Bear Witness - April 2019

STUDENT LIFE ASB has plans to increase voter turnout.

THE WAY TO HISTORICAL SAN JOSE

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OPINION

YouTube plays whack-a-mole with sensitive content.

The city that's now a bustling hub of technology was once full of orchards, farmland and fascinating history. Take a tour around town.

Pg. 12

ASB

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BEAR

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WITNESS BRANHAM HIGH SCHOOL

APRIL 5, 2019

@bhsbearwitness BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

PG&E pipes behind move-in delays Discovered in 2017, pipes have yet to be relocated

Inside

RENEE OWENS

Editorial: PG&E dragging its feet, costing district hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Page 3

ath and English teachers were looking forward to moving in to the new buildings during spring break, but school officials are saying PG&E is getting in the way.

They say that the utility company has not moved a gas pipe that was mapped incorrectly, a problem that builders identified in December 2017. Additionally, the completed building

does not have a permanent power source, another source of frustration as it prevents teachers from moving into their new classrooms.

“It's a little bit depressing, because you keep getting your hopes up, and you keep getting your hopes up,” English teacher Chelsea Follett said, regarding the delay in moving the teachers from the J wing into the new buildings.

“And then we keep being told it's not going to

M

News Editor

happen.”

Principal Cheryl Lawton said that a string of communication failures, no-shows and incomplete jobs from PG&E have hindered the progress of construction, estimated to cost the district more than $600,000.

“I’m frustrated.” Lawton said. “Honestly, the hardest part is that we have this brand-new building that’s done (but not yet usable).”

In December 2017, workers found a gas pipe about three feet over from where it had been indicated on the site map, putting it directly where the foundation of one of the new buildings is meant to go. PG&E has to move it to SEE PG&E • PAGE 5

Fitz Vo/Bear Witness PG&E had arrived to work on pipes in late March, but school officials say problem hasn't been fixed.

BLACKFACE AT BRANHAM THE PROBLEM WITH ADVISORY

An unidentified Branham student wore blackface as part of the school's Halloween celebrations in 1986. The editor of Ursa Major has expressed regret regarding its inclusion in the 1987 yearbook.

ADVISORY, BORED Lack of teacher, student buy-in make advisory in its various versions a tough sell

SHOULD ADVISORY STAY?

Overall

Though teachers overall want to keep advisory, senior advisory teachers are more likely to oppose that option.

40% no

CHANDLER ROBERTS

F

Copy Editor

reshman James Gardner has barely finished his first year of high school, and like most students at Branham, he is already tired of advisory.

“It just seems like a waste of time,” Gardner said, echoing what hundreds of students have written to the Bear Witness in a recent survey. “I feel like my teacher understands that it’s pointless. She doesn’t really expect anyone to listen, and no one really does.”

Walk around Branham’s advisory period on any Friday, and you can see what Garner describes in many classrooms: Teachers on computers at their desks, and students on their phones, or doing homework.

But it’s not the only scene that Inside you’ll see.

On a recent Student and staff share Friday adtheir thoughts on the visory, Link current advisory.

Crew leaders engaged with their Our photographers capture f reshman scenes from a recent Friday class in an outdoor acadvisory period. tivity OthPage 7 ers held a discussion circle.

One teacher took her students on a stroll around campus because it was a nice day out.

Still, many teachers don’t teach their advisory lessons, which are written and distributed by Principal Cheryl Lawton and a small group of teachers.

According to a Bear Witness survey of more than 1,000 students, over two-thirds polled believe that advisory is currently ineffective. But they aren’t alone, 40% of teachers don’t find advisory necessary either.

Through a dozen interviews, it’s safe to say that no one really likes advisory — at least in its current version.

The concerns of students and teacher are being heard and advisory is changing to best fit what the school population needs.

“When it's done well, it's great,” Lawton said.

“The problem is we don't have the capacity to SEE ADVISORY• PAGE 7

INSIDE

Campus briefs.................................2 News.............................................. 2

Racist practice made its way inside ’87 book

Branham was less diverse, racially sensitive in the 1980s, former editor says

60% yes

MICHAELA EDLIN Editor-in-Chief

11 yes

8 no

8 yes

5 no

5 yes

ranham’s 1987 Halloween yearbook promB inently features a student wearing blackface to impersonate Buckwheat, a character

5 no 3 yes

0 no

Freshman advisory teachers

Sophomore Junior advisory advisory teachers teachers Results by advisory level

Senior advisory teachers

Source: Branham Advisory Committee survey with 51 teachers responding

IS ADVISORY EFFECTIVE? Nearly two-thirds of students surveyed felt that advisory was not effective.

70.7% no 61% no

18.8% yes

20.2% no opinion

Freshmen

Editorial..........................................4 Bulletin Board.................................3

10.9% yes

74.7% no

67% no

18.4% no opinion 13.8% yes

Sophomores

Overall

19.2% no opinion 14.6% yes

Juniors

17.6% yes 17.4% no opinion

65% no

10.7% no opinion

Seniors

Source: Bear WItness survey of 1,024 students Science and Health.........................6 Science Briefs.................................6

InDepth...........................................7 Student Life....................................8

from the children’s show “Little Rascals.” The photo was discovered by Bear Witness staff during their research for the school’s 50th anniversary issue last year.

The discovery has upset students leaders on campus, including the current yearbook editor and a Black Student Union officer. Alumni from the time, including the 1987 edition’s yearbook editor, have expressed disappointment in the photo’s inclusion.

Yearbooks, annual schoInside lastic time capsules, have been in the news recently, Hollywood most recently in February, when the Washing- tropes regarding minorities and ton Post obtained a page from Virginia Gov. Ralph gender have not Northam's medical school yearbook that featured an stood the test of time. image of two students, one in blackface and anPage 11 other in a KKK hood.

While Northam said he was not in the picture, he admitted to wearing blackface on a separate occasion to impersonate Michael Jackson.

Ken Geisick, the Ursa Major yearbook editor-in-chief at the time, said that he couldn’t recall the picture, which was the dominant photo in the yearbook’s two-page holiday spread. In an interview, he said that he is disappointed that the photo was published. He blamed it on the lack of diversity on campus.

"The culture has changed in a dramatic and very positive way," Geisick said. "We didn't have the proper level of sensitivity to understand how this might affect students of different ethnicities.”

Geisick said he does however remember other troubling racist activities at Branham. ASB had a tradition of holding mock slave auctions on campus to celebrate student birthdays and to fundraise, where winners would have another student serve as a "slave for the day." The mock SEE BLACKFACE • PAGE 5

MiniReviews.................................11 Sports.............................................9

Arts & Entertainment...................11 The Back Page...............................12

2

BEAR WITNESS

| APRIL 5, 2019 |

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

NEWS Campus roundups Branham hosting college and career fair Branham is hosting the second annual district career fair April 16. At the fair there will be around 35 organizations including local community colleges and apprenticeship programs. College and Career Center Specialist

BULLETIN BOARD

Money or merit?

hony test scores to photoshopped athletes are some methP ods used by the dozens of parents caught up in a college admissions scandal. According to court documents, these par-

ents paid millions of dollars in bribes to get their kids into elite universities, many of them in California. These colleges include USC, UCLA and Stanford.

In light of the admission scandal, students have come to question the ways colleges accept applicants and how money can play a vital role in the admissions process.

Some Branham students who have applied to colleges involved in the scandals, are frustrated with ways the more financially well-off can be guaranteed to the colleges they want to get into. We asked some students here at Branham on their thoughts about college admissions.

— Jessica Berton

Alexandra Masegian Senior

Noelle Huget Senior

George Vetushko Senior

Katlyn Lang Senior

Patricia Perez College and Career Center Specialist

District leader to host first State of the District address Superintendent Dr. Robert Bravo will be holding the first State of the District on April 15. One topic Bravo will likely discuss in his

address will be the district’s recent successes and challenges.

campus such as Best Buddies and the “What’s Your Why?” campaign.

Project Cornerstone recognizes Branham Project Cornerstone honored Branham last week with the 2019 Asset Champion Award.

The organization’s Twitter cites Branham’s “caring school climate” as the reason for the award. It also recognized organizations on

Zero period to start five minutes shorter Next year, Branham will offer more zero period classes, and will start at to 7:05 a.m. to make time spent in zero period more equivalent to time spent in regular 100-minute periods.

— Compiled by staff

Leadership seeks new ways to combat falling attendance

Once reliant on social media, ASB now plans to increase face-to-face interactions

Applied to UCLA, UC Berkeley “The amount of people who do it are pretty small, so it doesn’t necessarily devalue my hard work. I don’t feel less valued, but it is a little frustrating to know that maybe the reason why I’m not going to get into some of these colleges is because somebody paid their way in.”

Applied to Harvard, UC Berkeley, John Hopkins “They stole someone’s opportunity out of their hands with money ... And it’s nice to see that (they are) really convicting these people and are actually searching for them. But then at the same time, it’s disheartening to also see that they could still get out of it with money.”

Accepted in to UCLA and UC Berkeley

Laura Hefferman/Bear Witness Juniors pay homage to the 1983 film “Risky Business” at the Battle of the Classes Night Rally early March. Rally attendance was disappointing for leaders.

UZOR AWUZIE

By the numbers

n the weeks leading up to this I year’s Battle of the Classes in early March, Leadership students

2019’s Battle of the Classes drew in

Student Life Editor

“It’s very upsetting that somebody would take somebody else’s spot away, who would actually want to be there and work hard...It’s no secret that wealthy families have been manipulating their way into the top universities...it’s just that they are doing it is different now.”

Applied to UCLA, UC Berkeley

Applied to multiple UCs

“Although it makes me sad that people are using their money to get into these colleges, it’s not really that surprising.

There’s a lot of elitism in our nation and I feel like as a country a lot of the times the rich just want to help the rich.”

Lauryn Ping Senior

Patricia Perez fought specifically for the career fair as opposed to the college fair, hosted at Leigh this year, because she wants to expose students to opportunities outside of college.

“I know personally I’ve gone through a lot of thinking ‘Oh, I’m not good enough for this school,’ even though I’ve poured all my effort over these past four years getting into college I want to go. The fact that someone could just cheat their way there really pisses me off.”

“It’s like a game (to other people) because the more money you have, the more opportunities and advantages you have to enhance their college resume and application to make yourself look better.”

Robert He Senior

“With any event, people kind of decide if they care about it or not.”

— Senior Allie Yusim, on student participation at spirit events

Applied to Princeton “I hope that (the scandal) affects (future college applications) in a positive way.

It’s worth acknowledging that there is certain bias and privilege involved in this process...(Elite schools) aren’t the only schools that people should be applying to... I would want (students) to understand that there’s more than just those schools. Yes, you can still apply, but apply to schools that are going to be a good fit for you.”

launched a marketing blitz.

Elaborate posters with music themes adorned every hall of campus. Prom tickets awaited lucky winners of the Night Rally. Open any Leadership student’s social media story and you’ll see a promo of Battle of the Classes.

But as spirit weeks went, spring’s Battle of the Classes came and went with a whimper, with the low attendance disproportionate to the Leadership class’ efforts in promoting it.

According to Activities Director Christina Hillman, the Battle of the Classes rally drew 216 attendees, about 12% of the student body, a drop of 55 students from 2018.

The Bruin Benefit Dance at the end week, which featured live bands, bounce houses and food trucks, brought in 216 attendees, a little over 20 more than the year before.

In response to the low attendance, Leadership is searching for alternative ways to increase student participation in these elaborate spirit weeks.

Hillman said that there may have been outside factors that depressed attendance. The March SAT was scheduled the Saturday after the spirit week, making it a stressful time for students to attend. She said that a future Battle of the Classes week would more toward spring break, where students will have more free time.

ASB students have found difEditor-in-Chief Michaela Edlin Managing Editor Annalise Freimarck Design Director Julia Marques da Silva Art Director Elizabeth Posey

216 students which is about

12%

of the student body, and

55 fewer

students than last year ferent reasons why students aren’t compelled to show up to events.

Senior Allie Yusim believes the issue relies on individuals.

“With any event, people kind of decide if they care about it or not,” Yusim said. “And if they decide that they don’t want to dedicate their time and efforts of our classes, they won’t.”

Battle of the Classes is also a new tradition that hasn’t yet cemented itself as a tradition like Homecoming has, Yusim said. The cold weather snap in early March didn’t help, either.

However, most ASB students looked at how Leadership reaches out to students. Social media is one of ASB’s main forms of communication. Even with more than 1,000 followers on Seewhatsbruin, their Instagram account, leaders felt that their platform doesn’t seem to have enough interaction to properly promote activities, with some promo graphics reaching less than 100 likes.

Now, Leadership hopes to switch

Laura Hefferman/Bear Witness Junior Rebecca Young sings at the Battle of the Classes Night Rally. to a more direct strategy, where they talk to students face-to-face, encouraging them to attend events.

Each student in the class is expected to contact at least five people to ask if they’re attending the certain event they’re promoting at time. If the person is not, that gives them to opportunity to persuade that person to come.

They also plan to visit advisory classes to give presentations on upcoming events.

The goal isn’t just to encourage students to attend, but to get more student input about what they want to see at Branham.

Senior Conner Ngo, the ASB President, said that advisory will become a way for Leadership to get feedback from students in a way that is more face-to-face.

“It’s always going to take time,”

Editors News: Renee Owens Opinion: Julianne Alvares Science and Health: Shlok Gore Student Life: Uzor Awuzie Sports: Ryan McCarthy Arts and Entertainment: Laura Heffernan Copy: Chandler Roberts Staff Writers Jessica Berton, Jasmine Nguyen, Sarah Sabawi, Caitlyn Schlaman

Ngo said. “We’re just really trying to focus on how we can take in student input, like having more forums and surveys to actually take an accurate representation.”

With the upcoming spirit weeks, like AP Wellness week, Leadership hopes their new strategies are more successful in attracting students.

Senior Kylie Delaney, the ASB Vice President sees both sides of the situation. From her understanding, it isn’t always that students don’t want to attend or didn’t hear about it beforehand, but that they can’t, due to other plans. She said the Leadership students have to adapt to their student body.

“We realize that life happens,” Delaney said. “So I don’t necessarily think it’s anyone’s fault. (Student participation) is something that’s always changing.”

Adviser: Fitzgerald Vo

Mission Statement The Bear Witness is committed to providing accurate, timely coverage of local and world news while connecting these events to the lives of our diverse student body.

Website: www.bhsbearwitness.com Phone: (408) 626-3407 Email: bhsbearwitness@gmail.com

BEAR WITNESS

| APRIL 5, 2019 |

3

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

OPINION

Since 1989, more than 2,400 inmates have been exonerated for crimes they did not commit

Editorial The opinion of the Bear Witness editors

CONSTRUCTION DELAYED BY PIPELINE

PG&E: Procrastination Gas & Electric

tudents aren’t the only ones that procrastinate. Pacific Gas S and Electric has yet to fix a utility pipe that has slowed down construction and been an issue since December of 2017.

The problem was caused by a misplaced utility pipe. On PG&E maps, a pipe is shown to be three feet off from where it actually is, meaning that construction workers were caught off guard when they found this and could not set the foundation for one of the new buildings. On occasions that PG&E did make it to campus, this part of the problem was not addressed and no electricity was connected to the new buildings: Without electricity, the buildings cannot be inspected or moved into.

What PG&E isn’t realizing is that this causes problems deeper than just a construction delay.

Teachers not being able to move into the new buildings means that some of them have to stay in the portables, which were supposed to be transferred to Del Mar High School next year, but will instead remain at Branham. Cost is also an issue be-

The many waves of feminism How the movement has improved over time JAZZY NGUYEN Staff Writer

n the last 90 years, the most prominent I aspects of American Society have undergone drastic changes—one of those prominent aspects

being gender. While feminism is a concept that first emerged in different times and places across history, it wasn’t until the mid 19th century that efforts for women’s rights combined into a single push for equality.

The first wave emerged as a result of a press for women’s suffrage. Almost a hundred years after the US Constitution was signed and men were given the right to vote, women began fighting for their own franchise.

The rhetoric used during the first wave of feminism was an unfortunate reflection of the attitude of the time. White women used the current racial views as leverage for women’s suffrage.

There was a common question during the time of who society wanted to view as superior, white women, or colored men.

Women Susan B. Anthony, major advocate for women’s suffrage began famously said, “I will cut off fighting for this right arm of mine before I their own will ever work or demand the ballot for the Negro and not franchise. the woman.”

It wasn’t until after World War II that the second wave of feminism began to take shape. The war gave women a golden opportunity to join the workforce and begin to take on “untraditional” jobs. This was the prime starting point of the movement centered around leveling the social and economic playing fields. Once society recognized the importance of the female voice, women began working tirelessly to legalize abortion, gain more divorce rights and fight the seemingly endless battle for equal rights.

The second wave came to a close after the passage of Title IX, which states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” This means that education programs or federally funded activities cannot exclude a person from participating because of their sex. Title IX represented a significant step towards ensuring requires all public schools to give anyone of any sex an equal opportunity to play in school sports, as well as a fair division of equipment and accessibility.

The third wave of feminism began as a result of the uncompleted goals of the second wave. It addressed the question of the division of labor between men and women and helped break the standard gender roles. Women began using derogatory terms as new labels of pride. This wave introduced the term “girl power,” and began to portray women as powerful and assertive, versus the previous passive, weak and virginal.

The fourth wave emerged in 2012 and focused primarily on sexual harassment, body shaming, the LGBTQ+ community, and rape culture.

The newest wave was prompted by a series of high-profile crimes regarding sexual harassment. With the new developments, out came a movement referred to as the #metoo movement.

According to the New York Times, around 201 powerful men were forced to face the music when allegations of sexual harassment surfaced.

A defining aspect of the fourth wave is the controversy of how it is represented. With the newest rebirth of feminism comes an even newer take on the cause. As of late, there are around 19 prominent types of feminism that focus on different aspects of society.

cause since the school is keeping the portables longer it also has to pay for them longer.

The delay in construction is causing the school to lose money that could have otherwise been spent on student’s education.

The $275 million Measure AA Bond’s purpose was to upgrade classroom safety and technology to promote a well-rounded education in the competitive Silicon Valley. This cannot happen with the PG&E delay.

One of the upgrades in the new buildings is classrooms with science labs. With science teachers having to stay in the portables longer, there is a possibility that some students may have to go four years without a proper science lab.

Going without a lab is already an issue, especially in the physiology classes. Because there are no sinks in the portables, the class isn’t able to do as many labs. When it came time for the class to dissect cow eyeballs, accomodations had to be made so the class could move into a classroom with sinks. Accomoda-

tions like these will also have to be made later in the year when the class dissects a pig.

The purpose of the bond was to promote a more well-rounded education and the current construction status is doing the opposite. Without a hands-on experience, some students are missing out on a valuable learning opportunity.

So far, the delay in construction has cost Branham about $606,000. The school isn’t to blame for the loss of money, PG&E is. There is nothing the school can do to make PG&E come to campus to fix the problem. Communication coming from the problem has been sub-par.The school doesn’t have the choice to turn to another company because PG&E is the only company that can deal with this problem.

The bottom line is that PG&E needs to realize that its delay is affecting students’ education. PG&E needs to realize that they are wasting the school’s money and time and actually do something about the problem, which seems like a simple fix.

Executing injustice

Newsom ends death penalty in California through executive order

The death penalty by the numbers

ANNALISE FREIMARCK Managing Editor

is a fickle thing. It’s slippery Justice and forever shifting, something that

is different to everyone. It’s hard to pin down.

In an attempt to give justice to those falsely accused of heinous crimes and address the millions in taxes that are wasted each year on punishments that are not doled out, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has decided to grant clemency to the 737 inmates on death row in California, and suspended any additional executions for the remainder of his governorship.

This is something that the justice system has needed for a long time. The system that death row uses is not only ineffective and costly to maintain, it often unfairly targets minority groups and wrongfully convicts innocent civilians.

The justice system alone is inherently racially biased. People of color, especially black people, are disproportionately arrested and statistically face higher charges than people not of color. This leads to mass incarceration rates rising exponentially, with African Americans making up 34% of the prison population in 2014.This racial bias extends all the way to the death penalty, with 42% of the population on death row being black.

This racial disparity leads to a prejudiced legal system, which can be incredibly harmful to populations of people of color, making the current version of the death penalty system unacceptable and in need of revisiting.

Furthermore, false convictions happen way too often. Pressure to confess from authorities and false evidence all lead to innocent people confessing to horrendous crimes that they did not commit.

In fact, since 1989, more than 2,400 inmates on death row have been exonerated for crimes that they did not commit; according to Newsweek, in the United State’s history of executions, 144 have been exonerated after death, making up 1.6 percent of all executions.

By contrast, the innocence rate is estimated to be 4.1 percent, more than double the rate of proven innocent executions, which insinuates that many more who are innocent and executed are slipping through the legal cracks.

For example, Jesse Tafero was falsely sentenced to the death penalty after he was

737

Number of inmates Newsom granted clemency to.

$170 million Annual cost of death penalty cases

$11.7 million Annual cost of normal cases

$175 million

Annual cost of unused punishment

2006

The last year California executed an inmate

42 %

Death row inmates who are African American

1.6%

Percentage of those executed who were then found innocent

Caitlyn Schlaman/Bear Witness Source: Innocence Project wrongfully convicted of killing two Florida highway patrol officers. He was then killed through the use of the electric chair, which failed three times, and caught his head on fire.

This is not to say that the death penalty should not be revisited. Those who commit horrific acts deserve to receive just as harsh of a punishment as the crime that they committed. However, the solution right now is to halt the death penalty, to fix the errors that the

justice system has committed, and reassess the meaning of justice in the U.S. No more innocent people deserve to die. No more people of color deserve to unfairly be put through the legal ringer. Thus, Newsom has made the right call in deciding to stop the death penalty, but he also needs to revisit the problems within the system to reinstate a death penalty system that only executes those who are truly guilty in a quick and humane manner.

BITE-SIZED | Minor solutions to minor problems Annoyance: Seagulls. Seagulls are the rats of the sky; all they do is swoop and torment the innocent students of the quad.

Solution: The ONLY possible solution is to cast a giant, permanent net over the entirety of the school. This might also increase school safety in general.

— Elizabeth Posey

Annoyance: Slow walkers. Especially in large groups. Look, even if you don’t, some of us actually care about getting to class on time.

Solution: GET OUT OF THE WAAYYY!!!

— Uzor Awuzie

Annoyance: April Fool’s Day. Doing really harmful pranks like pretending you’re dying, exploiting a legit phobia, causing bodily harm, making them cry, then just saying “April Fools” is pathetic and shameful.

Solution: The only pranks that should be done are of Kermit the Frog; leave Kermits everywhere: on the bed, in your car, on your head, in the jar. Confuse.

— Jessica Berton

Annoyance: People eating loudly. I constantly hear loud crunching noises in one of my ears, and turn to see them chewing like an animal.

Solution: Avoid loud foods, close your mouth, and control your hunger, child.

—Julia Marques da Silva

4

BEAR WITNESS

| APRIL 5, 2019 |

OPINION

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM Those who consider creativity as a learned trait are more likely to have the capacity to develop it.

How to (un)fix your mindset

There are ways to help you be more creative

Bulletin Board

Creativity in classes Students find creativity in a variety of sources, for a variety of different reasons.

“AP Lit makes me the most creative because we read a lot of good books that have interesting and unique topics.”

Nate Montero Senior

“I actually find a lot of creativity in chemistry, something that I’m passionate about.

Although I take an arts class — I take madrigals — I spend a lot of time working out solutions to things through chemistry, and I find a lot of beauty in how chemistry is, and I find creative ways to solve problems.”

Luke Makinson Sophomore

Elizabeth Posey/Bear Witness Rommendationson creactiivity Creativity isn’t a static thing, and can grow. Here are some straegies that Creativity researcher Robert Epstein recommends.

Capture your new ideas. Keep an idea notebook or voice recorder with you, type in new thoughts on your laptop or write ideas down on a napkin.

Seek out challenging tasks. Take on projects that don’t necessarily have a solution — such as trying to figure out how to make your dog fly or how to build a perfect model of the brain.

Broaden your knowledge. Take a class outside psychology or read journals in unrelated fields, suggests Epstein. This makes more diverse knowledge available for interconnection, he says,

ELIZABETH POSEY

Stephanie Martinez Sophomore

“For me, English… It inspires the most creativity because you have creative writing.

Also, when you’re reading, you can show different types of emotions and expressions within different paragraphs”

Art Director

reading, time with friends — these Journaling, activities are proven to spark your interest and

ability to think freely and originally. Why, in this case do so many students believe that they aren’t creative?

Those with fixed growth mindset waste potential opportunities to produce creative solutions and original thought. While many students believe that change in their creative ability is unlikely, they should be more aware of the fluidity of creativity and how their surroundings can influence this skill.

Research does not support the notion that individuals are born with a fixed creative ability. Many studies suggest that our concept of creativity is simplified, that people cannot become more or less creative over time.

The nuances of the brain permit both growth or decay in skills involving problem-solving or critical thinking.

Carol Dweck, psychology professor at Stanford University and pioneer of the fixed vs. growth mindset ideology, believes people who perceive intelligence and success as goals to work towards are often more resilient, intelligent and less stressed. In her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success,” Dweck suggests that abilities to improve and succeed rely on one’s willingness to practice and grow.

This fixed vs. growth mindset concept can be

which is the basis for all creative thought. “Ask for permission to sit in on lectures for a class on 12th century architecture and take notes,” he suggests.

“You’ll do better in psychology and life if you broaden your knowledge.”

Surround yourself with interesting things and people.Having diverse and interesting friends and a work space festooned with out-of-

applied to creativity. Those who consider creativity as a learned trait are more likely to have the capacity to develop it. Yet often the only hindrance to this ability is the restrictive, pervasive mindset that creativity is static. This misconception is held by both students and educators.

There are specific habits that can boost critical thinking. According to creativity researcher Robert Epstein, methods such as capturing new ideas, seeking challenging tasks, broadening knowledge and surrounding yourself with an interesting environment can help create routine practices that strengthen creative thinking.

A 2008 study Epstein conducted with his associates in the Creativity Research Journal indicated that his suggestions on training creativity were valid and showed promising improvements in its subjects.

After 74 participants attended seminars and performed exercises molded to Epstein’s recommendations, their new idea output was measured to be 55 percent higher over the next eight months.

Such strides could be made on a larger scale to influence higher levels of original thought and have the potential to spark innovation. Just like athletics or academics, it is possible for individuals to train their brains to think more critically and creatively yet society hesitates to validate this concept.

the-ordinary objects will help you develop more original ideas Seek out challenging tasks. Take on projects that don’t necessarily have a solution—such as trying to figure out how to make your dog fly or how to build a perfect model of the brain.

This causes old ideas to compete, which helps generate new ones.

Schools also tend to follow this pattern of reluctance.

Concrete action to reinforce creative processes and critical thinking have room for improvement in the education system. Because students are often inundated with repetitive class structures and assignments, their ability to think freely and creatively can be smothered.

Sir Ken Robinson, an educational advisor and author, is known for his TED talk entitled “Do schools kill creativity.” In the speech, he proposes that the current education system devalues types of intelligence outside of academic and divergent thinking by teaching “right” and “wrong” work methods as opposed to acknowledging the fluidity of thought in a child’s mind. Because schools tend hold this fixed mindset, they impart these ideas on their students.

However, we can create habits that positively impact our creativity through Epstein’s four methods.

Tasks as accessible as journaling, reading challenging books, spending time outside, or spending time with friends can serve to spark interest and curiosity in one’s surroundings and prevent one’s creative capacity from decreasing.

While many students consider their own creativity as a set quality, they can make simple habit changes that boost their ability to think through problems and form a more productive view of their learning.

YouTube plays whack-a-mole with its content CAITLYN SCHLAMAN Staff Writer

n March 15, Christchurch, New ZeaO land was rocked by consecutive terrorist attacks, all streamed on Youtube and Face-

book for the world to see.

With 17 minutes of footage from the shooting and millions of copy videos uploaded to Youtube and Reddit, people started to call the platforms out for letting these videos surface over the internet.

A French Muslim group has sued the company, saying that YouTube and other social media platforms such as Facebook did not take the re-uploaded videos down fast enough, claiming that the companies had amplified the violent video.

With the Christchurch massacre still fresh, the video streaming website has been struggling to defend itself against accusations that its algorithm promotes violent and lewd videos to children, and recommending revealing videos of children to pedophiles.

Google states that its infamous YouTube algorithm, which helps prioritize videos depending on how they interact with the platform, is still a work in progress, constantly changing and trying to whack-a-mole with controversial videos.

The infamous algorithm has been always shrouded in mystery and is ever-changing, and across the internet and in the media, people have been asking about how it promotes violent and graphic videos. Many advertisers have pulled from the platform due to this.

YouTube’s been the center of national scrutiny many times before, as scandals from the specific videos spark the media’s attention and outrage. Many of these incidents end with YouTube scrambling to change their algorithm and figure out why these videos were allowed or not taken down.

In 2018, at the very beginning of the year, Logan Paul uploaded a video depicting a dead body in Aokigahara, Japan’s “Suicide Forest.”

This is one of the biggest incidents in Youtube’s history, as the media jumped on Youtube immediately. Most of the outrage was due to Youtube’s delayed response to the video, in which they took 10 days to fully address it. On top of that, Youtube’s algorithm didn’t take the video down, Paul did.The video was even trending on Youtube’s top videos of that day.

The issue with Paul’s video was that the whole video bypassed YouTube’s specific algorithms and showed the huge flaws in its current system. It’s the same with the Christchurch shooting, as the livestream was repeatedly uploaded to YouTube and spread quickly.

Despite the violent and gruesome videos being uploaded each day, YouTube’s algorithm still complacently flags nudity and copyrighted music, all while missing the actual problem.

There have been other, similar issues on the platform, like recently, in February, a video sexual exploitation of children on the platform. The videos, which were easily found by a “couple of clicks,” were monetized, which alarmed many of the users.

With the Christchurch videos, there were so many flooding the site at the time, all while YouTube still was testing and implementing its new algorithm. This cycle of ever changing guidelines and algorithms isn’t going to fix anything, as the issue isn’t something that can be fixed with coding and social trends. The bigger issue is with the people who are bystanders to all this footage, taking all the gruesome videos in and not flagging them. With Paul’s video, millions of people didn’t flag the video immediately, and many people kept the Christchurch videos and uploaded them.

YouTube is a platform for sharing and creating, but with the limitations and the uncontrollable nature of the internet, these videos can flood the internet at any time. YouTube can try to control the videos presented, and their algorithm can be reworked completely, but the real issue is with the people that allow this type of behavior.

Caitlyn Schlaman/Bear Witness

BEAR WITNESS

| APRIL 5, 2019 |

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

Blackface | Photo shocks BSU leader auctions stopped around 1985, according to Geisick.

Lashone Jackson, who graduated from Branham in 1988, said he was one of about 10 African-American students on campus at the time, though he felt that he never experienced racism on campus.

“To tell the truth, I think really, in the '80s my experience — I probably experience more racism in 2019,” he said.

Jackson did not recall the '87 yearbook’s blackface picture and was shocked by it, but he blames a lack of education for its publication. However, he believes remembering events like this and having discussions about them can prevent further mistakes in the future.

“Looking back on things that we went through — blackface at Branham High School — and these interviews, putting out papers, awareness and education make it so that you don't have to even worry about that (a harmful lack of awareness) in the future."

Sophomore Sophia Nonga, the events coordinator of the Black Student Union was said she surprised and disgusted by the yearbook picture, and that it had been published. She said that it shows that the photo had gone through the editorial process, and was approved by someone at each step.

“It meant that multiple people had saw it and they still chose to put it inside the yearbook,” she said.

Nonga said she was shocked that this picture was published in 1987, nearly decades after the Civil Rights movement brought racial equality to the national conversation. She speculated that students involved in wearing, photographing and laying out the page must have understood the unacceptable nature of wearing blackface.

5

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Annalise Freimarck/Bear Witness Principal Cheryl Lawton takes teachers on a tour of a finished campus building.

PG&E | Weather is blamed

Annalise Freimarck/Bear Witness The student in blackface was the most prominent photo in the spread.

Though she initially laughed at the blackface photo, Nonga, the BSU official, said that the photo ignores the history of black discrimination in the United States.

“They have no respect for the past and what African Americans have been through,” said Nonga. “They probably thought it was funny, but it wasn’t.”

The photos also shocked senior Hana Tzou, the current yearbook editor, said the class has strict content guidelines the yearbook must follow, including everything that may raise a red flag must go through the Jessica Bender, the adviser, and Principal Cheryl Lawton. All staff members had a discussion about appropriate content at the beginning of the year before they began designing the upcoming book.

”

During this discussion, staffers found a picture of a student dressed as a homeless person that was published in a previous yearbook.

"We showed this to the whole class and said this is not something that's going in our yearbook because it could hurt this person later on and doesn't showcase our school in the best light,” she said.

Now the yearbook has general guidelines for content in order to present Branham in the best light.

For example, despite many senior quote submissions about weed and vaping, nothing related to drugs is allowed.

“We always try to paint Branham in a positive light in the yearbook," Tzou said, "so we try to never include anything about students or staff that could potentially backire later on."

the correct location and connect it back to the rest of the campus before construction can continue on that building.

However, nobody from PG&E arrived for an appointment scheduled over February break.

“We were really excited that they were going to come out and then they didn't show up,” Lawton said. “They didn't call anybody, they just didn't show up.”

The district has submitted two applications to PG&E for work that PG&E needs to do on the site. The first application, submitted two years ago, was for a transformer to be installed. This job is still not on PG&E’s schedule to complete. The second, for the ground pipe to be fixed, was submitted a year ago. When workers from PG&E finally came in late March, they only fixed part of the pipe, but didn’t connect the buildings to power. Without power, the elevator in the nearly completed building can’t be inspected and teachers can’t move in.

These delays are causing the district money from costs such as extra spending on storage and portables. District banker Nancy Pfeiffer estimates these costs to be around $406,000 in tangible costs and at least $200,000 in non-tangible costs, such as the time of everyone involved in the process.

The district is currently filing a claim against PG&E for the tangible costs of the delay.

In a statement to the Bear Witness, PG&E said that the inspection process and heavy snowfall in the Sierra foothills have spread their resources thin, causing the delay. Fiona Chen, a PG&E spokesperson, also promised that the company will communicate with Branham and finish the remaining 25% of the gas pipe project when a new meter arrives in April. The email stated that there is a contractor with whom Branham officials have always had the option to communicate.

Pfeiffer disputes PG&E’s claims that their lines of communication were readily available, since the company has not solved these ongoing issues.

“Unfortunately, the application that’s the longest, the one for the generator, is two years old,” she said of their reasons for their delays. “So the things they’re mentioning are recent, but what happened with the first year that we submitted our application?”

English teacher Melanie Vega started teaching at Branham as construction began. She echoes the same concerns other teachers have shared, but is willing to put up with the delays for the long-term benefit.

“It definitely has sucked being in the construction zone for so long,” she said. “But, you know, the construction will last a couple years, and hopefully these buildings will last us several decades.”

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BEAR WITNESS

SCIENCE&HEALTH Science & Health briefs 200,000 lives for $270 Million.

Purdue Pharma, the makers of the drug OxyCotin, have settled with the state of Oklahoma over their lawsuit. Purdue Pharma was sued for its role in the opioid epidemic that has killed roughly 200,000 individuals so far. Opioids have become a problem for Americans due to their availability and potency, along with high dose prescriptions.

Possible treatment for depression found in famous ‘70s club drug Ketamine The popular illicit drug of the 1970s and 1980s, is now the subject of antidepressant research. The first hint of its treatment potential came in 2006, when 18 test subjects reported almost immediate relief from their symptoms of depression.

Clinics have already opened to administer doses of ketamine to patients in person to avoid misuse, however mainstream treatment is yet to come. Patients who are to try the new form of the drug must have already tried traditional antidepressants without relief of symptoms

Female spacesuits An all female spacewalk was cancelled due to two of the astronauts needing medium size chest plates for their spacesuits. There was not enough time for two of the medium plates to be made, so only one of two can walk. Because of this issue, a male astronaut will be replacing one of his female counterparts to carry out the task. This complication in the spacewalk has revamped the conversation of gender accommodation, or that facilities and equipment in those facilities have been engineered more specifically towards men.

Link between cancer and consuming of corn syrup In a study conducted by Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, mice who were injected with corn syrup were more predisposed to colon cancer than other mice. Although this experiment was conducted on mice, with the large amounts of corn syrup being consumed by Americans daily, this study may change views towards Big Gulps and other large, fizzy, sweetened drinks.

Students, teachers find health personal Stress: Unhealthy stress levels can lead to headache, insomnia, depression and ulcers, according to the Mayo Clinic. Stress can lead to both acute and chronic conditions, including poor memory.

Sleep: Sleep is used to repair the body and sustain mental health, not just rest, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Association.

Emotions: Researchers at Pennsylvania State University discovered that negative emotions can exacerbated inflammation and impair other immune system functions.

Genetics: Family history is one of the strongest factors in many common diseases. Certain genetic traits can cause people to be more or less predisposed to illnesses and health conditions, according to the National Institute of Health.

Exercise: Regular exercise can combat diseases and conditions, boost energy and promote sleep, besides the obvious benefits of muscle building and respiratory endurance, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Diet: A poor diet can increase the risk of dying due to cardiometabolic disease.

Diet in general has a direct impact on lifespan, according to the Center for Disease Control.

Sexual activity: According to the National Institute of Health, sexual activity can increase exposure risk to sexually transmitted infections. Sex can also lowers risk of heart attacks and regulate hormones.

Illness/injury: Even temporary traumas to the body like illnesses and injuries can have lifelong effects besides just the temporary. According to the Arkansas Surgical Hospital, some injuries may never fully heal and the injured body part may only have limited function for the remainder of life.

Michaela Edlin/Bear Witness

Environment: Environment determines exposure to pollution, sunlight and toxins which can affect the likelihood of lung disease, vitamin deficiencies and other conditions according to the Center on Human Needs.

MICHAELA EDLIN

H

Editor-in-Chief

ealth plays a vital role in everyone’s life, but it’s exact definition is difficult to pinpoint, especially because it has become more of a personal concept rather than a medical term.

Students and experts, both on and off campus, have difficulty coming to a consensus, however many agree that several main factors such as diet, sleep and exercise contribute to health.

The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This however, contradicts conventional medicine’s historical definition with health: “the absence of disease while other factors are disregarded.” For those on campus, they tend to resonate with WHO’s holistic approach to health At Branham, students are aware of several factors. When considering her own health, senior Anmol Dhaka has specific requirements, “[It’s necessary to] get a decent amount of sleep, eat 3 nutritious meals a day, be within five pounds of the ideal weight according to your height and most importantly, have a positive mindset,” Dhaka said.

For Dhaka, her requirements are so specific because of her own personal experiences. Last year when playing table tennis, her coach gave her a meal plan to best reach within the weight appropriate for her height according to Body Mass Index. She thinks being a teen, health is especially important.

“What we do now as teens affects us in the long run,” Dhaka said. “Those habits and mentalities carry over to adulthood.”

For Physical Education teacher Laura Anderson, health goes beyond the basic factors.

“Being healthy means being happy with who you are, participating in things that are enjoyable to you, whether they’re indoor activities or outdoor activities and doing your best to eat healthy foods,” she said.

As a P.E. teacher, she has an obligation to measure and aid students with their health. The federal government has monitored children’s health through the Youth Fitness Test, now called the FitnessGram test, since 1966, and P.E. teachers are responsible in administering this test and collecting the data.

The test is meant to be a comprehensive test that measures flexibility, strength, body composition, endurance and aerobic capacity through several tests, including the pacer test.

To determine the fitness standards, body mass index and age are considered.

For Anderson, these tests fall short in measuring the health of students on campus, because BMI doesn’t account for different body types and does not directly correlate to health.

“It’s the leading researcher’s statistical dream to say [put] this percentage of people in this category and this percentage of people in that category,” she said. “But I think it would be better to do more body density testing and send to figure out muscle mass versus actual weight.”

In P.E. classes, students not only exercise, they learn about diet, drugs and sexual activity, all factors that contribute to health. Anderson, though, considers emotional health the most important factor for teenagers.

“It has to do with having conversations with students making sure that their emotional health is going in the right direction,” she said. “[Ensuring] they don’t have a lot of stress or extra stuff that’s causing them anxiety, or depression.”

Junior Brooke Hathaway also finds mental health to be important. To her, mental health and physical health are correlated, but are separate things.

“Mental health I define as not having anxiety and being stress free,” Hathaway said. “Being healthy is based on perspective because I think [just] drinking a smoothie can make someone healthy.”

To maintain both her mental and physical, Hathaway takes regular breaks from both exercise and studying. She also has asthma, which she has to monitor with medication and especially during physical activity, which impacts her health.

Michelle Crescibene is also concerned with student’s health because she is the health clerk. Students often come to her for health concerns varying from colds, to injuries, to mental health crises. For Crescibene, health is something that shifts often from person to person, so for her job, it takes on a more practical definition.

Crescibene also pointed out that it’s difficult to gauge someone’s health or even your own because health depends a lot on what’s going on inside the body. Health can also change day by day.

“You seem healthy, you’re not sick, you’re good,” she said.

“But tomorrow you can end up to be sick.”

Women still underrepresented in tech on campus Staff Writer

— Compiled by Shlok Gore

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM “Make sure you still leave in things that you enjoy into your stressful life sometimes to de-stress.” — Jen Ozdinski, psychology teacher

SARAH SABAWI How do mosquitos know who to prey on?

A study conducted by scientists at Florida International University has determined that acidic volatiles in the sweat that humans excrete and the carbon dioxide that humans exhale play a part in being bitten by mosquitos. These insects can sense a human from about 30 feet away, and follow the scent to find the person.

| APRIL 5, 2019 |

TEM is one of the fastest growing industries of our S current era, and with so much rapid progress being made, it would be fair to expect these workplaces to be

progressive and inclusive. However, this is not the case for women in tech.

Ever since the 1990s, men have dominated STEM workplaces, while women have become increasingly underrepresented. According to Census, a government website, female computer workers have decreased from 34 to 27 percent since 1990.

“In the workplace, I was the only female doing my job,” said engineering teacher Barbara Schremp, referring to her job in tech marketing. “And in meetings, I would be in a room full of men.That never bothered me, but I know that it was something that is a deterrent.”

At Branham, women make up about 25 percent of the Robotics Club. Girls Who Code, a club dedicated to

teaching girls programming skills, has 5 members.

“Ms Schremp has told me that there are more girls in the upcoming engineering classes, but as of now, there are only two, and I am one of them,” senior Anmol Dhaka said, founder of Branham’s Girls Who Code club. “Which is what sparked me to start girls who code, because I hope that in the future, classes like AP Comp Sci and engineering will have more girls.”

Critics have said that this disparity could be because women have less interest in tech.

In an article by The Atlantic, gender-studies professor Janet Hyde postulates that “the gender STEM gap occurs not because girls can’t do science, but because they have other alternatives, based on their strengths in verbal skills.” However, the evidence points that it is more deeply rooted than that.

“I remember a presentation once where they said that most of the engineers right now are coming from parents who were engineers,” Barbara Schremp said. “We just look at the food chain of progeny of engineers, and

we look at how many engineers we need, and we don’t have enough.”

The field has been largely dominated by the same demographic for almost 30 years now, leading to the homogeneity it has today. This demographic is white men, and according to a report by The Washington Post, they hold 53.5 percent of all tech jobs in the country.

This can deter girls from pursuing these fields. According to a survey by the Girl Scouts Research Institute, 81 percent of girls who express an interest in STEM lose interest by age 11.

The solution comes down to representation. People want to work in a place that has others like them, and the problem with tech is that women are scarce, making up less than 20 percent of the workforce.

“This problem will be fixed by showing young women that there are others like them in STEM fields, and just increasing the amount of women that go into STEM,” said Dhaka. “Especially targeting those that have shied away from it in the past.”

BEAR WITNESS

| APRIL 5, 2019 |

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BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

INDEPTH THE PROBLEM WITH ADVISORY WHAT TEACHERS THINK ADVISORY OPTION

THEMED ADVISORY Students are given preference on two semester-long advisories, and teachers choose which topics that they would like to lead. Some examples may include job hunting, financial skills and college applications.

Student survey: Least popular Staff survey: Least popular

ADVISORY OPTION

TWICE-A-MONTH ADVISORY This option is almost identical to the current incarnation of advisory, except that rather than have it each week, it will take place twice a month, with the other advisory periods converted into tutorial.

ADVISORY OPTION

Student survey: 2nd most popular Staff survey: 2nd most popular

FACE TIME ADVISORY Teachers and students meet for advisory once a month, with the rest of the classes converted to tutorial. The tutorial class will serve as a home room, in which teachers will conduct one-on-one conversations with the student.

Student survey: Most popular Staff survey: Most popular

Advisory | Next year's advisory to meet once a month do it well right now.”

Classroom pains Now in its eighth year at Branham, advisory has long been a sore spot among teachers and students.

Its aim has been to help teachers develop a closer bond with their students through regular checkins and developing grade-appropriate skills such as time management and college application help.

The concept of advisory was based in research that students perform better academically if they have an adult on campus with whom they can have a conversation. The reality and logistics of the advisory, however, has been far messier.

First, advisory is technically not a contractual obligation for teachers, though, except for part-time teachers, it is an expectation for them. Lawton said some teachers oppose advisory based on the language of their contract.

“Teachers have a right to push back and say, ‘That’s not part of my job,’” she said.

Even though teachers may know their advisory students, they say the 30-minute periods rarely give them time to make any meaningful connection with their group of students.

“If you put 35 kids in my room, and I have them once a week, I have less than one minute per student per week,” said social science teacher Brett Johanson, who uses his senior advisory mainly for tutorial. “You do the math. It doesn’t work.”

Advisory on occasion does work, Johanson said, when lessons can be broadly applied to the class, such as the college application process. It falls short when it tries to become a source to help students better their lives, he said, pointing to a lesson where students were asked to meditate to relieve stress.

“As soon as you ask the kids to meditate in front of 35 students, guess what? You’ve lost them,” he said. “That’s when I lost my group this year. I got up front, tried to do it. It was a disaster.”

Science teacher Juan Fernandez, who used to write advisory curriculum, places part of the blame on teachers who are not convinced of its effectiveness and do not try to fix it.

“There are glitches (in advisory),” he said. “Not everything is perfect. Instead of trying to overcome the glitches, some teachers just give up and use it as a free period - tutorial.”

Teachers and students also say that there is too much advisory, which meets every Friday, except on minimum days. This means that the advisory curriculum writers Lawton (sophomores and juniors) and teachers Diane MacKinnon (freshmen) and Nick Cortez (seniors) have to provide advisory lesson plans that to some teachers seem uninspiring, or forced, and do not meet the the students’ needs.

“They're saying, ‘how much time we have to fill?’”

Johanson said. “And so the lessons, in spite of people's good efforts ... are oftentimes not very useful.”

Teachers who write these lessons often struggle to find meaningful 30-minute lessons every week, which makes for a weak and diluted advisory period, said science teacher Kevin Kalman.

“Advisory isn’t the problem,” he said. “The logistics of finding good, meaningful half-hour lessons every week, or every couple of weeks, or every month — that’s the main problem.”

Sophomore Adam Murphy said that he has taken several personality quizzes during his advisory classes, which can get stale after a while.

“They just feel a little useless,” he said. “I don’t think that should be something we should be spending school time on.”

According to teachers and staff, there is not buyin from the school. When there is a bloated curriculum that teachers dismiss, and when students feel that their academic needs are not met with personality quizzes and infrequent check-ins, there is an argument for a complete revamp.

'If we do it, we need to do it right' For science teacher Kevin Kalman, in his third year at Branham, the problem with advisory is a lack of buy-in from the staff, and the lack of quality advisory lessons. His problem isn’t whether there is or isn’t an advisory, it’s that since most teachers have to teach it, it needs to be effective.

“If we do it, we need to do it right,” he said.

Kevin Kalman has spent part of the past two months after school meeting with a small group of teachers to talk about the problems with advisory

ONE ADVISORY, MANY APPROACHES

"With seeing kids once a week, it's hard to make a connection. " Jen Brady Freshman advisory teacher "Advisory itself isn't the problem.

The logistics of finding good, meaningful half-hour lessons every week, or every couple of weeks, or every month — that’s the main problem" Kevin Kalman Freshman advisory teacher "With At-Promise advisory, we have tutors, and so it's beneficial for them to spend time with tutors than with an whatever (advisory lesson) they're sent."

Mike Espinoza At-Promise advisory teacher "There are many educators who are not convinced of advisories are, and so are not utilizing it. ... We should just do our best, and I don't think that everybody is."

Juan Fernandez Sophomore advisory teacher

Renee Owens/Bear Witness Senior Link Crew leader Iliana Karbowski leads her freshman class in Extreme Paper, Rock Scissors.

Renee Owens/Bear Witness Junior students study in Maria Meunier's advisory class on Friday morning.

Renee Owens/Bear Witness Sophomore Aaron Qalo sets up his Naviance profile in English teacher Kerry Murphy's advisory class.

"If you want to do right, then give me 10 kids, and we can have conversations and we can do things that are meaningful."

Brett Johanson Senior advisory teacher "Advisory lessons are not always provided to us in a timely manner.

So sometimes we're getting them just like ours before. And so we don't have time to really give a good lesson when you don't know ahead of time what we're going to be talking about."

Amanda Wilson Junior advisory teacher

Renee Owens/Bear Witness English teacher Carl Ponzio has a circle discussion with students during his advisory period.

"When we have really planned out curriculum, it can work, Sometimes we get things that are, 'play around in this website for half an hour,' and I don't find that that ... can be useful.

When we have that several weeks in a row, that that's when I don't find it effective."

Laurel Garceau Junior advisory teacher

WHAT STUDENTS THINK "When you're an upperclassman, you get the chance to help other people out. And I like doing that.

And I think it's a really good choice."

Shireen Sabouri Junior, Link Crew leader

Renee Owens/Bear Witness Engineering teacher Barbara Schremp leads her seniors on a walk around the campus.

and how it can be fixed. The group has come up with three options, all of which reduce the number of advisory periods in favor of more tutorial periods.

The first, called Themed Advisory, is the biggest departure from the current advisory, and has teachers choosing their topics of interest to teach each semester, and for students to select them.

These can be focused on employment, SAT prep, and others subjects of interest.

Lawton said that graduating students have often asked for more lessons on life skills such as credit scores or buying a car.

“We keep hearing from students who graduate, ‘I wish they would have taught me this I wish they would tell me that,’” she said. “We tried to change the concepts as we've gotten feedback from stu-

Michaela Edlin/Bear Witness Senior Jesus Amador Flores spends time with his AVID cohorts in English teacher Mike Espinioza's advisory. dents every year.”

The second and third advisory options reduce the number of advisories that teachers cheat, one with two advisory classes a month, and the other with only one advisory a month, with the rest being check-in tutorials, where students still meet with their advisory teacher, but it takes on tutorial.

Most students (58%) and teachers (51%) chose the once-a-month advisory option as their first choice.

Because this was the most popular choice, the committee has decided to go through with this option.

The results of both the student and teacher surveys helped the committee to choose a schedule.

A lot remains uncertain, as the committee is planning how to implement the new advisory into the schedule and also plans to address issues during tutorial.

"Alot of the time, we just sit around and just talk. And so it seems like there's no point because all we're doing is sitting around and talking."

James Gardner Freshman "It's the students decision. It's like their time so they should probably be able to choose what they're going to do."

Masato McCutcheon Junior "They just feel a little useless. I don't think that should be something we should spend school time on."

Adam Murphy Sophomore — Interviews by Laura Heffernan and Chandler Roberts

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BEAR WITNESS

|

APRIL 5, 2019 |

STUDENT LIFE

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

“Some people will still choose not to vote, but we are going to do everything we can to encourage people to vote.” — Christina Hillman, activities director

FIGHTING STUDENT

. .

Fight for gun control continues Branham held its second walkout on March 14 to honor the 17 students killed in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The response from students was mixed.

Those who attended the rally expressed the importance in using their voice to speak out. Others who stayed in class during the walkout claimed they didn’t hear about or felt it didn’t represent the situation at hand. A handful of students put together a counter protest in response, holding up pro-gun signs to oppose the walkout’s message.

Drainage problems conflict with field sports Both the baseball and softball team had to reschedule the first few games and many practices of their season due to complications with their field. The draining system was improperly installed; instead of draining rainwater, it remained on the field. Softball players must find a way to reschedule all of their missed games and maximize their practices to make it in time for CCS finals.

— Compiled by Uzor Awuzie

Election 2019 Elections are based on 3 areas Interview scores, 25%; 15% platform assessment; 65% student voting

Last year’s votes The voter turnout in 2018 was higher than previous year but still lower than what Leadership would like.

2018 Results 272 out of 533 freshmen 200 out of 461 sophomores 210 out of 446 juniors

In this election cycle, students are sent a personalized link in their school email. Teachers are asked to encourage students to vote.

Kaitlynn Lee, junior Student Outreach Plans to set up a website for students to give input all year Improving school spirit Plans to bring recognition to overlooked groups through Blue Crew

Lara Kurtovic, junior Expanding role: Help with events coordinator and communications commissioner.

Seeking student opinions: Create a comment box that will be updated and shared.

Jenna Solis, junior Engagement: Promote groups on campus that might be underrepresented.

More student input: Use Google Forms to reach out to students.

Shireen Sabouri, junior Efficient check-ins: Use app to take roll, track ASB participation.

Help clubs promote events: Encourage ASB to attend school events outside their own.

RYAN MCCARTHY Sports Editor

n Branham’s annual student government elecI tions, student apathy continues to be a problem.

This year’s leadership class has plans to fix it.

Along with the current ASB board—all of whom are seniors—activities director Christina Hillman is turning away from last year’s voting method, the 5-Star Students app. The app was problematic with students because it forced students to register with the app before voting.

This election season, Hillman said that they will send out individual links to each student’s school email account, in an effort to make the process easier for voters.

“My hope is that because a link is sent to students directly, student voting will increase,” Hillman said.

“Last (election) was a better turnout than other votes we put out, but it was definitely not the entire student body voting.”

Hillman also reached out to some of the teachers after the election for answers on the apathy problem. In doing so, she said that the students had a

ASB VICE PRESIDENT

ASB PRESIDENT

SCHOOLWIDE ASB CANDIDATES

ASB TREASURER

Uzor Awuzie /Bear Witness

Minimum day and 5-Star app did not help boost voter turnout in 2018. How ASB plans to combat that

ASB SECRETARY

Clarabelle Walkup/Special to the Bear Witness ASB takes Winter Wishes to Oster elementary Students at Oster Elementary School got a taste of Branham’s Winter Wishes spirit with the first ever “Lil’ Wishes.” The event was organized by the leadership class and students were granted wishes, ranging from colored pencils, to wishes for other students’ family circumstances. The event, organized by Activities Director Christina Hillman and sophomore Anwesha Mishra, taught students about the importance of gratuity, no matter the age.

Kate Feller, sophomore Club meetings: Improve efficiency of club meetings via Google Classroom.

Clubs: Support underrepresented groups on campus by monitoring clubs

Aiden Velasquez, junior Clubs: Will continue tiered club system and help them set goals.

School spirit: Utilize Blue Crew year-round, beyond football season.

Joel Silva, junior ASB and student connection: Find creative ways to advertise ASB events.

More school gear: Collaborate with indie retailers to sell clothing packages.

negative outlook on the elections, and never felt the need to make themselves heard.

“Teachers said that their students didn’t feel like it was important to them or that they didn’t care or had no preference,” Hillman said.

Junior and ASB president candidate Kaitlyn Lee thinks that more students should consider voting for people that can best represent them as leaders, which can only happen if they choose to use this opportunity.

“As more people vote, they have a better representation and a chance for things to change,” said Lee. “Part of that is electing people who will listen to you.

“It’s hypocritical to say you want a different person in a position after not voting in the election. If you want something to change, you should use your vote to change it.”

Hillman said that the most important action to take is teaching students why they should vote, and emphasizing the narrative that their vote matters.

“Educating the student body on why these decisions matter and why they should matter to them [is important],” Hillman said. “Everyone has opinions of what ASB does, so electing the people that

Class officer candidates Seniors President Belle Ngo Vice president Chester Albano Secretary/ Treasurer Mitchell MacAulay Danielle Phan Juniors President Mikey Maloney Vice president Aiden Dureseky Emily Murphy Maria Movsesyar Secretary/ Treasurer Afrouz Khosraviani

Rebecca Haile, junior Financial training: Create a packet to help clubs learn about staying solvent.

Optimize event spending: Use attendance data to calculate event’s value.

Sophomores President Isha Chander Vice president Aiden Duresky Kaden Brownie Secretary / Treasurer Nico Morrone

they feel are their best representation should be important.”

Hillman is also aiming to use a part of class time to give students a more opportunistic time to vote, rather than during breaks, where they had previously considered operating voting stations in front of the cafeteria or in the quad.

“I don’t think we would get the turnout that we could get if we just did it during breaks,” Hillman said. “If we had them come to us it wouldn’t be as successful as we were looking for. Giving students time to vote in their classes increases the chance that we will have more voters.”

Hillman’s ultimate goal in this election is making sure students know the importance of voting, and is taking it upon herself to send that message out to students directly.

“If you look at America today, not everyone chooses to exercise their right to vote for whatever reason, either because they feel like their vote doesn’t count or it doesn’t matter,” Hillman said.

“Some people will still choose not to vote, but we are going to do everything we can to encourage people to vote.”

Bear WItness staff graphic

Where to get your boba fix For spring break, try some bubble tea. Compiled below are four boba houses within 10 miles of Branham.

— Shlok Gore

TPumps 7290 Bollinger Rd, 10 miles $3.50 ($) A popular destination for who who love having a variety of flavors at their fingertips, TPumps offers more than 25 flavors of tea, ranging from a summer-like watermelon to a more tropical mango. At a distance of 10 miles (from Branham) and a low price point, this establishment brings fun choices as well as affordability for students who wish to have some good boba tea. .

TeaSpoon 4328 Moorpark Ave , 10 miles $5.00 ($$) When one walks into TeaSpoon, they are greeted with by the staff. The experience only gets better from there, as your drink is made available in around 5 minutes, and the glass panel makes it so that one can observe the whole process of making the boba from a front row seat. With a medium price point and a distance of 10 miles (from Branham), TeaSpoon makes for a fun and delicious outing.

Boba Pub 1576 Branham Lane, 0.2 miles $3.50 ($) Since their opening four years ago, Boba Pub has become the go-to spot for a boba fix. The location, right next to Branham, could not have been a better choice for the popular store to set up shop. The whole atmosphere vibrates with friendliness and welcoming, as come any time of day, Boba Pub experiences eager individuals who desire boba.

ShareTea 8.4 Miles $5.50 ($$) Located conveniently in Valley Fair Mall, ShareTea has by far the quickest boba preparation time of all the establishments visited. ShareTea provides a quick respite and refuel for shoppers visiting the mall.

In ShareTea, taro is not the most popular item, however it does not disappoint.

The bitterness of the tea contrasts the sweetness of the taro to create a flavorful harmony.

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BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

SPORTS

“I want this to be a sport, not just a game.”

Math teacher Neeraja Nambula, badminton co-coach

MAKING ROOM FOR BADMINTON

Badminton basics

Asians dominate the sport It’s no surprise that Asian American students are the predominant group that plays badminton. Since its inclusion in the Olympics in 1992, Asian players have won a 93 out of the 103 Olympic medals. The most successful badminton countries in the world are China and Indonesia, who have won 70% of all Badminton World Federation events between them.

Team competes for recognition and practice space ANNALISE FREIMARCK Managing Editor

nder the fluorescent lights of the gym, BraU nham’s badminton team sweats and pants as they keep up with the fast pace of the birdie,

intent on winning their match. The birdie soars over the net in a fraction of a second, rattling off of the racket in a flash.

Before every game, the badminton team warms up on six courts in the gym, practicing different types of shots: the drop, which plummets just over the net, and the drive, a clean swoop that arcs over the net with hopes of deceiving the opponent.

Senior Robert He stands with his friends, joking around, instructing the less experienced players.

“As long as you can hit it; that’s the goal,” he said to a junior varsity player while rallying with his partner before the match.

After warming up, pairs begin to line up on their assigned courts, ready to start their matches. Surrounding the courts are parents supporting their kids, while other team members sit and stand on the lines outside of the courts, close enough to catch the action.

The other team lines up on the opposite side of the net, and some players dip their shoes in water on the side of the court to keep from slipping.

The matches begin, with six pairs competing at once.

Senior Emmalyn McCarthy cheers along with other teammates, shouting “You got this!” and “Let’s go Branham!”, encouraging their teammates during their matches.

Co-head coach and math teacher Neeraja Nambula circles the courts, watching her players and pulling them aside during breaks in matches to instruct them.

“Have fun!” she says, telling a doubles team to relax.

Nambula has been playing badminton since she was in fourth grade, and began coaching at Branham a couple years ago, officially becoming one of Branham’s head coach this year. She became the first coach to make badminton a cut sport, in order to better the sport and make it more

It’s the second most popular sport in the world It has been claimed that badminton is the second most-popular participation sport in the world, only behind soccer.

When badminton was first included in the Olympics in 1992, 1.1 billion people watched the badminton competition on television.

recognized.

“When I’m on the court, I lose track of time,” she said. “It makes me forget things that I don’t want to remember.”

Despite the high intensity of the game, badminton remains an underreported sport at Branham. Those who attend events are restricted to the small amount of space between each court.

According to Nambula, materials are limited and team members are asked to bring their own equipment.

A lot of this has come with starting the team from scratch, as Nambula and co-coach Patricia Perez were forced to do when they first took over the program. The team’s main financial support comes from team parents and fundraisers that they organize for themselves.

“50 percent (of funding) is coming from families, and the other 50 percent is coming from fundraising money,” Nambula said. “We are trying to do as much as we can to support the program.”

The money the team will need for new equipment, among other much needed items, is estimated to cost around $3,000. So far, the team has raised $1,500 from fundraising alone.

For freshman Anjana Hariprasad, keeping the badminton team running and making it recognized is valuable because of the bonds she has made playing the sport.

“I originally joined badminton because I needed another sport for Sports P.E., but it’s become a lot more than that,” she said. “I have a good amount of friends who are doing it with me and it’s a great way to connect with people.”

Hariprasad is helping to raise money through the Branham badminton fundraiser on Vertical Raise, a fundraising website. They have raised $2,760 out of their goal of $6,500, most of the donations coming from families and friends of the players.

Along with the fundraising, Nambula wants more recognition for the sport as a whole throughout Branham.

“I would like to see this sport recognized as one of the good sports on campus,” she said. “I want this to be a sport, not just a game.”

It wasn’t always called badminton Before badminton was called “badminton,” it was referred to as shuttlecock and battledore.

The badminton name came from an estate called Badminton House in Gloucestershire, England — Compiled by staff

BRUIN BREAKDOWN THE BADMINTON LOW SERVE Interview with Bob He, team captain Feet stance Stand with your non-racket foot (the opposite foot of the arm that you play with) forward and the racket foot behind you.

The feet should be shoulder-length apart, and your racket foot should pointed, with the toes pointed and the heel above the ground.

Ryan McCarthy/Bear Witness

Posture Both legs should be bent at the knee in a half crouch

SPORTS BRIEFS

Scores updates as of April 1

position, allowing you to be buoyant. Your body should be angled partially sideways toward the opponent, and you should lean forward, so that most of your weight is on the non-racket foot.

Grip and racket position Hold the racket out in front of you, at a downwards angle. Use a thumb grip (hand up and wrist bent back).

Hold the birdie by one feather tip, between your index finger and thumb.

— Annalise Freimarck

Badminton The team won their last overall match against Pioneer, with Robert He and Macy Fu winning their doubles match in straight sets.

Next games: 4/5 vs. Mt. Pleasant, 4/12 @ Pioneer, 4/19 vs. Overfelt Baseball The boys started the month of March with a 1-8 loss to Los Altos, then proceeded to win four straight games to close the month and lead in to the start of league play.

Next games: 4/5 vs. Prospect, 4/6 @ Westmont, 4/12 @ Saratoga, 4/13 vs. Fremont

Ryan McCarthy/Bear Witness Junior Cameron Rynhard takes a swing against Gunderson in a blowout win, 15-2 in March.

Junior Justin Teng returns the birdie at a match against Westmont in early March.

Jessica Berton/Bear Witness

Boys’ Tennis The boys lost their most recent match against first-placed Evergreen Valley, but the doubles teams of Michael Yamashita/James Dyer and Charlie Olsen/Rohan Joshi won their individual matches.

Next games: 4/2 vs. Santa Teresa, 4/4 @ Westmont, 4/15 vs. Pioneer Boys’ Volleyball The boys have won all eight games this month without dropping a single set, most recently winning in straight sets over Willow Glen.

Next games: 4/4 vs. Westmont, 4/5-6 @ Bellarmine Tournament Cheer The team won both of their matches to start the season, most recently beating Westmont 11-10 on April 1.

Next games: 4/22 @ Sequoia, 4/29 @ Wilcox, 5/6 @ Silver Creek Golf The team lost their last game against Piedmont Hills, losing by four in the first leg of their two day matchup with

the Pirates.

Next games: 4/15 vs. Live Oak @ Santa Teresa, 4/18 vs.

Live Oak @ San Jose Muni Softball The girls went 4-2 for the month, winning four straight from Mar. 14-26 and scoring a total of 44 runs over the four-game stretch.

Next games: 4/4 vs. Ann Sobrato, 4/16 vs. Santa Teresa, 4/18 @ Pioneer Track In their most recent meet against Santa Teresa, both varsity girls and the frosh/soph girls teams all emerged with victories. The boys are 0-3 and girls are 2-1 on the season.

Next games: 4/16 @ Westmont, 4/18 League Finals @ Westmont.

— Ryan McCarthy

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT Mini Reviews Bite-sized opinions

Cosmetics “e.l.f x Jkissa eyeshadow palette” e.l.f. Cosmetics What it is: The cruelty free and vegan palette has six smaller pans and one larger pan at a cost of $12. A double-sided brush is included in the colorful palette with crease, inner corner and pops of color shades.

Disliked: The shades Mac n Cheese and BFF are too close in color. It would be better if BFF was either more neutral or a little darker.

Liked: All shades are pigmented and blend without being muddy, despite the variety of colors. Some of the colors included are unique considering that the palette is completely vegan.

— Michaela Edlin

Movie “Captain Marvel” Marvel Studios What it is: Captain Marvel make her debut in in Marvel’s first female led movie.

The movie is a prequel set in the 90s full of action.

Disliked: The movie lacked the humor that most Marvel movies have Liked: The plot was riveting with no dull moments and is full of female empowerment — Julianne Alvares Movie “Queer Eye” Created by David Collins What it is: A group of gay men help people of all backgrounds improve their lives through fashion, self-care, mental health conversations, cooking and interior design.

Each episode is focused on a different person, all of which are located in the south of the United states Disliked: Every episode is about forty minutes. For me, it feels like a bigger time investment to watch an episode.

Liked: The group confronts prejudices and homophobia with their makeover recipients. Being in the south, many of their subjects have different opinions of sexuality, race and political issues. The group is good at sitting down and having conversations about these problems and providing different viewpoints.

— Elizabeth Posey Cadbury Creme Eggs Created by Cadbury What it is: Being an Easter candy staple, it has an outer chocolate shell shaped like an egg with white and yellow creme filling inside to resemble the inside of a chicken egg.

Disliked: The sugar content is too high. If I were to consume more than two (and I so badly want to), I would be on the floor groaning in pain from the amount of sugar coursing through my body and the feeling of my teeth rotting.

Liked: It is so good. The taste is the epitome of Easter and are only around for that time so the short time to eat it only enhances the experience.

— Jessica Berton

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

“ You think (Eclipse) is just a dance team, it’s not.I cried four times on the show because I was talking about them.” — Madison Leong, sophomore

TAKING THE WORLD STAGE

Sophomore Madison Leong is part of a popular Bay Area K-pop dance group. After appearing in a Korean dance show, her fame may be taking flight.

How Eclipse Covers Songs Madison Leong’s K-Pop dance cover group Eclipse has a specific way they cover hits by idol groups.

Fast vs. slow covers Once a new song comes out from a popular artist, Eclipse races to cover it as fast as possible to maximize their views; these are fast covers. Slow covers are when a song has been out for a while, but Eclipse covers it anyways because it’s loved by the group.

Practice Time Eclipse has four to five practice for every cover. The initial practices are to learn the choreography and block the dance.

Blocking is determing the placement of dancers in every formation. After blocking, the last practices are for cleaning. Cleaning is refining and sharpening motions.

Filming in public After practice, Eclipse films their covers in public places in the Bay Area. Their cameraman uses a gimble to capture the dance at different angles and closeness, which is a video style popular in K-Pop music videos and dance covers.

Michaela Edlin/Bear Witness The Eclipse members who were in the “Sugar Free” by T-ara cover pose for a picture after filming at Main Street Cupertino, a family oriented shopping center and hang out spot.

MICHAELA EDLIN Editor-in-Chief

alking between sets, stagehands touched up W her makeup. Dozens of cameras filmed her throughout the day. A live studio audience cheered for

her and the four other U.S. dancers.

Sophomore Madison Leong competed in a K-Pop dance cover competition called Stage K, put on by the Korean broadcasting network JTBC in March in South Korea. Teams were divided by country and judged by a live studio audience and a judge’s panel made up of idols from internationally famous K-Pop groups Red Velvet and iKon. For Leong, the experience started in January after her cover dance group Eclipse was invited directly to the second round of auditions in Los Angeles. They got to skip the initial video submission stage of the competition.

“They called out specific videos, that Madi and Amber [another member of Eclipse] were in for us to prepare,” Lena Mier, one of the group’s directors, said. “And we thought if they’re going to just have us on there, then let’s do it.”

From the beginning, it seemed as if Leong had a good chance of moving to the international, televised level of the competition. Her group was asked to participate in the competition by the broadcast company over social media and eventually email. This became even more clear on location in LA. “I knew I had better chances because they kept asking me to do more,” Leong said. “They had me do a solo cover and they did more interview clips. They filmed all of these clips of our day.”

During the audition members of the group had to wear numbers on their shirts and danced three covers from popular idol groups they were asked to prepare beforehand in front of a panel of executives from the broadcast company. Every moment was filmed by nu-

Michaela Edlin/Bear Witness

merous cameras from the warm up, the when she got there.”

Eclipse audition itself and confessional style Each team in the competition had videos throughout the process.

Madison Leong’s K-Pop dance two days to practice the choreography “There were just a bunch of cameras. of three different assigned songs. LargCameras up on the walls, people with cover group posts their covers on er groups, like the U.S., had the advancameras just kind of roaming around,” tage of taking up more space on stage, YouTube. They have: Mier said. “There was one camera that but it was easier for smaller groups like was always on us or Madi.”

Canada and France to synchronize After all of the solo and group audiwith only one or two people on their tions, there was also a random dance teams. play portion. The event organizers Leong was more nervous for othplayed random K-Pop songs and evers than herself because she knew her eryone who knew the choreography team members’ weak spots, especially to the songs danced in the center. Acwith synchronization because the team cording to Mier, Leong excelled at this had not known each other prior to the because of her vast knowledge of cho- on their most popular video, a competition. reography and high level of execution.

“I focused mostly on head angles,” she tutorial of BTS’s “Go Go” “It was was really fun to see her gosaid. “I’d go through the whole thing ing up there and dominating the floor,” and say that this part your head goes Mier said. “She’s very competent up and then to the side or whatever it which is beautiful to see.” may be to make sure everybody has the After auditions with all the groups right angle.” on their most popular dance at the LA location, the members of Janice Elzinga, the dancer’s father’s Eclipse were taken to the Hollywood girlfriend, took in the experience when cover, “DDU-DU DDU-DU” by seeing her perform microphoned and Walk of Fame. The group did one cover together and Leong did anothin full costume and makeup.

BLACKPINK er solo cover, which were both filmed “The broadcasting company brought by the JTBC camera crew. Afterwards, us to come and watch the show, so we Leong and her co-member Amber Wollum were noti- rode in a van,” Elzinga said. “As soon as we get out the fied that they’d be two of the five U.S. representatives, car to walk into the building, we had film crews like with Leong being the number one pick from the LA taping us and in our face and I think it was just a litaudition. tle glimpse of what Madi had gone through the whole In March Leong flew with her dad and his girlfriend week.” to South Korea, where she stayed in her own hotel. She Throughout the competition, Leong had the opporhad never been out of the country before, but she didn’t tunity to reflect on what had brought her to Korea: her get to experience much of Korea because she mainly team. saw the airport, hotel and studio.

“This [Eclipse] is a part of my life every day, especially “She probably didn’t get the chance to get over the the people. You think it’s just a dance team, it’s not,” she SEE K-POP • PAGE 11 jetlag,” Dave Leong, her dad said. “She was non-stop

250,752 subscribers 2.5 million views

2.1 million views

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

“I’m glad it’s coming to light now, and it’s important that we have those conversations.”— Social science teacher Tania Eaton on blackface in movies.

OLD FILMS, MODERN LENS Harmful film tropes have changed, but they haven’t gone away SARAH SABAWI

racism

I

NORMALIZING JUST LGBTQ+ CHARACTERS

A movements have picked upWOMAN a lot LGBTQ+ of speed as of late. In the past decade, gay

marriage was legalized nationwide, the first openly gay governor was sworn in and District of Columbia residents were granted the right to identify as nonbinary on their driver’s license.

As a result there’s been a big push for LGBTQ+ representation in media. In the past few years, gay representation has made strides, with movies like “Love, Simon” and “Annihilation.” Both feature LGBTQ+ relationships and grossed over 40 million dollars.

Junior Bailey MacAulay, presidentsexism of Branham’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance, is excited by the strides the film industry has made in recent years.

“In 2016, I never thought any representation would show up in film or TV, but when I entered high school I saw way more,” MacAulay said. “TV show characters are being LGBTQ+, and [the writers] are making it normal.”

Despite this increase in representation, statistics suggest that the film industry still has a long way to go. According to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Institute, of the 109 films released by major studios in 2017, only 14 contained LGBTQ+ characters.

Nine of these films featured gay male characters, five had lesbian characters and none had a transgender or bisexual character.

Stereotypes of the past haven’t disappeared either. In fact, many movies with gay characters use their sexuality as their defining characteristic.

“A lot of the time they portray [gay characters] as over-sexualised, like ‘Oh yeah, I go with everyone,’” MacAulay said. “It’s very damaging to see that not everyone is represented in the correct way.”

This is especially true for lesbians. The controversial 2013 foreign film “Blue is the Warmest Color” is one of the films that perpetuates this stereotype, including many explicit scenes that prioritize the sexuality of lesbian relationships over other aspects.

In many ways, the industry is headed in the right direction. MacAulay finds it powerful that LGBTQ+ characters are being included “no questions asked.”

“It is getting better,” MacAulay said. “The other day, I was watching a TV show, and they had this pansexual character. She had a girlfriend on the show, but it’s not a plotline.”

popular act in the early 1900s, blackface is when a white actor darkens their complexA ion using paint or shoe polish. By doing so, actors mimicked African Americans and exaggerated stereotypes. This started in the incredibly popular minstrel shows of the antebellum south.

Social science teacher Tania Eaton teaches about blackface in popular culture.

“It perpetuated stereotypes and further solidified oppression that didn’t allow them to have the same rights in film,” Eaton said. “And I understand those things change over time, but I still think it has that negative connotation.”

Staff Writer

n the past few years, film has been becoming increasingly inclusive and socially aware. “Black Panther” featured a majority-black cast, “Love Simon” had a gay main character and “Captain Marvel” was the first Marvel movie with a female lead. Films have developed a lot since movies became a key part of American culture, and many of them not have aged well in the eyes of modern movie-goers.

transphobia

BLACKFACE, AND OTHER HARMFUL STEREOTYPES

ARTS CALENDAR 10 Summers Records

BEAR WITNESS

DESPITE STRONGER FEMALE LEADS, SEXISM REMAINS

M

any movies have strong female leads.

Recent examples include Carol Danvers from “Captain Marvel” and Lara Croft from “Tomb Raider”. Therefore, it’s a common belief that weak female representation is a thing of the past. However, sexism can take many forms, and just because these particular tropes are no longer widespread, that does not mean that sexism in film has been eradicated.

In the 80s and 90s, it was common for films to represent women in ways that would receive backlash today. The 1984 movie “Splash” contains a scene where the protagonist kidnaps a woman from a police station simply because he was attracted to her. The makeover scene in 1999’s “She’s All That” has been criticized for promoting the belief that beauty is more important than personality.

Despite it being 20 years later, sexism is a problem that movies still have today. It’s common to see female characters that are weak, or only there for sex appeal, especially in action franchises like “Transformers” and “Fast and Furious”.

President of the Intersectional Feminist Club, senior Jessica Silva, is troubled by these stereotypes.

“Usually it’s just belittling women or trying to show more body instead of brains,” Silva said. “It doesn’t give guys a good representation of women, because they will belittle us and think that’s how we really think, and in reality it’s not.”

Based on analyses performed by the Geena Davis Institute, an organization dedicated to pushing strong female representation, men receive twice as much screen time as women on average, and have twice as many lines of dialogue.

According to Silva, screen time has real-life consequences that affects girls’ mentality.

“Girls will think they’re not capable of doing certain things because it’s not represented in a movie or anywhere else,” Silva said. “People think representation doesn’t matter, but it really does.”

Representation for strong female minorities is even more scarce. A report by the Geena Davis Institute finds that 33 of 2017’s top 100 films had a female in a leading or co-leading role, and 4 of these women were from an ethnic minority group.

MUSIC Ella Mai: The Debut Tour April 23 at Fox Theater, Oakland Ella Mai is coming off of the first big release in her career with her album “Ella Mai”, which released last year. Tickets start at $60.

AROUND TOWN JCOS Art Haus April 26 at 805 University Ave, Suite E, Los Gatos Art is typically expensive to collect, but JCOS’s Art Haus is offering cheaper art alternatives for people who want to own art. Entry is free.

Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival April 28 at Memorial Park, Cupertino The annual festival celebrates the sistership between Toyokawa and Cupertino. The event features food, live performances, and craft vendors. Free to attend.

Makers Market April 6 at Santana Row At this monthly event, there is live music and locals sell handcrafted goods such as soaps and jewelry. Free entry.

Laura Heffernan/Bear Witness Blackface, and its many interpretations, contributed to the perception of African-Americans as foolish and animalistic. Stereotypes included being overly happy, bruting, or stupid, and had names like “Jim Crow” and “Uncle Tom,” characters that persisted long after they were crafted. The intent was to mock African-Americans, or to exclude them entirely.

Blackface was often used in order to cast white actors over black ones.

A well-known example is the 1915 silent film “Birth of a Nation,” in which the major black characters are played by white actors in blackface.

D.W. Griffith’s“Birth of a Nation was one of the first blockbuster films,” Jon Furtado, SVCTE film and video teacher, said. “It really became so successful and really set the template for big-budget blockbusters.

Unfortunately, the legacy of the film means that it’s also a deeply racist film.”

The film is also a part of American history, as it was the first film ever played at the White House President Woodrow Wilson famously called the film “so terribly true” and “like writing history with lightning.” “Birth of a Nation’s” use of blackface inspired many films that came after it. In the 1927 film “The Jazz Singer” the main character was played by a white man in blackface. The 1938 film “Everybody Sing” centers around a young white girl pretending to be black by wearing blackface during a jazz audition.

The decline of blackface didn’t happen overnight.

As attitudes about minorities changed, portrayals of African Americans in media began to change too.

Films with black main characters were primarily shown by the 21st century, both blackface and the aforementioned archetype had lost their popularity.

The recent controversy surrounding Republican state representative Anthony Sabatini and his use of blackface in high school is an example of how blackface is treated today. It sparked outrage -something that would never have happened when the act was more common.

“I majored in history and got my degree in history and I had never heard of blackface until eight or 10 years ago,” Eaton said. “I would say I’m glad it’s coming to light now, and it’s important that we have those conversations, because most people didn’t even know what it was until recently.”

— Additional interview by Caitlyn Schlaman

Catherine Monroy/Bear Witness file Brandon Anders and Seneca Lent, 2018’s prom king, queen.

DANCE Golden Gala: Branham’s Prom April 27 at Levi’s Stadium Juniors and seniors at Branham High School get together to celebrate the coming of the end of the year.

— Compiled by Laura Heffernan

K-POP | Sophomore recognized for children’s part in dance Director bringsonline Clinton’s bookgroup to life said. “I cried four times on the show because I was talking about them.”

Leong first joined Eclipse last June, after seeing a cover they posted on YouTube at the San Jose Convention Center. She had experience in cheer and hip hop beforehand and wanted to join a K-Pop cover group after going to KCON LA. Leong joined at 15, well under the age of the other members of the group and with less experience.

“At first it was really scary,” she said. “I didn’t know if I could do this, like be on the same level as these people.”

Despite her nerves, other members of the group were excited by her danceFitz skills and Witness attiVo/Bear tude. Amidst the other people auditioning, she Khaliaout.

Davis, daughter of school counselor Joyce stood Davis, brought former First Daughter Chelsea “I actually remember the day that she came in

Clinton’s book, “She Persisted” to the stage.

to audition. I noticed her right away,” Mier said.

“I remember goingUZOR up to her during a break and AWUZIE talking to her, beingStaff likeWriter ‘Hey, nice to meet you, you’re really talented.” irector Davis, daughter of school Leong tookKhalia her hip hopthe style into her covcounselor Joyceaccepted Davis, was young actress ers. While she got by aboth subunits before she started directing children’s theatre. of Eclipse—solar which does boy group covers Shelunar transitioned into directing adults for chiland which does girl group covers—she dren’s theatre.

After years of experience, she faced prefers to do boy group covers because they tend herbebiggest project bringing to author Chelsea to more her style.yet: According Leong, she’s Clinton’s book “She to life. known forchildren’s her aggression and Persisted” “demon eyes”.

Thethe book depictsof13 American woman who For members Eclipse, her dance persona changed the by fighting to be heard, even contrasts withworld her personality. when the funny world because told them shows “It’s very youno. seeThe herplay when she how pushing hardships and obstacles to performs andthrough she’s very aggressive, high conachieve your while also showing fidence and goals with isa necessary, lot of energy,” Mier said. characters fromoff different cultural backgrounds.

“Then she gets camera, and she’s the sweetest Davis says one of the reasons she chose to dilittle bean.” rect the play thesubscribers lead was anon African Eclipse has was overbecause 250,000 YouAmerican girl. As director, representation was im-

D

Tube and their most popular video, a tutorial of BTS’s “Go Go” has over 2.5 million views. Their She Persisted, the musical most popular cover is a version of “DDU-DU Directed by Khalia Davis DDU-DU”

by BLACKPINK that has over 2.1 The showviews. will move from Berkeley to Sunnyvale million Despite the group’s popularity, Leong it doesn’t affect her much personally.

April 6says to April 14 at Sunnyvale Community Center.

“I can’tare really feel famous because it’s not like Tickets sold out. a YouTuber where they get 100,000 views and people portant recognize for her. them,” Leong said. “It’s more of“I’ve a team beeneffort.” the actor, I’ve been the teaching artist,” Leong she hasto been she said. has “I’m said now starting go intorecognized the other though, mostly comments side of the table online. where IWhen have a she lot more say.” on other social media, Daviscover was groups inspiredorbysoloists’ how Clinton wrote she her often gets recognized out as by “Madi book partially because or shepointed was inspired her from Eclipse.” herKhalia participation in Stage mother, HillaryFrom Clinton.

Davis holds the K, members audiences cams of same view of of herthe mother, whomtook she fan described as her where sheJoyce was recognized andinposted about. as her “hero.”

Davis grew up Connecticut, For Leong and other members of Eclipse where she attended a desegregated elementary though, school. the goal of the group is not fame. The

group originally started as a pastime and a form ofJoyce community a groupproud of Stanford Davis isfor similarly of her students. daughter Many of she thecaptured current members work in tech, so and how women, particularly of coltheface group serves up as their outlet.women’s or, growing in a creative society where The weren’t anatomy the group encouraged Leong’s goals as of valued as men’s. father toheavy.This be more comfortable with her going “This is can be heavy racism, sexism is the group, being younger the painful anddespite what she didn’tmuch do was dumb itthan down,” groupDavis mainly made up ofshe twenty-somethings.

Joyce said.

“What does is she respects “With students was not and onlytoa the kids ex-Stanford and their abilities, theirit intellect, greatthat group forthe Madi to beis involved in, they’re me shows person truly committed to nice people jobs and great role what’s always who in thehave best interest of are the child.” models her,” Dave Khalia for Davis said sheLeong hopes said. that what sticks is Now the group hasand expanded, butthat for lasts. many of the culture it created the impact the members, thesure original purpose still remains.

“I want to make that I’m creating something “Wecan canbetellreached the people who are here to besaid. fathat by everybody.”

Davis mouskid or who popular and or theanypeople who arethese here “Any watches kid who reads are really genuine,” said they Mier. trying to books or sees these plays, can“We’re take something find ait,family because that’s we made from they understand whatwhy it’s about, they this can group.” see themselves reflected in it in some way.”

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BEAR WITNESS

| APRIL 5, 2019 |

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

THE BACK PAGE

President Theodore Roosevelt helped plant the redwood tree that would become our district’s first school site.

The Silicon Valley is known for its tech giants, such as Apple and Google, that surround us today. Our much humbler and older history is sometimes overshadowed by modern life. Where there are giant campuses, there were orchards and farmland. Life was slower.

San Jose’s recorded history dates to the Ohlone tribe, who occupied San Jose before Spanish settlers arrived in the late 18th century. California’s first capital, San Jose has been the site of revolutions, civil rights leaders and doors to nowhere. The fast-paced lifestyle of the tech industry doesn’t allow many of people to stop and appreciate the rich history that San Jose has to offer.

This spring break, step outside too see how San Jose’s past took root.

JULIANNE ALVARES and JULIA MARQUES DA SILVA ILLUSTRATIONS BY ELIZABETH POSEY 1

PERSONAL HISTORY

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Courtesy of the Alvares family

The author’s grandmother at her San Jose farm.

Does your city have a song?

Dionne Warwick’s Grammy Award-winning song “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” immortalized San Jose’s legacy in pop culture. The song reached #10 on Billboard hot 100 and sold over three million copies worldwide. This hit resulted in Warwick being named the city’s “global ambassador of goodwill” in 2014.

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Historic Orchard 438 Coleman Avenue The Historic Orchard was planted in 1994 by volunteers. The orchard is laid out and cared for the same way orchards were during the valleys agricultural peak. It is part of Guadalupe Garden’s “Walk Through History” and its meant to show visitors how the they once looked.

All food grown is dedicated to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Values: Historical/Local/Social Media

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Peralta Adobe Fallon House Historic Site 180 W St. John St. The site is nearby San Pedro’s Square and was built in 1797 by Manuel Gonzalez, the second mayor of San Jose. One of the buildings is the last adobe structure that is remaining from San José de Guadalupe.

Values: Historical/Local/Oddity

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Alameda Pedestrian Tunnel 1117 Hester Ave The tunnel was originally built in 1928 after two students were killed crossing the Alameda. The tunnel was neglected for years and the homeless began living in the tunnel with sewage and trash.

In 2016, a family decided to restore the tunnel and relocated the homeless living there. Artists were hired to paint murals in the tunnel so people will start using the tunnel again and transforming it into a

great picture spot.

Values: Historical/Local/ Oddity/Social Media

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Winchester Mystery House 525 S. Winchester Blvd.

This was the personal residence of Sarah Winchester, wife of William Winchester, the creator of the Winchester rifle. After her husband’s death, she was haunted by the spirits that were killed by the rifles and create an elaborate house filled with oddities.

Values: Historical/Oddity/High Interest/ Drivable/Social Media

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Roosevelt Tree 1 W Campbell Ave, Campbell The redwood tree in front of the Campbell Community Center was planted by President Theodore Roosevelt to encourage people to buy bonds to create the Campbell Union Teddy High School District.

Roosevelt Values: Historical value/ Drivable/ Oddity

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and San Jose Electric Light Tower, O’Brien’s Ice Cream Parlor and Candy Shop San Jose History Park, 1650 Senter Rd. A half size replica now stands at Historic Park at Kelly Park to represent what this tower was years ago in San Jose. The tower was originally built in 1881 as a way to light up all of San Jose. It was later destroyed in a

storm in December 1915.

The shop ice cream located in the Pacific Hotel in History Park. It was originally founded in 1868 by Maurice O’Brien. It served as the first Rotary Club meeting place in 1914 and was an active social spot. They sold milkshakes, soda, and banana splits for only 10 to 25 cents. Today, the shop sells old fashion candy and fountain drinks.

Values: Historical/Drivable /Social Media

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Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum 1660 Park Ave. Located next to the Municipal Rose Garden, this museum houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on display in Western North America. Surrounding this museum, there is the Peace Garden, Labyrinth, and various of other activities that people can explore.

Value: Oddity Value/Social Media/High Interest Value

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Japantown A district in downtown San Jose that blends Japanese culture with businesses and historic resources. This area grew with Japanese immigrants that came to live in San Jose and it’s not one of the three remaining Japantowns in the U.S. It houses many Japanese restaurants, as well as the Japanese-American museum, which exhibits more than a century of history.

Values: Historical value/ drivable — Julianne Alvares and Julia Marques da Silva

THE GROUPS WORKING TO PRESERVE SAN JOSE HISTORY History San Jose This organization works to preserve the cultural heritage of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley. They provide access to archives, such as photos and exhibitions.

Silicon Valley Historical Association This is a nonprofit organization’s mission is to research and record the history of the Silicon Valley. They have published books and interviewed individuals to create an archive of our city’s history.

Preservation Action Council of San Jose They advocate for the preservation of of historical structures. They also provide educational experiences such as walk throughs and lectures. Their most recent significant achievement is the recovery of an Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) sign.

— Julia Marques da Silva

VALLEYS & PEAKS IN SAN JOSE HISTORY JULIANNA ALVARES

L

Opinion Editor

ike many who lived in San Jose in the early- to mid-1900s, my grandmother grew up on an orchard.

Her parents like their parents before them were farmers. They immigrated from Portugal to run a farm in the booming Santa Clara County agriculture business.

She had no running water until she turned 16, and had to ride the bus over an hour each day to attend school at James Lick High School.

I grew up hearing stories of picking fruit and farm labor. She was a part of the San Jose era that existed before the tech giants.

In the 1940s, over 100,000 acres in Santa Clara County were orchards like my grandmother’s. Today there’s only 24,000 acres.

San Jose has embraced its role as the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” but seems to have forgotten it’s time as “The Valley of the Heart’s Delight.”

Orchards have been bulldozed to make room for housing and businesses. Our humble past of farmers and blue collar workers has been replaced by computer programmers and businessmen.

Streets once filled with canneries like the ones my grandmother worked at have been replaced by tech start ups and apartment buildings.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Cities grow and change over time to fit the evolving world, but it’s important to remember their history. It is important to preserve and visit historic places so that we do not forget the work of the past.

With the recent closings of the Orchard Supply Hardware stores and Harry’s Hofbrau, it’s more important now than ever to preserve and remember the history of this beautiful bustling city. The Historic Orchard was established in 1994 and acts as a gateway to the past.

The orchard and the other sites in our map all are of important historical value.

Visiting these places gives you an idea about how San Jose became the city it is today. San Jose has a unique and vibrant history that should not be forgotten; it’s not only computer chips and tech companies.

It’s apricots and canneries.