The Editorial Cartoon Issue Iss.
The Bolles Bugle™
010
13 Sheets 36 Pages 9in x 12in (22.86cm x 30.48cm) College Ruled
Table of Contents 06
The Moo-Variant Aisha Hasan 07
13
GMO Babies Are In Isabel Schimpff The World’s Last Straw Alex Boutwell
08
It’s Been 20 Years??? Sara Wasserman
Whack-a-Variant Amber Bansal
All Too Long by Taylor Swift Simran Naval 14
15
10
16
17
That Question? Jaden Taher
12 Spiderman: No Way, That’s Not
How College Works Elliana Emery
02
∞ Tabs Su Ertekin-Taner The Wonderful Wizard of AmOZon Atticus Dickson
11 How Could I Have Missed
Sell Your Time to TikTok Elliana Emery
Modern Myers-Briggs Ian Peiris The Elephant, the Mouse, and the Shield Cameron Gratz
Missile Mom Kate Youell High School Holidays Isabel Schimpff
The Other Side (of the Screen) Jaden Taher Plagiarism, the Mark of Death Amber Bansal
09 The Case of the Victorian Boy Amber Bansal
The Valley of Unanswered Texts Grace Albaugh
Djokovic: Australian Closed The Bugle Staff Starbucks for Bernie The Bugle Staff
The Squid Game Uniform Sarah Scherkenbach Red Light, Green Light at Amazon Headquarters Aisha Hasan
The Eternals Ephemerals Raphael Sogueco
18
The Most Expensive Place on Earth Kelly Kim
19
Theranos is a Lesson for Silicon Valley Cameron Gratz
20
21
Something’s Rotten in the State of Cinema Jaden Taher Cinema Can’t Get College Admissions Right Ian Peiris
33
Dr. Oz, Jack of All Trades Simran Naval True GOP’s Kiss The Bugle Staff
34
(Political) Party Playlists Ava Cheng, Kate Youell
22
The Value of Native American Folklore Caylee Padgett
23
Dark Humor Isn’t What You Think Atticus Dickson
24
Picking the “Pick Me Girl” Su Ertekin-Taner
26
Nine to Five: Bias in the Workplace Megan Howard
36
Revising Our Way Out of Gun Violence Isabel Bassin
27
Bugle Breakdown: Cartoon Edition Camden Pao, Tyler Schimpff, Raphael Sogueco, Tommy Zhang
37
Don’t Scapegoat the Second Amendment Daniel Waheed
30
Taiwan, You’ll Be Back The Bugle Staff
38
China’s Three-Child Policy Erases History Sarah Scherkenbach
It’s Raining Hypocrisy Grace Albaugh 35
Put Some Duct Tape on It, Vladimir Alex Boutwell Jeff Bezos: no <3 Alex Boutwell
The Covid Café Isabel Schimpff 31
Political Parties Sci-Fi Swap Ava Cheng, Kate Youell Property Brothers: Nightmare Nation The Bugle Staff
32 Chris Cuomo: The Princess Switch
The Bugle Staff
Matt Gaetz: The Princess Switch The Bugle Staff 03
The Bolles Bugle Staff
Editor’s L etter
Co-Editors-In-Chief: Su Ertekin-Taner Sarah Scherkenbach Online Editor-In-Chief: Ian Peiris Graphic Design Editor: Ava Sickler Social Media Editor: Megan Howard Public Relations Editor: Amber Bansal Multimedia Editor: Tyler Schimpff Copy Editor: Cameron Gratz Associate Copy Editor: Daniel Waheed Writing Coach: Kelly Kim Contributing Writers: Grace Albaugh Isabel Bassin Alex Boutwell Ava Cheng Atticus Dickson Elliana Emery Aisha Hasan Simran Naval Caylee Padgett Camden Pao Isabel Schimpff Raphael Sogueco Jaden Taher Sara Wasserman Kate Youell Tommy Zhang Advisor: Ms. Jacobson Editorial Policy: The Bolles Bugle is the news magazine created by the journalism class at The Bolles School. Our publication focuses on increasing community awareness of in-school events and topics relating to the five news values: relevance, proximity, timeliness/novelty, conflict/controversy, and human interest. Content in the Bugle is the responsibility of the editorial staff and not meant to reflect the views of the school’s administration or the student adviser. Please reach out to our faculty advisor, Ms. Jacobson, with any questions or comments. She can be reached at jacobsona@bolles.org or at bollesbugleonline@gmail.com. Copyright 2009-2022, The Bolles Bugle
Contrary to public perception, the often-overlooked editor’s letter of news and literary magazines takes a long time to write. The content is important as the introduction to all the hard work staff puts in but also needs to feel effortless. Ideating about what to put into an editor’s letter takes us a long time. The cartoon above hyperbolizes the time it takes to write an editor’s letter, but for us Co-Editors-in-Chief, it truly feels like the writing process takes 70 years. Su Ertekin-Taner Co-Editor-in-Chief
Sarah Scherkenbach Co-Editor-in-Chief
l a c i t i l o Non-P
Amber Bansal Public Relations Editor These days, we hear of a new COVID variant almost weekly. So far, we have seen the variants Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron, Lambda, and Mu and surely, more variants are on the way. Pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer and Moderna are in a race against the COVID variants to create vaccines that will protect us. In this cartoon, the viruses are popping up like moles in whacka-mole. The mallet is trying to quash all of the variants as fast as possible. Currently, it is attacking the Omicron variant due to the large breakouts around the world.
Aisha Hasan Contributing Writer
The cartoon "the Moo variant" is a play on words with the actual COVID variant, the Mu variant first reported in September of this year. The first cow mentions to the other cow “mad cow disease” because mad cow disease was a disease that affected both humans and cows in the early 2000s. The cows flying in the air represent the cows affected by the “Moo Variant”. The cartoon demonstrates the odd COVID variant names with a light hearted perspective.
06
The cartoon “the Moo variant” is a play on words with the actual COVID variant, the Mu variant first reported “She’s perfectininSeptember of this year. The first cow mentions the other everytoway! ” cow “mad cow disease” because mad cow disease was a disease that affected both humans and cows in the early 2000’s. The cows flying in the air represent the cows affected by the “Moo Variant”. The cartoon demonstrates the odd COVID variant names with a light hearted perspective.
Isabel Schimpff Contributing Writer
Genetically modified corn is out, and GMO babies are in! The new phenomenon in fetus development is the ability to change small details about your unborn child. This new technology was first intended to clear dangerous diseases for the unborn children. Now, it is used as a “customization feature” for expecting parents. Does this end the excitement parents feel about being handed their baby for the first time and seeing that they have passed down their mesmerizing eyes to their children? Possibly a quest for perfect traits subtracts personality and individuality from future kids..
Alex Boutwell Contributing Writer
We all hope that we’re contributing to the environment around us as good stewards of the planet. But people have a tendency to get caught up in short-term green fads that may not make much difference for true conservation. Go ahead and buy a metal straw-environemtal studies show that if you use it correctly, you'll make less waste--but it doesn't make you the next Greta Thunberg. What else can we do for our planet?
07
Sarah Sherckenbach Co-Editor-in -Chief One of the largest complaints of high school students is the dress code, and this cartoon criticizes student objections by comparing the Bolles dress code to uniforms in the show Squid Game. Uniforms intentionally create a standard of dress that lacks any form of expression, while dress codes, especially Bolles'’, still give students the freedom to choose clothes that they find more comfortable, stylish, and suitable. So, dress codes aren't all that bad, and people should stop complaining when we might find this dystopian alternative way more restrictive.
Aisha Hasan Contributing Writer The show Squid Games gained popularity at the end of 2021 because of its intense plot. The plot illustrates the main characters, who are in debt, completing fatal games to win a cash prize. The first game in the show is called "red light, green light." The players are forced to move when “green light” is called because of the timer. The players have to be careful not to move when “red light” is called or they face death. The cartoon highlights the ridiculous work conditions of the monopoly, Amazon. Many employees reported being fired for not working fast enough.
08
Amber Bansal Public Relations Editor
Throughout history, women have been viewed as weak, subservient individuals. Powerful men controlled women to show their prowess. Now, the roles are reversed. Today, we see powerful women controlling men. Take Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, or Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly. Here, Pete Davidson, becomes, due to his relationship with Kardashian, a fetishized trophy object, a traditional or waif-like Victorian boy, depending on a woman for patronage.
Grace Albaugh Contributing Writer Hey :) Teenagers all across the globe have experienced sending a text and never getting a response. Maybe you tell yourself they simply didn't see it or there was some kind of technical glitch resulting in your text never being sent. There's an infinite amount of imaginary scenarios that explain why that person failed to respond, and this cartoon provides one more. The Valley of Unanswered Texts is a desert wasteland where those ignored messages reside, forever waiting to be read.
09
Kate Youell Contributing Writer
Helicopter, Snowplow, and many other types of moms have been called out on different platforms.While moms do offer support, these are the moms whogo too far in observing their kids or smoothing obstacles away. Mothers that will do anything for their kids, including eliminating their competition., create a scary mom culture and kids that have a hard time growing up. The cartoon shows a more intense version of the snowplow mom. It's my honor to introduce Missile Mom!
Isabel Schimpff Contributing Writer
Hand turkeys made from construction paper and waiting for reindeer are now things of the past. Teachers used to fill the classes before the holidays with fun activities. Now, their lesson plans consist of last-minute assessments to fit in the semester and exam preparation. This creates so much of an impact on students that exam stress has been identified as a real form of anxiety that is common this time of year.
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Jaden Taher Contributing Writer
This cartoon is a depiction of how the stress from a major assignment or assessment, especially ones that can make or break a student's grade, can influence the performance of students. Although a student may study for hours on end and have an understanding of the material, he or she may miss familiar questions due to glancing over the question, second-guessing themselves, or overthinking the question. When receiving their graded assignments, students often think to themselves, 'How could I have missed that question?!'”
Elliana Emery Contributing Writer
It seems that these days every teenager is glued to their phone. The reason? TikTok. Each day they grow more addicted to TikTok, and are constantly wasting and losing precious time staring at their small phone screens. Each one is addicted to a different niche. They end up scrolling so much they find some crazy and unforeseen niches such as baking tok, Bieber tok, Harry Styles tok, and others.
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Elliana Emery Contributing Writer
In the movie Spiderman: No Way Home, Peter Parker, Ned, and MJ all apply to MIT yet are surprised when none of them get accepted. As if MIT wasn't already a challenging school to get into it's not like they list world-saving on their resumes. And Flash has already gotten in. Get real, Spiderman, MIT would never take four students from the same school. Also, who even gets their replies in letters from colleges anymore? We just hit refresh and wait for the email.
Plot twist? Peter, Ned, and MJ don’t get into MIT.
Sara Wasserman Contributing Writer
Aired on January 1st, the cast of Harry Potter reunited for Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts. When the first movie was released, the actors were young children, relating to their prime audience of equally young children. Now the cast are adults, and so are their original audience. Seeing their favorite childhood actors grown up and moved on has caused the biggest fans a mortality crisis as they reminisce and realize they're growing up along with the cast.
12
They’re so Wow, they got old! old!
We’re so So did old! we!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s 2001 Harry Stone, Potter and
the Sorcerer’s Stone
Harry Potter 20th Anniversary:
Harry Potter and the 2022 Return to Hogwarts, 20-Year Cast Reunion
Raphael Sogueco Contributing Writer
Eternals”is a Marvel film by Chloe Zhao, the mind behind the critically acclaimed ”Nomadland. Unfortunately, Eternals was quite a different story.
Eternals was not only one of the most underhyped and forgettable movies of the year, but it also was Marvel's worst rated and
lowest performing movie of all time. To display this humorously, I made all the characters into silhouettes, a reflection of their forgettability. I also replaced the title Eternals”with Ephemerals”, displaying the movie's insignificance within popular culture.
Simran Naval Contributing Writer
The donkey represents the Democrats and is sitting in a patriotic hat with the animal symbol of the Republicans, which is the elephant. While both parties are notorious for disagreeing on many different issues, this cartoon is drawn in an effort to symbolize how the two parties could find common ground. Here, they are able to unite over the fact that Taylor Swift's new song 'All Too Well' is excessively long.
Too long? Consensus!
Too long!
Instead of fighting over this topic, the animals are seen having a friendly conversation that results in them agreeing about the fact that Taylor Swift should simply make a shorter song that is maybe not about her ex-boyfriend.
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The Bugle Staff Contributing Writers
Due to Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic’s insistence to remain unvaccinated, the Australian government has ordered his deportation from the country before the Australian Open. Djokovic and the Serbian government were enraged at Djokovic’s potential loss of an opportunity to vie for the Grand Slam trophy for the 21st time. In our photoshop illustration, we display Djokovic playing tennis while potentially spreading coronavirus due to his unvaccinated status.
The Bugle Staff Contributing Writers
According to a January 14, 2022 New York Times article, a Starbucks employee was so inspired by Bernie Sanders’ platform regarding union workers that she decided to act towards unionizing her store. As Starbucks tends to be a more liberal corporation in terms of its employees and customers, it would not be surprising if we see more unionization attempts in the future, which is reflected in this cartoon by the new Starbucks cup design.
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Jaden Taher Contributing Writer
This cartoon demonstrates that during class time, students work on assignments pertaining to other subjects, whether it be to lighten their busy schedule or to finish lastminute assignments. It also touches on the subject that teachers may not really know what is going out on the other side of their students’ screen or in their students’ minds..
Amber Bansal PR Editor
Students get the plagiarism talk every year. They are adamantly warned about the consequences, such as going to Honor Court and failing the assignment. Many students are afraid of accidental plagiarism and constantly question if they are plagiarizing while completing an assignment. In this cartoon, the student is writing an essay with the Grim Reaper looming behind his computer. The Grim Reaper is labeled plagiarism to symbolize every student's fear of plagiarism.
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Ian Peiris Online Editor-in-Chief
As a personality psychology enthusiast, I often enjoy learning about the MyersBriggs personality types, which are famously known for their categorization of four-letter “personalities” (i.e. ENTJ or ISFP). However, to someone not aware of the complexities of the personality indicator, the combination of these four letters seems arbitrary: almost like the acronyms we encounter in everyday life. In my cartoon, I strived to depict four“of my chosen "unrecognized"” personality types based on common acronyms from daily life.
Cameron Gratz Copy Editor
This cartoon depicts Russia as a large, imposing elephant about to step on a small mouse, representing Ukraine. This reflects how Russia is currently massing troops on Ukraine's border. However, at the time this issue was sent to the printer, they have not yet invaded due to NATO's forewarning, represented by a shield in the cartoon. But the sheild is very small and the elephant is very big. Things do look ominous for the Ukraine.
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Su Ertekin-Taner Co-Editor-in-Chief
Throughout the average high schooler's day, the number of tabs they must open builds up. For math class, they open a graphing calculator application. For English class, they open tabs for sources for their upcoming paper. And so on. As the days go on, the opened tabs stay open to the point where high school students look at all the tabs that have built up and barely recognize the site they opened three weeks ago. And yet, the websites are too precious to close, so the chaotic nature of high school life is mirrored in the sheer number of tabs on a high schooler's computer.
Atticus Dickson Contributing Writer
If you were born 8000 years ago, and you worked since birth making one dollar a minute for every minute of your 8000 years of existence, that's $1440 a day, that’s $525,600 a year, for a grand total of $4.2 billion give or take, you would still have less money than our dear Elon Musk. By thinking through this fairly simple math problem one can clearly see that it is impossible for him to be self-made, rather at the top of a pyramid built on manual workers' and actual innovators' physical and mental labor that he bought from an already privileged position. Tesla is often held up as a model of a green company, while the corporation's human costs, environmental costs, and the blatantly greedy ulterior motives of its owner are fully ignored.
17
The Most Expensive Place on Earth Today, a one-day, one-park
favors those who have visited
Disney World ticket starts at
before. From Genie Plus, which
$109 per person. If this price
is Disney’s new fastpass-type
With their colorful billboards
was not already high enough,
service that costs $15 per
on Florida highways and
Disney actually varies the prices
person, to Lightning Lane,
sparkle-filled commercials,
of admission depending on
which allows individuals to
Disney World widely
the time of year. Ticket prices
skip the line for Disney’s
advertises itself as “the most
typically increase during the
most popular rides that are
magical place on earth…
more popular travel times
excluded from Genie Plus for
where dreams come true.”
of the year. For example, a
a certain fee, families are now
But underneath the pixie
one day, one park ticket on
confronted with confusing
dust lies the harsh reality
Christmas Day in 2021 costs
processes and countless
of expensive tickets and
$159, while a park hopper costs
purchases that take away the
a system that prevents
$224 on the same day.
fun before the magical day
Kelly Kim Writing Coach
this magic from being
even begins.
experienced by the majority
Even when one is inside the
of people.
park, the economic hierarchy
Intentional or not, Disney has
is very much present. For
created a system in which
In fact, the barrier that
example, families or groups
only those at the top of the
Disney’s high ticket prices
might only be able to wait in
economic ladder benefit. What
create, which many middle
the standby line, while another
Disney must consider is if their
class families cannot
family may be accompanied
mission of providing a magical
overcome, is precisely
with a Disney tour guide who
experience for all actually holds
what Walt Disney, Disney’s
“magically” takes the group
true. Instead of expanding
founder, did not want. In
around the park and personally
more options to “enhance”
response to the grand
customizes a group’s day at
the Disney experience through
opening of Disneyland
Disney World. But magic always
offering additional items for
in California, Walt Disney
comes at a price. Each hour
purchase, Disney should focus
stated that he wanted
of a VIP tour can range from
on decreasing costs and their
Disney parks to “be a source
$425-850, and each party must
list of “perks” which are only
of joy and inspiration to
book at least seven hours. And
financially reasonable for
all the world.” With the
the cost does not even include
the wealthy so more families
grand opening of Disney
admission to the park.
can experience the magic for
World in Orlando, Florida
themselves without added
in 1971, guests were able
In addition, the many added
stress on their wallets and
to purchase a ticket for a
perks that Disney now offers
minds.
mere $3.50 to enter Magic
makes a magical Disney
Kingdom park, which is
vacation suddenly complicated.
about $22 today. Since
Those who may be visiting
Disney World opened its
the parks for the first time are
gates, ticket prices have
already at a disadvantage,
increased by 3000%.
for the complicated system
18
Theranos is a Lesson for Silicon Valley Cameron Gratz Copy Editor The culture of Silicon Valley is peculiar. And not in a quirky, tech-bro kind of way. More in a criminal, willfully ignorant, Ponzi-schemesmasquerading-as-innovations kind of way, and no case exemplifies this so clearly as that of the once-renowned Elizabeth Holmes. Holmes, 37, was convicted on January 3 of three counts of wire fraud as well as one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud by lying to investors about the capabilities of her company, the now-defunct biotech firm Theranos. The jury remains hung on three additional charges of deceiving investors. Managing Theranos since she founded it in 2003 at the age of 19 until its cataclysmic collapse in 2018, Holmes swindled corporations like Walgreens and the federal government’s Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) as well as some of the greatest names in private investing: heirs of Walmart, Amway, and Cox Communications. Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. Conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Former secretary of defense Jim Mattis even served as a member of the board of directors. Theranos’ ill-gotten gains totalled $945 million all told. Poor, poor venture capitalists. It’s not like the signs weren’t there. Pfizer director Shane Weber concluded in 2008 that Theranos’ answers to technical questions were “oblique, deflective or evasive,” and recommended his own company stop working with them immediately. Former
Schering Plough director Constance Cullen characterized Holmes’ responses in 2009 as “cagey” and indirect, and stopped replying to her emails. It’s not difficult to pull off a magic trick when no one is looking. And if investors were looking at Theranos at all, it certainly wasn’t very hard. Lisa Peterson, who handles investments for the prominent DeVos family, never once visited a Theranos testing center, nor did she consult any outside expert in science, business regulations, or law before investing $100 million in 2014. Hall Group’s Bryan Tolbert invested $5 million in 2013, despite admitting that he did not understand how the technology supposedly worked. In 2014, lawyer Dan Mosley requested audited financial statements from Theranos. Holmes refused to produce any, and Mosley invested $6 million anyway. What happens when a Stanford dropout claims, with no scientific evidence, to have developed a revolutionary and highly profitable new blood testing technology to an audience with MBAs, not MDs? The VCs think they have a golden goose. A Facebook. An Apple. An Amazon. But they don’t; they have a Theranos. Elizabeth Holmes’ imitation of the tech world’s heroes is so obvious as to be cringeworthy. Steve Jobs, the late Apple co-founder, was known for wearing black turtlenecks, a choice repeated by Holmes, who told Glamour in 2015 that she owned “about 150” of the sweaters.
questions, the VCs poured millions into Theranos. Why? Because they’ve seen this movie before. They’ve seen Mark Zuckerburg, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs. They know that a large investment on the ground floor of something so groundbreaking would make them unfathomably wealthy. But this is not a simple retelling; it is a truly unexpected twist on the original, and they were thrown for a very expensive loop. A golden goose chase, if you will. Given that the culture of Silicon Valley hero-worship is unlikely to fade as long as new billionaires keep being minted, there is only one solution to prevent such fraud. Venture capitalists need to see the world for what it is, not what smooth-talking executives posing as visionaries tell them it is. Theranos would be such an easy fraud to spot if they had seen any more than what they wanted to see. Silicon Valley is a place of opportunity, but it is a fleeting opportunity. If you don’t jump on in time, you might miss the train to fortune. But if you don’t check the destination before boarding, you may find yourself short $945 million, spent on a ticket to nowhere. And sorry, no refunds.
By pretending to be a brilliant college dropout ready to change the world (for immense profit), Holmes triggered the VCs primal Fear Of Missing Out. Despite not understanding the technology, not having clear financial statements, not even hearing coherent answers to technical
19
Something's Rotten in the State of Cinema Take Dave Chappelle’s, “Sticks and
lean left. In short, critic bias is
Stones;” the comedy earned a
higher against controversial films,
99% audience score out of 33,000
such as Chapelle’s special, and
Remember that show you loved
members, while achieving a mere
they support progressive films.
that ended after one season?
27% Tomatometer score out of 15
What killed it?
critics.
Jaden Taher Contributing Writer
By sticking to these recommendations 24/7, our media
Rotten Tomatoes. At its core, Rotten Tomatoes makes it easy to consume a diet of popular media, but
diet will lack a crucial component -
What if the whole process is rotten?
content diversity. Although Rotten Tomatoes allows us to use our screen time more efficiently, they encase us inside of a comfortable
what if we’re missing out on
house that we end up never
spontaneous media that we
leaving.
might have encountered if we Similarly, 2015’s historical drama
How can we stop ourselves from
“Stonewall” earned a 10% rating
becoming prisoners in the House
Established in 1998, an
from critics, compared to an 85%
of Tomato?
industry leader in film and
from audience members.
followed our noses?
television show reviews, Rotten
Delve into the non-fiction realm
Tomatoes prides itself on
Likewise, “Star Wars and the Last
with documenteries, explore
being “the world’s most trusted
Jedi,” which premiered in 2017,
local film festivals, experience
recommendation resource
aquired a certififed fresh rating
international film, or check out a
for quality entertainment.”
of 91% by critics, in contrast to a
classic.
Rotten Tomatoes reviews
tipped bucket rating of 42% by
movies and TV shows based
audience members.
on the Tomatometer scale,
We can develop more nutritious viewing habits by filling our plate
which builds on the opinions
In another instance, the 2017
with genres we’ve never tried
of hundreds of television and
mystery/drama “Maze” received
before.
film critics. To be considered a
a fresh critic rating of 92%, in
Tomatometer-approved critic,
contrast to a tipped bucket rating
In essence, use the Tomatometer
one must have demonstrated
of 48% by audience members. The
in seed your media garden, but
key values in the fields of
drama was regarded by Screen
don’t let it control what gets
insight, audience, quality, and
International critics as educative
planted in your mind.
dedication. The Tomatometer
and entertaining while audience
tells the viewer the percentage
members were left questioning
of Tomatometer-approved
their choice.
critics who gave a positive review.
What happened? Are critics really that out of touch with viewers?
What if the whole process is
According to a Medium story, the
rotten?
answer lies within political bias.
20
Professional film critics tend to
To access the writer’s research, scan this QR code.
Cinema Can't Get College Admissions Right So, how did Teddy get into
to 28% of their applications
the Ivy League when her
each year, according to the
main hobby was filming low-
New York Times. And with less
As a child, I recall watching
quality home videos for her
applications comes the plight
the characters of my
infant sister to enjoy when she
of less funding from application
favorite TV shows and
grew up? How was Gabriella’s
fees and prospective tuition –
movies traverse their college
participation in the Scholastic
it’s an indirect harm caused by
application experiences.
Decathlon not seen as “trite” or
the entertainment industry.
Though unable to
“unoriginal,” given that many
understand the process, I
college websites encourage
I recognize that these
remember feeling unmoved
students to pursue niche
inaccurate college
when Teddy from Good Luck
hobbies and not engage in
representations in the media
Charlie was overjoyed as
hobbies in which most other
aren’t causing widespread
she opened her acceptance
students also participate?
poverty, starting wildfires, or
Ian Peiris Online Editor-in-Chief
letter to Yale. I remember
even thwarting world peace.
feeling indifferent when
It’s frustrating how the
But high school students
Gabriella received early
media’s depiction of a college
deserve to see their hard
admission to the Stanford
application — essentially
work to even apply to college
Honors Program in High
the culmination of a high
depicted accurately in their
School Musical. I remember
school student’s proudest
favorite movies. And though we
looking at the college
achievements and hard work
don’t commonly watch movies
admissions process at the
— can’t seem to accurately
to view and enjoy a perfect
time and thinking nothing of it.
display how difficult the college
reality, it would still be nice for
process truly is. It’s as if the
the media to honor high school
Now, as a senior, I am going
same movies we love and
students’ college endeavors
through this exact same
respect are simultaneously
with accuracy.
college process. Looking
culprits of inaccuracy, failing
back on these productions, I
to meet our expectations by
After all, we teenagers
realize — wow, these storylines
twisting truth in their portrayals
spend countless hours on
don’t seem real at all.
of the college process.
our applications every year, making sure to dot our i’s and
In today’s turbulent
Modern cinema’s favoring
cross our t’s – at the very least,
admissions process, it
of prestigious universities
we deserve thirty seconds of
takes more than a perfect
may also make other college
screen time that commemorate
GPA and test scores to
acceptances to lesser-known
these experiences with truth.
get into top universities;
schools seem less honorable,
colleges instead look at
prompting both kids and adults
letters of recommendation,
to believe that only the top
extracurriculars, and
10 colleges in the nation are
essays to differentiate top
worth applying to. This rigidity
candidates from your run-
in belief hurts the state schools
of-the-mill straight-A student.
that are already losing up
Scan the adjacent QR code to read related articles on this topic! 21
The Value of Native American Folklore Good Tales, a Dublin-based
life. She turned her monster
promotion agency that
“into Empire of Wild, a genre-
uses traditional storytelling
bending novel whose modern
Everyone has at least once
techniques to elevate modern
Indigenous characters confront
heard the story “The Tortoise
communication strategies.
environmental degradation,
Caylee Padgett Contributing Writer
and the Hare,” but in Native
discrimination and the threat
American folklore, there’s a
This is what Native American
of cultural erasure, all while
similar story: “The Bear and
folklore has done for all that
battling a devious monster.”
the Turtle,” the story of a
read it… but not many people
bear that continually brags
do.
about how he is the “king”
This “devious monster” could also be a struggle in your life
of the forest, and no other
“Myths help to balance
just like in Dimaline’s life, or it
animal can beat him at a
individual psychologies and
could be a struggle of the world
race. But a turtle does, and
connect them to the greater
you are concerned about. While
by wits alone.
wholes of the Tribe, natural
reading these different stories
environment, and global
in literature, you can express
Kids are taught by Aesop’s
community. Myths ‘resound’
your feelings, relate to others,
fable that a tortoise could
the spiritual essence of religion
and find a way to solve a
get lucky and win a race
and ritual in life-related terms,”
problem.
if he just keeps going,
Gregory A. Cajete said in his
versus the reality that the
journal, titled Children, Myth
Trust me, try and read a tale,
underdog turtle needs both
and Storytelling: An Indigenous
and you may learn a thing or
perseverance and smarts to
Perspective.
two you didn’t know before.
succeed. Native American
You may come across a time in
folklore’s logical stance
When I read myths like “The
your life in which the reality of
is the reality of this world
Bear and the Turtle,” and I
Native American folklore helps
compared to the more
see a turtle in nature, I think
you.
fantastical tales of Aesop
of this creature as a symbol
that American children learn
of wit and intelligence. People
Scan below for
about when they are young.
underestimate the turtle. We
more info about
The lesson of the turtle
called my grandfather the
Native American
should be what kids carry
turtle, and we didn’t mean he
folklore and suggestions
into their adulthood.
was slow (though he was), we meant he was a canny survivor.
“Each time a story is told, it breathes life into the culture,
In a New York Times interview
cultivates their verbal
with Métis author Cherie
language. It gives meaning
Dimaline about her book
to the tribe’s history and also
based on a “werewolf-like
teaches life lessons about
monster called the rogarou,”
things like love, leadership
she said she used this creature
and honor,” explains All
to describe real threats in her
22
Dark Humor Isn't What You Think Casual misuse of dark humor
I do, I apologize, learn from
doesn’t offend me; I mostly
my mistake, and move on. It’s
find it tactless and irritating.
also important to know your
“It’s just dark humor,”
However, this irritation is a
audience, and how far you can
or “it’s not my fault not
position of privilege. Even
take the joke with them.
everyone gets it.” The same
though I am visibly Jewish, I
responses all who dare try
could, in theory, remove my
By no means is this op-ed
to correct self-proclaimed
yarmulke and some jewelry
calling for the end of dark
“dark comics” have heard
and I would look just like any
humor, rather a careful
a thousand times. However,
goy (non-Jew). For others
evaluation of how our words
when corrected, many of
who cannot just change out
affect others. If someone in
these “dark comedians”
of presenting as their identity,
a minority group you made
suddenly become the very
dark humor can have more
a joke about tells you that
“snowflakes” they claim to
tangible consequences.
your joke was cruel, accept it.
Atticus Dickson Contributing Writer
target with their attempted
Feel free to ask exactly why For example, comedian Dave
that joke was offensive so as
Chapelle released a comedy
to avoid it in the future, but
While dark humor inherently
special in 2019 called Sticks
you need to accept that it
involves serious subjects
and Stones, in which he made
was. Use dark humor to hit
such as racism, sexism,
many a joke at the expense of
people in power where it hurts
homophobia, and other
Daphne Dorman, a transgender
to effect positive change,
grave topics, it shouldn’t
comedian, who according to
not to kick the injured when
be used to target and hurt
Vox, comitted suicide shortly
they’re down. Most of all, make
the people who are already
after the release of the special.
sure to love and support the
jokes.
being targeted and hurt by
aforementioned injured more
bigots, who more often than
Whether or not the special
than you make light of their
not, attack from behind the
was a factor in her death, it
pain.
shield of “it’s just a joke.”
is difficult to argue with the timing. When confronted with
Scan below for more
Dark humor should satirize
the matter of Dorman’s suicide,
information about Dark Humor:
actual bigots, or be coping
Chapelle skirted allegations
for a collective cultural
of the role of his special in
experience, like COVID-19,
her death with a statement
as seen in the New York
implying Dorman should have
Times article, “It’s OK to Find
been able to handle it.
Humor in Some of This.” “Throughout history,” says
Like any other skill, properly
the article’s author, Alex
executing dark humor takes
Williams, “humor has played
practice. Often the line between
a role in the darkest times as
dark humor and cruelty is thin
a...shared release.”
and blurry. I know I have gone too far many times, but when
23
T
Su Ertekin-Taner Co-Editor-in-Chief Jenner, Addison Rae, and
women alike: she is not just any
Charli D’Amelio have all been
regular girl.
criticized for being “pick me girls” on YouTube and TikTok.
No, in fact she is quite the
Video compilations of these
opposite. She is irregular in
women point out— to an
the realm of the feminine. She
easily-influenced social media
skateboards and drives fast
audience—that they exhibit
cars. She eats only burgers
“too cool” or “too attention-
when she goes out and she is
seeking” behaviors.
not — definitely not — like other
T
O K ’S 24
She justifies herself to men and
girls. She more adequately fits
The TikTok “pick me girl” is a
into the masculine sphere.
socially constructed image of a girl who craves attention and
And yet, this image only barely
bends easily to the will of men
scratches the surface of the
for the purpose of establishing
true nature of what TikTok
an affinity with them, but these
recently named a “pick me girl.”
definitions are all skewed representations of a woman
Beginning as a term
facing the giant of internalized
unattached to any one woman,
misogyny.
“pick me girl” rose to its height in the fall of 2021, aimlessly
The “pick me girl” represents
stringing itself onto the names
the decades-long triumph
of TikTok celebrities. Kendall
of male-dominated, sexist
PPCK CME GIRL
I K
Picking the “Pick Me Girl”
“ How about we kick patriarchy to the curb by
loving and supporting one another? I call for a cease fire against the “pick me girl.”
institutions meant to tear
(clothing, makeup, hair, etc).
writes beautifully, leads firmly, creates thoughtfully just like any other woman and human. So let’s treat her like one. The “pick me girl” deserves to be as much of a member of
women down. Before these institutions can utter a sexist
Master only masculinity
the social media community
syllable, the “pick me girl”
and women alienate you,
imposes that misogyny upon
considering you as a
as anyone. So I choose her. I pick the “pick me girl.”
herself by altering her behavior
shapeshifter of sorts: one
to fit behavior accepted by
that shapes their personality
men (a girl whom they can
around more traditionally
converse with about sports,
masculine topics.
politics, and other traditionally masculine topics).
We’ve put names to ‘inappropriate’ female
But because the term is mostly
behaviors for too long. Bitch:
propagated by “feminist”
an overbearing woman. Slut:
women against women, the
an impudent woman. Crazy:
idea of the “pick me girl” sets
an aggressive woman. And
up the notion that a woman
now, “pick me girl”: an attention
must master both femininity
seeking woman.
and masculinity to be accepted by both women and men.
How about we kick patriarchy
Master only femininity and
to the curb by loving and
men refuse to talk to you, as
supporting one another? I call
they assume the nature of the
for a cease fire against the
conversation will veer towards
“pick me girl.” A “pick me girl” is
traditionally feminine topics
a woman that ideates strongly,
Links to TikTok and YouTube compilations of “pick me girls.”
K ME CK
Nine to Five: Bias in the Workplace Megan Howard Social Media Editor
Women must work harder to While hiring quotas are now
prove themselves as competent
commonplace due to the
as men, but are ridiculed when
We all have an inherent bias
advocacy of women, these
they embody the same traits
against women. Yes, women
strategies do not provide long-
that make men successful.
included. Women must
term solutions for gender bias
prove, quantify, and excel to
in the workplace. The computer
As I begin approaching the
plant their place in society.
simulation study “Insidious
time that my female peers
Nonetheless: How Small
and I will enter the workforce,
A Yale research study gave
Effects and Hierarchical Norms
subconscious bias against
male and female science
Create and Maintain Gender
women feels discouraging. How
professors two identical
Disparities in Organizations”
are we supposed to grow in a
applications for a lab
workplace where bias against
manager position. The only
women has rotted the soil?
difference were the names: one half of the professors received a female name and the other half a male name. Both the male and female professors believed the male’s application to be
“Women must work harder to
prove themselves as competent as men, but are ridiculed when they embody the same traits that make men successful.””
better. In turn, the professors
When we go through our days we need to call out bias when we see it. Call your peers out when female voices in your club meeting are being ignored. Listen to female voices when they tell you there is a problem.
were more likely to hire him and offer a higher salary.
Calling out and actively
With all factors equal, men
found that quotas for upper
changing unconscious
excel due to the underlying
level leadership positions
bias is hard and can have
view that they are more
only fixed the lack of women
consequences. But feminism
competent.
in higher level positions for
has grown on the soil of
around 17 years. Then, men
women who were not afraid
As expected, thousands of
dominated these positions
of ridicule and embraced civil
years of female oppression
again while the amount
disobedience. We must actively
have sown their roots deep
of women exponentially
work to pull the weeds of
into the soil of human bias.
decreased before stagnating.
gender bias and plant seeds of
By measuring advances
equity.
in education, political
That same study found that
influence, economics, and
women’s successful projects
health, the World Economic
were valued less. In addition to
Forum found that it will
receiving harsher punishment
take another 97 years for
for failure, they were penalized
the inequality gap between
when exuding less feminine
men and women to truly be
traits and forced to excel
closed.
more to be assigned projects.
26
Want to learn more? Check out my research by scanning the QR code here.
Bugle Breakdown: Cartoon Edition Camden Pao Videographer
Coming up with captions for cartoons is no easy job.
Tyler Schimpff Multimedia Editor Raphael Sogueco Contributing Writer Tommy Zhang Contributing Writer
The New Yorker is known to have a captioning contest where the public can come up with captions for their cartoons. It got the Bugle thinking about how well those in the Bolles community would fare at captioning cartoons. Watch these videos to see how it went.
First Grader: Sawyer Schimpff ‘33
High Schoolers: Sophie Grace Posick ‘22 and Cameron Gratz ‘23
Teachers: Mr. Lyons and Mr. Ferrari 27
Sticker Page!
c i t i l o P
cal
l a c i t i l o P
The Bugle Staff Contributing Writers
You’ll Be Back
Isabel Schimpff Contributing Writer Who doesn’t like waffles? Politicians. Waffling in politics is used to describe a political figure who is inconsistent in their decisions. In November, President Joe Biden placed travel restrictions on eight southern African nations due to the emergence of the new Omicron variant, which was first detected in Botswana. However, since then, some European countries with the same variant have had higher case numbers but have not been branded. This inconsistency and the unclarity with mask restrictions has led to describing President Biden as waffling.
30
Since The Chinese Civil War, relations between Taiwan and China have been tense. The Chinese passed laws allowing the use of non-peaceful means against Taiwan." The US gave military support to Taiwan, but since then China has taken extreme measures to prevent others from acknowledging Taiwan as a country. In Hamilton, King George sings the song “You’ll Be Back” to the colonies. Similarly, here, President Xi Jinping is dressed as King George, singing “You’ll Be Back” to Taiwan, and holding a red paintbrush, showing his intentions to reclaim Taiwan as a part of China again.
Ava Cheng Contributing Writer Kate Youell Contributing Writer
Although from different cinematic worlds, there's a widespread debate when it comes to Star Trek's Borg and Doctor Who's Daleks about which villain would win. Both fandoms believe they could easily defeat the other, which can be compared to opposing political parties. They both claim to be best and are constantly put head to head. This cartoon shows political parties embodying fictional villains in a face off. The irony is that both fictional villains require unquestioning groupthink. Do our politicians? The Bugle Staff Contributing Writers
Democrats and Republicans are constantly arguing about everything, including the debt ceiling. Due to Biden's spending for his Build Back Better plan, the Democrats have been forced to ask the Republicans to raise the debt ceiling, which is the amount of money the government can borrow every year. However, the Republicans have been reluctant to raise the debt ceiling, leading to many discussions about what will happen to the country and White House.
PROPERTY BROTHERS Nig
ation
htm
N are
31
The Bugle Staff Contributing Writers
The Hallmark movie Princess Switch portrays the lives of two identical yet genetically unrelated women played by Vanessa Hudgens. Each woman has a different role in society: one is the soon to be Queen of Belgravia and the other a baker. Throughout the movie, the two fill in for one another due to their striking similarity. The premise of the Princess Switch is not dissimilar to the variety of personas US politicians have to assume to please their constituents. Oftentimes, the public only sees one image of politicians. The gracefully hand-waving, baby forehead-kissing, charitable image, to be exact, but some political speakers have an unforeseen private life, often one laced with crime or allegations of it. For my cartoon, I portray Chris Cuomo, an outspoken political commentator who has faced allegations of sexual misconduct. While in his public life, the younger Cuomo brother is opinionated and professional on the screen, his private life may not reflect these qualities.
The Bugle Staff Cotributing Writers
The Princess Switch follows the story of two identical women, portrayed by Vanessa Hudgens, both dealing with different problems. Their solution to these problems is simple: switch places. Throughout the movie, the uptight baker and soon-to-be queen swap positions and live in each other’s place for a few days. However, their secret is soon revealed, and they must face the consequences. American politicians act in a similar way; while they present one side of themselves to the public, sometimes there’s another side they try to hide. In this cartoon, Matt Gaetz’s double identities are portrayed beside each other. While Gaetz is a congressman for the Republican party, he has also faced accusations of sex trafficking. While he presents himself as a politician, it seems another version of himself portrays other qualities.
32
Simran Naval Contributing Writer
The man standing on the stage is a cartoon drawing of Dr.Oz, who has announced that he will be running as a Republican for the Pennsylvania Senate. The cartoon is a play on the fact that Dr.Oz has the same name as the Wizard from the Wizard of Oz. The two characters at the bottom left of the cartoon are discussing Dr.Oz's Senate campaign, when one of them remarks that he has been a wizard and a doctor, and wonders what he'll do next.
If elected for Senate, I will create a special potion to cure COVID.
First he was a wizard, then a doctor, now what?
The Bugle Staff Contributing Writers
SA
NT
IS
GOP DE
This cartoon depicts the GOP as Prince Florian kissing DeSantis as Snow White. The GOP has had their eyes set on Ron DeSantis for the 2024 Republican presidential candidate. For quite some time he has been their top choice, up until recent criticism of his handling of COVID in FLorida emerged. Now the party must choose whether to keep endorsing DeSantis or set their sights on the next candidate. What if their princess turns out to be a frog?
33
Ava Cheng Contributing Writer
Kate Youell Contributing Writer
If you're a Spotify listener, you know how exciting the end of December is. Seeing your top songs and artists is a great way to debrief and get excited for the new year. But what if the political parties had a Spotify wrapped? Some of these songs are more self explanatory than others. Try to test your political knowledge by guessing why these songs were chosen.
Grace Albaugh Contributing Writer
This cartoon depicts a politician holding an umbrella over himself and a woman's pregnant stomach while the majority of the woman's body is soaked. This cartoon illustrates the flaws in prolife arguments such as their tendenancies to focus solely on he baby while ignoring the health and safety of the mother. The woman's situation, such as the manner in which she became pregnant or who will support the childafter birth is ignored continually, according to the New York Times.
34
Alex Boutwell Contributing Writer
Alex Boutwell Contributing Writer
Russia’s space station: the Soyuz, had a one-sixteenth inch of a whole drilled into its hull (which was patched with epoxy once it landed). Their initial investigations came up with nothing until Head of NASA Kathy Leuders admitted to a NASA employee making the hole. The leaders of the US and Russia have, historically, not proven to be terribly mature in their communications
with each other. This cartoon compares our major governmental agencies and leaders as little kids in a sandbox, fighting over their toys.
Someone is wishing upon a shooting star for a stable income and livable working conditions, but the star is in fact Jeffrey Bezos on his rocket. Jeffrey then replies no. This cartoon plays on the idea that the wishes and hopes of medium and lowincome Americans can be impossible to achieve due to growing inflation and income
inequality. In addition, the entrance of billionaires into the space race can seem like the wealthiest Americans are planning on escaping to ''Planet B'' rather than using their resources to improve conditions for their fellow humans.
35
Revising Our Way Out of Gun Violence Acknowledge Rittenhouse only
a form of self-defense against
shot his third victim, 26-year old
similarly-armed threat(s), and has
EMT Gaige Grosskreutz, because
been found guilty of this in a court
The need to use “self-defense”
Grosskreutz pointed his own “self-
of law.”
guns is often caused by their
defense” gun at him. Grosskreutz
own presence.
testified he hesitated because he
It is not unethical or un-american
could not bear to take another’s
to strip someone of this
life.
constitutional right. By restricting
Isabel Bassin Contributing Writer
In August 2020, 17-year old Kyle Rittenhouse left his
the Second Amendment for some,
home in Illinois, armed with
Obviously, Rittenhouse didn’t have
we strengthen the rights of others
a Smith & Wesson M&P semi-
the same personal dilemma.
to feel safe in our country.
Kenosha, Michigan, claiming to
When James Madison first wrote
People like Rittenhouse, who killed
protect local businesses from
the Second Amendment in 1791,
two unarmed protestors, should
protestors. Instead, he killed
it was because he believed a
not enjoy the Second Amendment.
two people and injured a third.
centralized standing military
automatic rifle, and traveled to
gave too much power to the
People like the officers who shot
To understand the impact
federal government. He wrote
unarmed Jacob Blake, who were
this situation has on the
the amendment so citizens could
the reason the Kenosha protest
longstanding debate about
resist violent oppression by the
occurred, should not enjoy the
the Second Amendment,
government.
Second Amendment.
Now, it is misinterpreted as
And all other people who walk
a justification for civilians to
free after maiming or killing others
Acknowledge Rittenhouse killed
own guns. While repealing the
without viable justification should
his first victim, unarmed 36-
amendment may not be effective
not enjoy the Second Amendment.
year old Joseph Rosenbaum,
gun control, it could be revised to
because Rosenbaum charged
fit modern society.
acknowledge the details of the shooting:
at him in an attempt to take
Inevitably, some guns will slip through cracks and into the wrong
his gun. Rosenbaum would not
The Second Amendment could be
hands. However, revising the
have done this if Rittenhouse
reworded:
Second Amendment contributes
were empty-handed.
towards a reasonable goal: “The right of licensed adults who
making firearm-related deaths
Acknowledge his second victim,
have been subject to government-
rarer and rarer.
26-year old Anthony Huber’s
mandated background checks and
“life threatening weapon” was
mental health screenings to keep
a skateboard. Huber attempted
and bear arms no larger nor more
smashing it on Rittenhouse’s
powerful than a handgun shall not
head because Huber witnessed
be infringed unless the individual
him kill Rosenbaum and wanted
has ever used their gun(s) as a
to disable the active shooter.
form of offense instead of only
36
Don't Scapegoat the Second Ammendment with prison inmates suggested that
originates from the 1960’s
90% of all guns involved in firearm
when, ironically, the NRA fought
violence, to one-off homicides, to
alongside the government to keep
It would be rash to dismiss the
mass shootings, were obtained
African Americans from having
2nd amendment as outdated
illegally.
guns. In the modern day, Asian
Daniel Waheed Assoicate Copy Editor
or malevolent.
Americans, who faced a 73% Whether or not the 2nd
rise in crime amid the pandemic,
Look, I get it. The logic
amendment actually permits
bought 42% more firearms in the
of anti-gun advocates is
individual ownership of firearms
beginning of 2020 than in the
understanable: the more
is irrelevant. With 393 million
previous year- this highlights how
firearms, the more access, the
civilian guns already in circulation,
minorities look to firearms as a
more violence there will be, and
stripping people of the legal right
method of legitimate self defense.
the 2nd Amendment protects
to use firearms (which only applies
guns.
to a negligible minority anyway)
Instead of fighting for a lost
wouldn’t reduce gun violence due
cause that sells the illusion of
Like most sociopolitical topics
to their sheer availability from
false progress, let’s focus our
that reach the limelight, it’s
illegal channels.
energies on solving issues that
simply more nuanced than
matter. Effort and activism should
this. Not only will stripping the
However, it would serve to
be invested into effective mental
public of the 2nd amendment
set a pernicious precedent of
health curriculums and diagnosis
be abortive in lessening gun
contravening constitutional
processes, to circumvent the
violence, it will also entail crisis
integrity.
problem of mentally ill people with
for everyday Americans.
malicious intentions from acting Granted we scapegoat the
in the first place. Further, limiting
A gun-control Harvard
2nd for the societal problem of
illegal gun circulation should be
study puts the matter into
gun-related violence, repealing
a priority in the context of gun
perspective: “If the mantra
the amendment could have
violence.
‘more guns equal more
a reverberating effect— what
death’ were true, broad
happens if government decides
Just because the status quo
cross-national comparisons
to start picking new scapegoats
isn’t working does not mean we
should show that nations with
for new societal problems? What
must opt in for a less-free future
higher gun ownership per
would this mean in the presence of
America.
capita consistently have more
a future administration attempting
death. Indeed many high gun
to roll back civil-rights era
ownership nations have much
amendments relating to suffrage
lower murder rates.”
or antidiscriminaton?
According to a 2016 U.S.
Gun control laws have been
Department of Justice Special
historic means of oppression for
Report, when questioned about
minority groups. The historical
their gun ownership, interviews
genesis of gun control, in fact,
Use this QR code to access the writer’s research
37
“What about me? What about other girls like me?”
China's Three-Child Policy Erases History Sarah Scherkenbach Co-Editor-in-Chief
that from 1999 to 2016 there
additional children, prevents
were 78,257 international
the repetition of situations like
adoptions coming from China,
mine, but it doesn’t erase the
Based on data gathered
which is more than any other
truths behind past events and
by CNN, there are around
country during that time frame.
the fallout.
I was one of them.
The expansion to a three-
60 million Chinese “missing girls” as a result of China’s one-child policy.
child policy fails to remedy As someone who was brought
the existing problem of the
According to the
to a Chinese orphanage
significant lack of women,
documentary One Child
shortly after birth and later
which stems from the original
Nation and a multitude
adopted by Americans, when I
policy. In 1980, according
of news articles, for the
first heard the news about the
to the UN World Population
duration of China’s one-child
three-child policy, I was glad
Prospects, China had a
policy, it wasn’t uncommon
that it wouldn’t result in the
population of approximately
to see abandoned babies,
abandonment of other girls,
one billion people and a
usually girls, left in dumps
but I also mourned.
growth rate of 1.42%, which
or stranded along the side
has since dwindled to 0.34%
of the road. Some would die
Selfishly, I couldn’t help asking
under horrific circumstances;
myself, “But what about me?
others would be brought to
What about the other girls like
Even if a bunch of baby girls
orphanages.
me?”
are suddenly born, it doesn’t
in 2021.
change the generational issue Data from the U.S
The three-child policy, which
of not having enough women,
Department of State reveals
also removes fines for any
and this gender imbalance of
Guilin, China Photo credit: Sarah Scherkenbach
men outnumbering women
more progress in connecting
policy. Sometimes other family
by over thirty million people
adoptees with their pasts,
members took children shortly
just promotes the practices
which would be instrumental
after birth and gave them to
of child marriages and
towards acknowledging and
traffickers, so parents didn’t
bride-nappings.
addressing the mistakes of
have a choice.
the past as well as a valuable While the original policy
healing tool for adoptees.
acted as a catalyst for
The Chinese government advertises the three-child
appalling practices such as
Admittedly and
policy as this inherently
the forced sterilization of
understandably, some
healthy and beneficial
women, mass gendercide,
adoptees are averse to the
change because it will boost
and the separation of
idea of reunification with their
productivity and expand
families, the Chinese
biological families; for many
the workforce. However, the
government cannot erase
years, I had the mindset, “Why
controlling measures behind
the pre-existing damage
would I want to meet the
it are not that different from
of the one-child policy by
people who abandoned me?”
the ones used to implement
simply removing its former limitations.
the original policy, and the My thoughts on the matter
expansion ignores a history of
have since expanded through
tragedy.
Some organizations such
research, having gained my
as Research-China work
own complex understanding
We can’t let this narrative
towards helping adoptees
that there are a variety of
be erased. We can’t let the
and their families gain
reasons for children ending up
“missing girls” truly be lost.
insight into their adoption
in Chinese orphanages. For
stories. If the Chinese
instance, government officials
Links to
government were willing to
have been known to forcibly
additonal
work with some of these
take children from their homes
resources on
groups and with DNA testing
and bring them to orphanages
China’s child
companies, there may be
as a side effect of the one-child
policies
39
and the s r a t s r e oth