor Stephens. Last year, he was the team’s assistant coach and defensive coordinator.

According to senior Gabe Hyun, there are a number of experienced coaches joining the team to pilot them to a successful season.

The Monarchs have been working hard in preseason and cannot wait for WCAL play to begin. Among other competitors, the boys are looking forward to their Senior Day game against St. Francis, one of Mitty’s key rivals.

Women’s Varsity Lacrosse finished third in the WCAL last spring and hopes to build on last year’s success. Returning varsity senior Sarah Hance has high hopes this year. She has great faith in her teammates and believes they can definitely make this season one to remember. Veteran players look forward to what the new team members will bring and cannot wait to see how they develop in the upcoming months. In addition, with a new coaching staff in place, the girls are ready to give it their all at every practice and every game coming up in WCAL play.

Senior Emily Bray is really looking forward to her last season at Mitty. “This year, the team has a packed schedule of games, but most of all, I cannot wait to face off against St. Francis.”

There is no doubt that both Men’s and Women’s Varsity Lacrosse will have eventful seasons, hopefully ending in much-earned success.

Photo courtesy of Abby Mangilog

Senior Gabriel Hyun protects the crease.

head above water

Page 18

March 2017 • Photography

Amelia Whitney

Jenna Bettencourt

Lindsey Archer

Abigail Mathew

Photography • March 2017

Page 19

Bansi Patel

Darren Scorsur

Paulina Thurmann

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Bio that only says “Mitty”

The Art Page What the -- !?

Water falling in tiny droplets from the sky? Are we being punished or blessed?

Not again!?

Ew.

Santana Row

Yay! It’s raining!

Ella Garfunkel and Nichole Wong

Sky Pic Made with Boomarang

Presidency Of course the American people won’t choose him—

right?

LOL!!

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“Reunited” Caption

The polls say he wonʼt win.

Emily Ordoñez

THE OVERCOMBERcomber Jiwoo Song

ARtWORK

Belana Labra

Jovita Aquino