SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 1967 January 4 – The Doors’ self-titled debut album is released. January 6 – Vietnam War: United States Marine Corps and Army of the Republic of Vietnam troops launch Operation Deckhouse Five in the Mekong Delta. January 8 – Vietnam War: Operation Cedar Falls starts. January 10 – Segregationist Lester Maddox is sworn in as Governor of Georgia. January 12 – Dr. James Bedford becomes the first person to be cryonically preserved with the intent of future resuscitation. January 14 The New York Times reports that the U.S. Army is conducting secret germ warfare experiments. The Human Be-In takes place in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco; the event sets the stage for the Summer of Love. January 15 – Super Bowl I: The Green Bay Packers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 35–10 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. January 18 – Albert DeSalvo is convicted of numerous crimes and sentenced to life in prison. January 27 Apollo 1: U.S. astronauts Gus Grissom, Edward Higgins White, and Roger Chaffee are killed when fire breaks out in their Apollo spacecraft during a launch pad test. The United States, Soviet Union and United Kingdom sign the Outer Space Treaty. January 28 – The Mantra-Rock Dance, called the “ultimate high” of the hippie era, takes place in San Francisco, featuring Swami Bhaktivedanta, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead and Allen Ginsberg. February 2 – The American Basketball Association is formed. February 5 – NASA launches Lunar Orbiter 3. February 10 – The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution (presidential succession and disability) is ratified. February 13 – American researchers discover the Madrid Codices by Leonardo da Vinci in the National Library of Spain. February 14 – “Respect” is recorded by Aretha Franklin (to be released in April). February 18 – New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison claims he will solve the John F. Kennedy assassination, and that a conspiracy was planned in New Orleans. February 23 – The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution is enacted. February 25 – The Human Be-In #2 is held in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA. March 7 – Jimmy Hoffa begins his 8-year sentence for attempting to bribe a jury. March 9 – Joseph Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, defects to the USA via the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. March 14 – The body of U.S. President John F. Kennedy is moved to a permanent burial place at Arlington National Cemetery. March 26 – 10,000 gather for the Central Park be-in. March 29 – A 13-day TV strike begins in the U.S. March 31 – U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Consular Treaty. April April 1 – The Department of Transportation begins operation. The Federal Aviation Administration is folded into the DOT. April 4 – Martin Luther King, Jr. denounces the Vietnam War during a religious service in New York City. April 9 – The first Boeing 737 (a 100 series) takes its maiden flight. April 10 – The AFTRA strike is settled just in time for the 39th Academy Awards ceremony to be held, hosted by Bob Hope. Best Picture goes to A Man for All Seasons. April 12 – The Ahmanson Theatre opens in Los Angeles. April 14 – In San Francisco, 10,000 March against the Vietnam War. April 15 – Large demonstrations are held against the Vietnam War in New York City and San Francisco. April 20 – The Surveyor 3 probe lands on the Moon. April 21 – An outbreak of tornadoes strikes the upper Midwest section of the United States (in particular the Chicago area, including the suburbs of Belvidere and Oak Lawn, Illinois, where 33 people are killed and 500 injured). April 28 In Houston, boxer Muhammad Ali refuses military service. Expo 67 opens to the public, with over 310,000 people attending. Al Carter from Chicago is the first visitor as noted by Expo officials. May National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam established. May 1 – Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu are married in Las Vegas. May 2 – Armed members of the Black Panther Party enter the California state capital to protest a bill that restricted the carrying of arms in public. May 4 – Lunar Orbiter 4 is aunched by the United States. May 6 – Four hundred students seize the administration building at Cheney State College, now Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, the oldest institute for higher education for African Americans. May 18 Tennessee Governor Ellington repeals the “Monkey Law” (officially the Butler Act; see the Scopes Trial). NASA announces the crew for the Apollo 7 space mission (first manned Apollo flight): Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Donn F. Eisele, and R. Walter Cunningham. May 19 – The Soviet Union ratifies a treaty with the United States and the United Kingdom, banning nuclear weapons from outer space. May 25 – The Twenty-fifth Amendment is added to the Constitution. June 2 – Luis Monge is executed in Colorado’s gas chamber, in the last pre-Furman execution in the United States. June 5 – Murderer Richard Speck is sentenced to death in the electric chair for killing eight student nurses in Chicago. June 7 – Two Moby Grape members are arrested for contributing to the delinquency of minors. June 8 – Six-Day War – USS Liberty incident: Israeli fighter jets and Israeli warships fire at the USS Liberty off Gaza, killing 34 and wounding 171. June 11 – A race riot occurs in Tampa, Florida after the shooting death of Martin Chambers by police while allegedly robbing a camera store. The unrest lasts several days. June 12 – Loving v. Virginia: The United States Supreme Court declares all U.S. state laws prohibiting interracial marriage to be unconstitutional. June 13 – Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall is nominated as the first African American justice of the United States Supreme Court. June 14 – Mariner program: Mariner 5 is launched toward Venus. June 14–June 15 – Glenn Gould records Prokofiev’s Seventh Piano Sonata, Op. 83, in New York City (his only recording of a Prokofiev composition). June 16 – The Monterey Pop Festival begins and is held for 3 days. June 23 – Cold War: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson meets with Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin in Glassboro, New Jersey, for the 3-day Glassboro Summit Conference. Johnson travels to Los Angeles for a dinner at the Century Plaza Hotel where earlier in the day thousands of war protesters clashed with L.A. police. June 26 – The Buffalo Race Riot begins, lasting until July 1; leads to 200 arrests. June 29 – Blonde Bombshell Jayne Mansfield, and two others die in an automobile crash near Slidell, Louisiana. Mansfield’s daughter, Mariska Hargitay, is asleep in the back seat at the time of the crash. July 1 – American Samoa’s first constitution becomes effective. July 2 – Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress opens at Disneyland. July 12 – After the arrest of an African-American cab driver for allegedly illegally driving around a police car and gunning it down the road, rioting breaks out in Newark, New Jersey, and continues for five days. July 14 – Near Newark, New Jersey, the Plainfield riots also occur. July 16 – A prison riot in Jay, Florida leaves 37 dead. July 18 – The United Kingdom announces the closing of its military bases in Malaysia and Singapore. Australia and the U.S. disapprove. July 19 – A race riot breaks out in the North Side ofUrsaMinneapolis Major archives on Plymouth Street during the Minneapolis Aquatennial Parade and business are vandalized and fires break out in the area, although the disturbance is quelled within hours. However, the next day a shooting sets off another incident in the same area that leads to 18 fires, 36 arrests, 3 shootings, 2 dozen people injured, and damages totaling 4.2 million. There will be two more such incidents in the following two weeks. July 21 – The town of Winneconne, Wisconsin, announces secession from the United States because it is not included in the official maps and declares war. Secession is repealed the next day. July 23 – 12th Street Riot: In Detroit, one of the worst riots in United States by Michaela Edlin history begins on 12th Street in the predominantly African American inner city: 43 are killed, 342 injured and 1,400 buildings burned. July 29 – An explosion and fire aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Forrestal in the Gulf of Tonkin leavesManaging 134 dead. Editor July 30 Joni Eareckson breaks her neck in a diving accident, becoming a quadriplegic. This leads to her starting ‘Joni and Friends’, a ministry for disabled people. The 1967 Milwaukee race riots begin, lasting through August 2 and leading to a ten-day shutdown of the city from August 1. August 30: Thurgood Marshall is confirmed as the first African American Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court August 1 – Race riots in the United States spread to Washington, D.C. August 9 – Vietnam War – Operation Cochise: United States Marines begin a new operation in the Que Son Valley. August 21 – The People’s Republic of China announces that it has shot down United States planes violating its airspace. August 23 – Jimi Hendrix’s debut album Are You Experienced is released in the United States. August 25 – American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell is assassinated in Arlington, Virginia. August 30 – Thurgood Marshall is confirmed as the first African American Justice of the United States Supreme Court. September 4 – Vietnam War – Operation Swift: The United States Marines launch a search and destroy mission in Quảng Nam and Quảng Tín provinces. The ensuing 4-day battle in Que Son Valley kills 114 Americans and 376 North Vietnamese. September 9 – Fashion Island, one of California’s first outdoor shopping But17 looking Branhamand decades ago, defy CBSschool as iton has since andShow, some of the Morrison sings the word “higher” malls, opens in Newport Beach. September – JimatMorrison The Doors censors The Ed1973, Sullivan when from their #1 hit “Light My Fire”, despite having askedofnot to. September Is atraditions Many Splendored Thing debuts on U.S. daytime television and is the turningbeen the pages yearbooks older than18 I – Love same still continue. It’s all the little, first soap opera to deal with an interracial relationship. CBS censors find it too controversial and ask for it to be stopped, causing show creator Irna Phillips to quit. am, there’s a connection. The faces in these incremental changes that stick out. September 11 The Carol Burnett Show CBS Premiere October 1 – The Boston Red Sox clinch the American League pennant in one of the most memorable penwere an education on the Thereby used togame; be driving machines on campus nant races of all time with Boston (92-70) yearbooks beating out thegetting Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers one Carl Yastrzemski wins the baseball’s Triple Crown. October 2 – Thurgood Marshall is sworn in same as thecampus first black thesame U.S. halls Supreme Court. An X-15 research aircraft with test pilot William J. Knight andjustice walkingofthe and IOctober remember3my– mom, a Branham alumestablishes an unofficial world fixed-wing speed record of Mach 6.7. October 12 – Vietnam War: U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk states during a news conference that I walk every day. nus, describing taking drivers ed in-between what proposals by the U.S. Congress for peace initiatives are futile, because of North Vietnam’s opposition. October 16 – Thirty-nine people, including singer-activIn manyfor ways, the campus hasn’t changed. her otherinduction classes, as Icenter. pursuedOctober my own driver’s ist Joan Baez, are arrested in Oakland, California, blocking the entrance of that city’s military 17 – The musical Hair opens off-Broadway. It moves to Broadway the following April. October 18 – Walt Disney’s 19th full-length animated feature The Jungle Book, All of the old buildings are still here and the license. Students still drive to school and fill upthe last animated film personally supervised by Disney, is released and becomes an enormous box-office and critical success. On a double bill with the film is the (now) much less well-known truequadOctober remains a19 central for student life.flies bythe spacesOctober in the parking butPatterson–Gimlin learning how life adventure, Charlie, the Lonesome Cougar. – Thepoint Mariner 5 probe Venus. 20 –lot, The film is shot in Bluff Creek, SEE BHS | PAGE 3 Rock October remains fixed the front of the of California supposedly capturing a BigfootThe on tape. 21 –atTens of thousands Vietnam War protesters March in Washington, D.C. Allen Ginsberg symbolically chants to ‘levitate’ The Pentagon. October 26 – U.S. Navy pilot John McCain is shot down over North Vietnam and made a POW. His capture will be announced in the NY Times and Washington Post two days later. October 27 – March on the Pentagon: several thousands people advance to the Pentagon to protest against the Vietnam War. November 2 – Vietnam War: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson holds a secret meeting with a group of the nation’s most prestigious leaders (“the Wise Men”) and asks them to suggest ways to unite the American people behind the war effort. They conclude that the American people should be given more optimistic reports on the progress of the war. November 3 – Vietnam War – Battle of Dak To: Around Đắk Tô (located about 280 miles north of Saigon near the Cambodian border), heavy casualties are suffered on both sides (the Americans narrowly win the battle on November 22). November 7 U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967, establishing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Carl B. Stokes is elected mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, becoming the first African American mayor of a major United States city. November 9 Apollo program: NASA launches a Saturn V rocket carrying the unmanned Apollo 4 test spacecraft from Cape Kennedy. First issue of the magazine Rolling Stone is published in San Francisco. November 11 – Vietnam War: In a propaganda ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 3 United States prisoners of war are released by the Viet Cong and turned over to “New Left” antiwar activist Tom Hayden. November 17 – Vietnam War: Acting on optimistic reports he was given on November 13, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson tells his nation that, while much remained to be done, “We are inflicting greater losses than we’re taking...We
BRANHAM AT 50
THE MORE BRANHAM CHANGES,
THE MORE IT STAYS THE SAME
I
t’s odd to feel nostalgia that doesn’t belong to you, nostalgia from eras before you were born.
INSIDE | NOTABLE ALUMNI | LOOK BACK AT 50 YEARS | WHAT’S CHANGED | MASCOTS
MAKING THEIR MARKS | ALUMNI
BRANHAM AT 50
his passion for art
goes beyond infinity T
he man behind Buzz Lightyear, Bob
ALUMNUS BEHIND BUZZ LIGHTYEAR DESIGN
Bob Pauley Class of 1979
Pauley, is a Branham alumnus. Pauley
graduated in 1979 and attended Branham for three years, after transferring Pioneer before his sophomore year because of its art program. Art teacher Karen Parsagian was his favorite teacher. At Branham. Pauley was part of a group called the Rowdy Muthas, a spirit group Pauley describes as a “reckless and funny group.” They organized Semi-formal day, where the group would dress in a suit and shorts. They also organized a beach day at school by pouring sand on the quad. The Rowdy Muthas was not the only activity
ted with permission Courtesy of Pixar, reprin
Pauley participate in at BHS. He also ran track and cross country. In track he ran the 4x400 relay and the 1,600 meter. He recalls that Branham had a dirt track and he looked forward
Bob Pauley joined Pixar in 1993 as a designer and sketch artist just as the company was beginning production on “Toy Story.” Pauley contributed some of the most formative and iconic character design work on Buzz Lightyear. He is currently Pixar’s production designer.
to runs at West Valley college because they had a nicer track. Aside from athletics and clubs, Pauley was also ASB president. Pauley also created art for the Bear Witness, designing the masthead (the banner on the front page). After Branham he attended San Jose State University. This led him on a path to Pixar, where he designed iconic characters such as Buzz Lightyear. The moment that he found most interesting was seeing his young kids playing with Buzz Lightyear dolls knowing he designed the character. Pauley would also like to add that the arts are supremely important and that art classes are provided for students. — Julianne Alvares
From top left: Pauley’s group, the Rowdy Muthas, engaged in “rowdy” activities such as semi-formal day (suits and shorts). Some Bear Witness banners and pages bore Pauley’s distinct art.
Class of 1981
Bob Pauley/Special to Bear Witness
Janie Bonsall
James Welton
Nevada Deputy Superintendent
Copy editor, Mercury News
“We shared our hopes, dreams, heartaches and our success together.”
how bear witness & KFC launched his News career
J
anie Bonsall has been a career educator for 30 years until recently retiring after teaching early childhood special education for 14 years and working at the Neva-
da Department of Education (NDE) for 16 years. The last position Bonsall held was
Class of 1984
T
o James Welton, high school was a time where ”You really badly want independence,” but ”you really badly need help.”
Welton graduated in 1984 and said so much has changed since he left high
Interim Deputy Superintendent of Student Achievement at the Nevada Department
school. For one, Branham had a designated smoking area and the student body
of Education.
often let bullying happen, at least if it didn’t affect them.
“I had a couple different groups of friends throughout my high school career.” says
since the school first opened in 1967. Typewriters were still used. He never thought that
also had friends through athletics. She played volleyball, softball, and badminton .
he would end up making a career being a copy editor, even though journalism was his
“What has made them the most memorable when at Branham… I was spending
only school activity. It was his job at KFC that helped him land a job at the Merc. His manager was also a
dreams, ideas, heartaches and successes together. We laughed a lot and shared
news guy and moved on to work at the Mercury News. After establishing connections
good times together… These events shaped me and they were a part of it.” I’d been
at the Mercury News, Welton managed to get a job and eventually he moved up in
going to Branham football games for a while since my older brother played and then
ranks from a clerical worker to online editor and finally to a copy editor.
my younger brother played too. So I even went to football games before and after I went to Branham.”
Newspapers were a driving force in Welton´s life. Journalism motivated him to be a better student in high school and made him pay attention to things he believes matters.
— Catherine Monroy
Gary Radnich Class of 1968 Host, “Gary Radnich Show”
—Michaela Edlin
A BRIEF HISTORY OF BRANHAM
Research by Rosalie Gonzalez, Illustrations by Catherine Monroy Photos courtesy Ursa Major archives
Sept. 13 | Branham opens, becoming the fifth
1967
Pat Hughes Class of 1973 Chicago Cubs announcer
In his senior year, he took Journalism with Bob Shibley, the Bear Witness adviser
Bonsall, “There was the group of friends that were in the same classes as me.” Bonsall
a lot of time throughout my teenage years with these people. We shared our hopes,
Notable alumni
school in the district to
1968
June | First senior class graduates.
open in a decade. Burl Fields, Branham’s first
Popular styles of the 60s: patterned
principal
skirts and dresses, dresses boat neck or collared, shift style ; collared shirts, slacks or jeans, cardigans
1971
First class to have attended Branham since
1972
Leigh rivalry
freshman year graduates.
Leadership classes
Camden and and Los
Jack Wagnon becomes
were split between
Gatos High schools
Branham’s second principal
Fall and Spring
were Bruin rivals
executive boards.
(Leigh came later).
“Big game” makes debut.
Open campus policy backfires. Administration returns to a closed campus.
CHANGES | THE ONLY CONSTANT BRANHAM THEN
BRANHAM AT 50
BRANHAM’S ALUM RETURN FOR 50TH
BHS | 50 YEARS YOUNG BRANHAM NOW to drive is no longer part of high school curriculum at Branham.
The chalk boards turned into white boards, which are now becoming
1972
1999 S.A.F.E becomes S.P.A.R.E.
SMART boards. In the same places where chalk dust used to fall on the floor, projected images can be interacted with by pens that only leave a digital mark. One of the biggest changes for Branham, has been one of the biggest changes for the whole world—technology. It’s jarring to see pictures of typewriters and cameras with film and
ore than 150 Branham alumni from around the state returned to the gym to celebrate the
school’s 50th anniversary. For some, it was a chance to revisit old memories. For others who are in the commu-
The name change of the recycling group on campus happened once the campus reopened.
vintage cars on the pages of the yearbooks. I’ve seen all of these old Students in drivers ed at Branham used to drive in car simulators for practice.
M
technologies before, that’s nothing new, but the proximity to me and the personal connection, that’s new. I type on keyboards, use my digital
nity, it was a chance to reconnect with old friends. The alumni were treated to a barbecue, then given the opportunity to wander the halls, where posters of canned yearbook pages provided a glimpse of life over
camera and drive a car every day, but everything feels so new now
the past 50 years.
People just like me, decades ago, did the same things I do every day,
Jodi Bloechl, class of 1989, remembers the rallies that
except with technology has made things smaller and more accessible.
1986
the school held, where they would “pass someone over
2017
Social changes
our heads while sitting on the gym floor” said Bloechl.
The social changes throughout Branham’s history are another key
They would always pick the lightest person to carry over
element of what has shifted through the years the school has been
their heads from each class.
open. Blackface was even highlighted in the 1987 yearbook. For
Julie Boggini, class of 1976, has two Branham kids.
Halloween, the white student was described as “crossing inter-ra-
Her favorite memory were ribbons that cheerleaders
cial borders” by dressing as Buckwheat. This behavior today would For Halloween, a student dons blackface as an apparent homage to Buckwheat from “Little Rascals” in what the 1987 Ursa Major yearbook describes as “crossing inter-racial barriers.”
be seen in a much different light, as racist and to be frowned upon.
sold before football games. “There were spirit weeks
Halloween can mean the chance to wear offbeat costumes, such as sophomore Masato McCutcheon’s poop emoji.
The yearbooks of the past are also littered with images of alcohol and Branham used to have a designated smoking section for not only teachers, but students. The flippancy of drugs lasted in the ’60s and
before every game” said Boggini, “We would all wear the ribbons.” — Staff report
’70s, but changed during the ’80s due to the War on Drugs. This huge change is also noticeable in the Branham’s yearbooks. In the 1988, the
2017
yearbook featured four pages on the bad side of drugs, ranging from alcohol and cigarettes to illegal substances. I’m not the only one looking back on Branham either; the whole community and all of the alumni are too. It’s a link between the generations, because after all this time, some things haven’t changed and there’s something beautiful about that. On the cusp of our 50th anniversary, we are also on the cusp of change. Soon, the front building with the main office and the Smoking was a less taboo practice than it is now. Smoking areas were common on campus.
Bianca Medina/Bear Witness
SMART Boards help make lessons more interactive. They will be a common fixture in renovated classrooms
science classrooms will be torn down to make way for the future, a two-story building with 21st century updates. It seems like the perfect time to do a retrospective, before the most permanent physical
From left, Debby Edwards Fragola, class of ‘73, Keith Smith, class of ‘77, Donna Rawlings Sole, class of ‘79, and Bob Schiro, class of ‘78.
change to come in Branham High School’s history.
Notable alumni
NFl athlete says teacher helped him push beyond ‘jock athlete’ stereotype
D
Darnell Sankey Class of 2012 Indianapolis Colts Linebacker
Shauna DeBono Class of 2007 Model and actress
arnell Sankey graduated from 2012 with the hope of
lunch and have lunch together,” he said. “We used to just meet
gaining a career in the NFL. Today, he plays for the
and talk…. It was cool because I felt like I could open up and
Colts as linebacker, the career of his dreams.
kind of just be me.”
At Branham, he played three sports, basketball, track, and
When dealing with the pressure of his family to succeed
football, which ultimately led him to his future. This status as
in sports and school and also constantly hearing that he
an all-star athlete shaped how he experienced high scool.
was just another dumb athlete, Sankey found solace in the
He said there was a difference between how others saw
support from his teachers. He remembers specifically social
him and how he saw himself.
science teacher John Salberg, who pushed him to prove
“I was more to myself, kind of introverted, but everybody knew me for being… an athlete,” he said. “I was kind of a jock.” Sankey played three sports at Branham: football, basketball and track.
Nicky Shane Class of 1971 Guiness Record-holder, fastest harmonica player
While managing to balance three sports, Sankey developed a close-knit community within Branham with several
those who doubted him wrong. This new drive to do better academically led Sankey to one of his best memories of high school, his first A in English. Now, as a pro linebacker and looking back on his high school
close friends, who despite being more of an introverted
days, Sankey believes that he has changed and become a more
person, helped him come into his own identity. He also par-
mature person, with each new experience life brings.
ticipated in the Black Student Union. The club, along with
“I’ve grown tremendously.,” he said. “my biggest change
his small group of friends, created a sense of community and
is my mentality. I’m just way more mature now, I understand
support at Branham.
more about life”
“A whole bunch of African Americans used to meet up at
Alumni photos courtesy Wikimedia Commons
— Annalise Freimarck
Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
A BRIEF HISTORY OF BRANHAM
1973
1975
Styles
1976
Shirts tucked in, bell-bottom or
Football gets The Rock is dropped in front of the school and has remained ever since.
victory
A student had meant to take it into
Vietnam War
the quad as a prank, but it was too
ends.
heavy to move.
flared jeans
first WVAL league Popular styles of the 70s: middle part, medium to long straight; long, grown out
Top songs 1976-77 “Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)” — Rod Stewart “I Just Want To Be Your Everything” — Andy Gibb “Best Of My Love” — Emotions “Love Theme From ‘A Star Is Born’ ” by Barbra Streisand “Angel In Your Arms” — Hot
1979
1980
1984
Richard Robbins, seen “smashing” a car, is Branham’s third principal. Camden High
Frank Filice
School closes,
takes over as
bringing students
principal.
over to Branham.
LASTING IMPRESSIONS | ALUMNI
BRANHAM AT 50
Bruin mascots from scary to cuddly
LONG ROAD TO EDUCATION EQUITY 1965- ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT Gave federal funding to schools across the U.S., but also forbids a nationwide curriculum from taking place.
1986
1972- TITLE IX Eliminated discrimination based off of a person’s sex. Requires fair treatment of students who are pregnant while attending school, and wider protection to those who are sexually harassed. 2003 1983- A NATION AT RISK President Ronald Reagan’s National Commission on Excellence in Education made a report focusing on the severe underperformance of schools throughout the U.S.
1980
2001- NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND Ensures that states had to test students from grades 3 to high school, specifically focusing on students who were falling behind.
2003- GETTING CONNECTED The National Center for Education Statistics determined that all American schools had internet access.
1971
2015- CALIFORNIA’S SWITCH TO INTEGRATED MATH California’s education board decided to transition from traditional math classes, like algebra and geometry, to classes that integrated all subgenres of math.
2015- EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT
1974
Its goals were to drop the dropout rates by improving the faculty, and encouraging overall competition of American schools.
1986
1991
Because of a tie in voting, two Homecoming Queens are crowned, a first for Branham.
1999 Declining enrollment forces closure of Branham. Students transfer to Leigh or Del Mar.
2001
2006
2011
2016
The annual MakeA-Wish (now Winter Wishes) rally debuts. Students stage sit-in to protest departure of popular teachers.
Drama teacher Dale Smith helps teachers stage “Grease,” the first faculty musical.
Robyn Gutierrez
2017 50th anniversary with major renovations in store.
Beloved principal’s secretary Barbara Nishiguchi retires after 30 years of service.
Pg. 4 INDEPTH
WHERE THEY STAND ON TAKING A KNEE
CAFFEINE THE MAGICAL BEAN
STUDENT LIFE
What happens when you get your daily buzz. Pg. 6
Why is Dylan Moore smiling?
Pg. 8
Pg. 7
BEAR NOVEMBER 3, 2017
WITNESS BRANHAM HIGH SCHOOL
Answers few since teacher’s arrest
Divisions along gender, age and race exist behind voting patterns
Police looking into claims that more victims involved
Seniors are the largest voting bloc, yet make up the smallest portion of eligible voters.
ANNALISE FREIMARCK
61 percent of eligible seniors voted in 2016 Older citizens (47 percent) tend to vote Republican.
News Editor
SAN JOSE — San Jose Police Dept. officials sought to provide resources and advice to family members anxious about school outreach since the arrest of former music teacher Sam Neipp, who was arrested in early October. The Oct. 23 meeting at the Camden Community Center gym drew a large crowd. Many there wanted to know how local schools that employed Neipp were addressing his alleged crimes. Neipp taught music at Dartmouth Middle School and was the assistant band director at Branham. He also had experience teaching at Del Mar, participated in his church’s musical programs and conducted private piano lessons. He is accused of blackmailing a minor with her explicit photos after she was go-
A large ethnicity gap exists between males of color and white males
51 percent of eligible males 18-24 years voted in 2016 Donald Trump received support from 53 percent of voting males Women turn out to vote in greater numbers than men since 1980.
58 percent of eligible women voted in 2016 African American women voted in greater percentages (70 percent overall) than other eligible voting blocs
12.2 percent of students believe that their vote doesn’t matter
North Bay fires tough on staff, students
2017 Homecoming court
345/1,722
students who voted for the Homecoming winners. 43.6 percent of eligible voters between 18 and 29 years old voted in 2016 general elections
Teacher’s mom evacuated; teen’s stepdad fought fires
Sources: 5 Star voting, Pew Research, Voter Participation Center
Lack of interest, information push students far from politics JULIA KOLMAN
W
Editor in Chief
hen he turns 18, senior Dante Reinoso doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to exercise his right to vote. His parents are European green card holders, so they can’t vote yet. He said that he will vote when he starts caring about the issues. “Voting hasn’t been present in my family,” Reinoso said. “My older brother was the first one to vote in my family, and he just did in the presidential election.” Meanwhile, junior Jessica Silva believes just the opposite is true. She believes it is her duty to vote, and her non-citizen parents feel that way, too. “When they’re citizens, they’ll be glad to vote.” Silva said. These two sides show the divergence among Branham students, and how they view the importance of their vote.
INSIDE
Campus briefs.................................2 News.............................................. 2
Branham students’ estimates on their likelihood of voting varies. According to a survey of 156 students, 59.6 percent strongly believe their vote matters, while 12.2 percent don’t. “I overhear people my age saying that one vote doesn’t matter, but if every person has that mindset, then that’s a lot of people [not voting],” said Silva. Students weigh the significance of national and local elections differently. 78.2 percent are very likely to vote in a presidential election, 47.4 percent are in a congressional election, and 51.2 percent are in a local election. This likelihood of participation is improbable following the trend of voter turnout in recent elections. 46.1 percent of voters aged 18 to 29 participated in the 2016 presidential election, an approximately one percent increase from the 2012 election. Even on an educational level, elections have low voter participation. In the 2017 HomecomSEE POLITICS • PAGE 5
Editorial..........................................4 Bulletin Board.................................3
Science and Technology..................6 Science/Tech Briefs.........................6
Inside Victims of sexual assault are often blamed for coming forward. Page 12
SEE NEIPP • PAGE 5
Millennials (Age 18-34) make up an increasingly large share of eligible voters, yet they vote at much lower rates than other generations.
of 156 Branham students surveyed believe that their vote counts
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VOTING BLOCKS
59.6 percent
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Bulletin Board Students share reasons for their political engagement (or lack thereof). Page 3
InDepth...........................................7 Student Life....................................8
MICHAELA EDLIN Managing Editor
he devastating North Bay T fires that swept through Santa Rosa and other counties
reminded math teacher Jennifer Brady of a fire 15 years ago in her former neighborhood. It was the Fourth of July, and kids on her street had accidentally started a fire after setting off fireworks. The entire field at the end of their cul de sac was ablaze. “If the wind had been coming east, it would have taken out that entire neighborhood,” including her own childhood home, she said. Though the fires that have devastated Sonoma, Napa and Santa Rosa counties are now over, students and staff at Branham are dealing with their aftermath, including Brady and junior Natasha Mills, whose stepfather is SEE FIRES • PAGE 5 MiniReviews.................................11 Sports.............................................9
Sports Debris and smoke forced the cancellation of many games in October. Page 10
Arts & Entertainment...................11 The Back Page...............................12
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NEWS
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“We must find a way to regulate firearms that have the ability to do harm on a massive scale.” Sophomore Riley Peters
Campus roundups AP Lit honors ‘Frankenstein’ bicentennial English teachers Heather Amanatullah, Rachelle Burnside, and Michael Espinoza took their AP Literature students to Stanford University on Oct. 18 to celebrate the 200th birthday of the novel “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley. About 50 students attended. Five professors at the panel talked about various aspects of the novel, from religion to technolgoy and ethics. Faculty, students meet Education Secratary Barbara Schremp and two students, Adam Saleh and Megan Sidlow, were invited to Nex-
tflex to meet with Secretary of Education Betsy Devos. The meeting from 11am to 2pm. They met DeVos and the Chancellor of California Community Colleges, Eloy Ortiz Oakley. During the meeting they presented their views to the secretary and then answered questions from approximately 30 adults. Each of the representatives of different majors discussed on how the “Flexfactor” program benefited them. The purpose of this event was to advance technology and fix the world efficiency. Branham partipates in earthquake drill Branham participated in an earthquake drill Oct. 19 for the organization ShakeOut. The
purpose of the ShakeOut organization is to demonstrate proper procedure when doing earthquake drill. The total participants for the annual ShakeOut day globally was 21.1 million, and U.S. was 18.8 million. The total for all drills 2017 is estimated to be over 56 million. NHS, sports teams help NorCal fire victims National Honor Society members and Branham athletes teamed up Oct. 13 after school to put together hygiene packages for victims of the wildfires in Sonoma and Napa counties. Winds carrying ash and smoke from the fires had forced the cancellation of all athletic events and Athletic Director Landon Jacobs saw a need to
Storytime in U.S. history S
Copy Editor
t’s storytime in social science teacher IWhen Courtney Kelly’s U.S. history class. Kelly taught Abraham Lincoln’s
Emily Pacini-Carlin/Special to the Bear Witness “I like the way it gave us a motive to work harder,” Qalo says. “It went more in-depth on Lincoln’s speech, gave [insight] of the background and what events took place.” While students such as Qalo were excited for the change, Kelly says that most of her students were evenly split between enthusiasm and confusion. With her storytimes, Kelly hopes to generate enthusiasm and interest in adjusting to the new curriculum.
“Children’s books are really good for helping to teach history,” she says. While she has held only one storytime so far for her U.S. history classes, Kelly plans to hold more in the upcoming months. Since it was the first time her storytime lesson was implemented, Kelly said that she understands the skepticism on an approach that is elementary in nature. Over time, she hopes her students will grow more keen on her unorthodox approach.
Local Scouts applaud plan to welcome girls TAYLOR SUSEWITZ
Science & Tech Editor
tudents and staff with close ties to the S Boy Scouts of America are welcoming the 107-year-old group´s recent decision to allow girls among their ranks. The move, which doesn’t allow for co-ed troops, provides girls the opportunity to attain Boy Scout ranks from Cub Scout to Eagle Scout. Girls will be participating in separate Boy Scout troops. Junior Aaron Brink, an Eagle Scout, ac-
Bear Witness Editor-in-Chief Julia Kolman Managing Editor Michaela Edlin Production Editor Rosalie Gonzalez
— Compiled by Matthew Follo
AARON DEANS
ANASTASIA LANGNER
during the storytime. Junior Ephraim Qalo remembers the storytime lesson.
Burnt popcorn to blame for fire alarm Burnt microwave popcorn was the cause behind the school’s second fire alarm since the start of the school year. The alarm went off just before the start of third period, creating mass confusion as students were led to the field searching for their teachers. The first fire alarm went off late August after a aurge in AC use shorted the air conditioning units.
Vegas shooting again renews gun laws debate
Teacher uses children’s books as a hook for new curriculum
Gettysburg Address earlier this year, she subverted expectations of lectures and worksheets with pillows and children’s books. The alternate teaching strategy, uncommon on Branham’s campus, is inspired by a similar experience from her time in school. “I had a Spanish teacher in high school,” Kelly said, “and the storytimes were so much fun.” Her unusual tactic is not born just from inspiration, but also as an innovative attempt to adapt to California’s new social science curriculum. Fellow Branham teachers are experiencing the same struggles as her, and the new material is requiring some creative thinking. In all non-AP history classes, learning now revolves around inquiry-based teaching, answering one overarching, thematic question relevant to modern issues and connecting past events and patterns with current ones. Underneath that single question, unit and lesson questions are built in to supplement ideas in answering the big question, and aim to incorporate a retention of the year’s material into an all-encompassing, end-of-year assignment. The changes have also introduced new material, such as the push for LGBTQ+ inclusion in California’s history textbooks. “[The new curriculum] calls for short lectures to provide information rather than solely textbook work,” Kelly says. “I also have researched online sources to provide … in-depth teaching as opposed to breadth.” For her lesson on Lincoln, she bought a picture book based on online research and built a group activity around it. She then prefaced the activity with a themed game of Kahoot. The game generated a spirit of competition, since the students who did the best were able to use the pillows
use the lost time as a way to help out those in need. More than 40 people have died.
knowledges the people might have been confused about the historic decision. “People think that girls are going to join and do stuff with boys, which is not the case,¨ Brink said. “They’re going to do the same stuff, it’s just not co-ed.“ Math teacher Barbara Schremp is the service coordinator and merit-badge counselor for Troop 577 for the past three years. She thinks welcoming girls to Boy Scouts will improve the program and provide leadership opportunities for both genders.
Editors News: Annalise Freimarck Opinion: Julianne Alvares Science and Technology: Taylor Susewitz Student Life: Atticus Ahearn Sports: Ryan McCarthy Entertainment: Jocelyn Pierce Copy: Anastasia Langner, Mahta Delshad Online: Sydney Uyeda Photography: Bianca Medina
“One of the trends I have seen is that it used to be male-only leadership, and they’ve been opening it up to more women,” Schremp said. ¨And if you have more women in the leadership, then why not have females in the troops as well?¨ Several Eagle Scout members say that a perk of achieving that rank have helped them stand out among employers because they have officially demonstrated leadership abilities. The Girl Scout ranks, from Daisy to the fairly new Ambassadors, are not as widely recognized.
Staff Writer
panish teacher Leticia Molina has a complicated relationship with guns. When she was in college, Molina was held up at gunpoint in an attempted at the Coldwell Banker real estate company she was employed. “I had been happily employed for nearly four years but the incident led me to quit my job,” she said. Despite the traumatic incident, Molina has had a positive experience with gun ownership. “I grew up in a rural area and my brothers and I would occasionally hunt,” Molina said. “We also did plenty of target practice. In fact, I still do.” She added that her teenage son “absolutely looks forward to (target) practicing, too.” However, in light of the tragedy in Las Vegas that left 58 dead and 546 injured Molina said she thinks gun control would’ve made mass shootings, such as that in Las Vegas, less deadly. “Could gun control laws have prevented the tragedy in Las Vegas or other mass shootings in recent history?” she said. “I don’t believe so but I do not doubt that gun control would have reduced the number of victims.” The mass shooting early this month in Las Vegas was the deadliest shooting massacre in U.S. history, and has revived yet again the debate over gun laws and whether they should be restricted, amended or both. At the core of U.S. gun regulations is the Second Amendment, which gives Americans the right to own and use firearms. Senior Matthew Le, a member of JROTC, agrees that Americans should be able to own and use guns. “I understand that the founding fathers gave us this right and respect it with utmost content,” he said. The U.S. does have certain regulations to try to keep guns from getting into the hands of people who may not use them responsibly. In the U.S, certain people, such criminals convicted of violence or harassment and the mentally unstable, may not own a firearm, according to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. As recent events make clear, current gun control in the U.S. can’t fully prevent shootings and other gun-related incidents. Sophomore Riley Peters said that his stance on gun control has grown stronger in response to recent mass shootings. “These mass shootings have not changed my outlooks on guns, but strengthened them,” he said. “As a country, we must find a way to regulate firearms that have the ability to do harm on a massive scale.” The National Rifle Association plays a major role in gun control in the U.S. With around 5 million members, it is certainly powerful lobbying entity. The NRA often prevents new and more limiting gun control regulations from being passed. Shooting-based crime could easily be considered to be getting more common. Social science teacher Tania Eaton thinks that shooting is in the news more than it used to be. “I remember I was teaching, and then I stepped away from teaching for six years to raise my kids,” she said. “And when I came back to teaching… they said that we had to do code red barricades. I didn’t know what that was for, and I was shocked when I found out that it was to protect our kids from shooters.” Eaton said she believes that inconsistency in gun regulations is one factor contributing to gun-related crime. “We have states with different gun laws, and we don’t have consistent background and mental health checks,” she said. “It leads to more guns being in the hands of people that shouldn’t have them in their hands.” Gun laws certainly vary widely from state to state. According to the NRA’s website, California requires a permit to purchase guns, and firearms must be registered. In contrast, Texas does not require a permit to purchase guns,and they don’t have to be registered. Despite recent events and varying gun control regulations, students such as Peters feel safe on campus.
Staff Writers Aaron Deans, Azura Gutierrez, Catherine Monroy, Julia Marques Da Silva, Matthew Follo, Omar Ababneh, Shams Mohammed, Shlok Gore, Uzordinma Awuzie 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: @bhsbearwitness Twitter: @bhsbearwitness Website: www.bhsbearwitness.com Phone: (408) 626-3407 Email: bhs_journalism@yahoo.com
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OPINION
Sleeping habits correlate with injuries that student athletes may have. BULLETIN BOARD
Informed public: Are politics important to teens? Aminah Narkiewicz Junior
I believe we should be inform on politics because it makes us more prepared for the real world and gives us an idea of what others are thinking.
Students shouldn’t talk about it in high school because we have other things to worry about and we shouldn’t start talking about it until college.
I think we should because we’re not born with information and we should be given a chance to learn before it’s our time to vote
Of course because it’s the organization of our society and it helps with preparing students for how decision making works.
We should know about what’s going on because we’re so close to the adult world and it will soon be our time to make life decisions.
Students should be informed in politics because we are the future and it’s important for us to talk about it.
Melissa Sorto Sophomore
Cecilia Andreotti Junior
Tina Prates Teacher
Leo Uchida Senior
TALKING POLITICS Some teens may be reluctant to talk politics, but many feel that it’s the exchanging of opinions is a valuable tool.
Chantal Lang Freshman
P.E. a sore spot for athletes Extra exercise can hurt student performance JULIA MARQUES DA SILVA
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TE VO
Azura Gutierrez/Bear Witness
WIRED IN
Staff Writer
tudent athletes juggle the same responsibilities as their classmates. They also spend hours on the field or in the gym perfecting their skills, then come home fatigued. Much to their chagrin, unfinished notes and assignments due the next day sit on desks and in binders, awaiting completion. Allowing student athletes to opt out of P.E. would benefit them greatly. The time spent in P.E. could be best used as an opportunity to complete their assignments. Although Branham offers Sports P.E., they are still required to take an elective as a substitute. The National Institutes of Health recommends that adolescents require more sleep than adults and younger children, but due to educational and social demands, teenagers usually don’t get enough sleep. Student athlete junior Aubrey Tibbils confirms this struggle amongst athletes. “They work for two Less time for hours an average day,” work, sleep Tibbilsonsaid. “When doing this activity, it’s imStudents who portant that they can rest, well as focus on acasleep less are as demics.” 1.7 times more The symptoms of the aches and pains student likely to get athletes can sometimes injured. experience are simply because of the imbalance of increasing school, sports, and social parts of adolescents’ lives. P.E. plays a part in the increasing demand in sports for teenagers, especially for athletes. There could possibly be days when they are participating in their P.E. class, their Branham sports team and a league team outside of school all in the same day. With all of these demands from sports, this creates the imbalance between school and sports, since they lose time to finish homework due to their other priorities. Another study from the NIH states that sleeping habits correlate with injuries that student athletes may have. Students who sleep eight or more hours are 1.7 times less likely to injure themselves than students who sleep less. The odds of becoming injured increase by 1.4 more likely to be injure by every grade level. With each grade level, it correlates to more homework and more pressure on other aspects of a teenager’s life so they can get ready for college. Since there is already an increase in injury due to grade levels, athletes should at least have the chance to keep themselves out of the odds of injury due to sleep. Since P.E. requires all students to complete workouts that involve running, push-ups, squats, and other types of exercises, these aches, pains and even soreness affect their athletic ability during their practice because they have limited movement in certain parts of their bodies. Sprains, concussions, and broken bones will ruin an athlete’s season. It isn’t worth the risk for student athletes who are devoted to their sports to injure themselves occur during P.E. “Student athletes have enough pressure on them to be athletes and students.” said Tibbils “To ask them to do even more than any other student... is unproductive and detrimental to the success of our teams.”
Rosalie Gonzalez/Bear Witness Students without cell phones left out in swift move to digiWhen the two most important voting activities go digital, it leaves many in dark SHAMS MOHAMMED Staff Writer
e’re living in a digital world, but when it W comes to student voting habits, perhaps paper is best.
Two beloved Branham traditions, Winter Wishes and Homecoming, are going the paperless route, and the lower-than-usual participation in both events may highlight problems with technology access. With Winter Wishes, students get to send in one wish and eagerly wait to see if their wish has been granted. Some wishes are granted during class hours, while others are granted during the Winter Wishes special ceremony in December, where all students present that day gather and watch the emotional event. In years past, advisory students received blue paper stars with a request for a wish to be granted. This year, however, the process was digital. Students logged online and onto a Google Form to type their wish, along with answering a few questions. The initial rollout was not as successful.
Club attendance Branham clubs have seen a marked drop-off in student participants since Club Rush. Here are a few. Health and Fitness Club 130 sign-ups 40 consistent members French Club 50 sign-ups 15 consistent members Acoustic Club 80 sign-ups 30 consistent members — Source: Club presidents
Activities Director Christina Hillman is extending the Winter Wishes requests through Friday, since only 1,000 out of the 1,730 students had responded during the initial advisory when it was available. For more than 90 percent of Branham students, access to mobile technology is a given. However, the increasing demands of students to have internet-enabled devices creates an equity issue for those who cannot afford it. Students who don’t have access to Wi-Fi outside of school may not have the same opportunities sending in their wishes, especially if they’re busy during school and cannot use school resources. A 2015 study showed that 12 percent of teens don’t have a cell phone and 15 percent have a basic cell phone. This number may seem small, but if extended to Branham, it has a big impact. The technology gap is an equity issue, and the district is taking steps to remedy that with its initiative to bring free mobile hotspot devices to students who qualify. In a partnership with Sprint
this fall, more than 400 will be available to students in the district, with 66 going to Branham. This might not address all internet needs, but it’s a start, as these online initiatives are not coming soon enough for Homecoming. Students were asked to nominate the Homecoming court via the 5-Star app. According to the poll results, less than 30 percent participated. Juniors fared the worst, with only 90 students nominating their peers. Though the lack of participation might highlight the relative apathy of the student body toward this ceremony, it also shows the need to create more inclusive options that take into account student voting habits. The convenience that smartphones bring is mostly positive. From the Leadership class’s perspective, it saves time and organizes the submissions. However, giving students an option to send in a physical form would be beneficial. It would allow the students who want to be involved a chance to do so without worrying about how they can do it.
Too many clubs, not enough time MATTHEW FOLLO Staff Writer
lubs are a place for students to C socially interact, and meet on a regular basis. However, many stu-
dents don’t take this seriously. This might not be on purpose. Branham has a total of 45 clubs, and some of these clubs meet on the same days as others. Because of this, most clubs end up being abandoned or emptier than usual. In fact, this is starting to affect the socialization between students — students won’t be able to experience the fun of a club when it is too crowded or small. To alleviate this, five clubs meet every other week. But this should also occur for more clubs to be split and spread diversity in clubs. Not only would clubs have an adequate
amount of people, but students can be surrounded in a better environment — less crowded, or less abandoned. For student leaders, one of the most frustrating factors is the robust signup list students fill out during Club Rush at the end of August. Junior Mackenzie De May, president of the Health and Fitness Club, said that of 130 people who signed up, only 20 members show up regularly. Similarly, 40 people signed up for Art Club, but only about 20 people show up each meeting. According to the student leaders of each club, Acoustic Club had 80 sign-ups, but 30 people show up each meeting. French Club had 50 sign-ups, but only 15 members show up frequently.
After looking into Branham’s club binder, five clubs meet on Monday, eight clubs show up on Tuesdays, eight clubs on Wednesdays, 15 on Thursday, and 10 clubs meet Friday. There’s a high chance that those who sign up for a lot of clubs might notice the schedule conflicts. Organizing clubs so that they meet every other week will allow students to be in more clubs they’re interested in, rather than having to choose between the two or more clubs they like the most. This will affect the rate at which students flake on clubs, therefore letting students socially interact more. More social interaction between students will cause the school to have a better environment, which leads to happy students.
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OPINION Editorial The opinion of the Bear Witness editors
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Some people believe that the hashtags following tragic events are pointless.
Standardized testing excludes unique thinkers
ultiple choice: Standardized tests are a breeding ground M for a) stress, b) anxiety, c) pressure, or d) all of the above? It’s a fact that top colleges require top SAT or ACT scores, and
the process of studying and test-taking can wear at even the most academic, organized and disciplined of students. Yet, for the massive weight of importance placed on its results, taking this broad, potentially-life-determining exam represents something much bigger and broader: a biased national education system in need of an overhaul. The SAT is built to weed out certain individuals: People able to think along a similar line of logic, able to deduce the presentation of that information in a timely manner and able to psychologically handle the stresses of timed assignments. Anyone else who doesn’t fit that mold is not as probable to succeed on the SAT, and in extreme cases, may not be able to enter a college or program they are interested in. Consequently, those
people are not as probable to even pass the starting line of their designated career path. This design is unfair for others who have brains with different wiring, such as in extreme cases of mental health issues, alternate types of intellectual strengths, or even just different styles of thinking; unavailable environments and resources for studying; or financial deficits that prevent the possibility of hiring tutors and attending preparatory classes. Not only are these internal, out-of-control factors present, but many more hurdles lay ahead for those working part-time jobs, taking care of family, falling under parental pressure, compromised by outside influences and already trying to juggle school and extracurriculars. The specifics of each student are unique and deserve attention, yet the general requirements of the test accommodate only to those on the most severe sides of physical and mental disability.
The long and short of the SAT is simple: Find the right people and resources, have the right kind of brain and be willing to work yourself into the ground. Otherwise, don’t plan on finding success. Branham has been trying to lend help for students in these areas by providing financial aid upon request and some paperwork. Cheaper SAT prep offerings from US and World History teacher Brett Johanson, and the free PSAT test for sophomores are a good first step. While these are all welcome aids, the test itself, the intimidation of its influence and the stubborn expectations of a single-minded type of person to join in big parts of the workforce. The SAT organizers want to tell people that one way of thought processing is right, that one type of brain is best. In this respect, the test is unrealistic and does not consider the differences people share.
AN UNCLEAR DIVIDE
Brand names just sell hype They’re overpriced, but that’s why teens love them OMAR ABABNEH
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Julia Bozzo/Special to Bear Witness
U.S. government risks blurring lines between religion and politics AARON DEANS Staff Writer
n August, Pastor Robert Jeffress, I a supporter of President Donald Trump, spoke about North Korea
from a distinctly religious viewpoint. He stated that the Trump had the Bible’s support in dealing with threats from Kim Jong Un in North Korea. If Jeffress had looked into the founding of this country and the First Amendment, he should know that religion and politics are two entities that are best kept separate. The United States, as written in the First Amendment, is not politically based on any specific religion. While people are allowed to speak freely and subjectively about religion, the politics of the U.S. may not be based on religion. This regulation helps to promote equality; if a religiously biased law were to be passed, people following the given religion could be given an unfair advantage. Religious equality is critical in the United States because this country supports wide religious diversity; not everyone follows the same faith. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center study, more than 70 percent of Americans follow one of the many denominations of Christianity. Six percent follow other faiths, including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and numerous others; another 22 percent aren’t affiliated with any religion.
If a politician, or a supporter or representative of a politician, gives a speech that mixes their religion into politics, they risk excluding Americans who don’t follow that particular religion. Jeffress, in speaking about politics from a clearly religious viewpoint, effectively excluded all Americans who didn’t share his religious beliefs. With so many different faiths, engaging only one of those groups in a political climate creates an inherent bias against all the others. Bringing religious bias into politics can not only create greater divisions, but can also make Americans feel uncomfortable. Sophomore Xiaomian Yang agrees that involving religion in politics is risky. It can cause misunderstanding and thus fuel divisions between people, particularly because both religion and politics tend to be sensitive topics. “Politics bring up strong emotions, and religion, too,” Yang said. “And especially, there’s so many different views on religion and politics. I think mostly people would get the wrong idea of different views…and, instead of uniting together, they will kind of break apart because of their own different views.” People of the same religion may also feel uncomfortable if they feel the speaker’s words don’t correctly align with their faith. Because modern religions often have divisions and denominations, there is a greater possibility of feeling falsely represented.
When teens can’t help directly, #thoughtsandprayers will do JOCELYN PIERCE
Arts and Entertainment Editor
PrayForVegas.” “#PrayFor# PuertoRico.” “#PrayForHouston.” Just a few words,
with so many good intentions behind them. Sure, it’s not a $1,000,000 donation, but it’s a start. Thoughts and prayers are a sign of support. They show solidarity. They show sympathy. They show unity. They show the victims that they are not alone, that other people are hoping for their recovery as much as they are. Support is the smallest form of an action attainable in some situations. We can’t all be first responders, like the firefighters battling the California wildfires. We can’t all vote to change laws, like gun control restrictions in the wake of the Las Vegas attack. We can’t all donate large sums of money, like those donating to the American Red Cross to support hurricane relief efforts in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Especially for us teenagers, what more can we do in times of such helplessness? We don’t have the freedom to fly to every location of tragedy and start helping. We don’t have the financial security to give our entire college fund to the victims. No matter how much we want to help, big movements aren’t
#thoughtsandprayers The hashtag has been used in recent years to poke fun at the catch-all phrase politicans use after horrific tragedies. always within our capability. Not all impacts can be seen. In places where all optimism is lost, where all hope has been devastated, a few words of encouragement can do wonders. They’re motivation. They’re fondness. They’re love. That being said, offering support is not the only step. That kind tweet isn’t going to rebuild a house. That thoughtful Instagram isn’t going to restore someone’s finances. That trending hashtag isn’t going to bring anyone back to life. So, are thoughts and prayers a solution? No. But, are they a start? Absolutely. That kind tweet might have caught the attention of a government official who can make a difference. That thoughtful Instagram might have just inspired someone to donate money. That trending hashtag might have drawn thousands and thousands of people to unite under one common cause: to provide humanity in a time of tragedy.
Staff Writer
upreme, Bape, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Yeezys, probably all brands you’ve heard of and seen students wearing around school. You want to see what all the buzz is about, so you search these brands online. You’ll then notice the price tags on most of these items. Yeezy’s products range between $380 to more than $1,000. Supreme and Bape shirts normally go for $100 and up. Gucci and Louis Vuitton´s cheapest item is $145, which is a beanie, and it only goes up from there. Many students think these prices are absurd. They choose to skip over Hyped brands these brands and are fine Costs $10, sells wearing the clothes they for $120 have already. Still, many others, including stu- Supreme brand dents at Branham, have attire is provided been buying overpriced by Gildan shirts, brands, and many other students are talking the same brand about them. It’s becombehind your ing a cult following. Branham sports This situation leads gear. many to wonder what is so special about these brands. What makes students constantly obsess over them? Are they really worth it? What makes them so special that students are willing to pay anything for them? A huge amount of music artists own items from these brands. Rap artists always show off these brands regularly and in music videos. A sighting of Justin Bieber or Kanye in Supreme is what inspires people to bid themselves into bankruptcy when the same item appears on eBay. That’s what got senior Noah Wong invested in street and hype clothes. “I saw all the famous celebrities I follow rock these brands,” Wong said, “like Asap Rocky, Playboi Carti, Kanye West, Ronnie Fieg, Luka Sabbat, [they are] celebrities that influence fashion, and that’s what got me into it.” Many of these brands, especially Supreme, only have a limited stock of a specific item when they drop. If an item sells out, you can’t get it anymore, unless you buy it resale, which is much more expensive. This breeding of competition only makes people want these brands more. The clothing is seen as more special when there is only a limited supply, and having one can put you on a pop culture map. “The idea that no one else has it, and it’s limited, and you’re like one of the only few people that have it [is exciting],” Wong said. “There is a high demand and low supply, which causes the hype over it. Everybody wants it, but not many can get it.” There is nothing special about Yeezys. They don’t make you fly. The only reason they are glorified is because of hype; they are Kanye West’s shoes and there is only a limited amount. Because of this “hype”, people willing to stand hours on hours waiting in lines to get these clothes. Many even go as far as buying fakes to show off. Is all this really worth it just to buy clothing? To many, yes, it is. They enjoy the hype and having a piece of clothing that not everybody can get their hands on. To many others, it’s a no.
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FROM THE FRONT PAGE FIRES | Teacher's mom forced to evacuate fighting the blazes. Other students and staff have been affected by the fires. Junior Jocelyn Pierce’s aunt and uncle’s home burnt down. In Santa Cruz County, where Social science teacher Brett Johanson lives, a wildfire burned several hundred acres, forcing him to take a different route to school. When the fires started Oct. 9, Brady, who teaches IM1 and AP Calculus AB, received news that her mother was supposed to evacuate. Combined, the fires have killed over 40 people, displaced over 75,000 people and burned more than 5,700 structures and 217,000 acres in Sonoma County, Napa County, Santa Rosa and the surrounding areas. Brady recalled the stress she felt when news of the fires reached her. “Part of the distress at the time was I had a kid at Dartmouth in band and then we
had the fire and then later that day another child had an asthma attack,” she said. Brady grew up in Santa Rosa, and the recent fires had burnt down the homes of her friends and family in Santa Rosa, and her mom’s neighborhood was ordered to evacuate. “The fire actually came up to where my junior high was and we lived right behind my junior high.” Despite the evacuation order, her mother initially refused to leave, though she eventually complied. Brady was stressed and worried about her mother’s safety as communication was an issue at first and it’s still unsure where her mother will be located before the fires come to an end. She said, “It was just the uncertainty of not knowing exactly what is going on.” Brady said that with her mom evacuated
and family homes and memories lost, it was difficult to teach calculus. The fire also hit home for junior Natasha Mills, whose stepfather, Todd Lyons, was fighting the fires. She said that with him gone, it’s been rough on her younger siblings who miss their dad, and on her mom, who worries about his safety. With him gone, Mills has had to run most of the errands and help out her siblings more. “It makes my mom a bit nervous, but as a Christian family we pray for him a lot and put our faith in God that he’ll be safe,” she said. FaceTime calls every night and the generosity of the community giving the firefighters food, water and access to showers has assured MIlls and her family. “The community has been so giving,” she said. “They’re a tight-knit community up there.”
NEIPP | Police urge straight talk with teens ing to come forward about their alleged sexual involvement. He faces 36 counts of child molestation, and his bail is set at $2.375 million, of which he’d have to pay 10 percent. If convicted, he faces 100 years to life in prison. Since his arrest, one former student came forward, and police say that they are investigating the possibility of two more students’ involvement. Lt. Jason Ta of the San Jose Police Department was present and provided some information to the crowd. “We are in the middle stages [of the investigation] right now,” said Ta. Along with Ta, in the middle of the packed community gym sat Sgt. Brian Spears, also from the San Jose Police Department, and Denise Clay, Union School District superintendent. The gym was filled to the brim with parents, students, and concerned members of the commu-
nity, with no spare seat on the bleachers. The officers provided scenarios when the audience asked how to handle certain situations, and the appropriate resources for reference. Spears shared tips for parents on how to address the allegations against Neipp with their kids in order to encourage students who may have information to come forward. The goal was also to help families know how to handle situations like this in the future. He urged parents to address the alleged incident directly. “From parent to parent […] do yourself a favor, and have that chat with your child,” he said, with increasing emphasis. “Please take the time to discuss with your child what’s appropriate and what’s inappropriate. Please take that time.” Some parents in the audience believed that the schools involved had suppressed information about Neipp surrounding this
case specifically, and did not properly address the possible suspicions. Superintendent Clay denied those rumors, stating, “No members of our staff had any suspicion, any inkling, that anything like this was happening.” The audience then had a chance to comment during an open mic session, which surrounded important issues like if the schools were going to change the student teacher policies and how parents could protect their kids online. One parent voiced the opinion that teachers should not be texting students at all, no matter if it was academic. Clay responded that there are social media guidelines in place. Some of the comments garnered applause, specifically those that discussed sexual assault awareness, displaying the rallying feelings of support for the alleged victims.
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POLITICS | Few voted for Homecoming court ing court nominations, only 22.2 percent of Branham freshmen, 26.1 percent of sophomores, 20.2 percent of juniors, and 31.5 percent of seniors voted for their nominees on the 5-Star app. Students had the option to select two candidates for Homecoming court from their grade level from an app, yet the majority opted not to vote. The lack of voter participation can be traced to various factors, including dissatisfaction with politicians. Only 10.9 percent of students claim the majority of politicians reflect their political views. Government teacher Kirk Selfridge finds the lack of participation reasonable for any generation. “How many young politicians do you see catering to and talking to those that are under the age of 18… telling them ‘you’re the next generation of voters and your participation is vital to continuing our democracy’?” said Selfridge. Due to the Democrats’ loss and growing number of third party voters in the recent election, a lack of political efficacy is understandable. Reinoso doesn’t see his vote holding much influence after Hillary Clinton’s loss. “Because of the results of the recent presidential election, with the majority of votes going to Hillary, and then being overruled by the electoral college… our vote doesn’t matter,” he said. Selfridge believes that “a
group of disengaged students” was created when President Trump won the election with less votes than Hillary, and the fact that Branham has a major liberal population that opposes his policies. More than half of students’ views closely align with the Democratic Party. Seven percent of students, however, identify with the Libertarian Party, which had a growing presence in the recent election. More students are aligning with this party, and Branham even hosts a club for the students, the Libertarian Youth Caucus. “At this age, you want to keep your main identity of who you are as an individual: your style, your music taste, if you are unique and have your own individual flare,” Selfridge states. “You have a different perception and that leads to you having the idea that individuals have the right to these various [liberties].” Being in two party system, it is unlikely for a third party candidate to win a major seat in upcoming years. This can discourage voters in the Libertarian, Green, and Peace and Freedom Party. As a Libertarian, Freshman Trevor Gonzalez doesn’t think that his vote has an influence over politics, stating, “Voting doesn’t change the system… Both Democrats and Republicans go for the same thing. They both go for a more authoritarian style of governing.”
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SCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY
Caffeine is the most-used common mood-altering drug in the world
Science briefs Nobel Prize awarded for advances in microscopy
Joachim Frank, Jacques Dubochet and Richard Henderson were named as the recipients of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry this past month. Their achievement in developing microscopic technology allows scientists to see a biological molecular process that they have never been able to see before. Researchers from all over the globe participated in this experiment and enabled the public to see a process never before seen.
Animals adrift during 2011 Japan quake reach U.S. shores
Back in 2011, Japan had a devastating earthquake that dragged some non-native species to the US shores via waves of plastic in the ocean. According to the Mercury News, “Nearly 300 species of marine animals, clinging to man-made tsunami debris, arrived — alive — on shorelines in northern California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii between 2012 and 2017.” Marine biologists have been able to study species native to Japan’s shores, species that America’s coasts have never seen.
Baby’s cries induce mothering tendencies, brain scans show
A new study that shows what goes through a mother’s mind when her baby begins to cry. The study has helped develop an understanding of a mother’s relationship with her baby. The study showed that the typical motherly signs went through the mother’s brain during an MRI as the mother picked up the crying baby. Movement, caregiving and speech were found as the top three signs during the MRI scans that took place over 11 countries. First-time mothers were also scanned, along with mothers from China who had experience with babies before. Both tests showed that the crying provoked caregiving in the mother’s brains, forcing their bodies to move, speak, and cradle the crying baby.
HOW WE STAY CAFFEINATED WHAT’S IN THAT DRINK
in a suggested serving
COKE (12 OZ.) Caffeine: 29 mg Sugar: 33 g
Facebook has released a new virtual reality (VR) system, which does not require a player’s cell phone or laptop. The new headset Oculus VR, a piece of gaming tech that will enable an individual to be immersed into a new virtual reality experience, will cost $199 and ship early next year. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said they will offer a bundle that will include touch controllers for $399. Games and activities will be available on the device for individuals to play.
Talking emoji, face scanning hyped features for iPhone X
Apple’s new iPhone X is now available, but it’s still hard to get. The phone comes in two colors: space gray and silver. The 64GB phone will cost $999, and the 256GB phone will cost $1,149. The new iPhone has said goodbye to the home button, opting instead for a full touch screen. A new scanning facial feature will help to identify users. It also allows for “talking emojis” via text message, adding optional animation to sending emojis. Additionally, an upgrade to the camera will allow users to use a “depth effect” function on the front-facing camera.
New camera offers major improvements to the public
Samsung has released a new camera, one that can do 360 degree photos and videos. It shoots in 4k video and lets the user broadcast live from their current location. According to Samsung, they have created the camera to be smaller and handheld, with an “easy-to-grip body.” — Compiled by Sydney Uyeda
Americans drink three cups of coffee every day
83.2 percent of teens consume a caffeinated beverage regularly
HOW TEENS GET THEIR CAFFEINE
COFFEE (8 oz.) Caffeine: 95 mg Sugar: 0 mg
2%
52%
28%
18%
from coffee
from tea
from caffeinated beverages from chocolate
Sources: MayoClinic.com, Johns Hopkins University
MONSTER (240 g) Caffeine: 86 m g Sugar: 27 g
Tech bytes Facebook’s VR tech doesn’t need phone or laptop
68 million
TEA (8 oz.) Caffeine: 26 mg Sugar: 0 mg Uzor Awuzie/Bear Witness
SHORT-TERM EFFECTS FROM CAFFEINE Caffeine is generally safe and provides desirable effects like energy and wakefulness for teens who do not use more than 300 mg, or the amount found in up to four cups of regular coffee. Anything above 400 to 600 mg is excessive and may cause physical problems such stomach upsets, agitation, increased heart rate, anxiety, muscular tremors and insomnia, according to MayoClinic.com. Teens who mix caffeine sources, like coffee and colas, or who use many energy shots or beverages, may suffer from these effects.
FEEL THE
BUZZ
Sleepless nights, discomfort may follow those needing caffeime fix UZOR AWUZIE Staff Writer
o most teenagers, having a cup of coffee every day T is not a new concept, but many people don’t realize that what they consider a troublesome habit comes
with side effects that may hit them hard in the long run. To some, caffeinated beverages are used every so often as an energy boost, but some swear by it regularly. Studies have indicated that 83.2 percent of teenagers consume caffeinated beverages regularly, and at least 96 percent consume them occasionally. Junior Penelope Clizbe describes herself as a typical coffee lover. “My mom introduced me to it, and I just loved the taste of it,” Clizbe said. “So I just started drinking more, and I kind of relied on it for energy and to make me happy.” Clizbe is not alone. It’s very hard for high school students to not fall into this trap of addiction, taking into consideration the demanding schedules that come in behalf of balancing academics, extracurriculars, and commonplace hobbies. Though teenagers depend on these caffeinated drinks to help them subside the dreadful feeling of exhaustion in the morning, that same energy booster can come back to sabotage their daily plans. Every person is affected differently, but high schoolers who consume an unnecessarily large amount of caffeine strengthen their chances of dehydration, upset stomach, and jitteriness. It can even impair teen’s sleep schedules. But if these drinks potentially have so many negative effects, why do nearly all teens use it? There may not be a direct answer, but marketing strategies play a big role in the part. The often bright, captivating packaging and catchy commercials that these drinks come with are a key method in company’s effort to target teens for their product. Second, caffeine drinks are just about everywhere you go, ensuring viewers that they have what it takes to satisfy your needs, which is why teens find themselves trusting beverages for stability, rather than natural cures. A study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center shows that caffeine can already become a regular part of a person’s diet as young as five to 12 years old, usually in the form of soda or energy drinks. Although no record proves that caffeine itself can cause harm, high consumption of the sugar that comes from these caffeinated drinks that youngsters love put them at risk of obesity and temporary anxiety. “I guess I would consider myself addicted” Junior Dominque Deroin said. “I started drinking in the seventh grade. I get tired easily, so I started using energy drinks to stay awake in classes. But then I started relying on them more and more.” Caffeine is the most common mood-altering drug in the world, being consumed by all kinds of people in varied ways. It’s unsettling to associate such a common household item with the term “drugs,” but this stimulant has the power to influence normal behavior in ways that most people wouldn’t expect. Maintaining a consistent diet of 3-8 oz cups of coffee per day should do you no harm, but more than 80 oz of coffee per day is excessively harmful in how it affects your health mentally and physically.
Race’s role in student-teacher connections Diversity of teaching staff can help boost student scores, study finds RYAN MCCARTHY Sports Editor
take a minute to remember Istepfyouryoubackfavorite teachers, you may and realize some of them
looked a little bit like you. A recent study reveals that students with teachers with demographic similarities will do better in school, along with attaining higher educational aspirations. Most of these similarities were found with relations in race, as students in these situations were more interested in their schoolwork and also felt more cared for. On the other hand, students without these similarities in their teachers find that these interests decrease. These findings suggest that students find role models in teachers that look like them, while also doing better in school. Opportunities like this for students may be disappearing, as more students find that there are less teachers with these similarities available to them. A growth in a teacher-student diversity gap will inevitably result in a discrepancy in academic performance between different races. According to Anna Egalite, a member of the team conducting this study,
only 18 percent of public school teachers are people of color, contributing to a school system where white students are better equipped to succeed than non-white students. Expanding the range of races in teachers won’t fix this issue by itself. According to University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, Gloria Ladson-Billings, “we need teachers who can view their students of color as whole people” in order to change the attitudes and behaviors of these students in regards to school. Acting upon this issue now is imperative, as diversifying the entire teaching force may take years to complete. Administrations may need to seek not just diversity in their teachers, but also students’ opinions on the choices of new teachers. What students think of and appreciate about self-mirroring teachers can influence decisions like this, as it can vastly affect how students perform in the classroom If students can gain an opinion from who educates them, it may gain administration and teachers an advantage in connecting with a larger and more diverse body of students, regardless of race.
Caitlyn Schlaman/Special to Bear Witness
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PROTEST, PATRIOTISM OR BOTH?
THE DEBATE OVER
KNEELI G
Atticus Ahearn and Jocelyn Pierce Photos and reporting
Colin Kaepernick’s social protest migrates to high schools, but athletes are wary
Branham’s varsity football players have not officially met to discuss taking a knee. Most interviewed said that while they support the message behind the protests, they agree that it’s not a respectful way to seek social change. Players who would kneel
Jason Gant, 12 Wide Receiver, Defensive End I don’t agree with the things President Trump was saying against it. Some change needs to happen, and kneeling is one way to spread awareness.
Players who wouldn’t kneel
Nolan Gallagher, 11 Running Back There’s people who have fought to keep this country strong and free. There’s people who risk their lives every day so we can wake up in the morning happy and equal. I would stand for all those people who served me and those who still serve, because they earn every bit of respect.
Isaiah Caruso, 12 Wide Receiver, Quarterback We’re still one nation even with all of the problems going on in the country, so we still need to stand strong together.
Cameron Rynhard, 10 Running Back, Strong Safety Those who kneel are representing the whole team as a bad example for all those little kids and others watching you do it. There’s people serving for us, giving their lives for us, and I don’t think it’s right to disrespect them.
A
t the start of the 2016 football season, Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers sat during the national anthem to raise awareness about racial injustice.
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” he said. Several other players of various NFL teams have also joined the movement; though their actions are under tremendous scrutiny of fans and even some of our country’s leaders. A common argument is that kneeling disrespects the US military including fallen soldiers and veterans. Others say that kneeling is ineffective and a simple social media post would have the same effect. “The national anthem is and always will be a special part of the pregame ceremony,” said the 49ers team in a statement. “we recognize the right of an individual to choose to participate, or not, in our celebration of the national anthem,” said the NFL in a statement It is important to note that at first, Kaepernick sat on the bench to protest. His teammate, Eric Reid, wrote for the New York Times about their decision to kneel together instead of sit. “After hours of careful consideration, and even a visit from Nate Boyer, a retired Green Beret and former N.F.L. player, we came to the conclusion that we should kneel, rather than sit... We chose to kneel because it’s a respectful gesture,” he wrote. “It has always been my understanding that the brave men and women who fought and died for our country did so to ensure that we could live in a fair and free society, which includes the right to speak out in protest.” — Atticus Ahearn
Players who wouldn’t kneel, but support social message
50 years of protests in sports 1967 | Muhammad Ali refuses Vietnam draft The renowned boxer refused to serve in the military and was later jailed for his actions. He cited his Muslim faith as his primary reason for not fighting in the war. 1968 | Raised fists Track athletes Tommy Smith and John Carlos protested poverty affecting African Americans at the Mexico City Olympics. The two were expelled from the Olympic games.
Courtesy Creative Commons 2012 | #WeareTrayvonMartin LeBron James tweets an image of him and the Miami Heat wearing hoodies as a protest of black teens being stereotyped as dangerous. 2014 | NBA players protest death in N.Y. James, Kobe Bryant and other NBA stars wear shirts saying “I can’t breathe,” in reference to Eric Garner’s last words before he died. September 2017 | Local teams protest Bellarmine College Prep students take a knee before a game, only to stand a week later. Officials are reviewing their rules. Courtesy Mercury News
VARSITY COACH NICK GARDINER
Coach Gardiner would want to engage in dialogue if players had asked to kneel.
Avi Avora, 11 Quarterback There are other ways and other times to protest. Don’t get me wrong, I completely respect the players that are kneeling. I don’t see anything wrong with it, and I applaud them for holding up their rights. But now that the issues have been brought to the attention of everyone, I think it’s better to start taking action.
Evan Bartlett, 11 Tackle, Defensive End If other players on our team did it, though, I would understand. I don’t know what their life is or has been like, and they have a right to protest; police brutality and civil rights are a big problem in our country today. ... I would not kneel for the national anthem. ‘I stand for the flag, I kneel for the cross.’
Ethan Norris, 10 Guard [Colin Kaepernick] wanted attention. I don’t think he cared a lot about the situation… I wouldn’t kneel because I think you should respect your country. I agree with the message but maybe not the action.
Henrik Vanitegem, 11 Wide Receiver It’s disrespectful to our flag and to our country. I support the message behind Colin Kaepernick’s protests, but I don’t support the way he’s doing it.
Daniel Perry, 11 Defensive Tackle, Guard I respect kneeling. I personally wouldn’t kneel just because I’m not used to doing it. If our team chose to kneel, though, I wouldn’t be upset with it. Kneeling is not a sign of disrespect. NFL players are kneeling to protest racial injustices in the country, and I support that message. If we weren’t allowed to protest, then why have freedom of speech?
Frank Poso, 10 Defensive Tackle We all stand for the same thing, which is equality, but we’re all going to stand for the American flag and those who’ve fought for us. We all know what we have to respect and we all have a mutual agreement that we’re going to respect the flag and stand up and raise our helmets and do everything… traditionally.
My first reaction would be to ask them: What is the cause? Racial injustice and social differences. That can mean anything. It could be injustice of education or working (conditions) or anything like that, which is fair. ... I don’t want anybody (kneeling) without understanding the cause. Doing something if you don’t understand the cause isn’t helpful. So, what’s their reason? What is Colin Kaepernick standing up for? Why is he doing it? Our conversation can go from there, which is fair. Social injustice isn’t a huge problem in every city, but there are places where it is real prevalent. So if my player wanted to do it, I’d ask them why. What do they think he’s standing up for? I want them to understand what the whole protest is about. I wouldn’t be opposed to them doing it as long as they come together as a team and all talked to each other about it first, then we all came to a consistent argument and reason why choose to. As long as they do it as a team, I’m totally fine with it. We haven’t had a meeting about it. We haven’t had a conversation about it yet. So we stand up. I’ve always stood up. I’ve always took my hat off and held it on my heart since I was six years old.
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STUDENT LIFE
BHSBEARWITNESS.COM “It’s very fast-paced and everybody just goes wild when we play [it].” Senior Dylan Moore on his favorite song “Grenadine”
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT | DYLAN MOORE
With band, senior gets taste of stardom Get Married has been on the road and is gaining a loyal following ATTICUS AHEARN
Student Life Editor
enior Dylan Moore is living the musician’s S life, touring and playing with his band Get Married; but that almost didn’t happen.
When he was seven, Moore received his First Act drum set. But before he even sat down to play, his sister interfered. “My sister took an action figure and stabbed the head; so I had to go buy a new one,” he said. That almost-traumatic event did not discourage him from drumming. Five years later, he picked up the bass guitar, and then went electric. He even sang many years in choir which prepared him for backup vocals and harmonies. Dylan is not the only Moore with musical talent. His older brother - Randy “Bones” Moore - is the one who first began playing lead guitar for Get Married. Their music is California rock, and they sound like a cross between Weezer and the Beach Boys. “We started off three years ago as an Elvis cover band at a Halloween party,” Moore said. “I was very young so I wasn’t able to be a full part of the band. I would fill in (for drums) and I played guitar for a little while.” Now that he has been drumming with the band full-time for about a year, Moore is settling into his groove as its youngest member. His favorite song from their EP “Into the Cosmos” is “Kingpin,” but his favorite song to play is “Grenadine” from their other EP, “Four Songs.” “It’s very fast-paced and everybody just goes wild when we play (it),” he said. In February, the band embarked on a West Coast tour from Seattle to San Diego. The band plays in venues as intimate as coffee shops and bars to full-sized arenas like The Catalyst in Santa Cruz. Planning and booking dates for shows and tours are done without an outside manager. Lead singer Jaake Margo takes on this role. “We’re like a DIY band,” Moore said. “(Margo’s) been in bands for his whole life so he has a lot of connections.” Outside of the band, Moore is a normal high
Dylan Moore/Special to Bear Witness For senior Dylan Moore, spending plenty of time touring is nothing unusual. With his band, Get Married, the drummer immerses himself in the music, and manages to balance it with his schoolwork. school student. In his free time, he likes to play video games and read comics. As for school, he said that late-night shows often make him tired the following day, though they don’t interfere with his schooling in general. “I think I have a good balance between music and education,” he said. This is good news for fans of Get Married who rely on Dylan and his bandmates to
entertain and overwhelm the crowd at every show. One of their most recent performances was at Moore’s favorite location: Programme Skate and Sound in Fullerton, Calif. “We’ve played there multiple times and it’s always just a good crowd,” he said. Get Married is signed to Wiretap Records and has recorded demos for a new album that will be released in 2018.
Check out Get Married’s social media for show times, tour dates and new music. Website getmarried.bandcamp.com Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook @getmarried408
GSA posters honor LGBT icons Best Buddies ready to make friends
For club, October was a chance to spread message of equality
AZURA GUTIERREZ
T
ANNALISE FREIMARCK News Editor
ctober is Gay History Month: a O month of pride, love, spreading awareness and reflecting on what led up to
the equality those in the community have today. GSA, the gender and sexuality alliance club, has spent this month displaying their pride for how far they’ve come in history by hanging up posters all over campus with lines from famous and revolutionary people within the community. However, this kind of activity, especially within schools wasn’t always accepted so openly. The LGBTQ+ community has had to fight for equality as a reaction to persecution by society as a whole, and in the school system, it’s no different. Senior and member of GSA, Cecilia Rodriguez, described an event she saw unfold on the Branham campus. “One time I was walking into school and these boys were walking in front of me. I had no clue what they were talking about, but I heard one of them say ‘Dude that’s so f***ing gay.’” Phrases like these are common around Branham and often are taken as a joke, when to others they are much more serious. Other students face this type of negativity toward their identity on a more personal note, at home. Junior Alicia Dragomir said, “I have experienced discrimination due to my pansexuality and for dating a transgender girl from my grandparents. As a member of the community, I felt like I had to defend myself… [due to] other pansexual and transgender individuals since I wanted to educate [them].”
Michaela Edlin/Bear Witness Sophomores Hayley Riley and Hannah Lynn Riley put up a poster for Gay History Month in the quad. This was one of many posters set up around school by GSA. These circumstances make reflecting back on the past and the struggle for equality that much more important for the students who are a part of the community and the posters and effort from GSA have made an impact. Dragomir said, “I thought it was nice that the school was recognizing the percentage of LGBTQ+ individuals at the school… I felt more recognized and seen.” GSA also had a purpose other than making students feel more accepted and proud for who they are: spreading awareness. Many celebrities that students and faculty at Branham idolize are a part of the community and members of GSA felt this was important to depict to students who
might be in the dark about their favorite celebrity’s identity. Rodriguez said, “Gay history month to me and this club means making everyone aware that there are people around us who are gay or lesbian and celebrities that everyone knows and loves. It’s also to give praise to those… who have decided to come out.” Senior and president of GSA, Hannah Hittleman also said that raising awareness is important to display, “that people in the LGBTQ+ community are active and successful members of society… (this) supports the reality that they deserve equal treatment and the same rights under the law.”
Staff Writer
he Best Buddies club has one overarching goal in mind: to make all students feel welcome and equal. Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for one-on-one friendships. Students all around the world gather every year and form a bond with a disabled Interested in joining student. The Best Buddies program has been around Best Buddies since 1962. This year at BraJoining requires a comnham, the Best Buddies prespleting a short application ident is senior Terynn McNairney. process and an interview To McNairney, Best Bud- to check your compatibility dies and its mission are of the with any of the buddies. utmost importance, seeing as she has a disabled brother and has seen firsthand how Meetings he is treated differently than Every Wednesday at lunch others. “[My reason for joining Best Buddies is] to stand up for the disabled and celebrate people with different disabilities,” McNairney said. This year, students will participate in different bonding activities. To get into Best Buddies there is a short application process online and in the classroom. Following this you will be interviews to see how compatible you are with any of the available buddies. Although not all students get paired with a buddy on average the club gets about 100 students. The club meets up every Wednesday during lunch, but the students who have one to one buddies occasionally meet outside of school. Best buddies does fundraisers monthly to raise money for the end of the year best buddies prom and other activities that go on during the year. One major event would be the year around nationwide best buddies friendship walk. On Feb. 28, all around the world people will gather and walk different locations. Following this is Best Buddies prom which is a great experience not only for the buddies but also the volunteers.
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SPORTS
Jonathan Degtyaryov is ranked 106th nationally in tennis.
Freshman is an ace at tennis
Sports Briefs Some scores current as of Nov. 6
Varsity football
Record: 5-2 (Overall), 3-1 (League) The Branham football team beat Del Mar 49-13 on Senior Night, keeping their hopes of a league championship alive. Branham plays their last game of the season next Friday night at Leland, and with a win as well as a loss by Independence, Branham can win the Santa Teresa League and clinch a place in the CCS playoffs.
J.V. football
Record: 4-1-1 (Overall), 2-1 (League) The J.V. Football blanked Del Mar on Friday with a score of 40-0.
Varsity field hockey
Record: 4-8 (Overall), 4-4 (League) As their season approaches an end, the varsity field hockey team does extraordinary, with winning every game except for two, and tying two. Their most recent game was against Prospect, described as a ¨hell of a game¨ by goalie Aubrey Tibbils, with a tie of 0-0. The Lady Bruins will be meeting against Del Mar on Thursday, October 26th at 6:15pm.
J.V. field hockey
Record: 4-1-1 (Overall), 2-1 (League) The J.V. Football team is doing about as good as their varsity brothers. Their most recent game was against Silver Creek, and at their next, they will be against Gunderson on October 27th at 4:00pm for the Homecoming game.
Varsity volleyball
Record: 12-5 (Overall), 8-1 (League) Considering this good-looking record, one might say that the varsity volleyball team is doing amazing. They are the first team to win back to back championships since Branham reopened.
J.V. volleyball
Record: 8-8 (Overall), 6-3 (League) The J.V. Volleyball team is doing great as well, Their overall scores for the end of the season are 12-9-0.
Cross country
Both boys and girls cross country teams placed 9th at the BVAL finals Oct. 30, qualifying them for CCS. This is the first time since the school reopened in 1999 that both teams will compete. The Nov. 11 race is at Toro Park in Salinas.
Freshman volleyball Record: 11-1 This team is doing superb, with their last game against Westmont winning two out of three sets, and losing one with scores of 13-25, 7-15, and 25-23. As their season comes to an end, their last game is against Del Mar, at Del Mar on Thursday, October 26th at 3:30pm.
Girls tennis
Record: 3-7 The girls’ tennis team finished off their season with a win against Gunderson with a final score of 7-0. The girls showed great effort throughout the season, and gave above and beyond effort in their last game of the season. — Compiled by Taylor Susewitz
Andrey Degtyaryov /Special to Bear Witness Freshman Jonathan Degtyaryov competesdin a US Tennis Association national tournament in Stockton, Calif. over the summer. The tournament was open to only the top players in Northern California. He credits his dad and sister for introducing him to the sport.
Degtyaryov ranked 22nd in state, 106th in U.S.
On the topic, he says, “School comes first and then whenever I have time, I practice.” He has great motivation towards excelreshman Jonathan Degtyaryov is a ling in the sport of tennis, and it shows in pro, and he’s only a freshman. commitment. After School comes his Degtayaryov is ranked 22nd in school from 8 p.m. to 9:30 California and 106th nationally in first and then p.m., he has practice at his tennis. whenever I have tennis club. His tournaJonathan started to play tennis are usually conducttime, I practice. ments when he was a young kid. He was ed on weekends. introduced to the sport because his When asked about his whole family was into it. training regimen, he said, “I started tennis at my old apart“Unlike most players, I ment complex when I was four or Jonathan don’t dedicate too much five,” Degtyaryov said. “I did it beDegtyaryov time to baseline shots, cause my dad and sister were doFreshman instead I just practice my ing it and it looked really fun, so I serves and focus on keepwanted to try, too.” ing my shots intact.” He sees tennis in his future too, as he has All this practice is preparing himself for big dreams and aspirations in this sport. his overall goal: to participate in the Kalam“My biggest goal is to play college tennis,” azoo National Championship Tournament Degtyaryov said. commissioned by the United States Tennis He’s working towards his goal by working Association. hard at practices and pushing himself to This is an invitational competition that keep on getting better. only elite tennis players can enter. Starting Balancing school, the exhaustive tennis in early August, this is Degtyaryov’s goal. regimen, and social activities, Degtyaryov In order to reach his goal of competing in uses his own system to keep himself on top a National Championship, Jonathan says, “I of things. Homework and studying takes need to keep practicing like I am currently priority over tennis conditioning, but he doing, and also I need to be more physical makes sure there is time for his extracurric- both when I play and when I go over my ulars. technique.”
SHLOK GORE
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Staff Writer
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Lloyd Clayton/Special to Bear Witness Jonathan Degtyaryov, then 11, participates in the Little Mo International tournament in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Former gymnasts enjoy mentoring kids OMAR ABABNEH
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Junior Laura Marques da Silva works with young children during National Gymnastics Day in September.
Staff Writer
igh school students play and dedicate lots of time playing the sports they love. Sports have been a huge part of a majority of students’ lives. They practice to perfect their skills and ensure that they do their best. Athletes are passionate about their sports and find joy in pursuing those ambitions. Students at this age normally get trained by a coach who has been in the sport for a long time and has a lot of experience. It’s common knowledge that a coach must be someone who has been doing the sport for a while and has a lot of experience. Coaches are normally seen as elders. Many students at Branham have been breaking that expectation and taking on coaching positions, helping spread the joy amongst younger children. Several student coaches don’t play the sport anymore, due to circumstances like injury problems or time commitment. Instead, they coach to keep their passion burning. Junior Laura Marques da Silva stopped doing gymnastics because of the rigorous time commitment it required. She started gymnastics when she was three years old and competed from when she was in third grade, up until the summer of 2015. Gymnastics required 18 hours a week from her, sometimes even more. It was hard for her to keep up with the demand, while doing other things she enjoyed. Laura decided to quit and instead coach and help others become better at gymnastics.
Courtesy California Sports Center-Cambrianna
“I always liked working with kids and I enjoy the sport, so I thought it would be a great experience to become a coach,” Marques da Silva said. Laura works at the California Sports Center, coaching two days a week. It is an easier way for her to enjoy her sport without having to give in many hours. Other students still play the sport and coach, so they have to balance everything to make sure they can fit everything. Senior Emily Nakken is one of these people, on the California Sports Center Cambrianna and competing every weekend. She also has practice on weekdays.
Nakken coaches kids between the ages of six and 10 whenever she is called in. It’s a hassle for her, but she enjoys it. “I just make schoolwork a priority and get it done as soon as I can, so I have time to do it. I take advantage of time during school and tutorials to get work done.” Nakken coaches children also because she enjoys spreading the joy amongst others and watching children being so curious about the sport she enjoys herself.
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“If you’re doing good in school you don’t really have to worry about the 2.0 standard.” Andrea Ordonez, sophomore
Week of games up in smoke
Nearly all athletes make grade Coaches help athletes find ways to raise scores SHAMS MOHAMMED Staff Writer
Catherine Monroy/Bear Witness
North Bay fires force cancellations and hurting playoff chances for some sports BIANCA MEDINA Photo Editor
or one week, the recent North Bay fires F wreaked havoc on Branham sports, canceling games and practices. The soot and smog
also affected students with asthma and other breathing conditions. Field Hockey’s October match against University in San Francisco was canceled as well as all practices Oct. 9 to 15. “It was hard as a team because when we don’t have practice it mentally throws us off,”said senior Sam Esparza. “Especially if we are not able to practice the day before a game.” Cross country’s Montgomery Hills meet and Toro Park Invitational meet even after two weeks off for conditioning. This was a letdown for standout runner senior Sarah MacGregor. “The Thursday meet would have been the seniors’ last league meet so it would have been the seniors’ last time running our league course,” MacGregor said. “The Saturday meet is would have been where CCS would be so it was unfortunate we won’t get the opportunity
Air quality alerts Very poor air quality in the Bay forced the cancellation of nearly all athletic activities. Air quality index The Air Quality index is a number that factors in pollutants in the air and the weather. The number ranges from 0-500. The AQI in some areas surpassed 500 the week of Oct. 9 to run it beforehand.” The coaches were disappointed but of course we all wanted to keep in mind those who were affected by the fires. Though girls volleyball plays indoors, their Oct. 12 match against Willow Glen was canceled as was their Del Mar tournament two days later. The game against Willow Glen was especially critical, as Willow Glen was undefeated.
“Our coaches were a bit stressed and the whole team was depressed due to trying to reschedule it.” said junior Ava Schroeder. “It was our most important game because we are co-league champs.” Girls Tennis faced only one game cancellation on Oct. 12 against Andrew Hill and a practice cancellation the next day. “It did not give us a chance to play Andrew Hill again as well as not giving us enough practice for our next game against Pioneer.” said junior Katrynah Broer. “Coach Will Wiseman was not satisfied because the team had a ‘no contest’ game instead, making us unprepared.” They prepared for their game against Leland with a high intensity due to the fact that Leland was undefeated; the game was canceled on Oct. 13. Practice on Oct. 12 and Oct. 14 had also been cancelled. “It really upset everyone on the team on how hard we have been working.” said senior CJ Colette. “The coaches were not happy about it but they pushed us to prepare for the 10/20 Silver Creek game, which resulted in a win putting our team 3rd in league.”
Every six weeks, students receive a progress report of their grades in class. With the 12 week grades upon us, it’s the same rush again. Many students rush to turn in missing assignments before grades are submitted, but there is not much urgency for them to do so. For student athletes, a minimum GPA of 2.0 must be achieved in order to continue playing their sport. They must undergo a grade check every two weeks. In these situations, coaches tend to be supportive of the Only four athletes and try to talk to them regarding any student athletes failed low grades. During the the two to be eligible week grading period, students with an F get for their a coach talk. An F in sport due to the four week grading grades, the period means being benched until their best grade outcome grade goes up. “I really try to check since grade in with them as much as I can,” said Heather checks were Cooper, the coach for implementthe boys and girls teams. ed. This past grading period, only four student athletes failed to be eligible for their sport due to grades, the best grade outcome since grade checks were implemented four years ago. Many students don’t see the 2.0 GPA target as a difficult target to make. “It isn’t that difficult to get a 2.0, it’s a good standard for everyone to meet,” said sophomore Jessica La Rocca, who is on the tennis team. To improve their scores, some student athletes suggested that a study group could be made to motivate each other on homework and get help on topics you don’t understand well. And when playing a sport, that isn’t the #1 thing on the student’s mind because their grades are a necessity as well. Getting good grades would allow them to continue playing. “Don’t prioritize the sport because the sport is obviously important but school is more of a priority, if you’re doing good in school you don’t really have to worry about the 2.0 standard,” said sophomore tennis player Andrea Ordonez. A big part of the motivation students get to push themselves is from their teammates. They want to continue working together to achieve their goals in the sport. “It was difficult seeing some of my teammates struggle, especially being a senior, it’s scary to think that you can’t play with some of the girls you’ve been playing with, so it’s definitely a good motive” said senior Seneca Lent, a member of the varsity volleyball team.
Even if child is a sports prodigy, parents put school over athletics RYAN MCCARTHY Sports Editor
or some, school can be the path to success F in life; for others, it can be an interference from their desired path to glory, making the
dreaded split between passion and school that much more apparent. Over the past year, this divide has become most apparent between high school athletics and education, as athletic phenoms have dropped out of school in favor of focusing solely on an athletic career. The issue became publicly apparent and worrisome after Lavar Ball pulled his youngest son, LaMelo, out of school to focus on a possible professional basketball career. When asked if the same instances plaguing high school sports can occur at Branham, many parents of these student-athletes are making sure that “student” stays in front of “athlete.” “If I had any say in my child’s education, it would take something miraculous for me to take him out of school, for any reason,” says one parent, whose son plays basketball at Branham. “Taking
children out of school for things that shouldn’t take priority over school is preposterous.” Another depicts Lavar Ball’s action as “appalling” and a problem that needs to be fixed, adding that it should not exist in the first place. “It’s incredible that an adult would take a child’s education away for a path that may not even work out in the end,” says another parent, whose daughter plays softball. “Education should be a priority, and now [Lavar] has made it look irrelevant to student-athletes.” Part of keeping students interested in school is to have engaging, collaborative classroom environment, which helps motivate students to keep coming back. When asked how engagement in class can help students succeed, Tania Eaton, a U.S. History teacher at Branham, was adamant that the right learning environment can mean the difference between leaving prepared for the next step, and leaving with nothing. “If kids are engaged and passionate about the topics and are given the opportunity to research
Courtesy Creative Commonss Media personality Lavar Ball took his youngest son LaMelo out of school to focus on a sports career. something pertinent in their lives, they might be more motivated to finish their school rather than going into a profession early,” Eaton said. In order to convince them to stay in school over a professional career, not only do students need to stay motivated, but nothing is possible without the right guidance and learning environments, which are some of the irreplaceable
aspects of life in school. “Increasing student engagement and giving them the freedom to explore things that they are passionate about allows students to become more interested in their schoolwork,” Eaton said. “As content becomes more appealing to them, the more engaged they are in their schoolwork, helping motivate them to stay.”
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ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
“It feels like we’re in cheer’s shadow.” Theresa Brown, sophomore
‘WE’RE MORE THAN CHEER’S STEPSISTER’
mini reviews Bite-sized opinions Book
“Ask a Forensic Artist” Lisa Bailey A forensic artist explains how to sculpt the face of an unidentified person using only their skull as a base. Although I found the photos of sketching and sculpting throughout the book very engaging, I wish the book had included an in-depth history of how police sketches have evolved into 3D sculptures.This book is great for anyone interested in forensic science and spooky doodles. — Rosalie Gonzalez Album “Hopeless Fountain
Kingdom” Halsey This album has a mix of upbeat and slow songs; some that you can dance to and some that can leave you lost in thought.I really enjoyed the diversity of genre on the album, though some of the upbeat songs seem too instrumentally similar. This album would be best-suited for people who enjoyed Halsey’s first album or anyone who likes a mix of pop and alternative. — Julianne Alvares Podcast
“The Adventure Zone” Justin, Travis, Griffin and Clint McElroy This Dungeons and Dragons podcast stretches far beyond its surface-level, nerdy implications. In their first campaign Balance, Griffin McElroy serves as dungeon master (narrator and creator) for a wacky world where the other three McElroys roleplay characters explore, destroy, and, on occasion, save lives. I enjoyed the comedic timing that the four of them share as the podcast jumps between joyful banter and gritty, passionate storytelling. Unfortunately, since they are a family, the focus and objective of a scene, battle or conversation can be easily thrown off-kilter. This podcast is best-suited for anyone foreign to the realm of podcasts, as the McElroys have a great sense of quality assurance. — Anastasia Langner Restaurant Premium Pizza 1773 Hillsdale Ave. Premium Pizza is a small, casual restaurant that specializes in pizza and wings. I love their spicy chicken wings — they are not too hot, but they still have a nice kick that goes great with a thick slice of their barbeque chicken pizza. Although Mario and his team are helpful and friendly, I wish delivery could be faster. This restaurant would be great for anyone who loves to treat their taste buds. — Atticus Ahearn
The Branham High School Dance Team poses for a picture in formation outside the large gym during the day.
Maia Borrison/Special to the Bear Witness
With new coach, the dance team steps out cheer’s shadow and is ready to compete JULIANNE ALVARES Opinion Editor
ou see them on the track at football games Y pumping up the crowd or around school in their uniforms.
The Branham dance team is coming off of its first season since 2009, but many students assume that they’re just the cheer team. This is mainly due to the fact that they sport similar uniforms and perform together at school functions. The team may just be viewed as cheer’s other branch. Either way, this frustrates the team. “We’re more than cheer’s stepsister,” said sophomore and assistant captain Theresa Brown. While cheer and dance are similar in look, they are different in their core elements. Dance tends to have more movement, while cheer is very strict. Cheer also tends to have more stunts and jumps. “In cheer, you have more pikes more pikes and jumps,” said sophomore and head captain Maia
Borrison, “With dance it is more flowy and has more variety.” The term pike refers to a jump where the legs are directly in front of the performer and the toes are pointed. The differences boil down to dance routines allowing more creativity. “In dance, you can basically make up whatever you want,” Brown said, “while there are more guidelines for cheer.” The team would like the Branham community to know that they are more than just basic moves. They work hard at their craft. Their captain has been dancing for over 13 years. “We’re working hard,” Borrison said, “We’re trying to expand and create.” The captains share hopes in competing next year. They went to a USA dance camp over the summer, and Brown was one of the top ten Knott’s 2017 All-American All-Star Dancers. “We’re trying to build a program,” Brown said.
“We wanna compete next year. Last year’s return was built off of cheer, due to the fact that both teams had the same coach. However, in the middle of last year, Branham brought in Coach Violet Maldonado, allowing dance to start it’s own program. Despite this addition, the team still feels attached to cheer. “It feels like we’re in [cheer’s] shadow,” Brown said. Coach Maldonado describes the team as more like an NFL dance team who both cheers and performs routines. The main difference between the dance and cheer teams is that the dance team does not do any stunts. The team works hard both in and out of school. In addition to practicing twice a week after school, the dancers also go home and rehearse. “[They’re] a really talented group who work hard to uphold Branham sport standards.” Maldonado said. “They work well as a team, and they are hardworking and dedicated.”
A second home for theater kids At CMT, students find peers passionate for performance
Choir, dance show a unique pairing MAHTA DELSHAD
JULIA MARQUES DA SILVA
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Staff Writer
or sophomore Jack Swartz, Children’s Musical Theater in downtown San Jose has became a second home for him. “There was a lot going on in my life at the time,” said Swartz. “It became something to look forward to during the school year.” He’s looked forward to performing with his friends on stage during every production he has been in. Swartz has participated in 11 productions at CMT and is currently working on his 12th performance. The most exciting part for him during the show is when everyone onstage is doing their best. “The harmonies are perfect, the energy is high, and everyone is happy,” said Swartz. “I look forward to it every show.” Although many students rush out of school to go to sports or work, some students at Branham look forward to musical theatre at the end of a long day on campus. Children’s Musical Theater San Jose is a nonprofit organization that teaches children and teenagers in the community about musical theatre. Like Branham, it’s are celebrating its 50th anniversary, with 364 productions under its belt and 50,000 performers having graced their stages. Branham sophomore Katie Briner has been part of this program for eight years and has participated in 18 productions held by CMT. Theater has
A spooky spectacle
Katie Briner/Special to the Bear Witness Sophomore Katie Briner, left, with Ginger Hurley of Santa Cruz, smile back stage. They performed in the musical “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” for CMT in March. been a huge part of her life, and she’s been with the program since she was 6 years old. “CMT is an amazing thing to be a part of,” said Briner. “It’s a really accepting community and I really enjoy it.” The theater program is able to have this open acceptance due their policy that everyone who auditions gets a role based off of their abilities. They also have different productions based off ages; productions held by the main stage are for older performers, while they have other stages for younger participants. Sophomore Liliana Blechman enjoys the spectrum of ages that
CMT offers. “I love having the little kids look up to me” said Blechman. “When I go to the main stage, it’s cool to look to someone who’s older also. It’s a good social experience.” Just like Branham’s drama productions, CMT gives students the opportunity to connect with others who have the same interests and enjoy performing. In the process, they learn a lot about tools for musical theatre and how to work together with others by harmonizing and dancing. “Everyone has an opportunity to perform, this helps improve their confidence.” said Briner.
Copy Editor
he dance and choir classes at Branham have prepared for a Halloween themed collaboration performance, which took place on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in the PAC. The dance and choir class collaborated in order to make a show for the Halloween season. There were four pieces to the show, each with a Halloween theme: a jazz piece, an improv, a ballroom fusion and a ballet fusion. Dance teacher Eileen Bertron prepared her students for the show for about a month, practicing with her students during her fifth period class. “The costumes were fantastic,¨ Bertron said. ¨They’re all black, with a white face and black eyes and red lipstick.” Barbara West, the choir teacher, was unable to teach due to a shoulder injury. Because of this, leaders in the choir class, supervised by a substitute teacher, attempted to teach themselves the songs that were performed at the show while West was unable to do so. “From time to time, there was someone who came in and helped them, someone who was qualified for choir,” said Bertron. Dance and choir students continued to work hard to get ready for the show that was performed five days before Halloween.
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What were you wearing? What did you expect? Were you drinking? Why didn’t you fight back? You should’ve been be more careful. He has a future. Boys will be boys. But you were dating.Why didn’t you report it sooner? Why didn’t you go to the hospital? He couldn’t control himself. Boys can’t be raped. You didn’t say no. Were you flirting? What did you do? Did you expect him to read your mind? The dangerous
Unashamed.
practice of blaming sexual assault victims
8 percent of sexual assaults happen on a school campus
JULIA KOLMAN
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hat did you do to make him think that was okay?”
Among survivors of sexual assault...
84% were victimized by an intimate partner
79% were victimized by a family member Catherine Monroy and Rosalie Gonzalez/Bear Witness
67% do not report the assault 0
20
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60
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69%
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RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incense National Network) Anti-sexual violence organization 1-800-656-4673 The Crisis Hotline Text 741-741 and a trained counselor will respond immediately
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The Alternatives to Violence Project antiviolenceproject.org Free bilingual (English/Spanish) 24/7 service for anti-LGBT violence victims Hollback ihollaback.org Website for sharing harassment stories, tips for responding to harassers
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#metoo
A current social media trend, “Me Too,” has been shared across all platforms. Users have posted their experiences of sexual harassment and assault with the hashtag “#MeToo” to show others that they are not alone. Math teacher Meredith Allen said it is important to hear these voices, but acknowledges that people need to be sensitive to those sharing their stories. “It’s amazing to hear these voices that have been silent for a long time,” said Allen. “If someone is sharing ‘Me Too,’ they are opening up a wound just saying that.” Photography and yearbook adviser Lisa Pimental is a survivor of sexual assault. She used the hashtag to share her story on social media, and sees the trend as a platform for those who had difficulty sharing their story to now do so. “[Me Too is] giving those a voice... those who thought they didn’t have a voice or a chance to be heard, or worse, felt that if they shared their story that they would be alone or shamed,” Pimental said. She hopes that the movement will spark conversations and not be ignored. Survivors of sexual assault and harassment are not obligated to share their story in a public manner, but by doing so, several people have come forward with their experience after being silenced for so long.
Those words still stick with English teacher Heather Amanatullah, years after she admitted her story of sexual assault to a co worker. As a 22-year-old working at a record label, Amanatullah didn’t grasp the repercussions of her boss’ unwanted, inappropriate instant messages: that he would call her into his office, instruct her to close the door, and forcefully kiss her. “He came at me from behind the desk, grabbed my face, and stuck his tongue down my throat. I was so taken aback that I walked in a trance out of the room,” Amanatullah said. She proceeded to call her mom, who advised her to contact human resources. “I went to another co worker that was a little above me in terms of seniority and I told him about this,” said Amanatullah. “And he said to me ‘What did you do to make him think that was okay?’” Amanatullah considers this a “perfect example of victim blaming.” Many victims of sexual harassment and assault will receive a similar response; fear of victim blaming is the one of most common reasons sexual assaults go unreported. Victim blaming is common, and occurs when it is perceived that the survivor’s actions could have prevented their assault. Blaming the sexual assault on the victims’ sobriety level or clothing, or justifying a loose sentence for a perpetrator because they “have a future” can be classified as victim blaming. Young people are at the highest risk of sexual assault; 15 percent of victims of assault are age 12 to 17, and 54 percent are age 18 to 34. The majority of these victims are blamed by a romantic partner, family member, or stranger, and will experience emotional distress, which can alter work ethic and relationships, according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN). Sexual harassment is common among students, and comments may not be initially recognized as inappropriate. Instances can be classified under federal law, as quid pro quo or hostile environment. Quid pro quo, meaning “this for that” occurs when someone, usually in a position of power, bargains a promotion, higher grade, or other benefit for a sexual favor, or denying a benefit if sexual action is refused. Hostile environment occurs when sexual comments or actions from one individual create an uncomfortable environment for others. This includes, but is not limited to, sexual gestures, sounds, jokes, and unwanted touching and brushing. Math teacher Meredith Allen believes almost everyone has, at some point, been a victim of sexual harassment or assault. She herself can recall several personal experiences. “The most common things are comments about my body, whether it’s people driving by in a car yelling things or peers thinking that they are making a comment that is not harmful but is, or inappropriate closeness or touching when it is not wanted,” said Allen. From these experiences, Allen believes it is important for survivors to know they are not alone.