THE YOUNG GENERATION Perceptions & aspirations abound Students step out in Women’s March p. 2
The need for on screen diversity p. 8
Girls water polo on historic rampage p. 28
|NEWS
makes history
The rise of a new president has unprecedented results
This is what democracy looks like
Bearcats march in women’s rights demonstration by Emma Corripo, Illustrator
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n Saturday, Jan. 21, millions of women and men around the world marched for Women’s health rights, a historic record of advocates marched on the streets of Washington D.C., with nearly half a million people showing up. The crowd was nearly three times the size of the audience at President Trump’s inauguration (which had around 160,000 attendees), according to crowd scientist Marcel Altenburg at Manchester Metropolitan University in Britain. Seven thousand people showed up to the San Luis Obispo rally at Mitchell Park, according to Cal Coast News. Young and old gathered on the the streets of SLO chanting, singing and dancing. Marchers cheered, sharing a brief moment of happiness with other marchers around them. “At the march, I felt like what it’s like to participate in
democracy...nothing compares to thousands of people coming together to stand for a specific cause,” senior Justin Ruberio said. Ruberio was just one of many Bearcats who participated in the Women’s March. “People may give protesters a lot of strife, but those are the same people who will continue to put up with the status quo and deal with any crummy policy a politician throws at them,” Ruberio said. Senior Kalyn Armstrong also marched for women’s rights. “We have to be there for one another...and that’s just the first step to this adjustment,” Armstrong said.
Bearcats march for equality (left to right): Seniors Madison Owens, Ethan Athey, Carina Ezzell, Kalyn Armstrong
Trump takes action
Donald Trump starts his term with a bang by Kayla Terry and Aiden Kerr, Reporters
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onald Trump’s presidency took a momentous start, with a 90 day travel ban on Muslim-majority countries (now tied up in court), a Supreme Court justice nomination, a withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific partnership, and a federal regulation executive order, among others, proving that Trump’s term will follow its own rhythm, with or without Constitutional regards. “There are concerns that [the travel ban] may violate the First Amendment,” said Modern World History teacher Mark Bradford. Through Trump’s new immigration policy in late January, bias was shown towards refugees of the Christian denomination. “When he began to give preferential treatment to Christians, it further reinforced the idea that it is a Muslim ban,” Bradford remarked. Since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, major shifts in government and international relations have occurred. Trump received 304 votes from the Electoral College, clinching the presidency, despite having lost the popular vote by slightly under three million votes, being one of only four presidents to do so. Trump’s first executive decision as President signed was to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. This decision will have little immediate effect due to the fact that it was never ratified by Congress. Planned Parenthood and other vital women’s health care agencies have also come under fire by the new president since the election began. Trump has since pulled funding for
foreign aid from providers that discuss abortion information. ”United States law already prohibits the use of American taxpayer dollars for abortion services anywhere, including in countries where the procedure is legal,” stated the New York Times. Putting this in action has frozen funding in healthcare to women all over the world. Since then, protests have continued regarding the political issues Trump poses, including the Women’s March, which became one of the largest scale demonstrations in United States history, as reported by The Atlantic. Marchers were seen holding signs reading #NotMyPresident, Women’s Rights are not Up for Grabs, and Bridges Not Walls, the latter popularized in Europe. More controversy struck Jan. 30, when Trump made an executive order of a 90 day travel ban precluding citizens from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, Libya, and Somalia from entering United States soil. Many countries, such as Saudi Arabia, that have had citizens commit major U.S. terrorist acts, are exempt from this ban, purportedly due to business partnerships with Trump. Sophomore Katy Hopkins has found issue with the travel ban. “I don’t think it is morally justified. You have to ask yourself: what is going to happen after those 90 days?” Hopkins asked. People have dropped their everyday routines to participate in the protest against the ban and continue to fight alongside a popular “Make America Kind Again” slogan, according to CNN. Since the immigration decision, civil disobedience ensued from million.
02 NEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.15.17
Photo by Elise Scheiffle
How do you feel about President Trump’s Travel Ban? “We [three] are Sunni Muslims...my opinion [on the ban] first of all is that it’s really raicst, just drop down racist.”
—Nadeene Al Azzam, 12 (Center) “The first thing that I thought [after hearing about the ban] of was... the statue of liberty quote ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breath free...’ To me, this means that we should help those who are in need and not judge them based on the bad that others have put on their religon.”
—Jeraly Escamilla, 10
“I’m against it. I know Obama put a ban on refugees in Iraq, but America was much different: we had literally just got out of the Iraq War.” —Daniel Mendez, 11
News in brief
NEWS|
Senior Chris Garcia wins Poetry Out Loud by Marie Perez, Opinion Editor
New field studies courses approved
PRHS adds five courses to 2017-2018 registration
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by Sabrina Hernandez, Review Editor, and Esther Cabello. People Co-Editor
ive outside of class field study courses were approved on Dec. 13, 2016 for the 2017-2018 course registration book, including three biology field study trips—two to Santa Cruz Island and one to Joshua Tree National Park—an Ethnic Studies Oral History Field Research course and a Marine Inter tidal Monitoring Project. The push for these additional courses was lead by both Earth Environmental and GEO teacher Mark DiMaggio and History Teacher Geof Land, in an effort to give concrete transcript recognition to students for their efforts in outside of the class trips they were taking. “These extension courses are an amazing representation of applying what you learn within the classroom to real life research in our community and beyond. The courses give students an opportunity to develop their career and college readiness through application,” Director of Secondary Education Jennifer Gaviola said. Each field study course will range from 10 to 20 in student size, each group aimed at 10 through 12 graders. Joshua Tree’s class will have two groups of 10 to 20 students between two remote sites in the Park. Any 10-12 grade student can apply for a spot in the field study courses. Applicants are encouraged to take related courses that are available, although this is not a requirement and there are no official prerequisites. The Santa Cruz trips will be focusing on studying plant communities scattered across the island, where students will collect data to write research papers. Joshua Tree is a research project dedicated to monitoring the effects of climate change and drought on the Joshua Tree woodlands, where students will work with the National Park’s Staff. The Marine Inter tidal Study will conduct field research on invertebrate species that live in local tide pools, part of a statewide effort of data collecting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). PRHS has a long history of offering advanced courses and field experiences to its students to prepare them for college and their future careers, according to Anatomy and Physiology and Marine Biology teacher Jon-Paul Ewing, who is in charge of the Marine Inter tidal Monitoring Project.
DiMaggio’s 20 years of field work projects on the Santa Cruz island field study trip has existed long enough for teachers themselves to be a part of it when they were students. “In the late 90’s, I went as a student to Santa Cruz Island. DiMaggio was my teacher and it was my first experience collecting field data, using new equipment, and working alongside professional scientists” said Ewing, “That trip influenced my career choice and the major I chose in college.” The main goal of these new field studies courses is to try and get students to participate in hands-on research, and then compile the data for researchers. The program’s data will be used in scientific publications, historical research, and ethnic studies, according to Ewing. “It hasn’t been until recently where we really wanted to push more students getting a unit of credits for the hard work they did, as well as expanding it through other classes in the sciences and the social studies, which I am really excited Science teacher about,” said AP US Mark Dimaggio History teacher Seth Draine, who will be the lead on the Ethnic Studies Oral History Field Research. “This is a really kind of an amazing opportunity for high schools because it gives them a window into what sort of professions and college majors are available,” Draine said. Ewing praises the new courses as unique opportunities that will allow PRHS students to stand out to future college admissions boards and scholarship committees. “It would give them a crazy resume boost when they’re applying for college programs because this will be very rare. How many high school kids get this kind of hands-on experience?” Ewing said. “Almost none.”
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enior Chris Garcia, the PRHS runner-up in Poetry Out Loud for the past two years, let out a well deserved, “Yeah Baby!” after MC and history teacher Geof Land announced him as the 2017 Poetry Out Loud (POL) winner Jan. 25, 2017 in the Performing Arts Center. Garcia was victorious over 30 poetic orators, grades 10 through 12, with
junior Raegan Lomanto as the runner-up. Judging, which was performed itself by teachers and administrators, was based on physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness, level of difficulty, evidence of understanding and overall performance, and with his years of experience, this was a familiar and exciting process for Garcia, who recited the poem “Greatest Grandeur” by Pattiann Rogers. “I feel accomplished and relieved to have won, just reassured and validated,” said Garcia, post announcement. Many talented orators gave their best shot at reciting the poem of their choice. Lomanto recited “One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII” by Pablo Neruda. Should the need arise, Lomanto will take Garcia’s place as the representative of PRHS at the County Competition, which is to be held on Feb. 10, from 7-9 p.m. at the Unitarian Fellowship in San Luis Obispo. There, Garcia will compete against 10-15 other competitors to find out who makes it to the State level.
JOOI event brings PRHS Cubanissimo by Mason Seden-Hansen. News Co-Editor
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JOOI (Junior Optimist Octagon International) Club Fundraiser brought out Cubanissimo, an authentic Cuban Food Truck, and Paso Robles’s own Coffee Box Kids band to the PRHS parking lot on Jan. 25. For 10 dollars, guests were able to enjoy Cuban Black Beans over Rice or a Half Cubano Sandwich with Yuca Fries, Tostones, Maduros, and Garlic Dip while listening to the Latin-Inspired music of senior Jake Van Wiggeren, junior Spencer Anderson, senior Alec Kleinman, sophomore Dylan Smith, and Brenden Weaver. “I think [the fundraiser] went very well, I was surprised because we barely sold 100 tickets but almost 150 people came...it was a huge success. I’m so excited for all JOOI club is doing and for future events,” said JOOI club president and senior Graham Farrell. The JOOI club raised $148 dollars, and is planning to have future fundraisers with multiple food trucks. The Coffee Box Kids also expressed interest in playing at a future fundraiser, according to Van Wiggeren.
Photos by Camden Tucker and Madi Warren
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | NEWS 03
|NEWS
New classes added by Mason Seden-Hansen, News Co-Editor
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ive new full-year classes were unanimously approved on a Jan. 17 Paso Robles Joint Unified School District board meeting. AP European History, AP Music Theory, AP Spanish Literature, Advanced Leadership and MM Personal Finance will all be available for students to take during the 2017-2018 school year. “[These courses] all came recommended as the next level that will prepare students to be highly competitive in college, career, and community,” Director of Secondary Education Jennifer Gaviola said. AP European History is a tenth grade only course that will replace Honors Modern World History. The course will be divided into four parts, covering European History from 1450 to 1648, from 1648 to 1815, 1815 to 1914, and from 1914 to the present day. The course will be one of just four AP classes available to sophomores. AP Music Theory is a capstone course to the Visual and Performing Arts program. The course will be available to eleventh and twelfth grade students who have taken either choir or band. The Music Theory AP test covers pitches, intervals, scales and keys, chords, meter and more. AP Spanish Literature and Culture is a tenth through twelfth grade course available to students who already passed AP Spanish Language and Culture class or test. It covers all types of writing, including short stories, novels, poetry and essays originating from all parts of the Spanish speaking world. This course would add a sixth Spanish course to the PRHS Spanish program. Advanced Leadership is a tenth through twelfth grade course available to students who want to “take an even stronger leadership role in our leadership courses,” Gaviola said. The course, which was proposed by current leadership teachers Anthony Overton and Jennifer Bedrosian, would give students “advanced responsibilities,” according to Gaviola. MM Personal Finance is a third-year math course available to special needs students who completed Algebra 1 and covers “the world that’s really out there,” Gaviola said. The course would focus on “taxes, rent, percentages out of your paycheck [and] retirement,” according to Gaviola.
New varsity coach hired
NFL Player Larry Grant named new head football coach by Catalina Magneson, Reporter
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n Tuesday Feb. 31, Paso Robles Unified School District named Larry Grant the new head football coach for the upcoming season. After last year’s controversy, the high school is happy to welcome a passionate man hoping to see the team excel to their full potential. Grant, born in Sacramento, California, began his semi-professional pathway at the City College of San Francisco. He received many awards for his time there: 2005 National Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All American, All-State, and All-Conference Honors. Grant moved his career to the Midwest with a full scholarship to Ohio State University. In 2008 his professional career began by being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. He signed with the St. Louis Rams in 2010, as a starting linebacker. Grant then found his way back to the 49ers in 2011. He played for the 49ers for two years, including the 2013 superbowl. “I am honored and blessed to have the opportunity to coach for an outstanding school
district and high school. I look forward to continuing the proud Bearcat traditions and helping to develop these young men to be the best students, athletes, and community members that they can be.” Grant said for the Paso Robles Daily News. Grant’s appointment follows a 20+ year coaching run by former head coach Rich Schimke and his controversial suspension. “We are excited to welcome Coach Larry Grant to PRHS as our new head varsity football coach. Through the interview process, we learned very quickly that Coach Grant brought a wealth of football knowledge to the table. What stood out the most to me was his high energy and passion for helping student-athletes succeed in the classroom, on the football field, and in their everyday lives.” Paso Robles High School principal Eric Martinez said to the Paso Robles Daily News.
Bearcats bring home SkillsUSA gold
PRHS takes one-third of the gold medals awarded at local Skills USA competition by Tegan Curren, Guest Writer
HUNDREDS DESCEND: Contestants await further instruction. About 635 students attended the Region 2 SkillsUSA meet. Photo by Emily Mowey, Photo of Larry Grant used with permission
04 NEWS | Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.15.17
Career technical students from PRHS took home gold medals in 23 of 79 occupational contests at the SkillsUSA Region 2 Conference hosted on campus on Feb. 4, 2017. Twenty one high schools and one middle school—roughly 635 students—descended from SLO County and the central valley for judged competitions of job-related presentations, speeches, and “hard skills” technical tasks. Almost 30% of the contests were won by PRHS students. “It’s game time,” SkillsUSA Director Randy Canaday told judges. He was referring to the preparation and performance of students from the 16 career technical pathways offered at PRHS. PRHS’s gold and silver medalists will advance to compete at state competition in San Diego on April 20-23 and the national level if they win a state gold medal. Over 150 people volunteered at the Saturday regional to judge, prepare lunch, and advise contestants. Daniel Lewis Middle School was the district’s first middle school to compete in SkillsUSA and brought home a gold, silver, and bronze in the Mobile Robotics Technology contest. State assemblyman Jordan Cunningham, who attended the event, is working to make CTE funding and instruction a permanent state fixture.
EDITORIAL|
Find Your stance Let youths read, listen, think, and form opinions—exclusively in that order. by Lindsay Darbyshire, Editorial Editor
Graphic by Lindsay Darbyshire
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t is said that we all have an opinion. But is that really true? Think about your own perspectives. What made you see things the way you do? How do you determine whether something is wrong or right? Perhaps you are finding yourself admitting that you were solely influenced by someone else’s thoughts, or refuse to acknowledge the various items of controversy floating around the world. One thing is for certain: the current state of the media, especially when dealing with the topics of election, President Trump, and any political happenings for that matter, everyone seems to be against each other. This year has been historically outrageous in terms of America’s future and Trump’s recent executive declarations. And no matter what side of the situations— Trump’s travel ban, for instance— you support, chances are you have had someone trying to shove their opinion down your throat at one time or another. Unfortunately, everyone’s ardent feelings and arguments among each other have corrupted some newscasts, making it even more difficult to sift through the glimmers of truth between lies. The New York Times has commented on the matter of fake news regarding President Trump, when they highlighted a false news thread that told of buses full of Trump protesters congregating in Austin, Texas, calling attention to the instances where the news would rather be quick than correct. Since when has the task of distributing facts to every citizen become a competition? Sometimes tuning into the news and hearing politicians and anchors jabber makes us feel like we are being run through a washing machine while trying to seek out two socks that actually match. The churning of opinions leaves us dizzy and aching from the whiplash. What’s the point of taking a stance when you’re not even certain the ground you’re
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newsmagazine
Co-Editors-in-Chiefs Sadie Mae Mace The Young Generation/Photo Essay Valeria Cisneros Carmesi/The Young Generation Managing Editor Lauren Wassam Sports/The Young Generation 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
standing on is stable? But the worst thing we can do is turn away. It is our duty to read, listen, and dig deeper into these controversies that plague the media. Unfortunately, this is no easy task, but anything worth having has never come free. The world has a habit of constantly reminding its occupants that they are no more than a speck floating around in the same general area. And although there may be no Horton to help you out, you do have the power to be heard. So make your own opinion, do not be forced to choke on someone else’s. But before you do that, take the time to learn. Give an effort to listen, to explore and debate. Second guess and speculate. This is the time to think for yourself. Practice having respect for the viewpoints of others. Do not let your digging turn into a rampage, smashing down people’s different opinions along the way; this idea that there is a single evil acting against our country and that must be eradicated is toxic. What will adopting a populist view, taking aim against a single minority or character and deeming them as a recipient for hatred, ultimately going to solve? Will denying seven countries any access to the United States stop terrorism? Or will tax reductions help the middle class economy? Are these statements even true and backed up by the proper facts? These are the things you must determine for yourself, which isn’t a black and white, true or false process. The key is to have an open mind and remember we are all in this together, one way or another. And honestly, maybe you won’t find the right answer. But we promise, the insecurity and shots fired at you along the way will never outweigh the things you will discover about yourself and your beliefs.
Student journalism at Paso Robles HS, CA
Illustrator Emma Corippo
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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.
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | EDITORIAL 05
|OPINION
Planned Parenthood defunded: OUTRAGE Millions of Americans suffer loss in reproductive health by Brenna Collins, Health Co-Editor
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ouse Speaker Paul Ryan confirmed a measure on Jan. 4, 2016, to w h i c h are retract funding that goes to Planned Parenthood, which is the first steps included in the bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This towards prevention. bill will block Planned Parenthood from receiving funding Planned Parenthood is set in place to provide a from government run Medicaid, which makes up about support system for every person “regardless of the individual’s $390 million of the organization’s annual funding. This income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, majority of money is made up of reimbursements for national origin, or residence,” according to the organization’s services given to Medicaid patients: they receive low mission. They strive for the privacy of the individual and cost health care and Planned Parenthood receives a person’s right to their own body. Aiding and educating government funding. Without this funding, a major about sexual health, sexual orientation, body image, and limitation will be put on how many people Planned relationships make up a big part of their responsibility. Parenthood has the ability to reach. That is 270,000 For those concerned about providing money for women to Pap tests, 360,000 breast exams, 4.2 million STD tests carry out abortions, note that taxpayer money, by Senior Aaliyah Lewis and treatments, and 1.5 million education programs for law, is not permitted to pay for abortions. The Hyde young adults yearly that will go down the drain, according to Amendment requires funding only pay for abortions Planned Parenthood. under the category of rape, incest, or a health threat to the mother. The For years, anti-choice groups have worked to place restrictions on how majority of taxes are going to the other 97 percent of services that are much money is supplied to Planned Parenthood. With a change in our provided that can help save lives and impact many people. country’s leadership, these restrictions are coming into play. There is “I think Planned Parenthood is an extraordinary organization for people no such thing as a cut and dry severance between Medicaid who come from low income families and get the stuff they need when they and Planned Parenthood; this bill will block individuals can’t afford it,” senior Aaliyah Lewis said. from receiving low cost health care through Medicaid. Defunding Planned Parenthood will bar women from receiving People who are supported by Medicaid, such as lowreliable services and forcing them to seek out dangerous back income families, elderly, disabled, and many others, alley procedures. After the passing of Roe v. Wade in 1973, a case will face additional barriers to receiving health care that protects a woman’s rights to choose and privacy, the number due to this decision. of abortion related deaths in women dropped. Before Roe v. The 2,840,000 people that Planned Parenthood Wade was settled, “unsafe illegal abortions caused as many as supports annually are going to suffer a loss in 5,000 annual deaths,” according to the National Association health care security because of politicians harboring for the Repeal of Abortion Laws. Roe v. Wade Sophomore Abby Newell ill will against three percent of the patients Planned assured women that they had access to safe Parenthood provides with care. This three percent, which procedures, and by taking away this, women’s makes up a smaller category than any other division of Planned rights would be set back at least 40 years. “I think everyone should have their Parenthood’s patients, is those who have sought help through the abortion own decision- it’s not necessarily right- everyone reacts differently in certain process. situations.” sophomore Abby Newell said. Planned Parenthood focuses on By defunding Planned Parenthood, “preventive, primary care, which helps individuals are prevented from receiving prevent unintended pregnancies through low cost health care, as well as women contraception, reducing the spread of losing their right to make decisions sexually transmitted infections through concerning their body. It is a dangerous testing and treatment, and screening for decision to take the power of autonomy cervical and other cancers,” according to from women and put it in the hands of their website. The organization helps women politicians. prevent unintended pregnancies through Planned Parenthood is a place safe options and stands as a safe place where women can go and be safe from where young adults can go to be educated judgment, and it is important to fight so on safe sex and personal health, which are they can continue to help and influence not always topics taught through parents people in need. or school. In addition, they advocate for early detection of breast and cervical cancer, making more opportunities for screenings and HPV vaccinations,
06 OPINION | Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.15.17
Photos and graphics by Marie Perez
It is a dangerous decision to take the power of autonomy from women and put it in the hands of politicians.
One in five women have visited a Planned Parenthood center at least once in her life. —ObamaCareFacts.org
Teaching Equality
OPINION|
Removing gender stereotypes to achieve gender equality starts in the classroom by Sadie Mae Mace, Co-Editor-in-Chief
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he organizers for the San Luis Obispo Women’s March originally estimated a few hundred supporters would gather in tandem with the Washington D.C. protest on Saturday, Jan. 21. Instead, over 10,000 gender equality supporters gathered at Mitchell Park in SLO for a non-partisan, non-violent demonstration with the hope of reaffirming that women’s rights are human rights. Other declarations, such as undocumented worker rights, signs denouncing the new administration, and environmental protection, poked skyward. The one mile route was filled with men, women, children, and even dogs marching in unison. Protesters clutched signs, snapped photographs, and chanted mottos, such as “What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like!” and “Women’s rights are human rights!” The Women’s March was one of the largest peaceful one-day demonstrations ever, according to U.S. Uncut. With an increase in societal pressure to grant women equal rights, coupled with the worldwide protests for immigrants’ rights, gender equality is at the forefront of the fight for human rights. In October 2015, California passed one of the strictest laws in the country combating the gender gap where for every one dollar a man earns, women earn a measly 84 cents. Long gone are the days where only men “put the food on the table” and women could be fired from their job because of pregnancy. These outdated values are replaced in this modern era where women demand equal pay and treatment in the workplace. “Gender equality to me is when both men and women are not oppressed by society’s labels and tradition of gender roles. It’s not about putting men down, which sadly people judge the word feminism by that. It is about recognizing the injustices due to gender and if we are aware of it, then we can make change,” said senior Madison Owens, a feminist who attended the Women’s March in SLO. Schools, lawmakers, and employers are mobilizing in favor of gender equality. This includes public acceptance for women’s opportunities to excel in job placement and promotions without fear of ridicule in the workplace, as well as the ability for men to publicly express emotions without fear of humiliation. In particular, the classroom is the ideal setting and teachers
are often mentors who encourage students to form their own opinions about what gender equality means to them: stereotypes, common phrases the deepen the divide, and possible solutions are topics to discuss. School gender bias occurs threefold: unspoken stereotypes continue to discourage girls from taking STEM classes, cultural norms encourage male dominance in society, and educational interactions may unknowingly reflect these biases, according to Boundless. Daily
contribute to girls thinking they are less worthy than their male counterparts. Popular rap songs often degrade women using vulgar language; celebrities such as The Weeknd, Drake, and Jay-Z are pop culture symbols of misogyny. Lyrics contain offensive language calling women derogatory names and explicit acts are proliferate, and yet the singer’s face little to no repercussions and are often rewarded through Grammys, such as the above artists recently collecting 24 awards for songs riddled with sexist lyrical. Sexism affects men as well, even though it is not publicized as often. Gender stereotypes for males include competitive prowess, peak physical appearance, and the expectation of a high paying job, among more, according to Alternet. NOT SO TYPICAL “Gender equality to me would probably be all people (left) : Senior being recognized to have the same capabilities as Mikayla Stone one another to the true extent of what they can do. diregards the Feminism... is advocating equality but specifically stereotype while honing standing up for females due to the oppression that her welding tecqunique they face, no matter what gender you might be,” said for Skills U.S.A. “I don’t see junior Guillermo Rendon, who adds that offering a there really being much kind word and standing up for others who are treated of a difference anymore.” Mikayla says in response to unfairly is not hard to do. Having the same rights and opportunities open to gender roles. both genders is critical for ways to achieve full equality in the gender equality. classroom include diversifying job titles, “Gender equality could be ‘Is my asking females to participate in male dominated events, and class balanced’ but there’s also are addressing issues that crop up when students show gender genders given equal opportunities to stereotypical behavior. classes or situations,” Clark said. “I definitely have more females than males in my floral By initiating subtle changes in design class...If you look at that as far as what society perceives everyday activities, the impact of those courses to be or what’s accepted socially, that feeds gender equality can reverberate into that gender [inequality]. I don’t say ‘You can’t sign up for through a community. Small changes my class’. I want anybody who wants to take my floral class to are often the precursor to larger take that class. In class, I treat everybody equal,” said floral and movements, and gender equality is horticulture teacher Theresa Clark, who added that in her no exception. class, a student’s ability to design is focused on rather than a student’s gender. However, gender equality shown in the classroom stretches far beyond the school day. Understanding the origins of Women’s March (above) : The Women’s March in SLO promotinequality is key to combating it; slang and pop culture are just ed gender equality, see page 19 for more information from two examples of stimuli that encourage inequality. World Co-Editor Elise Sheiffele. Statements such as “You throw like a girl”, “You cry like a little girl”, and even saying “Man up”, which subconsciously Photos and graphics by Emma Corippo and Marie Perez connects a man with strength and a women with weakness,
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | OPINION 07
|CARMESI
PRHS Drama (abajo) : Junior Memo Rendón ha sido parte del drama de PRHS durante tres años. Él ha estado en producciones como Music Man, Alice in Wonderland, Orphan Train, y tecnología para el Drowsy Chaperone.
DIVERSIDAD en la PANTALLA
Hollywoodramifica branches out and expands actingactuando and directing Hollywood hacia fuera y expande y dirigiendo en opportunities for POC in personas future projects oportunidades para las de color en los proyectos del futuro
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por Elise Scheiffele, Co- Editora de Mundo l año pasado en enero, el 2016 no fue apagado el mejor comienzo en términos de representación. Se produjo una controversia en las redes sociales por la falta de gente de color (GDC) en los Premios de la Academia bajo el hashtag “#OscarsSoWhite.” La falta de diversidad en Hollywood fue “más de una crisis de inserción,” según un estudio realizado por la Universidad de California del Sur. Las minorías fueron negando oportunidades antes de de tenor una oportunidad de probar. “Siete por ciento de películas tuvo un elenco cuyo balance de raza y etnicidad refleja la diversidad del país,” informó el informe de USC. El fin de 2015 con “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” dio al público un más diverso elenco, protagonizado por John Boyega, un afroamericano, como Finn, Oscar Isaac, un GuatemaltecoAmericano, como Poe. Ambos desempeñan un papel grande en la trilogía final. Star Wars ha comenzado a allanar el camino a un Hollywood más diverso. Aunque 2015 dio una nueva luz para el próximo año, 2016 todavía careció de representación para la mayoría del año. Disney anunció “Moana”, la historia de una muchacha joven y de espíritu libre Polinesia en una búsqueda para terminar el viaje de sus antepasados, en octubre de 2015. Fue creado para estar en los cines en noviembre del año siguiente. Había estrellado Auli’i Cravalho, una nativa hawaiana, como Moana, y Dwayne Johnson como Maui. “Estaba un poco recelosos de [‘Moana’], porque creo que cuando alguien piensa en alguien hacer una película inspirada en su cultura, ellos quieren que sea bien hecho,” Cravalho dijo en una entrevista con LRM Online. Una segunda película de Disney, “Queen of Katwe,” fue lanzada en septiembre del año pasado. Madina Nalwanga desempeñó el papel de Phiona Mutesi, una niña africana que viven en los barrios pobres de Uganda. La película fue dirigida por Mira Nair, un cineasta india americana, conocido por sus anteriores películas como la Monsoon Wedding y Mississippi Masala. Otros proyectos futuros incluyen “El Cascanueces”, en teatros en 2018 y protagonizada por Morgan Freeman, una adaptación musical de “Oliver Twist”, con Ice Cube como
08 CARMESI | Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.15.17
Fagin y una nueva versión de “Black Panther” de Marvel protagonizada por Chadwick Boseman, también para 2018. Jesenia Stanko, un estudiante de segundo año en PRHS, habló sobre cómo es importante representación en los medios de comunicación. “Creo que es importante representar gente de color sin estereotipos, puesto que los jóvenes están creciendo y viendo la televisión; que ya están siendo influenciados por lo que ven, así que es importante retratar a GDC como que deben ser interpretados. Como la gente.” Stanko dijo. Las minorías nunca han tenido lo fácil en los Ángeles. America Ferrera, un hondureña americana y protagonista de “Ugly Betty” y la voz de Astrid en “How to Train Your Dragon”, dijo en una entrevista para New York Times en febrero pasado sobre la cuestión de la representación en los medios de comunicación. “¿Qué haces cuando alguien dice, ‘el color de la piel es no lo que estamos buscando’”, dijo Ferrera. Diversidad en Hollywood es una cosa, pero las Artes son otro tema. Maestra de drama Marcy Goodnow habló sobre cómo Broadway siempre ha sido diverso debido a la cultura de la que proviene “Nueva York y Broadway el teatro ha sido diverso porque muchos inmigrantes vienen a través de Ellis Island y su familia se instaló en Nueva York y sus alrededores,” dijo Goodnow, “especialmente ahora casting consciente busca para incluir todas las culturas sin importar cómo fue escrito el show o que ‘debería’ estar jugando un papel particular. Hamilton tiene diferentes culturas jugando blanco personajes históricos. Yo personalmente he visto al teatro desafiar al público a ver personajes en historias para quienes no son, lo que parecen.” El esfuerzo para representar GDC más en los medios de comunicación se ha convertido en más consciente en los últimos años y sigue siendo un problema apremiante en la sociedad actual. “Todo el mundo ahora crece viendo televisión y películas. Si no estamos representando a gente de color, la gente que importa y describiéndoles cómo deben ser retratados, entonces cómo van nuestros jóvenes a imaginarlos?” Stanko, dijo.
Photo de Valeria Cisneros, Jefa de Editores
Estados de inmigrantes Mexicanos Leyenda
Baja California
30.9% 17.3%
Less than 20
2. Jalisco 3. Sinaloa
11.2%
4. Guerrero
10.5%
Less than 1
Guanajuato Hidalgo
Jalisco Colima Michoacan
Graphico de Valeria Cisneros, Jefa de Editores
Gue rre ro
Oaxaca
Los 10 Primeros Estados
1. Michoacán
Less than 5
Sinaloa
por Mason Seden-Hansen, Editor de Noticias
Less than 35
Less than 15
Durango
CARMESI|
5. Oaxaca
6.1%
6. Guanjuato
4.8%
7. Durango
3.1%
8. Colima
2.8%
9. Hidalgo
2.6%
10. Baja California
2.3%
Crimson preguntó a 196 estudiantes PRHS hispanos de donde ellos o sus familias eran.
Un lugar seguro para avanzar
Compás ayuda a elevar los grados y da la bienvenida a los recién llegados
S
por Sabrina Hernandez, Editora de Comentario
egundo año Diane Rojo Gutiérrez, que originalmente tenía un comienzo rocoso de su año escolar debido a los evidentes obstáculos que enfrentan una barrera idiomática, acredita su mejora al apoyo que recibió del Compás. “Ellos [mis calificaciones] han mejorado drásticamente. Matemáticas, aunque no fue mi mejor nota, siento que definitivamente he aprendido mucho,”dijo Rojo. “No, [no hay nada que deseo iba a cambiar de programa]. Me ha ayudado y dado su tiempo para ayudarme. Estoy agradecidamente, en general, que están aquí para apoyarme, y también para el Sr. Land, desde entonces ha sido la fuerza impulsora detrás de la mayor parte de esto. Con toda la ayuda y la comunidad que ofrece el programa, el consenso general es que está aquí para quedarse y va a seguir creciendo. “Creo que hemos demostrado cómo el experimento [Compás] es acertado y vale la pena mantener. Así que no va a desaparecer. Este año, el año que viene. Tenemos que seguir construyendo sobre él.” ,Land dijo. Apenas un semestre después de su composición, el programa de ELL (English Language Learners) dirigido, Compás, ha hecho justo lo que se había propuesto para hacer: para ayudar a los estudiantes al enseñanza del inglés luchando con su trabajo de clase tienen éxito, según consejero de grado noveno Xelina Rojas. Compás se inició el Oct. 27, apenas unas semanas en el año 2016-2017, y aunque una gran mejora de ningún programa en absoluto,Compás todavía tiene algunos obstáculos. Con 169 ELLs, 25 de los cuales son actualmente tutorizada por sus 13 compañeros bilingües, la necesidad de que el programa crecer se ha hecho conocidos. Sin embargo, es la mejora de la actual ELL estudiantes en sus calificaciones del semestre que demuestra el efecto positivo del Compás en su trabajo académico y su moral general, según el profesor de gobierno y historia Geoff Land y Rojas. Esta inclusión y atención a estos estudiantes que son nuevos en la escuela y el país, ha abierto un ambiente acogedor que ha sido una parte integral del éxito del programa y el enfoque. “Muchas veces estos alumnos sienten como que están nadando con los tiburones,” dijo Land. “Son una persona extranjera en una tierra extranjera, y nadie los entiende pero sus compañeros de
recién llegados. Así que es agradable ampliar esa comunidad de paraguas a ellos, y creo que ha sido muy acertado también. He visto bajar el nivel de ansiedad, y he visto subir el nivel de confort. No es algo que se puede medir fácilmente, pero creo que es parte de la solución.” Mientras que no hay planes oficiales se han hecho para este año, la versión del próximo año del Compás será más estable que el actual. “Habrá cambios el año que viene, seguramente, porque tiene que ser un programa constante desde el principio.” dijo Rojas, “ojala nos podamos afinar y ser mucho más organizados en el comienzo del año [próximo] si reclutamos AVID tutores de 11 y 12 grado en la primavera y los tienen entrenados antes de que llegue el otoño.” Land espera incluir más educadores de padres bilingües en el año siguiente, para trabajar con los profesores en las clases principales y más fuentes bilingües. Han tenido una reunión con los padres, pero con asistencia limitada. Compás expandirá su alcance para mejor incluirlos dentro de los avances de sus hijos. Pero eso no quiere decir que el programa no funciona, o que el estudiante no está contento con él. Rojas es un testimonio de eso. Grado 12 Lupita Uribe, uno de los estudiantes de MECHA originales, después de la audiencia de Rojas que un estudiante le había enviado un correo electrónico sobre cómo áspera era su primer día de escuela debido a la barrera del idioma, con el empuje para abordar la falta de apoyo para los estudiantes ELL. “Siempre vienen con el trabajo, vienen con más preguntas, y no son tímidos, así que siento que somos amigos. Siento como soy realmente una mentor.”dijo Uribe, quien expresó que le gustaba el nuevo sentido de comunidad que el programa había crecido,”todos conocemos uno al otro, todos nos ayudamos.” Tiempo y esfuerzo parecen ser en el corazón de lo que hace Compás un programa exitoso . “Personalmente, yo diría que deberíamos darles más ayuda, más tiempo que simplemente tutorial.” dijo grado 12 Daniela López que es tutora de Rojo, que desea que Compás podría ser más que un solo período tutorial una vez por semana, y esperanzas que podría ampliarse en su propia clase independiente, “después de la escuela, sé que muchos de ellos no puede [entrar] debido a los buses, por lo que no puede permanecer para ayuda a pesar de que algunos de nosotros están disponibles. Así podría ayudar a, si se cambia la situación del autobús.”
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | CARMESI 09
|PEOPLE
Battling Like a Bearcat
Sophomore Amanda Snowbarger fights against “L” by Steven Schouten, Reporter
High school is a day-to-day battle that occurs in the body, the mind and the soul. It is four years of constant struggles and hardships that tests one’s character. Sophomore Amanda Snowbarger is not one to let life slow her down. Her schedule is constantly filled to the brim with activity after activity, at school, varsity softball, junior varsity volleyball, leadership, and church; where she has thrived in every setting. She is a 4.0 GPA student who participates in leadership and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was a key player for the JV volleyball team. She was pulled up to the varsity softball as a freshman. She is a leader for her church and youth group at the Church of Nazarene, and she participates in little-league field clean ups, food/clothes drives, gift bag supply runs to elementary teachers. It is easy to see that Mandy Snowbarger is not one be scared away from a challenge. But cancer is a battle that occurs in the body, the mind and the soul. Not only do the cancer cells attempt to destroy one’s body, but also slash at the mind and spirit. Only those who are strong-willed, have a fighting spirit, and believe in a positive outcome will be able to escape cancer’s grips. Snowbarger received news on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016 that would shake anybody’s life: she had been diagnosed with leukemia. The news came after what was expected to be an average trip to the doctor’s office to find out why she had been experiencing dizziness, headaches, and shortness of breath. Dr. James Tedford found blood tests showing anaemia, a condition that develops when blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Tedford referred the Snowbarger family to
Sierra Vista Hospital in San Luis Obispo, who quickly referred her to Stanford’s Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto. There, a bone marrow biopsy confirmed the harrowing news: Snowbarger had leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues and is the sixth most common form of cancer in the world, with an estimated 60,140 new cases in 2016, according to the National Cancer Institute. And all of these are traits that Snowbarger has shown in every aspect of her life. Friends and classmates have witnessed her determination to be her best possible self, all while keeping a smile on her face-- and never more than now. Since her diagnosis in December, Snowbarger has started the road to recovery. She spent most of January at Stanford going through multiple treatments including rounds of chemotherapy to fight off “L”, Snowbarger’s ironic word combination of loss and leukemia. But after 34 days in Palo Alto, she was able to come home for six days. Snowbarger’s mother, Theresa, described her emotions as “grateful, relieved, surprised and ecstatic”, according to a Caring Bridge post on January 31. Although the journey is really just beginning, the future looks hopeful as Snowbarger appears to be fighting off “L”. After 29 days of treatment, the amount of marrow that contained cancer cells dropped from 95 percent to 0.16 percent. After a successful first phase of treatment, Snowbarger will be starting the second phase called “consolidation”. During these stages she will most likely be going up to Stanford around once a week to continue her fight. Taking all of this into consideration, the future looks extremely bright. A long road lies ahead for Snowbarger with an expected two or more years of treatment, but she stands ready to take on whatever challenges the future may hold. Snowbarger’s courage and unwavering belief in a positive outcome comes from her strong faith and each day living by the words found in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
12/29/16
Snowbarger was first with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia where she will begin intense treatment
Timeline of L 10 PEOPLE | Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.15.17
PEOPLE|
The Diagnosis Mandy went to see her pediatrician on December 27th 2016 after having a lack of energy for a few weeks, shortness of breath and dizziness. Dr. Patterson suspected that Mandy was anemic and we had her blood tested. The next day we received the news that she was definitely anemic and there were abnormalities in her blood that needed to be analyzed further. We picked her up from softball practice that day, took her to Sierra Vista Hospital to have some further tests done and then were directed to proceed immediately to Stanford’s Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. On the 29th, she had a bone marrow biopsy and we were told that she has Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (ALL).
What’s next?
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Mandy is so strong. I believe that she will get through this because of her big smile and even bigger heart.
—Bella Montelongo, 10
Snowbarger will continue to travel back and forth from Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto and being in her hometown of Paso Robles during the consolidation phase.
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Snowbarger receiving her third round of chemotherapy.
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Central California Nazarene District sends love to Mandy a fews days after diagnosis.
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Snowbarger and her mother posing for the camera with their Battle like Bearcat t-shirts.
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Snowbarger stops at In-n-Out before heading home for the first time in 32 days.
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Snowbarger smiles at the camera with her nurse practitioner.
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I have known Mandy almost my whole life and one thing I admired very much over the years is the way she sticks to her beliefs no matter what.
—Brooke Milder, 10
12/31/16 Snowbarger recieved her first chemotherapy treatment at Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
1/31/17 After 32 days in the Ronald McDonald House, Snowbarger and her parents came home to Paso Robles.
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2/2/17 When Snowbarger was diagnosed, 95% of her marrow consisted of Leukemic cells, and the number from day 29 was .16%.
Visit CaringBridge. org for updates on Amanda Snowbarger
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | PEOPLE 11
|REVIEW
4 Your Eyez Only
Snarl beats and smooth jazz vocals by Valeria Cisneros, Co-Editor-
N
in-Cheif
ow that double platinum winning artist J. Cole has shocked us with 2014 Forest Hills Drive--his previous album from 2014--he has done it again with his newest album, 4 Your Eyez Only, which was released Dec. 9, 2016. Cole has built a reputation for remaining out of the spotlight and being reserved, until he speaks through his music. His recent 40 minute documentary, Eyez, was served to us through Tidal, a music streaming service, before he dropped his newest album. The documentary shows the viewers an insight as to the creative process of the record. The whole album is a story, in which there are parallels between Coles’ own life and that of a friend. In fact, 4 Your Eyez Only is thought to be told in diary entries read to the daughter of said deceased friend after his death. The friend is later identified as “James” in the song Change, which is an emotional cry for change, and the message is reinforced by lyrics like, “But the only real change come from inside” which offer hope that everyone is capable of changing for the better. Cole also speaks about a way to distance yourself from negative influences. Towards the end of the song, however, there is a grim reality that sometimes one can get pulled back into the life Cole raps about in his music. Finally in the end of Change, we are brought back to Cole’s perspective of when he hears in the news that James McMillan Jr, the friend, died at the age of 22 of a gunshot wound from a shootout in North Carolina. In the album’s second song Immortal, Cole raps about James’s life as a young child and dealing drugs, as well as experiencing death at a young age. When I focused on the lyrics rather than Cole’s snarl beats, I noticed that it is very much a reality. The pictures he puts in the listener’s head is filled with rhetorical-questions and social insights. In the album’s last eight minute song, 4 Your Eyez Only, it becomes clear that James wanted his childhood friend, J. Cole, to leave this record as a message for his daughter in case he were to die.
This is us
Taken over my emotions
W
by Morgan Rego, People Co-Editor
arning: This is Us will make you cry. I have never seen so much happen in a single TV episode. The pilot, which is an hour long , presents the circle of life: birth, death, career crisis, reunions, insecurities, self-affirmations, heart-to-hearts, and reconciliations. It will leave no button on your foreshadowing control panel uncrushed. I am not one to spoil a show, so I will try my best to keep the suspense. For those who were in love with Parenthood as much as I am, this show fits as a worthy surrogate The show follows four main storylines, and the four main characters share the same birthday. The story is an intergenerational portrayal of brothers and sisters, but you will have to watch the show and unravel the connection yourself. At the end of the first episode, these same characters are entangled together so beautifully. The first character is Jack, (Milo Ventimiglia), a nervous expecting dad whose wife, Rebecca, (Mandy Moore), is about to give birth to triplets. The second is Kevin, (Justin Hartley), a hunky actor who landed a soul-killing role in a terrible sitcom that requires him to spend an annoying
12 REVIEW | Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.15.17
REVIEWS
La La Land
A movie to make you believe in musicals by Kathryn Varian, PR Director
T
he rush hour LA traffic jam is underway, but this time it is not the usual jam, full of honking horns and frustrated yells. This time it is “Another Day of Sun,” and every talented person in the city seems to be in one place with a giant flash mob musical number underway. La La Land’s opening scene is already a test as to whether my generation can handle an old-timey musical, full of random song and dance numbers and struggling talents. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling could not be casted better. Mia, a strong actress reaching for fame, and Sebastian, a mopy pianist trying to save jazz, are a perfect combination. On their hard journey to fame, the pair come upon each other on a not so glamorous night. Sebastian perfectly personifies the picky, hipster musician trying to revive jazz, but when the chance for fame and fortune comes along, he sells out and pursues a career of pop-jazz. Mia goes in the opposite direction, instead of continuing on the constant flow of big production hollywood auditions, she decides to take a chance and go out on her own with a one woman play.
The sets capture old LA, and bring you back to a time when Hollywood was thriving. Vivid, colorful m u r a l s and the rare way of filming make you know that director Damien Chazelle knew what DANCING he was doing. Apparently IN the Hollywood Foreign Press Association thought so too after La PURPLE AND La Land won all seven of the Golden GOLD: La Globes in which it was nominated. La Land La La Land appeals to more than just wins a the eyes; it speaks to heart. Although record there is a fairytale feel throughout the breaking movie, the leading conflict is relatable. seven Mia and Seb feel what brought them Golden together slowly tear them apart as Globes they have to choose between love and career. This ancient conflict leads to an oddly satisfying and tearjerker ending that you are going to have to see for yourself.
CIRCLE OF LIFE : This is Us bombards and delights watchers
with the complexities of relationships, earns three Golden Globe nominations. amount time shirtless. Next is his sister, Kate, (Chrissy Metz), who is fighting a serious weight problem with the help of her new support group, in which she meets the cheerfully acerbic Toby, (Chris Sullivan). And finally there’s Randall (Sterling K. Brown) who has just tracked down the biological father who left him, as a newborn, at a fire station, “because he couldn’t think of something more cliché.” Despite some weak lines in the script, the plot ended with me feeling happily, mistily manipulated, willing to let This Is Us pull my heart strings for at least another episode. “It all works out” seems to be the main takeaway from the pilot, but where things specifically go from here is a whopping question mark. Though Rotten Tomatoes rates This is Us as 89 percent, Rego Reviews rate it more like a 96 percent.
Check out OUR full reviews at CrimsonNewsmagazine.ORg
LETTUCE TACO ‘BOUT LOVE By Madison Funke, Blind Date Editor
Sophomores Ally Wilshusen and Brendan Farnsworth met at the white gazebo in the middle of downtown Paso Robles on Sat. 21. Farnsworth greeted Wilshusen with a bouquet of flowers and a warm hug filled with surprise. To start the date, a sheet of paper was handed to them full of
1
CLUE “You might go to this restaurant once in a _____ ______.” Both pondered for awhile, saying the same thing, “Once in a lifetime?” Wilshusen noticed the Blue Moon sign in the window, correctly completed the riddle, and guided them for their first of two taco stops. Blue Moon, new in town, welcomed them with a reserved sign on a table for two by a large window under a tree made of lights. A plate of taquitos began the meal, followed by quesadillas made with bright orange tortillas that took both of them by surprise. Wilshusen learned of Farnsworth never having guacamole and insisted he try.
2 CLUE “Once you’ve eaten to your heart’s content, it’s time to follow your heart. Find a lava lamp, an odd portrait and take your picture with it in “stylish” clothing. Dress each other up.”
GoodWill was the perfect place for these shenanigans. Wilshusen shopped an aisle full of women's clothes: a blush pink blazer with shoulder pads and embroidered flowers for Farnsworth. A red and white striped dress caught the eye of Farnsworth for Wilshusen—a casual “Where’s Waldo” look. They donned the outfits, shot the photos, but a long search turned up no lava lamp. Where in Paso Robles can you find a lava lamp? They walked to Great American Antiques, noticing a poster attached to the wall perfect for their “weird portrait.” The poster had a couple dressed for their wedding, the bride was holding a bouquet of flowers and had her hand on the groom’s arm. Wilshusen and Farnsworth mirrored it for the odd portrait picture. The Antique Mall still turned up no retro lamp of liquid, but they found very different nicknacks to laugh about—for instance, a dog figurine made out of golf balls.
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CLUE “Find the building with a car staring at you . You can find a scarf, chalk or pictures all in the same room. Then find something “off the wall.” Farnsworth knew. “It’s Studio’s on the Park!” They waltzed a few doors down where beautiful art filled their eyes. They commented on pieces, strolling different. On one of the walls, the couple’s favorite: a bunch of adorable fish created by elementary schoolkids. Artwork by PRHS students also amazed them, from portraits, to pottery, to watercolor on cardstock.
5
CLUE “Lastly, be like Homer and journey to find a piece of cake.”
Thanks to freshman honors, they were made their way to Odyssey World Cafe to share a slice of cheesecake. Farnsworth showed Wilshusen something new to try: chocolate syrup on cheesecake. The date thus ended on very full tummies, solved clues, and closer friendship.
3
CLUE “The food is from a neighboring country. Colorful murals line the wall. Artistic chairs. What is your next stop?” Wilshusen immediately told Farnsworth, “It’s La Mexicana!”— a spot
he hadn’t visited before. The waitress welcomed them in with a smile and sat them in a booth. They both ordered chicken enchiladas. Waiting for her food, Wilshusen asked, “Wanna hear some jokes?” She began straight faced and with a serious tone: “On the news the other night a couple of kids were sitting on a bridge hanging rocks on a string over the side. When cars get close enough, they would pull the rock up. But a semi truck came, and the boys didn’t have enough time, and one of them had their arm ripped off. The truck driver was arrested and charged with—ARM ROBBERY!” Farnsworth laughed hysterically and applauded her hilarious “dad jokes.”
Would you go on a date again? Ally: Yes Brendan: yes
02.15.16 | Crimson Newsmagazine | BLIND DATE 13
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THE YOUNG GENERATION|
THE PERCEPTION OF THE YOUNG GENERATION Life was very different for past generations as a result of new technology, changing social standards and non-conformist beliefs. Previous ideologies set the stage for today’s generation. 2017 is already showcasing as a year of unprecedented events and the world waits to see how the young generation will react.
Photo by Lauren Wassam
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | THE YOUNG GENERATION 15
|THE YOUNG GENERATION
After The BOOM
What does the younger generation have compared to previous generations?
The generation gap between adults and teens is determined by a variety of factors
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by Emmaline Voorheis, News Co-Editor
ack in the day”, a phrase often quoted by older generations, often refers to the good old days, with yesterday’s trends, prices, fashion, and lifestyle. Life was very different back in the day for the generation of yesterday and one needs only to examine history to deduce that fact. With this in mind, the question is posed: just how big is the generational gap between the generations of yesterday and the generation of today, and what does that mean for the teen mind? To further examine this idea, historians have broken the generations into five groups: the silent generation (pre-1945), the baby boomers (1946-1964), generation X (1965-1976), generation Y- otherwise known as millennials (1977-1995) - and generation Z (post-1996). Each generation has characteristics that distinguish them from the others that can help answer generational questions. Probably the most controversial generations across American history are the baby boomers and the millennials (with a few years from generation Z). Today, there are 77 million boomers and 83 million millennials in the U.S.—two generations long viewed as ripe for targeting. The baby boomers of post-World War 2 times were, literally, a huge boom of babies. Some historians have argued that it was a part of a desire for normalcy after 16 years of depression and war. Others have argued that it was a part of a Cold War campaign to fight communism by outnumbering communists, as stated by History.com. Defining factors of the generation back in its young years emerged as they grew older; some baby boomers began to reject the common consumerist suburban ethos of the time. They fought instead for social, economic and political equality, change and justice for African-Americans, adolescents, women, gays and lesbians, American Indians and Hispanic groups. Student activists flooded college campuses with organized massive demonstrations against the Vietnam war, occasionally using parks and other public places as alternate locations. Baby boomers also played a major role in the wave of uprisings that shook American cities from Newark to Los Angeles in the 1960s, while other baby boomers disregarded political life altogether. These cultural “hippies” distinguished themselves as they grew their hair long, experimented with drugs, and practiced “free love.”, with the help of new birth control pills. Today, the oldest baby boomers are already in their 60s; by 2030, about one in five Americans will be older than 65, and some experts believe that the aging of the population will place a strain on social welfare systems, cited from Adweek.com. Millennials, on the flip side, have been characterized in a variety of ways. On the negative side, they are observed as lazy, and often switch from job to job in a short time period in the workforce. Polls show that Millennials “want flexible work schedules, more ‘me time’ on the job, and nearly nonstop feedback and career advice from managers,” according to a story in Time magazine. One 2012 study found Millennials to be “more civically and politically disengaged, more focused on materialistic values, and less concerned about helping the larger community than were Gen X (born 1962-1981) and Baby Boomers (born 1946 to about 1961) at the same ages,” via research from livescience.com, according to USA Today. The study was founded on an analysis of two large databases of nine million high school seniors or freshmen college students in 2012. Despite the downsides, millennials have also been described in positive ways. They are generally regarded as being more open-minded, and more supportive of gay rights and equal rights for minorities. Other positive descriptions include confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and receptive to new ideas and ways of living, according to livescience.com.
Statistically, millennials of today have surpassed Baby Boomers as the nation’s largest living generation, according to population estimates released this month by the U.S. Census Bureau. Millennials are currently at 75.4 million, surpassing the 74.9 million Baby Boomers. The Millennial generation continues to grow as young immigrants expand its ranks, according to pewresearch.com. Boomers, being the older of the two, are shrinking in number as the number of deaths among them exceeds the number of older immigrants arriving in the country. With these statistical and historical differences in mind, how can we approach a generational gap? AP Physics teacher Mark Fairbank does not see a difference between the ages. “I think we’re not that different. I think kids are kids” said Fairbank, a member of generation X. “I think (the teen) brain and the things you like to do hasn’t changed… There were just as many lazy, unmotivated kids back when I was in high school as there are now.” The big difference for him lies in the tools we wield: technological advances. “You have (cellphones) which didn’t exist, you have calculators which didn’t exist, you have tools that we didn’t have” Fairbank said, “We had a TV, a radio, a walk-man… I think the technology has taken over… (the teen) generation gets fixated on technology” To Fairbank, the cellphone in particular has created the largest change between the generations. “There was a little more talking person to person… because we didn’t have (cellphones).” Fairbank remarked. “I’ll walk around campus and see kids buried in it, and they’re walking next to a friend, and yet they’re buried in their technology... I know that kids were zoned out in class when I was in high school, they just didn’t turn immediately to (the cell phone). We get so used to picking it up when we’re bored.” Freshman Morgan Harrington preached the same gospel. “We grew up with more technology than (the adult generation) did; it doesn’t make us necessarily more social.” Harrington said. “We don’t have the (same) politeness and we’re not as nice to other people.” It is because of this enormous upsurge in teen culture that Harrington feels this way, as she has observed. “Most of us have gotten so caught up in ‘oh, I have to have the newest technology or the newest iPhone’ that we don’t really talk to other people that when we do, it’s much shorter and ruder… than what it should be” Harrington said. In her own opinion, one of the main factors feeding into this issue is the way the school system approaches the classroom, updating school functions to meet the newest technological advances of the modern world. “School now is very technology-oriented… sometimes they’re so focused on being ‘new with the kids’ that they forget that there’s a different way of approaching things.” Harrington stated. Ultimately, she sees the biggest gap in the way the generations experienced life altogether due to differences in the times. “We haven’t gone through some of the same things they’ve gone through… We have a different lifestyle than they did then.” Harrington said, noting that technological advances filter into that category. “Now younger and younger kids are getting phones.” Her advice to the upcoming generation lies in that message as she believes that “we shouldn’t get so caught up in technology that we forget what else is out there.” According to Fairbank, there’s still hope; the generational pattern hasn’t let down yet. “I don’t think we were any more in the moment back then than we are now.” Fairbank said.
THE YOUNG GENERATION|
“I think there was a sense of safety from my generation. We’re lacking safety and security within your generation and what I mean by that is, when I was a kid we would play outside fro hours, and we didn’t have to have constant contact with our parents.” -Jennifer Martinez, AP Psychology
“The teenage mind needs, among other things, space to change and grow positively. There are many ways that this necessity can be met, including recreation, sleep, nutrition, and education.” -Zach Smith, 11
“Today everything is organized. You go to all these places where there is an adult that’s in charge of you. I think when I was young that wasn’t a thing. I had to decide what was fair, and there wasn’t an adult telling me. You guys would benefit from realizing that in the adult world, making choices is hard.” -Jim Stefeans, AP Calculas
Originally, the “peace sign” was known as “V for Victory” during World War II. Prominent leaders, such as Prime Minister Winston Churchill, used the two fingers as a symbol of peace. Nowadays, teenagers are mostly seen flashing the peace sign in photos or to friends in passing. The young generation and their flashing of the peace sign prove their optimism, despite the ever increasing turbulent situation faced by so many around the globe.
“Technology has changed the world we live in and what teenages want for themselves. Compared to decades past, we now seem to actually crave technology and we desperately want to connect to others through all of the social opportunities there now are.” -Sophia Velasquez, 12
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | THE YOUNG GENERATION 17
|THE YOUNGER GENERATION
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raveling is good. But actually living there is different. Traveling is
scratching the surface. Living there you are actually a part of it,” is Spanish teacher Jennifer Fuller’s message. From Cuba to Argentina to Spain, Bearcats have visited places far enough to qualify them as world travelers. But most Americans, let alone teens, have never left the United States, the average American, roughly 29 percent of adults have never been abroad, according to a survey conducted by the New York Daily News. Travel is shown to be an important part of maturing the t e e n mind. All our lives we have cultivated in a little isolated bubble and have yet to look outside it. Some understandably do not want to leave the U.S. since there is already so much to do here; however there are so many benefits to making the trip into the unknown. English teacher Aaron Cantrell and his children, junior Joe Cantrell and alumni Amy Cantrell, along with his mother, departed for a trip across the Gulf to Vinale, Cuba, on New Year’s Eve. Each morning they were greeted by the aroma of authentic Cuban cuisine in Villa Cristina, the home of a family they were staying with for six days. Breakfast cost them 5 dollars with the average monthly income of Cubans typically about thirty dollars. Joe rated the trip a ten out of ten, and that he would recommend it to anyone. In Cuba, “it’s like it opens your mind; in America it’s all about consumerism...like having stuff makes you happy. But in Cuba, a lot of people are poor, and they’re happy,” said Joe, who has traveled around the world his whole life. Previously under the former President Obama, travel and trade has once again opened. Relations between the United States and Cuba are turbulent at best, with the embargo and diplomatic withdrawal since 1961. Travel between the two nations can prove to improve tolerance, which is a byproduct of world travel and a hopeful trait for the next generation. Teachers recommend traveling the world because it exposes you to new cultures and customs, and can give your world perspective a full 360. Fuller traveled to Argentina when she was attending high school and Spain while in college. While in Argentina, she stayed as an exchange student in the tiny town of Villa Guay during 1984. Fuller said her experience was eye opening. “I never really thought
about anything outside my own world in my country.” Fuller said. Why teens do not really care is due to a lack of use of the area in the brain that is associated with empathy and decision making, according to LiveScience.com. Fuller claims that living immersed completely in a different culture forced her to become fluent in Spanish and cemented her love for the Spanish culture. In the tiny town of Villa Guay, she was considered a celebrity because the natives there had never met an American, making her the first American to visit. After spending a summer in Spain, junior Mikayla Rose reveals how her trip raised her cultural awareness while having fun nighttime escapades with Spanish friends. “I loved being able to travel and visit places with my friends from Spain. Along with being able to do new things I never would have done here!” Rose was in Spain from July 27 to August 9 of 2016, her favorite part the midnight walks outside her Spanish friend Pilar Abad’s villa to a beautiful little church to spend the night talking joking, laughing and making memories under t h e same night sky.“...even though there might be a language barrier you still can create a relationship with amazing people and to experience new things involved in their culture which is absolutely amazing!”
CUBAN VIEWS (above) : The Cantrell family pose in front of the Cuban flag. They visited Cuba over Winter Break after relations between the US and Cuba resumed. Photo used with permission by the Cantrell family
18 THE YOUNG GENERATION | Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.15.17
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by Madi Warren, Sports Co-Editor
rom the newest IPhone to the coolest television show, teenagers are constantly bluefaced, which worries parents on the effect it has on their student, according to BBC News. However, technology can be very beneficial if used properly. The internet is full of useful information that can help teens with homework or studying for tests and it is accessible in a matter of seconds. “Technology can broaden your learning, because you can literally learn anything on the internet. However, you can also be exposed to a lot of negativity like mean people or things you don’t need to know about celebrities”, said junior Sierra Marshall, who spends about three to four hours a day on her phone. The key to using technology for good is to not pursue negative people or dangerous websites. “There’s definitely negative things on the internet like people being mean to each other, or shaming people for how they look. There’s also positive things like people being kind to each other and meeting new people,” Marshall said. One of the greatest benefits of technology is helping teens to connect with others. Some teenagers struggle to make friends and social media is a great source to find new people who have the same interests and goals, according to Public Health Research. Social media also gives teens the chance to express their creative work widely, whether it is a picture, art piece, or opinion. “There are a lot of creative outlets for teenagers who are writers and artists, whether that’s a fan-fiction community or an art-sharing community,” wrote Devorah Heitner, the author of “Helping Tweens Thrive and Survive in Their Digital World”. Apps like Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and Phhhoto can be good outlets for a teen mind to express to and maybe seek advice from friendly peers. However, precautions should be made on social media apps due to the easy access of inappropriate or dangerous accounts. “It’s how you go on the internet and how you look at things. I tend to just look at positive things on the internet”, said Marshall. Technology is also a good source for teens to be more social and willing to develop a relationship. 57 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 have made a new friend online. This shows how social media has a good impact on the teenage social life and helps a young growing mind find good friends with similar interests, according to Pew Research Center. Phones, computers, and social media can have negative effects on a teenage mind; however, the positives outweigh the bad.
THE YOUNG GENERATION|
HEAR OUR VOICES
The many reasons why I support the Women’s March
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had never felt more proud to be a woman than I did on Saturday, January 21. Thousands of people gathered in downtown San Luis Obispo’s Mitchell Park for many reasons of their own, but with one common feeling: female equality equals human equality. Regardless of gender identity, religion, race or any other difference, we shared a voice. I marched for the women in my family. I come from a long line of intelligent, beautiful and unafraid women who shaped me into who I am today. I appreciate my mother, my aunts, my grandmothers, and my cousins for their strength and independence. I marched for my sisters, who include the girl who sits next to me in English, the girl who I was best friends with in middle school, the girl whose name is now Emily but used to be Emmanuel, and the girl who does not feel safe in her own skin because of its color and stayed home that rainy Saturday. She, especially, is my sister. And I marched with and for her. The hype of the march seemingly ended on Jan. 21, but I will fight for this cause for far longer than a day. I do not want the fire of this fight to die out. This is not a fundraiser or a petition or an “anti-anything” protest. This is a worldwide issue about the fundamental rights of women that requires the most strenuous of efforts to make sure our goal is reached. As a teenager, it is hard to sit back and watch things happen that I have no control over, such as the results of the election. “Stop saying that [teenagers] don’t care about world affairs; many of us are concerned about the world’s future, especially since we will be the next ones to inherit responsibility for it,” wrote Isabel Song, a freshman at UC Berkeley for Huffington Post. Teenagers do care. In fact, 93 percent of teens want to volunteer, but only a portion of them actually step up to make a change, according to a study done by DoSomething.org. “The problem is many of these teens are never shown or taught how they can start making a difference; in fact, we’re usually told we can’t,” wrote Song. I love my country that legalized same sex marriage and allows freedom of speech, religion, and press. I love the people of this country who love me back for who I am as a human being and an intellectual, not because I am a woman or because I am white. I love the country that opened its arms to refugees and immigrants and gave better lives to people (especially people of color) who could not get the same anywhere else. However, I do not love the country that rejects somebody for the color of their skin, the religion they practice, or the people they choose to love. I do not love the country that closes the door on families escaping
horrible, dangerous places and need somewhere safe like America. This place, this country I love so much, has become unsafe and divided. Every generation sees their share of a divided society: Vietnam in the 70s, suffrage in the early 20th century, the Civil Rights movement, and more. History has repeated itself many times because we have been oblivious to it. Now, with the world at our fingertips and anything we want to know at the click of a mouse, we have no excuse to repeat the things that have already been done. This is the time to take a stand and change things for the better for the last time. When I was at the Women’s March rally in the park, Erica Flores Baltodano, the keynote speaker, shared a few lines that stood out to me. “I will be putting one foot in front of the other for the next four years to say that I am here, I am watching, and I am ready. And to the new inhabitants of the White House: we are all here. We are all watching. And we are all ready,” said Baltodano, who has background working on social-justice and civil rights issues in Los Angeles. This is not going to be a cakewalk. Fighting for equal opportunities for all humans of every color, sex, and religion is going to be the fight of a lifetime. However, millions of people are on our side. Millions have opened their arms and their hearts to people who need it now that their country has turned its back on them. I marched for the human race. And I will continue to march until my tracks leave trenches in the earth and a change has been made.
STAY NASTY(left) : Marchers gathered in Mitchell Park on Jan. 21 for the International Women’s March. For more information pertaining to the march, visit www. womensmarch.com. Photos and graphics by Sadie Mae Mace
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | THE YOUNG GENERATION 19
|THE YOUNGER GENERATION
Brains behind the Brain Class Psychology students explore mental realities empathy and understanding by Lindsay Darbyshire, Editorial Editor
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eep in the lower level of the 100 Building, Psychology students of Rm. 106 are cracking the code of the most complex and mysterious subject of all: themselves. As the second semester begins, senior Nadeene Al Azzam attests that her time in teacher Jennifer Martinez’ Psychology class has taught her about the physical and mental ways humans react to their environment. She has realized that while the endocrine system may secrete hormones and influence moods, the adolescent experiences within the mind runs deeper than a sheen of sweat on the skin. “We’re constantly developing mentally and teenagers go through certain phases that we don’t understand. So psychology [is learning] how to respond to the problems that you have—and you can’t avoid them,” Al Azzam said. She plans to major in psychology with an emphasis in psychiatry. Psychology student and junior Kat Dickinson encourages her peers to take back the negative stereotype proclaiming the insignificance of the young generation and their ideas. She explained the easily influenced nature of the mind can also be detrimental to some youth. Media influence portraying young minds as fickle and incapable of making intelligent decisions can deter the power these adolescent minds hold. “What we need right now is support, so that there’s room for growth in this image of what teenagers are and who they can be,” said Dickinson. “How can you overcome these boundaries without starting to understand your own mind? Take that image of the stereotype and say, ‘I want to be more than this.’ So learn more about yourself and overcome that. Meet your potential.” Martinez, ever creative, is ready for that challenge. She asks students to shoot balls of paper into the trash to determine their gambling temperament. She coaxes them to sleep to illustrate sleep patterns and how the mind influences them. She assigns a dream journal. She assigns dice games to test openness to risk-taking. Martinez uses these methods to better connect her students to the material they are learning. “We scrape the surface of all types of psychology. We do some reading, but we also do a lot of experiments and watch videos about things—a lot of hands on stuff. It’s kind of more about the students and them talking and discussing and questioning and clarifying what goes on in their life,” said Martinez, who teaches the Intro to Psychology, AP Psychology, and Early Childhood Development classes. “There’s more room for socializing and discussing and talking to each other, and opening up. In psychology, a lot of it is about learning about other students and their life experiences,” she said. “It’s different in the sense that kids are going off of their experiences, which is really valuable.” Martinez explained that students interacting with peers is key to adolescent brain development. Learning how to understand and show concern for the trials of another’s life are valuable skills. They mold teenagers’ abilities to cope mentally with life. “These are very critical years [students’] lives… the teen mind needs to remember to relax, understand life is going to go on. Everybody goes through bad days, and hopefully there’s light at Photos and graphic by Lauren Wassam, Camden Tucker, and Sabrina Hernandez
the end of the tunnel,” Martinez said. “[It’s important] for everyone to have empathy for everyone else [and] to understand we all have different stories.” The flexible nature of the class promotes discussion between peers, something that Dickinson credits as a vital skill for understanding Psychology and its material. “You have to be willing to consider the information from different perspectives… all lot of things that have shaped my perspective on the different things we’ve learned has come from my peers who had different opinions than me,” Dickinson said. She plans to use the human analysis skills she has learned from the class to aid her training for a career in Translation. “I think [discussion] is so effective because that’s the basis of psychology. You’re taking the material you’ve been presented with, an idea, and you’re tearing it apart and putting it back together. There’s room for interpretation.” Martinez said that these practices of evaluation and solution requires respect and empathy to connect with other teenagers can help untangle the confusing and sometimes distressing hurdles of adolescent maturity. Martinez wants her students to recognize her classroom as a safe place where they can comfortably open up about their struggles and have the confidence to ask questions in order to learn more about why they react the way they do to various situations. Collectively, Martinez and her students declare that the young generation should never be hesitant to seek out help as they continue their journey through the early unfolding of life. The proverbial hands of the mind can extend not only to receive, but to reach out in a display of shared emotional support and empathy. “[Adolescents] don’t realize that there are people out there that are willing to help,” said Al Azzam. “There’s someone out there that cares about your mental health, that wants to reassure you. There’s no need to be alone in that.”
Healthy lifestyle guide
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by Camden Tucker, Reporter
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BOTTLED GREEN JUICES: It is nice to think that you are getting all of the benefits of kale and spinach by drinking a refrigerated drink, but it’s more likely you are consuming more sugars than anything positive for your body. The “Green Machine” by naked contains twentyeight grams of sugar while still claiming to be healthy.
ALMONDS: As well as being a delicious on the go snack, they contain a plethora of nutrients, including a moderate amount of lean protein which gives a boost of energy and helps to repair brain cells. GRAPEFRUIT: An apple a day will keep the doctor away, but a lesser known idiom is that a grapefruit a day can help lower “bad” LDL , low density lipoprotein, which contributes to the hard plaque that clogs arteries and can lead to a stroke, levels by 15.5 percent.
FADS: Lurking in the Twilight Zone of teen magazines these weight loss fads are flat out weird and not medically proven. Ranging from things like “the cabbage soup diet” and “the cotton ball diet”, this one in particular can cause intestinal obstructions which are very dangerous. The only true way to healthy weight loss is a good diet and exercise.
SPINACH: Low in fat and even lower in cholesterol, spinach is chock-full of vitamins K, A, and C. In addition, spinach protects your skin from UV rays, which are the main cause of skin cancer. Spinach is also high in niacin and zinc, as well as protein, fiber, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese.
MILK: Milk may be good in moderation but too much can be disastrous. After passing through toddler years your body makes less lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, and by forty about sixty percent of the population has a reduced ability to digest lactose. Calcium from animal milk is not absorbed well, and can be accompanied by a number of dangerous health problems.
MEDITATION: A study from UCLA has shown that those who meditate on a regular basis have more grey matter, which is responsible for muscle control, and sensory perception, such as seeing and hearing, speech, decision making, and selfcontrol. Even older participants had retained much more grey matter than people their age have on average.
LUNGES: Lunges are great for your health, but the process of doing them is more harmful than helpful. If your knee passes your foot it puts a lot of unneeded pressure on the knee which can cause pain. Instead keep your knee above your foot, and your leg at a ninety degree angle with the ground. Graphic by Emma Corippo
Healthy mind, healthy life Project Teen Health encourages a better lifestyle by Sadie Mae Mace, Co-Editor-in-Chief
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roject Teen Health, a nonprofit program through the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo, is new to PRHS this school year after being introduced to three other high school campuses, such as Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, and Santa Maria. The program, which has been around for ten years in the community, primarily focuses on preventing youth obesity, but also trains students for specific athletic events, offers tips on diet and exercise, and provides nutrition counseling. In addition, free or low cost after school workouts will be offered, where students can choose from a four day, four week boot camp or three day, three week boot camp. “[The program is] one of the most impactful things we can do. I really believe we can improve the health of our communities if we can improve the health of the students. The reason being is if we can go home at the end of each day and share with our parents… that we want to improve with our own health, we can become a catalyst in our family and that family can be a catalyst in the community,” said Kaelon Russell, who, along with Jenna Miller, is one of the coaches helping the PRHS chapter. Coach Russell is an AmeriCorps member, and was assigned to Project Teen Health for his year of service. His primary goals include volunteer recruitment, fundraising, and coaching the after school workouts. The club also offers specific programs to help students interested in the field of fitness succeed; the Fitness Youth Training Revolution is a seminar where students learn the basics of becoming a personal trainer. “I joined Project Teen Health because I was in search of a healthier lifestyle and I thought a bit of guidance might be good... I’m looking forward to the fact that as a group of people, we’re all searching for the same thing. We’re all searching to be healthy, and that is awesome to me because we can all help each other in our goals,” said sophomore Emalee Gott, who is set to graduate next year.
Clubs already active in schools show significant progress in the program’s long term goal of “creating student led health and wellness initiatives on campus”, according to Russell. In Santa Maria, students received a grant to implement a school wide wellness policy. Similar to PRHS, AGHS constructed water bottle fill stations with a grant of $2000. A common goal shared among schools is improving school lunch food. On Jan. 28, Project Teen Health held its first annual PTH Summit in San Luis Obispo, where student leaders from the school clubs collaborated to share ideas for the “Start a Movement” effort at their respective campuses. Ideas discussed including recruitment strategies, member commitment, different marketing techniques, and more. After the summit, the students participated in a group workout at REVSLO Fitness. “[We will] help you create a strategy to achieve that goal, help you get funding and write grants, and get in touch with the right people within the high school and district to make that happen,” said Coach Russell, who added that Project Teen Health, as a whole, wants to hear directly from students what actions they want to take to improve student health. Meetings are held Tuesdays at lunch in room 808, where the coaches and advisor Physical Education teacher Cara Macomber support students looking to improve their personal and school health. Student interest forms are available in room 808 for students looking for individual help, where they can inform the advisors what days and class periods work for them to start the program. “I’m just really excited to be bringing this program to Paso Robles, I’m very excited the students we’ve worked with so far seem to be having a good time with it, and I’m definitely looking forward to creating a lasting program at this high school and improving the health of everyone in the community,” Coach Russell said.
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | HEALTH 21
Learning to be seen with an invisible illness
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Sophomore Lilia Fuller adjusts her perspectives to win her battle against Fibromyalgia by Esther Cabello, People Co-Editor
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urple stamps in the shapes of stars and hearts adorn sophomore Lilia Fuller’s light lavender Fuller was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia on Apr. 28, 2014 and suffers from widespread pain walls as she sits in front of the camera, poised and ready to address her viewers and begin among the body, along with other severe symptoms such as intense migraines, constant nausea, her Youtube video. However, today’s video is unlike any of the other 26 videos she has posted and sensory overload. An estimated 5 million Americans 18 or older are affected by Fibromyalgia, to her channel and between 80 and 90 percent of those diagnosed are women, according to the National Institute For a different approach, Fuller, daughter of 20 year PRHS Spanish teacher Jennifer Fuller, has of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. chosen to read aloud a letter she has written to her disease, removing a layer of the invisibility that Fibromyalgia is a disease caused by genetics and commonly triggered by any emotional or shrouds this particular illness. Fuller begins her letter with a physical trauma; it is more likely to be found in adult women, courteous “thank you” to her Fibromyalgia for strengthening which is what makes Fuller’s case a rarity. Researchers believe her for the battle that she assures us she will win: that patients diagnosed with Fibromyalgia experience an I have always been someone who abnormal increase in levels of pain receptors in the brain, “Dear Fibromyalgia, you have changed my life for better and worse. Sure, you have caused me a lot of pain and looks more toward the positive resulting in a much higher sensitivity to pain. struggle, but you have made me stronger. You made some Between fighting to stay above depression and struggling side. Through all of this, I have doctors give up with all the negative answers to the tests they with the fact that there is no cure for her disease, Fuller has had put me through. You made them confused when I told them to learn to accept new expectations for her future. just said: No, you have to stay all my most random symptoms. I couldn’t tell you how happy I Although there had been earlier indications of her disease, was to finally have an answer and to have it be something that Fuller’s Fibromyalgia first flared up while attending a dance positive. Lilia Fuller, 10 wasn’t going to kill me. That is one thing that has kept me so competition in San Jose called Showbiz in February 2014. The positive. You aren’t going to kill me.” week of the show, she had gotten sick with the stomach flu, but In the video, published on Jan. 7, 2016 and suitingly titled was feeling well enough to dance, so she decided to perform. “A letter to my Fibromyalgia.”, Fuller goes on to describes the “I was on an adrenaline high [from the performance, when] struggle of living with an invisible chronic pain disorder, as well as speak of both the challenges all of a sudden I felt terrible. It was one of the worst feelings ever. I felt like I was about to throw up, but and the glimmers of hope she has discovered along the journey that has uncovered Fibromyalgia my body wouldn’t let me. My whole body felt like it had been run over by a truck,” said Fuller. She had in more than one family member, a personal vision quest to choose optimism and health, and an performed five different dances that weekend, including tap, lyrical, jazz, and ballet. over-the-counter trick, too.
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Fuller is dancing 15-20 hours a week and attending competitions with Artistry in Motion
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February 28-30, 2014: Fuller’s Fibromyalgia first flared up while attending a dance competition in San Jose called Showbiz.
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Fuller was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia on Apr. 28, 2014 . Family members will soon follow.
2015
HEALTH| After the award ceremony, Fuller and her mother returned to their hotel room instead of celebrating with the rest of her studio. The family hoped things would go back to normal, but Fuller’s condition did not improve. “I just got sick and never got better. I kept going to doctors and doctors–so many blood tests–and they just kept on coming back with negative answers,” said Fuller, who has always been more prone to getting sick than other children, her mother insists. Before she was diagnosed, Fuller was dancing 15-20 hours a week and attending dance competitions and performances with her studio, Artistry in Motion. However, since the diagnosis, she has lost significant muscle mass that she is now working hard to earn back by gradually fitting dance back into her schedule. Although giving up dance has been emotionally and physically tough, Fuller is choosing to see the silver lining around the situation. “It totally changed my perspective. Before, I couldn’t do anything, but now when I dance, I just feel–I can’t even describe it–it’s an amazing feeling. I feel so happy.” At first, doctors tried to pass off Fuller’s illness as a small case of anxiety that she could push through easily, and the family, believing there was a larger issue beyond what met the eye, requested a referral to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera where they could find answers. “[The doctors] told me I’m too young to go on any of the medications–they [haven’t been] approved for teens–so he told me to go on the internet and search whatever [I could] find,” Fuller said. Fuller’s diagnosis evoked mixed emotions from her family members. “I was really relieved that it wasn’t something worse like leukemia or something horrible like that, but I was also a little bit disappointed because it wasn’t something that had an easy fix. It’s been heartbreaking to watch her. When you’re a parent, you have all these hopes and dreams for your children, and you picture them going to high school, and taking honors classes, so it’s hard for me to change that perspective. Now it’s like, ‘I just want you to take classes that you enjoy and pass them,’” Jennifer Fuller said. After browsing the internet, the Fullers came across a treatment called the Guaifenesin Protocol, which is the leading ingredient in Mucinex, and can be found in any store–much like Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. Fuller takes the pill three times a day to filter out the phosphates in her body that her doctor believes may have a connection to her illness. “The doctor that I see–his theory is that there is a defect in the kidney. There’s this one genetic chain that is missing, so [as a cause], the phosphates don’t filter out; they just go deposit everywhere. They go out into the bloodstream; they go
everywhere. With the Guaifenesin Protocol, I felt it clear,” said Fuller, who has taken this treatment for almost two years. With the new treatment, Fuller’s improvement was gradual, but steady. “After she was first diagnosed, she was almost bedridden. I would force her to go outside. I kept telling her everyday, ‘You need to spend 20 minutes outside in the sun to get your vitamin D and just be exposed to some fresh air.’ She would go sit out on a blanket in our backyard and just sit there. Now she’s actually able to get up–she’s able to go to school,” said Jennifer Fuller. Struggling with depression and anxiety, two major symptoms of Fibromyalgia, is something many patients like Fuller have to learn to overcome. Fuller chooses to focus on her happiness and stay optimistic throughout the tough parts of her illness. “I’ve always been someone who looks more toward the positive side. Through all of this, I’ve just [said], ‘No, you have to stay positive.’ [I can’t] allow myself to get down. I don’t want to go into a dark place. I’ve know people that have [gone to a dark
of Fibromyalgia. Fuller makes flower crowns, jewelry, and tutus. She hopes to eventually make a website for her products to reach a larger crowd. On Sept. 23, 2015, Fuller created a blog that documents what life is like with Fibromyalgia, delivers monthly pep talks, and serves as a safe place to discuss some of the harder aspects of her illness. Her blog can be found at mylifewithfibromyalgiasite. wordpress.com. In one post, she promulgates “The Spoon Theory,” written by a woman named Christine Miserandino who was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Lupus. Miserandino developed the spoon theory while trying to explain to her college roommate what it was like to live with her illness. “I explained that the difference in being sick and being healthy is having to make choices or to consciously think about things when the rest of the world doesn’t have to. I used spoons to convey this point,” Miserandino said in a cleverly written narrative, “But You don’t Look Sick?”. Each spoon represents the energy that patients of any chronic illness can utilize throughout the day. For this reason, Fuller chooses to wears a necklace with a spoon charm around her neck. “I try to do little things like that, that slowly help bring awareness to Fibromyalgia and that kids get it too,” said Fuller, who also wears purple laces on her shoes, the color that represents Fibromyalgia awareness. Fuller also has her own Youtube channel where she posts videos about her sickness and how it affects her day-to-day life. Her many videos include clips of Fuller speaking about her disease, video logs of her dance shows and her “Happy Days” with her sister, and monthly words of encouragement. One of her major role models is a fellow Youtuber, Emma Taylor, who has become a kind of spokesperson for teens with Fibromyalgia. “I’ve never met [Taylor], but she kind of inspired me to start writing and trying to get my story out there, and a lot of people have written back to me. It’s been really interesting,” said Fuller, who has been trying to get the word out about Fibromyalgia and inform the public about methods that have helped her, such as the Guaifenesin Protocol. Both Fuller and her family have had to adjust their perspectives in order to live with Fibromyalgia, but their strength in the face of adversity has been rewarded with great healing and improvement. In the Letter Video, Fuller closes off her communique to her Fibromyalgia with victorious, powerful words: “You will never be able to knock me down for good. I will always be here fighting. I am never going to let you win this battle we are having. I will keep on fighting no matter what. You have made me a fighter who will never, ever give up. You will never win, Fibromyalgia; I will never let you.”
place] with this illness, and I don’t want to be that person who is sad, so I always try my best whatever it is to look on the bright side and stay happy.” Fuller has found multiple hobbies or activities that help her stay positive and happy. One of these methods is what Fuller and her sister Hayley call their “Happy Day.” “[My sister and I] were so tired of seeing the same walls and the same thing, so we decided to twice a month dress up get all nice and fancy. [We] either just sit at home and watch movies or go out on a walk or go out and do something fun that we don’t usually do. We were just starting to get so depressed doing absolutely nothing and seeing absolutely no one, so we just decided, ‘Why not get up and do a happy day?’” said Fuller, who started this tradition Mar. 2, 2015, about a month after both her mom and sister had been diagnosed with less severe cases
SEPTEMBER 23, 2015: Fuller creates a blog that documents what life is like with Fibromyalgia.
September
2016
JANUARY 7, 2016: Fuller posts youtube video, titled “A letter to my Fibromyalgia.”
January
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | HEALTH 23
|WORLD
2016-17 Timeline
The Events that Shaped the World
Colombia Strikes a Peace Deal with FARC Rebels that Quickly Falls Through
Leftist FARC rebels and Columbia’s government signed a peace deal, ending one of the world’s longest conflicts, which has killed an estimated 260,000 people and displaced millions. The peace deal was later turned down, with 49.8 percent of voters for it and 50.2 percent against it. However, the cease fire between the FARC rebels and the government will remain in place.
by Kayla Terry, Reporter and Emma Corippo, Illustrator
ISIS attack in Baghdad May 11 Three bombs were detonated in Baghdad, Iraq, killing over 80 people. There were over 60 killed and 87 injured by a car bomb, while another 29 were killed and 74 were injured by suicide bombers. The group claimed responsibility through Twitter shortly after.
After 100 Years Feb. 12
Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church and Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church met in Havana. This is the first time both faiths have set aside religious differences since the East-West Schism of Christianity in 1054.
Britain Votes to Leave the European Union June 23
Thirty million citizens voted, resulting in 52 percent pro-separation and 48 percent anti-separation. The long term economical effects are not yet known.
24 WORLD | Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.15.17
Aug. 24-Oct. 2
Russia Interferes in the U.S. Presidential Election July Wikileaks leaked emails between Democratic National Committee, giving information on their tampering with Bernie’s campaign and the “high-profile donors in the Clinton campaign”( Forbes How Russia Hacked Our Voters In The 2016 US Election article”). Soon after the DNC investigated how this information had been found and leaked to the American people, it was determined to be Russian military intelligence.
Theresa May Elected British Prime Minister July 13 May takes over following David Cameron’s resignation after his failed efforts to keep the U.K. in the European Union. She previously held the positon of home secretary for six years.
RIO Olympics
Aug. 5-21
Usain Bolt made history as the first person to achieve world records in both the 100m and 200m dashes. Michael Phelps won five gold medals and one silver, upholding his reputation as the greatest swimmer of all time. Simone Manuel set the world record for the 100m freestyle and became the first African American woman to win an individual gold medal.
WORLD|
China Issues Smog Red Alert Dec. 19
Brazil Impeaches President Dilma Rousseff Aug. 31 Brazil was under stressful economic pressure with multiple scandals involving their president. Rousseff was found guilty of “Bypassing congress to finance government money” with the vote 61 against 20.
Smog collected around cities of China causing schools, factories, and flights to be closed down and delayed until the thick gray haze disappeared. The smog covered 3.9 million square miles (roughly the size of the U.S.A), according to the country’s Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Donald Trump Elected 45th President
Nov. 8
Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States, winning with 270 electoral votes, but losing the popular vote by 2.8 million votes to Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton.
First U.S. Service Member Dec. 9 Killed in Syria A U.S. service member was killed in northern Syria after sustaining wounds from a blast from an improvised explosive device, according to the U.S.-led coalition.
South Korea Impeaches Their President Geun-hye Dec. 9
Executive Order Barring Immigrants from seven countries Jan. 27, 2017 Donald Trump temporarily banned 218 million people from entering the United States. Trump barred citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for at least the next 90 days by executive order.
U.S. Courts of Appeals Refuses to Reinstate Trump Travel Ban Feb 9, 2017
A federal appeals court unanimously refused to reinstate President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations
South Korea lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to impeach President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal. The vote was 234-56, with six abstentions. 02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | WORLD 25
|SCI TECH
The exploitation era Technology may be taking the front seat, but cybercrime is at the wheel by Aiden Kerr, Reporter
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ew technology translates to new possibility. Coding by itself is started making games.” an art form, exploring new alternatives to problems, creative He has since created a software and game design company called thinking, and fortifying personal or company security. Creative Minds. But when tech is leveraged as a means of accessing information “I plan to go to college and pursue Computer Science wherever I am. outside of what its creator intended, it is called hacking. Hacking can be The whole goal was really to expand my company. Technology is where compared to speeding once one learns how to drive: it takes a useful the future lies. The faster you get into it, the better you will do in life,” skill and gives it dangerous intent on the ground floor. Hacking Franklin said. is built off of Javascript or Python code computers are “CS jobs will be the highest-paying sectors over programmed to respond to, intruding into personal the next decade, paying almost $15,000 more than security, a crime which will land an individual average,” said MadeWithCode, a Google-produced sufficient fines jail time--from $1,000 to $10,000 in initiative to teach more females to code and fines and up to three years in jail, reports FindLaw, interact with the programming community. California’s leading source on computer crime. Whitehat security is a security measure put in It can be a crime that requires no more mobility place by companies to find weak spots before a than the comfort of one’s desk. hacker exploits them. That way the company is The U.S. has faced strife with several countries prepared for most common attacks. historically China and Russia - that have hacked into “As you learn more about the methods hackers confidential emails, accounts, and credit card information use to infiltrate systems, you’ll be able to preemptively for political gain. With such intentions, hackers resolve issues,” said Capella University. “Many JACOB FRANKLIN (above) : Senior Jacob companies including Google, Microsoft, have deemed themselves hacktivists. Franklin is the creator of the game “Hacktivism’s main goal is to bring issues to PayPal, Facebook, Saleforce.com, and Mozilla development company, Creative Minds. have also embraced a ‘Hack Yourself First’ light and cause social change,” said Eric Roberts, a retired Computer Science professor at Stanford. “It mindset.” achieves these goals in a relatively peaceful manner.” Many precautions must be taken to ensure a safe computer However, many times hackers will seek political advantage through experience against common malware attacks. The most prevalent terrorism or force. Many people, young and old, find lucrative careers in invasion, generally seen from Chinese hacking, is known as Distributed the hacking arena. Denial of service or DDos, which sends an overflow of online traffic to a Coding often starts at a young age and is ironically encouraged as a specific server until it is forced offline. training step towards Computer Science professions. The average attack can last hours, destroys $17 million every hour Senior Jacob Franklin was introduced by a classmate in his welding if targeting the financial industry, and affects more than 45 percent of class in his sophomore year. organizations, according to FossBytes. “I started looking into it and just thought it was really, really fun,” Franklin said. “And so I taught myself how to program. From there, I
26 SCI TECH | Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.15.17
Significant hacks in history
Sometimes for personal greed, political gain, or even black hat malice. Simultaneously, white hat hacking is embraced as responsible, careerbuilding wizardry.
Number 001 - Sony Pictures: November 2014, a group identified as the Guardians of Peace (GOP) hacked Sony Pictures in response to its announcement of The Interview, a movie portraying a fictional assassination of North Korean ruler Kim Jong-Un. The country denied its ties with the incident and with GOP, but bomb threats at premiers forced Sony to cancel live showings altogether.
Lesser-known attacks have surfaced this decade, too. Facebook, Target, British Airways and Staples have had their fair share of hack humiliation.
Number 002 - Target: In 2013, Target faced cyber-intrusion when a breach of over 40 million credit cards and customer accounts became compromised, as reported by the New York Times.
Number 003 - ABC: Anthem Blue Cross admitted to a hack of 80 million customer identities which encompassed birth dates, home addresses, social security and emails.
In addition, the Washington Post announced in fall 2016 that Yahoo had compromised 500 million accounts. Verizon Wireless, the second largest telephone provider in the world, determined 100,000 incidents, including 2,260 confirmed data breaches across 82 countries. One of every three breaches was a DDos attack, they reported in their 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report. — Aiden Kerr, Reporter
GETTIN S ’ ’ IT in here But there is still time to make a change by Jessica Jagger, World Co-Editor
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or many, an awareness of climate change begins sometime around third grade, when students learn about water conservation and how their actions affect the environment. For a few years, these kids believe what they have been taught, but by the time they are old enough to draw their own conclusions, belief starts to waver. Only 70 percent of Americans believe that climate change is legitimate, and only 23 percent of those surveyed believe that humans are the main cause of this issue, according to The Hill. Despite these doubts, environmental scientists have considered humans to be the largest cause of climate change for over 100 years. The evidence of damage is everywhere: warming oceans, glacial retreat, shrinking ice sheets, and global temperature change. These are all signs of climate change, an issue that is imminent and will pursue until worldwide efforts are taken to stop it. The most damaging human act that affects the climate is fossil fuels such as coal and gasoline. It remains undecided as to whether our environment is passed the point of saving; however, environmentalists continue to urge people to cut down on wasteful or harmful activities such as excessive use of electricity, water, paper, and plastic. Senior Madison Owens believes that the tipping point has been reached as a result of an increasing amount of wasteful activity, but climate change can still be reduced. “To me, there’s always hope to make changes by little choices throughout your day,” Owens, who makes environmentally friendly choices herself, said. Methods of contributing to the minimization of climate change include: being energy efficient, eating less meat and dairy (production of these foods harms the environment), walking or biking rather than driving, and getting involved through an environmentally conscious organization. There are countless organizations dedicated to stopping climate change in its tracks, and many offer easy ways to take action- some as simple as donating any amount from $5 to $200. Some of the most effective companies are: Natural Resources Defence Council, World Resources Institute, Friends of the Earth, 350.org, and Environmental Defence Fund. Climate change is something that the PRHS Geo class is well aware of, and a recent
lab conducted by the class helps students better understand their personal impact on the environment. These students are weighing everything in their bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and garage in order to determine their carbon footprint. “When we find out our footprint, we can find what actions we need to take to reduce it,” Senior Sam Collins, a member of the Geo class, said. Since the Industrial Revolution around 1850, the amounts of carbon dioxide produced have skyrocketed. Along with the construction of factories and businesses comes cutting down forests, which absorb carbon dioxide, in order to use the land. This increased amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has significantly impacted the climate, and while it may not seem like a huge difference, cutting down the amount of carbon a person uses/produces could be the beginning of a big difference. Doug Parr, a scientist for Greenpeace UK, claimed that “stopping climate change isn’t only possible, it’s happening, and it’s a second industrial revolution.” The eight warmest years since 1880 have all occurred in the last 17 years. This is a direct result of human activity, such as the usage of fossil fuels. Professor of meteorology, Michael Mann, stated, “In a few countries, like the U.S., entrenched special interests don’t want us to transition away from a reliance on fossil fuels.” Without change on this front, climate change will rage on, and the recent election will do the earth no favors. Donald Trump has stated multiple times that climate change is simply a hoax, and his choice for head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, does not believe that humans are at fault for changes in the climate. Because of these obstacles, it seems more important than ever for each person to do their part in order to reduce harm to our environment. The average temperature in the U.S. is predicted to rise an additional three to twelve percent within the next century alone. This increase depends largely on human choices and actions. Change in the climate remains possible, and whether it is progressive or regressive depends on measures taken to stop it.
Bearcat views on climate change “Yes, I believe climate change is real.” -Jamilet Espinoza, 11
“Climate change is real. There are lots of science facts to prove it.” -Jonathan Manhart, 12
“Yeah, I think it’s real.” -Rachel Ruiz, 10
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | ENVIRONMENT 27
|SPORTS
ALL ABOUT Varsity Polo
Girls are top in division three and ranked third in PAC-7 by Emmaline Voorheis, News Co- Editor
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or the first time in PRHS history, Varsity girls water polo is ranked third in PAC-7 league. With only three league losses as of Feb. 2 and a 4-3 winning record - the future looks bright for the lady Bearcats. From beginning to near-end, senior and co-captain Miranda Pasky is very proud of how far her team has come. “The season started out really strong, with only a few rough patches here and there, but after we worked together to perfect some of the issues, I feel we have become even stronger and as long as everyone keeps up the hard work we have a lot of potential to go really far in CIF.” Pasky said. Pasky particularly shares in the anticipation of what’s next for the team: with CIF on the horizon, the team now sharpens their skills to a fine point to maximize the possibility of placing higher than the team has ever placed before. “If we can pull off this win we will be setting the bar for future Bearcat teams,” Pasky said. “As a team we have been working on keeping our stamina up, and cleaning up the little mistakes. Individually, I have been working on being compact and balanced during my shot, and building my leg strength up even more.” Looking back, Pasky claims that water polo has left a lasting impact on her life, shaping her into the person she is today. “When I first joined water polo I was very shy, and many of the girls taught me how to be ok with myself and be more confident.” Pasky recalls. “Through this program I have felt so lucky to meet all of the amazing people who became my teammates and my best friends.” Eventually, Pasky plans to carry her experience with her into her
28 SPORTS| Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.15.17
college years. As a team, the lady Bearcats have endured many bumps in the road, prominent struggles being passing, concussions, and illnesses. “However, after we got better, we all came back with a drive to work hard and get back to our full potential.” Pasky said. Major team triumphs, according to Pasky, have been playing the teams that have been in higher divisions and either winning, or losing by one. “We also beat Atascadero multiple times; that’s always something to be proud of.” Pasky remarked. While the team strives toward their historic goal, they work hard in both a physical sense and in a communal manner, becoming closer as teammates, a second family to many of the girls on the team. “Our coach is always asking us how we play water polo, and we collectively answer with ‘seven on seven’.” Pasky stated. “This just shows that we are all in this together and will do anything for each other.” The team often takes the opportunity to bond over meals during tournaments. Moving forward, no matter what the result, the lady Bearcats have already made history: it all comes down to what they do next. The girls are heading to CIF after beating the Atascadero Greyhounds 6-3 on Thursday, Feb. 9,
GIRL POWER (below) : The varisty girls water polo team poses for a photo. The team is ranked third in PAC-7 league, which is historic. Photo by Emmaline Voorheis
GIRLS POLO
SPORTS|
Junior Varsity Polo
Ending the season (above) : The JV girls pose during the celebration of the last game of their season. Photo used with permission of Emmaline Voorheis
JV Girls Water Polo places 4th in League by Emma Corippo, Illustrator
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TIMEOUT (above) : Coach Grant East encourages the girls during a game. The girls are moving onto CIF in February. THROWING THE BALL (bottom left) : Freshman Tatiana Smeltzer caught in the middle of a pass. Smeltzer and her sister senior and captain Marina Smeltzer have had been a big part of this years team. CAPTAIN PASKY (bottom right) : Captain and senior Miranda Pasky going for a goal. Pasky has played waterpolo since her freshman year.
V Girls Water Polo has had an astounding season this year, going 9-11 overall as of January 2017. The lady Bearcats won 4th in league PAC-7 in their division, and 3-2, a whopping improvement for the girls since previous year. Last season, they were ranked fifth in league and 1-4. “I’m really proud of my team..the team is all super excited about how good we’re doing this year,” said sophomore Julia Sage, who also added that the team really “clicks” this season. JV polo beat many teams they did not last year, including its toughest opponents: Righetti, Atascadero, and SLO. “Everyone gets along very well, we work well as a team.” said freshman Morgan Harrington, one of the team captains along with freshmen Gabrielle Clayton. Coach Duane Mcroy has had a huge impact on the team’s victory this season. “Coach Mcroy is so down to earth and he doesn’t just care about us in the sport, he makes an effort to help us with our classes too.” said Sage, who has been on the team for two years. “He’s patient with us and will always help us out.’’ With hard work from both the girls and their coach, the team has had a fantastic season.
|SPORTS
WINTER SPORTS WRAP UP BOYS BASKETBALL
6- 16
The bearcats had a strong preseason, going 5-1 compared to last years 4-7. However, this year the bearcats went overall 6-16 and stayed last place in PAC 8 league with a 1-12 record. Despite the losses, the 16 man roster shared pivotal moments:. “We had a rough season this year but as a young team with only 2 seniors, we had a lot of growing moments including Anthony Napoli’s put back dunk against Atascadero.“ said senior and captain Mason Wiesner.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
8 - 14
The 12 girls roster improved from 2016’s record of 8-18 overall to this year’s 8-14. Landing in sixth place in PAC-8, the girls went 4-9,two games behind St. Joseph’s fifth place.
GIRLS SOCCER
A
14- 8-0
s the rain came to an end on Wednesday, Jan. 11, the varsity girls soccer team didn’t. Muddy cleats squished into the field at PRHS as the team tried to catch up after the one minute mark to Arroyo Grande’s 1-0 lead. The mucky soccer ball was bouncing off heads and chests while moving from north to south post, movement and chemistry somehow possible amid the slime and slippery conditions. Although the girls lost to AG 1-0, this loss didn’t phase the young team as their record stays comfortable. The loss put the team at 8-3-1 overall and 2-2 in PAC 8, leaving the Bearcats in third place behind San Luis Obispo and AG. Four weeks later, the team is now in fifth place with a 7-7 record in PAC-8, while 14-8 overall. Despite the latest records for the ’Cats, the team is strong compared to last years 4-152 overall season and 1-12-1 PAC 8 record. The team’s strength possibly comes from the influx of sophomores. On the 24 girl roster, ten are sophomores.
Both sophomore Elise Scheiffele and senior Madison Mitchell share 10 goals this season, while sophomore Giselle Zatarain has nine. Under the supervision of new head coach Dillon Simulis, the team has a new game plan. Simulis’ play book has a what some soccer gurus call expansive soccer, according to senior and captain Sydnie Esser. The weather also had some effect on the team this season. Flooded fields led to multiple canceled practices and even complaints from other teams. With games in later February the team hopes to make it to CiF. Photos by Lauren Wassam, Madison Funke, Camden Tucker, and Coleen Wiest. All scores updated as of 2/10/17.
30 SPORTS| Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.08.17
BOYS SOCCER 17- 6-1
With 25 boys, including 12 seniors, the varsity boys soccer team went for an overall record of 17-6-1. The team also placed third in PAC-8 with a 10-4-0 record, one game short of Arroyo Grande’s second place. Next off, the boys head to CIF
Check out more sport updates at
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SPORTS|
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: with senior Juan Camacho
Wrestling Gain Back Pressure
HandFight This is when the athlete fights for a hand position and try to under hook the opponent. The ultamate goal is to snap the opponents head to the ground.
On the bottom, you must recognize that the top man is trying to drive you forward and put weight on your hands to either ride you out or break you to your belly. You cannot allow him to do this. Learn how to pressure back into your opponent, get the weight off your hands and get your head up.
Sheer Away Once you are on your feet, it’s not enough to turn and face your opponent. You must maintain your back pressure and pivot into him, lowering your level as you do.
More About Juan
Tips The key is to move quick and also keep constant pressure on your opponent by arching you back
Photo by Camden Tucker
Camacho’s Stats
Wrestling is one of the most popular high school sports Weight class: 285 among boys in the US with more than 270,000 boys from public and private high schools. Juan Camacho is just one Top Tourney Rank: 5th of these boys who has excelled as an athlete and helped his team rank 3rd in CIF. Camacho is the only senior Matches won: 28 wrestler at Paso Robles High School who has placed top ten in every tournament they’ve had this year. During the Tournement of Champions with 84 teams competing he places 7th individual and the team place 3rd as a team. Camacho also places 7th at the Mid Cals tournament out of 90 plus teams competing.
02.15.17 | Crimson Newsmagazine | SPORTS 31
|PHOTO ESSAY
WE ARE ALL
BEARCATS
SHOWING STRENGTH (top left) : The varsity boys basketball team holds a sign supporting sophomore Amanda Snowbarger’s fight against leukemia. As of Feb. 8, varsity boys basketball is 6-16 in league. GETTING INTO THE CUBAN SPIRIT (upper right) : Cubanissimo, a Cuban food truck, fed students on Wednesday, Jan. 25. The JOOI Club put together the after-school event. Bearcat band Coffee Box Kids also performed during the event. COLLEGE TIME (middle right) : Senior Tegan Curren signs to CSU Long Beach for beach volleyball on Feb. 2. Curren has played volleyball since third grade and beach volleyball since her freshman year. SENIOR YEAR (lower left) : Seniors gather in the gym on Feb. 9 for the traditional senior portrait. SENIOR NIGHT (lower right) : Senior CeCe Ramirez accepts flowers on varsity girls basketball’s senior night. As of Feb. 9, varsity girls basketball is 4-9 in league. Photos by Lauren Wassam, Camden Tucker, Coleen Wiest, and Madi Warren
32 PHOTO ESSAY | Crimson Newsmagazine | 02.08.17