Bear Witness - October 2016 by Branham Bear Witness

Pg. 4 OPINION

ELECTION 2016 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Culturally inappropriate costumes

Our favorite shows to binge on this November Pg. 15

Trump, Clinton fight to the finish When did you think America was great? Pg. 8,9

Pg. 5

BRANHAM HIGH SCHOOL

BEAR

WITNESS

OCTOBER 31, 2016

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A WORLD OF IMMIGRANTS

Nearly 360 students responded to our survey and shared their thoughts on immigration. We collected them into a word cloud, with the most frequent words appearing the largest.

Illegal immigrants living in the U.S. should... Become legal residents Become Citzens

70.2%

Be deported

7.9%

50%

Yes I have met or know people who came to the US illegally.

50% No

80% Yes

Newcomers stenghten American society.

20% No

Julia Kolman/Bear Witness

Recent immigrants share their stories WILLIAM SUITER and FIORELLA CASTANEDA Staff Writers

ranham is home to students of B group from different races and cultures. Many students here have im-

migrated recently from countries such as China, Philippines, and Ethiopia This transition can be difficult because it requires learning a new language, leaving loved ones and making new friends. Each individual has their reasons for moving to a new country. We talked to three Branham students, recent immigrants to the U.S. and have them share their experiences.

Jing-Ju Ju

“There were more McDonalds in China than here.”

enior Jing-Ju Hu, also known as Megan, immigrated to the U.S. from China. She said that the style of school was extremely different in both countries, since in China students go to school from 7:00 a.m. to 10 p.m., while in the U.S. students are usually off campus by 3 p.m. “In China we have less time for friends and things like that,” she said, referring to the length of the school day. Megan prefers American education because students have more time to spend with their family and friends. Another cultural difference Megan shared was the the differences in the country’s culture with food. When she found out she was moving to

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National news................................2 International news........................ 3

California, her first thought was that there were going to be a lot of McDonalds, but when she arrived she was surprised to see that “rhere were more McDonalds in China than here.” Her family usually cooked meals at home, but she said her favorite food to eat when she’s out is pizza or chicken nuggets. Megan said that her family of five moved to America to get a better education and have a better life, but the transition was very difficult since she was very limited with her English. Though she had to leave her family and friends, she has gone back to visit them. She said that she really enjoys going to Branham, since it has been very welcoming from day one. At Leigh where Megan attended her freshman year, she felt excluded and was fell behind because teachers wouldn’t help her. “Branham was very different than Leigh. Counselors asked students to lead me to my classrooms.” Overall, she has felt really welcomed here at Branham, and is very happy she transferred.

Thani Nuru

“Here in America everyone seems stressed out.”

hen senior Thani Naru arrived W in America from Ethiopia, he expected high school to be like “High

School Musical,” and the workload would be easier, but he quickly learned it wasn’t like that. He said that the social life was different compared to America’s. “Back there the people are more social, I Editorial..........................................4 Bulletin Board.................................5

understand the people more and had a lot of friends,” Thani said. “At the same time America is fun too, just in a different way.” Living in Ethiopia was easier for him than here in the Silicon Valley, since many families have to work two or three jobs to maintain a family, have a house, and other necessities. “In Ethiopia, work and life is balanced very well, while here in America everyone seems stressed out,” he said. Thani immigrated to California because of his mom’s health. While his mom was living in the U.S. to get treatment and help, he was still in Ethiopia. “My mom is a cancer patient in the U.S., I hadn’t seen her in 6 years, and they told me I might not have much time with her so I wanted to come and be with her,” he said. — Fiorella Castaneda

James Lumbera

“I made a lot of friends because of sports.”

Bilingual students speak of connection with their peers BY DEMI LE

Jing-Ju “Megan” Hu Senior Likes the shorter school days in U.S.

James Lumbera Senior Sports made him feel welcomed.

enior James Lumbera emigrated to the U.S. in 2015 after a previous visit in 2014, coming into an entirely different culture and atmosphere from his home country of the Philippines. James says he came to the U.S. “for a better life.” “My parents wanted me to study here,” he said. James said that Branham’s extracurricular programs such as sports and music SEE IMMIGRANT • PAGE 6

Science and Technology..................7 Science/Tech Briefs.........................7

Approximate Data

Thani Nuru Senior Came to U.S. to be with his mom.

Spread.........................................8-9 Student Life.............................10-11

Staff Writer

ranham has a very welcoming, and diverse, range of students. We saw that out of the 356 responses from our survey, the three largest categories of race identification were Caucasian, Hispanic, and mixed. And of course, with such diversity, we see students who speak various languages. We tend to not pay attention to it, but these bilingual students have their own inner community and perspectives, influenced by belonging to a particular culture. Some unique candidates at Branham are Hanya Ahmed and Rania Belamesh, who speak the main Ethiopian language Amharic. Not very often do we see students who speak a Semitic language, so when asked about Hanya’s reaction to finding someone who speaks the same language, she said, “It is one of the most SEE BILINGUAL • PAGE 6

Languages spoken at Branham besides English Arabic Chinese Croatian Farsi French

Club Roundup...............................11 Sports......................................12-13

Hebrew Japanese Korean Mandarin Samoan Spanish Gujurati Tagalog Telugu Vietnamese

Arts & Entertainment..............14-15 The Back Page...............................16

BEAR WITNESS

OCTOBER 31, 2016 |

NEWS National headlines California

Study: Colleges fail rape victims

An analysis of 2015 crime statistics and alerts for five major Bay Area campuses shows it is common for colleges to keep quiet about sexual assaults, even as they warn students about other crimes. The campus police informed students of less than 30 percent of sex offenses on or near their cam-

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

Earthquakes are actually very frequent, we just can’t feel them. Weak earthquakes with a magnitude of 2 or less occur over a hundred times per day. puses. Advocates of rape prevention think silence contributes to a false sense that rape rarely happens. The tendency by colleges to issue alerts only when unknown suspects are involved also perpetuates the myth that only strangers commit sexual assault, when most rapistst are acquaintances.

Oklahoma

Shooter live-streams getaway

Oct. 23 for a suspect in a double homicide who shot six people and is wielding an AK47. Suspect Michael Vance murdered (and attempted to behead) his aunt and uncle. After shooting policemen, Vance escaped and appeared in two Facebook Live videos. Wearing a bloodstained T-shirt, he revealed a rifle beside him and the rest of his plans.

North Dakota

Hundreds protest pipeline

Activists and police clashed in North Dakota over construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, resulting in arrests and a temporary road closure as protesters set up camp near the pipeline’s proposed path. Protesters say the pipeline will damage the environment and affect historically significant Native American tribal lands. — Compiled by Cadence Trenchard

Oklahoma police have been searching since

Election 2016

Older district buildings not up to code

Measure AA could provide millions to help modernize district facilities CLARABELLE WALKUP

Infrastructure

Staff Writer

tudents and teachers say facilities at Branham, built in 1957, are outdated and need to be renovated to provide a proper 21st century education. For example, despite years of record-breaking temperatures, Branham has just begun to install air conditioning in the buildings. Now, a proposed measure that includes Branham and other schools in the district could provide the necessary funds to renovate our school. Measure AA, on the Santa Clara County ballot, will permit CUHSD to issue $275 million to modernize, renovate and improve facilities and technology for schools in the district from property taxes of homes within the district. In order for this bond to be passed, 55 percent of the registered voters must approve. The bond includes Branham and the rest of the schools in the CUHSD. Principal Cheryl Lawton said that Branham will definitely benefit from Measure AA if passed, and the cafeteria is one of many projects on the renovation list. “The cafeteria will have different stations with different types of food,” she said. “After that it’s up to (the administration) to prioritize.” Although many people such as council members and educators are in favor of Measure AA, Mark W. A. Hickle, president of Silicon Valley Taxpayers Association, and Devin Kruse, resident of Campbell, beg to differ. They say that the district is untrustworthy and all facilities are up to code. Mr. Hickle said that funds from Measure G, a school passed in 2006, was mishandled. “They have been wrongly entrusted

• STEM facilities • Career tech facilities • Student assembly Renovation

• Classroom, teaching, office and Education support facilities • Restroom facilities • Campus safety upgrades • Campus reconfiguration

• Multipurpose rooms • Arts education classroom and facilities

• Fire suppression • Heating, ventilation and A/C replacement • Landscaping • Accessibility upgrades • Kitchen/cafeteria upgrades • Seismic upgrades to buildings

Technology

• School technology and computer equipment • Classroom communication systems

“

We already have so many taxes. I think they should just prioritize and take tax money from other things.

”

Atticus Ahearn Freshman

with $90 million to upgrade facilities, and now they want another $275 million … to do the same thing all over again,” he said. Even though Branham did gain from Measure G, students argue that more

should be done to renovate the school and that people such as Kruse and Hickle haven’t seen the school’s conditions. Freshman Atticus Ahearn said that she would definitely like to see the bathrooms redone because they are “just a really big mess.” She senses a conflict between renovation and the burden that more taxes places on residents. “It’s a great measure and we definitely need it, but the fact of the matter is that it adds more taxes,” she said. “We already have so many taxes. I think they should just prioritize and take tax money from other things.”

San Jose police are spread thin ROSALIE GONZALEZ Staff Writer

an Jose, a city of around 1,100,000 resS idents, is now down to only 806 police officers.

As of early October, the department is facing at least six resignations a month with only 12 new recruits a month to take their places. Officers have been resigning in the hopes of finding better benefits and cheaper housing in other counties and departments. With less than 850 officers, mandatory overtime has been put in place to cover empty staffing spaces. Mandatory overtime requires officers to work extra hours so that the department can meet minimum staffing levels. One overtime shift is 10 hours, on top of the 40 regular hours for the week. The department has been spread so thin that staffing spots for local school resource officers have been turning up empty. In an attempt to fix this issue, pay for resource officer jobs was raised to $55 an hour. Security and traffic jobs, such as Sharks games at the SAP center have also been

Bear Witness Editors-in-Chief Julia Kolman Kelley Sheen Managing Editor Ty Shikashio Production Editor Dylan Chubon

Police call priority explained Priority 1

Immediate danger to life or property

Priority 2

Crime ocurred, but the suspect is gone

Priority 3

Non-emergency, property damage involved

Priority 4

Non-emergency, no property damage and the suspect is gone deserted. Unfortunately, officers would be working these shifts on top of their mandated 50 hour work weeks. “This is straining officers who are already working additional assignments to supplement special operations and other specialized units,” said Steven Valentine, a San Jose officer. “We have as a department worked with low staffing in relation to the city’s population. Now we are just being asked to do a whole lot more with a lot less.” Editors News: Cadence Trenchard Opinion: Sunanda Kottayil Science and Technology: Adam Saleh Student Life: Lauren Hogan Sports: Grace Clinton Entertainment: Sydney Uyeda Copy: Taylor Doan Online: Alex Mertens Photography: Iz Munoz

Branham’s Room 1 does not meet current earthquake regulations

The shortage of police could negatively impact the San Jose community. For example,if you were to get in a car crash with no major injuries, and an armed robbery occurred at the exact same time across town, police would focus on the robbery. It’s possible to get an officer on scene if the department is too busy with calls of greater urgency. This is known as the priority of a call, and there are four levels of service calls: Over 63 percent of Branham students strongly agreed that it was important for them to have officer on scene of an emergency within 20 minutes. “The response time depends on the priority of the call, with imminent danger to life or property being the highest priority,” explains the San Jose Police department’s official website. Police officers carry the burden of so many responsibilities citizens take for granted. Without more officers, traffic control, event security, school security, and general keeping the peace are all jobs police officers are ultimately responsible for and without more officers none of these jobs can be done.

Michaela Edelin/Bear Witness Branham students file out onto the rear field during the Oct. 20 earthquake drill.

ELI SYLVAN

Staff Writer

alf of CUHSD’s schools have found themselves on the AB-300, a large record consisting of schools built before laws were strict on earthquake safety as well as architectural and structural integrity. Any school listed on AB-300 could be structurally unstable in the event of an earthquake. The district has a total of 30 buildings on this list: Branham and Westmont have only one each, Leigh has four, and Del Mar alone has 12. Being on the list doesn’t necessarily mean the buildings are guaranteed to fall in the event of an earthquake, however, according to the California Watch, “These buildings generally are more vulnerable because of their age, structural design, and location relative to active earthquake faults” so there is a major risk involved. In terms of potential dangers, Westmont is within a quarter mile of a liquefaction zone (an area where soil may behave like a liquid if put under extreme stress and is some of the most dangerous areas to live in in the event of an earthquake) and Del Mar and Prospect High Schools are within the same distance from a fault line. The state of California also claims that approximately 78 percent of the buildings on the list were deemed “potentially hazardous and in need of a detailed structural evaluation.” Now, schools are not required by law to do anything about these buildings. However the Department of State Architecture (DSA), suggests that if a school’s building on the AB-300 list, “a district wide survey of all campuses be conducted.” It’s obviously no joke. A recent poll conducted by the Bear Witness shows how much of a joke students really do think it is. It was found that 34 percent of students think earthquake drills aren’t taken seriously, with only six percent believing the opposite. So while students should be giving it their full effort, the extra sense of safety is not a bad thing. However, 29 percent of students feel pretty safe here at Branham as far as earthquakes go. But the situation only worsens when you consider that California is behind schedule for a massive earthquake. According to a March CNN report, the “overdue California quake [is] greater than thought” and goes on to say that a double rupture or earthquake made by two fault lines simultaneously is very possible. Most of our architecture was made to withstand one fault but “not both at the same time.” In the very possible event that this large quake finally catches up with us, there’s no telling how our community would be affected. What we as a community have left to face are students who do not take these safety drills seriously, in addition to buildings which may not be up to the task in terms of major earthquakes. And seeing as how California is expecting an earthquake in the near future, we have quite a recipe for disaster. Fortunately for all of us, the solution is quite simple: students need to take drills more seriously and the district should have their buildings surveyed if we want our safety guaranteed.

Staff Writers Omar Ababneh, Fiorella Castaneda, Michaela Edlin, Rosalie Gonzalez, Laura Heffernan, Derek Hogan, Demi Le, Jocelyn Pierce, Sarah Snitzer, William Suiter, Eli Sylvan, Sai Tummala, Clarabelle Walkup 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.

Contact Us Instagram: @bear_witness_ Twitter: @witnessbear Website: www.bhsbearwitness.com Phone: (408) 626-3407 Email: bhs_journalism@yahoo.com

BEAR WITNESS

OCTOBER, 2016 |

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NEWS

Only 5.8 percent of students admit to having ditched class.

International headlines Venezuela

Presidential coup alleged

Maduro Government Accused of Staging Coup - On Sunday, the Venezuelan congress declared that the government had staged a coup to prevent the recall of President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro’s supporters stormed in during the legislative session, causing a block

to the campaign.

dent in a compassionate light.

Mosul

Death row inmates get life

Sulfur plants kill 200

Migrants Not Welcome in French Village In an effort to relocate more than 6000 people from a camp known as ‘The Jungle,’ officials have been forced to send them to small villages in the french countryside. Outrage from french citizens sparked a demonstration outside of city hall. — Compiled by Rosalie Gonzales

Kenya

Mosul

Thousands of prisoners on Kenya’s death row have been saved after President Uhuru Kenyatta gave them all life sentences. Kenya’s last execution took place in 1987. President Kenyatta faces re-election next year, and some say that the move was intended to shed the presi-

Nearly 200 people have been killed in the Islamic State of Mosul. Human shields and sulfur plants are responsible for most of the casualties. People attempting to flee the violence were displaced due to the worry of terrorist sleeper cells.

“It is a big concern for us as they are a liability to us.” Assistant principal Rick Hayashi

Play hookie at your peril

Sulfur plants kill 200

Plenty of lockers for a crowded campus A fraction of lockers are currently in use LAURA HEFFERNAN

Students congregate after hours at the dining area of Boba Pub , a site where students ditching school may also frequent.

Alex Mertens/Bear Witness

Few students claim to have ditched, but nearly half say they know others who do GRACE CLINTON Sports Editor

tudents have been ditching class for as long S as they have been forced to attend school. It isn’t a new trend.

They resort to skipping a class for a nuber of reasons. Fatigue can cause students to ditch school because they feel as though they physically can not sit through another long day of class. According to a Branham survey of nearly 360 students, though only 5.3 percent admitted to ditching school. nearly half of the participants in the survey, 48.8 percent, knew someone who ditched. While we cannot be exactly sure what students

who ditch school do in that time, we still have a pretty good idea. For one, students probably head home. After all, if you spend even one day in a high school, you will surely hear the phrases: “I’m tired”, “I don’t want to be here”, and “I want to go home.” This sums up the common feelings of many students. And while most stick it out and stay, others actually put words to action and head home. Another popular option is heading over to nearby hangouts such as 7-Eleven or Boba Pub. These places are close to school and therefore provide easy access for students who leave campus. The school does not have a locked iron gate around its campus, so if someone wants out, it

does not take much. While students view popping over to 7-Eleven to grab food a harmless affair, the administration do not take leaving campus lightly. “It is a bigger issue than students realize,” said Assistant Principal Rick Hayashi. “It is a big concern for us as they are a liability to us.” He said that the school works with both 7-Eleven and Boba Pub to find how many students show up throughout the school day. If the issue is on the larger scale of students not attending school at all, unexcused, the school takes it up with the district court. Even if only a handful of kids do it, ditching still puts the school in a challenging position as the staff are responsible for all students the entire day.

SVCTE offers courses for many career types SAI TUMMALA Staff Writer

You may have noticed the student in your class packing up and leaving 15 minutes before lunch each day. These juniors and seniors gather at the parking lot until a bus takes them to a campus shared with other districts. These select students participate in the Silicon Valley Career and Technical Education (SVCTE), located between Highway 87 and Capitol Expressway where they train for with industry professionals in programs ranging from forensic sciences, culinary arts to veterinary medicine. In the past CTE courses such as woodshop, business marketing and were offered at Branham and other campuses throughout the district. These courses were later outsourced and contracted with other schools to what is now SVCTE. The course now works with 36 different schools and allows their students to pick from 13 different Industrial Sectors. The course of-

fers a semester’s (or more) worth of hands-on education all while providing transportation to the campus at exactly 12 p.m. The program takes up half of a student’s day, and starts from noon to 4 p.m. The course lasts from one to two semesters, and can provide credits for all “a-g” courses besides “e”. Fitzgerald Vo/Bear Witness The program isn’t well-known in Branham High School, as a recent Ms. Barbara Schremp teaches a student at a summer STEAM academy on the survey showed that 60 percent of campuses of SVCTE near Capitol Expressway over the summer. the student population were unCoursework offered at SVCTE certain of its benefits. Junior Mileva Sanchez said that Engineering Legal Careers Medical Automotive her interests led her to take the forensic sciences track at SVCTE. Careers Law enforceCareers Services “I was unsure of what I would do Electrical ment, Fire Pharmacy Automotive in colleges, but I knew I was interengineering, Science, Law Careers, Sports Services, Auto ested in law enforcement-sort of,” she said. Engineering for enforcement Medicine, Vet- Body RefinishThe courses give high school stuManufacturing erinary Science, ing, Auto Body dents the opportunity of possibly Technology, Medical Office Repair, Truck taking their skills into the workplace. Internet EngiCareers, MedMechanics The program also offers caneering, Cyber ical Assisting, reer-enhancing opportunities, Security, Mobile Dental Assisting such as work assistance and résumé building to help students succeed App Design/ in a professional environment.

Coding

Staff Writer

vercrowding at Branham has become a big issue this year, and one place it is now starting to take effect is in the locker rooms. Because of how many students there are enrolled in P.E. this year, students are now being required to bring their own locks and share a P.E. locker with other students. The only question is, why don’t students use the outdoor lockers to store P.E. belongings throughout the day, or just in general? In a recent interview with Ms. Overholser, who is in charge of locker assignments, she pointed out that only 755 students have checked out lockers from the Student Service Center. This fact comes as a surprise to Ms. Overholser as there was an initial concern that there would not be enough lockers to accommodate the influx of students this year. Some students have considered having extra lockers outside to store P.E. belongings in, but this becomes a challenge if the locker is located on the opposite side of the school as the gym. Sophomore Faith Grandey, already stores her PE clothes in the locker she regularly uses and finds it easier to keep them there. On the other hand, junior Alex Boggini who has previously used his locker regularly as a sophomore (because he had a lot of books and it was easy to get to from all his classes) no longer sees a point in using the locker. Boggini says, “I don’t have as much stuff on B days and it is nowhere near my A day classes.” In other words, having a locker is no longer inconvenient. Senior Erik Bentley, says that in his freshman and sophomore year his locker wasn’t that convenient because of its location, and says, “I’m just fine carrying my stuff around.” You will also notice when walking around Branham that lockers on the cafeteria wall are in bad condition and seem to just sit there. It has been over ten years since students have been assigned those lockers and no one seems to know why they haven’t been taken out or repaired, neither do we know how expensive those restorations would be. Ms. Overholser says, “I think it would be nice if they were replaced,” adding that, a few years back, lockers across the band room had been replaced and those are now being used as sports lockers. The reason as to why students aren’t utilizing outside lockers is simple. It’s because they aren’t convenient to everyone. If there was a way for the lockers to become more accessible, students would be able to utilize outdoor lockers for P.E. use.

Alex Mertens/Bear Witness An empty locker awaits a tired student.

BEAR WITNESS

OCTOBER 31, 2016 |

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OPINION

“If people know [...] it’s a Disney movie, it’s seen like a role model or their favorite character.”

Mike Fang, on the Disney’s controversial Moana costume

“I mean it’s a movie character, but it might offend someone, I’d play it safe, especially because of the whole Jamaican event from last year.”

Alex Boggini Junior

r“Because it’s based off a cha l ura cult it’s nk thi ’t acter I don ly appropriation, versus actual, for dressing up as a Hawaiian lan example, dressing up as Mul apwouldn’t be seen as cultura be propriation because it would orite someone’s role model of fav ” ter. rac cha Isabelle Trinh Junior

“No, I don’t think [it’s an issue], if people know the context and know its a Disney movie, it’s seen like a role model or their favorite character.” Mike Fang Senior

Moana Costume

“I thinks fine because it’s someone dressing up as their favorite character, it’s not mocking a culture by dressing as as Moana, they’re just dressing as their favorite personality from a movie.”

“ Yes, I do think so, it doesn’t represent everyone from that culture it only represents one person, not everyone dresses the same, it’s a misrepresentation of culture.”

Disney’s production Moana stirred up contraversy when the new costume line was released for a short time imitating the Polynesian main character, “Maui.” Branham students weigh in on the issue.

Atticus Ahearn Freshman

Will Cox Junior

“No, unless that person that saw the costume was Hawaiian, and followed Hawaiian culture, it’s more of a way to symbolize Hawaiian culture.”

“It wouldn’t offend anyone, they have a right to wear that. Everyone should be able to dress as what they like.”

Matthew Le Junior

Jeffrey Burrows Senior

“I think it’s appropriate because it’s about wanting to be a character versus imitating a culture which can be see as wrong, for example if someone was impersonating Jackie Chan versus a stereotypical asian person.”

“ Yeah to some people, it doesn’t actually represent the people there.”

Caleb Lee Junior

Samikhsha Boranna Freshman

Courtesy HalloweenCostumes.com, Buycostumes.com, Costume Craze, Yandy Offensive Halloween costumes on parade. Pictured from left to right: “Sacajawea Indian Maiden,” “Mexican Serape”, “Desert Princess,” “Red Sexy School Girl,” “Sleek N’ Sexy Bodysuit” and “Hello Panda.”

Distasteful duds to ditch

Cultures aren’t costumes

ally gotten shamed and discriminated for the same things you’re dressing up as. There are better ways to appreciate a culture that don’t involve or every Halloween, it’s important to have fun but not at the expense of others’ self identity. So if you’re not black appropriating through attire. You can enjoy their cuisine and and you want to dress up as a “Black Rapper” this Halloween, language, learn about their history, or support organizations that honor their culture. don’t do it. So when you see Halloween costumes mentioning these If you’re not Asian and you want to dress up in an “Asian coswords, it is important to realize that Arab and Muslim tume,” don’t do it either. are not synonymous, that gypsy is actually a derogatoThere are two kinds of people when it comes Cultural ry term and a racial slur, and that Halloween costumes to this situation: the people who appropriate out of ridicule and amusement, and the people who Appropriation of Asian, black, and Mexican people are stereotypical caricatures. Asian doesn’t mean only Japanese and appropriate out of so-called appreciation for that When a Chinese; it’s an entire continent of different cultures culture. dominant that is more than rice, kimonos, or squinty eyes. Either way, it’s still disrespectful. This applies to everyone. culture adopts Black doesn’t mean rapper or thug. Mexican culture shouldn’t be reduced to sombreros and tacos. It’s important to learn the historical context. elements of In a diverse nation founded by immigrants, AmerThere are various reasons as to why wearing a an oppressed icans have a responsibility to listen to minority popethnicity-specific costume is offensive. It can be ulations. Instead of feeling accused or offended, we a form of desecration of that culture’s traditional culture. should take the time to correct ourselves. What to take values. It can be a form of racist stereotyping that from this article is that you shouldn’t feel guilty for contributes to the oppression of that culture. Moreover, the person wearing the costume may not experi- everything you do, but to just not wear certain clothing items if ence the daily discriminations that comes with belonging to you don’t belong to the culture the clothing is specific to. Just don’t do it. that specific culture. It is only condensing the costume to inSo if you’re planning to dress up for Halloween, a concert, or clude certain elements of that culture. What some people fail to realize is that African-Americans a festival like Coachella, don’t wear a bindi, don’t wear a hijab, continue to face racism, Muslim women get ridiculed for their and definitely don’t wear a Indian headdress because you think it looks “hipster.” hijabs, and Native Americans still live on reservations. Because, in the end, a culture cannot be worn as a costume. You can’t “wear” another culture or race when they have actu-

DEMI LE

Staff Writer

The issue with indecent female costumes DEMI LE

Staff Writer

he start of October comes with the T joy of spooky costumes and eerie decorations, but if you’re a woman walk-

ing down the aisle of your local Halloween store, you’ll start to notice something unsettling. Why does every costume have the word sexy in it? Speaking as a feminist, I’ll clarify that different women find empowerment through different things. Some women feel empowered by dressing modestly. Although there’s nothing wrong with expressing yourself through sexual empowerment. but seeing costumes like “Sexy Ebola”? That’s disturbing. I am simply pointing out the major differences in costumes that are aimed at women and costumes that are aimed at men. So the issue isn’t the women wearing these costumes, it’s about the costumes themselves. These sexualized costumes contribute to the depiction of women as decorative and passive in a man’s eyes, which further influences society to normalize women as objects of reflected male desires. This strange hypersexualization is harming women and

young girls by establishing a stereotype that women need to meet certain expectations, that women need to flaunt their bodies. It’s making girls aware of this self consciousness of their bodies while men feel more entitled to seeing it. Why is it all of a sudden when costumes hit the age of 18+ for girls, this occurs? This is because we are part of a rape culture. Women are sexualized and exploited for profit but outside of that, we see shaming and victim blaming. Society blames the woman for what she was wearing. Society blames her for being too emotional, too sensitive, and too vulnerable. Society praises men’s masculinity and strength, as well as ridiculing them for being too feminine when they’re vulnerable too. So in conclusion, the problem isn’t that women are choosing to wear these costumes--slut-shaming is something everyone should be opposed to--but the problem is that these costumes tend to be sexualized and that there are limited options for women. Every costume is reduced to sexualization, whether it be an occupation, an animal, or a piece of food. Why aren’t there normal costumes for women too?

BEAR WITNESS

OPINION Editorial Without immigration, we can easily see that the Branham community wouldn’t be half of what it is today.

”

OCTOBER 31, 2016 |

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

“Printed out is easier…”

Mr. Johanson, on the usage of Google Classroom versus printed homework assignments Immigration

Branham is inclusive to recent immigrants

The opinion of the Bear Witness editors

“

EDITORIAL BOARD

mmigration in the U.S. has been brought to the forefront of the media due to popular concentration on the negative aspects of the action. Since Branham’s population is supported by a number of immigrant students, many students feel it is their responsibility to dispel any aspersions cast onto that community. We came to the consensus that an overlying factor to consider when thinking about immigration is perspective. Many of the students coming to Branham from an immigrant background are forced to work in a completely foreign environment, use a language contrary to their mother tongue, adapt to

new social groups, all at the same time dealing with students who may not have an open mind to your culture. That being said, At Branham, we have developed a welcoming ambiance over the years which is conducive for an environment in which labeling students and generalization often dissolve as soon as they are conceived. So how can we gain a new perspective on this this issue? It starts by noticing the big picture, noticing how society especially in the bay area treats an inflating immigrant population. Take the E.R. for instance: If a person is injured the nurse cares for them, regardless of their background, however this goes without saying. If we take another step back its seen that the reason they’re cared for is because they

contribute greatly to our society and its work intensive infrastructure. This is a lesson that is mirrored into Branham’s atmosphere, Immigrant students collaborate with us in classrooms, play on our sports teams, and contribute to our clubs. Without immigration we can easily see that the Branham community wouldn’t be half of what it is today. The experiences these students bring to the table enrich the community within our school as well as add to a thriving population in the bay area. Next time you see a new student that may have an immigrant background take a moment to see the world from their perspective and appreciate the diversity of our campus.

Senatorial term length

Printed vs Electronic Assignments

Differing opinions on ease of use Unlimited

terms mean unlimited money

Sydney Uyeda/Bear Witness Nadia Hall, junior, uploads one of her APUSH homeowork assignments to the Google Classroom site for her class period. This is unlike the traditional way to turn in homework which is to submit it on a paper copy. Most teachers accept emailed submission. everything in their power to SYDNEY UYEDA

Entertainment Editor

ile. Select. Print. Every student at Branham High School has had to, or will have to, turn in an assignment that they typed up on the computer. Sometimes it’s four pages; other times it can be up to 20. When it comes time to turn things in, students either submit electronically or physically. However, physical copies are easier for teachers to grade and make comments. With these points in mind, the question then becomes: should students be printing out their homework? Especially when we live in an age of advanced technology that could easily prevent trees from being killed?

work from students. Some teachers will even print it out for the students in class if students email beforehand. Others, like AP U.S History/U.S History teacher Mr. Brett Johanson, find it a bit of a hassle. “Printed out is easier, but I do understand the need to move to emailed homework…” he says, “some students don’t even have a printer at home, not because of economic issues, but just because it is not needed.” Emailing work can make things easy, but with students using different platforms to turn in work, it also makes it difficult for teachers to be organized with all of the assignments spread out electronically. It’s hard to keep track of who turns in work and which platform was used for

As brought up by Mr. Johanson, it is true that some students cannot afford a printer or to buy ink, therefore would rather submit via Internet. Printers can range from $68 to $399. One ink cartridge from Staples for a HP Printer can cost from $20 to $300. So the ink is expensive, why not use the library or talk to your teachers? This is a good point but a student cannot always rely on someone else, as the homework is the student’s responsibility. The library might not be open, and some documents are only accessible via personal devices. These inconveniences make things even harder, and sometimes forces students to ask for extensions. Teachers shouldn’t have to do

make a change because it is ultimately up to students to manage their coursework, but they should definitely try to utilize Google Classroom, which allows users to create documents accessible from any virtual device which can also be submitted through another Google app, Google Classroom. And for those who aren’t as tech savy, there are step by step guides you can look up online. This way, students can turn all their work into one place without worrying about printing, teachers will be able to keep students’ submissions organized, and we as a Branham community will be saving trees and helping the environment.

Triggered by ‘Triggered’ MICHAELA EDLIN

Staff Writer

magine having a traumatic experience, then being reminded of it in a separate experience, reacting accordingly, but being criticized for it. That’s how the term “trigger,” or “triggered,” became a joke or meme prior to entering the mainstream, even though it’s neither. Triggered is used in professional therapy settings to describe feelings of panic and pain, but has now taken on a new meaning for neurotypical people, or people who don’t have mental illness or abnormalities. But this massive cultural shift is based on the mocking of people who have been deemed too sensitive. When people use the term “triggered” in a joking manner, it reminds me of

nights of panic attacks, migraines and the feeling of being suffocated. Whenever I hear that word used mockingly on campus, I feel unsafe. It makes me unsure of how my peers would react to me having a noticeable panic attack or depressive swing in class. Students should never feel unsafe at school, and if they do, a problem is evident. The feeling of danger is quitea fright, it’s probably the scariest thing I’m going to experience this Halloween. It makes me wonder how someone could possibly find that funny. According to a recent Branham poll, 64.2 percent of the student population find the triggered meme not offensive whatsoever. Many students who are mentally ill however, use trigger words in a nonsensical matter in order to cope with their trauma. For example, these students may say

‘triggered’ in response to getting a bad test grade or tripping in order to normalize the intense feelings they experience when being triggered, such as having a panic attack, depressive swing, anxiety attack, etc. It’s dismissive when people who don’t suffer from mental illness use the language in a way that portrays the mentally ill as weak and inferior; it belittles our experiences as “just a joke.” If you still think of it as “just a joke,” then you’re part of the problem. Suffering and pain is never a joke, and using words in a manner that make students feel unsafe is never a joke. Be wary of your words and how they affect your peers. Most importantly, ensure that the costumes, scares, and movies are the most frightening things this Halloween and not the offensive words coming from your mouth.

Student opinions

64.2%

student population who do not find the word offensive

35.8%

student population who do find the word offensive or who have no comment

Kelley Sheen/Bear Witness Since a senator has no limit to his or her time in office, over time he or she will continue to obtain more and more money. CLARABELLE WALKUP

Staff Writer

ant to be wealthy, have great benefits, and make laws? Join Congress, where the median net worth is a million dollars! To qualify, just be 25 years old and an American citizen for at least seven years. This is the twenty-first century democracy, where the people vote and you earn Benjamins; it’s a beautiful thing! With elected representatives in office, power goes to the people, and the people can never lose. If the people select the wrong person, who is that person fighting for? And if democracy fails, who wins? According to the New York Times, more than half of Congress are millionaires. The richest is Darrell Issa, the representative of California, who has a net worth of 786 million dollars. He made most of his fortune from strategic business decisions and investments in the private sector. Sure he may make tons of money, but can he be trusted to accurately represent the average American citizen, especially when he’s part of the top 1%? This year, a Rasmussen Report opinion poll stated that only twenty-four percent (24%) of voters think that their representative is the best person for the job. If the average Joe in Congress earns $174,000, which is $92,600 above average income of citizens in the country, how do they become so rich? Many who participated in the poll said that they receive financial support from special interest and lobbyist groups who try to influence legislation and policy only seeking to benefit themselves. Results from a Gallup poll. In 2005 show that seventy-five percent (75%) of Americans believe congressional term limits would prevent corrupt politicians from holding office for their own benefit instead of doing what’s best for the people. When the people select representatives, the representatives should always make sure to put the people first. Former Republican presidential nominee, Dr. Ben Carson says, “We must encourage innovation and ingenuity to improve the state of our nation “We must encourage innovation and ingenuity to improve the state of our nation. Term limits create more opportunities for fresh ideas.”

BEAR WITNESS

OCTOBER 31, 2016 |

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Immigrant | Comparing new culture Bilingual | A connective eye-opener

made him feel welcomed, which seems is a reoccurring theme among new immigrants. “I made a lot of friends because of sports,” referring to playing on the boys volleyball team last year.” Participating in new activities and introduction to new communities at school are an important stepping stone in the journey towards inclusion for these students. Although James is a senior this year, he had already graduated high school in the Philippines; where Filipino students typically graduate between the ages of 15 and 16 years old. “I only want to come to school to see my friends,” he said. James thinks that people in the U.S. are nicer and empathetic. James also thinks America is safer than the Philippines, since “In the Philippines the new president is killing people.” He is referring to the Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office earlier his year and has been called “The Punisher” by Time Magazine for his links to approximately 1,400 extrajudicial killings of drug addicts and alleged street criminals.

William Suiter/Bear Witness Megan Hu (Top) and Thani Nuru, (Bottom), seniors, participate in their individual classes, working with their peers.

exciting moments because it usually means our parents know each other”, portraying how language can create an immediate connection. Aside from having a stronger connection to family, being bilingual can create a stronger connection to friends too, even being a benefit to everyday interactions. Hanya said that speaking another language allows her to use it as a “conversation starter”, making it more comfortable and interactive when meeting new people. She said, “I recently met this group of girls and was kind of shy to join their circle but since we had to eventually talk, after asking each other’s names, I told them what my name meant in Amharic and they were interested in learning.” Other than being a propelling device in socialization, Hanya said that speaking another language has been “one of the most helpful things because it makes memorizing things so much easier”. Giving an example, she said that while taking Spanish, she used it to remember the vocabulary and “some of the grammar rules through Amharic since they were somewhat related.” But does language affect how these students view and interact with their peers? On one hand, Hanya said she does not see any effects on interaction because “It is in a sense, an interchangeable nature”. On the other hand, Rania replies that being bilingual “makes you understand and feel for other cultures as well”, to illustrate this, she said, “Whenever my friend speaks Spanish with her family around me, I understand the importance of being bilingual and the relationships it creates with families and friends who speak it. So as a whole it does make me appreciate a lot of different languages and puts life into perspective”. Provided that there are minor benefits, relative to a larger spectrum, language can often be referred to as an eye opener into another “world” by establishing cross cultural relationships and in general, allowing people to become less biased and more understanding. With this in mind, we should become more involved with our bilingual students who have this different insight and outlook, because they are a large part of the Branham community.

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OCTOBER 31, 2016 |

SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY Tech Bytes Helix “DNA” App

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

Fact: In the last half decade the national bee population has dropped by 30 percent.

Students lacking Zs Current sleep routine isn’t meeting recommended standards for full rest

Science Briefs 3-D Printing For Bones

DYLAN CHUBON

Production Manager

Courtesy/Javier Jaén With health concerns rising in our advancing civilization, Justin Kao, to combat these concerns, cofounded HELIX. HELIX is a “DNA app store” that can sequence and analyse the consumer’s genome in order to allow the consumer to find if they are victims to any predisposed diseases. As Kao had summed up their goal for the product, “sequence once, query often.” The unique characteristic of the app comes from the price to decode all 20,000 genes. The company promises to decode the plethora of genes for around $100 making it much cheaper than their competition and more available to the general population.

leep seems to be a big issue for teenagers nowadays and, as surveys show, Branham students are no exception. According to The Journal of Adolescent Health, eight percent of high school students get the recommended eight and a half to nine hours of sleep. This statistic is proved by the results of a recent Branham poll, where (out of 348 responses recorded), we learned that only [30.5%] of Branham students get 7-8 hours of sleep, while [30.2%] of students get 5-6 hours of sleep, and [6.9%] get less than 5 hours. However, the question then deal with the reasons why are teenagers lacking essential rest and how to fix such a situation. According to several sources, including Branham’s survey, it seems to be that homework and outside stress tend to be the main culprit while electronics and sleep issues such as insomnia are runner ups.

45%

t’s widely claimed that school work takes a large portion of a teen’s schedule. When this occurs, the best way to deal with it and ensure that they will get a good night sleep is prepare a work schedule with an hour of downtime before bed with no stimulating activities such as electronics or caffeine before 4:00 pm.

30% Social and family activities

t’s recommended that when the weekend comes, that teens keep a similar sleep schedule to help with setting a sleeping routine. When family and activity is concerned, the best option is to set up a relaxing environment when in bed with music to suppress any worrying thoughts.

VR Headsets moving Forward Virtual Reality headsets such as the Samsung Gear VR and the Google Daydream View are taking everyday applications such as youtube to the next level as well as gaming experiences. They do this by emitting two angles of the same thing to each eye to create an interactive 3D environment.

School work

Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior

Around the nation and the world, the guppy Poecilia reticulata has been released into ponds and other standing water with the goal of eliminating Zika carrying mosquitoes, but now ecologists are concerned that the fish is becoming invasive and could disrupt ecosystems.

Yes

SpaceX’s Rocket

Yes

My lack of sleep affects my acdemic peformance.

Courtesy/EmTech and SpaceX Spaceflight has been a dream of many since we first stepped on the moon. Many wish to experience the vast and encompassing expanse of outer space via ships that promised to take people there since 2015 albeit their hefty price tag. Now, tech billionaire Elon Musk used reusable rockets that were able to land back on earth after launching into outer space in his Space X program.This kind of development promises to bring spaceflight travel to the masses in coming years.

Nintendo New Gaming Device Nintendo revealed a brand new console-handheld gaming device to combat the XBOX One and the PS4. The Nintendo Switch is a console that can also be converted into a handheld gaming device similar to the Nintendo DS. Nintendo Switch maximizes portability while also maintaining the experience a gamer expects from such a device. — Compiled by Sai Tummala

HIV Cousin ‘Cured’

I often feel sleep deprived.

4-3

6-5

Hours of Sleep

Yes

My lack of sleep makes it hard to focus in class.

7-6

8-7 Courtesy/NIBSC

Honeybee population dropping LAUREN HOGAN

Student Life Editor

he greatest modern scientist, Albert Einstein, once remarked, “Mankind will not survive the honeybees’ disappearance for more than five years.” On a related note, bees across the United States are dying at an alarming rate. No other single animal species plays a more significant role in producing the fruits and vegetables that we humans take for granted. Since 2006, beekeepers have noticed their honeybee populations decreasing at an alarming rate. [statistics?] This should not come as a surprise to us. For the past decade or so, scientists have been warning the public about colony collapse disorder. There has been no specific cause

Scientists have developed a new 3D Printed “bone scaffolding” that could help repair broken bones, allowing doctors to quickly and cheaply repair a break, as well as help the bone heal more quickly. This new technology will allow surgeons to reduce the amount of re-injuries during healing time. The 3D printed material is made up of a flexible medical-grade polymer, along with hydroxyapatite, a calcium based chemical that is found naturally in bones and teeth. The bones are very flexible and resilient, and can support a load of up to 150 pounds in just a small section. Although the bones have thus far been tested only in animals, they could prove an important development in healing human breaks.

Zika Treatment to Become Invasive

15%

-3

Courtesy/ A.E. JAKUS

for the deaths of the bees; however, a new government study blames a combination of factors for the mysterious and dramatic loss of honeybees, including increased use of pesticides especially in the US, shrinking habitats, multiple viruses, poor nutrition and genetics, and even cell phone towers. However, according to a study, the biggest cause is the parasite called the Varroa destructor. This is a type of mite found to be highly resistant to the insecticides that US beekeepers have used in attempts to control the mites from inside the beehives. Moreover, new virus species have been found in the US and several of these have been associated with Colony Collapse Disorder. In the last half decade alone 30 percent of the national bee popu-

lation has disappeared and nearly a third of all bee colonies in the U.S. have perished. Though the rate of bee depopulation is growing each year. A whopping 42% more last year than the year before, even at the current annual rate the estimated monetary loss is a colossal 30 billion dollars a year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will provide a $3 million subsidy in order to help the one animal on the planet that will either make or break food prices. The three million dollar giveaway program is designed to entice both Midwest dairy farmers and cattle ranchers to reseed their fields this spring with eco-friendly crops like alfalfa and clover to develop healthier habitats for increasing the national bee population.

A virus extremely similar to HIV has been “cured” in a monkey by using a specialized antibody treatment which could prove successful in curing HIV in humans. SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus), has been successfully combated in monkeys by injecting them with an antibody that targets the 4ß7 receptor on the host’s cells. However, the monkey’s treatment is still a ways away from being viable in humans. The infection in the monkeys was treated 5 weeks after the initial infection, which is far earlier than most humans are treated. Also, the SIV virus differs from the HIV virus that afflicts humans. However, scientists are now closer to developing a cure for the lethal virus.

ESA To Land Probe The European Space Agency will attempt to land their probe Schiaparelli, which was launched in March, on the surface of Mars. The probe will collect scientific data, but will only be viable for a few days before its batteries die out. — Compiled by William Suiter

BEAR WITNESS

Clinton and Stein courtesy of official campaign website. Trump photo courtesy of WWE. Johnson photo courtesy of olddominionlibertarian. wordpress.com

Where they started

• •

• • •

U.S. Secretary of State from 2009-2013 First woman in U.S. history to become the presidential nominee of a major political party Elected to U.S. Senate in 2001 First lady to win a public office seat Earned a law degree from Yale

OCTOBER 31,

Fight to the Fin Where they stand on major issues

Hillary Clinton Democratic Party

Results are based on a survey political positions and thou

Immigration We need comprehensive immigration reforms that include a path to citizenship in order to keep families united. Abortion Women should be able to make their own decisions about their own bodies, so it is essential to support Planned Parenthood and access to reproductive health care.

Students’ politi

46.6% 18.8 %

Guns The U.S. needs comprehensive background checks, wants to close the gun loopholes, and wants to prevent people on the no-fly list from getting guns.

16.6%

Taxes Middle-class families need a raise, not a tax increase, and the wealthy should be required to pay more taxes.

14.5%

Ind

3.4% Donald J. Trump Republican Party • • • •

•

Real estate mogul Host of the show “The Apprentice” At 25, took control of father’s company Entered political world in 1999 with his ambition to become the Reform Party’s presidential candidate Earned a degree in economics at the University of Pennsylvania

Gary Johnson Libertarian Party • • •

Former governor of New Mexico Earned a degree in political science from the University of New Mexico Climbed Mt. Everest

0 Immigration Define border protection, deport illegal immigrants, and enforce immigration laws within the workplace. Allow immigrants and refugees into the U.S. if they go through examination.

Unafi

Who students w

Abortion The United States serves to protect life, and should only allow abortions in the case of rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is at risk.

Donald Trump

HC 3

Guns Protect our citizens by eliminating criminals from our communities and expanding mental health institutions. Defend the Second Amendment so that citizens can bear arms and purchase guns as needed.

Hillary Clinton

Taxes Reduce overall tax rates, focusing on those receiving middle-income, and provide relief for childcare costs and stay-at-home-parents.

Jill Stein

Immigration Accept immigrants through background checks, create more work visas, require tax payment, and adjust to the requirements of our nation.

Gary Johnson

Abortion The decision for an abortion should be left the each woman. However, the government should intervene to ban late term abortions.

Choice of candidate

Guns Even with gun control, criminals will find access to guns, so law-abiding citizens should not be restricted from ownership.

Gary

None

Taxes Taxes should not be determined based on income, but instead, how much people spend. Tax loopholes need to be eliminated to support small businesses.

Dona

Hillar

• • • •

•

Jill Stein Green Party

Member since 2002 Lost against Romney for Gov. of Mass. in 2002 Green Party candidate in 2012 presidential election Holds record for most votes ever received by a woman candidate for president Also a practicing physician

Immigration Undocumented immigrants should have access to health care, be offered in-state tuition, and working illegal immigrants should be given temporary amnesty. Abortion Provide birth control, sex education, and more social services to help reduce the number of abortions, abortion services to women at the poverty level for free. Guns Require strict background checks, psychological testing, and training in order to purchase a gun. Taxes The rich should pay 55-60 percent taxes instead of 15 or 35 percent. The government needs to close tax loopholes and stop corporate welfare.

, 2016 |

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

nish 2016

As Election Day approaches, students weigh in on their political views and preferences. Graphics and reporting by Julia Kolman, Kelley Sheen and Ty Shikashio

y of 356 students on their ughts on common issues.

ical affiliations

Democratic Libertarian

Clinton and Trump’s brutal campaign has sometimes resembled a vicious fight with their choice of words. Clinton against Trump: “racist, sexist, zenophobic Islamaphobic”

Republican

Trump against Hillary: “Hillary Rotten Clinton, crooked, nasty woman, Wall Street puppet, too weak to lead, corrupt, fraud, unfit to run, hypocrite, typical politician, liar”

dependent

filliated

would vote for

Iz Muñoz/Bear Witness

Make America great, again?

14.3%

Students share when they think America was at its best

35.1%

CADENCE TRENCHARD News Editor

Every four years, politicians try to craft a winning slogan that will entice people to vote for them come Election Day. Donald Trump’s slogan is “Make America Great Again,” while Hillary Clinton has chosen “Stronger Together,” though it’s not as prominently displayed on her campaign website.

0.3%

While both slogans allow for wide interpretation, Trump’s phrase has raised the most questions, such as, “When was America great?”, “What does ‘great’ entail?” and “Have we ever been great?” We brought this question to Branham students in a recent survey of nearly 400 students. The poll provided a list of time periods for students to choose, from the 1700s to the present day. Many students saw the 1990s to present day as the greatest American period. About 22 percent of students chose the present day because of the advanced technology and increased acceptance. Some respondents noted that America is imperfect, and is working to move past its racially charged history. “In the past, it was only “great” for wealthy white

5.3%

es based on religion

y Johnson

In a phone interview with the New York Times, Trump said was last great during the mid-1940s to early 1950s because he felt the United States “were not pushed around, we were respected by everybody, we had just won a war, we were pretty much doing what we had to do.” Unfortunately, Trump dismissed the Cold War and nuclear arms race as “just timing of technology.” Another point that Trump addresses on his official homepage is the American Dream: “Together, we are bringing back the American Dream.” It seems that the United States that Trump dreams of does not extend equal opportunity to everyone. In his speeches and his policies, what he continues to reveal is an American Dream that excludes Mexicans and Muslims. Another respondent said that the American Dream may be out of reach for many, but said there is room for improvement. “America is not great,” they wrote, “but we are better than in the past, and I hope that one day, as a country, we will be great.”

More students prefer the present over the past

Students were asked to pick an era and briefly explain their choices. We picked our favorite and most articulate responses.

ald Trump

17001750 4.8%

ry Clinton

100

“George Washington became president, and it was the beginning of this great nation.”

17501800 2%

“Because this era founded the ideas of being a free American with a say in your community, following the ‘American Dream.’”

18001850 1.4%

“America underwent a lot of reforms during this era”

18501900 1.7%

males,” one student said. Others cited the present day as a time of increased acceptance of diverse communities, and greater tolerance overall, especially after the Civil Rights movement. “Especially in California, we are more accepting and caring of others,” another student responded. “Of course society right now isn’t perfect, but most people are striving to be better.” Before looking at Donald Trump’s intent, it’s important to reflect on the peaks of U.S. history. The problem with identifying one point in history as the best a nation has ever been is that there are always problems. In the 1960s, African Americans and other minority groups struggled for basic civil rights. Today the United States continues to struggle with issues of voter suppression, police brutality and immigration. For example, one could look at the 1920s and say, “Hey, I love to dance and have fun! I wish I lived in the Roaring Twenties,” but they would ignore the spike in criminal and Mafia activity.

“ The US demonstrated extreme resilience in bouncing back from the Civil War. The Civil War itself was in a way beautiful, as thousands were willing to die for a fight (slavery) that wasn’t their own.”

19001950 6.5%

1960s 3.9%

1970s 3.4%

1980s 12.1%

“America was successfully growing into a very strong country. Even through war, we proved to be united and proud.” “JFK was president and the civil rights movement was sparked.”

1990s 12.4%

“The ‘90s economy was strong, racism was not very prevalent, and technology was advancing rapidly.”

2000s 17.7%

“I thought that era was a lot more polished and didn’t have as many issues as we do today.”

2010 7.6%

“It didn’t feel like there was a tragedy every single day on the news.”

“The era of love and disco.”

2015 6.2% “Ronald Reagan was, in my opinion one of greatest presidents”

Present Day 20.5%

“Same-sex marriage was legalized.”

“The economy is doing great right now after the recession of 20082009, we are finally back on our feet again.”

BEAR WITNESS

STUDENT LIFE

OCTOBER 31, 2016 |

BHSBEARWITNESS.COM

“I just say I do flips on moving horses and enjoy watching their reactions.” -Claire Burnett

From souls to soles

Club Roundups

Best Buddies Starting the year with friendship

Freshmen share personal stories in exchange for shoes

Best Buddies met on Tuesday, and students got to meet their buddies for the year. Their official first meeting is on Wednesday, October 26th where the buddies will be getting to know each other while carving and decorating pumpkins. The purpose of the club is to create a one on one friendship with our peers in the special education program and to bridge the gap together. You can contact Lauren Hogan, President of Best Buddies for more information. Meetings are held every Wednesday at lunch in room 34.

French Club First movie night to share culture

French Club had it’s first event of the year on Friday October 28th after school in the cafeteria. They watched a movie and sold Crepes and pizza. Also, during the month of November, they will be selling advent calendars for $5. The purpose of our club is to learn and appreciate French culture. Meetings are usually on Tuesdays in room 50. Contact Grace Clinton(president) for any information, or go to Madame Garceau in room 50.

Bruin-To-Bruin Club Students to tutor and share talents

The club Bruin-to-Bruin Club, formerly Tutoring/Mentoring Club, is starting to reach out to Juniors that are interested in peer-tutoring to establish a group that can continue on to later on years. They are also expanding services in areas of Art and Physical Fitness. The club was initially created to fulfill WEE requirements and to address the need of struggling students. Since the Tutoring course was discontinued this year, they wanted to provide support and tutoring services to students that can’t get help from teachers or hire private tutors. For more information, please see Mrs. Amanatullah in Room 28 or email Cadence Trenchard at 536061@my.cuhsd.org.

LiNK and Acoustic Club Acoustic night and fundraiser

Liberty in North Korea will team with Acoustic club to present the first Acoustic night on November 17 at 7pm in the PAC. Tickets will cost $5 with ASB and $7 without. LiNK is supposed to educate and spread awareness about the refugees in North Korea. Our primary function is to raise money to send to the LiNK headquarters. — Compiled by Omar Ababneh

Used tennis shoes from the Sole of a Freshman program pile up in Mr.Vo’s room, ready to help share a freshman’s story. GRACE CLINTON Sports Editor

his is the motto of the Step into my Sole T Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Dublin, CA, that partners with shoe compa-

nies to donate lightly used shoes to charities. The organization was founded by Fermin Lau. Lau’s father was murdered just before he turned 11 years old. He said it “completely destroyed his life and the lives of his family.” To cope with his inner struggles, Lau took up running and it soon became his “therapy.” Looking at all his running shoes from over the years, he realized that all of them had a story and contributed to who he was as a person. This gave him the idea to set up a program where people could donate their old running shoes and also share their story. He soonafter created the Step into my Sole Foundation. This year Branham High School’s Link Crew Program has brought Step into my Sole to Branham. This is not the first time the school has tried to use the program, but according to teacher Fitz Vo it has “petered out” in previous years. It essentially works like this. Each freshmen and Link Crew leader will receive a free pair of new athletic shoes

Vaulting to the finish

after turning in a signed permission slip and offering up their shoe size. Students are free to wear the shoes and use them to the full extent. The only thing asked in return is that one shares their story some time throughout the year (when asked) on a predetermined public forum (Instagram). When one shares their story, it is entirely up to them how personal they would like to go. Stories can range from a specific high school experience to something one is battling in their home life to a list of ones interests and goals. There is no limit. This project is a platform for students to share what they need to share to either lessen a mental burden or to simply be involved with the school and their peers. When asked about her opinion of the project, Junior Link Crew leader Sara Robertson said, “I think it’s really cool once you understand what it’s actually about - sharing stories, learning to understand one another, and finding people you can depend on throughout high school.” Lisa Pimental, a teacher at Branham who helps run the Sole of a Freshman project, explains that “it’s not about the shoes... they are really just a symbol. What Mr. Vo, Ms. Reynolds and myself are attempting to do is to make

JOCELYN PIERCE

Staff Writer

efore you talk about how hard your hobby is, consider the following: sophomore Claire Burnett spends her free time doing flips… on the back of a moving horse. Vaulting is the sport of gymnastics on horseback. Vaulters perform a series of dances and tricks, either alone or with another vaulter, on their horse’s back as it rides around a dirt track. Sound difficult? Claire agrees. “Not only do you have to hold yourself and others in crazy positions,” she said. “but we do it all on top of a cantering horse, that moves between 10 to 17 miles an hour.” Burnett has been vaulting for five years. Alongside her two horses Safari and Picasso, she dedicates 12 hours a week to improve her talent, and it has had remarkable payoff. She holds the title of 2015 Vaulting National Champion, as well as the 2015 Regional 1-Star Champion.

Jocelyn Pierce/Bear W itness

With all of its complicated elements, it’d be easy to say that vaulting is probably quite hazardous. However, vaulting is actually only the 13th most dangerous sport performed on a horse, behind events such as equestrian cross country, barrel racing and wild horse racing. Burnett believes this risk rating is correct. “The only bad incident I can remember is the time a six-year-old got trampled by a horse who wasn’t properly trained. They never expected her to fully recover, but a year later she was back vaulting with us.” Why does Claire vault? Why does she dedicate so much time and effort to be able to backflip on a horse? “Vaulting gives me such a thrill,” she said. “It’s never disappointed me with how crazy it can be at times. It’s especially fun trying to explain to people what exactly it is and how it’s actually possible. There’s no easy way to explain vaulting. I just say that I do flips on moving horses and enjoy watching their reactions.”

connections with those new students.. make them feel welcome, let them know of the caring community that Branham is, and make them feel comfortable sharing their voice, remind us all what it’s like to be in their shoes.” To be clear, the project simply serves to make freshmen feel welcome and valid in their first year of high school as it is easy to feel invisible in a school full of over one thousand teenagers. If the student finds that they are not getting use out of their athletic shoes by the end of the year, there is an option to donate the shoes to another outreach program or a recipient of their choice. This project is not supposed to be a chore or an assignment. It is meant to let students connect and bring the Bruin community closer together. The overarching goal of this program goes beyond shoes. It serves to provide students with an outlet, either by exercise or communicating an issue or story to others. High school is not a walk in the park for the majority of students and life during high school can grow overwhelming. Sole of a Freshmen recognizes this and acts as a support system that hopefully will make a difference in many students lives.

‘Skyrim’ game inspires student to craft sprawling fanfiction Staff Report unior Robert Burnett has written a story the size of “The Hunger Games,” and he’s only halfway done. At 78,000 words and counting, his fan fiction exploration of the universe found in the popular role-playing game “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” is unique among students at Branham in ambition. The game’s deep story and open-world exploration has inspired a cult following and nearly 3,000 story submissions online. The game’s main story centers on the main character defeating a world-destroying dragon named Alduin the World-Eater. The player can encounter hundreds of non-playable characters (NPCs), take on endless side quests and still not scratch the surface of the game. Robert’s goal was to provide extra dimension to the game, which can take hundreds of hours to traverse across its virtual lands. The game draws on Nordic mythology, a perfect foundation for him to develop his story. In “The Last Dragonborn,” Robert’s story, centers around a character named Ullr who travels to Skyrim to fight the dragon. He encounters numerous tragedies, including the deaths of his mother and his best friend. These experiences lead him to a dark place, where he becomes an assassin. The story follows him through these difficult moments as he struggles to find redemption. “At the core, he is a very good person,” Robert said of his character. “He makes sure that justice prevails.” Robert is writing his story with the help of English teacher Ms. Heather Amanatullah, who noticed his zeal for writing early on. She said that the he comes to her class every tutorial to write. “He is so passionate it interferes with the schoolwork he’s supposed to do,” Ms. Amanatullah says. “You can tell he is a good writer because he reads so much.” Creative writing is a new thing to Robert, having taking it on last year. It’s not always easy, as, like all writers, he occasionally experiences writer’s block. To combat this, he turns to Ms. Amanatullah.

Sophomore Claire Burnett practices on her horse, Lanson.

Grace Clinton/Bear Witnes

“She helps me when I’m trying to capture a specific scene or find a word when I’m trying to describe something,” he said. Fanfiction often gets a bad reputation among purists, as they use existing intellectual properties. But for the fans, it’s an opportunity to explore the universe more fully. “It allows you to expand what you want to happen and can lead to other types of writing,” he said.

Excerpt from Robert’s fanfiction “When I was eight years old, a cult that worshipped Mehrunes Dagon kidnapped me from my village. They put me in a cage for three days with almost nothing to eat. Everyday in that cage I was filled with more and more fear...As I told the story I didn’t dare open my eyes for fear that I would see myself during that time. I wanted to stay within the darkness that’s only seen by a blind man. I had no wish to see a boy engulfed with fear and consumed by a power he could not control. I opened my eyes and looked up at Lydia, her face shadowed in horror from the troubles of my past.”

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STUDENT LIFE

“It’s a lot funnier seeing high school guys attempting such a hard sport while trying to look sexy.” Ten Sanchez on the importance of male cheer.

Dig pink week to support charity

Branham’s Varsity Volleyball gathers at a time-out between sets of the Dig Pink volleyball game on Oct. 8, held to support cancer victims and survivors.

Cancer CAREpoint: more than just a charity MICHAELA EDLIN Staff Writer

s Branham’s Homecoming week came A to end, word began to spread of the following week: Dig Pink week. With the under-

standing that Dig Pink was related to cancer awareness, students donned pink and participated in Penny Wars, a schoolwide game involving donations to a good cause. Oddly, many didn’t ask what this good cause was, and where their money was going. All they knew was that it was for cancer. However, it’s much more than just that. Each charity has its own story, and Cancer CAREpoint is no exception. Brad Leary is the Director of Patient and Family Services of this nonprofit, and helps with the emotional and mental toll cancer takes on the patients, as well as their families, on a day-to-day basis. He has been doing this type of hands-on and direct work for 15 years. When it comes to charities, people often wonder how the staff end up working there. For his reason on joining CAREpoint, Leary says

he likes how Cancer CAREpoint , “...provided non-cost medical care for cancer patients,” and feels that he, “could make an impact on cancer patients.” To help those in need when in the position to do so is an important thing to Leary. He says that it gives him purpose and makes the moments spent in life meaningful and more rewarding. One story that has stuck with him the most is that of a 20-year-old immigrant from Vietnam. The patient had just moved to the United States, with very little money and discovered that he had cancer. The patient came to Cancer CAREpoint scared and uncertain, but was able to leave with better communication to his family and girlfriend, as well as a new air of confidence. In this tale, Leary saw first-hand how his involvement made a difference in this man’s life. Helping this person has allowed Leary to see how he can positively influence the world and serve a purpose. The money that Branham accumulates goes directly to funding stories like this, lives that have been improved through Cancer CAREpoint.

Jocelyn Pierce/Bear Witness

Spirit and events held for cancer awareness SYDNEY UYEDA

Entertainment Editor

f you recall, Dig Pink week, I which is Branham’s way of helping out those affected by cancer, happened earlier this month. The week consisted of unique dress up days, the Color Run, and the Dig Pink Football game, where students released balloons, with the names of loved ones who have died from cancer or are currently fighting cancer, into the starry night sky. This year, Branham was also able to include a Dig Pink Volleyball game, which ended with a win against Evergreen Valley. Branham also has it’s annual Penny Wars, where students bring in pennies to their second period classes in order to gain points. All of the money raised was donated to a cancer treatment and research center called Cancer CAREpoint. Cancer CAREpoint is a non profit

organization that was founded by Samaritan Medical Center CEO Dave Henderson. The organization is all about searching for better cancer treatment as well as the possibility of a cure. Sheryl Brown, Director of Operations at Cancer CAREpoint, says that they have a lot to offer for people going through this rough time. “We provide non medical support to cancer survivors and families,” Brown says, “We have volunteers who are trained to help patients get wigs if they have lost their hair. The foundation also offers “social workers who are here to talk to [patients] about what options they have.” Cancer CAREpoint even has classes patients can take to help them cope with their struggle. “We have classes so patients can socialize with people going through the same thing, such as meditation and nutrition classes.”

By the numbers 100 Types of cancer 2 Leading cause of death in developed countries 7.6 Million people died of cancer in 2008 58% Of cancer diagnoses are in people 65 years and older 22% Of cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use

Transgender student feels welcome on male cheer TAYLOR DOAN Copy Editor

t this year’s Homecoming male cheer A event, you may recall a student doing a dance while the other cheerleaders were flying

Ten Sanchez Sophomore Felt welcomed by the rest of the Sophomore male cheer-team, who accepted him as transgender.

or holding each other up. That was sophomore Ten Sanchez, a recent member of the transgender community here at Branham. Among the traditions that Branham celebrates during Homecoming, male cheer has become an increasingly popular spectacle since its inception eight years ago. In the event, male students, coached by female students experienced in dance or cheer, engage in tightly choreographed, gravity-defying acrobatics in an attempt to gain points for their class. Ten is perhaps the first transgender male student to be involved in male cheer, a sign of Branham’s emergence as a welcoming community. Ten is also one of the few in his class who is open about being transgender. The Branham community’s response was mainly positive, aside from a few bullies who dared to question Ten’s legitimacy. With this new identity came new opportunities. Ten is now able to participate in all-male school activities such as Homecoming male cheer, something he wanted to do his freshman year but couldn’t as a result of not

being out yet. He added that his participation in the event did not cause any discomfort between Ted and his cisgender peers. “I already knew most of them, and I was already out to them,” he says. “I explained to the other guys who didn’t know [that I was transgender] and they were, like, ‘ok.’” Initially, Ten says he felt that his peers might not be as accepting as as his close friends and family. However, after Homecoming ended, his fellow male cheer colleagues began to regularly greet him when passing through the hallways. “They didn’t care or see that I was different in any way,” he said about the way his team treated him. Ten said he plans to continue participating in Homecoming male cheer until the end of his high school career. However, he does not think he would be able to keep up with Branham’s own cheer team. Branham is looking into making cheer a coed sport, with the intention of allowing aspiring male cheerleaders to participate at competition level among the girls, but Ten said such a change may ruin the meaning of having male cheer as a Homecoming event. “I feel like changing it to coed makes it lose some of its meaning,” he says. “It’s a lot funnier seeing high school guys attempting such a hard sport while trying to look sexy.”

Roman Bolzowski/Special to Bear Witness Ten Sanchez (left) with the Sophomore male cheer team after the Homecoming competition, where they placed 3rd.

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SPORTS

OCTOBER 31, 2016 |

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One. Last. Dig.

Girls Varsity Volleyball Team went undefeated this season.

The Den roared as these four seniors played their last volleyball game as Bruins ing video in which fellow teammates expressed their gratitude for each of the he Branham Brugraduating players. Spirits were high and lasted ins girls’ volleyinto the final set. After ball team emerged at the winning the first set by end of their season with 25-21, the Varsity Bruins amazing results. On Ocgained more momentum tober 18, the varsity Bruand managed to maintain a significant lead throughins achieved a victory in out the second set, which an action-packed game finished with a score of against Evergreen High 25-13. Towards the end School, ending with score of the game, serves by of 3-1. Sydney Voss and Sydney Both the JV Volleyball Lindsey helped the Bruins team and the Varsity team secure the third set with took the win once again 25-9. This win allowed on Tuesday’s home conferthe Bruins to maintain ence match against Wilthis season’s undefeated low Glen; JV with a score streak, which is now at 14of 2-0, and Varsity 3-1. 0. Head Coach Heather One of the reasons for the Cooper attributed the team’s sensational stats is Alex Mertens/Bear Witness team’s success this season senior Sydney Voss, who (From left to right) Seniors Lena Saucedo, Sydney Lindsey, Courtney Simmerok and Sydney Voss are recognized during the Lady Bruins Volleyball senior to a mixture of “chemwas named the division’s night vs. Leigh High School. istry, love for each other, Most Valuable Player last and passion for the game; but the Bruins didn’t crack under pressure. The 25-11. Since it was also the team’s Senior Night, we wanted to play for the teammate next to us, year, and helped secure the JV team started out in the lead, but Leigh soon friends and family rallied to show support for and we [are] all family.” Lady Bruins volleball win against Willow Glen with 18 kills. On October 27, The Lady Bruins played their tied the game up. After a quick huddle, however, senior players Sydney Lindsey, Lena Saucedo, has also qualified for CCS, and they are now last game of the season against rivals from Leigh. the team came back strong, managing to close Sydney Voss, and Courtney Simmerok, and to preparing for the upcoming tournament. As the last game in a so-far undefeated season, the first set with 25-17, and secured the win in pay tribute to these athletes’ talent and dedicathe home match had some pretty high stakes, the second set with an even stronger score of tion. The celebration ended with a heartwarm-

SARAH SNITZER

Staff Writer

Lena Saucedo #5 Libero 276 Digs

Sydney Lindsey #6 Middle Hitter 61 Total Blocks

Courtney Simmerok #15 Right Front 50 Kills

Football

Field Hockey JOCELYN PIERCE

WILL SUITER

Staff Writer

ranham’s varsity football team has clinched the status of 3rd in the Santa Teresa League with their record of 4-1. The Varsity Bruins had a hard loss during the Dig Pink game on Oct. 14 against Silver Creek, with a final score of 0-13. Despite the loss, the Bruins were soon able to make a comeback. Last Saturday, the JV football team took home a win at Sobrato with a final score of 19-18, moving the team’s record to 5-3. The game was close, but a field goal after the first touchdown in the second quarter gave Branham the slight lead needed to win. This made up for JV’s last game against Silver Creek, where the only highlight was the rushing touchdown in the second quarter made by Freshman player Pati Wolfgramm. The JV game against Silver Creek ended with a score of 6-21. The varsity team also played extremely well against the Bulldogs. Senior Jordan Modesto had an especially great game, where he rushed 223 yards and scored on a 56 yard run. Following the win against Sobrato on Oct. 23, the Bruins will play Mt. Pleasant in the second to last league game of the season, with their last game against Westmont at Branham on Nov. 4. Westmont, who is currently undefeated in league, will surely help to provide a great game against the Bruins. The game will also be football’s senior night.

Alex Mertens/Online Editor The Bruins played their hearts out during the Dig Pink Game vs. Silver Creek

Staff Writer

ranham’s varsity field hockey team endured a pretty rough season this year. With only three wins under their belt, they fought hard to try and finish their season strong. They will finish off with a record of three wins, two ties, and 11 losses. Coach Tina Parrott worked tirelessly to drive out their improvement, but the girls’ skills unfortunately are not easily detected from their scoresheet. Forward Taylor Wong says, “We know we’re a good team, and our coach knows we’re a good team, but the result of our scores just wasn’t showing that.” One of their final games against Sobrato ended with a victory for the Lady Bruins; the final score was 3-0. Goals were scored by Ashleigh Stubbs, Caitlyn Trampenau, and Samantha Esparza, with assists from Rachel Martin. The girls are happy to be finishing out their season on a positive note. On the other hand, Branham’s JV field hockey finished with a relatively successful season. With an ending record of eight wins, three ties, and two losses, the girls are extremely proud of the improvement they saw as the season progressed. “90% of us had no idea what field hockey was three months ago, but I think I can speak for all of us when I say we’ve come so unbelievably far since then,” says midfielder Shireen Sabouri. In one of their final games, against the Bulldogs of Sobrato, the JV team pulled through and finished with a score of 4-0. Freshman

Adam Saleh/Bear Witness Junior Samantha Esparza passing the ball up the field to her teammates.

Ashley Donaldson scored a majority of the goals, with an assist from Sabouri. “Sobrato put up a tough fight, but we just fought harder,” says freshman Alicia Dimulias. The girls can’t contain the pride they feel for the team’s success, and a majority are planning on returning to the sport next year.

Girls Tennis

Cross Country

ALEX MERTENS

LAURA HEFFERNAN Staff Writer

ranham’s cross country team ran their last B league meet at Montgomery Hill last Thursday against Prospect and Pioneer High School, who are some of Branham’s tougher rivals according to Coach Fitzgerald Vo. Junior Matthew Le remembers running against these teams in the past with similar results. He says, “Prospect had a larger team than us, so they probably had a better diversity of runners,” although he does point out that it got easier at the end due to the course being flat ground and downhill. Despite the incredible hard work of all the teams, the only team to emerge victorious was the varsity girls, who defeated Pioneer 21-32 and Prospect 20-37. Junior Sarah MacGregor pulled ahead and finished the race in first with a time of 17:38 while sophomore Skylar Miller was the third runner to cross the line with a time of 18:32. Throughout the season, MacGregor and Miller continuously finished races in the same position. Frosh/Soph boys lost to Pioneer 15-44 and also lost to Prospect 20-35. The first Branham runner (sophomore Ben Shoemaker) from this team to cross the line finished the race in 12th place with a time of 19:11, while the first runner from Pioneer finished with a time of 18:26 and came in third place. Varsity Boys worked hard as well, but lost to Pioneer 21-37 and to Prospect 24-31.

Sydney Voss #7 Outside Hitter 60 Aces

Will Suiter/Bear Witness Senior Josh Olsen had a 10 minute improvement at Montgomery Hill compared to last year on the same 2.9 mile course.

Junior Varsity girls, as well as both Varsity Reserves boys and girls teams, won by default since Pioneer and Prospect did not have complete teams in these categories. Regardless, all teams ran their very best in the last meet of the season and are preparing for their BVAL finals at Crystal Springs on Halloween.

Onlinr Editor

ranham’s Varsity Girls Tennis team recently played a heated game against Sobrato High School. Throughout Oct. 13’s game, the Lady Bruins stayed strong and gave it their all against the determined Bulldogs. In the end, the Bruins came out on top with a score of 4-3. The week after, the girls Varsity Tennis team took on Pioneer in an equally intense match. However, the Lady Bruins couldn’t come out on top and ended the game with a loss to Pioneer, 3-4. Despite the loss, seniors Jasmine Narkiewicz and Erica Tutton gave it their all and played their best. Their next game was held at Branham against Lincoln High school. The Bruins had an extremely strong performance and came out on top with a score of 6-1. Junior Stephanie Johnson performed exceedingly well in her matches, ultimately helping the Bruins get their victory. Varsity Girls Tennis has their BVAL single and double tournaments this week on Wednesday and Thursday. Don’t forget to wish them luck on their tournament and go out show your support!

Sai Tummala/Bear Witness Sophomore Katerina Knezevic returning the ball in an intense singles match.

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SPORTS

The fall sports season is starting and players from all different sports are preparing for a good year.

“Sometimes I do wonder what it would be like to go out and play for my school and be able to represent Branham in that way.” — Kaya Fabretti on playing club soccer

Schooled by a club rush

Recent results Cross Country lower score is better October 13. @ Montgomery Hill (2.95 mi.) Frosh-/Soph Boys vs. Oak Grove (w) - 17 - INC Standout | (10) : 18:26

Varsity Girls

vs. Oak Grove (w) - 17-44 Standout | Sarah MacGregor (11) : 18:03

Varsity Boys

vs. Oak Grove (w) - 17- 38 Standout | Evan Franco (9) : 15:35

JV Girls

vs. Oak Grove (w) - 15 - INC Standout | Chloe Mannina (11) : 23:33

Frosh/Soph Boys

vs Prospect (w) - 20 - 35 vs Pioneer (w) - 15 - 44 Standout | Alexander Mariniuk (10) : 19:11

Varsity Girls

vs Prospect (w) - 20 - 37 vs Pioneer (w) - 21 - 34 Standout | Sarah MacGregor (11) : 17:38

Varsity Boys

vs Prospect (w) - 24 - 31 vs Pioneer (w) - 21 - 37 Standout Athlete | Evan Franco (9) : 15:51

JV Girls

vs Prospect (w) - 16 - INC vs Pioneer (w) - 22 - INC Standout | Lilia Alvarez (9) : 23:32

Kaya Fabretti/Special to the Bear Witness San Jose Earthquakes Academy player Kaya Fabretti, who will attend UC Santa Barbara next fall, is pictured playing against the Columbus Crew S.C Academy.

Rules bar athletes in club soccer from playing for their schools DEREK HOGAN Staff Writer

he club vs. high school battle plagued T American youth soccer long before the U.S. Soccer Federation banned high school ball

for its Boys Development Academy players in 2012. Club coaches argue that players aspiring to reach the top must compete at the highest level of youth soccer and get the best coaching; which, of course, they claim only they can provide. On the other hand, high school coaches continue to pressure these players to join them, many times not realizing the contract these club players are bound by. According to the U.S. Soccer Federation, the Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. soccer and the top youth clubs around the country, and this program provides the best youth

players in the U.S. with an environment designed to produce the next generation of U.S. soccer football players. Whether this means a college scholarship or a spot on the U.S national team or even a contract to go professional, being exposed to these possibilities is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Kaya Fabbretti is a senior who plays for the U-18 Earthquakes Academy. He has already verbally committed to UC Santa Barbara’s men’s soccer program. As a member on the academy team, Kaya has been ineligible to play for Branham all 4 years. “I really enjoy playing with the academy and it has been a great experience,” he says. “But sometimes I do wonder what it would be like to go out and play for my school and be able to represent Branham in that way.” However, Kaya also believes that the program’s guidelines are fair because it forces players to focus on one thing at a time.

As someone who does not participate in club soccer, junior Grant King is about to start his third year on Branham’s varsity soccer team. Grant won the BVAL Mount Hamilton Second Team All League award last year, and was also last year’s top-scoring sophomore. “I understand the situation,” he says, on the topic of club soccer versus high school soccer. “If the player’s team is good, I get why he would want to stay and play with their club.” Although he plays for Branham, Grant is interested playing soccer in college, and believes that club soccer will provide more of an opportunity of being recruited by college scouts. Choosing between the Development Academy and high school soccer is a tricky matter for many players. Both teams offer their own unique benefits and experiences. Ultimately, the player must ask himself, “Is not playing high school soccer worth the risk of not making the college soccer team?”

BOYS BASKETBALL

SOCCER

‘Promising freshmen’ brighten team outlook

Strong returners seek shot at CCS spot

Seeking a return to playoff form

Staff Writer

ast year, the Branham’s WresL tling Team won the West Valley Championship with a record of

6-1. This year looks just as promising. With returning members Lucas Peters, David Ciprian, and Nick Valendez, the team is sure to have a good season, especially with the help of, as Coach Miller puts it, “many promising freshmen.” Their goal for this year is to get as many people into CCS as possible. Coach Miller says that team captains will be chosen by whoever works the hardest. That said, the wrestlers have had plenty of chances to do just that. They’ve been exercising and conditioning since summer, and according to Coach Miller, things are “so far so good.” He goes on to say, “We still [have to] teach the new guys stuff, but [that usually] comes with the new guys.”

ELI SYLVAN Staff Writer

ast season, the boys’ FroL sh, JV, and Varsity basketball teams didn’t do quite as

well as they would have liked to. But this year just may be their lucky year. Conditioning has started and has been pushing these new and returning players to their limits, as drills get progressively harder due to the approach of the 201617 season. Between that, and their all around talented and hardworking varsity team led by senior varsity captain Jarrett Powers, they believe they have a real shot at achieving their goal: getting as many players as possible into CCS. All teams will play against Saratoga in their first game on Nov. 29.

vs Westmont (l) - 4-0 vs Sobrato (t) - 1-1 vs Sobrato (w) - 3-0

Girls JV Field Hockey vs Westmont (t) - 0-0 vs Sobrato (w) - 1-0 vs Sobrato (w) - 4-0

Varsity Football

vs Sobrato (w) - 45-6 vs Silver Creek (l)- 0-13 vs Leland (w) - 31-0

JV Football

vs Sobrato (w) - 19-18 vs Silver Creek (l) - 6-21 vs Leland (l) - 14-26

Girls Tennis

Winter Sports Previews

WRESTLING

ELI SYLVAN

Field Hockey

OMAR ABABNEH Staff Writer

ranham’s 2016-17 Boys and B Girls soccer season is starting soon. Tryouts are on Halloween, and

both teams have been conditioning hard in preparation for the season. This year, for the first time, there will be a Branham boys’ freshman team. “We always have a lot of boys coming out, and we want to give all of them the opportunity to play,” Danny Kadah says, head coach of the boys’ soccer team. And all coaches are looking forward to this season. “I’d like to see us win CCS this year,” Ron Smare says, head coach of the girls’ soccer program. Last year, the girls’ varsity had a strong season, ending with a 10-42 record. They made it to the CCS finals, eventually losing to Menlo-Atherton. Boys’ varsity also did well, ending with a 8-7-0 record. They made it to the CCS finals as well but got knocked out during the first round. Boys’ JV team placed

first in A league. It was Zaya Arami’s first year as a Coach at Branham and he was very content with it and enjoyed it: “I’m really proud of the Boy’s and the way they played this season. It was rough at times but they kept their head up. Hopefully next year will be as good.” Smare and the JV coach, Laura Andersson were very happy with last year’s progress and their upcoming season, saying, “I think [Branham’s soccer program] is growing and improving a lot. Both men’s and women’s teams made it to CCS. Our recent success is bringing people to Branham who live in the free zone and can choose another school.” Coach Smare also reminds it’s all about having fun. “I want to make sure they have fun,” he says. “For them, to have a lot of fun is the most important thing. [We’re]all about having a great time this season.” The girls’ first game is on Jan. 4, against Leland. The boys’ first game is on Jan. 3, against Evergreen Valley.

vs Sobrato (w) - 4-3 vs Pioneer (l) - 3-4 vs Lincoln (w) - 6-1

Varsity Volleyball

vs Willow Glen (w) - 3-1 vs Westmont (w) - 3-1 vs Evergreen Valley (w) - 3-1

JV Varsity Volleyball Willow Glen (w) - 2-0 vs Westmont (l) - 1-2 vs Evergreen Valley (w) - 2-0

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

Come watch Arsenic and Old Lace on Nov. 2-4. Check full article below for showtimes.

PRESS 1. Press shuffle 2. No skipping Patty Jimenez Senior “We Will Become Silhouettes” The Postal Service We Will Become Silhouettes brings back a lot of memories of my cousins that passed away. We would argue about whether The Postal Service version was better than The Shins. I always thought the Shins version was better but when I miss them I play The Postal Service version Graham Moore Senior “Gold Dust Woman” Fleetwood Mac Gold Dust Woman is one of my favorite songs. The lyrics are beautifully written and I notice something new every time I listen to it. This song always calms me down. It’s on my playlist because I love it Melanie Asquith Senior “The Less I Know The Better” Tame Impala This song is on my playlist because it reminds me of one of my best friends who is now in college. Whenever I hear it, it’s bittersweet because I don’t get to see her everyday anymore. It reminds me of all the times we’d be driving around just singing along

ROYAL ALLIANCE’S ROYAL FLUSH Marching band takes takes home the gold at Cupertino for their second competition of the season DEREK HOGAN Staff Writer

Branham High School’s Royal Alliance had quite a performance at Cupertino High School on October 8th. The team brought home the gold with outstanding scores on their card. The performance takes the audience to a French wedding. Philippe, played by Savidu Geevaratne (11), is a wedding planner who narrates the story of planning a wedding for Enzo and Isabel, played by [names here]. Sadly, in the end, Enzo runs off with a clown because her true love is the circus. In preparation for the performance, the group spent countless hours practicing notes, positioning, and acting. Then, minutes till, the performers put on their blue and white uniforms and warm up with some scales. “During the performance, everything went to plan, I am very happy that it went to plan and I am also extremely proud of everyone,” Dylan Staud (10) says. The story starts off with Philippe describing the setting and story. Then, gracefully the color guard stands up and starts frolicking around to the light music coming out of the band’s instruments. Then at once, the color guard retrieves their flags while the band picks up the tempo. The band scurries across the field getting into many difficult positions and formations. The most impressive formation was the snake; while the band swerved around like a snake, the collar guard danced through them all. The scene ends, but then the next one quickly begins. As the color guard grabbed their guns, the band played a snazzy

jazz beat. The collar guard flipped their guns in the air in complete synchronization as they moved around to the slick tune. Finally, the band starts to play Canon in D, a very famous wedding song. Then, Isabel steps out and begins to get dressed for her wedding. She then walks down the aisle, which is formed by the band, and meets her fiance Enzo at the end. The officiant announces, “... speak now or forever hold your peace!” Right then and there two clowns stumble out jubbling and balancing on top of balls. “I object,” says the clown,” Enzo, you can not deny that your one and only true love is the circus!” As Enzo runs away, Philippe drags Isabel way from the crowd. Lastly, Isabel picks up a cake and throws in into Philippe’s face as the band gets into a formation spelling out “No”. The crowd stands up on their feet giving the Branham High School Royal Alliance a standing ovation.

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Music Review

Come race to watch the “Old Lace” From ARTPOP to ARTROCK Drama department to put on the first play of the year

Lady Gaga releases fifth studio album 1. Diamond Heart 2. A-Yo 3. Joanne 4. John Wayne 5. Dancin’ In Circles 6. Perfect Illusion 7. Million Reasons 8. Sinner’s Prayer 9. Come To Mama 10. Hey Girl ft. Florence Welch 11. Angel Down

Maggie Haas Senior “I See Fire” Ed Sheeran I love this song so much; it never gets old and it’s perfect for the rainy weather Jasmyne Damon Senior “New Constellations” Ryn Weaver Ryn Weaver’s music is entirely different from other music because it reminds me of the universe and how everything is connected. It’s hard to explain but easy to feel Kelly Neal Junior “Mr. Know-It-All” Young the Giant Young the Giant is my all time favorite band because the music fits any mood I am in and always makes me feel better — Sarah Snitzer

Iz Munoz/Bear Witness

Branham’s Royal Alliance practices on the football field in preparation of their next competition.

Joanne deluxe edition songs: 12. Grigio Girls 13. Just Another Day 14. Angel Down (Work Tape) Interscope Records/Bear Witness MICHEALA EDLIN Staff Writer

Fiorella Castaneda/Bear Witness Students rehearse for the upcoming Branham play, Arsenic and Old Lace. FIORELLA CASTANEDA Staff Writer

This coming fall, Branham’s own students will be performing in the play,”Arsenic and Old Lace,” by Joseph Kesselring. The director and drama teacher at Branham, Ms. Christina Plank said, “The play is a dark romantic comedy that would make anyone appreciate their own family.” The play is filled with dramatic irony, and is about two old women, Abby and Martha, who murder people with arsenic. Their nephew, Mortimer Brewster has just proposed to

a beautiful lady, but soon after finds out what his aunts have been doing. He tries to keep all the information from the police and fiancee. Later he realizes that his brother, Jonathan has killed 12 people and Mortimer is more confused than ever and doesn’t know what to do. Ms. Plank’s Tech Theater class have been preparing for the plays setup for the past six weeks, and her actors and actresses have been rehearsing everyday after school for two hours. Ms. Plank said that her favorite scene is when both Mortimer and Jonathan dis-

cover a dead body in the window seat of a car. Though she is excited for the play, she is worried about her cast memorizing their lines like any other director would be. There is no way she can help her cast memorize their lines, since it is all self practice. In total there are around 30 students participating in the play who have been preparing and are excited to show off their hard work on November 2nd at 2:00 pm for $5, and on November 3rd and 4th at 7:00 pm for $10 with ASB/ $12.00.

Lady Gaga’s extensive career continues as she takes on country and folk-infused rock with her fifth studio album “Joanne.” The long-awaited album was released Oct. 21 and lives up to the hype. Following her jazz piece, “Cheek to Cheek” with Tony Bennett, this album is quite different. It contains catchy hooks, inventive lyrics, emotion and doesn’t disappoint. Single: The first listen fans got was “Perfect Illusion,” which was released on Sept. 9. Musicians have criticized the song’s change in pitch, but it’s unnoticeable to casual listeners. It’s a glimpse into the album, but is one of its weakest songs. Opener: “Diamond Heart” is a strong way to open the album. A thumping beat and powerful vocals makes you tap your foot and want to dance. It includes lyrics such as, “I’m not flawless but I gotta diamond heart.”

Title Track: This is said to be her most personal album to date, and the track of the same name makes this evident. “Joanne” is about her aunt who has passed. She tells the aunt to “Take my hand, stay Joanne/ Heaven’s not ready for you.” Anyone can listen to this song and relate to wanting a loved one to stay with them just a little longer. Best Song: The album’s fifth track, “Dancin’ in Circles” is the one most similar to Gaga’s past albums. The instrumental could easily be part of “ARTPOP” and the melody from “The Fame Monster,” but still remains unique to “Joanne.” It has a touch of the unusual and an uptempo beat, which is good for dancing or for working out. Florence Welsh: Highlighting Gaga’s artistry, “Hey Girl” with the singer from Florence + the Machine is one of the most successful songs on the album. Welsh’s voice beautifully combines with Gaga’s to make rich harmonies and a full sound.

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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

Over 95m consumers use internet T.V. in the U.S. (Hulu, Netflix) -courtesy of statista.com

Taking over the airwaves

Spongebob Rumors Scare Fans ROSALIE GONZALES

Fitzgerald Vo/Bear Witness Student guests Jenna Cardoza (left), Payton DeCarlo (middle), Mac Francini (back), and Emily Ngo (right) start their group introduction ALEX MERTENS Online Editor

f you listened to 99.7 NOW between 8-9 I p.m. two Fridays ago, you may have heard some familiar voices from Branham.

Branham won a radio station contest where in return for a school “takeover” at lunch, students have the chance to take over the airwaves. Junior Emily Ngo initially won the contest with big help from Junior Mac Francini, who spread the #TAKEOVER997! hashtag through his meme account with thousands of followers. At lunch on the day of the takeover, Eric “Strawberry” Fielden, the radio host, and his Fitzgerald Vo/Bear Witness DJ arrived on the quad students filled up the Branham students participate in the 99.7 NOW takeover. quad and danced. The students were brought to the studio, DJs mix the music and cut together audio That night, Emily, Mac, and juniors Payton which shares spaces with Alice 97.3 and Live from the mics and people who called in,” Mac DeCarlo and Jenna Cardoza, sophomores Kylie Delaney and Conner Ngo and fresh- 105.3. They were given a brief tour, which in- said. “DJ Strawberry ... managed to make an hour and a half in the booth feel like just a men Caroline Ralston and Belle Ngo arrived cluded walls of signed posters and records. Before heading into the booth, the group few minutes.” at the station in San Francisco. determined their playlist for their hour on air, Aside from students calling in to cheer on Some students were not sure what to expect. “I was really nervous going into the radio which included introductions to songs and their classmates and requesting songs, a caller from Leigh taunted the hour-long DJs. station, especially since I wasn’t exactly sure shout-outs to friends. Strawberry helped the students record their “I can smell you guys from here,” he said, to what I was going to say.” Payton said. “I intros, and edited on the fly all extraneous boos from the Bruins. wasn’t expecting it to be that entertaining at As the hour ended, Strawberry turned the all but it was very organized and the sweet “ums” and “uhs.” “Being inside the booth was awesome be- mic to Conner, who talked about the upcompeople at the station calmed my nerves.” cause we got to see the process of how the ing Winter Wishes rally.

Binge Watch

Freeks and Geeks Teen Drama, Comedy Drama

SUNANDA KOTTAYIL

Opinion Editor

s November approaches, students can look forward to a weeklong holiday to de-stress from all the anxiety that being a high schooler brings. We have put together a must-see list of binge-worthy shows that you can get cozy with. Warning: These shows are not suitable for everyone, as some contain profanity and graphic content.

Stranger Things Sci-Fi, Supernatural, horror, mystery

The Office Sitcom, Mockumentary

Making A Murderer Documentary

House M.D. Medical Drama Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones Action, Crime Drama,

Sherlock Crime Drama Set in fall 1983, the plot follows a group of mid- The Office is a mockumentary that follows dle school boys who team up with a telekinetic girl the lives of the employees at a paper company to find their missing friend, while the boys’ mother in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Good for: People and chief of police launch their own investigation. who wondered about the origins of the famous Good for: People obsessed with an era they never Steve Carell “No, God, No” meme. lived in. After being kidnapped as a teenager and held in a doomsday bunker for 15 years, Kimmy Schmidt deUnbreakable cides to start her life over in New York after her resKimmy Schmidt cue. Good for: Fans of “stupid, but funny” comedies .with heart. For those of you who enjoyed Ellie Sitcom Kemper’s performance on The Office, she pretty much plays the same character on this show.

Silicon Valley Comedy Breaking Bad Crime Drama, Thriller

Staff Writer

pongebob Squarepants. Recently a rumor involving the cancellation of the ever popular Nickelodeon cartoon Spongebob surfaced through internet memes. Outrage and panic followed until Nickelodeon came out with a statement via Twitter that the rumor was simply a hoax. Spongebob is said to be renewed through seasons 10 and 11 and expecting a third movie release in 2019. So why was there such hysteria when the loveable sponge was facing possible cancellation? What does he really mean to his fanbase and to history? Spongebob Squarepants was first aired as a Nickelodeon cartoon in May of 1999 and was created by former marine biologist, Stephen Hillenburg. According to Nickelodeon, around 45 million people over the age of 18 watch Spongebob every month. “I would hate it if Spongebob got cancelled, that’s basically my childhood,” a Branham student explained. “He’s been around for so long, why stop it now?” another student said about the rumor. Although facing lower ratings with newer episodes, Spongebob Squarepants is Nickelodeon’s longest running television show creating an 8 billion dollar franchise. As of 2015, Spongebob Squarepants has made 12 billion dollars in merchandising revenue for Nickelodeon Studios. With a new amusement park, Nickelodeon Universe, opening in the Mall of America, along with the numerous attractions at Universal Studios, it’s easy to see why the rumor was so unbelievable.

Spongebob facts

Began May 1999 Awards 6 Annie, 8 Golden Reel, 2 Emmy, 2 BAFTA Children, 12 Kid’s Choice The Spongebob Movie Budget : $30 million Box Office : $140 million Sponge Out of Water Budget : $74 million Box Office : $323.4 million Fun Fact Spongebob has grown into a nearly $8 billion - a year property at retail for Nickelodeon.

Set in the ’80s, high school Mathlete Lindsay tries to change her image by hanging out with the “freaks” of her high school. Her younger brother Sam and his group of geeks are just trying to survive high school. Good for: Fans of John Hughes movies, Seth Rogen and James Franco. This 10-episode documentary follows Steven Avery, a man who spent time in jail for a crime he did not commit, and his journey to trial after being accused of murder. Good for: Fans of “Serial.” This show should reignite the same passion for the plight of Steven Avery that you had for Adnan Syed. Another sad indication of how corrupt our justice system Dr. House is a genius doctor who treats bizarre cases that other doctors are unable to. Although the format of this show gets repetitive, it manages to keep viewers attention with the insane ways that Dr. House manages to solve the cases Good for: Armchair psychologists interested how human behavior messes with a person’s health. These are three of the 6 Marvel Netflix collaborations planned for upcoming years. Good for: Fans of the gritty Marvel Comics, as opposed to the family-friendly, moneymaking Marvel Cinematic Universe. The series re-imagines the classic stories of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson set in modern day London. Good for: People who like the realistic use of technology and solving crimes. Silicon Valley follows the life of a Stanford dropout and the craziness that ensues after his startup gets funded. This satirizes the life of Silicon Valley today. This is likely one of the best comedies ever. Good for: Fans of office satire, and anyone who lives in Silicon Valley. Walter White is an indebted high school chemistry teacher who turns to dealing drugs to support his family after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Good for: Lovers of anti-heroes.

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the back page

Political cut-ups SYDNEY UYEDA

Entertainment Edior

In this carnival-like political climate, it’s no wonder Halloween and the elections are so close together. To celebrate both events, we put together a list of the most popular labels each candidate has been called, for good or for bad. To begin, please cut out the scissors along the dotted lines. Illustrations by Rosalie Gonzalez/Bear WItness

THE CANDIDATES

THE COSTUMES Grandma Hillary People believe that Hillary is too old and fragile to run for president (even though Donald is actually one year older), and that would lead to her not being in office for long. Also, people are saying that she has always been either sick or injured throughout the campaign process.

Accompanying accessories(not included) Walker, knitting supplies, senior discount coupons to Hometown Buffet

Tan man Donald Trump is notorious for being tan to the point where he looks almost orange. His tan skin contrasted with his blonde hair has been the center of many nicknames such as “decomposing pumpkin” and “Cheeto Jesus.”

Accompanying accessories(not included)

Donald J. Trump

Sunblock, Lego bricks in glistening gold, Trump steaks

Many reams of paper have been spent talking about the Republican nominee for president, from his blustery , populist tone to his hair to his generous use of the word “crooked” to describe his Democratic rival. With the election just a few days away, many more reams of paper may yet be used.

Crooked Hillary Donald Trump has repeatedly said how he is going to put Hillary Clinton in jail if he becomes president. She was found to be responsible in the deletion of thousands of emails off her home server, as well as what some feel were serious lapses in judgment over the deaths of four U.S. citizens at the embassy in Benghazi, Libya. If Mr. Trump had his way, Ms. Clinton would be wearing a power-less suit.

Accompanying accessories(not included) Scolding Senator figurines, computer servers, weightlifting set

Border control Trump Mr. Trump has mentioned Mexico multiple times during the election that he is going to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico border, and that the Mexican government will pay for it. With this construction worker’s outfit, you can take Mr. Trump at his word.

Accompanying accessories(not included)

Hillary R. Clinton While not as gaffe-prone as Mr. Trump, Ms. Clinton has had her own share of controversy, from deleted emails, a spotty foreign policy record and b

Anywhere between $12 billion to $30 billion to complete this wall, based on Mr. Trump’s changing estimates.