devil’s advocate stanton college preparatory school
Stanton Mock Election
2016
DECISION
Your school. Your voice. Your vote. By Likhita Manchikanti
number 2
november 2016
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devil’s advocate
volume xxxiii
number two
Stanton College Preparatory School
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Sports
Sports and American Patriotism A look into the roles sports play in
Sports
Athlete Activism A discussion on how popular athletes stand up for
By Zahra Casado
their political beliefs and the reactions if the same happened at Stanton.
Student Life
Generation Z: Staying Connected to Politics An examination of
By Bettina Huang
the relationship between Generation Z, social media and politics.
Student Life
Student Politicians A profile of three students who aspire to make an
By Brandon Deda
impact on the world through political involvement.
Photography
Faces A display of Stanton College Preparatory School’s diversity through the faces of its students.
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By Vince Duarte
the daily lives of American citizens.
Features
By Mary Allison Kane, Maya Lee, Chloe Giroux and Dani Brewer
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Decision 2016: Stanton’s Mock Election An in-depth analysis of
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By Likhita Manchikanti
the results of Stanton’s mock election.
Opinions
Editorials Two editorials from the Devil’s Advocate Editorial Board and
By the Editorial Board
an editorial cartoon from Stanton artist Alivia Davis.
Opinions
Gender in Politics Student columns on feminism, sexism and gender discrimination in relation to the 2016 presidential election.
By Emma Mosher, Patrick Lehman and Maya Lee
Editor’s Letter
Lily Tehrani Editor-in-Chief
iiiiiNovember 8, 2016 is a day that will change history forever: the day our 45th president will be decided. The Devil’s Advocate has dedicated its second issue to the 2016 presidential election, as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire businessman Donald Trump go head-to-head to see who will be America’s next president. iiiiiOur cover story, “Decision 2016: Stantons Mock Election,” is a piece that breaks down the Devil’s
Advocate Mock Election results. The cover story also provides a glimpse into the outside influences on adolescent voting and the effects of voting itself. iiiiiIn Sports, the story “Patriotism in Sports,” details how sports affect the lives of Americans. In “Athlete Activism,” we discuss how popular athletes have sparked political debates which question whether their actions are acceptable or not. iiiiiIn the Student Life section, we
Contributing Advocates: The Devil’s Advocate is searching for contributing writers, photographers, artists and filmmakers. Contact Editor-in-Chief Lily Tehrani at lilytehrani99@gmail.com, Managing Editor Valerie Starks at vmstarks@gmail.com or Digital Media Editor Shriya Gupta at guptas2626@gmail.com. Ads and Sponsorships: The Devil’s Advocate is dependent on our advertisers and our sponsors. When you purchase an ad with us, it reaches a diverse student population that can help your business. We can also design your ads. Our prices are: $35 (1/4 page), $60 (1/2 page), $75 (insert), $100 (full page b/w) or $150 (back page color). Contact Business Manager Shruti Murali at shrutiusa99@gmail.com or our adviser, Mr. Knight, at knightl1@ duvalschools.org
november 2016
feature the possible future student politicians of Stanton and what sparked their desire to be involved in politics. We also delve into millenialism and social media and their effects on politics. iiiiiIn Opinions, the topic of how adolescents view politics and how their perceptions of politics are molding is discussed by staff writer Emmett Gideon. Additionally, Business Manager Shruti Murali wrote a column on the effects of
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language and rhetoric on voters. iiiiiiiWe sincerely hope you enjoy the second issue of the 33rd publication year of the Devil’s Advocate.
Adviser: Larry Knight Editor-in-Chief: Lily Tehrani Managing Editor: Valerie Starks Layout and Design Editor: Sarah Page Senior Photography Editor: Mary Allison Kane Digital Media Editor: Shriya Gupta Managing Digital Media Editor: Grace Trombley Business Manager: Shruti Murali Features Editor: Walker Miller Opinions Editor: Trystan Loustau Sports Editor: Liam Ngo Student Life Editor: Chisom Ukoha Staff Writers: Zahra Casado, Brandon Deda, Vince Duarte, Emmett Gideon, Bettina Huang, Rohini Kumar, Likhita Manchikanti Photographers: Dani Brewer, Chloe Giroux, Maya Lee
devil’s advocate | 3
Sports
ATHLETE ACTIVISM
Many professional athletes use their influence to take political stands; these Stanton students react to how this would unfold at their school. On Aug. 16, 2016, during a San Francisco 49ers game, quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat for the national anthem to highlight the oppression of minorities in the United States. Many Americans were astonished at his perceived lack of respect, and his protest sparked a nationwide debate. However, this was not the first instance of an athlete using their sport to raise awareness of a social issue.
school athletes across the country were inspired to follow his actions and kneeled during the national anthem. While some high school football players across the country want to show that they too have a voice, several Stanton College Preparatory School football players have different views on whether Kaepernick’s protest is acceptable. Several football players do not believe in his protest and have expressed unwillingness to kneel with their fellow teammates if they decide to follow Kaepernick’s actions. “I don’t believe in what Kaepernick is doing,” said junior football player Bailey Skinner. “If someone were to kneel during the national anthem I would not participate with them because I believe it’s more respectful to stand.” While some football players Stanton students demonstrate that political views can cause rifts between teammates. agree with Kaepernick’s In 1968, track and field athletes John Carlos and cause, they do not believe in his style of Tommie Smith gave a Black Power salute during the Mexico protest. With so many other forms of protest, Olympics to grant prominence to black rights. Wearing some athletes do not understand why photo by Maya Lee
I feel like not standing during the national anthem is not the best way to protest; it is just disrespectful to our country as a whole.
By ZAHRA CASADO, Staff Writer
can protest, but I think it should be in a different style.” While some players disagree, others support Kaepernick’s action, claiming they would follow in his footsteps. This movement has proven to be inspirational to several athletes who are astonished by the idea of a professional putting their career on the line. “If anyone on my team kneeled during the national anthem, I would kneel with them,” said sophomore football player James Dawson. “I believe in what Kaepernick is doing entirely because he is willing to take risks for a movement he believes in.” Athletes are often thought of as role models to many adolescents. Their platform is intended for all ages and can have an immeasurable impact on teens. Politics has become increasingly tied to sports and have therefore inspired athletes to use sports as an opportunity to voice their beliefs. However, the inclusion of politics in sports remains controversial due to the belief that sports were made purely for enjoyment and should not be used for other reasons. “I think politics are irrelevant when it comes to athletics,“ said sophomore swimmer and diver Branyon Skinner. “If there’s a separation between church and state then there should be a separation between sports and politics.” It has become increasingly difficult to deny that politic have become highly involved in sport, recently shown by Kaepernick’s movement. Therefore, some believe athletics are a platform which should be used to advocate social cause. “I believe that political topics should be exempt from sports,” said freshman swimmer Shiori Johnson. “However, when it comes to extreme
—Tac Chown, 10 black socks with no shoes and black gloves, Carlos and Smith highlighted the constant racial discrimination African Americans faced. Much like Kaepernick’s choice to sit, their protest sparked national debates. While many Americans believe Kaepernick’s actions are disrespectful, others believe his actions are just, as he is merely using his position to express his belief in the Black Lives Matter movement. Soon after Kaepernick’s first protest, high
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Kaepernick would choose to kneel during the national anthem. “I feel like not standing during the national anthem isn’t the best way to protest because it’s just disrespectful to our country as whole,” said sophomore football player Tac Chown. “Kaepernick
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cases, such as racism, I believe that if I had a platform on which I could express my beliefs, I would take a stand.” Even though the increase in political involvement of sports is believed to be a perfect opportunity for athletes to establish their position on controversial topics, some students believe athletes are often not knowledgeable enough to properly protest. In fact, to these students athletes are just looking for attention rather than trying to make a difference. “I feel like most athletes don’t actually know what they are talking about and are just doing it for the attention,” said sophomore basketball player Justin Genus. “An athlete can talk about politics as long he or she is properly informed.”
teammates over political issues. “Politics should not be involved in sports because of the hard feelings that could be created,” said Stanton Coach Lisa King. “Teammates could lose the connection they worked so hard to create between one another.” While Kaepernick’s choice to sit brought the political aspects of sports to national attention, it was not the first instance of athlete activism. In this case, a nationwide debate
was instigated about whether an athlete should have a role in politics. Some believe athletes should use their positions of power to highlight national issues, while others believe the opposite. Though it may cause issues among teammates, sports in high school can be used for a similar form of activism. Either way, activism, politics and sports have become intertwined with one another, affecting the outcome of each faction.
Politics should not be involved in sports because of the hard feelings that could be created. Teammates could lose the connection they worked so hard to create between one another. —Coach Lisa King While many student athletes have opinions regarding politics in sports, Stanton coaches have also conveyed their beliefs on political involvement in sports. Many feel students should focus on playing their best instead of advocating political issues. “Sports are supposed to be fun and active,” said Stanton Coach Robert Flemming. “I believe we should leave politics to the politicians.” Some coaches are also against politics in sports because of the inner turmoil it can cause for the team. Teammates are supposed to be united as a family and this cohesiveness is much harder to maintain if animosity is created between
photo by Maya Lee
The Stanton student section was U.S.A. themed in this football game against Ribault High School.
photo by Maya Lee
The football team prepares to run through the banner during the U.S.A. themed football game vs. Ribault High School.
november 2016
devil’s advocate | 5
Sports
SPORTS AND AMERICAN PATRIOTISM The use of patriotic propaganda in American sports has helped to create a strong association between the country and its favorite pastimes. By VINCE DUARTE, Staff Writer
For decades, countless Americans have dedicated their Sunday afternoons to sporting events. Athletics have become an integral part of American culture, whether it be for those competing or those watching. With sports being so important to many citizens, athletics have been used throughout history as a symbol of American patriotism. In 2001 President George W. Bush delivered the first pitch of Game 3 of the World Series to celebrate unity after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, symbolizing the regrowth and strength of America. However, patriotism is not only present at the national level, but is also found in high school athletics as well. In many young athletes’ lives the competition in sports, and the team bond that grows because of the competition, can make young players feel a deeper passion for their sport, their community and their country. Student athletes often take pride in representing their school, just as professional athletes take pride in representing their city and country. For some athletes, their involvement in athletics is something that starts in their family. “Personally, there has always been an expectation for me as an American teenager to be involved in sports,” said Stanton College Preparatory School junior football player Bailey Skinner. “This is especially true because my family played in high school and college. I know many consider high school athletics to be some of the best times of their life.”
Personally, there has always been an expectation for me as an American teenager to be involved in sports. —Bailey Skinner, 11 The experience of playing a sport in high school often leads to fond memories because many athletes develop a passion for the game and a love for the rivalries. As high school athletes compete in front of their peers, many take pride in representing their school, as the athletic competition can help them grow as players. “We are competing to win games for our school,” said sophomore football player Lyle Williams. “But we also all have fun together because the competition brings out the best in us as players.” Through their own passion, young athletes develop the skills to compete. At a young age, players can form a love for their sport that outshines other activities. This builds the
photo by Maya Lee
Stanton’s football team stands together during the national anthem before their game vs. Ribault High School.
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commitment of young athletes to their sport. Additionally, the presence of coaches and teachers can help develop young athletes. In many sports, the foundation for the true love of sport starts with a drive of competition influenced by mentors. While the drive for competition is found in many different sports, an example of this can be seen at the teenage level of competitive dancing. Athletes who partake in the sport have an incredible passion for their sport and many start at a young age. “I started dancing when I was 13 years old,” said freshman dancer Kennedy Cottle. “My commitment to the sport comes from the teachers who inspired me because they act as role models to us. They give me a reason to make time for practice and it became something I genuinely enjoy.” Most athletes are taught the lessons of teamwork through competition. On the field, teammates can develop strong ties to their team which establishes a spirit of camaraderie. “Teammates should be expected to stand together,” said senior baseball player Trey Calhoun. “When some individuals do not stand, it’s no longer a team. Baseball, being a team sport, requires a team to do everything together.” Since the influence of teamwork and competition is a key component of American sports, athletes develop sports patriotism because of their passion for athletics. This is evident through the playing of the national anthem before the beginning of a game, which is used to add meaning to the role of an athlete and the freedom to play sports. “The national anthem is played to keep us, as American citizens, humble,” said Skinner. “It is a time to pay tribute to those who have fought to defend this country. We would not have the liberty and freedom to play any game without them.” The recognition of American sports exists because of the rise of unique sports to the country such as football, baseball and basketball. These sports originated in the country and continue to remain prominent in American culture, which describes the pastime of patriotism in sports. “Baseball is considered America’s pastime sport because many Americans share the same passion for the game,” said Calhoun. “The sport remains a tradition for ceremonial actions and I believe it symbolizes patriotism.” Because of their popularity and historical significance, sports play a pivotal part in our culture. Americans take pride in the success of teamwork and competition on the field through the actions of both youth leaders and professional athletes. This leads to increased patriotism in athletics because today’s athletes develop a passion for sports that can last a lifetime.
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Student Life
Generation Z: Staying Connected to Politics iiiiiSocial media erupted on Oct. 7, 2016. Though the cause of the uproar was but a three-minute video, it became headline news within the hour. The video, originally recorded in 2005, was of Donald Trump, businessman and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, making lewd comments about sexually assaulting women. The Washington Post published the video to its website and within minutes the post had garnered millions of views. iiiiiThe video was not the first internet controversy of the 2016 presidential election. In March 2015, news of former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s email scandal spread quickly over social media. Her use of a private family email server for confidential government communications caused many to question her suitability for the presidency. iiiiiVirality has been a common trend throughout this election. New developments are plastered all over social media, a medium which directly reaches a burgeoning demographic: Generation Z, a population consisting of anyone born after 1996. Now that social media plays a larger role in politics, the members of the newest generation can join Clinton on Snapchat or check Twitter to read Trump’s latest ideas on foreign policy. It is easier than ever for the youth to be informed.
#GenZ iiiiiBorn into a world surrounded by fast-paced connectivity, Generation Z is the first to be raised with smartphones and social media. With much of Generation Z in high school, time is limited due to many academic responsibilities; this is especially the case at Stanton College Preparatory School. iiiii“I barely have enough time to do anything besides school work, so seeing the news so quickly and in such an accessible format makes it easier for me to keep up with what’s happening,” said sophomore Diera Smith. “If it wasn’t for social media, I wouldn’t even know about half of the events going on.” iiiiiAlthough these brief posts are optimum for busy individuals, they often misrepresent information. This leads to miscommunication and misguided pretenses. iiiii“I am informed but not as much as I should be,” said junior Maanasi Singh. “A lot of what I know about the election is spurred by social media, but I always have to verify the information.” iiiiiDespite the drawbacks, the instant access to current events continues to draw people to social media. Just by checking the “Trending Now” section on Twitter, for instance, users can scroll through the biggest world events and keep up with the current breaking news all in a matter of minutes.
#President2016 iiiiiDuring what many dubbed the “Facebook Election of 2008,” then Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama used Facebook to promote his campaign. The approach was a success, helping him win nearly 70 percent of the votes among American citizens under the age of 25. Since then, presidential candidates have turned to social media to voice their positions. These platforms are fast, free for users and effective for reaching out to a mass of potential voters. iiiii“I have apps on my phone for keeping up with the election,” said freshman Micah Garcia. “I follow Daily Mail and I use Apple News. They give me the latest news and all I have to do is swipe left on my phone.” iiiiiFollowing the trend towards online media, Clinton livestreams her political rallies and Trump is well-known for his tweets. His outspokenness sometimes incites discussions concerning major political issues such as immigration, taxes and foreign policy. iiiii“I see some of Trump’s quotes and they are always very candid,” said sophomore Cole Smith. “I think it’s cool that he just speaks his mind.” iiiiiThough some have criticized Trump’s social media presence as being insensitive, it has garnered him ardent supporters across numerous demographics, including teenagers. Clinton has also made an effort to connect with young voters. Clinton’s responses to insults from Trump have gone viral on social media multiple times, including a reply from June 9 which said, “Delete your account.”
photo by Chl
oe Giroux
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designed by Chisom Ukoha
#Influence
peers. Personally, I support Clinton. It is a decision based upon my personal beliefs.” iiiiiDue to Stanton’s diverse student population, the classroom has become a melting pot of varied ideas and stances. Each student’s unique cultural background presents a different point of view towards the election and its coverage in media. iiiii“As a Muslim-American, it upsets me that the only time I see politicians talk about Muslims on social media is when they are discussing security,” said freshman Serene Shibly. “Address us as humans, not terrorists.” iiiiiRegardless of the influences which shape Generation Z, the impact of social media is undeniable. Citizens have shared their views for years, bringing to light the positions of other races, genders and social classes. However, with the rise of social media, these perspectives have reached a wider audience faster.
iiiiiProminent voices on social media have a large impact on public opinion, particularly the stereotypically impressionable minds of Generation Z. The hashtags and posts of celebrities gain widespread circulation and have the ability to influence younger citizens who look up to their role models. iiiii“I see a lot of hate posts about Trump online,” said sophomore Rajiv Perera. “He’s an unpopular figure online which does affect many of the opinions of my
iiiiiBy closely following the election on social media, Generation Z has experienced what it means to be a voter, a role they will be assuming within the next four years. Through the viral videos, controversies and scandals of presidential nominees spread on social media, the stage has been set for the next generation of voters and future presidential elections to come.
#MovingForward
vol. xxxiii, no. 2
Stanton Students, Future Politicians While it is often assumed that members of the newest generations lack interest in news and politics, three Stanton students have noted interest in pursuing careers in the field. By BRANDON DEDA, Staff Writer iiiiiThroughout the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have focused on gaining votes from younger Americans, which has resulted in new tactics being used in order to obtain their support. With campaign efforts being directed toward younger generations, many of today’s teenagers have been inspired to forge their own path in the world of politics and introduce a new chapter of American history. iiiiiSenior Alex Toney actively participates in politics while enrolled at Stanton College Preparatory School. He has been working on campaigns since his family friend Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jay Farhat ran for the position of sheriff in 2015. iiiii“I have started to focus more on politics and policy-making since working on the campaign,” said Toney. “I would say
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that it’s now a passion of mine. When I was meeting people while working on Sergeant Farhat’s campaign, he said I seemed to have a knack for politics so I decided to pursue it a little more.” iiiiiToney’s experiences as a member of Sgt. Farhat’s campaign motivated him to pursue work with other politicians. He has since interned for Florida Senator Aaron Bean and he worked on the 2016 campaign for the re-election of Florida State Attorney Angela Corey. Toney is also a member of the Teenage Republicans Club at Stanton. Toney looks up to Sam Shiver, Director of External Affairs for the Office of the Public Defender for the Fourth Judicial Circuit; Carlo Fassi, a former University of North Florida Student Government President; and Sgt. Farhat as his role models. iiiii“My role models are ethical people who do their respective jobs well,” said Toney. “I hope that I will have a similar morality and do my job as well as they do theirs.” iiiiiMany other Stanton students volunteer for their respective
My main motivator was fighting to preserve the voting rights that we, as individuals, have slowly won over the past years and seeing a politician oppose or defame those rights made me realize I want to help combat that. —Nicole Narvaez, 12 political parties, whether they be Democrats or Republicans. Nicole Narvaez currently works as an intern for the Florida Democratic Party and is the Head of Outreach and Research within her canvassing team. The team gathers voter opinions on Jacksonville’s Westside. She joined as a result of the impact that the 2016 presidential election has made for her environment. iiiii“Being surrounded by students who share a similar concern for the world has given me the opportunity to give this younger generation a voice by registering to vote,” said Narvaez. “I have learned that many Stanton students want to be involved in politics because we all share a desire to do some good in the world.” iiiiiWhether a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent, many American teenagers share the spirit of progress and the motivation of implementing new ideas into politics. While being well-qualified is needed to be successful as a politician, passion and enthusiasm are two essential components that can be found in other occupations. “Being involved in politics takes a great amount of passion because you have to be willing to keep fighting for what you believe,” said Narvaez. “My main motivator is the fight to preserve the voting rights that we, as individuals, have slowly won over the past years. Seeing a politician oppose or defame those rights made me realize I want to prevent that from happening.” iiiiiWhile there are some teenagers who show political activism, Narvaez has said the problem lies in attempting to get more American youth to be involved in politics. iiiii“The older generation is much more involved in politics than the younger generation. On CNN or BBC News, the only people who seem to talk about presidential debates or controversial topics are older people,” said Narvaez. “The challenge is to try to engage with our younger community and get them to realize the power they hold. We have the power to make a change, so let’s do it.” Getting the younger generations engaged will create a
Many students participated in this year’s Mock Presidential Election on Sept. 21, one way in which students can be politically active. more diverse body of Americans, both young and old, who are politically active. However, not all students go straight into real-world politics, as they instead show their political activism as class officers. Junior Jack LaGoy has not volunteered for any political party or campaign, but instead he is active in politics as the junior class vice president. iiiii“Politics has always interested me,” said LaGoy. “I ran for vice president for the Class of 2018 because I really wanted to make a difference and improve the class, and make sure the Class of 2018 is the best that it can possibly be.” iiiiiLaGoy believes working as the junior class vice president has been a learning experience for him because it will help him in later stages of his life, whether in college or the workplace. As a class leader, he is expected to listen to the ideas of his peers and communicate with them as their representative.
If I become a business leader, I want to be able to incorporate all ideas to make the business better. If I become a politician, I want to listen to all of the citizens’ ideas and represent them because communication is key. —Jack LaGoy, 11 iiiii“I have learned how to talk with people and bring up ideas, a skill I know I will use in any situation where I have to lead,” said LaGoy. “If I become a politician, I want to be able to listen to all of the citizens’ ideas and represent them, because communication is key.” iiiiiLike Toney, LaGoy has a role model who inspires him. In many people’s lives, role models are often an important factor. This is because certain achievements they have accomplished inspire others to follow in their footsteps. For LaGoy, Mr. David Holcombe, an AP European History teacher, is that role model. iiiii“My role model is Mr. Holcombe because he inspires me to be honest,” said LaGoy. “He has a high standard for me and I appreciate it.” iiiiiMany students at Stanton have shown a passion for politics. Toney, Narvaez and LaGoy are three students who represent the activism and interest in politics among American teenagers. Whether they are campaigning for politicians, becoming a member of a political party, or even running for class officer, emerging politicians can be found among many of today’s American youth.
devil’s advocate | 9
photo by Dani Brewer
photo by Mary Allison Kane
photo by Dani Brewer
photo by Chloe Giroux
photo by Maya Lee
photo by Mary Allison Kane
photo by Maya Lee
photo by Chloe Giroux
FAC E S
photos by Dani Brewer
By Mary Allison Kane and Dani Brewer
of Stanton
The Devil’s Advocate’s Official Guide to the 2016 Mock Election 69% of Clinton’s votes came from non-white voters
61% of Clinton’s votes came from female voters
43% of white voters voted for Trump
76% of black voters voted for Clinton
** All 2016 Mock Election views and statistics DO NOT represent the views of Larry Knight or the staff of the Devil’s Advocate. All data is based on the student and faculty votes.
62% of Asian voters voted for Clinton
50% of Hispanic voters voted for Clinton
40% of male voters voted for Trump
38% of Clinton’s votes came from independents
67% of Native American voters voted for Clinton
63% of female voters voted for Clinton
38% of voters identified as Democrats, and 84% of them voted for Hillary Clinton.
52% of Johnson’s votes came from non-white voters
65% of Johnson’s votes came from independents
34% of Johnson’s votes came from seniors
57% of freshmen voted for Clinton
53% of sophomores voted for Clinton
51% of voters who identified as “Other” voted for Clinton
40% of voters identified as independents, but only 25% of them voted for Gary Johnson.
Other: 1.9% Johnson: 16.7%
Clinton: 52.7%
63% of Trump’s votes came from male voters
48% of juniors voted for Clinton
Trump: 31.7%
60% of Trump’s votes came from white voters
34% of Trump’s votes came from Republicans
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49% of seniors voted for Clinton
Overall student mock election results
22% of voters identified as Republicans, and 87% of them voted for Donald Trump.
devil’s advocate I 13
The Devil’s Advocate’s Official Guide to the 2016 Mock Election 69% of Clinton’s votes came from non-white voters
61% of Clinton’s votes came from female voters
43% of white voters voted for Trump
76% of black voters voted for Clinton
** All 2016 Mock Election views and statistics DO NOT represent the views of Larry Knight or the staff of the Devil’s Advocate. All data is based on the student and faculty votes.
62% of Asian voters voted for Clinton
50% of Hispanic voters voted for Clinton
40% of male voters voted for Trump
38% of Clinton’s votes came from independents
67% of Native American voters voted for Clinton
63% of female voters voted for Clinton
38% of voters identified as Democrats, and 84% of them voted for Hillary Clinton.
52% of Johnson’s votes came from non-white voters
65% of Johnson’s votes came from independents
34% of Johnson’s votes came from seniors
57% of freshmen voted for Clinton
53% of sophomores voted for Clinton
51% of voters who identified as “Other” voted for Clinton
40% of voters identified as independents, but only 25% of them voted for Gary Johnson.
Other: 1.9% Johnson: 16.7%
Clinton: 52.7%
63% of Trump’s votes came from male voters
48% of juniors voted for Clinton
Trump: 31.7%
60% of Trump’s votes came from white voters
34% of Trump’s votes came from Republicans
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49% of seniors voted for Clinton
Overall student mock election results
22% of voters identified as Republicans, and 87% of them voted for Donald Trump.
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Features
photo by Dani Brewer
Sophomores voting at lunch on the day of the Devil’s Advocate Mock Election. Students were required to show a photo identification in order to cast a ballot.
T
he 2016 presidential election, a tight race between two unique candidates, depends on high voter turnout in order to accurately assess the views of America’s electorate. The views of eligible young voters have a noticeable effect on elections, but increasing apathy in this demographic has a significant impact as well. Social media, friends and family often influence politically involved adolescents who may struggle to separate these factors from individual beliefs; however, the political positions of America’s youth still have a major effect on national politics.
held on Sept. 21, also highlights the ability young people possess to influence American politics as a whole.
THE RESULTS ARE IN IIIII Although former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire businessman Donald Trump have a similar amount of supporters among all registered voters, the mock election revealed a greater disparity between young
people’s views on the two candidates. 52.7 percent of mock election participants voted for Clinton, while Trump came in second with 31.7 percent of the vote. IIIII “I voted for Hillary Clinton because she has prior political experience,” said freshman Caroline Peck. “Clinton is more familiar with politics than Trump, which makes her more qualified to be president.” IIIII The data collected in the mock election provides support for predictions of the results of the national election. As of Nov. 2, data analyst Nate Silver estimated a 78.9 percent chance Clinton would win the popular vote and a 21.1 percent
I voted for Hillary Clinton because she has prior political experience. She’s more familiar with politics than Trump, which makes her more qualified to be president.
Donald Trump stands up for American values and doesn’t try to tear them down. His presidency would benefit American businesses, which would improve the country as a whole.
—Caroline Peck, 9
—Emily Butler, 10
IIIII Regardless of how young Americans form political stances, the Devil’s Advocate’s mock election is an effective system to record the level of Stanton College Preparatory School students’ interest in politics. Since the 2000 general election, the Devil’s Advocate has held a schoolwide mock election to evaluate the political preferences of students at Stanton. Historically speaking, the schoolwide results have correctly predicted the winner of the popular vote in the national presidential elections. This year’s mock election,
chance the popular vote would go to Trump, a prediction Stanton students supported with their mock election votes. IIIII “Hillary Clinton should be president because we need someone who will stick up for others and not put them down,” said freshman class president Anton Roche. “Donald Trump definitely cannot compare to Clinton when encouraging American success.” IIIII More students at Stanton favored Clinton over Trump, following the established trend that young people tend to be
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photo by Mary Allison Kane
Junior Kunal Hanchate casts his ballot.
vol. xxxiii, no. 2
more liberal than older voters. According to a 2014 survey conducted by Pew Research Center, four percent of voters ages 18 to 29 identify as steadfast conservatives, a small percentage compared to the amount of conservatives in older age demographics. IIIII A new majority of mock election participants voted for the two most prominent candidates, but 16.7 percent of mock election participants voted for the Libertarian candidate, former Governor Gary Johnson. IIIII Although Johnson has strong supporters—both young and old—many voters had no idea he was running for president at all. A YouGov/Economist poll conducted on Oct. 18 revealed that 38 percent of American adults lacked an opinion of Johnson. IIIII “I knew Gary Johnson was running, but most people didn’t because they support the candidates who come from the two major parties, the Democratic and Republican parties,” said freshman Gabriel Bound. “Only a small amount of people voted for Johnson, so his influence on this election is not too noticeable.” IIIII According to the same YouGov/Economist poll, 26 percent of eligible voters viewed Johnson favorably,
I voted for Gary Johnson because Donald Trump is a racist, misogynistic and homophobic radical, and Hillary Clinton is a liar and a hypocrite. I don’t trust either of them with this nation. —Abby Parillon, 11 while 36 percent did not. Although many registered voters have an indifferent or negative attitude toward him, 16.7 percent of mock election participants voted for Johnson. More young people favor Johnson than registered voters do, which is likely because of their aversion to Clinton and Trump. IIIII “I voted for Gary Johnson because Donald Trump is a racist, misogynistic and homophobic radical and Hillary Clinton is a liar and a hypocrite,” said junior Abby Parillon. “I don’t trust either Trump or Clinton with this
nation, so Johnson had my vote.” IIIII Evidently, Americans under 18 years of age are capable of noticing candidates’ shortcomings. Though Clinton is the candidate with the most political experience, some Americans view her as untrustworthy. A Gallup poll conducted on Oct. 25 revealed that 54 percent of registered voters have an unfavorable view of Clinton, whereas only 43 percent of that group held her in high regard; this data is reflected in how Stanton students view Clinton as well. IIIII “No one is a big fan of either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump,” said senior Raphaelle Hardan. “On one hand, there’s a candidate who is difficult to trust and on the other hand is a candidate who comes off as aggressive and racist.” IIIII Based on recent Gallup polls, Clinton’s favorability rating is higher than Trump’s by nine percent. While some students at Stanton think the businessman’s candidacy is a joke, others see him as the candidate who will change America for the better. IIIII “Donald Trump stands up for American values and doesn’t try to tear them down,” said sophomore Emily Butler. “His presidency would benefit American businesses, which would boost the national economy and improve the country as a whole.” IIIII As Stanton students hold diverse views, the beliefs collected in national polls are an adequate estimate of how students at Stanton view the candidates in this presidential election. Despite this, the amount of registered voters who have no opinion on the main two candidates is a much smaller percentile compared to the amount of apathetic students at Stanton. IIIII “The mock election proved how much of a joke the national election was,” said senior Abby Wingate. “Many Stanton students didn’t take the mock election seriously, which shows that they probably saw the national election as a joke, too.” IIIII Out of the 1,519 students at Stanton, only 36 percent voted in the mock election. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 41.2 percent of young voters from ages 18 to 24 voted in the 2012 presidential election. This percentage is only six points greater than the 35.5 percent of mock election participants, so the 2012 results show a relatively smaller voter turnout is common among young people.
OUTSIDE INFLUENCES IIIII Although many students at Stanton chose not to vote, those who did may have been partially influenced by political views posted online. American citizens, in particular young adults, are embracing the power of
photo by Maya Lee
november 2016
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Features vote for the candidate of their choice on Election Day, it can be difficult to remove others’ opinions from the decision process. IIIII “Our political beliefs often depend on our family’s values,” said junior Natasha Martin. “These values transfer to us because they’re what we were used to believing. Therefore, our family values affect how we view the world and impact various aspects of our lives, including politics.” IIIII Some students likely voted for a candidate because their friends also voted for that person. It is also probable some members of Stanton’s student body thoroughly researched the candidates to decide who most accurately represents their beliefs. Other possible reasons Stanton students were informed about the presidential election may include the candidates’ unique aspects. IIIII “Stanton students are able to make educated decisions about their views on either candidate,” said senior Anthony Paul, president of Stanton’s Student Government Association. “The candidates in this election are different from past ones, so we are forced to think more carefully about our vote.” photo by Mary Allison Kane
the online world and the wealth of information it offers regarding politics. IIIII “Social media is a good platform for communication, but it encourages people to conform to others’ ideas,” said sophomore Christina Rogers. “No one posts actual facts about politics on social media. People our age post all kinds of jokes demeaning candidates online, which affects our political beliefs and how we think of the presidential candidates.” IIIII A political candidate’s presence on social media plays a big role in how people see them. In fact, a 2015 study conducted by the University of Hawaii revealed that young adults who viewed candidates’ Facebook pages were more likely to form opinions based on the comments of other Facebook users than conventional news sources. This motivates politicians to campaign
Many Stanton students didn’t take the mock election very seriously, which shows that they probably saw the national election as a joke, too. —Abby Wingate, 12 online because they understand how much the internet can affect young voters’ political views. IIIII Aside from young voters, the rise of social media is also raising questions about its effect on American adolescents. While some Stanton students claim online access allows them to participate in politics without having reached the age of suffrage, others argue checking social media is not the most effective method to become an expert on public affairs. IIIII “Social media users are often too quick to assume the facts and statistics they see posted online are completely true,” said sophomore Rachel Bitutsky, co-president of Stanton Youth in Government. “If somebody posts an unpopular opinion about a politician or an issue on social media, they’ll immediately get attacked.” IIIII This dispute over social media’s effects on politics is one that will only grow in later years because of the influence it has on young adults. Besides the internet, there are many other factors which influenced how Stanton students voted in the mock election. The beliefs of family and friends play a big role in how many people cast their ballot. Although American citizens are free to
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THE EFFECTS OF VOTING IIIII Despite these candidates’ strengths, the voter apathy toward this year’s election can be attributed to a shortage of ideal contenders. The lack of participation in the mock election is indicative of how many eligible voters are inclined to opt out of voting in the national election. IIIII “It’s important to vote because we live in a democracy where we are free to make decisions about our leaders,” said junior Sarah Boyd. “However, some people choose not to vote at all.” IIIII Many students at Stanton chose not to vote in the mock election even though they had the option to do so. There were also students who were not able to participate because of other responsibilities. IIIII “I didn’t vote in the mock election because I was studying for a chemistry quiz,” said junior Lauren Gates. “If I could have voted, I would have voted for Hillary.” IIIII Besides prior obligations, some people were not invested in either the mock election or the real election because they have not reached the voting age yet. Perhaps apathy is present at Stanton because it is difficult for some to take the candidates seriously. IIIII Regardless of the strengths these candidates may possess in some Stanton students’ eyes, reaching indifferent youth is a daunting task. Fortunately, there are many members of America’s youth who believe voting for an imperfect candidate is a better option than not voting at all. IIIII “If you do not vote and you do not like the party or candidate that wins, then you can’t blame anyone but yourself,” said senior Zach Abueg. “People who don’t vote have no right to complain about an outcome because they didn’t do their part in the election.” IIIII This outlook is necessary for the mock election’s success because it is the driving force that inspires students and faculty at Stanton to participate and therefore be able to get their voices out there. The mock election also allows students who have not reached the voting age yet to participate in politics, despite doing so on a smaller scale. IIIII “The mock election gave Stanton students insight into the world of politics because it showed us how elections really take place,” said freshman Vignesh Surukanti. IIIII When students participate in politics, they are ensuring leaders are acknowledging their views. Although the mock election does not decide the fate of America’s government, it was effective in revealing the beliefs of Stanton’s student body. Through the mock election, Stanton students were able to voice their political preferences and thus were a part of a microcosm of the 2016 presidential election. The students who chose to opt out were not able to promote their values in this way. IIIII The ballots students cast during the mock election reflect the ideas of Stanton as a whole. Once they have reached the age of suffrage, how Stanton students vote in the national election will account for much more than revealing the beliefs of their high school—their vote will decide the future of the United States.
STANTON SPEAKS What issue is most important to you in the 2016 presidential election? “Abortion, because of my religion.” —Ryan Gustin, 11
“How trustworthy the president is.” —Laura Rodriguez, 11
“Who can keep the country safe from the Russians.” —Diego Soruco, 10
“LGBT rights and same-sex marriage.” —Vic Belton, 10
“Dependence on foreign oil.” —Bobby Iseley, 12
“Racism and deportation.” —Mahmoud Elbatouty, 9 vol. xxxiii, no. 2
Opinions The Voting Rights Act iiiiiThe Voting Rights Act of 1965 was the crown jewel of the 1950s-1960s chapter of the African-American Civil Rights Movement; the bill forbade discriminatory practices— such as literacy tests and poll taxes—which previously served as barriers to voters from racial and language minorities. 95 years after the 15th Amendment, a document that was supposed to grant citizens the right to vote regardless of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” became law, the United States government finally undertook measures to enforce the amendment and safeguard the rights conferred upon AfricanAmericans. Within the span of those nine long decades, a countless number of people fought and died for a fundamental right too long denied. iiiii2016 marks the first presidential election in 50 years where the full protections of the Voting Rights Act won’t be in effect. In 2013, during the Shelby County v. Holder case hearing, the U.S. Supreme Court deemed Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Amendment unconstitutional; this portion of the bill outlined a formula for determining which states and counties needed federal preclearance before changing their voting laws. As a result, Section 5, which established the grounds for the federal preclearance requirement, was rendered useless. iiiiiConsidering the complex and at times bloodied history that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court’s decision was an outrage. There is no way to accurately predict the long-term effects of the 2013 ruling, but until a new formula is devised for determining which jurisdictions must adhere to the preclearance clause, the Supreme Court will only make efforts to pass voter suppression laws easier. iiiiiAccording to the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan, New York Universitybased organization dedicated to protecting voting rights, “20 states have new restrictions in effect since the 2010 midterm election that restrict access to registration and voting.” Of those, nine were previously included in the preclearance clause of the Voting Right Act. The Brennan Center also noted that 14 states have instituted voter laws which weren’t in place during the last presidential election, and six of those states were previously covered by Section 5. Among these regulations are strict voter identification laws and cuts to the number of early voting days. iiiiiSuch laws disproportionately affect traditionally left-leaning groups such as minority, student, and low-income voters. As stated in a 2016 study by political scientists at the University of California, San Diego, there were “substantial drops in turnout for minorities under strict voter ID laws.” The political scientists also reported that “The turnout advantage of those on the right is three to five times larger in strict photo identification states, all else equal. These results suggest that by instituting strict photo ID laws, states could minimize the influence of voters on the left and could dramatically alter the political leaning of the electorate.” iiiiiWith this in mind, it is important for citizens to be diligent in the face of attempts to suppress the vote. In the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most well-known activists from the African-American Civil Rights Movement, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” iiiiiPeople must be willing to wake up and pay attention to attempts to pass legislation which affects voting. We as a society must also be willing to actively challenge those who threaten this precious right. Too many people have fought and died for the privilege of casting ballots in the name of freedom and democracy, and it would be an insult to their legacy to stand idly by as a select few threaten the rights of the masses.
devil’s advocate established 1983 I Stanton College Preparatory School
2016-2017 Editorial Staff Lily Tehrani Valerie Starks Sarah Page Shriya Gupta Mary Allison Kane Shruti Murali
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Layout and Design Editor Digital Media Editor Senior Photo Editor Business Manager
The Devil’s Advocate serves as the official newspaper of Stanton College Preparatory School. It is produced monthly by members of the Journalism class. The editors reserve the right to edit any material submitted to the paper for content, grammar, length, and accuracy. The Devil’s Advocate is a public forum for student expression, which encourages free exchanges of opinions concerning controversial and non-controversial community and school related issues. The ideas and advertisements expressed within the newspaper are not necessarily those of the newspaper adviser, school administration, or the Duval County Public School Board. The Devil’s Advocate accepts advertisements from all businesses in the Stanton community. The ad format can be given to the staff or the adviser, Mr. Larry Knight. Students, faculty, and parents may contact the staff and adviser at (904) 6306760 ext. 143 or at knightl1@duvalschools.org.
november 2016
Too Young to Vote By ALIVIA DAVIS, Contributing Artist
The Role of Student Publications iiiiiThroughout the 2016 political race, social medial platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, have been diluted with an array of information about both of the major parties’ presidential nominees: former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire businessman Donald Trump. Largely left ungoverned by rules of accuracy and objectivity, such information is often unreliable. This makes it difficult for social media users to discern which facts are true and which are not. iiiiiAs a result, teenagers and young adults who subscribe to such social media platforms become susceptible to media bias and misinformation. In order to stay educated, high school students needs news sources which are both easily accessible and credible. In an effort to meet this need within our readership, we, the Devil’s Advocate, have worked to keep Stanton College Preparatory School students informed about all matters relevant to them, including this election.
In an effort to meet this need within our readership, we, the Devil’s Advocate, have worked to keep Stanton College Preparatory School students informed about all matters relevant to them, including this election. iiiiiIn fact, the Devil’s Advocate, has always strived to keep Stanton’s student body informed around election time. Since 2000, the Devil’s Advocate, has hosted a “Mock Election” preceding the date of the national popular vote for every presidential election. Members of every grade level have been invited to participate. The data collected from these polls reflects the political opinions of the uprising generation of American voters, and helps Stanton students glean a sense of how their views compare to their peers. iiiiiIn addition to the “Mock Election,” the newspaper publishes information about each of the nominees prior to voting day so that students who are old enought to vote can make informed decision on who they should support. Even non-voting students can benefit from these efforts by being informed enough to intellectually engage in political discussions and debates, whereby they can express their opinions with hard evidence rather than unsupported allegations and shallow claims. iiiiiAlthough often undervalued, school newspapers can play an important role in ensuring that their student bodies are properly educated about political issues. The Devil’s Advocate takes this responsibility seriously and our staff works hard to maintain the professionalism of a real production team. We are aware of the dangers of media bias, and strive to be as objective as possible in the writing of our stories, exempting, as expected, editorials and opinions columns. In the end, while we are aware of the limitations that hinder us as a student-produced newspaper, we aspire to abide by professional standards applicable to any professional news organization.
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Trumpism is Americanism By NICK PETTROSS, Contributing Writer iiiiiAfter World War II, the American people wholeheartedly backed interventionist foreign policy and globalist economics, often at the expense of domestic industries. Recently, however, presidential nominee Donald Trump’s revolution in the Republican party has made it okay to be a nationalist again. The success of his revolution is tied with how trade deals and the development of the global economy have hurt the American economy by sending jobs to places like China and Mexico. This, along with large-scale illegal immigration contributing to the loss of low-skill job opportunities for regular Americans, has sown fertile seeds for a populist revolution. photo by Dani Brewer
Donald Trump’s revolution in the Republican party has made it okay to be a nationalist again. iiiiiNotably, Trump’s policies on the economy have broken completely with the established conservative movement. He has recognized the inherent failure of modern free trade, a trade deficit which is robbing America of wealth as multi-national corporations have exported jobs and money to China, Mexico, Vietnam and other countries. As the result of damaging trade policies that have existed since the 1990s, the United States has lost its industrial base and transitioned into a service economy.
iiiiiTrue, service industries are good in that they provide us with a relatively modern economy, but a nation cannot survive without both an industrial and agricultural base. Perhaps more importantly, Trump is leading a revolution against a revolution against the stifling culture of political correctness that represents a serious threat to free speech. His movement is a rallying cry to challenge the attitude and culture that labels 25 percent of the country “deplorable”.
As a nation, we must rediscover our sense of self-sufficiency and defeat the globalist mindset menace which threatens our national sovereignty. iiiiiAs a nation, we must rediscover our sense of selfsufficiency and defeat the globalist mindset menace which threatens our national sovereignty. Largely thanks to Trump, Americans have begun to realize this and are finally becoming ready to reassert the sovereignty of the people. “Trumpism” represents a multi-faced national policy: As a domestic policy, it protects the rights and privileges of Americans, not illegal immigrants; as an economic policy, it protects the wealth and stability of America, not China or Mexico; as a foreign policy, it supports peace and responsible interactions with the rest of the world that supports American interests above all other interests. It is the responsibility of the American government to finally begin to defend the American people and “Trumpism” is the leading force of that movement.
november 2016
Equity Versus Equality By JAELYN TAYLOR, Contributing Writer iiiiiAs a diverse institution, Stanton College Preparatory School exemplifies the importance of finding a common identity in spite of individual differences. This is no novel concept; it has evolved throughout history as a central aspect of cultural unity. From the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s, it has grown into the “culture war” in which our generation is currently engaged. iiiiiSince the country’s founding, the national unity of the American people has been challenged. Such challenges, such as the terrorist attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, result in the strengthening of our nationhood by creating a need for collaboration to address great concerns. In response to this catastrophic event, Americans were able to band together as a nation and look beyond the sectionalism that has plagued us since our formation. iiiiiUnfortunately, this unified spirit has not survived the trials of the past 15 years. This election will determine whether America can acknowledge its societal weaknesses and finally look beyond the man-made social constructs photo by Mary Allison Kane
inhibiting our progress. A major player in the game of modern politics is the unresolved dilemma of racial discrimination. iiiiiTo make matters worse, mistreatment once typically geared toward the black community is now quickly expanding to include those of Middle Eastern heritage, among others. The solution to this problem can be gleaned from analyzing the difference between equality and equity. While equality describes the practice of treating everyone the same way, equity refers to providing what is needed to ensure everyone is successful. iiiiiIn its nature, equality can only work if all participating parties are starting at the same level. The futile nature of this idealistic idea of equality is demonstrated by unproportional “playing fields” which result from racial differences. Both of the major parties’ presidential nominees have yet to propose a solution as to how this problem of equality versus equity in terms of racism will be resolved. iiiiiWith all the hatred and violence surrounding racial tensions, it can be argued that this nation has not been more divided since the Civil War. This country should look to a leader who will be able to promote unity, not one who will trigger the slow demise of the United States of America.
photo from Google
The New American Identity By EMMETT GIDEON, Staff Writer iiiiiTime and time again, history has shown politics to be extremely unpredictable, and the 2016 presidential election is no exception. This political race has led to a series of unprecedented events which demonstrate a dramatic shift in the way politicians behave. This shift is important because it could represent a larger change in the reasons why Americans vote; instead of voting out of support for one candidate, voters are voting out of fear of another. Each majority party candidate, if elected, has the power to influence both how Americans perceive themselves and how they are perceived by foreigners. iiiiiAs the first female presidential nominee of a major American political party, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reflects growing feminist movements in the United States. Moreover, the potential inauguration of the democratic candidate next January demonstrates the increasing power and influence of women in American politics, which are at the center of democracy in the world. Similar to President Barack Obama’s election as the first African-American president in 2008, Clinton’s election would allow Americans to make statement of equality. iiiiiAt the same time, voters have the power to make a notably different statement, one shadowed by the hate and conflict generated by the controversial actions of Clinton’s biggest rival: Republican Donald Trump. A major propagator of what some would consider hate speech, Trump has made numerous derogatory comments toward several different groups since the start of his campaign in June of 2015. For instance, he has referred to Mexican immigrants as “rapists” and women as “fat pigs” and “dogs.” Needless to say, this is not photo by Dani Brewer
the type of behavior which is usually expected from an American presidential nominee. Conventional politicians usually attempt to be politically correct in their statements in order to appeal to the largest available audience. Trump, however, seems to shun political correctness, consequently angering a large portion of the electorate. Trump’s capacity to maintain a mass of followers despite such blatantly offensive remarks is baffling. His skill in crafting inflammatory responses would add more fuel to the prejudice already present in America. If he is elected, he will become the face of the nation; he will become the one person above all others who represents America to the world. Already stereotyped as loud and arrogant, Americans may only further besmirch their image by electing a president who perfectly illustrates what some would consider everything wrong with this country. iiiiiUndoubtedly, this presidential race has been an interesting one to follow, filled with drama equivalent to a reality television show. Americans of every political stance and age have been watching through the season, at times gasping in horror and at other times laughing at the comedic ridiculousness of it all. It is important to realize, however, that this election will be much more impactful than a television show. Its results will have a very real impact on future generations of voters. iiiiiStanton College Preparatory School, with its diverse student body, is representative of the wide range of opinions of those future voters. In addition to being varyingly opinionated, these students are also extremely impressionable. Depending on the outcome of the election, they can either be influenced by the hope provided by Clinton’s championing goal of providing greater equality or the hate provided by Trump’s goal of deporting and rejecting people from the United States. I know I would rather have Clinton’s bright future than Trump’s dark one.
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Opinions
GENDER
IN
P
LITICS
Sexist, Misogynist and Presidential Nominee
Madam President’s First Gentleman
By EMMA MOSHER, Contributing Writer
photo by Dani Brewer
he has employed the social media platform Twitter to post demeaning references toward women. About his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, he suggested that Bill Clinton cheated on her because of her inability to “satisfy him.” In a September 2015 post, he implied that sexual assault in the military is inevitable simply because men and women are living in close quarters. Shockingly, women across the United States still shout his name in rallies. iiiii On the other hand, Clinton makes it her priority to champion women’s issues: closing the wage gap, implementing paid maternity leave and quality affordable childcare, cracking down on violence against women and supporting women’s reproductive rights. As she pushes for change, Trump is stuck daydreaming about trophy wives and pageant girls. A male public figure should not be able to stand behind a podium and rattle off dozens of backhanded insults toward women without facing repercussions. We need a leader who will embrace women’s issues, someone with real plans to improve women’s rights, rather than one who throws out irrational insults and empty promises.
Verbatim: Donald Trump’s Remarks About Women “Fat Pigs”
“Look at that face. Would anyone vote for that?”
“Dogs”
2015
JUNE
Trump announces presidential campaign
“Is she hot?”
“Nasty woman” OCT
AUG
DEC
2016
JAN
MARCH
“You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever.”
MAY
JULY
Trump is named the official nominee
Clinton and the Corruption of Feminism By PATRICK LEHMAN, Contributing Writer iiiiiOver time, women’s rights have become an integral part of the American dream and the equality of opportunity in this country. Naturally, this movement is playing a central role in 2016’s presidential election, but, contrary to popular assumption, its contribution is negative. In the past few decades, feminism has transitioned from a vehicle of change to a crib of excuses. iiiiiIn relation to the election, feminism is being used like most other once-meaningful movements as a means of pandering to a populace’s charitable instincts. Democratic nominee and former Secretary of Clinton Hillary Clinton is merely using this as another tool in her toolbox to slander her opponents and put herself on a pedestal and anyone who says her actions are disrespectful or insidious is branded a “sexist.” In this political race, we have seen many liberals turn a blind eye to Clinton’s actions that are antithetical to the female equality she supposedly pursues. This is only encouraged by the media with its muckraking and refusal to cover stories that show the reality of Hillary Clinton. iiiiiWe will not hear about the Clinton Foundation accepting and soliciting donations of anywhere between $25 and $40 million dollars from countries with Sharia law, which legally and directly oppresses women and LGBT members. We will photo by Dani Brewer
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not hear about Hillary blaming a 12-year-old kid for rape, writing in 1975 on an affidavit, “I have been informed that the complainant is emotionally unstable with a tendency to seek out older men and engage in fantasizing.” We certainly won’t hear about her describing black criminals as “superpredators...with no conscience” while more leniently describing white criminals. iiiiiInstead, we will hear about Trump calling some women fat two decades ago. Trump has said incredibly disrespectful things about women, but a notable difference between the candidates is his apology and the severity of what he said. Last I checked, no one was claiming Trump ruined their lives, unlike Kathy Shelton, who did just that when Hillary Clinton effectively blamed her for her own brutal rape. She got her rapist off the charge with a mere two month prison sentence, and was even caught on tape laughing about it. iiiiiIn this election we see a bastardization of feminism, and of the equality we Americans have cherished for over 200 years. We must look inside ourselves and ask, “What motivates these candidates’ actions?” Is Hillary Clinton truly motivated by a passion for equality, or Trump by sexism? Every vote made this November should be made based on what these candidates have or have not done. Consider this: it is the nature of politicians to hide their views, but it is the nature of a skilled politician to disguise them behind something superficially positive.
By MAYA LEE, Staff Photographer iiiiiIn the midst of the broiling controversy surrounding the 2016 presidential race, levity can provide an escape. Along with some of my friends, I have recently taken to pondering the possible titles that will be given to Bill Clinton if his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is elected president. Even though it seems like a trivial question, it is still fun to think about. iiiiiAfter doing some research, I made some interesting discoveries about the history of titling American leaders. In fact, the topic has been characterized by more controversy than one would think. After George Washington’s election in 1789, Congress spent 10 weeks debating before deciding on “Mr. President.” The principle of precedence has also played a significant role. Sixty years after the first president was named, Dolley Madison became the first “First Lady” when former President James Madison used the term to describe her at her funeral in 1849. From that point on, every president’s wife took on the name and the increasingly important role it described. iiiiiAs is most often the case in governmental politics, the lack of a precedent in the case of titling the first female president and her husband is a source of controversy. Former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin joked that she would refer to her husband as the “First Dude” if she was ever elected president. When asked about the issue, former President Clinton said that he would not mind being called “First Lad” or “First Mate.” iiiiiPersonally, I prefer the title “First Gentleman” for the parallelism it would provide; the terms “Lady” and “Gentleman” complement each other in the phrase “ladies and gentlemen” and would hold equivalent weight. This is important because the supporting role of the president’s significant other should not be influenced by the gender of the one who fills that role. Even in levity, the important issue of gender equality should not be overlooked. photo by Dani Brewer
Title Preferences of Stanton Students 100
Number of votes
iiiii“#TrumpGirlsBreaktheInternet” became a trend on Twitter in June 2016; I will never understand why. The idea of hundreds of girls posting risqué pictures of themselves on the internet in an attempt to support Republican candidate Donald Trump’s campaign is beyond me. How could so many support a man who seems to be incapable of appreciating women beyond their external appearances? Trump has repeatedly demonstrated, for at least the past ten years, that his perception of the role of women is to look attractive and to follow the orders of men. iiiiiCase in point, as a co-owner of the Miss USA pageant, Trump has forced women to parade in front of him so he could determine who he felt was attractive and who was not before the competition even began. A contestant in the pageant, Carrie Prejean named this the ‘Trump Rule’ in her book published in November of 2009. More recently,
80
80
60
54 47
40
20
“First Man” “First Gentleman”
“First Dude”
*votes taken from a poll of 181 students
vol. xxxiii, no. 2
THE
POLITICAL PSYCHE By SHRUTI MURALI, Business Manager iiiiiWhen I was in third grade, I ran for vice president of Student Council. My slogan, “East or West, Shruti is the Best!” did not make much sense since we lived in the South. However, it rhymed, which made it easier for people to understand. Even as a novice candidate, I understood the significance of language in campaigning. Candidates are essentially “selling” themselves, and in order to be bought, their language style must appeal to their target audience and support the crux of their campaign. Slogans, albeit effective for rousing support at rallies, are no match for speeches, the ultimate truth-teller. Regardless of the campaign medium, it is not so much what words are spoken, but how they are spoken that gives voters a solid idea of the nature of the candidate. The tone and clarity of a speaker can be more influential than the message they are trying to send. In short, language determines impression. In order to be successful in campaigning, candidates must understand one crucial concept: words matter. photo by Mary Allison Kane
iiiIIWhile expounding her feminist beliefs, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s slogan “I’m with her. Stronger Together,” emphasizes the idea of strength in a community. As a standalone, the phrase “I’m with her” hints at her support for women’s issues. The feminine pronoun could have easily been replaced with “Hillary,” but the use of “her” subtly portrays the Democratic candidate as a leader of the women’s movement. At the same time, her stress on togetherness to defeat Trump, visible through her slogan “Stand together against Donald Trump,” presents Clinton as the leader of the anti-Trump movement. The slogan also embodies the idea
“I’m with her. Stronger together.”
The Loudmouth Complementing Trump’s shallow slogan are his facile speeches. They represent his attempts to cover up the absence of a solid plan—and they do not stop at his overexpressive, signature hand gestures. His speeches are not only saturated with these meaningless gestures; they are also comprised of short, simple sentences, which at first may seem intentional in order to appeal to the layman. However, a closer look reveals that this simple language is not entirely purposeful and is “simply” the byproduct of Trump’s noticeable lack of varied vocabulary. In a sense, Trump tries to oversimplify complex issues so as not to draw attention to them and, as a result, draw attention to his nonexistent plans to solve them. Trump’s primary weapon to mislead voters is a combination of his gestures and his layman language. His repetitive phrase, “I know it, you know it, everyone knows it” creates an impression that the current president is not taking action to solve seemingly easy issues. Of course, in reality, these problems are far more difficult to solve, and lack one single, concrete solution. Trump disregards this, making false promises instead. Since he makes it so difficult to understand his true intentions, two approaches become easily apparent in his repetitive speeches. He almost always either attacks Clinton or defends himself—never justifying his ideas to voters. Trump’s repetitive language could be viewed as emphasis, but emphasis on what? An unhealthy portion of his speeches are dedicated to squashing Clinton rather than promoting his own ideas. Trump’s defensive language thus makes it difficult to view him as an original.
november 2016
of democracy by implying the need to prioritize the needs of the community—in this case, electing a good leader—over those of the individual. Therein, Clinton’s slogans give voters a taste of how she will lead in office: by making decisions after consulting the American people and by understanding the importance of collaboration and cooperation within the community. iiiiiIn representation of Republican nominee Donald Trump’s belief of an unsuccessful and diminishing America, his slogan, “Make America Great Again,” is simple, and unsurprisingly shallow. The slogan does not refer to togetherness; rather, it implies his independent role in reforming the country. It is exclusive to those in power and does not seem to include the unprivileged. His words seem almost commanding, reflecting his dictating personality and misguided belief in words over action. Trump is not a doer, and his superficial words make this fact blatantly apparent. His lack of reference to community, women and pressing issues depicts him as a self-centered man who is running for office for himself rather than for the country. While patriotic, Trump’s slogan lacks substance and depth, which is a clear indication of how he plans to act in office if he is elected—through deception.
“Make America Great Again.”
THE SPEECH MAKERS
Picture a rally: Signs bob up and down among the crowd as voters chant in support of their candidate. The roar of the audience is hushed only when a familiar figure walks onto the stage. As the figure steps up to the mic, the audience holds its breath, eyes snap up and feet shuffle in anticipation for a long-awaited speech, the words of which have the power to determine the fate of the election.
The Empathizer Standing in stark contrast to Trump’s speeches are those of Clinton. Instead of using accusing language, Clinton expresses sympathy, especially towards struggling families, children, women and refugees. Incorporating pathos into her speeches gives Clinton an edge which Trump lacks.
Incorporating pathos into her speeches gives Clinton an edge which Trump lacks. Often, this sympathetic tone is supported by her recounting of relatable personal experiences, which resonate with the middle class. For instance, she often mentions having been the daughter of a drapery manufacturer in order to appeal to small business owners. Inaugurating her speeches with a tone of empathy, Clinton gradually changes her tone to one of ardor and determination as she wexplains how she plans on tackling the pressing issues of the country. Throughout her speeches, she tactfully sticks to the theme of togetherness to express her intentions. On one hand, Clinton uses “we” to describe how the American people as a community will bring about change. On the other hand, Trump uses “we” mainly to describe what the American government is not doing. Clinton alternates between a soft voice and a stronger, more enunciative voice, making her seem larger, and as a result, making her ideas seem larger as well.
devil’s advocate | 21
Election Day
By Maya Lee, Dani Brewer, Mary Allison Kane, Chloe Giroux
Photo by Chloe Giroux
Photo by Mary Allison Kane
Photo by Mary Allison Kane
Photo by Mary Allison Kane
Photo by Chloe Giroux
Photo by Chloe Giroux
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vol. xxxi, no. 3