The Akhbar SY 2020-2021 Volume 4 "Spring Moments" by American School of Dubai

CONTENTS 1 7 13 19 25 31 37 43 49

L etter f r om th e Ed i or

2 8 14 20 26 32 38 44 50

Con tact U s!

3 9 15 21 27 33 39 45 51

Stu d en t L ife

4 10 16 22 28 34 40 46 52

5 11 17 23 29 35 41 47

T h e Per f ect U n i For You

H ow t o Gai n Con f i d en ce

M essages T h r ou gh Fl ow er s

Ear t h D ay

N akey Jakey

Com f or t M ov i es

H ow to Gai n Con f i d en ce

Sen i or Ad v i ce

Ear th D ay

N ew T h i n gs t o Try

En ter t ai n m en t

Com f or t A l bu m s

Gr am m y s in Rev i ew

Fal l of M i st a Z

Fal l of M i sta Z

Cl i m bi n g

Gol f U p d ates

Gol f U p d at es

20 21 A l bu m s

Sen i or Son gs

Cu r r en t Even ts

En d an ger - ed A n i m al s

Post Cov i d

20 21 A l bu m s

M ask Pol l u si on

O r i ten al - i sm Sp eci al : A si an Raci sm

Sen i or Ad v i ce

M essages T h r ou gh Fl ow er s

6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48

T h e Per f ect U n i For You

N akey Jakey

Cov i d Restr i ct i on s

Cov i d Rest r i cti on s

O r i t en al - i sm

Ch aos i n M y an m ar

A m er i can H ate Cr i m es

Sp eci al : A si an Raci sm

O r i t en al - i sm Sp eci al : A si an Raci sm

Sp eci al : A si an Raci sm

"Sapphireandfadedjeans, I hopeyouget your dreams Just goahead, let your hair down" - Layout Editor, MaheenKhan

O r i ten al - i sm Sp eci al : A si an Raci sm

Let t er Fr om t he Edit or Lil y Bal t es '21

H el l o H i gh Sch ool ! I t ?s st ar t i n g t o h eat u p on ce agai n h er e i n th e d eser t. H op ef u l ly, w e can al l st ay cool i n si d e an d soci al ly d i stan ced . Recen tly w e cel ebr at ed Ear t h D ay as a com m u n i t y. M ay be y ou even cr eated a goal t o h el p y ou r l i f e becom e m or e su stai n abl e. W e h ave n ew af t er - sch ool act i v i ti es w h i ch i n cl u d e sew i n g i n t h e l i br ar y an d e- sp or t s. N ot on ly d o w e h ave f u n even t s com i n g u p , bu t w e al so h ave A P Ex am s. Yay ! Pr et ty soon t h ey w i l l be d on e an d d u sted , an d t h e en d of t h e y ear w i l l be w i th i n ou r gr asp .

For t h e sen i or s, l et?s st ay cool w h i l e w e al l st i l l w ear ou r h ood i es ar ou n d cam p u s. T h e ju n i or s, m ay be y ou ?r e p r ep ar i n g t o t ake t h e SAT agai n or ar e st r essi n g f or t h e f i r st y ear of m u l ti p l e A P Ex am s, bu t d on ?t f or get t o t ake t i m e f or y ou r sel f as w el l . T h e sop h om or es m ay be p r ep ar i n g f or th ei r f i r st ex am , bu t i f y ou ar en ?t, t ake som e t i m e t o br i n g i n th e h eat an d get r ead y f or t h e f i n al p u sh . Fr esh m en , h ow ar e y ou f eel i n g abou t st ar ti n g sop h om or e y ear ? I t?s goi n g t o be a ch an ge, bu t y ou ?r e on e step cl oser t o gett i n g t h ose sen i or p r i v i l eges an d f i n i sh i n g of f h i gh sch ool .

Gr ad u at i on i s ju st ar ou n d t h e cor n er . A s a st u d en t bod y, l et?s m ake su r e t o st ay soci al ly d i st an ced an d w ear a m ask . W e?r e so cl ose t o r ou n d i n g ou t th e y ear , t oget h er w e can m ake i t gr eat! Stay st r on g, L i ly Bal tes

Edit or ial St af f

Beat Edit or s

Repor t ing St af f

Ed i t o r i n C h i ef

St u d en t L i f e

Far r ah A bu asad '21

Ray a Sogh ai er ?21

L i ly Bal tes ?21

Tessa Sevsek '21

I m ad A n ju m ?21

A r i o Soh r abi ?21

Sam m y D h ou i b ?21

D an i el l e D ew br e ?22

L ay o u t Ed i t o r

En t er t ai n m en t

H am i Faqi h i ?21

Sai sh a M al h ot r a ?22

M ah een K h an ?21

A l an B er zi n ji '22

Cy r u s Gi l an i ?21

D an a El H el aly ?23

Si m on L al on d e ?21

L el ah El Sh af ae ?23

K h al ed Sal em ?21

H an n ah Reef ay ?23

A ssi st an t Ed i t o r i n C h i ef

C u r r en t Ev en t s

Yu ji n Ch oi ?22

M i a Saf ar '21

M an u el a T r ogen ?23 L ai l a Z ak y ?23

A ssi st an t L ay o u t N ay ad D ou ai h y ?21

Gu est W r i t er : Yeon w oo Par k '22

A d v i so r M r s. B r y an t

T he Akhbar is open to the ASD community! Feel free to contact Lily Baltes or M aheen K han to have an article featured: lbaltes.21@asdubai.org mhamirani.21@asdubai.org

STUDENT LIFE

Raya Soghaier '21

How To Choose t he Per f ect Univer sit y f or You H i gh sch ool can be a ver y st r essf u l t i m e f or teen ager s. Star t i n g f r esh m an y ear , y ou r gr ad es st ar t t o m at ter , y ou n eed t o joi n a p l et h or a of cl u bs an d af t er sch ool acti v i t i es, an d y ou d esp er ately sear ch f or l ead er sh i p p osi ti on s, as w el l as ju ggl i n g th e SAT i n ju n i or y ear . So m u ch can be goi n g on t h at i s i t ver y easy to get l ost i n t h e m i d d l e. To th e u n d er cl assm en an d ju n i or s, h er e i s a gu i d e of h ow t o f i n d th e p er f ect u n i ver si ty f or y ou .

Cameroon Scholarships

Resear ch an d A sk A r o u n d Towards the end of junior year, you will start to see where your approximate GPA will fall. This is the perfect time to start researching various colleges. You should narrow down the country or countries you would possibly like to live in and from there search for schools. If you are looking at the US, ask yourself, do I want to be in the cold east or on the sunny west coast? Do I want a big, small or medium sized university? Will I care if my professor doesn?t know my name and rather knows me as a number? All these questions are very valid in your university research process and will narrow down your searches. Other than location and weather, check out the international student percentage at the school, housing and overall social life. A tip that helped me tremendously was looking at YouTube videos of ?A day in my life at Blank university? or ?Everything you need to know about this university?. In these videos, college students don?t hold back and share all their thoughts, which will definitely give you a perspective if you think that university will suit you. Other than just researching online, ask your siblings, friends?siblings and anyone you may know that attend some universities that interest you. Ask them questions about their experiences and try to get a first hand

teenager view of that university.

M ak i n g a U n i v er si t y L i st I w ou l d r ecom m en d m ak i n g a br i ef u n i ver si ty l i st st ar t i n g i n ju n i or y ear of ar ou n d 12 u n i ver si ti es y ou cou l d p ossi bly see y ou r sel f at ten d i n g. I t?s ver y i m p or tan t th at y ou h ave d i f f er en t l evel u n i ver si t i es on y ou r l i st. By th i s, I m ean h av i n g saf et y, t ar gets an d r each es. Saf et y sch ool s w ou l d be col l eges y ou ar e con f i d en t y ou w i l l get i n t o as y ou h ave exceed ed t h ei r acad em i c ex p ect at i on s. Tar get sch ool s w ou l d be sch ool s t h at ar e d i r ect ly on y ou r l evel an d al i gn w i t h y ou r si m i l ar stat i sti cs. A n d l ast ly, r each es w ou l d be sch ool s t h at ar e sl i gh tly above y ou r st at i st i cs th at y ou ar e i n t er est ed i n t r y i n g to get i n t o. To p u t sch ool s i n t o t h ese t h r ee categor i es, com p ar e y ou r GPA , SAT or ACT , su bject test scor es an d over al l i n t er ests to w h at t h e u n i ver si ty h as l i sted on l i n e.

T r y t o V i si t V i si ti n g a u n i ver si t y can be h i gh ly ben ef i ci al as som et i m es ju st bei n g on th e cam p u s, seei n g t h e l ocat i on , st u d en t s, bu i l d i n gs an d d or m s, can h el p m ake y ou r d eci si on . O n th ese u n i ver si ty t ou r s, t h ey w i l l sh ow y ou al l ar ou n d cam p u s an d an sw er an y qu esti on s y ou m ay h ave. T h e cool t h i n g abou t t h ese t ou r s i s t h at t h ey ar e gen er al ly r u n by st u d en t s at t h e u n i ver si t y, so y ou can even ask abou t t h ei r ow n ex p er i en ces an d f or i n si d e i n f or m at i on abou t t h e best d or m s an d d i n i n g h al l s.

M ak e t h e D eci si o n W h en i t com es d ow n t o m ak i n g y ou r f i n al d eci si on , m ake su r e t h e u n i ver si ty i s n ot ju st acad em i cal ly su i t ed f or y ou , of f er s w h at y ou w an t t o st u d y, i s t h e p er f ect l ocati on , bu t i t?s al so i m p or tan t t h at t h e u n i ver si t y al i gn s w i th y ou r i n t er ests an d p er son al i ty. I f y ou ar e som eon e w h o i sn ?t ver y com p eti t i ve, i t m ay n ot be a good i d ea to su r r ou n d y ou r sel f i n a cu t- th r oat en v i r on m en t . M ak i n g th e f i n al d eci si on i s ver y h ar d an d t akes a l ot of t h ou gh t an d ef f or t , bu t w i t h ask i n g ar ou n d , d oi n g y ou r r esear ch an d p ossi bly v i si t i n g t h e sch ool , y ou w i l l h op ef u l ly f al l i n l ove w i t h th e u n i ver si ty m ean t f or y ou .

College Basics

BBC

STUDENT LIFE

Tips and Tr icks on How Tod ay ?s soci ety h as su ch h ar sh an d u n r eal i st i c st an d ar d s t h at sad ly i m p act ou r gen er at i on ?s m en tal h eal th an d t h i n k i n g m or e t h an i t sh ou l d . A l m ost ever y on e t h at I m eet on a d ai ly basi s t ear s th em selves d ow n ju st becau se th ey th i n k t h ey ar e n ot good en ou gh n or t h e beau ty st an d ar d . I f y ou th i n k l ook i n g at y ou r sel f an d say i n g a n egat i ve asp ect abou t y ou r ap p ear an ce or beh av i or w i l l n ot af f ect y ou i n t h e l on g r u n , t h i n k agai n ! t el l i n g y ou r sel f h or r i bl e th i n gs w i l l af f ect th e w ay y ou see y ou r sel f an d t h e w ay oth er s see y ou as w el l ; t h at?s w h y y ou h ave th e m en t al i ty of n ot bei n g p r ett y en ou gh . I n secu r i ti es ar e al l ju st y ou over t h i n k i n g an d f i n d i n g an y m i n or t h i n g y ou f eel y ou sh ou l d st ar t h ati n g abou t y ou r sel f , bu t I d on 't bl am e y ou . t h e st an d ar d s t h at d ef i n e ?p r etty ? basi cal ly t el l y ou th at y ou w i l l n ever be good en ou gh , an d th at su ck s, bu t w h at y ou h ave t o l ear n i s t h at i t i s n ot t r u e. T h at?s w h y I ?m h er e! I w an t to tr y an d l et y ou t ake a st ep cl oser t o y ou r i d eal m en t al i t y. T h i s ar ti cl e i s w r i t ten by a p er son w h o d i d n ?t r em em ber t h e l ast ti m e sh e t h ou gh t an y th i n g p osi t i ve abou t h er sel f , an d w h o i s n ow a gi r l t h at d oesn ?t r em em ber t h e l ast ti m e sh e t al ked bad ly abou t h er sel f . So th ese ti p s w er e p u t t o t h e t est an d d o r eal ly w or k .

D ai l y A f f i r m at i o n s: A f f i r m ati on s of sel f l ove i s th e p r act i ce of p osi t i ve t h i n k i n g an d sel f - em p ow er m en t, tel l i n g y ou r sel f p osi ti ve t h i n gs w h i ch y ou w i l l even t u al ly st ar t bel i ev i n g i n . For ex am p l e, l ook i n g i n t h e m i r r or an d t el l i n g m y sel f , ? I am beau t i f u l . I l ove m y sel f f or w h o I am . T h e best i s y et t o com e. I am gr atef u l f or ever y d ay,? ever y d ay m y br ai n w i l l soon be com p el l ed or ? t r i cked ? i n t o t h i n k i n g t h at t h ese st at em en t s ar e cor r ect . You r af f i r m ati on s d on 't h ave t o be l on g, n or w i l l i t w or k i n st an tly. O n e good th i n g i s t o i n cl u d e i t i n y ou r m or n i n g r ou t i n e to st ar t y ou r d ay w i th p osi ti v i ty, an d i f y ou f or get th em , ju st w r i t e t h em on st i ck y n otes an d h an g t.h em on y ou r bat h r oom m i r r or so th ey ar e v i si bl e an d y ou ar e w el l r em i n d ed

Yo u r Su r r o u n d i n gs:

Ch an gi n g m y su r r ou n d i n gs i s t h e bi ggest p ar t t h at h el p ed m e gai n con f i d en ce, an d by su r r ou n d i n gs I m ean t h e p eop l e y ou h an g ou t w i t h , t h e con t en t y ou w at ch on soci al m ed i a, t h e m u si c y ou l i sten t o, etc. I f y ou h an g ou t w i t h p eop l e w h o keep br i n gi n g y ou d ow n an d t h at d on ?t w an t t h e best f or y ou , l et th em go even i f th er e i s n o on e el se t h an y ou . I t 's al r i gh t ; t h er e ar e m an y m or e op p or tu n i t i es to m ake f r i en d s y et t o com e. I t i s better t o h ave y ou r sel f an d be su r r ou n d ed by a l i t t l e bi t of p osi t i v i t y t h an bei n g su r r ou n d ed by a l ot of n egati v i t y, becau se i n m y op i n i on , n egati v i ty w i n s y ou r t h ou gh t s easi ly w h i l e p osi ti v i t y t akes som e ti m e an d h ar d w or k t o keep i t i n y ou r th ou gh t s.

Lelah El Shaf ae'23

w to Gain Self -Confidence A h u ge th i n g th at I l ear n ed i s t o ch an ge t h e con ten t I see ever y d ay on soci al m ed i a. For ex am p l e, T i kTok r ecom m en d s v i d eos si m i l ar t o w h at y ou i n t er act w i th on y ou r For You p age. T r y t o i n t er act w i t h m ot i v ati on al v i d eos or ju st over al l v i d eos th at sen d a good m essage. A n ot h er ex am p l e i s I n st agr am . You r f eed con tai n s p osts an d st or i es f r om y ou r f ol l ow i n g. I n stead of ju st gazi n g f or a good cou p l e of m i n u t es on a m od el ?s p ost an d w i sh i n g y ou l ooked l i ke t h at, f ol l ow m ot i v at i on al p ages!

Instagram: @wetheurban

Instagram: @selfcare4yu Tiktok: @barbie420babe

Tiktok: @_addicted2success

T ak i n g A ct i o n : T h e m ost ef f ect i ve w ay t o st op w i sh i n g y ou w an t t o be a cer t ai n w ay i s to st ar t bei n g t h at cer tai n w ay. I f y ou d i sl i ke y ou r bod y an d y ou w an t to ch an ge, I say GO FO R I T ! I f y ou ar e i n secu r e abou t y ou r bod y an d k n ow y ou w i l l n ever be h ap p y abou t i t , th en t ake acti on . M ake a p l an f or y ou r jou r n ey an d begi n ; w h et h er i t ?s abou t goi n g to t h e gy m or eati n g h eal t h y, a st ar t w ou l d be aw esom e. Keep i n m i n d t h at i t i s goi n g t o be d i f f i cu l t an d w i l l n ot h ap p en over n i gh t - com m i tm en t i s key, n ot sp eed .I ad v i se y ou t o t ake p i ctu r es of y ou r bod y d u r i n g y ou r jou r n ey. L ook i n g back at th em w i l l h el p y ou f eel so accom p l i sh ed . I f y ou w an t to ch an ge y ou r m en t al i ty an d t h e w ay y ou see y ou r sel f , y ou 'r e goi n g t o h ave t o f or ce y ou r sel f t o bel i eve cer t ai n t h i n gs. Even i f y ou d on 't th i n k y ou ar e p r etty at t h e m om en t , ch eat y ou r br ai n an d say th at y ou ar e. I n t h i s case y ou h ave t o f ake i t t i l l y ou m ake i t . I f y ou keep t el l i n g y ou r sel f p osi ti ve af f i r m at i on s y ou w i l l soon st ar t bel i ev i n g th em . A bi g p ar t of ach i ev i n g t h e con f i d en t m i n d set i s to n ot car e w h at ot h er s t h i n k . I , p er son al ly, am st i l l l ack i n g i n t h at d ep ar tm en t , bu t I 'm t r y i n g t o t r ai n m y sel f t o t ake w h at I t h i n k ar e em bar r assi n g r i sk s an d ju st d o w h at I w an t t o d o. I n t h e en d , as ch eesy as i t sou n d s, y ou on ly l i ve on ce!!

STUDENT LIFE

Cl ass of 2021: Senior advice A s th e sen i or s of t h e cl ass of 20 21 w r ap u p t h ei r t i m e at A SD , t h ey h ave d eci d ed t o gi ve al l t h e u n d er cl assm en som e cr u ci al ad v i ce f or t h ei r l ast cou p l e y ear s i n h i gh sch ool . En joy !

K h al ed S: Take al l t h e op p or t u n i ti es t h at ar i se. D on ?t m i ss ou t on an y th i n g. Go t o th at p ar t y, go t o t h at sch ool even t , an d h ave f u n !

Ad am H : M ake t h e m ost of th e t i m e w i t h y ou r f r i en d s. H i gh sch ool goes by qu i ck ly.

M ay a H : D on ?t p r ocr ast i n ate on col l ege ap p s; t r y d oi n g th em t h e su m m er of ju n i or y ear .

N oor H : T r y y ou r best t o get good gr ad es an d t r y t o p u r su e y ou r p assi on ou t si d e of sch ool .

Far r ah A : A lw ay s t ake m en t al h eal th d ay s w h en y ou n eed t h em , an d r em em ber th at t h ou gh sch ool i s i m p or t an t , y ou r h eal th an d w el l bei n g com es f i r st !

N ay ad D : D on ?t l et l i t t l e t h i n gs st op y ou f r om d oi n g w h at y ou w an t t o d o an d en joy y ou r h i gh sch ool ex p er i en ce t o t h e m ax .

Si m on L al on d e: D on 't get p r essu r ed t o p i ck a u n i ver si ty based on ot h er si l ly p eop l e.

A r y a R: A lw ay s tu r n u p w i t h t h e boy s an d m ake th e m ost of th e t i m e y ou h ave. A lw ay s ch ase t h e bag.

Tessa Sevsek '21 Say eed S: W or k sm ar t er , n ot h ar d er . Taly a B : D o as m u ch as y ou can w h i l e y ou ar e st i l l h er e becau se t i m e w i l l go by qu i cker t h an y ou t h i n k .

Ray a S: D o w h at y ou w an t t o d o an d d on ?t l et p eop l e st op y ou . Su r r ou n d y ou r sel f w i th p eop l e w h o ad d p osi t i v i ty t o y ou r l i f e. H am i F: Fol l ow y ou r p assi on , d r eam bi g, be y ou r sel f an d w or k h ar d . Sch ool i s i m p or tan t bu t so ar e y ou r am bi t i on s. San i A : W r i te goal s f or y ou r w eek an d tr y t o accom p l i sh th em .

Cath er i n e E: Gr i n d as m u ch as p ossi bl e at t h e begi n n i n g of th e y ear becau se i t w i l l p ay of f , an d d on ?t w ast e y ou r absen ces at t h e st ar t of each

sem est er .

Sam m y D : Focu s on y ou r sel f bef or e w or r y i n g abou t ot h er s. I zzy T : Fi n d a bal an ce betw een acad em i cs an d f r i en d s.

M i a S: Su r r ou n d y ou r sel f w i t h p eop l e w h o m ake y ou h ap p y an d u se t h ese y ear s t o m ake th e best m em or i es. M ah een K : St ar t col l ege ap p l i cat i on s ear ly, f i n i sh ju n i or y ear st r on g, joi n a l ot of cl u bs, bu t en joy y ou r t i m e above al l .

STUDENT LIFE

Yujin choi'22

Sen d i n g Mes s a g es T h e on set of sp r i n g, t h e season m ar ked by l i f e an d joy, com es w i t h t h e bl ossom i n g of l i f e. I t w ou l d be h ar d t o i m agi n e sp r i n g w i t h ou t t h e col or f u l p et al s t h at set t h e at m osp h er e f or th e season . You m ay h ave com e acr oss th at som e f l ow er s h ave sp eci al m ean i n gs beh i n d th em w h i l e y ou w er e t h i n k i n g of gi v i n g som e to y ou r l oved on es. T h i s con cep t i s of t en r ef er r ed to as ?f l ow er sy m bol i sm ? or ?f l ow er l an gu age?. T h i s ar t i cl e w i l l l i st som e of t h e f l ow er s th at ar e m ost r ep r esen tati ve of th i s l i vely season an d r eveal t h e h i d d en m essages th at th ey car r y. W h i l e t h ey m ay h ol d n o sci en ti f i c si gn i f i can ce, w h y n ot ju st r ead t h em f or f u n an d con si d er t h ese i m p l i ci t m ean i n gs w h en sel ect i n g a f l ow er to gi f t i n t h e f u t u r e? I n var i ou s f ol k cu l tu r es an d t r ad i ti on s, t h e sy m bol i c m ean i n gs of p l an ts ar e p er v asi ve an d of ten al l u d ed t o i n l i t er at u r e an d ar t .

T u l i p s: O n e of t h e m ost p op u l ar f l ow er s of al l t i m es, t u l i p s bl oom betw een t h e en d of M ar ch u n t i l m i d - M ay. T u l i p s ar e u su al ly l ar ge an d com e i n var i ou s v i br an t col or s l i ke r ed , p i n k , y el l ow an d w h i t e. T u l i p s h ave var i ed h i d d en m ean i n gs based on t h ei r col or . Red : Pr obably t h e m ost p op u l ar , r ed t u l i p s car r y t h e m essage of p assi on at e l ove, an d ar e som et i m es u sed f or th e con f essi on of l ove. Pi n k : Pi n k t u l i p s ar e associ ated w i th af f ect i on an d bei n g con si d er at e. I n som e cu l t u r es, th ey ar e p op u l ar M oth er ?s an d Fath er ?s D ay p r esen t s. Pu r p l e: U n i qu e an d el egan t , p u r p l e tu l i p s d el i ver th e m ean i n g of et er n al l ove. T h ey ar e of ten u sed i n m ar r i age p r op osal s. Yel l ow : I n con t r ast t o t h e ot h er tu l i p s, y el l ow t u l i p s h ave a m el an ch oly m essage: i t i s th e sy m bol of u n r equ i ted l ove. W h i t e: Ju st l i ke t h ei r col or , w h i t e t u l i p s r ep r esen t i n n ocen ce an d n ew begi n n i n gs. I t w ou l d be t h e p er f ect gi f t f or som eon e w h o?s op en i n g a n ew ch ap t er i n th ei r l i ves, l i ke star ti n g at a n ew w or k p l ace. T h ey al so r ep r esen t f or gi ven ess an d ar e u sed to ap ol ogi ze or p ay con d ol en ces.

B l u eb el l s: B l u ebel l s ar e a v i br an t bl u e - ju st l i ke t h ei r n am e h i n ts. T h ey em er ge i n sp r i n g as t h e w eat h er st ar t s t o w ar m . B l u ebel l s ar e act u al ly on e of t h e m ost com m on f l ow er s t h at ar e bl u e. I n som e f ol k cu l t u r es, th ey ar e u sed t o t r eat cer t ai n i l l n esses, an d th ey ar e al so p r ot ect ed u n d er t h e W i l d l i f e an d Cou n tr y si d e Act i n or d er t o p r ot ect t h em f r om col l ect or s t h at su p p ly gar d en s. T h ey

ar e k n ow n t o si gn i f y gr at i t u d e an d h u m i l i t y, as w el l as con stan cy an d ever l ast i n g.

t h r o u g h f l o w er s Pr i m r o se: Pr i m r oses ap p ear i n ear ly sp r i n g an d com e i n a w i d e ar r ay of col or s i n cl u d i n g w h i te, y el l ow, p i n k , an d p u r p l e. T h e n am e p r i m r ose com es f r om t h e L at i n r oot of ?p r i m u s?, m ean i n g ?f i r st?, w h i ch i s p er f ect f or th e f l ow er as i t i s u su al ly th e f i r st to bl oom i n sp r i n g. Ju st l i ke tu l i p s, p r i m r oses d i f f er i n t h ei r si gn i f i can ce d ep en d i n g on t h ei r col or , bu t th e p r i m r oses i n gen er al r ep r esen t y ou th an d ar e of ten v i ew ed as th e h ol i sti c sy m bol of f em i n i n i t y.

A zal ea: A n oth er t y p e of f l ow er th at ad d s to th e v i br an cy of sp r i n g i s th e A zal ea. T h ey com e i n var i ou s col or s, bu t t h ey ar e m ost com m on i n p i n k . T h e f l ow er sy m bol i zes th e joy of l ove an d gen t l en ess. T h ey ar e an ot h er p er f ect gi f t f or l oved on es on an y occasi on . T h e ap p ear an ce of th e f l ow er p er f ect ly su i t s i t s m ean i n g.

Fo r sy t h i a: W h i l e th e f l ow er m ay n ot be f am i l i ar to som e, f or sy th i a i s a f l ow er t h at si gn al s th at sp r i n g i s on i ts w ay. T h ey ar e ch ar act er i zed by t h e br i gh t y el l ow bu d s. For sy t h i as, r ad i ati n g w ar m th f r om th ei r col or , of t en sy m bol i ze an t i ci p at i on an d h op e. A s t h e f l ow er m ar k s t h e begi n n i n g of sp r i n g, i t en com p asses t h e an t i ci p ati on of sp r i n g af t er l on g, col d w i n ter s, gi v i n g i ts h op ef u l an d op t i m i sti c m essages.

W h i l e som e f l ow er s h ave d i st i n ct m essages beh i n d th em , a com m on t h em e i s th at t h e f l ow er s of cer t ai n col or s of ten sy m bol i ze t h e sam e i d eas. Red i s of t en associ ated w i t h p assi on an d l ove, w h i te en com p asses p u r i ty an d con d ol en ce, p i n k f l ow er s con vey p l ay f u l n ess an d y ou t h , y el l ow sy m bol i zes f r i en d sh i p , p u r p l e h ol d s m y st er y an d en ch an t r ess, an d gr een r ep r esen t s l i f t an d v i v aci ty. N ex t ti m e y ou l ook at f l ow er s, t h i s m i gh t be som eth i n g t o con si d er an d ad d t o th e joy of t h e si gh t s of f l ow er s!

*All photos from Pexels

STUDENT LIFE 12

Ear t h Day Apr il 22nd Lily Baltes'21

O ver th e cou r se of th e y ear , w e h ave been abl e to star t w or k i n g togeth er as a sch ool com m u n i ty tow ar d s m ak i n g A SD as su st ai n abl e as p ossi bl e, esp eci al ly d u r i n g th e ch al l en gi n g ti m es of CO V I D - 19 p r ecau t i on s. T h e Su st ai n abi l i t y Act i on Team (SAT ) w or k s h ar d to m ake A SD m or e su st ai n abl e i n al l d i f f er en t w ay s. W e sp eci f i cal ly f ocu s on th e Su st ai n abl e D evel op m en t Goal s w h i ch i s a gr ou p of goal s r el at i n g to ar eas of su st ai n abi l i ty. For ex am p l e, th er e ar e goal s su ch as cl ean en er gy, n o h u n ger , an d r esp on si bl e con su m p ti on . A s a cl u b, w e f ocu s on m ak i n g A SD a com m u n i ty th at i s aw ar e an d cau ti ou s of w h at w e d o as a sch ool . T h e SAT w or ked h ar d to cr eate a w eek f u l l of acti v i ti es th at cou l d be d on e i n th e sh or t am ou n t of ti m e w e h ad betw een cl asses. At t h e en d of A p r i l th e A SD com m u n i ty cel ebr ated Ear th W eek . T h e SAT cr eated d i f f er en t acti v i ti es to be d on e th r ou gh ou t th e w eek . T h i s i n cl u d ed qu i zzes d u r i n g ad v i sor y, a step - by - step on h ow to m ake m ask s, v i d eo sn i p p ets f r om oth er cl u bs, an d p l ed ges th at cou l d ear n y ou a p r i ze. I n ad d i ti on , a f or m w as sen t ou t ask i n g f or th e A SD com m u n i ty ?s i n p u t on h ow to m ake l u n ch ti m e m or e su stai n abl e. A l on gsi d e H i gh T i d e, w e w or ked h ar d to m ake th e w eek f u n , w h i l e sti l l bei n g i n f or m ati ve on th e i m p or tan ce of tak i n g car e of th e on ly ear t h w e h ave.

Su n d ay : To

k i ck th e w eek of f , w e

cr eated a tr i v i a qu i z abou t i n ter esti n g Ear th D ay f acts.

M o n d ay : W e f ocu sed

on gai n i n g

p l ed ges f r om st u d en ts an d teach er s abou t h ow th ey w i l l w or k to m ake th ei r l i ves m or e eco- f r i en d ly. T h e p l ed ges i n cl u d ed br i n gi n g r eu sabl e w ater bot t l es an d t u r n i n g of f th e l i gh ts.

Image Credit: SAT Team

T u esd ay : W e p ar tn er ed

w i th H i gh

T i d e an d w or ked on a tu t or i al on h ow t o m ake y ou r ow n r eu sabl e m ask s.

W ed n esd ay : O u r

cl u b p u t togeth er

a v i d eo w i t h sn i p p ets f r om oth er cl u bs abou t h ow w e ar e m ak i n g A SD m or e su st ai n abl e.

T h u r sd ay : T h e Su stai n abi l i ty

Acti on

Team w or ked t o m ake a p eti ti on to m ake l u n ch ti m e m or e su stai n abl e: f or ex am p l e, p r ov i d i n g th e op ti on f or st u d en ts t o t ake a Su bw ay l u n ch w i t h ou t t h e bags or to take Ri te Bi t e m eal s w i th m or e su stai n abl e p ack agi n g or u ten si l s.

13 Image Credit: Pixabay

STUDENT LIFE

Manuela Trogen '23

Ju n gl e B ay I f y ou ar e a w ater p ar k f an at i c t h i s i s t h e p l ace f or y ou . L ocated i n L e M er i d i en M i n a Sey ah i i n D u bai M ar i n a, t h i s i s a sm al l er w at er p ar k th an t h ose w e al r ead y k n ow of i n D u bai bu t sti l l a f u n p l ace t o sp en d t h e d ay.

Image from Time Out Dubai

D u bai i s a ci t y w i t h l ot s t o d o, bu t as w e al l k n ow, w e som et i m es r u n ou t of i d eas an d ar e l ef t Googl i n g t h i n gs t o d o i n D u bai . L i sted bel ow ar e t h i n gs an d p l aces y ou can go to i n D u bai t h at y ou m ay h ave n ot tr i ed bef or e.

Image from The Huntr

Boar d Gam e Caf e A p l ace w h er e y ou can sp en d th e w h ol e d ay w i t h y ou r f r i en d s or f am i ly, ju st r el ax an d p l ay al l k i n d s of f u n gam es. For t h i s sp eci f i c act i v i ty th er e i sn ?t ju st on e p l ace t o go to t h er e ar e i n f act m or e. T h ese i n cl u d e: T H E SI X , U n w i n d , H i ve, an d Back to Gam es.

I f y ou w an t t o ex p er i en ce a n ew cu l tu r e, O PA D u bai i s an i n cr ed i bl e r est au r an t of Gr eek cu i si n e. You m ay h ave t r i ed a f ew Gr eek r est au r an t s i n D u bai , bu t t h i s on e i s a m u st t o tr y at l east on ce. O n t op of i t 's au t h en ti c Gr eek f ood , t h e am bi en ce of t h e r estau r an t i s sp ect acu l ar . T h ey al so u su al ly of f er l i ve en t er t ai n m en t w h i ch i s a t r ad i ti on al d an ce cal l ed Z or ba. N ow w h at m akes th i s r estau r an t so sp eci al , esp eci al ly i n D u bai , i s t h e p l at e sm ash i n g. T h i s i s a t r ad i t i on al Gr eek cu stom w h i ch m ay be seen i n m ost Gr eek r estau r an ts i n Gr eece, bu t i n D u bai i t's on e of t h e on ly p l aces th at r eal ly of f er s i t. T h i s can be a gr eat p l ace t o go w i t h f r i en d s an d f am i ly an d en joy t h e cu l t u r e of an oth er cou n t r y. Sk i D u bai Ci n em a

Image from Arab News

O PA D u bai

Image from Vogue Arabia

New t hings t o t r y In Dubai

Som et h i n g th at r ecen t ly cam e t o D u bai i s t h e col l abor ati on bet w een Sk i D u bai an d Vox Ci n em as. I n M al l of Em i r ates y ou can f i n d th e Sn ow Ci n em a w h i ch sh ow s m ov i es w h i l e y ou ar e ou t i n t h e col d . T h ey su p p ly bl an kets, som e sn ack s an d th e best p ar t , h ot ch ocol at e. T h i s i s d ef i n i tely som et h i n g t h at y ou sh ou l d t r y at l east on ce. T h e p r i ce i s f or t w o p eop l e, an d i t i s p r ett y r eason abl e f or an u n f or gett abl e ex p er i en ce.

Ent er t ainment

Nakey Jakey : A l ove st or y

A y oga bal l , gr een scr een , an d a f ou l - m ou t h ed Sou t h D akotan i n f r on t of a cam er a t al k i n g abou t v i d eo gam es. T h at ?s al l i t took f or m e t o f al l i n l ove w i th a m od est ly si zed YouT u be ch an n el by t h e n am e of N akey Jakey. I t?s h ar d t o p i n p oi n t w h at ex actly i s so al l u r i n g abou t h i s con ten t . W i t h cu r r en t con ten t on th e beh em ot h v i d eo- sh ar i n g si te f ocu si n g on qu an t i t y over qu al i ty f or t h e sake of m on et ar y gai n s, Jacob Ch r i st en sen , or m or e l ov i n gly k n ow n as N akey Jakey, car es abou t h i s con t en t , an d th i s i s r ef l ected i n h i s u p l oad sch ed u l e. A s of w r i ti n g t h i s, h i s l ast u p l oad w as i n O ctober of 20 20 , m ak i n g t h at si x m on th s si n ce h e?s p osted an y t h i n g. H ow ever , th ey ?r e w el l w or th t h e w ai t as h i s v i d eos r an ge f r om sop h i sti cated v i d eo essay s t h at l ast n ear ly an h ou r , t o m or e w ack y an d com ed i c v i d eos l i ke Online D ating. T h e p oi n t r em ai n s: each of h i s T witter v i d eos i s so u n i qu ely h i m , an d h i s ch ar m i s u n d en i abl e.

T witter

O n e at tr i bu te t h at i s v i su al ly st r i k i n g i n al l of h i s v i d eos i s h i s u sage of t h e gr een scr een . I t?s a gen i u s w ay of cap t u r i n g ever y on e?s i n t er est i n ever y f r am e of ever y v i d eo. H ar d ly i s th er e ever a stat i c m om en t i n an y of h i s v i d eos, an d w h en t h er e ar e, i t ?s f or a good r eason . Q u i t e a l ot of h i s h u m or an d com ed y com es f r om h i s m an i p u l ati on of th e back gr ou n d h e sp eak s i n , an d i t ?s an absol u t e joy t o w at ch . W h en y ou cr eat e v i d eos, i t ?s qu i t e d i f f i cu l t t o br i n g t h em to l i f e. You ei t h er h ave t o w r i te a scr i p t or , t h e r i sk i er ch oi ce, i m p r ov i se. Jacob m an ages t o f i n d a f i n e l i n e bet w een t h e t w o, of t en d r i f ti n g i n an d ou t f r om scr i p t ed m om en t s t o a com p l et ely i m p r ov i sati on al f or m of com ed y. A n d by god , i t w or k s. H i s abi l i t y t o seam l essly w eave bet w een th e t w o i s i n cr ed i bly ef f ect i ve an d m akes f or som e gen u i n ely f u n n y on e- l i n er s. A bove al l , h i s w r i t i n g i s h eav i ly i n sp i r ed by h i s absu r d i st t an gen ts an d h i s ever - en d ear i n g r ef er en ces to t h e l at e- 90 ?s an d 20 0 0 s (Gi ve D isney Channel Original M ovies a w at ch ).

D esp i te al l t h at, I t h i n k m y f avor i t e v i d eo of Jakey ?s i s on e th at h as n on e of h i s tr ad em ar k st y l es an d v i su al s, bu t r ath er , on e t h at f ocu ses on h i m f or n i n e an d a h al f m i n u t es. N o scr i p t, n o ou t l i n e, n o gr een scr een , ju st Jakey h i m sel f . I n t h e v i d eo en ti tl ed D ark Soules Saved M e, w e see Jakey at h i s m ost v u l n er abl e, an d i t m akes f or a ver y si n cer e an d t h ou gh tf u l v i d eo abou t t h e i n t r i n si c v al u e th e m ed i u m of v i d eo gam es can h ave on ou r l i ves an d ou r m en tal h eal th . Jakey w al k s u s d ow n a ti m e i n h i s l i f e t h at w as f i l l ed w i t h d ebt , d r ead , an d a f eel i n g of bei n g l ef t beh i n d by al l h i s f r i en d s w h o en d ed u p i n col l ege, w h i l e ou r h u m bl e n ar r at or en d ed u p w ai t i n g tabl es ju st to m ake a l i v i n g. T h e v i d eo i tsel f f eel s i n t i m at e an d i s st r u ctu r ed an d p r esen ted i n a w ay th at f eel s l i ke y ou ?r e h av i n g a d eep con ver sat i on w i t h a f r i en d i n t h e m i d d l e of t h e n i gh t . T r u th be t ol d , d u r i n g n i gh ts w h en I can ?t sl eep , I p u t th i s on an d p r et en d w e?r e ju st t w o h om i es tal k i n g abou t v i d eo gam es d u r i n g a 20 10 sl eep over . I w on ?t sp oi l m u ch m or e, bu t i f an y of t h at i n t r i gu ed y ou , I st r on gly i m p l or e y ou to gi ve i t a v i ew.

CyrusGilani '21 Besi d es th at, Jakey ?s al so got a r ath er i n t er esti n g m u si c car eer . W i t h on ly si x son gs, an d w i t h h i s l ast on e com i n g ou t i n th e su m m er of 20 19, i t l eaves m an y w an ti n g m or e. I t?s d i f f i cu l t t o p i n p oi n t t h e gen r e, bu t i t i s h eav i ly i n f l u en ced by A l ter n ati ve an d R& B . I n th ese, h i s son gs u su al ly cover th e m an y f eel i n gs an d st ages of l ove. M oby D ick, on e of h i s ear l i er p r ojects, ai m s t o cap tu r e t h e r aw an d i n t en se f eel i n g of h ear tbr eak , p ar ti cu l ar ly at a y ou n g age. Sai n t l i ke, a m or e u p tem p o, y et d ar ker t on e ly r i cal ly, f ol l ow s t h e h ar d sh i p s Jakey ?s h ad to go t h r ou gh i n h i s l i f e an d acts as a d oor t o see h ow h e gr ew u p an d becam e th e p er son h e i s t od ay.

YouT ube

At t h e en d of th e d ay, i t ?s h ar d n ot to f al l i n l ove w i th Jacob h i m sel f . H e?s h el p ed m e an d cou n tl ess ot h er s t h r ou gh h ar d sh i p an d d esp ai r an d n ever on ce asked f or an y th i n g i n r et u r n . U n f or tu n ately, n o on e?s h ear d f r om Jacob i n m on th s, w i t h m an y t h eor i zi n g h e?s bu r n t ou t or w or k i n g on an al bu m . W h atever i t m i gh t be, I h op e h e?s al r i gh t becau se w e?r e su p p osed to go t o A r by ?s soon . T witter

T witter

Ent er t ainment

Saisha Malhotra '22

St udent s?Comf or t Movies A s I ?m su r e y ou k n ow, com f or t m ov i es an d al bu m s ar e an essen ti al p ar t of ever y d ay l i f e. T h ey get u s t h r ou gh t h e u p s an d d ow n s, an d t h e op ti on s ar e en d l ess. H er e ar e som e A SD st u d en ts?f avor i t e com f or t f i l m s an d al bu m s. Scan t h e al bu m s on Sp ot i f y an d h ave a l i sten f or y ou r sel f !

Fr an ko Ri zen & Z ar a M asood : 10 T hings I H ate About

Car ol i n e H oag: T he Notebook

M ad h v i K h i an r a: Superbad

M aggi e W h i sen h u n t : Jumo

K ati e Cl aver : T he Breakfast Club

Yeon w oo Par k : T he I ntern

Per so n al Reco m m en d at i o n s: D azed and Confused D ead Poets Society King of Staten I sland Coraline Scott Pilgrim vs T he World T he Perks of Being a Wallflower Ferris Bueller's D ay Off H am i Faqi h i N ezad : M artian

Big T ime Adolescence Sixteen Candles T wilight (all of them <3)

Source for all images: Pinterest

St udent s?Comf or t Al bums

M aggi e W h i sen h u n t: Pure H eroine (Ex ten d ed ) by L or d e

Yeon w oo Par k : H igh H ighs to Low Lows by L ol o Z o u aï

H am i Faqi h i N ezad : T rilogy by T h e W eek n d

Fr an ko Ri zen : Frank by A m y W i n eh ou se

M ad h v i K h i an r a: Pitbull: Greatest H its <3

Z ar a M asood : M elodrama by L or d e

Personal Recommendations: Circles and Swimming by Mac Miller Blonde and Channel Orange by Frank Ocean I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it by The 1975 What Do You Think About The Car by Declan McKenna Unknown Pleasure by Joy Division K at i e Cl aver : 4:13 D ream by T h e Cu r e

This Old Dog by Mac Demarco Songs From The Big Chair by Tears for Fears Pony by Rex Orange County

Source for all images: Spotify

Harry Styles by Harry Styles

Ent er t ainment 20

Gr ammy s in r eview The Grammys are like the Superbowl of music; no matter how hard you try or how disappointed in the results you are, you can?t escape watching music?s arguably biggest night. The past year has been great for many genres of music, such as rap, pop, and R&B. Notable standouts such as After Hours by the Weeknd, Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa, and Hollywood Bleeding by Post Malone demonstrated that substantial commercial success often is telling of the quality of music. So when the Grammys decides to be pretentious by not even nominating record breaking album After Hours by the Weeknd, it begs the ever growing question - did the winners deserve their wins?

Now don?t get me wrong, I didn?t hate the Grammys this year. In fact, some of the winners were so satisfying it was hard to be upset.

Beyoncé and Megan thee Stallion accepting a Grammy nme.com

Taylor Swift took home Album of the Year for Folklore. According to Rolling Stone, Folklore was the biggest album of 2020, and for good reason. The 31 year old singer/songwriter delivered a cohesive and progressive body of work that perfectly encapsulated the feeling of being on lockdown during the pandemic. Standout tracks ?Exile? ft. Bon Iver, ?Cardigan? (nominated for song of the year), and ?August? highlight Swift?s maturity as she leaves her ?Shake it Off ? days in her twenties and enters her thirties in the middle of a pandemic. This win came as no surprise as the competition did not even come close to touching this existential force of melancholy and bitter sweet love.

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Taylor Swift with Grammy popsugar.com

Alan Berzinji '22 Controversially, Billie Eillish won track of the year for her flop of a song ?Everything I Wanted?. As unironically as possible, I would like anyone who is reading this to answer to themselves, who on God?s good earth listened to this song? ?Everything I Wanted? had the topic and the voice to execute a chilling and eerie piece, but like usual, we got a minimalist whisper track. ?Say So?, ?Don?t Start Now?, and ?Circles? would have all been well deserved wins in this category. Next.

With the Song of the Year category, it?s hard to believe that this decision was not entirely political. While politics is a very important part of music, it isn?t the only part. A powerful message is not enough if it isn?t delivered in a just as powerful body of work. There is no better way to describe ?I Can?t Breathe? by H.E.R, winner of the category. The message resonated, but not because of the song, purely because the message is so prevalent today. This makes it hard to argue against its win, but ?I Can?t Breathe? is such a weak song that I had to watch the video to understand the message. While this is starting to seem like a Folklore praise article, there is no part of me that can deny that ?Cardigan? by Taylor Swift was snubbed. The sheer power ?Cardigan? delivered as a song is incomparable to any other songs in this category. ?Cardigan? demonstrates that with powerful lyricism, a simple love story can resonate more than one of the biggest sociopolitical issues of the past ten years. people.com

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Best new artist this year was one of those categories that I can?t really argue against, but personal bias makes me wish it went in another direction. Megan Thee Stallion won this category, and it was well deserved. The Houston rapper had massive commercial success this year. Rapper and singer Doja Cat did as well, and while my bias would have prefered her winning, it could have gone either way.

Best Pop Solo Performance went to Harry Styles for Watermelon Sugar. Honestly this song does not do justice to his artistry at all, but they had to give him something. Songs such as ?Cherry? or ?Golden? better highlight his discography so this win felt like pandering.

teenvogue.com

Best pop vocal album, like album of the year, was one of the most well deserved and satisfying wins of the night. Dua Lipa took this award home for her massively successful album Future Nostalgia. Dua Lipa?s sophomore album hollered out ?pop is not dead!? and we sure listened. Future Nostalgia is just a classic good pop album. It?s fun, it?s a vibe, and it makes you want to dance. Each song is so entertaining there are genuinely no skips. Songs like ?Levitating? ft. Dababy are so much fun and just fill you with joy. There is no better feeling than shamelessly blasting ?Don?t Start Now? and ?Cool? in the car with your friends. Dua managed to encapsulate the true meaning of pop lighthearted fun.

Some history was also made. Beyonce broke records by becoming the woman with the most Grammys - a staggering twenty eight. Taylor Swift also made history being the only female artist to win three Album of the Year Awards.

If I had to describe the 2021 Grammys with one phrase, it would be ?I?m not mad, but I?m also not thrilled.?. The night had its moments, but not only its win snubs, but also it?s nomination snubs just left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Dua Lipa teenvogue.com

Lizzo teenvogue.com

Ent er t ainment 24

The FAl l of mist a z M i st a Z , al so k n ow n as Z ai n A h m ed , w as a sm al l YouT u ber w h o f ou n d a l ot of su ccess as a f i l m m aker on YouT u be. H i s v i d eos con si st ed of sh or t ch al l en ge v i d eos, vl ogs, an d sk i t s. H e h ad a qu i ck su r ge as w h at st ar t ed ou t as a h obby becam e a l egi t i m at e job - w i t h l egi t i m at e p r obl em s. B ei n g t h at t h er e ar e so m an y y ou n g ad u l t s w h o h ave f ou n d t on s of su ccess on p l at f or m s su ch as YouT u be, M i st a Z p ou n ced on t h e op p or t u n i t y h e h ad an d m oved f r om D u bai t o B ost on t o p u r su e h i s d r eam s. H i s v i d eos w er e a gr eat su ccess i n h i s i m m ed i at e com m u n i t y i n D u bai , an d M i st a Z w as m et w i t h l oad s of su p p or t an d col l abor at i on op p or t u n i t i es. H e w as k n ow n f or sh or t y et qu al i t y v i d eos, an d t h e on ly back l ash h e r ecei ved i n D u bai w as h i s l ack of con si st en cy. K n ow i n g t h at h e h ad t h e p ot en t i al t o m ake i t bi g, M i st a Z d eci d ed t o m ove t o h i s h om et ow n of B ost on , M assach u set t s, t o f ocu s on h i s con t en t . T h i s qu i ck ly t ook a bad t u r n , h ow ever , as h e w as n ot m et w i t h t h e sam e p osi t i v i t y h e h ad i n D u bai . A t ar get w as p u t on h i s back d u e t o t h e su ccess h e h ad , an d p eop l e w h o w er e en v i ou s of h i s su ccess began t o ban d t oget h er i n or d er t o t h r ow h at e at h i m . T h e h at e f r om h i s f el l ow cl assm at es, ci t i zen s, an d even t each er s d r ove h i m t o d el et e a l ot of h i s v i d eos an d i n st ead cr eat e con t en t cat er ed t ow ar d s h i s i m m ed i at e com m u n i t y. M i st a Z began t o cr eat e vl ogs of h i m d on at i n g h i s t i m e t o p eop l e i n n eed an d began t o gear h i s ch an n el t ow ar d s p r om ot i n g k i n d n ess an d h el p i n g ot h er s. H i s con t r i bu t i on t o t h e com m u n i t y began t o con ver t som e of h i s h at er s t o su p p or t er s, an d h e f i n al ly began t o en joy h i s job. H i s v i d eos began t o bl ow u p as t h ey d i d i n D u bai , an d w i t h a bi gger p l at f or m i n B ost on , h e w as abl e t o h i r e a m an ager t o h an d l e al l of h i s op p or t u n i t i es an d t o m an age t h e m ou n t s of m on ey h e w as r eel i n g i n . H i s t i m e at t h e t op d i d n ot l ast l on g, h ow ever , as M i st a Z began t o l ose si gh t of w h at h i s goal w as, an d t h e m on ey began t o st eer h i s v i si on el sew h er e, l ead i n g t o a st r i n g of u n f or t u n at e even t s. A s M i st a Z r ose t o t h e t op i n W or cest er , h e st ar t ed t o st eer aw ay f r om h el p i n g p eop l e an d began t o m ake h i s v i d eos or i en t ed on h i m sel f . I n t h ose v i d eos h e began t o sh ow h i s su ccess an d w eal t h , an d h e began t o cr eat e en em i es y et agai n . M i st a Z ?s ad d r ess got l eaked f r om h i s v i d eos, an d p eop l e began t o go t o h i s h ou se an d v an d al i ze h i s p r op er t y. T h i s cr eat ed a ser i ou s secu r i t y con cer n f or M i st a Z as t h i s w as t h e f i r st t i m e p eop l e h ad act u al ly d am aged h i s p r op er t y. B ei n g t h at M i st a Z w as l i v i n g i n a sm al l t ow n , t h e w or d got ar ou n d qu i ck , an d p eop l e w er en ?t i n t er est ed i n t ak i n g h i s si d e. I n st ead v i gi l an t es ban d ed t o f u r t h er d am age h i m an d h i s r ep u t at i on .

Imad Anjum'21&Ario Sohrabi '21 O n p ap er , bei n g i n a sm al l er com m u n i t y w ou l d h el p w i t h bei n g a con t en t cr eat or as y ou can m ake f r i en d s i n t h e ar ea an d i n cl u d e t h em i n v i d eos f or m or e v ar i et y. Yet , t h e su p p or t h e r ecei ved d u r i n g h i s t i m e i n D u bai w as f ar gr eat er t h an i n W or cest er . T h e con t en t p r ef er r ed by each com m u n i t y w as d r ast i cal ly d i f f er en t . T h e p eop l e i n D u bai en joy ed v i d eos on M i st a Z ?s l i f e an d w at ch i n g som e of h i s ex p er i en ces, su ch as h i s v acat i on t o T h ai l an d . W or cest er , on t h e ot h er h an d , seem ed t o h ave t aken h i s v i d eos as boast s. T h at h e w as u si n g t h e p l at f or m si m p ly t o f l ex w h at seem ed t o be h i s p er f ect l i f e. T h e W or cest er com m u n i t y f el t t h at t h ey w er e bei n g m i sr ep r esen t ed i n h i s v i d eos. H e m oved f r om h i s gr an d h om e i n D u bai t o a sm al l er , h u m bl e on e i n W or cest er , an d t h i s w as a d r ast i c ch an ge f or h i m an d h i s v i ew er s. M i st a Z w ou l d of t en m en t i on f eat u r es of h i s D u bai h om e t h at h e m i ssed , l ar ger bed r oom s, m ai d s, et c. Bu t h i s n ew gai n ed f ol l ow er s qu i ck ly t u r n ed on h i m w i t h t h i s, as t h ey f el t t h at h e w as bei n g con d escen d i n g t o t h e n ei gh bou r h ood t h ey sh ar ed . At t h i s m om en t , M i st a Z h as r em oved al l v i d eos h e m ad e w h en h e m oved back t o h i s h om et ow n , i n cl u d i n g h i s v i d eos con t r i bu t i n g t o h i s com m u n i t y, l eav i n g on ly t h e v i d eos m ad e i n D u bai . T h e back l ash h e r ecei ved f r om W or cest er h as t aken a m assi ve t ol l on h i s con f i d en ce as a con t en t cr eat or , an d h e i s u n su r e w h et h er t o m ake a r et u r n or n ot . T h e W or cest er com m u n i t y t ook i t even so f ar as t o cr eat e p r op agan d a an d f ake i m ages of h i m t o m ock h i m an d r u i n h i s r ep u t at i on as a con t en t cr eat or . H er e ar e som e ex am p l es of w h at t h ey cr eat ed : As you can see, the two posters use the exact same photo of M ista Z, but were both used to slander his name. T hey lied about him, accusing him of being a communist, and making him seem like a villain. T hese photos were spread around in a Facebook group made by the families in M ista Z's neighborhood, and everyone believed the lies of these posters.

M ista Z

T hese are just a few of many images created to slander M ista Z. A fake podcast was created to fake an interview with M ista Z, in which they only insulted him througout the podcast. H e has also made it very clear that he does not like to have facial hair, and people have gone out of their way to make fake photos of him with beards and mustaches.

M ista Z

Ent er t ainment

The basics of cl imbing and what y ou need t o know Cl i m bi n g i s a r el ati vely r ecogn i zed sp or t. L ots of p eop l e u n d er stan d t h e con cep t bu t d on 't u n d er st an d th e d i f f er en t k i n d s of cl i m bi n g t h er e ar e or th e m or e i n tr i cate d etai l s of t h e sp or t . T h e p u r p ose of th i s ar t i cl e i s t o ed u cate th e r ead er on th i s sp or t an d th at i t i s f an tasti c f or th e bod y an d t h e m i n d . H i p p opx D i f f er en t k i n d s of cl i m bi n g: T h er e ar e a f ew k i n d s of cl i m bi n g, an d d i f f er en t sk i l l s ar e i n volved to d o t h em .

O u td oor Grading

Fi r st ly, th er e i s bou l d er i n g w h i ch i s on e of t h e m ost p op u l ar sty l es of cl i m bi n g d u e t o t h e f act th at i t's cost ef f i ci en t becau se y ou on ly n eed ch al k , sh oes an d a cr ash p ad d ep en d i n g on w h er e y ou bou l d er . Bou l d er i n g i s u su al ly a w al l or an over h an g th at i s ar ou n d 12 f eet t al l f or m ost bou l d er er s. W al l s at gy m s ar e u su al ly th at h ei gh t . Bou l d er i n g h ei gh ts ou td oor s can var y d ep en d i n g on br aver y. T h er e ar e cl i m bs cal l ed h i gh bal l s w h i ch ar e f or th e cr azi est cl i m ber s an d can get u p to 50 f eet w i th n o p r ot ect i on ot h er t h an a f ew cr ash p ad s or th er e ar e y ou r basi c 12 f oot an d sh or ter cl i m bs.

T h e n ex t f ou r cl i m bi n g ty p es al l i n volve a r op e f or saf ety, an d w e w i l l begi n w i t h t op r op e cl i m bi n g w h i ch i n volves on e con n ect ed p oi n t at t h e an ch or , w h i ch i s a ch ai n at th e t op of a cl i m b w h er e y ou p u t y ou r r op e t h r ou gh . I t i n volves a basi c bel ay i n g sty l e, an d t h e cl i m b i s u su al ly i n a str ai gh t l i n e u p w ar d s. I t i s u su al ly u sed by begi n n er s as i t i s t h e easi est f or m of r op e cl i m bi n g an d a gr eat i n tr od u ct or y l evel ty p e of cl i m bi n g. N ex t i s i ce cl i m bi n g w h i ch i s an ex p en si ve p u r su i t. W h en i ce cl i m bi n g, y ou p u t i n y ou r ow n bol t s as y ou go u p th e w al l of i ce. You u se boot s w i t h sp i kes on th e sol es an d p i ck axes to get u p t h e w al l . T h i r d ly i s m ost l i kely th e m ost ex p en si ve k i n d w h i ch i s tr ad cl i m bi n g. I p er son al ly w i l l n ever tr y tr ad cl i m bi n g as I h ave tr ou bl e tr u st i n g m y gear f r om ti m e to t i m e. T r ad cl i m bi n g i n volves p l aci n g a cam or a n u t i n a cr ev i ce i n th e w al l . A cam i s a d ev i ce th at y ou p u l l on an d i t con t r acts, t h en y ou p l ace i t i n th e cr ev i ce an d i t ex p an d s, cr eati n g a sp ace f or y ou to secu r ely p u t y ou r qu i ckd r aw an d th en r op e. A n u t i s ju st a p i ece of m etal y ou w ed ge i n to th e r ock . Bot h of th ese ar e ju st w ed ged i n to r ock .

L astly, t h er e i s l ead cl i m bi n g w h i ch i s t h e n ex t step of top r op e cl i m bi n g. T h i s sty l e of cl i m bi n g i s u sed by m or e ad van ced an d con f i d en t cl i m ber s. L ead cl i m ber s w i l l u se qu i ckd r aw s an d p l ace th em on th e bol t s th at h ave been p l aced i n th e r ock . T h ey w i l l th en cl i p t h ei r r op e i n t o t h ese qu i ckd r aw s an d p r ogr ess h i gh er . O n e of th e m ai n th i n gs associ at ed w i th l ead cl i m bi n g an d cl i m bi n g i n gen er al i s f al l i n g. L ead cl i m bi n g f al l s ar e a bi t d i f f er en t . Bol ts ar e sp aced abou t 2- 3 m eter s ap ar t, an d y ou h ave t o cl i m b above th e bol t to get to th e n ex t on e; i f y ou f al l t w o m et er s, th eor eti cal ly y ou w i l l f al l f ou r or even m or e d ep en d i n g on y ou r bel ay er ?s cat ch i n g sk i l l s.

Simon Lalonde '21 Gr ad i n g sy st em : T h er e ar e obv i ou sly d i f f er en t d i f f i cu l ty l evel s i n cl i m bi n g an d t h ey ju st go h i gh er . T h er e h ave been d i f f er en t gr ad i n g sy st em s p u t i n p l ace t o u n d er st an d y ou r cl i m bi n g l evel . T h e m ai n t w o gr ad i n g sy stem s ar e t h e Fr en ch an d Yosem i te D eci m al Sy st em . T h e Fr en ch goes u p by n or m al i n t er v al s: say 4 i s cl i m bi n g a l ad d er an d 9c+ i s t h e h ar d est cl i m b an y on e h as ever d on e. T h en f r om th er e each l evel h as t h r ee l et ter s associ ated w i t h i t , f or ex am p l e: 6a,6b,6c an d th en i t goes t o 7. Each l evel can h ave + or - gr ad i n g d ep en d i n g on p er son al p r ef er en ce. W i th t h e Yosem i t e d eci m al sy stem i t i s f u n d am en t al ly t h e sam e t h i n g i t i s ju st n u m ber ed d i f f er en t ly w i th 5.0 as th e n u m ber to st ar t w i t h so i t goes f r om 5.10 al l t h e w ay u p t o 5.14. Bou l d er i n g h as d i f f er en t sy stem t h at ju st st ar ts w i t h a V f or ex am p l e v 0 - v 2 w ou l d be en t r y l evel cl i m bs w h er e as v 14 i s a r ar e gr ad e th at i s d on e al m ost on ly by p r of essi on al cl i m ber s.

Cl i m bi n g i n m ed i a:

H i p p opx

Cl i m bi n g h as alw ay s been seen t h r ou gh ou t m ed i a i n sm al l d oses bu t r ecen t ly a d ocu m en tar y cam e ou t cal l ed f r ee sol o an d r eal ly p u t cl i m bi n g on t h e m ap . At l east i n a m ed i a p oi n t of v i ew. T h e m ov i e cap ti vat ed v i ew er s an d r eal ly took th e w or l d by stor m . W i th th i s m ov i e h ow ever cam e a l ot of m i scon cep ti on s an d assu m p ti on s abou t cl i m bi n g w h i ch cou l d be d am agi n g t o th e over al l v i ew of th e sp or t i tsel f . So h op ef u l ly th i s ar ti cl e h as gi ven y ou a l i tt l e bi t m or e cl ar i f i cati on on som e of t h e basi cs. A n oth er r eal ly good f i l m abou t cl i m bi n g w i th a m u ch m or e str u ctu r ed p l ot th at r eal ly r each es th e au d i en ce. I ts cal l ed d ow n w al l an d I h i gh ly r ecom m en d i t. W i t h th i s n ew p op u l ar i t y m an y n ew p eop l e h ave gr av i tated t o cl i m bi n g f or i ts f an tasti c ben ef i ts an d f or gen er al i n ter est becau se of h ow i n ter est i n g i t i s.

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Ror y McIl r oy and His New Swing Coach Pet er Cowen 31- y ear - ol d gol f su p er st ar Ror y M cl l r oy h as r ecen t ly been i n a d r ou gh t i n t er m s of su ccess on t h e gol f cou r se. I n h i s r ecen t t ou r n am en t s, ou t of f i ve, t h e I r i sh p l ay er h as n ot been so l u ck y w i t h h i s p l aci n gs. Fr om m i ssi n g t w o cu t s an d p l aci n g ou t si d e of t h e t op - 10 , t h i s t er r i t or y of p er f or m an ce i s n ot on e h e occu p i es of t en . M an y st at e t h at Ror y i s t h e cl osest t h i n g t o T i ger W ood s t h e sp or t w i l l ever see, an d si m i l ar t o T i ger , Ror y ?s l ow s ar e ex t r em ely l ow w h i l st h i s h i gh s h ap p en t o be ex t r em ely h i gh . Fr om l ar ge bu r st s of su ccess t o sl u m p s of d ecl i n e w i t h i n h i s gam e, i t i s n ow obv i ou s t h at h e i s su f f er i n g ser i ou s t ech n i qu e set back s. A s st at ed on Sk y sp or t s, t h e r oot of Ror y M cl l r oy ?s d ecl i n e i n sw i n g t ech n i qu e an d p er f or m an ce w as d u e t o h i s l ook i n g f or m or e sw i n g sp eed t h r ou gh al t er i n g h i s t ech n i qu e an d n or m al p r act i ce r egi m en . Ror y, r ef l ect i n g i n a r egr et t i n g t on e, say s, ?I 'd be ly i n g i f I sai d i t w asn 't an y t h i n g t o d o w i t h w h at B r y son d i d at t h e U S O p en ," af t er m i ssi n g t h e cu t at Saw gr ass an d r eveal i n g h i s qu est f or ex t r a sp eed an d d i st an ce h as l ed t o i ssu es w i t h h i s sw i n g. T h i s i s l i n ked t o t h e r ecen t i m p r ovem en t of f am ou s p l ay er B r y son D eCh am beau , f r om bu l k i n g u p t o i n cr ease h i s sw i n g sp eed al l t h e w ay t o w i n n i n g t h e U S O p en . U si n g t h i s u n or t h od ox m et h od h as i n f l u en ced m i l l i on s of gol f er s, i n cl u d i n g p r of essi on al s on t h e u p p er t i er s su ch as Ror y. Golfbytourmiss

A f t er t h ese r ecen t i ssu es w i t h h i s sw i n g cau sed by h i s ow n d eci si on s, Ror y h as ch osen t o br i n g l egen d ar y p r of essi on al sw i n g coach Pet er Cow en i n t o h i s t eam , i n or d er t o h el p h i m r egai n m om en t u m an d br i n g a gr eat sh ow t o t h e n ex t gol f m ajor ch am p i on sh i p , t h e M ast er s. https://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/possible-swing-changes-for-rory-mcilroy

Hami Faqihinejad 21' T h e d eal of Ror y w or k i n g w i t h Pet er Cow en i s a gr eat on e as Ror y h as been w or k i n g w i t h h i s ch i l d h ood sw i n g coach , M i ch ael B an n on , f or over t w en t y y ear s. M an y i n i t i al ly su sp ect ed t h at Ror y w ou l d be r ep l aci n g h i m ; h ow ever , h e ju st ad d ed i n Coach Cow en f or ex t r a i n si gh t , as h i s k n ow l ed ge i s on e t h at h as been cr af t ed f r om y ear s of ex p er i en ce as a p r of essi on al gol f er as w el l as a coach .

Golf Monthly

Worldwide Golf

T h i s t r u ly i s a gr eat p ai r i n g f or a p l ay er - coach su ccess st or y, an d m an y gol f f an s h op e t o see Ror y m ake a good r et u r n t o t h e M ast er s i n Au gu st a, Geor gi a. W i t h t h i s, i f Ror y i s abl e t o w i n , h e w i l l be t h e si x t h gol f er i n h i st or y t o w i n a gr an d sl am . T h i s m ean s w i n n i n g al l f ou r m ajor gol f ch am p i on sh i p t i t l es: T h e M ast er s, U S O p en , T h e O p en an d T h e PGA Ch am p i on sh i p . Ror y ?s n am e i s secon d t o T i ger ?s. Fan s alw ay s bel i eve i n h i m an d so d oes t h e sp or t . M an y l ook f or w ar d t o seei n g t h e gr eat n ess t h at w i l l com e.

Ent er t ainment 30

2021 Al bums Scary H ours - D r ake

D r ake cam e ou t w i l i t h a br an d n ew EP on M ar ch 5th of 20 21. T h i s sequ el t o t h e f i r st Scary H ours i n cl u d es th r ee son gs: ?W h at?s N ex t?, ?W an ts an d N eed s (f t . L i l B aby )?, an d ?L em on Pep p er Fr eest y l e (f t . Ri ck Ross)?. T h i s EP con si sts of n ew - sty l e, ex p er i m en t al h i p h op th at r eal ly sol i d i f i es D r ake?s p l ace i n ou r d ay an d age of m u si c. N on e of t h ese son gs d i sap p oi n t an d f eel as i f th ei r p r od u cti on v al u e r eal ly p l ay u p t o st an d ar d s. T h e tw o f eatu r es r eal ly f eel as i f t h ey ar e w or t h t h e w ai t on D r ake?s m u si c.

D estined 2 W in - L i l T jay D estined 2 W in i s T jay ?s sop h om or e st u d i o al bu m , w i t h f eatu r es f r om 6L ACK , Pol o G, Fi v i o For ei gn , T y ga, Saw eeti e an d m or e. T h i s al bu m r eal ly ju m p star ted of f of h i s son g ?Cal l i n g M y Ph on e?, l eaked an d t h en r el eased as a si n gl e i n l at e 20 20 an d ear ly 20 21. A s an u p an d com i n g N ew Yor k ar t i st, L i l T jay kep t t h e var i et y gr eat on son gs su ch as ?M ove? an d ?I r r egu l ar L ove? t h at h ave a h ap p y go l u ck y ton e, as w el l as son gs l i ke ?Ru n I t U p? an d ?Par t of T h e Pl an ? w h i ch st i ck t o h i s r oot s as a N ew Yor k D r i l l ar ti st .

Sammy dhouib '21 PLAYBOY - Tor y L an ez A n oth er al bu m en cou r aged by Tor y L an ez?s soci al m ed i a gr ow i n g, PLAYBOY i s ver y m u ch an al bu m to l ook ou t f or . Tor y L an ez m an ages t o keep h i s w el l - k n ow n Rn B t on e, i m p r ove on i t an d m ake su r e i t i sn ?t r ep eti t i ve. T h e f eatu r es on t h i s al bu m ar e l i m i ted ; on ly h av i n g f eatu r es f r om Ch r i s B r ow n an d N y ce m ake t h e l i st en er f ocu s on m ost ly Tor y L an ez an d h i s si n gi n g, w h i ch i s som eth i n g t h at r eal ly i s h ar d t o com p l ai n abou t. W h i l e al l sou n d i n g w i th i n th e bar r i er s of Rn B, each son g h as t h ei r ow n ly r i cal con ten t as w el l as u n i qu e beat t o m ake t h e al bu m d i ver se - son gs su ch as ?D ecei v i n g Ey e? an d ?YD L R? ar e sl ow an d em ot i on al , w h er eas ?Sh ooby D oow oop / O n e L ast H ear t br eak ? an d ?L ad y of N ep tu n e? cou l d be p l ay ed essen ti al ly an y w h er e.

T ickets To M y D ownfall - M ach i n e Gu n T ickets To M y D ownfall i s an i con i c al bu m t h at r ed ef i n es h ow ar ti st s t r eat t h ei r m u si c. M ach i n e Gu n Kel ly, bef or e t h i s al bu m , w as a r u n - of - th e m i l l r ap ar ti st. A f ter t h e al bu m , M ach i n e Gu n Kel ly an d T r av i s B ar ker (T h e L ead Gu i tar i st) w er e t r an sf or m ed to t h e m od er n d ay B l i n k- 182 d u o. Son gs on th i s al bu m ar e ver y r ep r esen t ati ve of t h e ear ly 20 0 0 ?s p op p u n k scen e, w i t h em ot i on al , l ou d ly r i cs accom p an i ed by ex agger at ed an d p ow er f u l gu i t ar r i f f s. T h e al bu m con t ai n s f eatu r es f r om I an n D i or , T r i p p i e Red d , an d H al sey - al l t h r ee of t h ese ar t i sts n ot k n ow n f or t h ei r abi l i ty t o si n g over p op p u n k tr ack s. T h e beau ti f u l p ar t of t h i s, h ow ever , i s h ow p er f ect each an d ever y son g sou n d s, as w el l as h ow u n i qu e ever y son g i s. Son gs su ch as ?t i tl e t r ack ? an d ?k i ss k i ss? ar e h i gh en er gy an d exci t i n g, w h i l e son gs su ch as ?n oth i n g i n si d e? an d ?jaw br eaker ? i n cl u d e m or e r aw, ly r i cal con t en t . M ach i n e Gu n Kel ly m akes a con ci ou s ef f or t t o bu i l d u p on p op p u n k n or m s, an d i t w or k s ou t .

Ent er t ainment

Senior Songs! Sen i or s w er e asked w h at

Maheen Khan '21 Maheen Khan

son gs r em i n d t h em of t h ei r h i gh sch ool ex p er i en ce, h er e ar e som e of t h ei r an sw er s!

Hami Faqihi Nezad

Sani Ali

Aarnav Prakash Alizae Chasse

Tessa Sevsek

Caleb Delacy

KarimItani

CURRENT EVENTS

Endanger ed Animal s B etw een 20 0 0 t o 20 10 , i t w as est i m at ed t h at 15 m i l l i on h ect ar es of l an d w as su bject t o d ef or estat i on an n u al ly. W ood l an d ar eas ar e bei n g cl ear ed to m ake w ay f or h ou ses, i n d u st r y, an d agr i cu l tu r e. T h i s r ap i d d ecr ease i n n atu r al en v i r on m en t s h as h ad a cr i t i cal i m p act on th e an i m al s t h at i n h abi t th em , y et th e d est r u cti on con t i n u es, ju sti f i ed by soci ety ?s n eed t o p r ov i d e f or i t s ever i n cr easi n g p op u l at i on . W or l d w i d e, t h e W W F esti m ates t h at t h er e h as been a ?60 % d ecl i n e i n t h e si ze of p op u l ati on s of m am m al s, bi r d s, f i sh , r ep t i l es, an d am p h i bi an s i n ju st over 40 y ear s?. M i n i m al avai l abl e sp ace h as been l ead i n g t o a gr ow t h i n h u m an en cou n t er s w i th w i l d an i m al s. T h i s p u t s bot h p ar t i es at r i sk an d cau ses m ajor d i sr u p t i on s i n th e f u n cti on al i t y of a com m u n i t y. Fu r t h er m or e, gen eti c v ar i at i on th r ou gh ou t t h e an i m al k i n gd om h as su f f er ed gr eatly at t h e h an d of m an ?s d est r u ct i ve h abi t s. Var i ati on i s i m p or tan t t o p r ov i d e an i m al s w i t h i m m u n i t y t o d i seases an d oth er obstacl es p r esen t . O ver f i sh i n g an d h u n ti n g as w el l as m on ocu l t u r e, gr ow i n g on ly on e ty p e of cr op , h ave al so been con tr i bu t i n g f actor s to t h e d ecl i n e i n v ar i ati on .

Sea Ot t er s -

A l m ost w en t com p l et ely ex t i n ct i n t h e 1930 s U se t ool s si m i l ar t o ear ly h u m an s an d p r i m at es St on es t o cr ack op en m u ssel s M ost ar e r i gh t h an d ed H ave op p osabl e t h u m bs A bou t 3,0 0 0 l ef t i n t h e w i l d

T h r eat s -

H u n t ed f or t h ei r val u abl e f u r - U sed f or coats, h ats, a l i n i n g H abi t at D estr u ct i on

Golden Lion Tam ar in -

250 0 l ef t, abou t ? of w h i ch r ai sed i n by p eop l e t h ei r t ai l s ar e u p to tw i ce t h e th ei r bod y l en gt h A l m ost w en t ex t i n ct ( d ow n t o abou t 20 0 ) i n 1960

T h r eat s: -

90 % of th ei r n atu r al h abi tats h ave been l ost d u e t o d ef or estat i on i n Br azi l

Danielle Dewbre '23 Asian Eleph an t s -

tr u n k al on e con t ai n s abou t 10 0 ,0 0 0 d i f f er en t m u scl es Eat u p to 30 0 p ou n d s of f ood a d ay ? of th ei r p op u l at i on l i ves i n cap ti v i ty 20 ,0 0 0 to 40 ,0 0 0 l ef t i n t h e w i l d - Pop u l at i on d ecr eased 50 % over th e p ast 75 y ear s

T h r eats: -

H abi tat l oss Poach i n g f or i vor y t u sk s A n i m al tr af f i ck i n g Ph ajaan - T r ad i ti on al p r acti ces of t am i n g a y ou n g el ep h an t bou n d w i t h r op es, con f i n ed i n t i gh t w ood en st r u ctu r es, st ar ved , an d beat en r ep eated ly w i t h bu l l h ook s

Blu e Wh ale -

W ei gh s 50 ,0 0 0 ? 150 ,0 0 0 k g Eats u p t o 6 t on s of k r i l l p er d ay L ar gest an i m al s on ear th - 10 0 f eet l on g A bou t 25,0 0 0 l ef t i n t h e w or l d - T h i s i s abou t 10 % of w h at i t w as i n 1911

T h r eat s: -

w h al er s sel l bl u bber & bod y p ar t s t o su p p l i er s w h o m ad e v ar i ou s m at er i al s ou t of i t - (i e. O i l ? L am p oi l , soap , p er f u m e, can d l es, an d cosm et i cs) Photo Credits: WWF website

D esp i te th e d au n t i n g si tu at i on at h an d , t h er e ar e l ar ge p ar t s of soci ety p u sh i n g back agai n st t h e escal ati n g i ssu es. T h e W or l d W i l d l i f e Fu n d (W W F) h as been a l ead er f or th e su stai n abl e t eam over th e p ast 60 y ear s. T h ei r w or k i n cl u d es cl osi n g A si a?s i vor y m ar ket s; r ai si n g aw ar en ess an d f u n d s f or p r ojects su ch as d evel op i n g sh el ter s f or or p h an ed or i n ju r ed an i m al s; p atr ol l i n g h i gh r i sk an i m al s; an d col l ecti n g d ata on i n f or m ati on t h at i s cr u ci al t o u n d er stan d i n g th e com p l ex i t y of t h e si tu ati on . I n ad d i ti on , t h e W W F h el p s i n d i v i d u al com m u n i t i es d evel op su st ai n abl e p r acti ces t h at can be i m p l em en t ed i n n u m er ou s l ocati on s. W or k i n g h an d i n h an d w i t h l egal p er son n el h as al so p r oved ben ef i ci al to cr eat i n g l aw s p r even ti n g i l l egal d ef or estat i on an d i m p l em en ti n g p ol i ci es t o p r om ot e su stai n abl e p r acti ces at an i n d u st r i al scal e. You can m ake a d i f f er en ce i n a var i et y of w ay s, al l p r om oted st r on gly t h r ou gh t h e gu i d an ce of A SD . I n d i v i d u al ly, m an y or gan i zati on s su ch as W W F p r ov i d e y ou w i t h t h e op p or tu n i t y to d on at e t o t h ei r ef f or ts. Cl u bs i n cl u d i n g bu t n ot l i m i ted to H i gh T i d e, SO W , an d GI N ar e al l st u d en t l ed or gan i zat i on s w or k i n g tow ar d cr eat i n g a bet ter w or l d f u el ed by en v i r on m en tal ly aw ar e ci t i zen s.

CURRENT EVENTS

Dana el helaly '23

What ar e y ou l ooking f or war d t o af t er covid? A f ter al m ost a y ear of ei th er bei n g on l ock d ow n or r estr i cted f r om goi n g to cer tai n p l aces, I t h i n k ever y bod y f eel s cl au str op h obi c i n a w ay. I t st i l l sh ock s m e th at w e h ave t o w ear m ask s w h en ever w e st ep f oot ou t of ou r h ou ses, an d n o on e w ou l d ?ve ever t h ou gh t t h at m ask s w ou l d be t h e n ew n or m f or over a y ear . T h e scar i est p ar t i s t h at w e st i l l d on ?t k n ow w h en t h i s p an d em i c w i l l com e t o an en d . I t cou l d be i n a f ew m on t h s or a f ew y ear s; w h o k n ow s? A n y w ay s, I ?m su r e al m ost ever y on e h as a bu cket l i st of t h i n gs t h ey w an t t o d o af ter cov i d so l et ?s t ake a l ook at w h at a f ew p eop l e sai d . M ar c: I am l ook i n g f or w ar d t o goi n g to Egy p t t o v i si t m y f am i ly t h at I h aven ?t seen i n ages. H an n ah : I am l ook i n g f or w ar d t o h av i n g p ar t i es agai n an d bei n g abl e to h ave h ou se gat h er i n gs w i t h l ar ge n u m ber s of p eop l e. M an u el a: I am l ook i n g f or w ar d t o goi n g back t o Col om bi a so t h at I can see m y f am i ly. A s y ou can see, t h ey m en ti on ed tr avel i n g an d p ar t i es. T r avel i n g i s p r obably on ever y p er son ?s bu cket l i st becau se p eop l e ei th er w an t to go back t o t h ei r cou n t r i es to see f am i ly an d f r i en d s or ju st go on tr i p s. W i t h m ost of Eu r op e on l ock d ow n , tr avel i n g i s st i l l ver y r est r i cted an d al so i n ot h er p l aces. T h er e ar e so m an y p l aces th at ever y on e w as p l an n i n g t o go t o t h i s p ast y ear an d v i si t , bu t i t al l p au sed becau se of t h e p an d em i c. I ?m su r e th at w h en cor on a i s over , ever y t h i n g w i l l r esu m e an d go back t o n or m al w h er e m ask s w i l l n o l on ger be n eed ed , p l an es w i l l be f ly i n g ever y secon d , an d t h er e w i l l be p ar t i es al m ost ever y n i gh t . Bu t I am sti l l th an k f u l f or cor on a i n a w ay becau se t ak i n g a br eak f r om r eal i ty w as good , esp eci al ly f or t h e p l an et, an d n ow w e can sl ow ly st ar t to get back t o ou r ol d p atter n s w i t h ou t goi n g over boar d .

capturetheatlas.com

Hannah Reef ay "23

Mask Pol l ut ion A l on g w i t h th e ot h er i ssu es t h at cam e w i t h Cov i d - 19 su ch as i sol ati on an d econ om i c sh u td ow n , on e m ajor p r obl em t h at i sn ?t t al ked abou t n ear ly en ou gh as i t sh ou l d be i s t h e p ol l u t i on t h at com es w i t h d i sp osabl e m ask s th at w e u se ever y d ay. D i sp osabl e m ask s ar e m ad e of p l asti c w h i ch can n ot be bi od egr ad ed . H ow ever , t h ey ar e br oken d ow n i n to sm al l p i eces of p l ast i c an d ar e f ou n d om n i p r esen t i n ecosy st em s. Ju st l i ke p l asti c bags an d p l asti c w ater bot t l es, i f t h e m ask s ar en ?t d i sp osed of cor r ectly i n r ecy cl i n g bi n s, th ey en d u p i n t h e ocean s an d en v i r on m en t. W i th t h e gl obal p an d em i c an d en f or cem en t of m ask s w or l d w i d e bei n g f ai r ly n ew, r esear ch er s ar e u n abl e t o f i n d an y d at a on m ask d egr ad at i on .

Indiatvnews.com

A n oth er m ajor p r obl em w i th m ask s an d th ei r af f ect on t h e en v i r on m en t i s t h at m an y m ar i n e an i m al s m ay con f u se d i sp osabl e f ace m ask s w i t h jel ly f i sh an d eat t h em . T h i s i s a h u ge h eal th h azar d as tu r tl es an d ot h er m ar i n e l i f e can ch oke on t h e d i sp osabl e m ask s. M ar i n e l i f e i s n ot t h e on ly gr ou p of an i m al s af f ect ed by m ask p ol l u t i on ; d ogs an d ot h er d om est i c an i m al s ar e al so h u gely at r i sk . A d og sw al l ow i n g a f ace m ask can cau se l i f e- th r eat en i n g gu t p r obl em s su ch as "l i n ear f or ei gn bod y obst r u cti on ." Som e p oten ti al con sequ en ces f r om a u sed d i sp osabl e f ace m ask i n t h e en v i r on m en t accor d i n g t o U N EP i s i t cou l d l ead t o t h e r el ease of secon d ar y t r an sm i ssi on of d i seases t o h u m an s.

D o y ou w an t to h el p bu t ar en ?t su r e h ow to? H er e ar e som e si m p l e sol u ti on s y ou can d o t o h el p f i x t h e p r obl em . 1. I n st ead of w ear i n g a d i sp osabl e f ace m ask , r ep l ace i t w i th a cotton , r eu sabl e on e. A l t h ou gh t h ey can be u n com f or t abl e, i t i s w or t h h el p sav i n g t h e en v i r on m en t . 2. Star t p l aci n g m ask- on ly t r ash can s w h er ever y ou can f or col l ecti on an d d i sp osal t o en cou r age p eop l e ar ou n d y ou to d i sp ose of t h ei r m ask s i n t h at bi n . 3. W h en ever y ou see a d i sp osabl e m ask on th e gr ou n d , p i ck i t u p an d d i sp ose of i t cor r ectly. 4. Ed u cate an d i n f or m t h ose ar ou n d y ou abou t t h e r i sk s an d d an ger s on t h e en v i r on m en t becau se of d i sp osabl e f ace m ask s.

CURRENT EVENTS

Mia Saf ar '21

Covid- 19 D u b ai B ased : Cov i d - 19 h as br ou gh t abou t th e m ost tu r bu l en t t i m es, en t i r ely ch an gi n g t h e w ay th at h u m an s h ave l i ved t h ei r l i ves. Su d d en ly, th er e w er e r est r i ct i on s on cap aci t y of p eop l e an d t r avel i n g betw een cou n t r i es as w el l as m ask m an d at es. W h i l e m an y p eop l e i n D u bai h ave been st r i ct ly f ol l ow i n g t h e p r ecau ti on ar y r u l es i m p l em en ted by t h e D u bai of f i ci al s si n ce ear ly Febr u ar y, of f i ci al s i n D u bai h ave con f i r m ed t h at t h e Cov i d - 19 r est r i cti on s cu r r en t ly i n p l ace, w h i ch w er e d u e t o be l i f t ed at t h e en d of Febr u ar y, w i l l n ow be ex t en d ed t h r ou gh ou t Ram ad an . T h e d eci si on w as m ad e based on th e d ata p r ov i d ed by D u bai ?s Su p r em e Com m i t tee of Cr i si s an d D i saster M an agem en t , cl ai m i n g t h at th e r u l es cu r r en t ly i m p l em en ted ar e sh ow i n g ef f ect i ven ess an d su ccess.

T h e p r ecau t i o n ar y m easu r es t h at w i l l n ow ex t en d t h r o u gh o u t Ram ad an I n cl u d e: -

I n d oor ven u es, i n cl u d i n g ci n em as an d en t er t ai n m en t an d sp or ts ven u es, w i l l con t i n u e t o op er ate at 50 p er cen t of m ax i m u m cap aci t y an d u n d er i n t en si f i ed p r ecau ti on ar y m easu r es. V i si tor s al l ow ed i n sh op p i n g m al l s an d gu est s i n h otel est abl i sh m en t s an d i n si d e sw i m m i n g p ool s an d p r i vat e beach es i n h otel s w i l l be l i m i ted t o 70 p er cen t t otal cap aci ty. Restau r an t s an d caf és ar e r equ i r ed to cl ose by 1 am . I n t en si f i ed m on i t or i n g an d i n sp ect i on cam p ai gn s w i l l con ti n u e t o en su r e st r i ct com p l i an ce w i th m easu r es i n cl u d i n g soci al d i st an ci n g an d w ear i n g of f acem ask

vexel.com

pngarts.com

Mia Saf ar '21

Rest r ict ions I n t er n at i o n al : Ju st w h en w e th ou gh t t h e Cov i d - 19 p an d em i c h as cl ai m ed ou r l i ves f or ever , t h e vacci n es ar r i ved an d so d i d t h e h op e th at w e m ay al l be abl e t o t r avel agai n soon . Bu t w h er e w i l l vacci n at ed t r avel er s be abl e t o go? Cu r r en tly, th e Eu r op ean Par l i am en t i s w or k i n g on t h e cr eati on of a D i gi t al Gr een Cer ti f i cate w h i ch al l ow s vacci n at ed ci t i zen s t o tr avel f r eely acr oss t h e con ti n en t, som eth i n g n ot avai l abl e n ow. O t h er cou n t r i es h ave t h ei r ow n p l an s. I cel an d h as cr eat ed th ei r ow n cer ti f i cates f or v acci n ated ci ti zen s as w el l as Gr eece, Sp ai n , Geor gi e, D en m ar k , an d Sw ed en .

W h i l e n o t al l co u n t r i es h av e cer t i f i cat es, t h ey st i l l ar e av ai l ab l e f o r t r av el t h i s su m m er : 1. Gr eece i s w el com e t o an y on e t h i s su m m er w i th a vacci n at i on cer t i f i cate or a n egati ve CO V I D - 19 t est t aken n o m or e th an 72 h ou r s p r ev i ou sly. 2. Bel i ze tr avel er s w h o can sh ow t h ey h ave been f u l ly v acci n ated can w ai ve th e CO V I D - 19 t esti n g r equ i r em en t 3. Cr oati a i s op en t o t r avel er s w i t h ou t th e testi n g or qu ar an ti n e bef or e ar r i val i f i t h as been 14 d ay s si n ce r ecei v i n g t w o d oses of a vacci n e. 4. En t r an ce t o Sey ch el l es i s al l ow ed i f y ou h ave r ecei ved a com p l ete d ose of CO V I D - 19 v acci n e at l east t w o w eek s bef or e ar r i v al A N D h ave a n egati ve PCR taken w i t h i n 72 h ou r s of tr avel .

countryflags.com

CURRENT EVENTS 40

Or ient Ed w ar d Sai d coi n ed t h e t er m Orientalism i n h i s m agn u m op u s, w h i ch goes by th e sam e n am e. Sai d d ef i n es O r i en tal i sm i n t h r ee p ar t s, bu t f or th e p u r p oses of t h i s ar ti cl e, w e sh al l be f ocu si n g on on e p ar ti cu l ar d ef i n i ti on of h i s r egar d i n g t h e W est ?s v i ew of t h e East . A basi c d ef i n i t i on r ef er s t o t h e su p er i or , con d escen d i n g att i t u d es th at t h e W est em bod i es t ow ar d s t h e East, al so d eem ed ?th e O r i en t.? T h e O r i en t / East i s of ten d ef i n ed as A si a an d N or t h A f r i ca. W i t h i n Sai d ?s gr ou n d - br eak i n g w r i t i n g on th e su bject , h e asser t s th at back bon e of th e con cep t of O r i en t al i sm i s col on i al i sm an d i m p er i al i sm - - w i th t h e W est bel i ev i n g t h e East t o be u n d er - d evel op ed , back w ar d s, an d st agn an t , w h i l e t h e W est i s d ep i cted as a sh i n i n g beacon of d evel op m en t, gr ow t h , m od er n i t y, an d i s i n h er en t ly su p er i or an d m or e r ati on al i n com p ar i son t o t h e m or e ?p r i m i ti ve?East.

Picture 1: News from Sudan by Ludwig Duetsch (1885) Picture 2: Cover of Orientalism by Edward Said (Painting: The Snake Charmer by Jean Leon Gerome (1880)

A s i s ev i d en t, t h i s i s a ver y sel f - ser v i n g d ef i n i ti on of t h e East to h ol d f or th e W est. T h e WPiest con t i n u ou sly asser ts t h at th e O r i en t i s m y ster i ou s, exot i c, d an ger ou s, sen su al , an d sen sel ess al l at on ce. I t i s back w ar d s an d p r i m i ti ve- - th u s, i n or d er to ?save?t h em f r om t h em selves, i t f al l s u p on t h e W est t o i n t er ven e an d con tr ol t h e East i n or d er t o r ef or m i t i n t h e W est?s i m age. T h i s i s i n d u bi t ably a col on i al an d i m p er i al i st m i n d set, an d t h i s m i n d set con t i n u es to l i ve on t od ay t h r ou gh th e scop e of n eo- i m p er i al i sm an d col on i al i sm , el u ci d at ed by t h e U S?an d ot h er W ester n p ow er s?f or ei gn i n t er ven ti on i n th e M i d d l e East - - i n ter ven t i on t h at i s bot h con t r over si al an d of ten ti m es car r i ed ou t w i th u l ter i or m ot i ves (m ost n ot ably an d con t r over si al ly, t h e u n n ecessar y 20 0 3 I r aq W ar , w h i ch d est abi l i zed th e r egi on so gr eatly an d l ef t a p ow er vacu u m so l ar ge t h at I SI S an d i t s m an y i t er at i on s f ou n d p u r ch ase w i t h i n t h e cou n t r y.) Fol l ow i n g t h e even ts of 9/ 11, O r i en t al i sm becam e f u n d am en tal ly l i n ked t o I sl am op h obi a, bot h bei n g i n h er en tly r aci st i d eol ogi es. T h r ou gh O r i en t al i sm , t h e East i s si m p l i f i ed t o a m ean s of ex t en d i n g t h e w h i t e m an ?s i m agi n ati ve scop e, m er ely a bl an k sl at e.

Farrah Abuasad 21'

t al ism T h e r aci st p r acti ce of O r i en tal i sm al so ser ves t o over - si m p l i f y t h e p eop l es of t h e East, r ed u ci n g t h em t o m er e d ecor ati on s an d backd r op s w i t h i n th ei r ow n cu l t u r es an d soci eti es. T h ese st er eoty p es of t h e ?O r i en t al w om en ? ar e ex t r em ely com m on - p l ace w i t h i n soci ety t od ay an d r ever ber ate th r ou gh ou t f i l m , t el ev i si on , p op cu l tu r e, an d d r aw n car i cat u r es. T h i s i s p ar ti cu l ar ly ev i d en t i n t h e f i l m i n d u st r y of th e U n i ted St ates. Pop u l ar f i l m s su ch as I ndiana Jones, t h e D arjeeling Limited, an d even Aladdin p er p etu at e t h ese O r i en t al st er eoty p es of t h e East to h or r i f y i n g ef f ect, el u ci d ati n g th e ex t en t t o w h i ch t h e O r i en tal i st v i ew i s i n gr ai n ed i n t h e W est ?s col l ecti ve p sy ch e an d cu l tu r e. A n ex am p l e of O r i en tal i sm i n f i l m i s i n a m u ch bel oved , cl assi c D i sn ey f i l m - - Aladdin.

Aladdin by Walt Disney Studios (1992)

M an y r ever e th e or i gi n al A l ad d i n f i l m f or i t s r ep r esen tati on of br ow n p eop l e- h ow ever , th i s r ep r esen t ati on i s su p r em ely f l aw ed at best an d st er eoty p i cal an d ou tr i gh t r aci st at i ts w or st. T h e f i r st st er eoty p e r ep r esen ted w i th i n Aladdin th at r ef er s to a cl assi c O r i en tal i st car i cat u r e i s th at of th e O r i en tal w om an - - p or t r ay ed as a m i l d , m eek , an d sh el t er ed , y et si m u l t an eou sly sex u al ly p r om i scu ou s an d sen su al al l at on ce. A n ex am p l e of t h i s i s t h e h ar em - gi r l s p r esen ted i n th e begi n n i n g of th e f i l m , as w el l as t h e d ep i cti on of Pr i n cess Jasm i n e as bei n g i n ch ai n s an d f or ced t o w ear p r ovocati ve O t tom an based h ar em - l i ke cl oth i n g t ow ar d s th e en d of t h e f i l m i n a f ace- of f w i t h Jaf ar . T h e f i l m al so gi ves t h e m al e ch ar acter s oth er t h an A l ad d i n cl ear A r ab accen ts, w h i l e A l ad d i n , th e p r ot agon i st an d h er o of th e f i l m , sou n d s d i st i n ctly A m er i can . T h e gu ar d s ar e d ep i cted as bu m bl i n g, v i ol en t, cr u el , an d st u p i d , w i t h t h ei r h eav y A r abi c accen ts, w h i l e A l ad d i n , w i th h i s W ester n accen t an d m an n er i sm s, con ti n u ou sly ou tw i ts th em an d p r oves h i s i n t el l ect i s su p er i or t o t h ei r s.

CURRENT EVENTS

O r i en tal i sm r em ai n s r am p an t th r ou gh ou t p op cu l tu r e an d t h e col l ecti ve p sy ch e of th e W est- - an d l ear n i n g t o r ecogn i ze i t i s t h e f i r st st ep tow ar d s ad d r essi n g th e i ssu e an d t u r n i n g t h e t i d e agai n st th i s r aci st , col on i al i st m i n d set . W h en A si an s an d A f r i can s ar e r ed u ced t o m er e i n com p et en t , i n f er i or backd r op s agai n st a w h i t e ch ar acter ?s or n at i on ?s so- cal l ed en l i gh t en m en t or r ati on al su p er i or i t y w i th i n t h ei r ow n cu l t u r al sp aces an d h om el an d s, i t i s n ot a si m p l e ch oi ce of p l ot or n ecessar y d ev i ce t o m ove t h e st or y f or w ar d . M i d d l e Easter n er s ar e m or e t h an y ou r m ov i e v i l l ai n s. W e ar e m or e t h an y ou r d e- f acto t er r or i st s, an d w e ar e cer t ai n ly m or e t h an i n com p et en t, exot i c, an d bar bar i c p l ot d ev i ces. T h e East ?s h i st or y of br i l l i an t p h i l osop h i cal , m at h em ati cal , sci en t i f i c, an d l i t er ar y m i n d s easi ly con ten d w i t h t h e W est ?s i n t el l ect u al cou n t er p ar ts- - an d i t i s a cr i m e to om i t t h at d eep , r i ch h i st or y an d con t i n u e t o al l ow O r i en tal i sm to ex i st th r ou gh ou t W ester n d ep i ct i on s of th e East i n p op cu l tu r e, as w el l as t h e ceasel ess f or ei gn i n t er ven t i on s on beh al f of t h e W est i n t h e M EN A r egi on i n a m i sgu i d ed at tem p t to r ef or m th e East i n th e W est?s sel f - gl or i f i ed i m age.

Aladdin by Walt Disney Studios (1992)

Picture 1: Raiders of the Lost Ark (Dir. by Steven Spielberg 1981) Picture 2: Lawrence of Arabia (Dir. by David Lean 1962)

" Edward Said....Every Single Empire"by John Englart (Takver)

CURRENT EVENTS

Nayad Douaihy 21'

CHAOS IN My anmar M y an m ar ., w h at i s h ap p en i n g r i gh t n ow ?

BBC, Myanmar Police

CNN, Myanmar Protest

M y an m ar i s l ocated i n Sou th east A si a, h ol d i n g a p op u l at i on of ar ou n d 54 m i l l i on p eop l e, w i t h t h e bi ggest ci ty bei n g Yan gon , an d t h e cap i tal bei n g N ay Py i Taw. Pr otests ar e f l ood i n g t h e cou n t r y, an d p eop l e ar e bei n g h ar m ed f or si m p ly sp eak i n g u p . N ow t h at t h e m i l i t ar y i s i n ch ar ge, t h ey h ave d ecl ar ed a ?y ear - l on g stat e of em er gen cy ?. Tak i n g con t r ol on Febr u ar y 1st , f ol l ow i n g a gen er al el ecti on w h i ch l ed to M s. Su u Ky i 's N L D p ar t y t o w i n by al an d sl i d e. W i t h even t s occu r r i n g af t er t h e el ect i on , M s. Su u Ky i i s n ow bei n g kep t at an u n k n ow n l ocat i on si n ce t h e cou p began . Sh e i s n ot on ly bei n g h i d d en , bu t sh e i s n ow al so f aci n g n u m er ou s ch ar ges, w h i ch i n cl u d e v i ol at i on of t h e cou n tr y 's O f f i ci al Secr et s Act , al on g w i t h p u bl i sh i n g i n f or m ati on t h at w i l l "cau se f ear or al ar m ". Ri gh t af ter t h e ch aos of M s. Su u Ky i ?s el ecti on , m i l i tar y com m an d er - i n - ch i ef M i n Au n g H l ai n g t ook p ow er , car r y i n g a si gn i f i can t p ol i t i cal i n f l u en ce al on g w i t h su ccessf u l ly m ai n t ai n i n g t h e p ow er of t h e Tat m ad aw - M y an m ar 's m i l i tar y. T h e p r otest er s h ave st ar t ed t o d em an d th e m i l i tar y gi ve back p ow er t o ci v i l i an con t r ol an d to t h e p eop l e of M y an m ar . To top i t of f , th ey ar e p r ot est i n g f or th e r el ease of Su u Ky i . D esp i t e t h e p r otest s an d t h e p er si sten ce of th e ci v i l i an s, t h e m i l i tar y h as n ot been coop er ati n g w i t h t h ei r p eop l e. I n r ecen t w eek s, t h ey 've st ep p ed u p t h ei r r esp on se t o t h e p r otest s w i t h l i ve v i d eos an d i m ages on t h e m ed i a sh ow i n g bod i es soak i n g i n p ool s of bl ood on t h e st r eet s, y ou n g p r ot ester s i n u n saf e p l ast i c h el m ets k n eel i n g f or cover f r om t h e p ol i ce, an d bu l l ets bei n g f i r ed on d ef en sel ess ci v i l i an s. A m n est y I n t er n at i on al st ated t h at t h e m i l i tar y h ad l eth al w eap on s an d t acti cs w h i ch ar e k n ow n t o be ev i d en t on t h e bat t l ef i el d an d u sed t h ese agai n st p eacef u l p r otest er s. Tom A n d r ew s, a U N sp eci al r ap p or teu r f or h u m an r i gh ts, cl ai m ed th at t h e m i l i t ar y 's "br u tal r esp on se" t o t h e p eacef u l p r ot ests i s "l i kely m eet i n g t h e l egal t h r esh ol d f or cr i m es agai n st h u m an i t y." W i th t h e d eath t ol l p assi n g 80 0 , M y an m ar an d t h ei r p eop l e ar e i n a stat e of

ch aos. T h e on ly qu est i on t o be asked i s w h et h er or n ot t h e m i l i tar y w i l l st an d d ow n an d d o w h at i s best f or t h ei r p eop l e an d f or th ei r cou n t r y.

Khaled Salem'21

Asian Hat e cr imes in Amer ica W i t h Cov i d - 19 st i l l r agi n g on t h r ou gh ou t ou r com m u n i t i es, m an y A m er i can s h ave begu n bl am i n g th e A si an - A m er i can p op u l at i on f or th e p an d em i c t h at h as cau sed m an y p r obl em s. T h er e h as been an i n cr ease of 149% i n h at e cr i m es on A si an p eop l e i n t h e U n i ted States. N ot on ly h as t h er e been ver bal h ar assm en t bu t al so p h y si cal assau l t, bei n g cou gh ed on or sp at at , an d al so bei n g d en i ed jobs or ser v i ce. N ow A si an A m er i can s h ave t aken t o t h e st r eet s to p r ot est w h at i s goi n g on . T h e p r ot ests, h ow ever , seem to be u n su ccessf u l si n ce t h e am ou n t of h ate cr i m es on A si an s keep s on su r gi n g u p w ar d s w i t h ap p r ox i m at ely 27 n ew cases a d ay.

BBC

The Guardian

Asian-American Protesters

Senate passes a bill attempting to stop Asian hate crimes

T h er e h ave been m an y v i d eos ci r cu l ati n g of t h e abu se th at A si an p eop l e h ave h ad to en d u r e ar ou n d t h e w or l d , bu t t h e w or st h as been com i n g f r om th e U n i ted Stat es. N ot on ly i s i t p ai n f u l t o w atch , i t ju st d oesn ?t m ake sen se. A si an - A m er i can s ar e bei n g t ar get ed f or cau si n g a v i r u s t h at w asn ?t t h ei r f au l t . I bel i eve t h i s i s becau se of f or m er Pr esi d en t T r u m p?s sp eech es an d cal l i n g i t th e ?Ch i n ese V i r u s? w h i ch l ed t o m an y an ti - A si an h ate cr i m es h ap p en i n g t h r ou gh ou t th e cou n t r y. Sad ly, th e m i n or i ty gr ou p i s st r u ggl i n g to f i n d a voi ce t o f i gh t back agai n st th i s h or r i bl e p r obl em . H ow ever , th e U n i ted Stat es gover n m en t h as n ot been w at ch i n g f r om af ar , r ecen t ly th e Sen at e h as p assed a bi l l th at i n cl u d es w ay s t o com bat an d m i t i gate th e A si an h ate cr i m es goi n g on , an d i t w i l l att em p t t o n ot al l ow an y h at e cr i m e t o an y gr ou p i n t h e U n i ted Stat es. T h e bi l l i n qu est i on w ou l d d i r ect t h e d ep ar tm en t s of ju st i ce, h eal th , an d h u m an ser v i ces to star t sp r ead i n g aw ar en ess of h ate cr i m es an d t r y i n g to gu i d e p eop l e. T h i s bi l l w i l l al so em p l oy agen ci es an d cr eat e an on l i n e r ep or ti n g p l at f or m so t h en v i ct i m s of h ate cr i m es can r ep or t w h at h ap p en ed t o t h em . H op ef u l ly, th i s bi l l p asses t h r ou gh th e h ou se so w e can st ar t h eal i n g t h e su f f er i n g A si an p op u l at i on .

CURRENT EVENTS

ASIAN RACISM Yeonwoo Park '22 I am Yeon w oo Par k , an d I am A si an . M or e sp eci f i cal ly, Kor ean . I am p r ou d t o be A si an , an d i t i s w i t h a h eav y h ear t th at I w r i t e th i s ar t i cl e. I am com p el l ed t o w r i te th i s ar ti cl e f or r eason s I 'm su r e m an y of y ou ar e al r ead y aw ar e of : A n t i - A si an h at e cr i m es an d t h e r aci sm su r r ou n d i n g A si an s, an d m or e sp eci f i cal ly, t h e tr agi c At l an t a sh ooti n g t h at t ook p l ace on M ar ch 17t h , 20 21. For t h ose of y ou w h o ar e n ot so f am i l i ar w i t h th e si tu ati on , on M ar ch 17t h , Rober t A ar on L on g (21) t ar geted th r ee sp as i n At l an t a, Geor gi a. T h e n i gh t en d ed w i t h h i m m u r d er i n g ei gh t p eop l e, of w h i ch si x w er e A si an w om en . T h ei r n am es ar e as f ol l ow s: So o n C h u n g Par k (74), H y u n Ju n g Gr an t (51), Su n ch a K i m (6 9), Yo n g A e Yu e (6 3), D el ai n a A sh l ey Yau n (33), Pau l A n d r e M i ch el s (54), X i ao j i e T an (4 9), D aoy o u Fen g (4 4). "T h e su sp ect t ol d t h e p ol i ce t h at h e h ad a ?sex u al ad d i ct i on ?an d h ad car r i ed ou t th e sh oot i n gs at t h e m assage p ar l or s t o el i m i n ate h i s ?t em p t at i on ?," th e au t h or i t i es sai d on W ed n esd ay. H e al so sai d th at h e h ad f r equ en t ed m assage p ar l or s i n t h e p ast an d l au n ch ed t h e at tack s as a f or m of ven gean ce." W h i l e r ep or t i n g abou t th e si t u ati on , Cap tai n Baker , t h e Ch er okee Cou n ty Sh er i f f 's O f f i ce's d ep u ty, stat ed , "H e w as p r etty m u ch f ed u p an d h ad been k i n d of at t h e en d of h i s r op e. Yest er d ay w as a r eal ly bad d ay f or h i m , an d t h i s i s w h at h e d i d ." "H e" r ef er r i n g t o t h e k i l l er . T h e sam e d ep u ty p r om oted t h e sal e of an ti - A si an T - sh i r t s th at r ef er r ed to th e cor on av i r u s as an i m p or t f r om "Ch y - n a." For m an y A si an s l i ke m y sel f , t h i s at tem p t t o h u m an i ze t h e m u r d er er i s ap p al l i n g, an d th e at tem p t i t sel f i s an act of gr ave d i sr esp ect to th e v i cti m s an d ou r r ace as a w h ol e. To cover h i s cr i m es as a "bad d ay " i s p r ep ost er ou s an d i s l i ke k i l l i n g t h e v i cti m s t w i ce. A l t h ou gh Cap t ai n B aker 's w or d s ar e ju st f r om on e p er son , i t i s d evast ati n g to con si d er th at t h e r oot of h i s op i n i on s h as been voi ced bef or e. O n ly 4.1% of t h e p op u l ati on i n Geor gi a i s com p osed of A si an ci t i zen s, y et si x ou t of th e ei gh t v i cti m s ar e A si an , an d 10 0 % of t h e bu si n esses tar get ed t h i s d ay w er e A si an - ow n ed . W i th t h ese f act s al on e, i t qu al i f i es to be an act of an an ti - A si an h at e cr i m e. T h e f act t h at t h i s i s a h ate cr i m e m ot i vated by r ace i s su p p or ted by n ot on ly th e st ati st i cs of t h e si t u at i on bu t al so t h e w or d s of Rober t A ar on L on g h i m sel f . Accor d i n g t o a l ocal Kor ean n ew sp ap er , an em p l oy ee f r om th e Gol d M assage Sp a w h o su r v i ved t esti f i ed t h at L on g h ad cal l ed f ou r d i f f er en t Kor ean - ow n ed bu si n esses n ear by t o say, "I w i l l m u r d er al l A si an s" bef or e com m i tt i n g t h e cr i m e. "Raci al ly m ot i vated v i ol en ce sh ou l d be cal l ed ou t f or ex act ly w h at i t i s ? an d w e m u st st op m ak i n g excu ses or r ebr an d i n g i t as econ om i c an x i et y or sex u al ad d i cti on ," sai d M ar i ly n St r i ck l an d , a Kor ean - A m er i can D em ocr at f r om W ash i n gton , i n a sp eech on t h e H ou se f l oor . Yo u can cal l i t a h at e cr i m e w h en i t i s a h at e cr i m e. Yo u sh o u l d cal l i t a h at e cr i m e w h en i t i s a h at e cr i m e.

I t i s n ot on ly i n r ecen t m on t h s an d y ear s th at A si an r aci sm h as been p r eval en t ; A si an r aci sm h as ex i sted r i gh t al on gsi d e r aci sm agai n st A f r i can A m er i can s an d p eop l e of t h e L GBT Q + com m u n i t y. H ow ever , i t i s i m p ossi bl e t o d en y t h at d u r i n g t h e p ast y ear , t h e p an d em i c, t h e am ou n t of A si an r aci sm h as i n cr eased d r am ati cal ly al l over t h e w or l d . I t i s u n d en i abl e t o say t h at i t st em s f r om t h e bel i ef an d bl am e th at i t i s t h e A si an s th at cr eat ed t h e cor on av i r u s. T h i s k i n d of r aci st "bl am i n g th e v i r u s on A si an s" beh av i or w as en cou r aged by A m er i ca's ow n p r esi d en t n ot too l on g ago, w i t h t er m s l i ke "K u n g- f l u " an d "Ch i n a v i r u s" bei n g f l u n g ar ou n d by p ol i t i ci an s ever si n ce t h e st ar t of th e p an d em i c. Bel ow i s an excer p t f r om a p r ess con f er en ce w i t h D on al d T r u m p : Rep o r t er : A n d d o y ou t h i n k u si n g t h e t er m "Ch i n ese v i r u s" th at p u ts A si an - A m er i can s at r i sk , t h at p eop l e m i gh t t ar get th em ? D o n al d T r u m p : N o, n ot at al l . N o, n ot at al l . I t h i n k t h ey p r obably w ou l d agr ee w i t h i t 10 0 %. I t com es f r om Ch i n a. T h er e's n oth i n g n ot t o agr ee w i th . W i t h t h e cor on av i r u s p an d em i c r an gi n g on f or a y ear , cases h ave r i sen an d so h as t h e n u m ber of A si an h at e cr i m es. T h e "i n ci d en t " i n At l an t a w as n ot th e f i r st an d , sad ly, i s u n l i kely to be t h e l ast , an d i t i s i m p er at i ve t o ack n ow l ed ge t h at w e saw t h i s com i n g n ot on ly i n t h e U n i t ed St ates bu t al l over t h e w or l d . T h er e h as been a 190 0 % i n cr ease i n an ti - A si an h ate cr i m es i n N ew Yor k Ci ty ; i n ei gh t w eek s, t h er e w er e m or e t h an 180 0 % r aci st i n ci d en ts agai n st A si an A m er i can s i n t h e U n i ted Stat es. Bu t i f t h e l i st i n g of n u m ber s d oesn 't com p l etely m ake sen se t o y ou , al l ow m e t o t el l y ou som e of t h e h or r i f i c n ew s h ead l i n es r el ated t o t h i s. A 58- y ear - ol d A si an f ath er , i d en ti f i ed as Z h ou "B r i an " Fen g w as k i l l ed on M ar ch 20 t h w h i l e tak i n g an even i n g w al k w i t h h i s w i f e i n a d ev astat i n g Tex as h i t an d r u n . A 28- y ear - ol d m ot h er of t h r ee w as f at al l y sh o t Sat u r d ay i n Com p t on , l ead i n g to acti v i sts gath er i n g an d cal l i n g f or a p ossi bl e h ate cr i m e i n vest i gat i on d u e t o t h e r ecen t r i se i n v i ol en t at tack s d i r ected at A si an s. A 69- y ear - ol d A si an f ath er w as assau l t ed w h i l e w al k i n g h i s d og ar ou n d 7 p m l ast Fr i d ay i n I r v i n e, Cal i f or n i a. A 54- y ear - ol d A si an w om an , i d en ti f i ed as M i n g L i an g, w as w al k i n g h om e af t er gr ocer y sh op p i n g on Su n d ay w h en sh e w as su d d en ly b ash ed i n t h e f ace w i t h a m et al p i p e by a st r an ger i n N YC. A 19- y ear - ol d A si an gi r l , Jessi ca D i m al an t a, w as sh o t i n t h e f ace i n San Fr an ci sco l ast Sat u r d ay (M ar ch 20 t h ). Becau se of th ese i n d ecen t i n ci d en t s t h at ar e h ap p en i n g ever y w h er e r egar d l ess of age an d gen d er , A si an s w or l d w i d e ar e con st an t ly l ook i n g over t h ei r sh ou l d er s i n f ear an d l i ve i n th e ter r or th at w e m i gh t n ot m ake i t t o ou r d est i n ati on w h en w e'r e i n p u bl i c. O u r l oved on es m ay n ot com e h om e p r eci sely becau se of t h ese h at e cr i m es w h i ch i s w h y t h er e i s so m u ch p ar an oi a w h i l e d oi n g ever y d ay th i n gs l i ke t ak i n g a w al k , goi n g t o get gr ocer i es, goi n g t o w or k , or t ak i n g t h e d og on a w al k .

CURRENT EVENTS

I k n ow i t can som eti m es seem l i ke al l of th i s i s h ap p en i n g i n an ot h er d i m en si on , som eth i n g y ou on ly en cou n t er on t h e n ew s, an d al so becau se w e l i ve i n su ch a d i ver se p ar t of t h e w or l d , y ou ?d t h i n k A si an s d on ?t go t h r ou gh t h i s h er e. W el l , y ou th ou gh t w r on g; r aci sm h ap p en s at th i s sch ool , i n D u bai , to th e p eop l e y ou k n ow, an d i t?s n ot h ap p en i n g as f ar aw ay as y ou t h i n k i t i s. Som e st u d en t s at ten d i n g ou r sch ool h ave been gr aci ou s en ou gh to of f er u p th ei r p er son al ex p er i en ces an d f eel i n gs r el at ed t o r aci sm t o gi ve y ou an i d ea of h ow cl ose i t ?s r eal ly h ap p en i n g. Som e n am es h ave been kep t an on y m ou s, as p er t h ei r r equ est t o r em ai n so. Pl ease be r esp ectf u l t o th ose w h o h ave sh ar ed t h ei r ex p er i en ces, bot h t h ose w h o h ave al l ow ed t h ei r n am e an d al so t h ose w h o h ave ch osen to st ay an on y m ou s. CW: T he following section includes Asian racial slurs To t ou ch on som e of m y p er son al ex p er i en ces, I 've h ad p eop l e com m en t on m y A si an f eatu r es l i ke m y ey es, an d som e w ou l d go so f ar as t o ask i f I r eal ly d o, i n f act , eat d ogs. T h er e w er e a h an d f u l of p eop l e w h o w ou l d con si sten tly ask i f I w as f r om N or th Kor ea an d i f I k n ew K i m Jeon g U n , ju st f or th e sake of br i n gi n g i t u p i n th e con ver sat i on . W h en I w as w al k i n g w i t h m y gr ou p of f r i en d s w h o h ap p en ed t o be al l A si an , gr ou p s of p eop l e w ou l d say th at w e w er e Ch i n ese, ch i n g ch on g, d i d t h e sl an t ey e m ot i on t o t au n t u s. I 've h ad t each er s an d st u d en t s con si st en t ly m i x u p n am es betw een ot h er A si an st u d en t s an d m e even af t er cor r ecti n g t h em m u l ti p l e ti m es. D u r i n g t h e p an d em i c, I 've h ad ad u l ts an d ch i l d r en bl at an t ly avoi d m e i n p u bl i c sp aces w h i l e st ar i n g at m e an d h ave h ad p eop l e bl am e m y r ace f or th e v i r u s, w h i ch m ad e m e p ar an oi d abou t goi n g ou t f or a w h i l e. "A m om en t t h at st an d s ou t to m e i s l ast y ear d u r i n g En gl i sh cl ass. O u r t each er h ad step p ed ou t f or a m om en t , an d a cl assm at e w as m ak i n g jokes tow ar d s an ot h er A si an stu d en t , ask i n g w h eth er h e "at e d ogs f or br eak f ast ." I over h ear d , an d af t er con f r on t i n g t h e st u d en t m ak i n g th e of f en si ve jokes, h e l au gh ed an d sai d som et h i n g al on g t h e l i n es of "Ch i n g Ch on g Ch i n g Ch on g, I gu ess I 'm r aci st ." I h ave t al ked t o t h e stu d en t agai n t h i s y ear , an d w h en i t cam e u p i n con ver sat i on h e sai d h e w as "t h e l east r aci st p er son i n t h e w or l d ." - St u d en t A "I n m i d d l e sch ool , p eop l e t h ou gh t t h at bei n g an A si an ad op t ed w as w ei r d . T h ey alw ay s asked w h o m y r eal p ar en t s w er e an d w h er e I r eal ly cam e f r om . T h ey cal l ed m e a n er d som eti m es an d som et i m es d i d n 't ap p r eci ate m e f or w h o I w as. I h on est ly got h u r t back t h en " - Fau st i n e D 'El i a '23 "I t's f u n n y h ow som e A r abs can be so r aci st w h en th e M i d d l e East i s p ar t of A si a. B ack i n 6t h gr ad e, w h en I w as casu al ly w al k i n g d ow n th e h al l at sch ool , t w o gu y s ap p r oach ed m e t h at ar e i n m y gr ad e, an d ou t of n ow h er e m ad e t h e sl an t ed ey e gestu r es an d sh ou ted at m e; "Go back t o N or t h Kor ea, ch i n g ch on g. You d on 't d eser ve t o be h er e!" At f i r st , I d i d n 't k n ow h ow t o r eact ; I got so of f en d ed t h at I w en t str ai gh t t o t h e cou n sel or an d t ol d h er ever y t h i n g. A f t er t h e t w o gu y s cam e back f r om th e of f i ce, t h ey t ol d m e I w as a sn i t ch . L ove h ow t h e v i cti m s alw ay s get p l ay ed . Rel at ed t o cor on av i r u s, l ast y ear ar ou n d M ar ch an d A p r i l , w h en cov i d ju st h i t UA E, goi n g t o t h e m al l or an y ot h er p u bl i c p l aces f el t ver y u n com f or tabl e f or m e. Peop l e gave ou r f am i ly t h e "star es" an d p u r p osely d i stan ced th em selves w h i l e w al k i n g. I m ean , i t cou l d h ave been ju st t h em bei n g cau t i ou s of t h e v i r u s, bu t I n oti ced p eop l e w ou l d over r eact w h en t h ey see an A si an p er son sp eci f i cal ly." - St u d en t B

Yeonwoo Park '22 ?I h ave an ex p er i en ce w h i ch I d on 't k n ow i f I can tel l th at i t w as 10 0 % r aci sm t h at I f aced , bu t I f el t l i ke I w as bei n g m i str eated ju st becau se of m y r ace. I t w as at th e m ar ket , w h er e I w en t t o bu y a bottl e of w at er . I w en t t o t h e cou n t er an d p u t d ow n t h e bottl e; as th e cl er k w as m ak i n g t h e p ay m en t, I cou l d f eel th e scen t of d i sp l easu r e t ow ar d s m e. Fr om t h e w ay t h at sh e d i d n 't even l ook i n t o m y ey es w h en I tal k or h er bl u n t t on e an d f ace, I cou l d ju st see t h at sh e w as ex p r essi n g d i scon t en t. W h en I ch ecked th e ch an ge sh e gave t o m e, I f ou n d t h at a coi n w as m i ssi n g. N or m al ly, I w ou l d n 't car e abou t p ay i n g a coi n m or e, bu t af t er f eel i n g of f en d ed by t h e w ay sh e t r eat ed m e, I th ou gh t I w ou l d ask h er f or th e coi n back . To t h at r equ est, sh e gl ow er ed at m e f or a secon d an d d r op p ed t h e coi n on t h e cou n t er w i t h a l ou d n oi se. Feel i n g m or e of f en d ed an d m i st r eated , I st u m bl ed ou t of t h e st or e. A s I w al ked ou t , th ou gh , I cou l d h ear h er voi ce agai n , bu t i n a ver y p l easan t t on e th i s t i m e. I t u r n ed back t o see a n ew cu stom er i n f r on t of h er , a w h i t e, ver y W ester n - l ook i n g l ad y. I st i l l can 't t el l w i t h con f i d en ce t h at sh e w as t r eati n g m e w i th a sen se of r aci sm , bu t at th at m om en t , af t er seei n g h er ch an ge h er at ti tu d e t o t h e w h i t e l ad y r i gh t af t er m e, I f el t l i ke m y A si an r ace w as t h e on ly r eason sh e gave m e th e t r eat m en t .? - K ar a H w an g ?23 "I 've ex p er i en ced r aci sm si n ce I w as ei gh t. Gr ow i n g u p i n Kor ea, I w as p r et t y sh el t er ed f r om th e at r oci t i es of r aci sm ; si n ce I l ooked A si an , I p r et t y m u ch bl en d ed i n . H ow ever , w h en I m oved t o Ch i l e, I began t o u n d er stan d th e d ow n si d es of bei n g Kor ean . Peop l e m ad e f u n of h ow m y f ood l ooked an d sm el l ed an d w ou l d cal l m e sl u r s i n th e str eets, su ch as "Ch i n i ta cu l i ao (f * * * i n g ch i n k )." Even af t er I l ef t Ch i l e, I seem ed to ex p er i en ce r aci sm n o m at ter w h er e I w en t. I w as t h e bu t t of cou n tl ess "d og eater " an d "cat eat er " jokes, h ad p eop l e m ock t h e sh ap e of m y ey es, an d even h ad p eop l e cal l m e a "stu p i d ch i n k " i f I got a bad gr ad e on a test. Ju st a m on th ago, I w as ou t sh op p i n g w i t h m y f r i en d , an d a m an sp at on m y f eet an d sai d , "T h an k s f or Cov i d , y ou d i r t y ch i n k ." M y ol d sch ool al so r ecen t ly h ost ed m an d at or y m eet i n gs f or t h e w h ol e sch ool w h er e t h e st u d en t s an d t each er s l ear n ed abou t th e st r u ggl es t h at bl ack p eop l e an d m em ber s of t h e L GBT Q + com m u n i t y w en t th r ou gh . H ow ever , even am i d st th e r ecen t i n cr ease i n h ate cr i m es agai n st A si an A m er i can s, th e A si an ver si on of th i s tal k w as m ad e op t i on al . T h i s on ly m ad e m y f el l ow A si an st u d en t s f eel as t h ou gh ou r p r obl em s ar e n ot w or t h y en ou gh or val i d en ou gh . A l l of th i s h ate m ad e m e ash am ed t o be A si an . I t ol d m y m om t o st op sp eak i n g to m e i n Kor ean , st op p ed eati n g Kor ean f ood , an d t r i ed t o be as "w h i te" as I p ossi bly cou l d . N ow, af t er y ear s of w r estl i n g w i t h m y i d en ti ty, I h ave com e t o em br ace m y A si an h er i tage. H ow ever , th e ef f ects of t h e r aci sm I ex p er i en ced ar e l asti n g. I can bar ely sp eak Kor ean an y m or e, even t h ou gh i t w as m y f i r st l an gu age, an d f eel a st r on g d i scon n ect f r om m y Kor ean si d e." - St u d en t C "A ch i l d m ad e th e sl an ted ey e m ot i on w h i l e I w as w al k i n g d ow n a st r eet i n B r azi l . Gr ou p m ates f or an assi gn m en t w ou l d assu m e t h at I w ou l d d o ever y t h i n g ju st becau se I 'm A si an an d l ook "sm ar t ". T h i s i s n ot r eal ly d i r ect r aci sm , bu t y ou ju st f eel l i ke p eop l e d on 't l i ke y ou becau se y ou 'r e A si an " - C h eh b i n Sh i n '21 "I w as l u ck y en ou gh t h at I n ever ex p er i en ced sever e cases of r aci sm . H ow ever , t h e st er eoty p es of a ty p i cal A si an f ol l ow ed m e l i ke a t ag ever y w h er e. I w as alw ay s a geek y n er d u n ti l I p r oved ot h er w i se, an d on a f ew occasi on s, a f ew p eer s asked m e i n d i sgu st i f I eat d ogs." - O l i v i a So n g ?22 (Fo r m er St u d en t)

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"I l i ved i n A si a f or m ost of m y l i f e, so I w asn 't u sed t o bei n g a m i n or i ty. T h e t h i n g th at I h ave r eal i zed ver y qu i ck ly i n m y ti m e i n D u bai i s th at A si an r aci sm i s ex tr em ely n or m al i zed . I n su l t s an d sl u r s ar e u sed at m e; I 've been cal l ed a ch i n k , L i n g L i n g, X i Ji n g Pi n g, an d ot h er n am es. Peop l e w ou l d m ake r an d om n oi ses an d say t h at t h ey ar e sp eak i n g Can t on ese or y el l at m e f or "st ar t i n g Cov i d ". D u r i n g cl ass on e d ay, t h er e w as a st u d en t w h o w ou l d m ake r aci st r em ar k s abou t Ch i n ese/ A si an p eop l e. W h i l e i t seem ed th at t h er e i s n o bad i n t u i ti on i n t h e "jokes", i t alw ay s f r u st r at ed m e. I asked t h e p er son , w h y d o y ou f eel so com f or t abl e m ak i n g r aci st Ch i n ese jokes, bu t y ou n ever m ake an y r aci st r em ar k s to bl ack p eop l e? I w as w on d er i n g w h y i t w as ok ay f or t h e p er son to m ake f u n of Ch i n ese p eop l e. T h ei r an sw er w as t h i s: I f eel l i ke m ak i n g bl ack jokes w ou l d be cr ossi n g a l i n e. T h i s m ad e m e p r et ty m ad , an d i t h el p s m e r eal i ze h ow n or m al i zed A si an r aci sm i s."- St u d en t D I al so asked t h em i f t h ey w ou l d l i ke t o sh ar e an y of th ei r f eel i n gs r egar d i n g t h e on goi n g si t u ati on of A si an r aci sm . "T h i s i s sp eci f i c t o t h e A si an A m er i can ex p er i en ce, bu t th er e i s a con stan t f r am i n g of A si an A m er i can s as ot h er s, an d n ever f u l ly A m er i can . W h en m eet i n g n ew p eop l e i n D u bai , a com m on qu esti on i s "w h er e ar e y ou f r om ?" W h en I r esp on d by say i n g t h at I am A m er i can , t h er e i s al m ost alw ay s a f ol l ow - u p qu est i on ask i n g, "bu t w h er e ar e y ou O RI GI N A L LY f r om ?". T h e u n sp oken i m p l i cat i on i s t h at becau se of m y A si an f eatu r es; I can n ot be f u l ly A m er i can ." - St u d en t A "I t i s u n f or tu n ate t h at i t's t ak i n g t h e su r ge of cr i m es as at r oci ou s as t h e on e t h ese d ay s t o f i n al ly r eveal t h e an ti - A si an r aci sm an d t h e st r u ggl es of A si an s t h e cu r t ai n of th e m od el m i n or i ty m y t h h as been r en d er i n g i n v i si bl e. Fu r t h er , as ap p al l i n g as t h e actu al cr i m es ar e, t h e r esp on ses by cer t ai n of f i ci al s ar e u n ju sti f i abl e. I n w h at w or l d i s m u r d er i n g h u m an bei n gs con d on ed f or h av i n g a "bad d ay "?" - O l i v i a So n g ?22 (Fo r m er St u d en t) ?I t i s a ver y sen si ti ve an d cau ti ou s t op i c t o d i scu ss, t h at th e At l an ti c sh oot i n g w as a h at e cr i m e, bu t i t can 't be sai d t h at t h er e i sn 't an y con n ecti on , esp eci al ly w i t h t h e cu r r en t si t u at i on of p r ev ai l i n g A si an h at e th at em er ged w i t h th e CO V I D - 19. Per son al ly sp eak i n g, I am st r on gly agai n st al l t h e r aci sm th at ex i st s i n th e w or l d . T h e i d ea t h at a cer tai n gr ou p of p eop l e sh ou l d r ecei ve bet ter or w or se t r eatm en t ju st becau se of t h ei r r ace d oesn 't h ave an y l ogi c beh i n d i t ; w e ar e al l th e sam e sp eci es of h u m an , an d t h e d i st i n gu i sh m en t of t h e r ace ju st com es f r om t h e m er e d i f f er en ce of ou r sk i n col or an d w ay of l i f e. D o w e say on e t y p e of d og i s su p er i or t o t h e oth er s? D o w e say t h at ei t h er on e of d ogs or cat s ar e m or e su p er i or to th e ot h er sp eci es? D o w e say t h at on e sp eci es of an i m al s sh ou l d be t r eat ed d i f f er en tly becau se t h ey l ook d i f f er en t f r om on e an ot h er ? N o. W e n ever d o so. A l l t h e an i m al s ar e p u r p osef u l ly evolved d i f f er en t ly, an d th at d i f f er en ce i s w h at m ai n t ai n s a h eal th y ecosy st em . I t i s th e sam e f or u s h u m an s. N o on e r ace i s m or e su p er i or or i n f er i or to th e oth er s. T h e r eason w h y t h e i ssu e of A si an h ate i s r i si n g t h ese d ay s, th ou gh , I bel i eve, i s ju st becau se i t i s a t op i c t h at h asn 't been d i scu ssed th at m u ch bef or e. Raci sm t ow ar d s A si an s h as been t h er e si n ce th e t i m e th e i d ea of r aci sm h as ever ex i st ed ; i t i s equ al ly as cr u ci al as r aci sm t ow ar d s t h e bl ack s t h at h as l on g been a w or l d w i d e i ssu e. Ever y r aci sm i n t h e w or l d i s i m p or t an t i n u n i son , an d I p er son al ly bel i eve th at ever y on e of t h em sh ou l d be ex ter m i n ated . D i f f er en ces of r ace can n ever be t h e excu se f or an y cr i m e.? - K ar a H w an g ?23

Yeonwoo Park '22 "I h ave been f ol l ow i n g t h e r ecen t su r ge i n A si an A m er i can h at e cr i m es, an d I cl osely f ol l ow ed th e stor y of t h e Atl an t a sh ooti n g. W h i l e I u su al ly d on 't get u p set w i t h r aci st r em ar k s, th i s got m e ex tr em ely m ad . T h e f act t h at th e p ol i ce w er e say i n g th at t h i s sh oot i n g w asn 't "r aci al ly m ot i vated " w as tr u ly i n su l ti n g. T h e sh ooter sh ot u p an A si an m assage p ar l or , d r ove 30 m i n u t es, an d sh ot u p an oth er A si an sp a. T h e sh oot er w en t ou t of h i s w ay t o k i l l m or e A si an p eop l e. T h en , t h e p ol i ce st ar t ed t o h u m an i ze th e k i l l er . "H e w as h av i n g a bad d ay " "h e w as at t h e en d of h i s r op e." W h en I h ave a bad d ay, I l i sten t o m u si c an d l i e on m y bed ; I d on 't go com m i t a h ate cr i m e. T r evor N oah sai d i t best: ?i f a p er son of col or w er e t h e k i l l er , t h e p ol i ce w ou l d n ot t r y an d h u m an i ze h i m as m u ch as t h ey d i d .?T h e w h ol e th i n g m ad e m e f eel p ow er l ess. I k n ow h ow n or m al i zed A si an r aci sm i s an d h ow of t en h ate cr i m es ar e occu r r i n g. T h e oth er d ay, an A si an gr an d m a got beat u p i n a h ate cr i m e. T h at cou l d be m y gr an d m a n ex t." - St u d en t D "T h ey ar e com p l etely d ev ast at i n g. Seei n g p eop l e w h o l ook l i ke m e, m y br oth er , m y m ot h er , m y gr an d p ar en ts, an d m y f r i en d s ar e k i l l ed becau se of t h ei r r ace. I t's so scar y. T h er e ar e n o ot h er w or d s t o d escr i be i t . H ow ever , I can 't say I 'm su r p r i sed . Fi r st of al l , w i t h p ol i ti ci an s bl am i n g Cov i d on A si an s by cal l i n g i t th e "Ch i n a v i r u s" an d t h e "K u n g f l u ," of cou r se, i gn or an t p eop l e w ou l d st ar t to f eel r esen t f u l t ow ar d s A si an s. Secon d ly, th e Atl an ta sh oot i n g i s an obv i ou s r esu l t of t h e f et i sh i zati on of A si an w om en . T h e sh ooter bl am ed t h e sh ooti n g on h i s sex ad d i ct i on . H ow ever , i n st ead of sh ooti n g u p a st r i p cl u b or m u r d er i n g p r ost i t u t es or escor t s, h e tar get ed A si an bu si n esses th at h ad n ot h i n g t o d o w i t h sex . T h e com m od i f i cati on an d sex u al i zati on of A si an w om en h ave l ed t o p eop l e v i ew i n g u s as object s or as t em p tati on s. O u r soci et y can n o l on ger go on l i ke t h i s. Som et h i n g h as to ch an ge." - St u d en t C "I t br eak s m y h ear t so m u ch t o h ear abou t t h ei r d eat h s an d m an y A si an A m er i can s' st or i es abou t th ei r ex p er i en ce of r aci sm , esp eci al ly th e ol d er on es get t i n g h u r t . I h op e th i s top i c d oes n ot f ad e aw ay an d st ay s i n ever y on e's h ear t d eep ly. T h i s i s a ch an ce f or n on - PO C actu al ly t o l ear n abou t th e A si an com m u n i t y. A n d t h i s w ay, m an y cou l d r eth i n k t h ei r w or d s i n t h ei r h ead s bef or e t h ey act u al ly say t h e "joke" th at i s l i ter al ly n ot f u n n y bu t r aci st. H ow ever , i t 's d ef i n i t ely d evastati n g h ow m an y p eop l e I k n ow ar e n ot qu i t e al er t t o t h i s i ssu e an d d on ?t take i t ser i ou sly." - St u d en t B

CURRENT EVENTS

Yeonwoo Park '22

A f t er h ear i n g abou t t h e n ew s an d f ol l ow i n g u p on i t , I cr i ed m u l ti p l e ti m es becau se th i s h i t so cl ose t o h om e w h er e i t cou l d so easi ly be m e or m y m ot h er or m y gr an d m oth er or an y of t h e p eop l e I k n ow, an d i t w ou l d br eak m y h ear t f or som eth i n g as si cken i n g t o h ap p en to th em ju st becau se of t h ei r r ace an d h ow t h ey l ook . Q u i te f r an k ly, f or t h ose w h o k n ow m e, t h i s i s a n ew si d e of m y sel f t h at even I am n ow com i n g t o d i scover , w h er e I u su al ly d on ?t voi ce m y op i n i on s as p u bl i cly as th i s, bu t t h i s i s a cau se t h at m at ter s d eep ly t o m e an d I f el t th at I n eed ed to sh ar e h ow A si an r aci sm i s so n or m al i zed i n ou r ever y d ay l i ves an d som et i m es even I f i n d m y sel f goi n g al on g an d I cat ch m y sel f . Peop l e n eed t o r eal i ze i t h ap p en s r i gh t u n d er ou r n oses an d t h at t h ey h ave t h e p ow er t o st op i t an d d o th ei r p ar t . I t i s ap p al l i n g t h at i t t ook t h e con ti n u ou s, cou n tl ess p h y si cal an d ver bal h ar assm en t an d n ow t h e m u r d er of n u m er ou s A si an s f or t h i s to com e t o l i gh t . Raci sm sh ou l d n 't be a t aboo t op i c of con ver sat i on , m ai n ly becau se i t 's so p r ev al en t , an d i t 's n obod y el se's job bu t y ou r s t o ch eck y ou r sel f an d st an d u p w h en y ou w i tn ess r aci sm h ap p en i n g ar ou n d y ou . I t i s n ot en ou gh f or p eop l e t o r ead abou t i t , sh ar e i t as an I n st agr am p ost, t al k abou t i t . I t n eed s t o be act i vely r ecogn i zed an d ad vocat ed . For t h ose of y ou r ead i n g, p l ease t ake th i s as a ch an ce to r ef l ect on i f y ou w er e a p ar t of t h e p r obl em an d i f y ou m i gh t h ave sai d som et h i n g t h at m ad e an oth er f eel h u r t f r om y ou r w or d s, ?jokes,? an d act i on s. Ju st becau se y ou ar en ?t p ar t of t h e p r obl em al so d oesn ?t au t om at i cal ly m ake y ou p ar t of th e sol u t i on . Pl ease t ake th i s as a ch an ce to ed u cate y ou r sel f an d t h ose ar ou n d y ou abou t t h e i ssu e an d l ear n m or e an d ad vocat e abou t w h at ?s h ap p en i n g an d st ay an d be an t i - r aci st . H er e's h ow y ou can h el p . h t t p s:// an t i - asi an v i ol en cer esou r ces.car r d .co B e a p ar t o f t h e so l u t i o n . # st o p asi an h at e # p r o t ect asi an l i v es