Crimson April 2017 Issue

Crimson Volume 77 l Issue 4 l 03.21.17 l 801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, CA l Paso Robles High School

Myth Busting: It’s time to debunk!

February protest follow up. 2

Judging others for their politics p. 16&17

Q&A with football coach Larry Grant p.27

|NEWS

ADDRESSING THE PROTEST Administration will respect free speech—but insists on proper protest behavior

I

by Emmaline Voorheis, News Co-Editor

n a time of heightened political disagreement and the Feb. Martinez echoed this in interview, that while students have policies of the Trump administration. The end goal was 16, 2017 student protest at PRHS, administration is keeping the Constitutional right to demonstrate on behalf of their to show American consumers what an economy without a careful eye out for injustice, prejudice and backlash beliefs, free speech cannot devolve into violence or slander. immigrant labor would mean for the services and goods against student groups during school hours—with the Three hundred students of mixed nationalities swelled, many rely on, according to The Atlantic. ultimate goal of campus-wide security PRHS students, led by a core for as many Bearcats as possible. group of five to six, took part through their demonstration, protesting While the world around them discrimination against immigrant waves flags and protest signs—with groups and voicing their core values. As occasional violence—high schoolers a group, they moved about the campus look on to decide their political stance in a nonviolent manner and under and act accordingly. administrative supervision.

“Here at school we’re very “Due to the peaceful protest that my conscientious in making sure kids friends and I organized yesterday, I’d aren’t bullied for any reason, whether like to clear the air of any misleading it’s a protest or just general high school information. I’d like to start by stating interactions,” PRHS principal Eric that I will not apologize for what I believe Martinez said. in,” demonstration leader Lupita Uribe Administration has made student said in a Facebook post on Feb. 17. “This safety an increased priority in the wasn’t about Trump being president. case of future demonstrations that It’s about showing that America needs may occur. Each administrative officer, AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE GATE (above): Students protest to show solidarity with immigrants on immigrants. My friends and I were and from security to the counseling office, Feb. 16. Many adults in Facebook comments reviled the event. are supporting the immigrants that has set guidelines for every instance attend not only this school, but this nation as well.” and how to act accordingly, knowledge exclusive only to In the end, administrative intervention was not exercised. administrators.

“The students, right after their demonstration, went back One of these security measures includes the administrative Here at school we’re very to class, [and] there was no additional follow-up from that mandate that, if protests dissolve into slanderous speech conscientious in making group of students, and as far as I know that’s where they’re and/or violence, said protest will be stopped and the going to stop at this point,” Martinez said. demonstrating students will be moved to the Gil Asa gym for sure kids aren’t bullied for Hundreds of social media comments from parents and follow up communication. any reason. teens often verged on disapproval about the free speech “If there’s anything that happens that’s going to put our kids students displayed. at risk, whether it’s a demonstration or what have you, our Eric martinez, Principal Martinez stressed the importance of campus-wide administrative and safety team will respond immediately to cooperation and fellow human kindness, as it should be the keep our kids safe,” Martinez said. driving cultural force on campus regardless of belief.

This plan of action corresponds to California Ed Code “We’re all there together, we need to make sure that even 48907, which states that “Pupils of the public schools ... shall chanted, and raised signs under the awning at lunch on Feb. though we have differences that we hang our hats, that we’re have the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the 16, 2017, taking part in a nationwide event deemed “A Day all Bearcats, so it’s important that we’re all kind to each other press,” including the use of a demonstration to express those Without Immigrants.” Supporters across the U.S. stayed away and appreciate each other’s differences,” Martinez said. opinions, “except that expression shall be prohibited which is from work as part of the protest; employees and employers obscene, libelous, or slanderous.” gave up wages and profits in protest of the immigration

—

cindy barrera: demonstration leader Q and A Q: Do you think school is an appropriate place to express political views? school campus should be a great place to express A: Aone’s political views because we should be safe on Q: A:

the campus that we spend most of our day at.

What did your parents think? they were proud that I took action towards something that I truly care about. They told me that they were proud that I spoke up for all the immigrants who are silenced due to fear.

02 NEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

Q:

Would you be up for another demonstration in the future, if a worthy subject arose?

if another subject were A: Yes, to rise that I am passionate about there is no doubt that i would start another demonstration.

Board trustee Chris Bausch censured 6-1 vote aims at alleged threats

by Mason Seden-Hansen, News Co-Editor

P

RJUSD Board of trustees member Chris Bausch was censured in a 6-1 vote at a Mar. 14 board meeting primarily for comments “that could be perceived as threatening.”

Bausch’s censure, which is a public statement against his behavior that will have no effect on his position on the Board of Trustees, followed over two hours of discussion. Bausch was the only dissenting vote on the censure resolution.

Bausch’s alleged comments included his referencing his “cache of weapons,” “a gun with big bullets,” and that he “aims for the head.” Board trustees also claim he threatened to “destroy” fellow trustee Kathleen Hall, questioned her religious beliefs, and called her a “weak, 72-year old woman.”

Bausch spent much of the night refuting the allegations, saying that they were taken out of context and unsubstantiated. During the evening, Bausch said that PRJUSD Superintendent Chris Williams did not release information on the allegations as required under the California Public Records Act. Bausch stated that on Dec. 1, 2016, when many of the alleged threats are cited, Hall may have been intoxicated due to her slurred speech, glassy expression, and statement that he was afraid to debate “a weak old lady.” He also said Board President Field Gibson used profanities.

Bausch apologized before mentioning his own accusations against the other board members, but said, “This has to come out.”

PRJUSD trustees were visibly shocked at his comments, and PRJUSD trustee Joan Summers called them “delusional,” while PRJUSD trustee Tim Gearhart said, “I now understand what alternative facts [are].” Gearhart had earlier in the meeting dismissed the claim that Bausch’s remarks were taken out of context, calling it, “Baloney! I saw it; I was there; it happened.”

Bausch called for the situation to be investigated by the county and state departments of education as well as a grand jury.

“I will request that they come in to review our district’s private practices to see if any of these private practices should be brought to light,” Bausch wrote in a letter to the Paso Robles Daily News, following the censure.

Summers welcomed the investigation, saying that the facts will “all come out.” “[Bausch has] the proof? Well, so do we,” Summers said.

The discussion was preceded by 11 public comments, most of which were against censure.

San Miguel resident and Paso Robles business owner Randall Jordan said he knows Bausch and suggested that the true motive behind the censure was Bausch’s opposition to sanctuary schools and that the board was “using this as an excuse to shut him up.” Jordan also invited the audience to attend a Tea Party meeting.

Hall said that the censure “has nothing to do with politics or political correctness as [Bausch] likes to suggest. We are an active Board with many differences of opinions, but we use those differences to forge strong policies that contribute to the success of each and every student... to do nothing means we condone such behavior.”

Many of those who commented expressed that they were disappointed the board could not resolve the issue in private, but many board trustees saw no other remedy. “The bad and improper behavior has been going on for over a year and we had exhausted all other means,” said Gibson. “We’re at our wit’s end.”

Bausch was reelected in the 2016 general election by the largest margin of any PRJUSD board member.

The problem of tardies

T

PRHS staff evaluate the frequency of tardies

by Mason Seden-Hansen, News Co-Editor eachers met on a Mar. 15 staff development day to discuss consistent, enforceable tardy and cell phone policies.

Stricter disciplinary action is certain to follow.

“We need to review, revise, and enforce a policy consistently in order to reduce tardies at PRHS,” said sophomore Honors English teacher Natalee Johnson.

“Arriving on time is critical to success in all areas of life; the natural consequences of being late are obvious to our Bearcats who have already entered the workforce. Employees who are consistently late to work will not be employed long,” PRHS Vice Principal Dan Sharon said.

Attendance Office records show that 3.5 percent of students are tardy to first period--leading to over 11,000 tardy incidents since August--and 82 percent of teachers see student punctuality as a problem, according to an informal survey of 11 PRHS teachers.

Over 90 percent of teachers said that the current tardy policy is neither effective nor properly enforced.

Tardies appear to be more common than attendance data suggests. 50 percent of PRHS teachers surveyed said they did not report tardies 100 percent of the time, meaning that attendance data is likely an underestimate.

“Many teachers do not report tardies, because there are no consequences,” said Honors Modern World History teacher ESTAS TARDE: AP Spanish Teacher Mark Bradford. “The problem is worse than the attendance Rebecca Morris looks down on tardies. 82 statistics.” percent of surveyed teachers said they A lack of reporting of tardies teaches students that promptness is not important, according to a paper on chronic tardiness by the National Middle School Association.

While 100 percent of surveyed teachers said punctuality was important, only 18 percent said they felt students shared their opinions.

Still, only a relatively few number of students are consistently late. Forty percent of tardies are caused by only 18 percent of PRHS students, according to Sharon, who said it would be unfair not to acknowledge all the Bearcats who exemplify “Bearcat PRIDE and preparedness.”

“The vast majority of students arrive to class on time...The challenge is helping the small minority of students with chronic tardiness develop the same habits of success as their peers,” Sharon said.

Cell phone policy is also certain to be clarified and enforced with renewed unity among the teaching staff, as indicated in staff discussions on March 15. Teachers agreed that cell phone use during instructional time needs to be prohibited, and that confiscations should increase for students caught using phones before the end of any class period. Specific cell phone policy updates will likely be unveiled at the start of the 2017-2018 school year.

Tardies Report 11,528 Tardies

in the 115 days Aug. 22 - Feb. 24

5,563 tardies occurred during first period 48% of tardies occur during first period

3.5% Students are late for first period

are late for first period 1/30 students according to attendance stats

Cell policy proposals

1

Cell phone use not permitted during bell-to-bell periods, including while not in the classroom

phone use not 2 Cell permitted during free time

picks up 3 Parent phone after 2nd infraction

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | NEWS 03

|NEWS

PRJUSD approves green renovations Energy deal projected to save district $10 million

by Mason Seden-Hansen, News Co-Editor

N

early 10 million dollars in water, utility and energy cost savings are expected for the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District across the next 30 years with a new deal with Opterra Energy Services approved for final negotiations unanimously by the PRJUSD Board of Trustees at a Feb. 28 meeting. The project will renovate district utilities and replace them with more modern, environmentally friendly and cheap alternatives.

“We here at PRJUSD are super excited to be able to save an estimated $10,000,000 on our district’s electrical and water bills over the next 30 years. These funds can now be spent much more directly on our educational programs - besides just keeping the lights on and fields watered. The savings are sky high!” PRJUSD Chief Business officer Duane Wolgamott said.

The Opterra contract will provide the district guaranteed savings of $200,000 from the first year of the program and will continue to offer guaranteed savings for its entire 30 year duration, according to Opterra projections. The environmental benefits are equivalent to removing 190 cars from the road annually, according to Opterra senior manager Ashu Jain.

The Opterra renovations will include installing solar panels

taking care of business

Lady Bearcats start a hygiene campaign

by Kayla Terry, Reporter

A

n attempt to gain free feminine hygiene dispensers on campus is currently being led by senior students Samantha Gonzalas, Kylie Managan, Anika Perez and Aubrey Cleveland. Forty-nine percent of campus has the potential to benefit from inserting dispensers into the student restrooms. The movement, Taking Care of Business, currently has a survey available on their Instagram and Facebook, and

04 NEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

at three campuses, shifting to LED lights at War Memorial and PRHS stadium as well as at any other cost effective locations, adding new and improving existing heating and ventilation

I voted against working with Opterra before; I will not vote against it now.

— Joel peterson,

School Board Trustee units at PRHS, installing new transformers, and applying water conservation measures in both restrooms and irrigation, according to Jain. The solar panels will lower PRJUSD energy expenditures by 20 percent, according to Jain. Combined savings with the SunEdison solar project, which is expected for have a petition circulating on campus.

Part of the goal is to “spread awareness about how tampons and pads [are not] a luxury but are simply a basic human right,” according to Gonzales. Tampons are globally seen as a luxury item, with 28 states declaring them so. Support for the cause is rapidly growing since its social media launched merely weeks ago, with just under 125 followers on Instagram, and 62 on Facebook.

However, these students aren’t the only women seeking change. Cristina Garcia is introducing a new bill to the California state assembly in an attempt to “require the department [of education] to provide public and private schools, including charter schools, with an adequate supply of feminine hygiene products sufficient to meet the needs of all female pupils and to ensure that female pupils have direct access to feminine hygiene products in school bathrooms,” according assembly bill 10.

Since Mar. 4, paper petitions have been circulating campus in an effort to gain product dispensers to be packed with pads and tampons. The campaign’s future is looking bright, many “teachers and staff are supporting” it and giving “advice on how to advance,” Gonzalez said. Campaign leaders are hoping to meet with the school board in the near future.

completion by the end of April at Virginia Peterson and Kermit King, PRJUSD energy bills are expected to drop significantly, saving the district $20 million over a 30-year period, according to Director of Maintenance, Operations and Transportation Hugo Bastidos.

Job shadowing, apprenticeships and paid internships are also available to students during the renovations. “We are so glad to be partnering with Opterra to bring real life examples to our STEAM programs,” said director of Secondary Schools Jen Gaviola. The project offers an opportunity for students to apply Next Generation Science Standards “to projects happening at [their] school sites,” Gaviola said.

Local workers will be hired for the renovations. “We do a tremendous job of using local subcontractors,” Jain said.

The savings guarantee was a key point for PRJUSD board member Joel Peterson. “I voted against [working with Opterra] before; I won’t vote against it now,” he said, citing the guarantee.

PRJUSD also recently applied for a grant for three all-electric school buses, according to Wolgamott.

" {Part

of the goal is to} “spread awareness about how tampons and pads are not] a luxury, but are simply a basic human right.

— Samantha gonzales, 12

FREE SPEECH

Between the Hazy lines of

EDITORIAL|

FOR YOUTH

Parents wage digital war as debates about students’ freedom of expression rise

By Emma Corippo, Illustrator Photo by Camden Tucker

C

O

n Feb. 16, national organizers of the proimmigrant strike “Day Without Immigrants” urged immigrants to stay home to show their immense impact in America. The movement made its way into schools, many of those in California, where immigrants account for 27 percent of the state’s population, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. In Paso Robles, nearly 300 PRHS students gathered on school grounds during lunch and marched a loop around the school as they held their protest signs with pride. Organized within a mere 55 minutes and a few felt pens, senior Lupita Uribe, Daniela Lopez, Solanda Magnuson, Maricela Garcia Serrano, Cindy Barrera, Celso Ortiz, and Raul Morales and other students brought an astounding amount of spirit onto campus.

When lunch ended, protesters shuffled into their 5th period class after a peaceful and empowering display of teen spirit.

After an article was published that same day by the student journalists of Crimson Newsmagazine, which reached over 11,000 views on Facebook,

newsmagazine

Co-Editors-in-Chiefs Sadie Mae Mace Political Mythbusters/ Photo Essay Valeria Cisneros Carmesi/Political Mythbusters Managing Editor Lauren Wassam Sports PR Director Kathryn Varian Photography Director Madison Funke Blind Date

Editors Mason Seden-Hansen News Madison Warren Sports Morgan Rego People Esther Cabello People Marie Perez Opinion Jessica Jagger World Sabrina Hernandez A&E Sarah Jagger Health Brenna Collins Health Sam Harrison Sci-Tech Lindsay Darbyshire Editorial Emily Mowery Environment

many readers fervently expressed their concerns through comments on the post about how school was no longer a “safe zone” for students and that the peaceful demonstration should not of happened.

This powerful idea that prompted the protest was soon shot down by hundreds of people outside the school.

The voices of concern soon turned into arguments as parents clashed over how and when students should voice their opinions. Comments reached into the hundreds, and soon political opinions about students’ naivety of the difference between legal and illegal immigrants abounded, with some readers even going so far as to linking news stories

The voices of concern soon turned into arguments as parents clashed over how and when students should voice their opinions. from various political stances. Numerous adults were adamant that students should not voice their opinions publicly, mixed in with the concern of students facing oppression for not stating their opinions because they did not feel safe. Adults expressing their right to freedom of speech attacked each other with bitter remarks, followed by their own political ideology.

“These kids don’t even in truth know the issues and they need to be in the classroom learning...Blows my mind how people can be such sheep, including

our teenagers who do not think for themselves but just jump on the ‘we hate Trump’ bandwagon. Sad and pathetic honestly....These kids are ignorant...this should’ve never happened...kids see the protesters on TV going into the streets so they think it’s ok to do it themselves…”

But why are so many adults are concerned about a student’s right to speak their mind? Is it because they disagree with our opinions, or is it they do not like us thinking for ourselves? In the end, it is a murky mixture of both, which is a fact that was around even before the generation of the millennial.

Many parents agreed that school is a learning environment, the protest took away valuable school time and politics should not be dragged into school.

In response to the protest, the administration sent out an email to parents later on Feb. 16 that assured the protest was safe and organized by students.

The email, written by principal Eric Martinez, stated: “Students have the right to express their views about issues that are important to them. Our role is to make sure that all students, regardless of their views, are safe and secure. Thus, school and district staff were on hand to help ensure the safety of the entire student body during the duration of the protest. We are committed to maintaining PRHS as a welcoming place for all of its students and families.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns.”

Parents remained upset even after the school had reassured parents that the situation was handled appropriately.. The students who protested remained peaceful and followed the rules. It is disappointing how parents do not like to see students have active voices, especially when students do things like organize a protest within the matter of 55 minutes.

Student journalism at Paso Robles HS, CA Illustrator Emma Corippo

Facebook www.facebook.com/ crimsonnewsmagazine

Reporters Kayla Terry Aiden Kerr Camden Tucker Alicia Myrick

Website www.crimsonnewsmagazine. org

Business Team Steven Schouten Reporter Emmaline Voorheis News Elise Scheiffele World

Email crimsonnewsmagazine@ gmail.com

Crimson, an open forum for the exchange of student ideas, is an independently funded newsmagazine of the journalism class at Paso Robles High School. Crimson reflects the majority opinion of the staff and does not necessarily reflect the views of Paso Robles High School, its faculty, administration, or students. All stories, graphics, typesetting, and layouts are completed

by Paso Robles High School students. We are happy to talk with you further about our content, subscriptions in U.S. Mail, and advertising on our pages.

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | EDITORIAL 05

|EDITORIAL

Letters To the editors

Four of Government teacher Geof Land’s senior students pick up the pen and express their political opinions

Opposing the Travel Ban

Jewish-Americans in need of respect

egarding President Trump’s recent executive orders limiting migration (“5 Things to Watch in a New Travel Ban” by Laura Jarrett,) I disagree with Trump’s travel ban. As a young adult, I have met many people of different nationalities and ethnicities.

From my experience this travel ban will only create tension between the U.S. and the banned countries. I understand that President Trump is attempting stop terrorist attacks; however, this will most likely increase the attacks. Immigrants will always find a way into the country, and we need to find an appropriate way of dealing with the terrorists instead of punishing all immigrants.

t is absolutely outrageous that there is such an alarming rate of hatred for Jewish-Americans. President Trump is correct in saying that this “horrible” antisemitism must stop. With 27 Jewish Community Centers in at least 17 different states receiving hoax bomb threats, it is clear that this has moved beyond hatred and is approaching terrorism. Furthermore, the damage to over 170 headstones at Jewish Cemeteries reflects complete disrespect.

For all our history of tolerance, the U.S. still needs to learn Voltaire’s old adage that we may not agree with someone’s views, but you need to respect that they have a right to them.

R

Sincerely,

Kyle Radecki

Support deporting immigrant felons

I

I

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Wesley Radecki

06 EDITORIAL | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

am writing to support the new executive orders for deportation rules allowing more expulsions. Immigration policy now calls for an expansion of expedited removals and also deportation of any immigrants that entered the United State convicted of any criminal offense.

I believe that if you are an illegal immigrant and you have committed felonies such as theft, fraud, murder, or rape then you shouldn’t be in this country. Moreover, if you don’t work or do your part as a citizen you shouldn’t be here.

President Trump’s enforcement actions are designed to keep American citizens safe. It’s not about discrimination.

Kiara Gable

Photo by Lindsay Darbyshire

North Korea Needs to Stop

N

orth Korea has launched a successful ballistic missile test over the weekend, and our president believes it as a test for his leadership skill. Donald Trump has already dealt with the Iranian threat by threatening military force. Kim Jong Un, the North Korean Dictator, pledged to launch a missile test in early 2017. Trump said it wouldn’t happen, yet here we are in February and the test was a success for the Korean nation. Trump has not threatened military action against North Korea, nor has he addressed North Korea about this issue. The United Nations are to hold a meeting some time soon to discuss this. Enough talk; the United States should take immediate action.

North Korea represents an existential threat.

We need to put our foot down, take action and stop North Korea from continuing to develop its ballistic missile system.

Sincerely,

Jonah Carmon

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03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | ADS 07

|OPINION

Pro: The death penalty is humane

by Emily Mowery, Environment Editor

A

n eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, the saying goes, prompts the discussion of whether it is wrong to say a ‘Life for a life’. How wrong could it be if 31 states and countries allow it and over 60 countries such as Greece, Malta, France and Australia, according to Infoplease. These countries enact the penalty by hanging, lethal injection, firing squad, gas chamber, and electrocution. The U.S. uses lethal injection.

The death penalty is humane because it targets the worst criminals. The process is thorough to ensure the right criminal is punished and determine that they deserve the death penalty.

Even when the inmate is sentenced to death, the lethal injection is made a peaceful sleep. The IV is infused with the lethal injection—typically barbiturate, paralytic, and potassium solution. The day prior to death, the criminal receives a large meal, and when the time comes, their family—if they have any—is with the inmate.

The process is painless.

Some say it should be more painful.

Authorities are careful that the death penalty is just.

Death penalty trials cost 48 percent more than standard trials, according to deathpenaltyinfo.org.

Judges and juries chosen undergo many mental tests to ensure a bias-free trial. Inmates are given several appeal opportunities after a death sentencing.

Murder requires justice. Roughly one in every 15,000 Americans are murdered each year; most murderers either get life in prison with possibility of parole, or the death sentence if the crime was horrendous or a repeated murder, according to DPIC. Direct appeal, mandatory in most states, is given to death row inmates so the convict might not be unjustly executed. Usually, the prosecutor and defense briefs and oral disputes are held before a panel of judges. Judges can assert the sentence, reverse the conviction, or reverse the death sentence, which is held in federal court.

Afterwards, the losing argument can try to writ of certiorari, which is a request for the Supreme Court to take a look if the case is particularly messy. After that comes habeas corpus, which allows inmates to bring up issues outside the case to give reason why they should live. The judges then review all evidence taking whatever the inmate has to say into account and decide if they should be executed. If the court denies relief, then the only option left is writ of certiorari, which is rare.

Writ of certiorari is when the case is re-examined. Executive Clemency can be used to postpone the execution date or give more time for the case to be reviewed and given a lesser sentence stated in Capital Punishment in Context. The prisoners that get on death row spend at least a decade going through trials for judges to determine if the convict is guilty and/or if they deserve to be executed. And if the prisoner is determined guilty and his/her punishment is death, the form of death is painless.

Pay back an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

“If it’s a bad enough crime, you should die for it,” junior Mike Silvera said. “I think if it’s a really bad crime, then the lethal injection is too humane.”

—Mike Silvera, 9

08 OPINION | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

con: Human rights apply to felons

by Kayla Terry, Reporter

I

t is not all black and white. The death penalty is inhumane, and no human should have the right to choose life or death for another person. If the death penalty was enabled in states where it is currently illegal, 2,905 inmates on death row would face execution this year.

California inmates on death row are graced with the ability to remain in charge of their own bodies because they still hold their basic human rights. The purpose of the 14th Amendment is to limit acts such as these by applying “equal protection to all citizens,” meaning despite a criminal’s choices in the past, they should not be stripped of their basic rights. More importantly, “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” The death penalty is in direct violation of the phrase.

The flaws in the justice system, such as prejudice and juror bias, still exist. Therefore, it is hard to fully rely on the court ruling to decide someone’s fate.

“In recent decades party politics [have] infiltrated the marble halls of the Supreme Court,” said Adam Liptak from the New York Times. Many other sources agree with this conclusion. A recent study

by Washington University of St. Louis found “The system permits judges to be secretive” because their indirect methods are required to make sense of their behavior.

Judges are granted too much power for one individual. It is only natural for the power to eventually overpower their better judgment.

In one highly publicized case, a college student named Brock Turner raped an unresponsive female and was reported to have taken pictures of the victim.

However, the app Groupme allowed for deletion of the pictures by a third party group. Two witnesses found Turner dominant over her and took action, holding him until police arrived. There was substantial evidence against Brock Turner, but the ultimate ruling was six months jail sentence—way below the standard three to eight years for convicted rapists. This extreme lack of justice left the media in an uproar as many people questioned how the judge came to this ruling.

The death penalty system also fails to protect the innocent, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which points out that from 1973 through 2014, 150 innocent people were exonerated from death row. The system is simply too inaccurate to be in charge of deciding such permanent sentences.

It is not all black and white. People should not attempt to assign death because circumstances vary for every conviction. Some are mentally ill. Some inmates have not been properly diagnosed or medicated. Some need to be counseled from tragic life experiences or placed in mental hospitals to receive proper care.

Then there are the economics of executions. The death penalty spends more money ”prior to and during the trial” costing 48 percent more than a standard trial, according to the Tennessee treasury office.

Life is not to be squandered no matter how criminal one’s actions. When the state takes a life, it takes away the chance for the criminal’s enlightenment and for his truly understanding the error of his actions. It most horrifically ruins their chance for repentance, and it does not give closure to the victim’s loved ones.

It is simply unlawful and immoral for human beings to execute.

“The death penalty should only be used as a last resort.”

consider The inhumanity of murdering inmates

“No one is bad when they come into the world, so as long as it’s really bad, then the death penalty is okay.”

—Sarah Chung, 9

—Raven Lopez, 12 Photos by Emily Mowery and Graphics by Sam Harrison

OPINION|

A beefy situation Can beef production pose an environmental hazard?

Beef in brief: Cow-Calf Operation – Beef production begins with ranchers who maintain a breeding herd of cows that nurture calves every year.

by Marie Perez, Opinion Editor

T

here are two different ways to think when you hear the word beef: either a nice juicy steak and freshly grilled burger, or a sweet brown eyed calf that wobbles as it walks through a pasture. If you were to flip on the television, most of the commercials are advertisements for the next hamburger creation a chain restaurant has concocted. The point is that Americans love beef in whatever form it comes in.

In 2015, American beef consumption was approximately 24.8 billion pounds, and the averaged annual price of choice beef was about 6.29 dollars a pound, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. The total beef produced was approximately 23.7 billion pounds, meaning we actually import beef to make up the difference of beef produced and consumed in the U.S. Therefore, Americans consume a large proportion of beef and depend on it for our economy.

The raising of cattle for beef production is also a multi-step process, from cow-calf operation weaning, stockers and backgrounders, livestock auctions, feedyard, packing, plant and finally food service and retail. In most cow calf operation, ranchers decide what breed would work best for their land, breed the cows, deliver the calf and raise it until it is old enough to be sold.

Senior Kara Bullard set the record straight with her insider knowledge on cattle raising, defining the differences between show cattle and commercial cattle. In the show cattle industry, Bullard explains how the cattle are on a specific feeding regimen, and are rinsed and blow dried (with a hair dryer, yes) and “...will be exercised and are trained better than most household dogs.” These cattle are pampered and bred for the best. Bullard went on to talk about the commercial side of cattle raising, where the “cattle are not projects but they are Kara Bullard the herdsman’s livelihood and a lost beef is only money down the drain.”

Another argument on the pro-side of beef advocates holds that cattle grazing can prevent wildfires in drought ridden places like California, according to factsaboutbeef. com. Wildfires are common to our area, like the Big Sur Fire or the Chimney Fire that happened Aug. 13, 2016, burning over 46,000 acres of the chaparral ecosystem that is characterized by the dry scrub land known to Paso Robles.

Vegetarians and vegans alike also pose the moral question of the humanity of raising cattle for dairy and beef to sustain us. Consumers who are savvy in the knowledge of what their food is fed have heard that grass fed cattle is less harmful for the environment than grain fed cattle because supposedly grain fed cattle creates more greenhouse gases. However, there is no scientific evidence to this assertion, according to

onegreenplanet.org.

Freshman and lifelong vegetarian Michelle Anastacio takes the moral side of this debate, but still understands the economic aspect of beef production. “Cattle raising is something that I don’t know how to feel about. When we raise the cattle we need to make a lot of space in order for the cows to have the right amount of land and for them to be comfortable.”

There is also the health aspect to take into consideration as well because beef consumption can lead to high cholesterol unless moderated. Most things can lead to negative consequences unless they are moderated, which is why Michelle Anastacio readers should try the moderate perspective on this issue and understand that beef is a key part of American industry. To avoid health and environmental problems in the future, we should try moderation rather than going cold turkey. Anyone up for Meatless Monday?

Weaning – Beef calves are weaned at six to 10 months of age when they weigh between 450 and 700 pounds. These calves are now grass fed in pasture.

Livestock Auction Markets– cows are sold at livestock auction markets. About 1/3 of cows stay on the farm for breeding purposes.

Stockers and Backgrounders – Cattle continue to grow and thrive by grazing during the stocker and backgrounder phase.

Feedyard – Mature calves move feedyards for four to six months and receive constant access to water, room to roam and graze at feed bunks containing a balanced diet.

Veterinarians, nutritionists and cattlemen work together to look after them.

Packing Plant – Cattle reach market weight (approx. 1,200-1,400 pounds), and go to processing facilities. USDA inspectors oversee operation safety, animal welfare and quality standards from the time animals enter the plant until the final beef products are shipped to grocery stores and restaurants.

Food Service and Retail – Beef is shipped and sold in the United States and abroad.

BEST IN SHOW: Senior Kara Bullard is seen

here with her show cattle. The relationship between cow and owner is evident.

Photos and graphics by Marie Perez and Camden Tucker

Fun Fact: 90% of all beef raised in the United States is sold in America, while 10% is exported.

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | OPINION 09

|REVIEW

Tell Me I’m Pretty

Cage the Elephant’s recent album wins big at the Grammys

REVIEWS

by Sadie Mae Mace, Co-Editor-in-Chief

T

he Kentucky-bred and London-acclaimed band Cage the Elephant won its first Grammy for Best Rock Album during the 2017 ceremony for their record Tell Me I’m Pretty, beating out top bands such as Panic! at the Disco, Weezer, and Blink-182. With such a seemingly self-involved title, the four man group’s new album lyrically grapples between self-doubt and confidence within each song, but the guitar riffs and hypnotic drum beat just reaffirm the band’s eclectic flair. While their three previous albums seemed a perfect blend of organized chaos, what with lead singer Matt Shultz’s notable incoherent screaming at various times and breathless vocals paired with hodgepodge instrumentals, Tell Me I’m Pretty shows a more mature, refined quartet.

Cage the Elephant is one of those sui generis bands that bring a new style to each album, while still keeping that imaginative spirit alive that guarantees a loyal fan base. Practically each song showcases the lead guitar that brings a frenetic energy paired with morbid lyrics that sound more like affirmations that testify to the oddness of life and the need to live through each moment.

With just ten songs on the album, Cage the Elephant elegantly packs a whole lot of philosophical questions into songs that average four minutes. For starters, the topic of domestic abuse is tackled in “Punchin’ Bag,” in which it refutes the notion of a hapless victim and warns abusers of consequences.

“Mess Around” is the perfect feminist anthem, in which it warns against underestimating a woman who does just what the title suggests: “No, she don’t mess around” and “She’ll show you what she’s made of”.

Upon a first listen for the album, the songs are so artistically placed in order that they smoothly transition the listener from the energetic track of “Sweetie Little Jean” to a more laid back and indulgent “Too Late to Say Goodbye”. While the opening track of “Cry Baby” is reminiscent of the conventional love sick person who is lustful, the song holds the warning to “Open up your eyes/ or life will pass you by”. The closing number of “Portuguese Knife Fight” marks the conclusion of the band’s musings by referencing the crazed lover

once again, but this time, the singer also feels the erratic thoughts. After a gorgeous guitar solo in the intro, he gets straight to the point by telling his Juliet, “I wanna waste my life with you/Well the look in your eyes says you’re feeling the same way too”.

One of the best selling songs off the album, “Trouble”, is different compared to Cage the Elephant’s usual stunners such as “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and “In One Ear” and more like their more widely known “Cigarette Daydreams”. It’s more dreamy, nostalgic, and Shultz seems at a daze to the wonders of life, singing “Trouble on my left/trouble on my right/I’ve been facing trouble almost all my life”. Their devil-may-care attitude is still in full force; the music video for “Cold Cold Cold” literally deals

with an asylum treating its patient, coupled with the strut that only this band can carry who perform on an impromptu stage. However, this album wanders off their beaten path to experiment with a more classic alternative style with an innovative twist.

10 REVIEW | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

Everything, Everything Love is worth the pain in Nicola Yoon’s new novel

T

by Kayla Terry, Reporter he 2015 novel Everything Everything, by Nicola Yoon, is a heartfelt, coming of age story about a young woman finding her independence.

Madeline is a very sheltered girl who is often stuck inside her “bubble” of a house due to her disease and ultimately undersocialized because of the fact that Madeline struggles with a condition known as SCID, which is Severe Combined Immunodeficiency that limits her interactions. Her condition restricts her social circle to her nurse and mother, until a new family moves in next door. Despite her limitations, the boy next door, Olly, quickly makes contact through email and window notes.

Soon, she gradually turns into the average eighteen year old with a teen romance on her mind and arguing with her mom over seeing a boy.

Yoon’s writing style is very conservative and innocent early on in the novel, but evolves into more daring, outspoken, and confident voice that develops along with the main character.

The author gets readers to feel like they can relate to Madeline, the main character, through mainstream teen trials. In this contempt of the cliche teen romance, readers cannot help but become involved. Readers will quickly become absorbed in this fast paced novel wondering what will happen with her and Olly, along with where her new found confidence will take her.

SPOILER ALERT: All of the conflicts and great memories that make Madeline’s story is ultimately to get one point, ”Love is worth everything,everything” across. Every moment, risk and struggle is a small price to pay to experience love.

It is no small secret that love comes with a price, but Madeline is granted the gift few teenagers have: true love. Readers are taken through the emotions of her romance experiences such as her head over heels first kiss to her first time.

Continuously leading readers to conclude that love is not just a price:it is everything.

E v e r y t h i n g Everything will be released as a major motion picture, on May 19, 2017.

REVIEW|

Logan

Actor Hugh Jackman passes the baton to Daphne Keen, the new X-23

E

by Marie Perez, Opinion Editor pic fight scenes and mysterious mutant children thrill audiences as Hugh Jackman returns to the screen to resume his role as the Wolverine in the new film, Logan. Set in 2024, we are taken to a very different future than most would imagine in the X-Men Universe. The fight to liberate mutants has subsided, but only because of the questionably few mutant births that have occurred, possibly as a result of an insane Doctor’s ambition. This is third installment in the Wolverine movies and set in a completely new alternate reality as a result of the events in X-Men Days of Future Past, where the Wolverine himself changed the future.

From the bloody Wolverine brawls we are accustomed to in his films to the suspenseful and surprising plot line, the audience will not have trouble staying interested. We see a few familiar faces and many new ones that are key to this action-packed movie. Its R rating is appropriate because heads literally roll and and the gory deaths still occur even though there are six child actors in this film. I was also very surprised with how savage the fight scenes were, especially the ones with a mutant who matches the Wolverine in temperament. As this is definitely the most violent of the X-Men films, it was tastefully gory. Another loose end in the plot is the matter of the mysterious mutant girl that was first seen in the trailers in January that resembles our favorite X-Man: X-23, played by 11 year old Dafne Keen from the Spanish television series, the Refugees.

There is no doubt she is worthy to be the Wolverine’s successor as we follow this new take on X-23’s origins. Going by the given name of Laura, the pair embark on a journey filled with plenty of evil scientists, obnoxious tough guys and lab experiments gone wrong. Logan has seen a lot of bad things in his incredibly long and full life and this film is no exception to the X-Man archetype. However, heartfelt scenes were not lacking and at least half the audience will cry both tears of joy and sadness who watch the presumably last Wolverine film, since Jackman announced he is stepping away from that role, according to an article in Entertainment Weekly. Warning: Don’t read that article unless you want the ending to be entirely spoiled for you.

On a rating scale of five stars, I would definitely give this a four and a half, taking away the half a star because I know the true X-Men fans are going to have their hearts broken at least twice in this movie, but it had to be done.

Mr. Robot

W

USA Network’s psychological thriller digs deep into the human faculties

by Aiden Kerr, Reporter

hereas the media is known to fall victim to buying into the misconceptions of mental instability, the USA Network’s hit drama Mr. Robot has branched out like no other due to an unrivaled on-screen portrayal of one man’s mental flaws, and coping mechanisms.

Surpassing past attempts to grasp hacker culture in movies such as Wargames and The Matrix, Mr. Robot portrays a very tangible application of everyday cybercrime. It is also unique in its depiction of mental illness, whereas failed attempts in movies such as Me, Myself & Irene and Wonderland had illnesses that were either misinterpreted altogether or tiptoed around.

The narration is led by the unstable mental faculties of cybersecurity hacker Elliot Alderson, played by Rami Malek, who suffers substance abuse, social anxiety disorder, clinical depression, and most notably, Dissociative identity disorder. Later disclosed in season 1, the title character Mr. Robot is in reference to, SPOILER, Elliot’s father, played

by Christian Slater, who has since left Elliot’s life prior to the show’s timeline. However, due to Elliot’s suppressed feelings of childhood trauma, his state of dissociative identity does not believe his father is dead, and thus Mr. Robot becomes a figment of his own imagining.

What troubles Elliot starts with his line of work at Allsafe, a cybersecurity solutions company, when they partner with a conglomerate called E-Corp, or as Elliot makes them out to be, Evil-Corp. Approached by an underground hacktivist group called fsociety, they plan to wipe billions in consumer debt from companies like Allsafe and Evil-Corp, leaving Elliot caught in a crossfire.

A stellar line-up of characters who perform alongside Malek and Slater include Carly Chaikin as Elliot’s sister, Portia Doubleday as Elliot’s Allsafe colleague, and Martin Wallström as Evil-Corp’s SVP Tyrell Wellick.

Sam Esmail’s ability to empathize with the audience resonates with several topics dealt in the series, including mental illness, corporate capitalists, cheating boyfriends, and drug addiction. Nearly one in five US citizens is diagnosed with mental illness, which is 18.2 percent - such is the believability of Esmail’s mentally hampered narrator.

What I admire most is the title’s ability to take on multiple interpretations. Some say it is a reference to Elliot’s nearly automated social encounters and the way he processes tension and grief. Others believe it is a wake-up call for the monotonous 9 to 5 laborers and how consumerism enslaves society. The beautiful thing is that director Sam Esmail intended for these open-ended questions, and there never really was one right answer.

On Episode 9, thematically named eps1.9_zer0day.avi, which is similar to a computer file, Mr. Robot and Elliot stand in Times Square, where the figment of Mr. Robot is heard mocking Elliot, “Is any of it real?

Synthetic emotions in the form of pills, psychological warfare in the form of advertising, brainwashing seminars in the form of media! You want to talk about reality? As far as you are concerned, Elliot, I am very real.” This constant internal torment reaches a climax when Elliot finds his father’s own gravestone, a raw instance where his brain cannot hide behind the truth that Elliot is making it all up in his head. This begs the question: if Mr. Robot created fsociety, does this mean Elliot is behind all of this? Answers: yes.

Check out OUR full reviews at CrimsonNewsmagazine.ORg

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | REVIEW 11

|PEOPLE

Spreading their wings T

he overarching theme of high school is destination: Where are you going to go to college? What classes will you be in next year? Where can I meet you at lunch?

Any self respecting adult will tell you the story: high school will take you anywhere you want to go. As soon as you sign that registration paper, it is time to hit the ground running toward the meticulously arranged path of your future. There are plenty of paths, but choosing one feels like throwing a dart at the board of possibilities while blindfolded.

For sophomore Sophia Baer and senior Morgan La Mascus, however, their locomotive of choice is an airplane. Yes, a genuine airplane, complete with a solid pair of wings to help them soar toward their futures.

Baer and La Mascus have found a way to ascend everyday responsibilities toward earning their pilot’s licenses, while most high schoolers are up to their ears in homework, sports, work, and social obligations.

“I have to [have] better time management.

Sometimes I wouldn’t be to able to fly as much as I’d have liked to due to my homework or tests, but I’ve accomplished it,” said Baer, who juggles four honors classes, volleyball, horseback riding, and trips to the gym in addition to her aviation pursuits.

While training to be a professional pilot is rare enough, a study conducted

by BBC News in 2015 states that only 3% of pilots worldwide are female. Furthermore, the Houston Chronicle found that the average age of student pilots

Sophomore Sophia Baer and senior Morgan La Mascus strive to earn their pilot’s licenses while juggling the responsibilities of high school life.

don’t start their training until their early 30’s, and pilot status is typically not achieved until the age of 40.

For Baer, her inspiration for taking to the skies blossomed from the support of her mother, Sonjia Johnston, who is the flight instructor of both Baer and La Mascus. Much like her mother, Baer grew up between the wings of the grandfather’s small plane, and the influence of her family’s passion for aviation peaked her interest.

flying lesson with Johnston, Baer and La Mascus spend at least a hour in the air practicing the necessary skills of flying an airplane, such as takeoffs, landings, flight patterns, technical speed and altitude adjustments, and proper radio communication. Before the girls can take to the skies, they spend time on the ground learning correct preflight evaluation of their air crafts and completing occasional written test work.

“They are both highly motivated, mature and focused young women,” said Johnston. “They are attentive, quick learners with great attitudes, and it is very rewarding to be part of their journey; I’m honored to have the opportunity to train them to be exceptional, safe aviators.”

La Mascus, who started taking official flight lessons in January 2017 during the final semester of high school, is on track to earn her pilot’s license this coming May. Much like Baer, La Mascus began her aeronautical pursuits at a young age. Her father, an electrician, inspired La Mascus with his passion for flight by taking her to the skies, proving alongside Johnston, a parent’s natural skill as a mentor while teaching their chicks to fly.

“When my dad would take me for rides when I was a kid, it was so much fun. It still is to me, so it’s even more Taking To The Sky : La Mascus smiles at the camera as special when you are the one [piloting].” she maneuvers the plane right after take off.

In order to obtain a piloting license, aviators must first learn ground level basics, local flight pattern mastery, Baer, who is the youngest in her family to start taking successful solo flying experience, and a cross country flight to the skies, achieved her first solo flight on her sixteenth which requires taking off and landing in two separate airports. birthday, Feb.1. It was the first vital milestone toward getting an “Becoming a pilot is a multi step process… you need to official pilot’s license. have an ability to learn and follow procedures, interpret flight During this first unassisted flight, Baer’s skills were put instruments and displays and maintain good situational to the test as she took off, completed her flight patterns, and awareness. You must be 17 years old and meet certain FAA landed her craft without the immediate guidance of her flight [Federal Aviation Administration] aeronautical knowledge Instructor and mother. and flight requirements. You also must pass a knowledge and “I cried,” admitted Baer with a good natured laugh. “It flight test. It is rigorous, but highly rewarding,” said Johnston. was very shocking, but it was like all of the work I had put into Inspired by her mother, Baer plans to earn her own Flight this has paid off.”

Instructor’s license and continue flying throughout the rest of Johnston, who began flying at age 23, her life. mentors her students on the technical “There are a lot of careers in aviation that people don’t aspects of flying, maneuvering know about,” said La Mascus. “Flying helps you to pay attention skills, and to detail. You do have to be very focused and dedicated aeronautical decision because it is a lot of work.” making. It’s the process While future destination plans are expected to change of making proper decisions among high schoolers as different doors of discovery open relative to the flight that follow and close, both girls remain certain of one thing: they will safety requirements and never fail to visit their second home in the sky. successful piloting. In a typical —Lindsay Darbyshire, Editorial Editor

On Cloud Nine (right) : Baer gets her pilot’s license on her

12 PEOPLE | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

sixteenth birthday. Baer grew up between the wings of a plane, and the influence of her family’s passion for aviation soon peaked her interest.

PEOPLE|

Photos by Morgan Rego

A

s you walk into the little shop on the corner of 15th and Spring, you can’t help but breathe in and absorb the aroma of freshly made donuts. The comforting atmosphere that surrounds you as you step foot through the door is carefully crafted by every little piece of decor that adds to the warmth to the place. Twisted and Glazed is unlike any other donut shop in Paso Robles.

This fall, Sondra and Keith Williams opened a donut shop called Twisted and Glazed that looks out onto the bustling life of Spring Street.

Sondra Williams has always had the dream of opening her own bakery, having grown up in Templeton and then later moving to Paso Robles.

“There was always this little shack in the area where [the] shop is, and she always used to say, ‘That’s going to be my cupcake shop,’ or, ‘That’s going to be my bakery one day,’ and so she turned the space that’s there now into Twisted and Glazed with help from my uncle and family, friends, and numerous people,” said Niya Williams, the oldest Williams child.

Although Sondra Williams had always dreamed of opening some sort of bakery or pastry shop, it was her brother who really inspired her to start her own business. “[My Uncle Neil] recently moved down to Texas and opened a donut shop, and my mom was over the moon with that–she thought it was the coolest thing. She started brainstorming on her own and thinking of different ideas,” said Williams, who spends approximately 20 hours every week working in the shop.

Like a typical job, Williams gets paid $10.50 an hour, the minimum wage in California.

“Sometimes, people have family businesses, and it’s like, ‘Oh, we don’t have to pay you; you’re my kids.’ Well, my mom likes to instill the fact that working is very important,

A face behind Twisted and Glazed

Sophomore Niya Williams learns to balance life with family business

and [that] you need to learn how to have those social skills and have those work ethics. She pays us as a reward. In my mind, it’s ‘I have a job, and I have a responsibility and I’m getting paid for that responsibility,” and with her it’s very much like, ‘I’m teaching my kids these things and teaching them how to earn money and how to survive on their own with that,’” Williams said.

Not only does Williams feel that working in her parents’ shop has taught her more about responsibility, but she has also developed very essential people skills.

“I have always been super socially awkward, so I can never openly talk to people, but working there, I am able to talk to people and see people that I know and feel comfortable in my job. Also, just meeting new people and seeing people come back like regular customers is super fun,” Williams said.

Although some aspects of working for the family business are the same to any other job, Williams describes some perks of working closely with your family.

“It’s hard to get your point across [when you’re not working for people you are familiar with], and it’s hard Donut know what I would do without these:

Pictured are four of Twisted and Glazed speciality donuts.

The shop is open everyday from 5am to 4pm.

to be able to speak your mind and to be able to just do what you would normally do.

Working in a family business, it’s people who know you, and you get to be associated with that as a whole, and not just like ‘Oh, I work there,’” said Williams, who works alongside a regular staff of about eight people.

Although the weeks leading up to the opening of the shop were stressful, Williams assures us that the family hasn’t let the business get in the way of their time together, and that despite the challenges, it is an experience that has been rewarding for all.

“My favorite thing about opening the shop is seeing my mom being happy and seeing her meet all these different people and be super happy about being able to give back to some of those people,” Williams said.

—Esther Cabello, People Co-Editor

“My favorite thing about opening the shop is seeing my mom being happy and seeing her meet all these different people..."

— Niya Williams, 10

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | PEOPLE

13

|WORLD

Appropriation vs Appreciation

I

n America, where thousands of citizens originate from different cultures, it is not unusual to see aspects of these cultures stolen by those who do not truly understand their origins. While it is inevitable that these cultures will mix over time, there is a difference between appreciation and appropriation. When a member of a dominant culture “borrows” aspects of a minority’s culture with which they have no real connection, it is considered to be appropriation, while appreciation is expressed when someone who has a connection to a certain culture celebrates it. The line between the two can be confusing to those who are not properly educated of the issue, causing majorities to offend minorities time and time again, with no end to this pattern in sight.

Among the most impactful of these culprits are celebrities, who have an immense influence on the youth of America, and because of this, can teach young adults that it is okay to adopt a culture to make a joke or a fashion statement. Actor Chris Hemsworth became one of these offenders in December 2015, when he dressed in the traditional attire of a Native American group originating in Canada. While this disappointed and angered many fans, Hemsworth took the step of admitting and apologizing for his ignorance.

“I was stupidly unaware of the offence this may have caused and the sensitivity around this issue. I sincerely and unreservedly apologise to all First Nations people for this thoughtless action,” he said in a statement released on Instagram on Oct. 27, 2016.

Many other public figures such as Madonna, Miley Cyrus, Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss and Katy Perry were accused of cultural appropriation for taking credit for dances that originated in the AfricanAmerican communities, wearing a hijab as a fashion statement, and dressing up as a geisha. Some apologized for their wrongdoings, while others have yet to acknowledge the fault of their actions.

“If you’re going to adopt something from a different culture, just know the background behind it and don’t display it in a disrespectful manner,” senior Aaliyah Lewis said.

Other widespread culprits of appropriation are Halloween costumes. Every October, over 131 million teens and adults around the world buy costumes, often times thinking of how the costume will look instead of the history behind it. With this kind of mindset, they may wear costumes depicting other cultures, such as a Native American headdress or a kimono, sending out a message of ignorance and

14 WORLD | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

borrowing a culture’s traditions can negatively affect minorities disrespect of those who value that culture.

“When you dress up as a culture that you are currently oppressing, or have subjugated in the past, you’re not inventing anything, you’re just kicking them when they are down,” Susan Scafidi, author of Who Owns Culture?, said.

Junior Serenity White-Ilole, who believes that appropriation is the ultimate form of disrespect, said, “I think people who appropriate cultures should attempt to understand it first. It might just be a hairstyle or an item of clothing to some, but to those of that culture, it is seen as something sacred or ritualistic.”

In current day society with racism visible in so many aspects of life, it is found unjust to pick and choose parts of a culture that are favorable whilst rejecting the people who introduced that culture. This can sometimes be defended by claiming that minorities have borrowed from dominant cultures as well; however, these people do not realize the difference b e t w e e n taking part in a minority’s culture and joining in a majority. Diversity is a part of what America is said to be: the home of the free. The reality is that unique aspects of cultures can emphasize the difference between races and therefore separate those trying to build a life of acceptance and hope.

“Immigrants with accents or people from other cultures who wear headscarves or traditional clothing that are not Western would find it very difficult to be accepted by a white dominant culture that will not only mock or make fun of them, but even blatantly discriminate against them,” Tiffanie Drayton stated in The Frisky.

Because majorities are called out for taking parts of a culture that do not belong to them, some individuals take offense and attempt to call out minorities for doing the same.

Without a proper understanding of cultural appropriation, it could be difficult to realize that the two are not equal and there is never a time during which it is seen as acceptable to take part of a culture from a minority that has been or is oppressed, taunted or disrespected for celebrating that very culture.

—by Jessica Jagger, World Co-Editor

Art by Elise Scheiffele,

POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS|

W

maybe

Let’s debunk popular no misconceptions to lessen the political divide

ith fake news at an all time high, the media is essential to Americans’ news consumption.

However, the tension between the political left and right is at a zenith in which politically leaning journalism and audience commentology fuels news bytes everywhere. It is harder to discern what is honestly going on in the world—let alone our own country.

“Vaccines can cause Autism.”

“Climate change is not real.”

“Hillary Clinton sold weapons to terrorists.”

“Donald Trump is promoted by the pope.”

These viral false narratives are at the forefront of our screens and have become the fodder for our arguments.

The harmful ones need debunking. Society needs to understand its susceptibility.

Rejecting information takes more mental effort than accepting it, according to research published

by Stephan Lewandowsky of University of Western Australia. The intensity of recent political debates make it tempting to grab ahold of whatever information lends itself to your cause.

Even the best of the unbiased—and even we high school journalists at Crimson—have run into this impulse. It can be intentional, or simply happenstance, as choices are made about who and what to cover, on what quote or fact to print or not. We journalists make these choices with the same dedication to our own personal beliefs that every other person possesses.

In the search of the truth we are still biased humans; we want to believe whatever brings us comfort or ammunition.

But for the sake of journalism and of an informed civilized society, we need to set those feelings aside for

12

.8%

the sake of fairness and a hunger for accuracy.

Imagine trying to do this on an international scale with every hot button topic known to man, and not within the happenings of a small town on the Central Coast. Around here, it is just plain hard to remember which Facebook post is worth a grain of salt.

In the same Australian study, researchers presented people with a false news report about a warehouse fire caused by negligent storage of gas cylinders and oil paints. Later, when the participants read a retraction of the information regarding the cause of the fire, only about half of them reported that the initial account was wrong. This finding suggests that misinformation is still believed 50 percent of the time, despite the cycling of a correction.

“Is it the media that causes public panic?” nurse Kaci Hickox asked on Newshour. “Or is it that we, the public, just desire drama and fear—and that therefore feeds into the media?”

In short, we believe what we want to believe. We read what we want to read and the world caters to it.

It is not just about fake news or an expanding media’s newfound relevance in shaping our world. It is about conversations, or the lack thereof. It is about forgetting that your opponent is a person with the same biases and faults as you. It is buying into the sensationalism that has pumped off penny presses since the 1830s, and letting it warp our ability to tell if everything on the internet is true or not, and demanding more of it.

Misinformation and heated disagreements are nothing new to us. They’ve just been reemphasized by current events.

A healthy study of at least three debated ideas circulating among students is timely and helpful:

“A permanent ban of Muslims will reduce violence in the U.S.” “A Mexican funded wall desired by a racist president will keep unwelcome Mexicans out.”

“Brutal ICE raids are randomly deporting minorities.”

unsure 5.4%

by Sabrina Hernandez, Review Editor

250 students answering March 13-17

% 5.4

Separating fact from fiction

campus survey

Is fake news and misinformation harmful?

76.4%

yes How often do you believe what the news says?

1 2

never

3.2%

34

17.2% 54% 21.6%

5

always

4%

social media

76.4%

Network broad cast

Where do you usually get your news?

11.6%

50.8% 2.8%

other

print pubs

39.2%

conversations

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS 15

|POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS

POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS|

JUDGED FOR MY

Sophomore Rylie Johnson was also judged for her political opinions, but for the opposite reasons.

“I have walked by people while wearing something supporting Trump, and people will say ‘F trump,’” Johnson said.

She stated that after school one day a girl came up to her and shoved her into a table because she was a Trump supporter. She said she believes that most judgments and prejudices result in people being uneducated on the topic at hand.

Johnson supports Trump because she agrees with his decisions to close our borders and appeal and replace Obama care.

Both students have worn hats supporting either Sanders or Trump. They said they received backlash, either verbal or physical.

Both political sides are responsible for these occurrences and both the

right and the left alike are judged, harmed, or offended.

“I don’t think school is a good place to express political beliefs because most students don’t know anything about politics,” said Johnson. “I am very upset that the school administration allowed an immigration protest to happen, and that they won’t allow a pro Trump protest if we wanted to have one.”

Although Johnson said she was not told directly that she could not hold a pro Trump protest, security was increased when administration heard she and her friends wanted to hold a protest.

Enthusiastic students waving a flag bearing Trump’s name were approached by security the day after the election and asked stop.

w

ou judged fo y e ry ar

POLITICAL VIEWS?

r ou

P

HRS has a political divide found since the beginning of this school year due to Trump’s election and policies, provoking the vocalization of opinions of students about government decisions. The topics of women’s rights, immigration, and Trump support are found throughout campus, from faculty and students attending the Women’s March, the student-led protest for “Day Without Immigrants” on Feb. 16, and a vehicle in the parking lot displaying a flag bearing Trump’s name.

With any political divide, judgments are sure to arise. Students report feeling the intolerance at school in a recent survey of 36 people. Fifty three percent of students reported to being judged for their political opinion, with 75 percent of those students judged at school. On the other hand, 67 percent of students confess to judging others for their statements and appearance. Posts on social media, verbal comments, and personal opinions are the object of controversy, with the election only furthering the divide.

Both conservative and liberal students are reporting abuse and intolerance.

CHANTING (below) : On Feb. Junior Angelica Valencia declared herself a Democratic socialist who stands for the 16, Bearcats gathered coexistence of all religions and races. with signs to “I see people who hurt others in regard to politics, and I feel demonstrate immigrant the need to talk about it,” said Valencia, whose beliefs have rights. caused others to call her names just for standing up for what she believes in, such as fair treatment of others. “I think people are allowed to have their opinions but once they threaten or harass others, then it becomes dangerous.”

Like Valencia, 64 percent of students at PRHS believe that students should be able to express their political opinions on school property.

by Sarah Jagger, Health Co-Editor

Ho

In spite of “Bridges not Walls” mentality, Bearcats still face judgment for political ideologies

“Well I feel like I can’t express my political beliefs.... because other people have their beliefs and they don’t really care [about] anyone else’s... I feel like people are just very judgmental about it and then I kind of think that they think of you differently because of your views... it’s kind of hard for me because it causes conflict and I don’t want people to think of me bad. I don’t want to cause conflict.”

— ANONYMOUS BEARCAT, 12

Rylie Johnson

16 POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS 17

|POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS

“a Permanent ban against muslims will reduce violence in the U.S.”

Trump is permanently banning people in seven countries from entering the United States.

The ban will keep all Muslims out of the United States.

The ban will lower the amount of violent acts in the U.S.

by Alicia Myrick, Reporter

% of Bearcats that believe this myth

18 POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

The first draft of the executive order was a 90day freeze on travel to the United States from the countries and a 120 day ban for refugees from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen and Libya. The most recent order does not restrict those already holding visas from entering the US and drops Iraq from the list, but the time frame of the travel ban is not changed.

The first draft of the travel ban offered preference to “persecuted religious minorities,” but the ban’s current iteration has no such preference--it prevents all residents in the six countries from getting US visas, and does not affect Muslims from any other nations.

Since 2001, immigrants or those with immigrant parents from the banned countries have not committed any terrorist attacks in the U.S., according to the University of North Carolina. “Only 23 percent [of Muslim Americans] had family backgrounds in those countries,” according to Charles Kurzman, a sociology professor at UNC.

“A MEXICAN FUNDED WALL FROM A RACIST PRESIDENT WILL KEEP OUT UNWANTED MEXICANS.”

by Lizette Richkarday, Reporter

POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS|

Mexico will pay for Trump’s wall.

Trump is racist and bent on suppressing immigrant rights.

Although President Donald Trump initially announced Mexico would pay for the wall, Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto repeated that his country would not foot the 12 to 25 million dollar bill, and he canceled a Jan. 26 meeting with the president after the wall executive order was signed. White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that the administration would pay for the wall by imposing a 20 percent tax on avocado, beer and tequila imports, which would generate 10 billion dollars a year, according to Spicer.

The Executive Order on border security and immigration enforcement explains the purpose is to “...direct executive departments and agencies to deploy all lawful means to secure the Nation’s southern border, to prevent further illegal immigration into the United States, and to repatriate illegal aliens swiftly, consistently, and humanely.” Almost any immigrant who entered the country illegally is targeted for deportation. This amounts to around eight million immigrants targeted for deportation.

Mexican Americans, who make up 11.14 percent of the US

Mexicans population, help the economy mainly through field/farm working and ranching, and in 2015 are not their Consumer Packaged Goods statistic was welcome estimated to be 1.5 trillion dollars, which was a 50 in Trump’s percent increase from 2010. The chief actuary of the America.

Social Security Administration claims undocumented workers contribute to 300 billion dollars of the Social Security Trust Fund, and without the 2.5 million workers, that money would be lost. Linda Jacobson, director of the Population Reference Bureau said, “...Hispanics are an economic force and because they are growing in numbers that won’t change, corporate America is taking notice.”

% of Bearcats that believe this myth

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS 19

|POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS

“Unprecedented and brutal ICE Raids are randomly deporting minorities!”

by Morgan Rego, People Co-Editor

ICE Raids are new to America and not previously seen in other administrations.

ICE Raids are random and deporting only minorities.

%Bearcats of that believe this myth

20 POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

ICE raid deportations occurred during President Barack Obama’s term as well, and 2.5 million undocumented workers were deported through ICE raids during his time in office. Trump Administration raids are different from Obama’s in that ICE officials may also deport immigrants detained in collateral arrests, in which immigrants are arrested during the raid, but not the target of the raid. In the week of Feb. 6, over 680 illegal immigrants were detained by ICE Raids and 75 percent of the undocumented workers possessed a criminal record.

ICE’s goal is to “ensure that illegal aliens are removed from the U.S. once they have been determined deportable by an immigration court.” After an initial hearing called a master hearing, a foreign national can set future master hearings in order to secure additional documents, prepare evidence, conduct discovery or await the status of the pending application for deportation. After the hearing, if the immigrant is found illegal and is planned for deportation, they are taken to a level one detention holding center. News reports have condemned the prison like atmosphere of detention holding centers, such as the LA Times and Raw Story. The average time of holding is 21 days, where they are next taken to an ICE airport and flown back to their original country. Non-citizens may come to the attention of the immigration authorities by phoned-in tips, a workplace raid, a check on the immigration status of people in jail, or a failed application for asylum, green card or naturalization.

Where do you stand on the

L PO

L S PE C A C I IT T

?

POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS|

RU M

by Aiden Kerr, Reporter

This questionnaire by Crimson Newsmagazine attempts to best categorize an individual to what political stance they may have. Questions below are controversial topics, such as abortion, welfare, immigration and LGBT+ rights that separate left and right-wing politics. When reaching a political belief below, note that this is no way entirely

indicative of a one’s true ideologies, as not all political topics have There has been insufficient proof

been covered.

START I do not support the LGBT+ community.

>

> I support the LGBT+ community and their rights.

>

>

Do you believe in the existence of global warming?

>

Global warming has been proven & should be a concern to everyone.

>

Where does the future of American energy lie?

>

Gas, oil, & coal are cost-efficient and abundant in the US.

>

> > We should invest in renewable sources, i.e. wind and solar power.

> >

>

>

progressives put emphasis on the pursuit of science and industrialization.

THEY value social equality and environmental justice.

Progressivism embraces reformation and quick government decision-making.

moder ate lef t

Raising the minimum wage causes gradual inflation & destroys jobs.

>

>

left

social LIBERALISM

Raising the minimum wage spurs economic and job growth.

The ACA was affordable and increased the quality of health coverage.

>

>

>

> far left

> >

Government should focus on the growth of the individual.

d e m o c r a t PROGRESSIVE

Should the minimum wage be increased?

>

>

Do you support the Affordable Care Act? (ObamaCare)

Long-term welfare encourages codependency and a lack of drive.

>

Should government focus on the growth of the individual or society?

SOCIALISM Socialists value a consumer controlled economy and common ownership.

They believe in the equality of all sexes, ethnicities, and religious beliefs.

Revolution is sometimes necessary for radical change.

>

>

The ACA was ultimately harmful and lowered the quality of health coverage.

>

>

Government should focus on the growth of society as a whole.

Welfare is a necessary safety net to provide for the poor.

>

Health care should be privatized through free market systems.

>

> Yes. Strict gun regulation will lower crime rates.

I am pro-choice.

>

The government should be responsible for providing free or low cost health care.

No. The right to bear arms should not be regulated.

What is your stance on welfare?

I am pro-life.

>

>

Are you in favor of gun regulation & background checks?

>

Who should be responsible for providing health care in the US?

Yes. In the case of murder, the punishment fits the crime.

>

>

What stance do you take on women’s abortion rights?

No. It is inhumane.

Life for life is not the solution.

>

The US should isolate itself from foreign issues and conflict.

>

>

>

Is the death sentence justified?

>

The US should intervene with foreign issues & contribute to a solution.

> >

Should the US intervene on global conflicts or isolate itself?

>

to support this.

>

>

Yes, they need proper vetting and identification.

>

>

>

>

No. Undocumented immigrants are still an integral part of American culture.

Do you support LGBT+ rights?

>

Yes. Immigrants are a threat to our nation’s security.

>

Are undocumented immigrants a problem in this country?

r e p u b l i c a n centrism

conservatism

capitalism

libertarianism

moder ate

moder ate right

right

far right

Social Liberals Centrists maintain agree that left wing & right personal freedom wing ideologies, comes from social justice. where a balance of social Supply and demand should hierarchy and social equality dictate is met. They the economic generally accept a system. They degree of believe the government should laissez faire (hands off)control address health without complete care, poverty, government and education authority. concerns.

Conservatists respect liberty within the boundaries of traditional american values.

They value a free market run by the individual.

Most oppose high taxation or increase in wage pay.

capitalists historically prefer privatized ownership and little government interference in terms of exchange, investment, competition and distribution of goods. They hold themselves to a rule of law, which recognizes the individual.

Libertarians are proponents of economic autonomy. They value voluntary effort and liberty to affect one’s success. They believe a laissez faire system is the best system; any government interference is counteractive.

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | POLITICAL MYTHBUSTERS 21

|CARMESI

Escúchanos (abajo) : Los AVID seniors analizan el

Photo de Lauren Wassam

texto. Lupita Uribe lee un extracto del artículo mientras otros lo escuchan.

Adolescentes saben una cosa o dos de inmigración AVID ORGANIZA UNA DISCUSIÓN SOBRE LAS CUESTIONES DE INMIGRACIÓN Y REDADAS DE ICE

M

uchos de los orden ejecutivas de Trump han recibido mucha controversia en todo el país cuando termina su segundo mes en el cargo. La cuestión de la inmigración y las deportaciones por redadas de ICE está causando revuelo debido a las miles de familias que podría afectar. Como redadas de ICE continúan deportar a inmigrantes indocumentados que continúan con más y más familias a ocultar, en California solo “oficiales detenidos 161 personas con una amplia gama de convicciones de delito” y 10 que no tenía ninguna historia criminal en todos dijo un artículo del New York Times.

“La gente se queda en casa... Ellos no están respondiendo sus puertas. Están viviendo en medo,”afirmó Hernaldo Baltodano, un abogado local en SLO County La verdad sobre la inmigración en los Estados Unidos es que “de los 31 millones de inmigrantes que viven en los Estados Unidos en 2009, unos 20 millones son ciudadanos o residentes legales. De aquellos que no tienen autorización para estar aquí, cerca del 45 por ciento entraron el país legalmente y luego dejaron sus papeles vencar” según tolerance.org.

Los estudiantes estaban interesados en discutir estos temas en un seminario socrático.

La clase AVID PRHS formó un seminario socrático el Miércoles, 8 de Marzo en sala de Bearcat. El Sr. Wagner, profesor Avid y Sra. Logan, también una Avid profesora, tenían los dos clases unir en sala de Bearcat para analizar y comparar dos artículos de texto, la política de la administración Obama sobre inmigración y política de la administración de Trump Los estudiantes se sentaban en el círculo interno o en el círculo exterior. Como seniors Samantha González y Lupita Uribe se sentaban en el círculo interno para hablar. Otros se

22 CARMESI | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

por Valeria Cisneros, Co-Jefa-de-Editores

sentaban en el círculo externo y permanecieron callados, aunque se les permitió unirse al círculo interno para hablar.

La discusión duró 40 minutos y tópicos de la actual presidenta y las políticas del ex Presidente sobre la inmigración como la inmigración ilegal, DACA y redadas de ice.

Un estudiante le preguntó, “¿crees que está justificado el trato en el artículo de Obama?”

Que habló sobre el acuerdo de inmigración la administración Obama declaró: “Si has estado en Estados Unidos por más de cinco años; Si usted tiene hijos que son ciudadanos estadounidenses o residentes legales; Si te registras, pasar una verificación de antecedentes penales y estás dispuesto a pagar su parte justa de impuestos, usted podrá aplicar para permanecer en el país temporalmente, sin miedo a la deportación.”

Un estudiante compañero pensó que el reparto no sería realista teniendo en cuenta la cantidad de inmigrantes ya en el país. “Bueno ya hay 11 millones inmigrantes aquí, así que sería difícil de mantener [con] este acuerdo?” dijo el senior AVID. Otro estudiante respondió a la pregunta, “¿es mejor para que ellos intentar encontrar una manera de obtener la ciudadanía en lugar de deportar, porque como dijiste es imposible deportar a todos ellos?”

La discusión madura continuó entre los seniors hasta que sonó la campana para la nutrición. Al inicio del seminario sólo seis estudiantes fueron en el círculo interior, pero durante la charla más de 15 estudiantes discutieron con sus compañeros en una discusión madura sobre las políticas y leyes que afectan a su país y sus vidas hoy.

ENVIRONMENT|

Here comes the rain (again.)

Increased rainfall is helping and harming California

by Emma Corripo, Illustrator

California Rain Report

T

he rain has finally come, relieving large portions of California from the five year drought. California was slammed with a series of heavy rainstorms at the start of the 2017 season and more rain is still to come, according to the Huffington Post.

Within the first few months of the season, California received 20 inches of rain and up to 20 feet of snow, putting many areas of California out of a “dangerous” drought.

California has experienced a series of “atmospheric rivers,” which is a change in atmospheric pressure that causes heavy amounts of rainfall, according to the Earth System Research Laboratory.

Atmospheric rivers can bring tropical weather from areas like Hawaii to the West Coast, with warm, heavy rainstorms also known as a “Pineapple Express.”

Though many parts of California have benefited, the rain storms have caused considerable damage to dams, road, and structural damage statewide.

The most publicized

damage ran nationally on Feb. 11, where heavy rains caused Lake Oroville to overflow onto an “unlined emergency spillway”, forcing the evacuation of 188,000 people from towns that were downstream from the dam.

Crews worked rigorously to slow water that poured out of the dam at 100,000 cubic feet per second. Officials continue to fear that if the dam does break, it could cause a “30 foot wall of water.” Current repairs to the dam are estimated to cost 200 million dollars, according to KQED, and are important to prevent dam failure and floods to the Sacramento area.

California is no longer in the red zone for droughts. But the KPBS Drought Tracker shows a large percentage of the state remains in a moderate condition.

In a rain season last from October first to April first, large portions of California received nearly 96 percent of that of a normal season. The Hyatt Powerplant at the base of the dam was also closed during the emergency, but is now running, according to Fox40.

At the start of spring, the first week was stormy in the bay area, with “winter-like” rain according to KQED. “Major impacts will be urban flooding, and it will probably trigger some mudslides.” said Steve Anderson, who is a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s office in Monterey.

Southern California was pinned in a 5-year-drought and this season’s shift to a more plentiful rain season will help California return to a more stable condition.

Photos by Emily Mowery

GIANNI LEWIS, 10 “Nothing bad.

I think this [rain] is really good for the environment - especially for Paso.”

JUSTINE PHILLIPS, 10

BRIANNA KILCREASE, 10

“The rain makes everything more green and beautiful out here.”

“I’m not a real big fan of the rain, but I like the way it makes everything so much prettier and greener.”

NAOMI PHILLIPS, 9 “I absolutely love the rain because it brings out fresh scents- that’s one of my favorite things- and makes everything seems so magical. Unfortunately, it hasn’t done much for the wells in the countryside that are still going dry.”

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | ENVIRONMENT 23

|HEALTH

Just the essentials

Six common essential oils used in everyday life

T

by Morgan Rego, People Co-Editor here are more than 90 essential oils and hundreds of brands for sale. Young Living and doTERRA are two of the big companies that sell high quality essential oils. Both of these companies promise to produce quality oils, unlike the ones that are being sold on Amazon for twenty dollars a pop. Essential oils are expensive, ranging from five dollars, like Lime oil, to 200 dollars, such as Rose oil, for just a five millimeter bottle. Producing the purest of oils is very costly. It can take as many as 500 to 2,000 pounds or more of raw plant material to produce just a pound of pure essential oil. Many oils found for cheap on the internet are either diluted with water or a carrier oil, which is usually vegetable oil. This being said, the quality oils can last for a very long time because each bottle contains up to 90 drops. When in use, only a couple drops will suffice.

Peppermint

Muscle Pain Relief Sinus Care Natural Energizer Reduce Nausea

Tea Tree

Bacterial infections Cold sores Congestion Acne

Frankincense

Lavender

Antiseptic Disinfectant Digestive Diuretic

Sleep Aid Calming Minor Burn Stress relief

Cedarwood

Acne & Eczema Hair Growth Respiratory Problems Focusing/ADHD

Lemon

Teeth Whitener Immune Support Enhance Water Improves Mood

Finding her future in the medical field

Junior Sarah Farrer prepares through the Community Health Care Practicum

by Brenna Collins, Health Co-Editor

I

n the walls of Twin Cities hospital, surrounded by the hurried buzz of doctors and nurses, junior Sarah Farrer feels right at home. For the next five hours, she will shadow nurses to learn simple procedures and how to chart and document patients. Through the Community Health Care Practicum, Farrer can experience what a day in her future profession will look like while still in high school.

For Farrer, an inclination to the medical field was always present, but her experiences in Community Health Care sold her on becoming a nurse. “I’ve kinda been wanting to do it since I was eight; it was a little dream, but then when I heard about this [class], and got into the hospital I for sure wanted to be a nurse,” said Farrer on what drew her to a career in nursing.

Farrer goes through rotations on her weekly shift in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as in the emergency room, where she observes outpatient services before she gets to explore her options in the actual ER. Students typically shadow nurses of different trades before finding a specialty that suits them. During her rotations, she has witnessed many things, in which one of the most monumental events was watching a baby being born. “When the baby first opened his eyes, that was crazy for such a small thing,” said Farrer about her experience.

Taking part in something this remarkable has a lasting effect on an aspiring nurse, which is one reason this class is important to many students.

Community Health Care is a platform where students can test out the waters of the medical field without diving in blindly. With medical dramas like Grey’s Anatomy on the rise, many teens have false impressions about the glitz and glamour of the medical field. A “false perception of their medical specialty before enrolling,” is one of the major causes of dropouts, according to theapprenticedoctor.com. This expectation for a medical setting to live up to its Hollywood counterparts is debunked by a student experiencing a medical career firsthand.

Teens interested in the medical field face a complicated and confusing path to their career. There is a multitude of different specialties such as nursing, sports medicine, surgery and veterinary that come with their unique schooling, pay and scope of practice. Out of the hundreds of options, nursing has more than 3.1 million registered nurses, making it the largest healthcare profession, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Certainty about college and careers is something that many teens lack; less than half of students feel prepared for their future, according to a survey by YouthTruth. The CTE classes that are offered on campus give students a glimpse into their future, so they know what to expect. “Getting to see if I’ll actually be able to follow through with this career and getting to see what I’ll actually be doing instead of being like ‘I think this is what I’ll do, this is what Google says this profession does.’ I get to see what it is and I get to have that hands on experience beforehand,” said junior Lily Seebart on prepping for her career as an athletic trainer.

Students start off in the Introduction to Healthcare class, where they learn about the abundance of healthcare professions before advancing on to the Community Health and Athletic Training practicums where they can see the scenarios they prepared for play out in real life. “The goal is that there is minimal classroom time and most of it is spent hands on, either observing, or … learning professional development.” said Shelby La Mendola, the Community Health Care Practicum teacher.

This class opens students’ eyes to different positions in the medical field and what people in these positions do on a daily basis. “A lot of students have no idea whether they are going to hate it or love it, the practicum they are walking into. There is no point wasting time getting halfway into career prep in college and learning ‘I didn’t know this was the hours, I didn’t know this was the grunt work.’ Know that beforehand,” said La Mendola.

Community Health gives students the chance to gain experience while discovering which path is right for them. For students like Farrer, it only solidifies what they already knew, while allowing them to expand on their knowledge and passion.

Photo by Brenna Collins

Real world Nursing exposure Weekly rotations in OB/GYN

24 HEALTH | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

Shadowing nurses of different specialties

Witnessed baby birth in Labor and Delivery

HEALTH|

Bearcats Working Out

by Madi Warren, Sports Co-Editor

O

nly 13 percent of Bearcats admit to not working out, with the majority of Bearcats getting active either on their own or as a part of a sport. Taking the initiative to get in shape can be easy, and quick workouts such as the inchworm, tuck jump, lunges, mountain climbers, and supermans can help even the laziest person get fit.

How Bearcats Exercise

Inchworm-Codie Wilshusen, 12th grade

61.9%

Stand up tall with the legs straight. Keeping the legs straight, but not locked, slowly lower the torso toward the floor, and then walk the hands forward. Once in a push-up position, start taking tiny steps so the feet meet the hands.

Continue bugging out for 4-6 reps.

Tuck Jump- Kiah Williams, 11th grade

of Bearcats are in a sport

69.8%

Run as their main source of working out

Standing with the knees slightly bent, jump up as high as possible and bring the knees in toward the chest while extending the arms straight out. Land with the knees slightly bent and quickly jump on it again.

24.7%

Lunge- Maddie Mitchell, 12th grade Stand with the hands on the hips and feet hip-width apart.

Step your right leg forward and slowly lower body until left (back) knee is close to or touching the floor and bent at least 90 degrees. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side. Try stepping back into the lunge for a different variation.

Mountain Climber- Aniah Weaks, 11th

Believe that exercise is important to them

Do

Be

nsistentl yw ts co a c or ar k

Starting on your hands and knees, bring the left foot forward directly under the chest while straightening the right leg. Keeping the hands on the ground and core tight, jump and switch legs.

The left leg should now be extended behind the body with the right knee forward.

13%

ou

t?

39% 48%

Superman-Ian Grace, 9th grade

SOMETIMES

Lie facedown with arms and legs extended.

Keeping the torso as still as possible, simultaneously raise the arms and legs to form a small curve in the body and hold the pose for at long as you can. One-two minutes is recommended.

NO YES

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | HEALTH 25

Drone driven farming

|SCI TECH

New technology in agricultural drones may force farmers to become data analyzers

by Kathryn Varian, Business Director

D

rone development is coming a long way with San Francisco-based company DroneDeploy teaming alongside, a leader in agricultural equipment, CNH Industrial to create an agricultural drone that will turn farming into a data-driven profession.

Agricultural drones are a big step towards improving efficiency and crop yields, even if nature makes it hard to produce a good harvest, according to Scott Lumish, vice president of business development at DroneDeploy. For example, instead of watering full fields at a time, drones could pinpoint certain sections that need help; a big step towards conserving resources, while still cultivating a large crop.

“You can get an aerial view of how your crop is growing, without destroying crops like driving through it [would do],” said junior Austin Borden, who farms around 60 acres of barley and forge.

Farmers can use these drones to draw maps and apply filters that show a range of data all in the same day. These filters are equipped with technology that lets farmers detect parasites and fungi, generate variable rate prescriptions for nitrogen and pesticides, negotiate fair crop loss percentages, and assess clean up after natural disasters, according to DroneDeploy’s blog.

They also allow real time imagery of crops and monitoring of livestock that instantly send off to a mobile device or computer at the office.

“Farmers and producers may not be able to control certain not need a permit. As long as the drones maintain a maximum environmental conditions, but drones are an efficient way to altitude of 400 feet, fly during daylight or during dusk, is equipped mitigate crop health issues and improve yields,” with lights, and stay within the line of sight of the pilot, then it said Lumish, in a news release. “The benefits is perfectly legal. of being able to survey both the 10,000Agricultural drones are not new to the scene, foot view of fields, as well as zoom but new technology that mirrors the same in to inches above the plants, are components as smartphones have made incredibly powerful.” them more accessible and easier to use.

All included in the CNH DroneDeploy lets users control drones from Industrial bundle comes a onean app on their smartphone, rather than year, standard or premium, needing an experienced pilot. In the end DroneDeploy software agricultural drones benefit as a tool and a subscription, and a drone with fun way to get the job done. an RGB camera that shoots at “We’d get one for fun (...) my grandpa got a 4K 60 frames per second. The drone just so he could fly it around his house, drone is a DJI Phantom 4 Pro which so he would probably get one so he could ranges in cost on Amazon from look at the fields too,” said Borden with a smile $989.95 to $1299.00. on his face.

“It’s a cheaper, more effective way to watch over your crops with the least destruction,” Borden said.

Luckily for the farmers looking to utilize this new equipment, new looser regulations put in place by the Federal Aviation Administration states that drones for agricultural purposes do

26 SCI TECH | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

All photos used with permission from DJI.com

Q&A

SPORTS|

T N A R G Y R R A L H C A O C L L A B T O O F D A E H W E WITH N

F

rom NFL player to head coach of PRHS varsity football, Larry Grant attended City College of San Francisco (CCSF) before finishing his career at Ohio State. In 2005, Grant was named Junior College (JUCO) National Player of the Year.

He played in four straight national championship games: two at CCSF and two at Ohio State. For his entire collegiate career Grant started 38 of 49 games he played in, registering 244 tackles (162 solos) with 15.5 sacks and 30.5 stops for losses and caused eight fumbles, recovered three others and had nine pass breakups. He also gained 131 yards on eight interception returns and blocked 15 kicks, returning three blocked punts for a total of 84 yards and a touchdown. Following the season, Grant was named the No. 1 junior college prospect from the state of California by JCGridiron.com.

Grant’s National Football League (NFL) career stats for six seasons are 80 solo tackles, 14 assisted tackles, resulting in 94 total tackles, four forced fumbles and five pass deflections, according to NFL Stats.

Q: How did you get involved in Football?

A: Growing up watching it and being an aggressive kid

who liked to tackle. My brothers would beat up on me. Now I’m bigger than them! Just being a kid, I liked to run around, I had so much energy. I’ve basically been playing football my whole life. Although I didn’t start playing padded and contact until I was a freshman in high school.

Q: Did you other sports?

A: Well in High

I played baseball. center-fielder and pretty good so they

play any School I was a w a s say.

Q: Do you plan on going out and watching some baseball games this season?

A: I am! We got a couple guys on the team that play baseball

as well and we got to go out and support not just them but every other sport too. We hope to get all sports packed.

Q: What do you think of our town so far?

A: I love it. It’s definitely a different city for me. I’m from a big

city and have lived in plenty of other big cities as well, so It’s a little different for me being in a small town but it’s actually perfect for me and my family. It’s a great place.

Q: What did you find most exciting when you first moved to town?

A: Just being in a small town because I’d never been apart of a small town like this. Being that I can drive through the whole town in 10 minutes is pretty different.

Q: How did you hear about this job?

A: I was visiting Fresno and there was a gentleman who’s

been coaching there a long time. He told me there was a job opening here... I applied for the job and it’s been a blessing for me and my family. I went through an interview process with a panel of about 15 people and I must’ve done some type of good so I’m here now.

Q: What are your expectations for this upcoming football season?

A: My expectation is to help these kids reach as many levels

as they want to reach. I want to help them be great. We got a great group of guys here and a great program, a great school and a great community. So my expectation is to help it just be better.

of things that a lot of other people have done. But I’ve been experienced and been around a lot of different types of football and I’ve been around a lot of good people who taught me things as well.

Q: So is this the first time you’ll be a head coach?

A: First time, so it’s very exciting. It’s gonna be a good time

and I hope to see a lot of people out there at the games. We’ve been preparing a lot throughout this off season and we’re ready to put on a lot of good shows for fans on Friday nights. We got a lot of good guys so let me tell you to bring your popcorn for a good show.

Q: Are there any specific things you are going to change or tweak in the program?

A: We’re not going to change much. I’ll bring a completely

different enthusiasm, attitude, and we’ll just do a lot of things that are fun. It’s gonna be exciting for the people watching, it’s gonna be exciting to the players playing in the game. It’ll be a fun season.

Q: Is there anything you’d like to say?

A: Well from what I’ve heard we have the best group of fans,

the best students, and I’m excited to be around all of you guys.

Embrace the change because I’m a new guy here and trust me that the change is gonna be good. We want everyone involved at some type of capacity because usually when you have a program where everyone is involved it makes the program stronger.

Q: Have you started Spring Training yet?

A: Well Spring Training doesn’t start until May 22. But we’ve

been training every day at 6:30 in the morning. Guys have been putting work in the freezing cold out here.

Q: Being a young head coach, what is the benefit that you could bring to the table?

A: You’re calling me young? I feel old! But I am

considered a young guy but I’ve been to many places, so my experience kinda oversees a lot

ach Larry Grant

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N FACTS U F R O F D TEAMS PLAYE : 49ers vorite Football team

SF 49ers 2008 8-10 St. Louis Rams 200 SF 49ers 2010-12 Chicago Bears 2012 2013 Cleveland Browns

Fa am: Giants Favorite Baseball te am: Lakers l te Favorite Basketbal sco ci Grew up In San Fran Idol: Jerry Rice —by Madison Funke, Blind Date Editor and Lauren Wassam, Managing Editor

03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 27

ROPING (below) : Junior Ryan Jennings competes in a

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roping competition. Jennings has been competing in roping for three years. Photo by Rachele Scobie

g n i c a r s r e d i r o Rode n o i t i n g for recodeo athlete juniors Ryan Jenninrgtusnaitnied s Ro ppo o n o t h ig l a e hin Riley Gajdos s in their sport

28 SPORTS| Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

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I

t’s game time: there’s thirty seconds left on the clock, the home team doesn’t have an official coach, around fifteen teams are competing against one another, and the only teammate for the star player doesn’t even speak their language.

Sounds like a nightmare, huh?

For rodeo participants, this is the reality of competing in their sport.

“When you enter the arena, it first seems unreal. You have been practicing for months for this quick moment in the arena. There is an enormous amount of pressure.

There are no time outs and no half-times.You have only a matter of seconds to prove yourself and climb to the top or fall back to the bottom,” said junior Ryan Jennings, who competes in team roping, which is where a steer is roped on horseback with another partner. “When you start riding in the arena, everything stops. All of the noises of the announcer and the fans go silent, and all you can hear is your horse and the sound of your rope swinging through the air. When you’re in your run, time slows drastically. Five or ten seconds can feel like minutes.”

Rodeo athletes don a saddle and their trusty hooved companion, contrary to the mainstream publicized sports with teams, jerseys, balls and sometimes helmets. In this sport the ball literally has a mind of its own, yet remains a sport poorly understood with few viewers outside the western horse enthusiast minority.

Jennings has qualified for State Finals all three years of junior high and National Finals when he was in eighth grade. Jennings is sponsored by Best Ever Pads and Pioneer AG Resources, who are businesses that provide financial support for professional advancement.

“One of my happiest moments in rodeo was recently qualifying for Challenge of Champions which is a special rodeo only open for the top three athletes in each event from each district,” said Jennings His goal is to qualify for State Finals for high school, which is considerably more difficult than the junior high classes. He trains regularly under the guidance of Mark Scobie for four years.

Scobie began competing in rodeo his freshman year of highschool, first winning his district’s Team Roping event in 1995. He went on to place second at State Finals and snagging third at the National High School Finals in Wyoming. After a highly successful rodeo career, Scobie slowed down after 2005 to spend more time training kids in his area, including his daughter Aubree, Jennings’ partner for team roping.

“Ryan is a very hard working guy. He has always wanted to understand how it all works. This sport is built on a solid foundation of horsemanship skills, athletic ability and the drive to be the best you can be. Ryan has all three. This sport is not for the

faint of heart,” said Scobie. “Rodeo teaches them commitment. Not only to the sport they compete in, but to their partner... The camaraderie in this sport is really one of its best qualities. They are all competitors but, at the end of the day they are friends, too.”

As far as support, Jennings attests that, along with trainers, parents make sacrifices for their children to compete in rodeo. Between owning a horse, staying committed to the sport, motivation for training, travel, and event registration, having a strong mentoring figure is essential. “[Rodeo] is so different from any other sport. The practice, the actual competing, the time…You can go out in the afternoon and teach somebody how to throw a football. You can’t go out in the afternoon and teach somebody how to rope and ride.

It’s something that takes a lot of time and a lot of practice,” said Jennings.

Junior Riley Gajdos competes in three separate rodeo events: team roping, barrel racing, and girls cutting. Her hooved team of three includes Veneeta, Gatsby, and Skeets, all of which she rotates training with for each at least four times a week.

Her top past achievements include winning the West Coast Junior Rodeo Association’s All Around Cowgirl in 2014 and qualifying for junior high State competition for barrel racing, team roping, and goat tying. Gajdos competed in the State Finals for cutting back in her freshman year of high school, finishing in the top 15 riders for her first two years in the high school division. Currently, she is qualifying for the 2017 State Finals, where the top four riders have the opportunity to travel to Gillette, Wyoming to take part in the National High School Rodeo Finals.

Due to her grandfather’s support, Gajdos has been riding as long as she has been walking, having competed in her first rodeo at just eight years old. “My grandpa has had horses ever since I was a little kid. He always had a horse in the backyard. He had this old paint horse and he threw me on him one day and it just kind of happened ...It’s really because of him that I have the opportunity to get to do rodeo.”

The opportunities from competing in rodeo sports include a chance of participating with a college rodeo team after high school graduation, or transitioning straight into professional rodeo.

“It takes a lot of practice and effort to actually be successful in professional rodeo, much like other professional sports,” said Jennings, who has been riding since the age of two. “[Rodeo] has put a lot of self discipline on myself. It really shows that nothing comes easy-- you need to practice for everything. You can’t just go out there and expect to win.”

—by Lindsay Darbyshire, Editorial Editor

FUN FACTS

RILEY GAJDOS, 11

TRAINS 10 HOURS A WEEK

TRAINS 14 HOURS A WEEK

HAS 2 TROPHY SADDLES

HAS 4 SPONSORS

OWNS 3 HORSES

OWNS 3 HORSES

RYAN JENNINGS, 11 03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 29

SWIM & DIVE

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Roxy Hancock, 10

Juan Guerra, 12 and Tyler Brenneman, 11

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30 SPORTS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

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e s y l n o you’ll Arm Swing

Arms should swing mostly forward and back, not across the body, but between waist and lower-chest level. Elbows should be bent at about a 90-degree angle and stay there through the whole swing.

Head Position Their head should rest naturally, not down at their feet, and scan the horizon. This straightens their neck and back, and brings it into alignment and their chin should not jut out.

Leg Position

Distance runners do not need an exaggerated knee lift. Endurance running requires a slight knee lift, a quick leg turnover and a short stride.

Their feet should land directly underneath their body and as the foot strikes the ground, their knee should be slightly flexed so that it can bend naturally on impact.

Eating Berti puts himself on a timed diet and only eats healthy foods, like vegetables, about an hour before his race. In the morning, he tries to eat and drink as much as he can to have enough carbohydrates to stay energized throughout his runs.

arah Jagger

Photos by S

Berti on the run Berti, the schools fastest runner, has broken six school records in cross country at the Arroyo Grande, Morro Bay, Stanford and Clovis meets and the one mile with a 4: 16.36 time in track and field. He runs about 10 hours each week and seven to 10 miles everyday to keep himself in shape and increase his times. In track, Berti is 1st in PAC-8 league for the 1600 meters and 2nd for the 3200 meter race. Berti’s coach Ivan Huff encourages his team to run during the off season and to not take too many weeks off. Some techniques he does with his running partner senior Luis Armenderiz is to focus their runs on getting tired to make sure they are pushing themselves. They do this to make longer runs easier and future races faster.

Mile Time: 4:16.36 min 03.31.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 31

|PHOTO ESSAY

Dance show 2017 “I AM...”

32 PHOTO ESSAY | Crimson Newsmagazine | 03.31.17

STANDING TOGETHER (top left) : The dancers perform a piece named “I am blessed”, choreographed by senior Taylor Hargrave and junior Sarah Farrer.

READY TO FLY (middle right) : Junior Raegan Lomanto strikes a pose during the dance titled “I am taking flight.”

EMBRACING EACH OTHER (bottom right) : During a dance titled “I am acknowledged”, dancers surround and embrace one another. The dance was choreographed by junior Cassidy LeClair.

LEAPING THROUGH THE AIR (above) : Junior Gabriela Shuster leaps across stage wearing pointe shoes during the dance “I am elegant”.

Photos by Valeria Cisneros and Camden Tucker