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WITNESS BRANHAM HIGH SCHOOL
OCTOBER 2018
BHSBEARWITNESS.COM
ELECT 18N
FRESH FACE IN THE RACE Stacey Brown Who: Mother, incumbent, past Cambrian School District Trustee Areas of focus: Increase district revenue, keep teachers, adapt education to modern times Notable endorsements: Judy Chirco, Don Rocha, Johnny Khamis, CHSTA, Kalen Gallagher, Andrea Ciplickas
Basil Saleh Who Branham alumnus, musician, politician Areas of focus Increase counselors, Help students develop talent, acknowledge the effects of campus climate, provide for teachers, secure art funding Notable endorsements Santa Clara County Democratic Party, Run for Something, Ken Yeager, Paul Resnikoff, CHSTA, Silicon
Robert Varich Who: Father, insurance agent, Moreland School District Trustee Areas of focus: Campus safety, address mental health, lessen bullying. Notable endorsements: Sam Liccardo, Paul Resnikoff, Chuck Page, Curtis Wright, Laurie Smith, Mike Wasserman, Chappie Jones, Dev Davis, Johnny Khamis, Lan Diep Kristiina Arrasmith Who: Teacher, mother, incumbent, CUHSD graduate Areas of focus: Improve campus safety, increase academic performance and access, increase input into district decisions, maintain district financial stability Notable endorsements: Stacey Brown, Kalen Gallagher, Jarod Middleton, CHSTA, Evolve, Run for Something, Santa Clara County Democratic Party, Silicon Valley Young Democrats Photos courtesy campaigns for Kristiina Arrasmkith, Stacey Brown, Robert Varich, Basil Saleh
If elected, Saleh will be youngest on school board MICHAELA EDLIN
T
Editor-in-Chief
o get his ballot statement up to run for the CUHSD school board, Basil Saleh had to take out another loan help pay the $4,250 fee it takes to run, on top of his debt from college. As a newly minted college grad, Saleh is unique among the other four candidates vying for the three spots on the district board. At only 22 years old, he’s most likely the youngest candidate the district’s ever seen and one of the few people of color that have run for a historically white district board. A Branham alumnus, class of 2014, Saleh attended the University of San Francisco and majored in Media Communications. He had worked in the music industry as the co-founder of the Bay Area rock group No Vacation (a video of theirs reached 3.5 million views on YouTube) and social media manager at Bay Area record label Father Daughter Records, until the devastating Ghost Ship warehouse fire in 2016 that killed 36 people. Being a creative in the Bay Area and knowing several people who were killed in the fire, he saw how Oakland responded to the tragedy and was displeased. “I decided to switch careers, to switch gears and take SEE SALEH • PAGE 7
"He’s always had a fresh perspective, even back when he was a student of mine." Brett Johanson Social science teacher "One of the most important things about him running is how fresh his ideas are." Adam Saleh brother
Campaigning takes a lot of legwork and volunteers ELIZABETH POSEY
H
@bhsbearwitness
Art Director
ere’s the basic recipe for running a campaign: money, staff, volunteers and long hours. The goal is to reach voters and get them to the polls. One of the first major concerns campaign teams must handle is finance and choosing how to distribute funds. In the most recent filings in late October, Saleh has spent $11,387.43 on his campaign. Some candidates’ expenditures, however, have been significantly higher or lower; campaign statements show that Kristiina Arrasmith has spent $31,485.16. By contrast, Stacey Brown has spent $10,000 and Robert Varich paid $5,500. Aidan Swanson, the field director for candidate Basil Saleh, said that smaller, grassroots campaigns such as his require constant budget maintenance. “Money, unfortunately, is kind of intertwined with politics,” Swanson said. “You need the money to get your message out a lot more.” Consequently, larger campaigns have a financial advantage with sponsorships from big charters or nonprofits where money is ample. Saleh describes the campaign process as “prohibitively expensive,” so much that “I don't think if I lost SEE CAMPAIGN • PAGE 7
John Salberg Social science teacher Salberg was repeatedly abused by the Rev. Joseph Pritchard, one of 15 priests the San Jose diocese confirmed is accused of sex abuse.
DIOCESE SEX ABUSE
RIGHTING A WRONG
A devout Catholic, teacher fought Church's coverup of sex abuse ANNALISE FREIMARCK Staff Report
poster hung up in social science A teacher John Salberg’s classroom reads “Integrity is doing the right thing,
even when no one is watching.” With the release in mid-October of the 200 members of the clergy in the Bay Area who are accused of abuse, and with the church only confirming 15 already mentioned from the San Jose diocese, Salberg is again reminded of the meaning of that word. Salberg, a devout Catholic, came forward almost two decades ago about the abuse he suffered as a child under a priest. From second grade until eighth grade, the Rev. Joseph Pritchard repeatedly abused him and other students at St. Martin of Tours school and parish in San Jose. Despite the repeated pleas over the decades from his and other parents about the abuse that their children had suffered, he said the church paid lip service to their concerns and continued to hide the abuse from the public eye. “It’s just ironic that it’s reported in 1980, it’s reported in 2000 and it’s reported again in 2002, that it takes that many times to admit it, even though every time (the SEE SALBERG • PAGE 5
Alleged plan to phase out 'transgender' upsets teens
MICHAELA EDLIN & ANNALISE FREIMARCK Staff Report
eactions to President Donald Trump’s R alleged proposal to remove the word transgender from federal use were met
with responses ranging from amused disbelief to incredulity at Branham. The administration, according to the New York Times, is considering defining out the word “transgender.” Besides the possible emotional and social harm this may inflict on members of the trans community, officials are unsure of its logistical effects. In response, students such as senior Genevieve Liu are trying to spread a campaign to protest the reported plan Nov. 6. Liu considers themself gender-fluid and wants to raise awareness for themself and their friends. The federal government’s policies on social issues usually don’t have a direct impact on states such as California because of its liberal-leaning positions and financial stability. For Branham, that means the supposed change toward redefining transgender people may influence perceptions of trans students on campus. California is the lone state that, starting in 2019, will lower the threshold needed to SEE TRANSGENDER • PAGE 5
INSIDE
Campus briefs.................................2 News.............................................. 2
Editorial..........................................4 Bulletin Board.................................3
Science and Technology..................6 Science/Tech Briefs.........................6
InDepth...........................................7 Student Life....................................8
MiniReviews.................................11 Sports.............................................9
Arts & Entertainment...................11 The Back Page...............................12