The BOHS Wildcat Volume 86 Issue 4 by The Wildcat

KELLYANNE CONWAY CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HO CER PRESS CONFERENCE FAKE NEWS BIA issue TRAVEL BAN BOWLING GREEN MASSACR04 E IS FA

Wildcat

LLARY’S EMAILS

vol. 86 april

2017

brea olinda high school

DAKOTA PIPELINE

LIES LIES LIES LIES L TRUMPCARE INAUGURATION ATTEN

MATE CHANGE IS A HOAX

BAMA IS A MUSLIM SEAN SPICER P TRU H TRUT H TRUT S N A IC L LIES LIES LIES LIE CLIMATE CHANGE IS LIES LIES LIES

A WIRETAPS TRUMP’S OFFICE

HILLARY’S EMAI

DEMOCRA

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OBAMA IS RACIST, FA

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news

INDEX 3

ASB Officers

news

by Choyun Lee

Betsy Devos opinion

LGBT Bathrooms opinion

8-9

by Anabel King

Xenophobia feature

10-11

by Nicole You

Bias in the Media

feature

by Anabel King

BOHS APPROVES KOREAN CLASS K by CHOYUN LEE

orean 1 will be included as one of the available foreign language classes for BOHS starting from the 2017-2018 school

year. Numerous requests for the course were recorded by the school run survey earlier in the year, with 70.1 percent of the surveyed students interested in taking the class. With the ever increasing demand, the results were noticed by the South Korean Ministry of Education and the Brea district office. The decision to implement the course was finally approved by Superintendent Brad Mason and BOUSD school board on March 10. “Korean is the largest Asian race in [the BOHS] student population. We’re meeting the demands and needs of our community and students [through the introduction of a Korean class],” Joy Cordia, assistant principal, said. The course will only consist of Korean 1, excluding an AP course due to the lack of an approved AP exam for the language by the College Board. However, the Board offers SAT exams for students, who are able to test their skills and proficiency in the language. According to Cordia, about 30 incoming freshman are assumed to take Korean as a foreign language next year. Sophomore and junior statistics

Caffeine

Jason Harary

There is no AP test available for Korean but an SAT Subject Test is offered. www.cdeca.gov & newamericamedia.org

are not available at this time, but she predicts that two periods will be formed in the current demand for the class, with the expectation for “the program to grow, [so] there will be [more rigorous classes] for Korean.” The teacher is also yet to be determined, but it is certain that it will not be a staff member already working on the BOHS campus. “My expectation is that students that take the class will be excited that Korean is here. I expect the program to grow, so we can have a second, third, and fourth year of Korean.” Cordia stated. Various students also look forward to the upcoming Korean 1 class. “I will be taking Korean 1 next year, and I expect to [polish] the basics through the class,” Justin Lee, sophomore, said. “I believe this course is important in not just the language aspect, but also in learning to embrace the cultural side of my native country.”

photo courtesy of CAMERON LEGENDRE

ith the clock counting down to the last second, a player makes his final shot as the buzzer resonates. As the crowd feature by Sam Magpantay cheers and the event comes to its end, the “Spread the Word to End the Word” banner is filled out with more and more names by the second. The Unified Sports, a special event hosted by the athletics community and the Best Buddies program at BOHS, was held at the campus gymnasium on March 29. Focusing on supporting children with disabilities, the activity was introduced to the girls’ health by Matthew Moon athletics director, Jill Matyuch, by the California State Athletics Directors Association Conference. The event took place due to the support it gained from various groups on campus, from the Link Crew and ASB to the staff at the district office and Brea Junior High School. “I am in awe at the positive response by the sports by Sam Magpantay BOUSD community,” Matyuch said. “[Although] I have never been involved with Special Athletics, [this gives me the inspiration] to continue and plan

Our Librarian

40 public schools in southern CA offer Korean as a foreign language class.

Best Buddies dunk with link crew by CHOYUN LEE

12-13

A Seal of Biliteracy is given to students in CA with proficient skills in two or more languages.

GAME ON: Link crew leaders and Best Buddy members pair into teams for a basketball game.

something for next year [as well].” The event began with the introduction of Link Crew leaders and students in the Best Buddies program, who were then divided into two teams in a basketball match. Many students unaffiliated to the supporting programs came to cheer for the players, inspired by the message dedicated from Unified Sports. “[Seeing a fun game like this] influenced me to never stop and keep going. No matter who you are, everyone is capable of a lot of impressive things.” Kayla Gil, sophomore, said.

news

presenting our ‘17-’18 ASB officers

PETER MACIEL

RACHEL PACE

KAILEEN SANTOS

LANCE GO Treasurer

Board of Representatives

Q: How do you feel about being elected? A: Happy! I feel thankful that students believe in me and our student body. I’m ready to show that we can do this together and make next year great. Q: What do you expect from next year? A: I know I will be a lot more involved and will have to invest more of my time [in ASB], but I’m ready to do that if it makes this school a better place. Q: How will you contribute to ASB and the student body? A: I have a lot more fun ideas, maybe a little different than what we have done conventionally, but I’ll make sure to step up and make sure everybody takes part. I know we do have have an idea for pi day and “may the fourth be with you,” which is Star Wars related. Q: If you had only three words to describe yourself, what would they be? A: Determined, ambitious, outgoing. Q: If you could change one thing about our school, what would they be and why? A: Bathrooms and maybe [getting a] water dispenser for water bottles.

Q: How do you feel about being elected? A: I was really excited knowing that I was given the opportunity to hold a position. It was surprising and an honor. Q: What do you expect from next year? A: I expect a lot of challenges. I will try to manage my time as well as I can to make sure I get new ideas and do things that I can [plan]. Q: How will you contribute to ASB and the student body? A: I would like to come up with ideas that are plausible within the time frame, ideas that are beneficial within the past year. Q: If you had only three words to describe yourself, what would they be? A: Positive, optimistic, excitable. Q: If you could change one thing about our school, what would they be and why? A: The amount of school spirit we have. Our students have so much potential, and they have so much energy. [Keeping] our tradition would be nice.

Q: How do you feel about being elected? A: I’m excited to take on the school and help the ASB in general. My dad especially said he was proud of me since my grandpa was always a political kind of guy, so that was cool. Q: What do you expect from next year? A: I hope it will be fun-anything I can do to make [ASB] better is something I’m ready to take on. I’m excited for next year, and I hope others have a great school year as well. Q: How will you contribute to ASB and the student body? A: My job has to do a lot with keeping ASB organized and just being a good leader around school. I’m an organized person and I’m very involved, so I will be a good secretary. Q: If you had only three words to describe yourself, what would they be? A: Kind, funny, responsible. Q: If you could change one thing about our school, what would they be and why? A: Bathrooms if possible. At least we have running water, but they have to be more hygienic.

Q: How do you feel about being elected? A: I was happy about it. I wasn’t too worried about being elected, but I was just happy that I didn’t lose. Q: What do you expect from next year? A: I’m going to work my hardest to make everything fun so our class has a better senior year than our junior year. I believe the dances and the rallies this year were [mediocre] and believe it could be better next year. Q: How will you contribute to ASB and the student body? A: I’ll be meeting a lot of people at [BOHS] and it will be fun. As Treasurer, I’m in charge of the budget, and I decide where the money goes. I’ll try to budget well so we can have [more events] to spend on. Q: If you had only three words to describe yourself, what would they be? A: Happy, kind, passionate. Q: If you could change one thing about our school, what would they be and why? A: Our school has different groups, and I want to unite them all so everyone knows each other. They’re all in their own “clique.”

Q: How do you feel about being elected? A: I’ve always wanted to be a part of ASB but never took initiative. Now that I’m a part of it, especially in my senior year, I’m super excited that I can enjoy it before I graduate. Q: What do you expect from next year? A: I expect to deal with a lot more school board officials in a much more professional setting, making sure I maintain a good image of BOHS. Q: How will you contribute to ASB and the student body? A: I want to make sure next year is a year to remember for all of our classes to be more united by contacting the school board with the events ASB plans. I want to help contribute and make them more enjoyable. Q: If you had only three words to describe yourself, what would they be? A: Loyal, spontaneous, open minded. Q: If you could change one thing about our school, what would they be and why? A: Bathrooms. If the bathrooms in the older buildings can resemble the ones in the new buildings it would be really nice.

President

Vice President

Secretary

compiled by CHOYUN LEE

SAMANTHA KANG

opinion

The Future of Education by NICOLE YOU

illustration by MATTHEW MOON

“I would imagine that there’s probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies.” -Betsy Devos, Secretary of Education

reaking headlines, sparking outrage, and evoking anger from all ends of the political and social spectrums, the confirmation of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos brings a dire question to all: What now for the public education system? Nearly two months after her confirmation, DeVos still sparks controversy as seen when her second visit to a public school on March 24 triggered protests at Carderock Elementary School in Maryland. According to the Washington Post, many of the protestors held signs that decried Devos for her support of charter schools over public schools. DeVos, who has no personal nor administrative experience with public education, is a supporter of privatization, “a broad campaign that seeks to transfer many parts of our community life, including the delivery of education services, into the hands of private, for-profit corporations,” according to nea.org. Part of her policy includes vouchers, which are taxpayer funded tuitions used solely for the benefit of private schools. Essentially, DeVos is planning to sacrifice public education funds in favor of supporting the private education system. “DeVos promotes this idea of a school’s choice, which means that students should be able to pick the school of their choice. Now that sounds good on the surface, but what she is effectively asking for is to divert federal fundings to private and charter schools. Her policy appears like a charitable and profitable cause when it’s really robbing necessary funds

to give privileged kids for uniforms and nicer lunches,” Eugene Lee, history teacher, said. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 5.2 million students attend schools in rural or remote areas, roughly 10 percent of the nation’s total student body. For them, school choice is not even an option -rural areas seldom have charter schools in their communities. For these students, putting more emphasis on school choice means less funding for the few public schools in their community. With a government that clearly prioritizes private organizations over private choice, what will happen to the 50 million students enrolled in the public education system? What will happen to the funds which are used for our textbooks, school lunches, and teachers? And most importantly, what will happen to the future of our public education system (ranked 35th in the world), according to cdn.com? The average spending per student in BOUSD is $7,380, according to the BOUSD website. The national average of spending per public school student is $12,296, according to nces. ed.gov. Under the leadership of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, the BOUSD spending could decrease even more, as DeVos plans to funnel most of the public school funds into private schools. “I don’t think that somebody who shares those beliefs should be a person in charge of education in America. Many of the things that she proposes, particularly in the areas of charter schools and giving public funds to private schools, does absolutely nothing for

public schools. All it does is take money from public schools and it does nothing to make any public school better, especially at BOHS,” Jerry Halpin, principal, said. As California battles a teacher shortage in its public schools (a recent bill proposed tax breaks for public school teachers as an incentive), an under-qualified, inexperienced, and ignorant leader is not the answer for a system that is in dire need of reform. It is clear that DeVos’s beliefs on the public school system will do more harm than good, especially to BOUSD. But what is less clear is this: What can we, the students, the teachers, the administrators, the educators, do in the face of such an ill-fit leader with an ill-formed vision? The time for protest has passed. Vice President Mike Pence made an historic tiebreaking vote on her confirmation, and she is the Secretary of Education no matter what public opinion dictates. This is not to say that we should normalize the installment of DeVos as our Secretary of Education, but that instead of obstruction, we must forge forward together with cooperation and compromise. If we obstruct DeVos, we are no better than those who obstructed Barack Obama during his term, because it will demonstrate that we are not even willing to compromise nor cooperate with the opposition. Prioritizing the welfare and well-being of both students and staff will be limited under the direction of DeVos, but it is an active effort that can be done with the active efforts of both students and staff in being involved and informed.

opinion

Transcending bathroom barriers

nder the guise of protecting religious freedom, the Trump administration announced on Feb. 23 that they will withdraw Obama-era protections for transgender students who use a school bathroom corresponding to their gender identity. It’s one of the latest battles between traditional values and progressive stances in this post-election era. While this decision claims to act under the interest of protecting religious freedom, it actually restricts the personal freedom of the transgender community and promotes discrimination. But how protective of freedom can a law claim to be if it is at the expense of an individual’s access to a basic public commodity? The executive action is not only denying transgender people the freedom to use the bathroom of their choice, but it’s also suggesting that the identity of a transgender person is not worth the respect a human being deserves. Part of what seems so jarring about the administration’s decision is that it’s the exact opposite of California’s “school bathroom bill”, which allows transgender youth to use the bathroom, locker room, and sports team of their choice. Not only was it enacted four years ago, but it also made the state the first in the nation to pass such a bill. California is known to be one of the most liberal states in the nation, so it’s no surprise that,

in a 2016 poll conducted by the Wildcat, 61 percent of BOHS students believe transgender people should use the bathroom of their choice and that 81 percent of students believe the government should provide protection for transgender people from discrimination. In fact, California has passed antidiscriminatory laws for transgender citizens over 10 years ago, and even today still legislates acts to protect the LGBT community. And while California and the White House urge opposite policies, both claim to protect individual rights. The difference, however, is that one takes a step forward and the other a step backward. If anti-trans bathroom bills, like that of North Carolina’s last year, really wanted to protect the safety of its people, they would not be aimed at those who promote fear and hatred. They would not be aimed at those who instill intimidation and create a hostile environment for those excluded by the law. If bathroom bills really wanted to protect the public, they would protect all of the public, not a select majority that faces no threat nor harm when they use a public bathroom. Even under the guise of religious protection, religion, as sophomore Jamison Cooper claims, is still a reason to protect trans students. “I believe in God, so I think God made everybody for a reason,” Cooper said. “He made transgender people in that way, so I think it’s

perfectly fine. They should have the right to feel [like they] fit in. It’s hard enough for transgenders already to be in high school, especially with people who judge so much, and I think [allowing them to use their preferred bathroom] would make it easier for them.” A transgender citizen is still a citizen no matter what pronoun they use, what clothes they wear, or what bathroom they prefer. All citizens under the eyes of the law are entitled to basic civil rights and basic federal protection. “[Transgender people] should be allowed to use whatever bathroom that they feel comfortable with. If somebody believes with their heart, mind, and soul that they weren’t born in the right body, then they should be able to do something about it. They should use whatever bathroom they feel comfortable with and wear whatever they want. We should just respect that,” Isabel Garcia, junior and LGBT rights supporter, said. The ignorance of this law and its supporters prove that the bathroom bill is not about safety and protection; it’s about hate and bigotry and transphobia. Until this law is repealed, these values will continue to be the virtues of religious people whom the law claims to protect and defend. by ANABEL KING illustration by GIZELLA LONTOC

staff ed

THE WILDCAT since 1930

Vol. 86, Issue 04 April 2017 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Samantha Magpantay Matthew Moon BUSINESS MANAGER Stacy Uhm NEWS EDITOR Choyun Lee FEATURE EDITOR Sarah Burris OPINION EDITOR Nicole You PHOTO EDITOR Annice Lee PHOTOGRAPHER Juliet Isles STAFF WRITER Anabel King Jasmine Serrano

(clockwise from bottom left) Tommy Valenti, junior, looks for an opening to shoot. Matt Fuller and Jared Coday, juniors, cheer for their team. Chris Hobby, senior, passes a defender. Hobby dodges and shoots.The Unified Sports Teams pose for a group photo after the game.

THINGS WE APPRECIATE ABOUT BOHS More course options for students to choose from. New course offerings include Korean 1 and AP Art History. Also, ROP courses such as Medical Careers and Sport Medicine have been added in recent years, giving students a wider range of options. BOHS Tech Crew is an essential, and often overlooked, part of each BOHS stage production, and they are a main reason why each and every performance runs smoothly. On March 29, Jill Matyuch, girls’ athletic director, organized Unified Sports, an event that enabled six Life Skills students to showcase their athleticism in a basketball game. Although late-start Wednesdays allow students to catch up on their sleep, it’s also an opportunity for teachers to meet weekly and discuss their academic plans in Professional Learning Communities. The nationally-recognized and award-winning Guidance Department is an essential part of BOHS. The counselors have been awarded the Nationally Recognized American School Counselors Association Program distinction five times since 2004, and they provide daily support for each and every student at BOHS. ASB-led pep rallies showcase the best of what our campus has to offer from our award-winning marching band to our award-winning show choir to our award-winning cheer team to our award-winning...you get the idea. The library, led by Stephanie Panozzo (‘07), is currently receiving new computers. The older units are being replaced with new Dells which have larger screens and faster processors. (Read more about our new librarian on pages 12-13). Ms. Dietz, our outgoing Link Crew and NHS advisor, was recently selected as BOHS and BOUSD Teacher of the Year. Dietz supports campus activities such as the Movie Night Under the Stars, the NHS Induction Ceremonies, and Freshman Welcome Day. Congratulations Ms. Dietz! Just this year, the BOHS Food Service Program created a new way to pay for lunch. The prior lunch card system has now been replaced with a more efficient digital one. Campus supervisors Lisa Santos and Bob Till work to keep the campus safe and help to control drop-off and pick-up traffic.

ILLUSTRATOR Gizella Lontoc The Wildcat is published by the students of Brea Olinda High School’s Newspaper class. The purpose of the publication is to inform and educate the Brea community, as well as highlight campus life and student achievement. The Wildcat encourages expression of reader opinion in the form of letters to the editor. Letters must be signed with a name and submitted to bohs.wildcat. newspaper@gmail.com. Opinions stated in the Wildcat do not necessarily belong to Brea Olinda High School administration, faculty, and students. Unsigned editorials reflect the views of the staff. Bylined columns reflect the views of the writer.

the Wildcat

Brea Olinda High School 789 Wildcat Way Brea, CA 92821 bohs.wildcat.newspaper@gmail.com

FRONT COVER LIES LIES LIES LIES LIES-

KELLYANNE CONWAY CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HOAX SEAN SPICER PRESS CONFERENCE FAKE NEWS issue 04BIASED TRAVEL BAN BOWLING GREEN MASSACRE IS FAKE

Wildcat

HILLARY’S EMAILS

CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HOAX

vol. 86 april

2017

brea olinda high school

DAKOTA PIPELINE

TRUMPCARE INAUGURATION ATTEN

DANC E story by OBAMA IS A MUSLIM SEAN SPICER PRESS CONFERENCE TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH REPUBLICANS LIES LIES LIES LIES ANABEL LIES CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HOAX LIES LIES LIES LIES OBAMA WIRETAPS TRUMP’S OFFICE DEMOCRATS KING HILLARY’S EMAIL MICHAE L FLYNN RESIGNS

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feature

On the Arts

Entertainment Reviews

Beauty and the Beast - remake Your Name of the beloved Disney classic

anime’s Interstellar

by ANABEL KING

In what is truly a magical experience, Beauty and the Beast delivers a heart-warming, familyfriendly story that is almost at par with the original Disney film in the ‘90s. Starring Emma Watson as Belle, the film takes on the classic, beloved storytale full of spellbinding music and breathtaking scenery that is sure to evoke pure nostalgia for any moviegoer’s Disney-filled childhood. Watson may not be a talented singer, but it doesn’t matter as her acting performance is as enchanting as the film itself. While it may seem like a cheap shot from Disney to capitalize on yet another remake of the

classic story, fans of the original animated film will not be disappointed. For those who haven’t seen the original, or for those who didn’t fall in love with it, this film may not evoke the same nostalgia or charisma, but it will definitely have you leaving the theater with a warm smile. As part of Disney’s series in recreating animated princess classics, Beauty and the Beast surpasses the remakes of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella, largely due to the fantastic acting performances and scenery. It will leave Disney fans excited for the next princess remakes, confidant that they will not be disappointed.

Get Out - the comedy-horror film that strangely works

source: twincities.com, CNET.com, & kaskus.com

by SARAH BURRIS

The movie, Get Out, seamlessly weaves together elements of thrill and humor to create one of Hollywood’s most exhilarating satirical productions. Directed by Jordan Peele, an American comedian and filmmaker, the movie follows the lives of young couple, Chris (Daniel Kaluuyaz) and Rose (Allison Williams), who have reached the meet-the-parents stage of dating. The movie’s plot begins when Rose invites her boyfriend on road trip upstate to meet her parents. Upon arrival, Chris notices the strange personality of his future in-laws, but perceives them as their way of showing support for their

daughter’s new interracial relationship. However, as days pass, Chris observes more closely the obscure behavior of his girlfriend’s family. Things turn for the worse when Chris makes a horrible discovery about the servants of the house. With adequate amounts of suspense and hints of humor, the movie Get Out will have viewers terrified one minute and laughing the next. The impeccable story line eliminates all cliches and predictability, certain to bring anyone who watches it to the edge of their seats. The movie’s excellently horrifying plot and thoughtprovoking message makes Get Out a must-see production.

by STACY UHM

“That day when the stars came falling. It’s almost as if a scene from a dream. Nothing more, nothing less than a beautiful view.” The day the stars fall is the day that starts, extends, and completes the fate of Mitsuha Miyamizu and Taki Tachibana from Kimi no Na wa, also known as Your Name. Not only is this day “beautiful” because of the sky’s mystical and radiant appearance, but also because of the fact that the stars had to fall on that certain day and moment. In the beginning of the movie, Mitsuha, a high school girl from the countryside of Japan, and Taki, a high school boy from Tokyo, realize that their bodies randomly switch with each other. They are polar opposites, but they grow to connect on an intimate level. However, the conflict arises when the two characters decide to meet each other. This is where the unimaginable adventure through past, present, and future unravels. This movie takes the audience on a journey exploring a fate that transcends through physical time and space. (Your Name has a similar mood as the 2014 sci-fi hit Interstellar). By using fantastical elements, the creators of Your Name highlights the strength of human’s emotions and love without adding unrealistic and tacky themes. Nevertheless, despite the incredible illustrations and soundtrack, the underlying message of this movie is what feeds the hearts of the audience.

feature

THIS LAND IS (NOT) YOUR LAND

While President Trump’s xenophobic remarks during his campaign seem shocking, such beliefs exist even in the heart of Orange County, California.

“S

top it.” Those were the words said by President Donald Trump in an interview with “60 Minutes” on Nov. 13 last year when he was confronted with a question about our nation’s growing xenophobia, given that there was a 67 percent spike in crimes targeting Muslims in 2015, according to the FBI. With this evident rise in xenophobia, it is important to recognize how this fear affects Muslims and immigrants in America and overseas, and how to actively discourage policies that inhibit the freedoms of targeted

groups. Maryam Azizadah, sophomore, is one of many Muslims affected by Trump’s immigration ban enacted on Jan. 27. Signed by Trump, the executive order “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” bans all from entering the States from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The order is currently temporarily blocked due to Hawaii’s U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson’s ruling that the immigration policy “was issued with a purpose to disfavor a particular religion.” His order extended on March 29 as Hawaii was determined to ensure that the constitutional

rights of Muslim citizens across the U.S. are vindicated. Two weeks before the ban, Azizadah’s aunt, grandma, and cousin went to Pakistan to visit family and relatives. Worried that Pakistan would be included in the ban, Azizadah’s family abandoned their loved ones in fear that they would not be able to re-enter the States. “Trump’s ban is in no way justified. The thing is, I feel like his islamophobia fuels his policy and that him generalizing all Muslims as radical terrorists is completely incorrect due to ignorance because Islam isn’t about terrorizing or about killing people; it’s about peace and submission to God, which is literally what

feature Islam means,” Azizadah said. “It was never a priority to educate people of Islam and so it’s easy to use it as a scapegoat for the problems that happen; they’re too busy using Islam as a scapegoat that they’re neglecting bigger issues.” While the true values of Islam are often misconstrued by right-leaning media, the effects of Islamophobia and, to an extent, xenophobia, are apparent even in Orange County. Repressive policies like Trump’s immigration ban have already had a profound effect on Orange County, where nearly a third of all residents are foreign born, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Accepting 1,491 refugees from several countries in the past few years, according to voiceofoc.org, OC is also home to a large population of American Muslims. Yet despite OC’s diversity, hate incidents have surged by 207 percent, with the majority targeting Muslims in 2015, according to Orange County Human Relations Commission’s 25th annual Hate Crime Report. “Judg[ment] has become part of our culture because whenever you hear a headline about some terrorist attack, they always mention that it was an Islamic terrorist and it reflects badly on [Muslims]. Whenever there’s a terrorist attack, Trump uses it to justify his policies and views which is really hard because I know that I’m not that kind of person, but he makes everyone view [Muslims] like we’re that kind of person,” Azizadah said.

rump’s administration also enacted the Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) on Feb. 20. The purpose of VOICE, according to Trump, is “to serve American victims… [by] providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests.” In other words, VOICE will provide Americans with published weekly statistics of crimes committed by immigrants. Trump’s VOICE will only contribute to the prejudice that grows with every article, news report, and publication that capitalizes on the crimes committed by immigrants. Instead of focusing on the 25 percent of all 16-year old native-born Americans that have committed crimes, Trump’s weekly report will now focus on the 17 percent of all 16-year old first generation immigrants that have committed crimes, according to a study by Bianca E. Bersani, a sociology professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

This media bias can cause hate like xenophobia to sprout as Trump has already generalized “people coming into the U.S. [as] killers and rapists.” “Growing up [as an immigrant], I had to deal with being name called and picked on; everybody referred to me as a terrorist,” Rowan Kemps, junior, said. “It was really hard. I just didn’t know what to do with that prejudice, but I think that since Trump’s presidency, it’s worsened because of his policies and views on immigration and immigrants. Due to what’s been happening [recently], it’s been harder on me because the name calling has also worsened.” At seven, Kemps emigrated from Sri Lanka to the United States, leaving behind his relatives. Being an immigrant, Kemps feels the discrepancy between both cultures and the lack of equality inhibit him from being able to call himself an American. “When people ask me what I am, I say that I’m Sri Lankan because I don’t identify myself as an American simply because I wasn’t born here and I can’t relate as much with the culture or with the people who’ve lived here. I don’t think I can [identify as American] because of unequal opportunities.” Kemps, who became a U.S. citizen on Feb. 15, believes that all immigrants should be able to have a chance to come to America. “There are still a lot of opportunities and a lot of different ways in which people can be successful here and I think that’s the advantage that [America] has over other countries. That’s what makes America special.”

owever, Trump’s policies, especially his immigration ban, are akin to modern day xenophobia. They are the biggest threat yet to immigrants wanting to taste the freedoms of life in America. But xenophobia is an issue that can be solved gradually in today’s society. “If you notice islamophobia, if you see xenophobia in general, take a stand against it,” Azizadah said,“Start with yourself; rid yourself of any biases that have been thrown upon you by the media or [our] culture. By doing so, you’ll be helping someone out and making an example for others.”

by NICOLE YOU illustration by AMY YOON & GIZELLA LONTOC

Trump’s immigration policies are akin to modern day xenophobia, which is the biggest threat to immigrants wanting to taste the freedoms of life in America.

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BEARER OF BIASED NEWS

Some say the “enemy of the American people” is terrorism, while others say drugs. Sen. Bernie Sanders claimed it was climate change. And now, President Donald Trump considers the media our biggest threat. After months of claiming news organizations unfairly covered his presidential campaign, Trump and his administration are taking aggressive measures towards the press, such as barring news outlets from briefings and spending the first 12 minutes of his speech at the Conservative Political Action Committee bashing the media. In February, Trump tweeted, “The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @ CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!” But what makes a news outlet biased? According to Tim Groeling, UCLA professor in media coverage and reporting, media bias is a “significantly distorted portrayal of reality that systematically and disproportionately favors one party over the other.” Groeling claims it’s extremely difficult to identify bias in a media outlet and provide substantial evidence. However, in his 2013 article, “Media Bias by the Numbers,” he concludes that there are generally three indicators of a biased media outlet: 1) the bias is “systematic, rather than episodic or fleeting,” 2) the news outlet’s portrayal is significantly distorted from the news of reality, and 3) the distortion favors one party over another. According to a poll conducted by the

Wildcat, 33 percent of BOHS students believe the mainstream media unfairly reports on President Trump, while 54 percent believe the media does not report unfairly, and 13 percent are unsure. The results are a stark contrast to a February Gallup poll that found U.S. adults are split on how tough the media is on President Trump, with no clear majority indicating a specific stance (36 percent say the media is too tough, 31 percent say the media is about right, and 28 percent the media isn’t tough enough). Groeling notes there is a clear difference between biased news and “fake” news. “Rumors are fake news, conspiracy theories are fake news, etc. But where is the line drawn?” Groeling said. “I think the key distinction people should recognize is that biased news doesn’t have to be false news. A major finding in social science research is that the news media are not good at changing your mind or telling you what to think, but they are spectacularly successful at telling you what to think about.” One reason why biased news is so influential in the digital age is largely due to social media sites. Facebook, for example, came under fire during the election season for “its perceived role in allowing the circulation of fake news on its platform,” according to forbes.com. In response, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg launched the “Facebook Journalism Project” to combat the circulation of fake news, rather than simply condemning it. “The internet has always been a site of

circulation of material of dubious quality and accuracy, but the issue has reached a breaking point in large part due to the massive number of people who turn first to social media as their information outlet and portal,” Sarah Roberts, UCLA professor of informational studies and social media behavior, said. The Wildcat poll also found that majority of BOHS students (58 percent) get their news from social media platforms. This correlates to a national study conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2016, which found that 35 percent of people aged 18 to 29 relied on social media the most for information about the presidential election. And while gathering political information via social media may increase a citizen’s political participation, it also increases the difficulty of distinguishing credible sources from untrustworthy ones. Yet despite social media sites taking action against biased and fake news, they still have little control over a key element: consumers who believe a news source is biased, even when it has little to no bias in reality. Pew Research Center also found that conservative Republicans are more likely to say the news media is biased (73 percent) and the least likely to trust information from national news organizations (13 percent). A Suffolk UniversityUSA Today poll found that of the 42 percent of survey takers who believed the media is unfair to President Trump, 81 percent of them agree

with the president that the media is the enemy of the American people. During a time where the relationship between the media and the current Republican president seems incredulous, many supporters of Trump and 53 percent of BOHS students believe the media covers Trump unfairly. “I think that it is very obvious to watch CNN, MSNBC, NBC, or ABC, and see that they treat him completely differently than [they treated] President Obama,” Josh Ryan, senior and outspoken Trump supporter, said. “When Trump said the media was an ‘enemy of the people,’ I believe he was right. The liberal mainstream media is using its power to ultimately delegitimize the presidency of Donald Trump and that it is wrong. For example, President Obama deported over three million illegal immigrants. President Trump deports over 161 and there have been countless protests and nonstop media outrage with Democrats pinning Trump as xenophobic.” However, Ryan differs with Trump’s stance in that biased media can go both ways. “Fox News treats President Trump differently than President Obama as well. Even though President Trump would never call Fox ‘fake news,’ they can be just as bad as all the news channels,” Ryan said. But the perception of biased reporting against the president is not only a belief among Trump supporters. Rishi Buhva, senior and self-described liberal, believes the media is unfair to Trump. “To some extent, the media is biased towards the President, but every media source has a bias,” Buhva said. “I disagree that all these national networks are fake news however. Is the media biased? Sure. But an enemy of the American people? That’s ridiculous.” There is a way to combat media bias, however. Groeling recommends exposure to a wide variety of sources, no matter what their political affiliation. The Wildcat survey found that 34 percent of students get their news from less than two sources while 11 percent have six or more sources. A 2016 poll from Pew Research Center reported that during the presidential election, 45 percent of voters had at least five news sources for information about the election and 18 percent had two or less. To make sure a source is reliable, Groeling suggests observing how a media outlet handles their mistakes and criticisms. “The most dangerous type of bias for consumers is selection bias, because it’s so hard to know what you haven’t been told,” Groeling said. “It’s also possible to bias news by selecting completely true facts, if those facts are chosen selectively (and others are ignored) to favor a particular viewpoint. That said, no one should waste their time on outlets that literally ‘have no shame’ about distributing false information. I think

it’s very instructive to see how news organizations handle errors, which occur even in prestigious news outlets: if they don’t handle their mistakes well in obvious cases, they don’t care about the truth and shouldn’t be trusted.” Even in the face of biased news, a left-leaning media source doesn’t necessarily draw left-leaning audiences and vice versa. When Fox News (a rightleaning source) posted on Facebook the GOP’s introduction of their Obamacare replacement bill, the comments section was not universally in favor of the bill, even though their audience is mostly conservative. Other Fox News posts had comments sections in line with the topic of the article. For example, a story about House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announcing that Mexico will not pay for President Trump’s wall attracted comments strongly supporting the wall regardless, many praising the president for being productive and fulfilling campaign promises. But when the news outlet posted multiple articles on the GOP healthcare replacement (e.g. President Trump announcing his support for the bill; Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s press briefing comparing the size of the GOP’s bill to the Affordable Care Act; and House Speaker Paul Ryan’s first unveiling of the bill), all of their top comments were in opposition to the Republican Party. While a news source may lean toward a certain side of the aisle, its audience won’t necessarily eat what the media is dishing. Once a consumer finds a reliable source, Roberts recommends combining media outlets across all types of platforms, such as print, online, broadcast and radio, to gather a well-informed, discriminating conclusion. “Engage with a variety of vetted sources that subscribe to journalistic principles that make their process transparent or subject to questioning,” Roberts said. “Find a librarian and ask! Increase your media literacy skills. Question and look into your information sources. See if you can corroborate reporting in one outlet with reporting in another. Is only one source reporting a hard to believe story? Then it might not be accurate! Stay skeptical and vigilant. Step outside of the social media ecosystem to try to locate news reports at their source: in the papers, on the paper’s websites, using news sources that are vetted and reliable.” As the President’s relationship with the free press continues to create controversy, the role of the media will continue to play a significant role in this post-election era. Whether or not they are an “enemy of the American people” is debatable, but it is crucial to identify, recognize, and analyze the way they report the news.

by ANABEL KING illustration & infograph by MATTHEW MOON

feature

by the numbers

MEDIA BIAS On average, journalists favor Democrats

59% 21% 78% 69%

15:1

believe the media was biased in favor of Clinton.

believe the media was biased in favor of Trump. believe that the coverage of the election was biased. of voters do not believe the media is honest.

IN THE LAST ELECTION

114 48

average min. of coverage in the media for President Obama. average min. of coverage in the media for candidate Romney.

$225,563 the amount of money journalists contributed to Democrats.

$16,298

the amount of money journalists contributed to Republicans. weeklystandard.com & theblaze.com

feature

meet the

librarian by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY photo by ANNICE LEE

uiet pervades the bookshelves and desks of the school library, save for the clicking of a mouse or the sound of a turning page. Sunlight pours into the windows, a cool draft sweeps throughout the stacks, and the vanilla-like, aged-wood fragrance of newlyprinted novels envelops the library. Stephanie Panozzo (‘07), librarian, continues working, absorbed in cataloging the library’s newest additions. A self-proclaimed “uber nerd”, Panozzo grew up in Brea with a keen interest in storytelling. Panozzo’s passion for stories was initially sparked when she was introduced to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in fifth grade at Country Hills Elementary School. It was originally just a book that her mother bought on a “whim” with hopes that Panozzo would enjoy it. But “enjoy it” was an understatement as Panozzo found herself spellbound by J.K. Rowling’s story. The particular scene that established her love for the series was the final scene in which Voldemort and Harry Potter confronted each over the Philosopher’s Stone. Panozzo was on the edge of her seat; fear gripped her as she was “sure that Harry would die.” Yet Harry refused to relinquish or use the stone in the face of evil. This powerful message of “with great responsibility comes great power”, combined with Harry’s bravery, inspired young Panozzo. From then on, Panozzo was hooked onto storytelling. Panozzo’s love of adventure stories and colorful characters extended to video games like the Legend of Zelda and Super Smash Brothers on her N64. She even wrote her own short stories. Whatever had a story to tell, Panozzo was interested, no matter what kind of narrative. “Stories were very influential for me. They not only are methods of escape, but also methods of growth. Through fantasy, you can learn more about politics.

Through romance, you learn more about relationships and not just romantic ones but families and how they deal with everyday problems. That’s why I like stories; they help you grow and they’re also fun. They bring you outside experiences in your life that help you expand your mind and compassion,” Panozzo said. Panozzo attended BOHS where she continued her love for reading. Amidst her AP classes, cheer, and drama, Panozzo found time to volunteer as a library aide. Even as a teen, Panozzo knew that her passion for stories would be the foundation of her career. Thus, with a Bachelor’s degree in English, Panozzo initially aspired to be a professor of Literature. Then, on graduation day at CSU Fullerton, she realized that she could get a Master’s degree in English Literature with a focus in Library Science. For someone who loved reading and books, becoming a librarian was the more obvious path to “spread the joy of stories with others”, rather than becoming a teacher. “Teaching requires a lot of patience, which I do have, but it requires the kind of patience and dedication in which you have to engage students everyday and all day. Teachers do get a couple of months off, but it’s really hard work and it takes a lot out of you emotionally. Whereas for me, being a librarian is very emotionally uplifting because I don’t have to carry the burden of making sure you get out of high school with everything that you need to know. I just hopefully give you a good time with a good book,” Panozzo said. But Panozzo was still unsure whether being a librarian was what she really wanted to do for the rest of her life. So she chose to focus on Creative Writing in her Master’s Program for English Literature at CSU Fullerton. Later, Panozzo’s decision to become a librarian was solidified when she became a part-time Special

feature Education Aide at Olinda Elementary School to support her education. There, she learned how significantly small things can affect a person’s life. “[At Olinda], a kid I was [working] one-on-one with was so intelligent that it gave me new hope in youth. I learned that you can impact and change a student’s life just by something small like listening to them or supporting them in ways they don’t typically get supported,” Panozzo said. “That’s exactly what being a librarian is. I’m not your teacher, I’m not your parent, but I’ll help you expand and grow just as much.” This new-found appreciation for the impact of “small” things, and her love for books, solidified Panozzo’s resolve to become a librarian. So after completing her degree, Panozzo immediately applied to BOHS’s librarian position when it opened up after Nancy Thompson’s departure. More than anywhere else, Panozzo felt that she’d be able to make BOHS’s library a support system because of her familiarity with the community. “I came back to be a Wildcat because I really like the community. Everyone is super supportive. And that’s really why I wanted to come back to this school in particular. The support system was essential in helping me grow when I was a high school student. So I knew that I could make the library more of a community to students than I would have somewhere else where I was unfamiliar with the people I was working with,” Panozzo said. Panozzo’s regular duties include checking in and checking out books (circulation); working with teachers on computer software issues; getting materials for the staff; removing outdated or unused materials (weeding); and creating metadata representing information sources (cataloging). Besides that workload, Panozzo is also the new AP coordinator. She is overseeing all aspects of the upcoming AP exams, from organizing the “bubble in” day to training exam proctors, through all of March and April. For example, the World Language AP exam has testing portions based on comprehensive listening. It is Panozzo’s role to ensure that the technology is in order. And although her job is “very busy” and “a day full of constant interruptions,” Panozzo welcomes the challenge as it makes work interesting every day. She plans to improve the library by getting grants, starting a donor’s choice page, continuing reading challenges, hosting a book drive, and creating a creative writing club. The library will also be modernized; Panozzo said that eBooks will be implemented in a couple of years at BOHS. Most importantly, with all her efforts in reforming the library, Panozzo wants to foster an atmosphere that is both “welcoming and respectful.” She wants the library to be a place that people can indulge in their love of reading and have a good time. To Panozzo, the best part about being a librarian is talking about books with students. Panozzo spreads her love of stories through every new recommendation, through every discussion about a particular scene, and through introducing different books into students’ lives. Her favorite recommendation to students is the Harry Potter series. Panozzo even has a book club, Nevillution (Neville’s Evolution), that stemmed from the releases of The Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. “I am 100 percent obsessed with Harry Potter. My mission in life is for everyone to read the Harry Potter series. If you start with that book, you’ve read all you need,” Panozzo said. Like the Harry Potter series inspired a passion for reading in her, Panozzo hopes that she can do the same for students as BOHS’s librarian.

Panozzo’s Picks

The top 7 books for young adults as recommended by our librarian. CRUEL BEAUTY Rosamund Hodge

“Cruel Beauty is like a twisted Beauty and the Beast. This book is dark. It’s dark, but so beautifully written. And it’ll keep you reading and keep you guessing until the very end.”

COURT THORNS ROSES

Sarah J. Maas

“Seriously, the best fantasy I have read in years. It reminds me of [Harry] Potter because the world is so well constructed. It has a strong female protagonist with agency, who tries to save the world. What could be better?”

ELEANOR & PARK Rainbow Rowell

“This book deals with the struggles of growing up with financial problems. In addition [it has] characters that relate to each other by referencing pop culture, and that’s how people really communicate the truth.”

WE WERE LIARS E. Lockhart

“We Were Liars is a psychological drama that messes with your head, and your heart. You follow the story of a girl and her friends, only to find out that maybe the story you were witnessing was [nothing like] what you thought it was.”

ARISTOTLE & DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE Benjamin Alire Saenz

“This book is about an Mexican American boy [who is] not really sure how he fits in, if he wants to fit in, or how he feels about being himself at all. This book is intense, but [has] humor.”

AMERICAN GODS Neil Gaiman

“[This] is one of the weirdest books I’ve read. I love American Gods because every time I read it I identify with a different character in the book. Also, Neil Gaiman is a master story teller.”

ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS Stephanie Perkins

“Ever wonder what the streets of Paris are like from the point of view of an American teenager who wants anything but to be there? Read this book if you’re into traveling, boarding school dramas, and romance.”

health

CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION by the numbers

compiled by ANIKA JOHNSON & ERIN CHUNG l infograph by MATTHEW MOON

Caffeine is Found in...

ice cream

soda

chocolate

weight loss pills

coffee

energy drinks

breath fresheners

tea

Caffeine Fast Facts o Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant called trimethylxanthine. Its chemical formula is C8H10N4O2. o

Caffeine can become addictive in the same ways that drugs can become addictive.

% of the coffee we consume 40 comes from Brazil or Columbia.

Also, coffee grows on a bush.

Caffeine Culture at BOHS of those surveyed

72%

of those surveyed chose Starbucks as their primary caffeine source

Positive Effects of Caffeine temporary sense of alertness

improves athletic performance

minutes

The time it takes for alcohol to be absorbed in the body.

hours

The time that the effects of caffeine can last until.

of students said they consume caffeine four times a day

of those surveyed chose Coffee

5% chose Panera Bread of those surveyed 5% chose â&#x20AC;&#x153;otherâ&#x20AC;?

The time it takes for caffeine to be absorbed in the body.

(123 Students Surveyed)

18% Bean as their main caffeine source

minutes

11%

of students said they do not consume caffeine.

of students said they consume caffeine thrice a day

43%

of students said they consume caffeine once a week or less.

higher metabolism decrease of anxiety

13%

of students said they consume caffeine twice a day.

Negative Effects of Caffeine jitters and shakes

headaches

nausea

rapid heartbeat

sources: healthline.com, medicalnewstoday.com, udel.edu, healthresearchfunding.org, rd.com, sleepeducation.org

dizziness

heartburn

dehydration mood elevation

27%

of students said they consume caffeine once a day.

diarrhea

confusion and hallucinations

vomiting

sports

Breaking the

SURFACE

Through passion and perseverance Jason Harary, senior and varsity swimmer, was able to break BOHS’s record for the 100-yard butterfly.

This was the race that would break BOHS’s 100-yard butterfly record. Powering through his strokes with ease, Jason Harary, senior, touched the wall on the last lap. He looked up at the scoreboard and saw his record-breaking time of 00:51.25 and at once, he felt his four years’ worth of hard work in the pool finally pay off. Unlike the many dual-sport athletes who compete in athletics at BOHS, Harary has only competed in one sport. Harary was never interested in the indoor courts of basketball or the grassy fields of soccer. Rather, once he was introduced to the pool at the age of four, Harary knew right away that swimming’s unique competitive spirit made it the sport he belonged to. “I love swimming because the adrenaline rush right before a race is really exciting; the feeling is indescribable. And competing against other swimmers is always fun because I get to show them the product of my hard work and also all of us push each other to succeed our best times,” Harary said. This passion for swimming led Harary to join, and make, the

SETTING A RECORD (photo coutesy of DEVIN HALL): Jason Harary, senior, swims the 100-yard butterfly at a home swim meet. He broke the school’s record with a time of 00:51.25. boys’ varsity swimming team as a freshman. Most recently, Harary broke the school record in the 100-yard butterfly on March 1. His other accolades include being a 2015 and 2016 CIF swimmer, winning back-to-back league championships in 2015 and 2016, and being a part of the four-man team that broke the 200-medley relay last year. Gil Rotblum, boys’ varsity swim coach, said

life and swimming.” Once he spends two years competing for the Mounties, Harary then plans to transfer to a four year university. As for the long run, Harary is aspiring to qualify for the Olympic trials. But until then, Harary will continue to dedicate countless of hours in the pool to try to break more school records.

“I would describe Jason as a technically proficient swimmer who takes advantage of his fast twitch muscularity.” - Gil Rotblum, boys’ swim coach of Harary, “My expectations of Jason are to set more school records in relays and individual events. He has grown tremendously by improving his underwater skills throughout the years. I would describe him as technically proficient swimmer who takes advantage of his fast twitch muscularity.” In the future, Harary hopes to attend Mt. San Antonio Community College for two years and swim for their team as “it’s a great school to get [his] footing in college

“Because of swimming, Jason has learned to focus and keep up with his training and work extremely hard to reach his goal times. He has learned to stay focused on his accomplishments no matter what obstacles or challenges he has to face along the way due to the demands of swimming. We look forward to seeing him succeed in swim, college, and beyond,” Cynthia Harary, Jason’s mother, said. by SAMANTHA MAGPANTAY photo by JULIET ISLES

final shot

STRIKE A CHORD Hayden Mangum, senior, sings “Victorious” by Panic! at the Disco at the rally on March 17. Masquerade also performed “Welcome to the Jungle.”