Election 2020 Issue by The Oracle

ELection The Gunn Oracle volume 58, issue 2

2020

Special edition

the oracle 2020-2021 editorial board

staff staff

Editor-in-chief Joshua Yang

business/circulation sophia stern

managing editors madison nguyen nikki suzani

copy editor kate mallery

news editors julianna chang catherine chu forum editors jessica wang jessica zang features editors dori filppu mia knezevic

oracle/sec liaison annika bereny graphics artists Sarah chang madeleine chen ella koehler clair koo mihika sane chinyoung shao zora zhang

centerfold editors annika bereny katie shih

reporters paul garofalo hila livneh raphael semeria

sports editors calvin cai devon lee

adviser kristy blackburn

lifestyle editors haley pflasterer arjun shah online editor genna bishop photo editor mia knezevic graphics editor sophie fan

contact us 780 arastradero road pal0 alto, ca 94306 (650) 354-8238 gunnoracle.com in this issue cover graphic: mihika sane cover design: joshua yang

Table of of contents contents Table p.7: perspective

voting is the backbone of our democracy —and in the 21st century, it’s barely a right.

p.21: A Tale of Two Cities

how racism in housing deeds, redlining and gentrification led to the stark divide between palo alto and east palo alto

the School Board Candidate Profiles

across the aisle: navigating political conversations

how to get involved even if you can’t vote

candidates’ views on pressing issues

the dark side of social media activism

the electoral college: whose vote really matters?

preview on propositions

youth in politics: sophomore paul kramer takes political initiative

THE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES Katie Causey

After being in the district as a student for almost half of her life, Katie Causey is determined to make Palo Alto a better place by joining the school board. Causey has been volunteering in the community since she was 14, and is the only candidate endorsed by the Palo Alto Educators Association (PAEA), which she cites as crucial in rebuilding trust with educators. Given her past in the Palo Alto Unified School District, Causey is able to empathize with students. “I know what it is like to walk into your class to find your classmate gone,” she said. “Our community was in crisis then, and it is now.” She also has had the experience of reporting a case

of sexual harassment during her time in high school. “I know what it looks like when Title IX doesn’t work,” she said. After a frustrating experience with Title IX, Causey was able to participate in courses that educated her on domestic and sexual violence, as well as the Title IX system in general. “I want to make sure that every aspect of Title IX is clear: where to report, how to report, making sure our consent education is integrated and mandatory, not just off lectures.” In the future, Causey hopes to address school issues with care and urgency. “We have to match any effort on a big issue in our neighborhoods as well,” she said. —Written by Raphael Semeria

Todd Collins, a parent of three students and the current acting School Board President, is running for re-election this fall. He aims to create a supportive environment for all through his past experience on the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Board. During his time on the board, Collins centered on issues such as student mental health, improving the learning experience for students with dyslexia and addressing the achievement gap. After attending business school, Collins became an active board member in several organizations. There, he learned how to be a productive board member: challenging while also supportive of others. Later, his experience inspired him to run for the PAUSD School

Jennifer DiBrienza

After four years on the school board, Jennifer DiBrienza is running for re-election this November. DiBrienza was inspired to run in 2016 after parents complained to her about the emphasis on assessments in secondary schools. “I knew [parents] who had kids in high school wanted to see more project based and hands-on [activities],” she said. “I don’t care so much exactly what it looks like, as long as it’s sort of rigorous work that requires a lot of thinking.” While serving as president, DiBrienza focused on students struggling with disabilities. “In middle school, there were kids who were struggling with dyslexia [who] just weren’t getting the support that they needed,” she said. Although budget cuts due

The Oracle | Election Issue

Todd Collins

Board in 2016. In the future, Collins promises to continue advocating for low-income and minority students to create a respecting and inclusive learning environment. Additionally, he wishes to expand dyslexia screening in high schools. Ultimately, Collins hopes to continue following his aspirations: improving PAUSD’s continual efforts to support student mental health, learning disability awareness and students from low-income families. Overall, Collins wants to ensure that students feel safe. “I’ve tried to take the focus away from adult distractions so [the district] can focus on the kids,” he said.

to the pandemic paused the plan’s implementation, DiBrienza worked on a resolution to train all teachers in an approach to dyslexia remediation. If elected, DiBrienza wants to focus on the systemic disparities in test scores due to race and socioeconomic status. “I would like to see us do more work to look systemically at our policies, our practices and our culture...so that everyone feels a part of the community, and [has] a voice,” DiBrienza said. DiBrienza believes that her insight as a parent, her board experience and her professional background in education make her a qualified candidate. —Written by Mia Knezevic

—Written by Genna Bishop

Candidate PRofiles Jesse Ladomirak A small business owner by trade, mother and former Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) student, Jesse Ladomirak is running for school board this November. Mental health support is one of Ladomirak’s top three policies along with principled budgeting and educational equality. Ladomirak wants to ensure students can learn, while taking care of their mental health.“There is this culture of ‘you can never do enough’ and the bar is always getting raised,” she said. “That’s really doing a disservice to students. I enjoyed feeling proud of myself. That’s missing in our schools: the sense that kids can do enough. I want them to enjoy meaningful academic

engagement instead of worrying about getting a perfect grade to get into the perfect college.” For her, the first step to transparency is to admit that there’s a problem. “PAUSD needs to have the humility to recognize that [wellness] is not about certain students that need fixing,” she said.“This is about fundamentally rethinking the way that we’re delivering education.” Ladomirak is willing to use PAUSD’s resources to improve education within the district. “I know PAUSD can give every kid an education that is academically enriching, equitably delivered and fosters the mental wellness needed,” she said. —Written by Annika Bereny

Matt Nagle After 30 years of serving as a teacher and principal for Palo Alto Unified School District and other schools in the Bay Area, Matt Nagle believes he has the experience and leadership to help improve the lives of all students in Palo Alto. Nagle decided to run for school board to help bridge the gap of educational equality and better the process of getting students back in schools. “I vow to improve communication with honesty and integrity,” he said. “I need all personal protective equipment and all safety measures already implemented before we open up those schools.” Nagle aims to bring issues such as environmental

consciousness and racial disparities,to the forefront of the conversation at board meetings. As a person of color, Nagle wants all students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds to feel their voices are heard. “As a Mexican American principal myself, I grew up on the periphery of the school system,” he said. In addition to his policies to reopen schools and ensure equity, Nagle believes his qualifications are what set him apart. “It is rare that somebody with 30 years of educational experience, who’s in a doctoral program and has time to serve, presents himself or herself as a candidate,” he said. —Written by Devon Lee

Karna Nisewaner Karna Nisewaner, a parent of two elementary school students in the district and former Chair of the Palo Alto Community Child Care board, is running for the school board this November on a platform of district transparency. Nisewaner decided to run after feeling dissatisfied by the school board’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic last spring. “I was just really inspired because I felt like now is the time to take action, and now’s the time to do things,” she said. Nisewaner’s main focus if elected would be improving communication. When Palo Alto schools switched to distance learning last spring, Nisewaner

felt that parents did not receive clear information from the schools. “There just wasn’t really clarity and communication,” she said. That lack of communication and lack of hearing feedback was problematic, because people just didn’t feel heard.” Her plan to improve transparency is to better explain board decision-making. “Understanding what the priorities [of the board] are is really important [to the community],” she said. “[We need to explain] why we’ve put in place the processes or structures that we have, and then [think about] how we can adjust those as demands from the community shift.” —Written by Sophia Stern Zora Zhang

Candidate Profiles | Election Issue

CANDIDATES’ VIEWS ON PRESSING ISSUES COVID-19 RESPONSE

President of the United States

POLICE REFORM

Trump has continuously downplayed the effects of COVID-19, refuses to wear a mask in public and ignores the advice of top medical officials. His focus has mostly been on economical recovery.

Trump supports current funding to police. He signed an executive order in June that calls for training improvements and a database that tracks officers with a history of misconduct.

Biden has actively spoken out against Trump’s current COVID-19 policies. If elected, Biden plans to follow the advice of medical professionals and increase testing capabilities.

Biden plans to use the power of the U.S. Justice Department to investigate and address unlawful policing. He also wants to invest in community policing.

Eshoo is currently working to increase accessibility of testing within the district, and strictly follows medical guidelines in the fight against COVID-19.

Eshoo co-sponsored the Justice for Policing Act, which would ban many police practices, including chokeholds, and increase accountability among officers.

Kumar has held over 23 town hall meetings with medical professionals to answer questions from the public. He is interested in following their guidelines.

Kumar is a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and plans to prioritize the reallocatation of police funding, as well as increase police accountability.

Donald J. Trump

Joseph R. Biden Jr.

CA 18th District Congressional Representative

CLIMATE CHANGE Anna Eshoo Trump’s climate change policies are at odds with the Green New Deal; he withdrew from President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, a policy in place to combat climate change. Trump also supports further growing the oil and coal industries.

Biden supports the framework of the Green New Deal, which pushes for limitations of fossil fuels and release of greenhouse gases. Biden wants to put plans in place to ensure the U.S. has an 100% clean energy economy and net-zero emissions by 2050. Rishi Kumar

Kumar has demonstrated support for the Green New Deal and would like to improve the economy while fighting climate change by creating jobs away from fossil fuels and other unsafe substances.

the oracle | Election Issue

Eshoo views climate change as an urgent issue. In the past, she has supported multiple different legislations that call for a fee on carbon and has criticized the president for withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord. —Compiled by Calvin Cai

Zora Zhang

P E R SP E C T I V E :

Voting Votingis isthe thebackbone backboneof ofour our democracy—and democracy—and in in the the 21st 21st century, century, it’s it’s barely barely a a right. right. By Jessica Wang

What’s the state of our nation?

2020

is undoubtedly a year for the history books. Four years into President Donald Trump’s term, a runaway virus, protests against police brutality and increasingly polarized politics have shaken the nation—not to mention the upcoming presidential election. As the pandemic stripped people’s lifestyles to the bare bones, politics seemed to fade into the background, superseded by health concerns and more immediate changes. For the past several months, Americans have remained cooped up in their homes, tied to work or online learning, wondering if it’s safe to venture outdoors (if the sky isn’t an apocalyptic orange, that is). Asking citizens to vote, take a stance and fulfill their civic duty adds yet another issue to address. Still, even in the midst of 2020, the backbone of our representative democracy—the suffrage system— merits our immediate attention.

The Founding Fathers feared that the excesses of democracy, or “mobocracy,” would overthrow their perceived vision of America. In an attempt to prevent the common, uneducated masses from voting, the thirteen colonies limited suffrage to only land-owning, white men. “There is no guaranteed right to vote in the Constitution,” social studies teacher Brian Miguel said. “I don’t think it was the design of the Framers to have universal enfranchisement.” As such, suffrage did not belong to every human male of the country, nor did it belong to women and a number of religious and racial minorities. Although it may seem as if our country’s made leaps of progress, continued methods of disenfranchisement and discrepancies in voter turnout reveal that suffrage is far from equal across our nation. Even for those who are currently eligible to vote, not all care to exercise their democratic right. According to 2016 general election exit polls, 11% of California voters were between the ages of 18 and 24; 9% were between the ages of 25 and 29. For all the buzz about getting out and voting, the younger generations pulled through dismally, and the highest percentage of voters went to 50 to 64 year olds—a generation born when cassette tapes were a thing. “Every time you see the results, you always wish more people had turned out,” Miguel said. “The vote is to get the will of the people, and you need the people to participate.” So what’s preventing us from voting? Let’s take it back a few centuries.

“...suffrage did not

belong to every human male of the country, nor did it belong to women and a number of

The Issue

religious and racial minorities.”

uffrage: the right to vote, also known as enfranchisement. It’s the main ingredient to a democracy, direct or representative. As a colony coming into its own, America was founded on the democratic principle that the power of the government comes from its people. However, the Founding Fathers did not wholeheartedly support unrestrained democracy. In fact, the Founding Fathers themselves only represented the upper echelon of society. They were rich, white male statesmen. Many of them owned enslaved people. They studied law, business, finance and politics. While they wrote “all men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence, they didn’t truly believe that all men were equally endowed with the intelligence and tact of the educated few.

Timeline: A History of Voting Rights

The Oracle | Election Issue

n the 1800s, a social movement for women’s suffrage, led by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, rose up in parallel with the fight for Black male suffrage, championed by Frederick Douglass. While the two causes initially competed,

The 15th Amendment establishes that suffrage cannot be restricted on the basis of race.

Suffrage is limited to property-owning white men, with religious qualifications in some states.

The Struggle for Suffrage

The 19th Amendment grants women the right to vote. The League of Women Voters is officially founded.

Voting

Jessica Wang

they coalesced toward a common goal by the early 1900s. On Aug. 18, 1920, more than a century ago, the women’s suffrage movement won. The ratification of the 19th Amendment stated, quite simply, that suffrage “shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” But there’s a catch: amendments were sometimes empty promises. Black male suffrage had already been legalized some 50 years before with the 15th Amendment. In similar language to the 19th Amendment, it stated that suffrage cannot be “denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” Even though this was part of the “supreme Law of the Land” itself, some states decided otherwise. Thus ensued active voter disenfranchisement, an overt movement toward inequality starting in 1870, as former League of Women Voters Director and current Co-Chair of Voter Services Jeannie Lythcott explains. “The literacy test to vote that the white folks got was like the kindergarten ABCs, whereas they gave [Black individuals] the task of learning and reciting the Declaration of Independence or the first three articles of the Constitution,” she said. “Active suppression of the vote of Black folks was real.” Voter suppression manifested in more than just literacy tests: disproportionately high poll taxes, limited voter registration, accessibility to voting locations and voter fraud escalated, in many places, to open violence. Disenfranchisement was written in state

law as well. This all changed with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. “The point of the Voting Rights Act was to try to undercut all of the methods of denying Black folks the right to vote in one way or another,” Lythcott said. The act prohibited many methods of disenfranchisement and required counties and states to report changes to voting procedures. In language that almost exactly echoed the constitutional amendment written 95 years before, it called for suffrage regardless of race or color. This time, the words stuck—or rather, people were more willing to let them stick. The following years saw more diversity in office positions, government and business. “From 1965 until 2013, voting was an open affair,” Lythcott said. That takes us to 2013, within the lifetime of every individual over seven years of age. In Shelby County v. Holder (2013), with a 5-4 majority, the Supreme Court reasoned that federal oversight of voting procedure modifications was no longer a necessary precaution. Consequently, they struck a key section from the Voting Rights Act, deeming it unconstitutional for overstepping federal power. In essence, the ruling permitted—and still permits—districts to establish arbitrary restrictions to their voting procedures without official authorization. So the progress unraveled.

Roadblocks to the Ballot Box

n South Carolina, “voter purge” lawsuits aim to strike thousands of eligible citizens from voter rolls for the sake of maintenance. In Georgia, strict deadlines require eligible voters to register at least 29 days before Election Day, a policy that barred the ballots of 87,000 Georgians in the 2018 election. In Texas, there is only one ballot drop-off location per county. Even in California, the state and the Republican Party have recently been at odds over a number of unauthorized ballot drop boxes that could cause confusion among prospective voters. Specters from a lifetime ago have returned to haunt us: poll taxes, literacy tests, voter IDs. They target minorities, social classes, immigrants and supporters of the opposing party. “That’s what’s going on in this day and age,” Lythcott said. “It has been going on since 30 seconds after Chief Justice Robert ruled against

Supreme Court case Shelby v. Holder (2013) allows districts to change voting procedures without federal oversight.

Congress passes the Voting Rights Act, which cracks down on voter suppression and reinforces the 15th Amendment.

The 26th Amendment lowers the minimum eligible voting age from 21 to 18. —Compiled by Jessica Wang Madeleine Chen

Voting | Election Issue

the Voting Rights Act.” This century, social media and the internet are as much weapons as restrictive laws. Disinformation campaigns and political ads clutter online feeds and websites, with some even targeted at specific minorities. For working classes, simply finding the time to vote can be a challenge. “We vote on Tuesday. That’s not necessarily the most accessible day for voting,” Miguel said. “There are concerted efforts to make voting hard, whether it’s the time that a polling place is open, the location of a polling place or type of ID you have to have in certain states. For a democracy, we don’t exactly make voting easy.” The bottom line is this: voting isn’t an unimpeded, universal right. For many citizens, it’s more elusive than expected. Although widespread suffrage wasn’t the original letter of the law, it’s written in our country’s identity. If we are smothering the voices of the people, we can’t call ourselves a democracy.

Two steps forward, One step back

n 2016, California passed the Voter’s Choice Act, effective for the 2018 elections, to increase voter access. Its main provision was to create voting centers: locations for asking questions, registering to vote, requesting translated ballots and receiving and casting ballots before Election Day. These centers were open on weekdays and weekends, and they established an effective system of communication to catch errors and track ballots. Fifteen California counties representing more than 50% of California’s population adopted voting centers before the 2020 election. “There we were, all set in Santa Clara County to run the election according to the Voter’s Choice Act with vote centers and all of that help,” Lythcott said. “And then the pandemic happened.” At this point, the pandemic has been a party crasher for nearly every aspect of life. While in-person voting is still an option, it’s clearly not ideal with a virus on the loose. Instead, most eyes have turned to mail-in voting. In the past months, the United States Postal Service—which facilitates mail-in voting—has become the subject of scrutiny, accusations and budget cuts. “The changes [to the postal system] have led to widespread reports of dramatic increases in delayed and undelivered mail,” Congresswoman Anna Eshoo said. “In several states, mailboxes were unbolted and driven away, causing a legitimate outcry from the citizenry.” Notably, unlike universal suffrage, the establishment of a postal system is written into the Constitution. Furthermore, voting by mail has been a longstanding custom, despite accusations from our president toward its validity. “In the March 2020 statewide primary election, approximately 78% of registered voters received a ballot in the mail,” California Assemblymember Marc Berman said. “And the research is clear—voter fraud is exceedingly rare and support for voting by mail is not a partisan issue.” To increase accessibility to mail-in voting, Assembly Bill 860 was passed by the California State Legislature to send ballots to all active, registered voters. It also extends the mail ballot deadline to seventeen days after Election Day, and voters can track the progress of their ballot.

The Oracle | Election Issue

Berman, who penned the bill, believes it will allow citizens to vote without risking their health. “This will ensure that every California voter has the ability to vote from the safety of their own home,” he said. “I believe it will also increase voter turnout.”

citizens’ concerns

till, the pandemic may have impacted voters in more ways than restricted accessibility. Gunn alumna Shawna Chen, a former Editor-in-Chief of The Oracle and current Axios reporter, notes that the rise in anti-Asian racism from COVID-19 may discourage Asian American voters, who comprise more than a third of Santa Clara County’s population. “People are hurting a lot physically, mentally and emotionally,” she said. “Their livelihoods are being threatened.” One out of every three eligible Asian American citizens does not plan to register to vote, according to Chen. With increased xenophobia, some might react with anger and activism, others with fears for safety and a desire to “keep their heads down.” Still, 17.1% of the American population is Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races, according to the 2019 American Community Survey. If these voters turn out, and if more minorities turn out, their votes may have an immeasurable impact. In fact, some experts have forecast the highest turnout in more than a century, according to Eshoo. Californians have a mix of inperson voting locations, mail-in ballots and an election system that

Jessica Wang

has persisted through wars, economic crises and epidemics. All that remains to be seen is if people still believe in our democracy.

Voting

To Miguel, a father and U.S. Government teacher, it’s as simple as civic duty. “We need to increase voter participation,” he said. “And that isn’t just by voting but by informing and helping others We the People vote. There’s a lot you can do in your role as a citizen beyond just checking a box once every four years.” o Palo Alto High School senior Rachel Owens, president of the And to Lythcott, a sharp, politically active octogenarian, the student-led organization Vote16 and advocate for teenage suf- might of democracy lies in its youth. “I know for a fact that young frage, democracy is still worth fighting for. “Right now, some people have a lot of power that they don’t know they have,” she said. people may be losing faith “School has been in democracy, and in teaching you how some ways that makes to pass tests as if sense,” she said. “There ...once you’re old enough, you realize the SAT controls are a lot of systems that your life. We need are quite broken in our that this one vote, this ballot, has so to help young peodemocracy. But I think ple recover that that the foundation of much power in deciding your future.” sense of ‘We know democracy itself and the what to do. And we kind of democracy that can do it.’” –Gunn Alumna Shawna Chen, 22 we’re striving to achieve Limited as it is, is one that we should voting is our right. keep working toward.” It’s written in a To Chen, a 22-year-old college graduate, a political awakening history of suffrage and suppression laws. It’s the tie between our is critical. “When you’re in high school, it doesn’t seem like it mat- government and our people. Those socially distanced pairs of citizens ters to you, because you’re not necessarily the one participating,” waiting for a turn at the public library ballot drop box; those posing she said. “But when you get out of high school and once you’re old for pictures with their masks on and the ballot in their hands; and enough, you realize that this one vote, this ballot, has so much power those proudly holding up “I Voted!” stickers—that is our democracy. in deciding your future.” It’s up to the people to keep it alive.

“

2016 election: California voter turnout Racial demographics

Age demographics

Data from California exit polls Compiled by Jessica Wang

Ella Koehler

Voting | Election Issue

Prop 16: Affirmative action raises concerns over equity BY CATHERINE CHU One of the most debated propositions on this year’s ballot is Proposition 16, an amendment that aims to repeal Proposition 209. Proposition 209 states that discrimination or preferential treatment for college admissions on the basis of race, color, ethnicity or national origin is unconstitutional. The passage of Proposition 16 would allow for the practice of preferential treatment based on the above factors, commonly known as affirmative action, to be used in California public education, public contracting and public employment. The history of California affirmative action laws dates back to 1996, when Proposition 209 was passed in the California Assembly by a 54.6% vote. Since then, there have been three major suits that reached

the California Supreme Court. In the Coalition for Economic Equity v. Wilson (1996), the initiative was challenged as written. The federal courts upheld Proposition 209. In Hi-Voltage Wire Works v. City of San Jose (2000), the California Supreme Court decided that outreach to help minority and women-owned businesses obtain subcontracts on city construction projects in San Jose violated Proposition 209. Specifically, the California Supreme Court decided that the type of “participation goal” and “targeted outreach” violated Proposition 209. In the third case, Connerly v. State Personnel Board (2001), the courts found that provisions in five state programs related to affirmative action violated Proposition 209 and the federal constitutional guarantee of equal protection. While all the cases were appealed multiple times, the proposition has

P r op o s it ion 18 i s a proposed California constitutiona l amendment that would expand suffrage rights for teenagers. If passed, it would allow 17-year-olds who would be 18 by the next general election to vote in its primaries and special elections earlier in the year. A “yes” vote would permit certain 17-year-olds to vote in primaries and special elections. This would allow some high school juniors and seniors to take a more active role in American democracy. A “no” vote would maintain current suffrage laws. Only those who are 18 or over would be able to vote in primary and special elections. —Written by Arjun Shah

always been upheld. For years, there have been many attempts—such as affirmative action or housing stability programs on the federal, state and local levels—to help the underprivileged gain access to educational and social opportunities. Proposition 209 eliminated state and local government affirmative action programs on the basis that these programs were involved in preferential treatment towards groups solely based on ethnicity, color, sex or race, which was unconstitutional. This move limited accessibility for underprivileged demographics, subsequently decreasing the enrollment of minorities in both the University of California (UC) and California State University college systems. According to the UC Office of the President, passing Proposition 209 resulted in a 31% drop from 1996 to 2001 for underrepresented groups

Proposition 24, if passed, will expand the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) so that consumers who wish to keep their data private can request to opt out of data sharing. It would eliminate the 30-day notice period for violations of privacy laws; businesses would immediately be fined for up to $7500 depending on the infraction. However, it also reduces the number of businesses that must follow data privacy requirements. This proposition requires companies to obtain permission before sharing the data of minors. It also requires that companies correct any incorrect data. A “yes” vote would add these provisions to the CCPA and establish the Privacy Protection Agency (PPA) for enforcement. In contrast to current California law, confidential information on devices would be unprotected when traveling out of state. A “no” vote would not change the CCPA. California privacy rights would apply regardless of location. —Written by Annika Bereny

The Oracle | Election Issue

and minorities in the UC system. Now, Proposition 16 aims to remove Proposition 209. Proponents of Proposition 16 argue that systemic discrimination has led to inequality in educational opportunities. According to The Center for American Progress, an independent policy institute, students of color face many barriers in the education system, including exclusion and segregation from extracurriculars, underfunding and limited resources. The institute states that students who are white and financially privileged have an advantage because they can access extracurricular activities, sports programs and college prep resources that others—due to a lack of finances—cannot. Proponents also argue that affirmative action improves diversity. The Center for American Progress supports Proposition 16 in hopes that it will expand educational opportunities for women and people of color by prioritizing diversity in California public colleges. Similarly, the California League of Women Voters states that affirmative action is the only way to ensure that diversity is maintained in schools that translates to inclusivity in the workplace, since education is a critical factor in job recruitment. They believe that reinstating affirmative action

Propositions

promotes social mobility and gives those born with financial barriers an opportunity to get a better education and eventually better work opportunities. On the other hand, opponents of Proposition 16 believe that repealing Proposition 209 and legalizing affirmative action would discriminate against other groups instead of compensating for systemic oppression. Tom Campbell of the Orange County Register writes that the pressure to repeal Proposition 209 stems from a desire to help Black individuals in today’s circumstances. He argues, however, that we must not do that at the expense of another racial group. Former California Senator Quentin Kopp believes that even if Proposition 209 would benefit Black individuals, it would discriminate against groups such as Asian Americans, thereby perpetuating racial injustice. Many also argue that affirmative action reinforces stereotypes. An article from the Columbia Spectator argued that when organizations paint affirmative action as necessary, they imply that minority students can’t get in based on their merit alone; instead, they are admitted for representing a token racial minority or underprivileged

Proposition 17 would potentially change voting rights for those on parole for felony crimes in California. The current California Constitution does not permit felons serving sentences in prison or on parole to vote. While Proposition 17 would not change the voting status of current prisoners, it would alter future ballots to include those who are on parole. A “yes” vote would amend the California Constitution to grant suffrage to those on parole. A “no” vote on Proposition 17 would keep the California Constitution as written, prohibiting prisoners and those on parole from voting in elections. —Written by Dori Filppu

demographic. This perpetuates racial stereotypes that certain groups cannot succeed because they are less intelligent than others. Opponents of Proposition 16 also believe that students admitted without racial preferences in place and students admitted due to affirmative action will be at vastly different academic levels. In turn, this disparity would decrease the overall quality of education. Many are afraid that the precedent set by affirmative action will also allow for the implementation of racial quotas, redirecting college admission focus from students’ personal merits to checking boxes for their “diversity requirement.” This November, whether voters believe in the potential for affirmative action to increase diversity and address systemic racism or voters believe race and gender should not be included in admission decisions, it is clear that Proposition 16 could change the college admissions landscape for millions of Californians.

— Chu, a junior, is a News Editor.

Proposition 15 would increase funding for K-12 public schools and local governments by taxing businesses based on the current market value of their commercial or industrial property instead of their original purchase price. A “yes” vote would result in increased taxes on most commercial properties worth more than three million dollars, providing more funding for schools and local governments. A “no” vote maintains the current property taxes, and schools would not receive more funding from property taxes. —Written by Katie Shih

Jessica Wang

Propositions | Election Issue

Across The Aisle Navigating Political Conversations

Three tips for Having a political conversation with someone with differen 1. People are more than their politics: Yes, some issues are not political. Human rights, decency and science should not be debated. Aside from extreme examples, it is important to remember that people often represent more than what policies they support. In a highly polarized political country, it can feel as though there is more division between parties than ever before. Yet, by judging and assessing someone’s worth based on their views, we actually contribute to this narrative. Is a disagreement in economy strategies worth the loss of a friendship? Should public figures be “cancelled” for sharing their political views? Now, more than ever before, it can feel difficult to not prioritize someone’s politics over all else. However, if we want to decrease the American divide and increase unity, that’s the place to start.

The Oracle | Election Issue

2. Discussions do not have to turn tics has set a poor and discouraging example o as it might be to believe, debates between poli respect. Discussion is discussion, and debate i wrongly conflated. However, we as students st standards that have been set. Engaging in polit can help to revolutionize this political norm. It open-minded and kind, despite how our oppositi ing civil discussion requires understanding an might come off as passionate versus when the too late to change the examples set for us.

Political disagreements can affect, end friendships

Hila Livneh

Jenna Han

With election season coming up, conversations about candidates and politics are on the rise. Although it can be hard to avoid heated debates, it’s key to remember that it’s okay to respect people who have different opinions. If the situation is that they believe in different policies than you or in another candidate, it’s fair to disagree, but it doesn’t have to get in between your friendship. Others’ political views don’t define them as a person—they’re still the same friend you had before. Try to understand their side of view, and maybe you’ll learn something new. In politics, there’s a large spectrum of topics and opinions, so people will not always see eye to eye with you. It’s important to try to take other people’s perspectives into account, but if you don’t agree with the person’s perspective it’s completely fine to not be friends with them. You shouldn’t force yourself to remain friends. However, when people have more harmful beliefs, it’s okay to try to communicate to them and let them know that statement is both not inclusive and rude. Instead of arguing with them, however, try to have a calm conversation and make an effort to understand why they may think that. If it bothers you, it’s understandable to take a step back. However, I know how hard it is to remain calm during these tough conversations; I’ve struggled with it myself. During my freshman year, I had a good friend who I generally got along well with. Several months ago, we began

discussing politics, and I found out they were a Trump supporter. At first, I was open to learning about my friend’s perspective. However, after some talking, they told me that their primary reason for backing Trump was because of their opposition to the LGBTQ+ community. My friend’s statement made me uncomfortable; it didn’t sit right with me at all. I tried to talk to them about my opinions, and although I tried to say it as respectfully as I could, it was really hard not to get frustrated. The conversation quickly heated up into a contentious argument. After a while, I found that arguing got us nowhere, and neither of us were open to each other’s opinions. After that day, we took some time to cool off, but even after we calmed down and spoke again, the topic of politics continued resurfacing. This led to multiple disagreements, particularly because I we identified with opposite sides of the political spectrum. Wanting to avoid the stress of such constant disagreements, I decided to stop being friends with them. Although I don’t regret my decision, it’s also true that people can stay friends while having different political views. It’s great to discuss politics with your friends and family. I do that occasionally and even though the conversation may end bitterly sometimes, I still get to learn new things and see politics through a new perspective. You can never expect having political conversations to be an easy task, but allowing open communication to try to educate both yourself and others should be the end goal. Almost everyone has different political opinions and there is nothing wrong with that, but you should always respect those around you, regardless of their beliefs. Livneh, a sophomore, is a Reporter.

different views:

ave to turn into debates: Modern poliging example of political conversation. As hard s between politicians were once executed with n, and debate is debate—yet, the two are often as students still have the power to change the gaging in polite and informational conversation litical norm. It is our job to remain respectful, ow our opposition handles the situation. Practicderstanding and reevaluating when our words rsus when they come off as aggressive. It’s not set for us.

3. It’s important to hear from all perspectives: Only conversing with people who share similar beliefs may feel more effortless, but disagreement creates discomfort and vulnerability, which can lead to growth. Disagreement exposes you to different perspectives, prompting you to consider various arguments. It also helps to promote better understanding, learning and growth. How can we represent parties of open-mindedness and tolerance if we disregard people who think differently? In short, we can’t. It’s time to mature, reflect and engage in those frustrating and potentially awkward discussions. You might learn something new, or better secure the beliefs you already had, but, most importantly, you will leave as both the educator and the educated. —Written by Dori Filppu political conversations | Election Issue

the dark side of

Social Media activism Mia Knezevic and Jessica Zang Features Editor and Forum Editor

On May 25, George Floyd was pinned to the ground and suffocated by a police officer. As a result of a video taken at the time and news coverage, thousands of people flocked to social media to voice their outrage. Since the release of the video onto Instagram, many users, accustomed to the traditional light-heartedness of the app, have begun to use the app as an advocacy platform. Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement protests, the Lebanon explosions, the presidential election and Uighur Muslim camps, among many other human rights issues, have increasingly populated social media feeds. The main source used on Instagram to advocate for issues is infographics, posts that are intended to give quick facts about an issue. Such infographics are appealing, relevant and easily accessible for less informed users; however, they often exclude important information while also creating a culture of performative activism and peer pressure. While social media can be useful in raising awareness for pressing issues, users should take their activism beyond Instagram and look to other sources to find the facts.

performative Activism activism

On June 2, a social media movement took over the feeds of many Instagram users. On that day, known as “Black Out Tuesday,” celebrities, activists and high schoolers alike posted black squares in an effort to raise awareness about the BLM movement while showing solidarity for the Black community. According to CNBC, by 8:45 a.m. on that day there were already 14.6 million Instagram posts tagged #blackouttuesday; as of Sept. 27, there are now a total of 22.2 million posts with that same hashtag. However, also as of Sept. 27, there are only 11.3 million signatures on Breonna Taylor’s Change.org petition calling for the arrest of her killers. If everyone who posted the black square instead redirected their efforts towards real, tangible actions, those in power would be more likely to see the impact of her story and be prompted to act. Social media, especially on a platform meant for creativity, is not an optimal way to communicate opinions to our political leaders. Following mainstream trends and advocating solely for current “hot topics” will not result in meaningful change; it only serves to further personal agendas. While many students care deeply about the How frequently do Gunn Students verify information? subjects they advocate for, others repost the graphics because “others are doing it,” hoping to be perceived as an empathetic person by their peers. One common issue in social media advocacy is performative activism, also known as “slack-tivism,” where people will advocate for the purpose of improving their social image, rather than furthering the causes they promote. Students who engage in these practices are not as likely to be genuine, and are more likely to become desensitized to disasters, viewing them as personal moral dilemmas rather than widespread tragedy. Although we cannot expect everybody to be thoroughly involved in every cause, perforWhere do gunn students get their information from? mative activism cannot be effective if people only participate for their own self-gain. Being an “activist” by reposting infographics on social media is simply patting yourself on the back for minimal participation. Simply put, social media gives people an easy way out of true activism. Slack-tivists, convinced that they are making substantial change, will likely not contribute in more meaningful ways such as signing petitions, donating money or holding tough conversations. In fact, more people posted #blackouttuesday than people who signed George Floyd or Breonna Taylor’s Change.org petitions. Using a pressing issue in order to further one’s own social standing Clair Koo and Chinyoung Shao is unfair to those who are most affected by the issue itself. Social media users should avoid both being insincere when operating online and usThe Oracle | Election Issue ing tragedies for their own personal benefit.

infographics INfographics Infographics are one tool used by performative activists. Often displayed in aesthetic colors, infographics are designed to display information in a way that teens will be able to share without disrupting the beauty of their Instagram feed. Rather than being solely informational, the infographics, usually displayed as an Instagram slide post with a cover and a breakdown of facts on each slide, are made in order to attract attention or followers. Yet infographics not produced by respected organizations or legitimate news sources often are not fact-checked; creators, with the intention to raise awareness and encourage reposts, are less likely to focus solely on facts and sources when they are crafting covers that people will click on. Additionally, many infographics do not cite their sources; without citations, users cannot fact-check the bias and validity of the information, and such posts cannot be fully trusted, nor held accountable for misinformation. To challenge the idea that infographics are the authority on all activism-related issues, some users have even created satire accounts. The success of such satire enforces the idea that social media users often blindly support any issue they come across without fact-checking information. Accounts such as @annoyedteenager and @monday preach far-fetched ideas such as “ADAB: All Doctors are Bad” or “Wear a mask or you are racist.” This information is displayed in the same format as “real” infographics, but use unprovable, often silly facts. In a world full of “fake news,” people cannot always make the distinction between what is real and what is satire, leading to the spread of misinformation through infographics. The information we absorb, no matter the source, can determine people’s political actions. Some infographics prioritize aesthetics over accuracy, especially in failing to support ideas with sources, a practice which can misinform social media users and lead them to take stances on specific issues, or vote for certain candidates without full comprehension of the politics.

“Only with a generation of socially responsible media users can social media activism begin to create real change.”

“students may feel the need to publicly express their support or condemnation of a subject, but there shouldn’t be a moral obligation to do so.”

peer pressure When certain movements are adopted by the majority of the community, staying silent can appear to be a form of disagreement or opposition to the mainstream cause. Recently, the phrase “silence is violence” has been chanted at protests and spread across social media. With the notion that inaction equates with oppression, students may feel the need to publicly express their support or condemnation of a subject, but there shouldn’t be a moral obligation to do so. There are many reasons why a person would refrain from taking a public stance on issues, especially on a social media platform. Sometimes, a student may feel unfit to comment on the situation; other times, they may not align with the popular opinion, and would believe it is best to stay silent rather than offend their peers. Whatever the reason, it is not shameful to refrain from posting, as there are many other, often more effective, ways to advocate for a cause.

A Call to Action Social media can be a double-edged sword; while it serves as a powerful tool to spread meaningful messages and give a stage to underrepresented voices in politics, it’s not always the most effective way to truly advocate. Careless infographics can easily spread misinformation, and there are far more impactful ways to make a difference, such as sending emails to political leaders, signing petitions and encouraging others to do the same. During a new wave of peer pressure and performative activism, students should be responsible in their online actions: they should avoid advocating for issues they do not care about and should do research on current events to avoid blindly believing anything they read on the internet. Only with a generation of socially responsible media users can social media activism begin to create real change.

political conversations | Election Issue

Youth in Politics: Sophomore Paul Kramer Takes Political Initiative

aybe you’ve seen his organization, Political Youth Co., officially known as Institution for Youth in Policy, on your TikTok’s “For You” page. Perhaps you’ve attended one of his club meetings, or maybe you’re just now learning who he is. Either way, sophomore Paul Kramer shows the many possibilities of being politically involved as a teenager. Kramer began as an intern for multiple Stanford professors, completing research focusing on health policy. As a result, he received a rare opportunity. In Jan. 2020, Kramer flew across the country to the United States capital for an internship at the White House. “I had the privilege of working with two economically involved people; one was the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and another one was the [Council of Economic Advisor] CEA chair,” Kramer said. “At the White House, I would attend hearings and briefings. I got to see virtually everything that hap-

pens at the White House.” After his unique experience, Kramer co-founded an organization called Institution for Youth in Policy (IYP), a governmental nonprofit. While youth voices cannot be heard by ballot, Kramer’s organization gives them a stage through social media. “Political Youth is a platform for youth to share their opinions, and with our accounts, we basically give them a platform to do so,” Kramer said. “Our mission is to try to highlight youth voices and to bridge the gap for self-partisan politics.” IYP has two TikTok accounts, one with 35,000 followers and another with 25,000 followers, both devoted to youth in politics. Besides their social media presence, the organization has eight different chapters in the U.S., with one in Palo Alto, one in Seattle, three in Texas and two in Washington, D.C. Despite having a primarily social media based organization, Kramar is

concerned over the lack of research people do before posting. “In D.C., I went to a fairly bipartisan school, and the students were 50% Republican and 50% Democrat,” he said. “People felt that unless they have actually done research or written a policy piece on it, it was not worth posting. I think it’s important to educate yourself before posting on social media.” With the school year starting, Kramer chartered a new political club at Gunn. “The Civil and Political discourse club has two sponsors: Political Youth and Real Talk,” he said. “In partnership, we have guest speakers come in, and we run sessions that switch off with each other: one session being educational and one discussion-based session. Through the club, we try to promote bipartisanship.” Kramer believes that a club community that hears all voices, despite one’s party or personal beliefs, is crucial. “Gunn is mainly a Demo-

How are Gunn students involved in politics?

The Oracle | Election Issue

Activism cratic school, and because of that, future prospects. “I actually disthere are many suppressed Repub- agree with my candidate on quite lican voices,” Kramer said. “If it’s a a few things, but I believe he is Republican school in Texas, there better for Silicon Valley than the is going to be a lot of Democratic other candidate,” he said. “Helpsuppressed voices. I think that is ing someone’s campaign helped when we should try to come to- shape how I see politics work gether and bridge the gap.” from an internal view, by seeA club with diverse political ing issues from my candidates opinions is bound to have intense viewpoint.” arguments, but Kramer believes While some may not want to there is beauty in the disputes. involve themselves in politics, “I think it is healthy to have dis- Kramer highlights that exercisagreements all the time,” he said. ing suffrage rights is crucial be“My co-founder and I disagree on virtually ev“[POlitics] is like a symphony erything, but we love to talk playing music together– it out, and we [people] are all playing love to debate different parts, but in the about it. It is end, it all comes together.” like a symphony playing music together— [people] are all playing different cause it affects each and every perparts, but in the end, it all comes son. “You are affected by politics on a daily basis,” he said. “Public together.” Kramer emphasizes that the school itself is political. Some peoideas of compromising and work- ple want to privatize education. ing through disagreements are es- Your drinking water is affected by sential human skills that should politics; your city government is be practiced. “I have been a part affected by politics, the roads, even of Politics 4.0, which is when one your home. You live in a capitalMarxist, one Leftist, one Liber- ist based nation, and politics are tarian and one Republican come bound to affect you no matter together, and you try to find the where you live.” Kramer’s experience middle ground on one topic,” in politics has inspired Kramer said. “I think that is what him to run a campaign the government should do because, ideally, that is how the government himself in years to should work. Currently it works come. “I’m sadly not more like Republicans are going born in America, so I to do their bill, Democrats do their can’t run for president, bill, and whoever has more power and I don’t have the money either,” he said. ends up passing the bill.” Kramer is currently senior “But I do see myself at manager for Rishi Kumar, a con- some point running for gressional candidate in Califor- either a local position, nia’s 18th District. His experience or to be on county counworking on a political campaign cil. In the greater scope, has helped him gain a better per- maybe eventually runspective on how candidates should ning for Congress.” reflect both personal views and

—Written by Haley Pflasterer

Graphics by Madeleine Chen, Sophie Fan, Ella Koehler

Activism | Election Issue

HOW To get involved EVEN if you can’t vote ed Stay Inform

ed in can be improv Observe what curt ou , and read ab ay st your community to s w la bi lls and ashrent policies, W e Th as ch ces su informed. Sour ew York N N and The N C , st Po on gt in rmation fo in e up-to-dat Times provide informed ents. Staying on ongoing ev s to get ay w ost effective is one of the m for votlf se ur yo epare involved and pr ing later on.

on ank te b e on ida d ph cand n a a t Tex alf of e, Vog u e b eh n e e T dat g to c candi nd n i d a r ifi Acco a spec banking can ’s f e e l r n a e o if th port, ph heir beh t from t p n u por o s g you teerin r sup e n r n a volu them g . help voters

Post or share your beliefs on social media In the digital age, social media can be a great way to get involved in politics by sharing your thoughts and reposting factual messages. However, your words represent you, and it’s important to stop and think about your posts and actions, as anything you put online has a digital footprint.

Vo wo lunt rke e r o er as nE lec a pol l tio A cc nD stat ordin ay es, g to t incl low he u h teer igh sch ding C Y MC A a o poll as poll ol stud liforn , 41 ia , a ing ents wor l l k er.s ocation ers at to volu no s .c a . V n ea is a .g o v/s / it pollw rby to s o ig n rkup.

Discuss political issues with friends or family Discussing politics can be a great way to under stand different perspectives or share opinio ns. Accord ing to CNN, adolescents who discuss politics and current events with their parents can better understand civic behavior and attitudes, and are also more likely to develop higher levels of political knowledge later on.

Madeleine Chen

The Oracle | Election Issue

—Compiled by Catherine Chu

A Tale of Two Cities A Tale of Two Cities A Tale of Two Cities How racism i n Housing deeds, redlining and Gentrification led to the stark divide between palo alto and east palo alto Sophie Fan

By Julianna Chang history & politics | Election Issue

Joshua Yang

he bumpy potholes and ridges lining the floor of Highway A History of Housing Segregation 101, the historic highway traversing California’s west coast, don’t make for a smooth ride. Despite unpleasant rush hour traffic and rough paving, countless Palo Alto residents drive the espite spurring quintessential Silicon Valley innovation and lengths of 101 daily, and unofficial landmarks are recognizable to laying claim to a seemingly progressive community, the Bay many: the all-too-familiar blue and yellow of the East Palo Alto Area was not—and still is not—immune to the gentrificaIKEA, the temporary white construction barriers and the sporadic tion and racial segregation that plagued cities all over the country. During the economic boom following World War II, minority billboards advertising a plethora of services. In many regards, the rushing highway traffic represents af- families began flooding into the Bay Area to look for a place to settle. fluence and comfortable middle-class life: the fleet of sedans and However, they were met with widespread resistance: in Palo Alto, SUVs making their way up and down Highway 101 boast pas- certain properties in multiple neighborhoods subdivided from 1925 sengers working in the world’s most affluent tech companies and to 1950 had deed restrictions specifying that “no person not wholly high-end San Francisco businesses. Indeed, Palo Alto, the common of the white caucasian race shall use or occupy such property unless destination of such travelers, is itself a hotbed of wealth—in 2018, such person or persons are employed as servants of the occupants,” city residents’ median household income was more than double the according to the website Palo Alto History.org. Social studies teacher Laurel Howard, a Palo Alto resident since national median. Yet less noticeably, Highway 101 remains the de facto divide be- childhood, recalls that bylaws embedded in the deeds of nearby tween affluent Palo Alto and East Palo Alto, a city with an estimated houses were surprisingly commonplace. “My parents own a house in poverty rate of 12.6% and a place known as the per-capita murder Palo Alto,” she said. “When they bought the house, [it was] actually leader of the U.S. in 1992. Although East Palo Alto has made encour- written into their deed that they can’t sell the house to a person of color.” aging progA similar practice of barring ress in safety property sales to people of color and decreaswas in place near Stanford Uniing the city’s “My parents own a house in Palo Alto. versity’s campus. During World poverty levWar II, the Peninsula Housing el, such vast When they bought the house, [it was] Association of Palo Alto purdisparity is chased a large amount of land actually written into their deed that fa r f rom a to build 400 houses in response coincidence. they can’t sell the house to a person of to the housing shortages at the In fact, this time. In their bylaws and deeds, artificial color.” the association incorporated a divide is —Social studies teacher laurel howard quota system promising that the c au s e d by proportion of Black homeowners an extensive on their land would not exceed history of rathe proportion of Black individucial segregation that has long infiltrated the community. A multitude of discriminatory housing practices, such as restric- als in all of California. Later, they sold their land to a private detive deeds and redlining, have contributed to vast educational and veloper with a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) agreement socioeconomic inequalities—and the implications of such practices, detailing that no properties could be sold to any Black individuals. As a result, people of color were prohibited from settling in far from being relics of a bygone era, threaten to rear their heads once more in the current debate over who should have access to most Palo Alto neighborhoods. Left with no other options, minority families turned to a nearby area, the soon-to-be called East Palo Foothills Park. Alto, where housing prices were lower and housing restrictions were less frequent.

The Oracle | Election Issue

Although these types of racial restrictions were outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1948, de facto restrictions nevertheless persisted through bylaws and deeds. The effects have cascaded to from the modern-day divide: houses were often passed through generations, creating the segregated community seen today.

Discrimination and FHA Redlining

f course, these practices of racial segregation weren’t just limited to Palo Alto. In 1934, the FHA was established on a nationwide scale. Originally, the agency was created to improve housing standards and increase employment in the midst of the Great Depression; in order to do so, the FHA worked with real estate companies to provide loans to potential homeowners. Real estate companies, however, wanted a guarantee that potential homeowners would actually pay back their loans; thus, the federal government marked out neighborhoods to provide “risk rat-

with the Federal Fair Housing Act in 1968, a ban that was later reinforced by the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, which required banks to report their public loan data. Yet the damage was done: only 1.6% of Palo Alto residents are Black, according to the 2019 U.S. Census estimate.

East Palo Alto Gentrification

hrough both discriminatory deeds and illegal redlining practices, the divide between East Palo Alto and Palo Alto widened in the years following World War II. During the 1960s and 1970s, Palo Alto began to thrive. The technology industry was booming and Stanford University became a premier institution, attracting professors, students and innovators alike. However, housing prices remained steep, and the discriminatory practices kept many from settling in Palo Alto. “East Palo Alto, right next door, became the space where people who are coming to this region, either to work as domestic servants or even people who Neighborhoods seen as “high risk” were are coming to be graduate students at Stanford, [lived],” Howard said. outlined in red lines, leading to the Yet East Palo Alto was not incorporated as term of “redlining.” Neighborhoods a city until 1983, denying it the money and resources that would have helped it advance. of color were outlined in red more Former Stanford Dean of Freshmen Julie Lythcott-Haims argued the decision it left East often than not, leaving such areas Palo Alto free to be preyed on by developers. deeply segregated for years to come. “[Developers thought,] ‘There’s no land left on the Peninsula, so we better start buying up East Palo Alto,’” Lythcott-Haims said. “And ings” that would judge which neighborhoods would pay back loans on then East Palo Alto got gentrified.” time, resulting in a process marred by racism. “The neighborhoods Gentrification is the practice of reforming an area or neighborthat tended to be the most safe investments [for real estate companies] tended to be neighborhoods with that very strict, stereotypical hood to conform to the current taste of society; in other words, decookie-cutter white family, because those were socially seen as more velopers change the characte of the neighborhood in response to an respectable and safer,” Howard said. influx of affluent residents or businesses and make it more appealing Neighborhoods seen as “high risk” were outlined in red lines, leading to the term of “redlining.” Neighborhoods of color were outlined in red more often than not, leaving such areas deeply segregated for years to come. In nearby San Francisco, for example, 87% of previously redlined neighborhoods are still classified today as low-income, according to the Urban Displacement Project. Other nearby cities subjected to redlining policies in the past include San Jose, Oakland and Berkeley. Some neighborhoods in Palo Alto, however, were less segregated than others. “The Greenmeadow neighborhood was more integrated,” Howard said. “However, just because they would sell the house [to people of color], doesn’t mean that [they] had equal access to it.” Setbacks faced by minority families, such as the lack of access to loans, still played an influential role in housing settlement; even if families were allowed to live in a neighborhood, they often could not afford to do so. Redlining was ultimately made illegal Joshua Yang

to those with power and money. District and the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD). As tech powerhouses began settling in the Bay Area, especially In 1986, the Tinsleys, an East Palo Alto family, filed a class action along the southwest border of East Palo Alto, the community began lawsuit against eight local school districts. “East Palo Alto schools to change accordingly. “[Facebook] employees [were] like, ‘Oh, we’re were so incredibly underfunded that a lot of people sued, saying that in East Palo Alto. This is a sketchy area,” social studies teacher their children were not getting adequate education,” Howard said. Haley Perkins said, illustrating a common viewpoint held by nearby The lawsuit also cited the discriminatory practices that prevented tech corporations. the Tinsleys from settling in more affluent areas in the first place. As such, companies longed to make the community “safer” for PAUSD pled no contest. In response, the district created the their new employees to live in; for instance, Facebook–whose head- Voluntary Transfer Program (VTP), also known as the Tinsley quarters lie on the Menlo Park and East Palo Alto border–currently Program, which allows 60 East Palo Alto students to take a bus funds a branch of the Menlo Park Police Department specifically into the city and attend Palo Alto schools. for policing the area surrounding their headquarters. According to Assistant Principal Pier Angeli La Place, the The consequence of gentrification was a rise in already expensive reason behind the program’s founding is largely—and unfortuhousing prices. Some East Palo Alto residents, especially those nately–unknown to the community. “It’s more viewed like it’s just who settled in the city after bethis benevolent, kind ing denied housing elsewhere, thing that Palo Alto were displaced. One University is doing to allow these of California at Berkeley study kids from East Palo “We ought to be able to bring found that East Palo Alto “lost Alto to come over,” thousands of low-income black she said. “Whereas, opportunity and look after the households” from 2010 to 2015, in fact, the history with no similar effects reported of it is that it was a needs of those who already [in a in predominantly white neighborvery racially motivatcommunity]. Otherwise, it’s just hoods in the same time period. ed decision to create Yet gentrification does not inthis boundary that another form of colonization.” herently have to create a negative would prevent those impact, according to Perkins. “I students from being — Fo r m e r s ta n f o r d d e a n o f think that, philosophically, when a part of [PAUSD]. freshmen Julie Lythcott-Haims people are removed from their And as a result, that homes because they can no longer is why we have that afford to live there or because program.” of other governmental policies, According to La that’s a moral wrong,” she said. “Gentrification isn’t necessarily a Place, historically underrepresented students are still not receiving bad thing if what it’s doing is investing in communities for [those] the attention they deserve and are often overlooked in favor of the that exist there, and making the community better for existing majority of PAUSD students. “85% of our students are doing fantas[individuals living there]. But what gentrification tends to do is tic,” she said. “[People then think,] ‘That’s good enough; we’re clearly invest in communities so that other communities can thrive in a successful district because we have a high performing record for that community.” most of our kids.’ And so it becomes easier to sweep aside the 15 to Lythcott-Haims echoed Perkins. “We ought to be able to bring 20% [of students] who, on every statistic you could possibly name, opportunity and look after the needs of those who are already there,” are not successful academically.” she said. “Otherwise it’s just another form of colonization.” Special Education teacher Courtney Carlomagno adds that the socioeconomic status of students’ families often determines the voice they have in decision-making. “The parents who have more capital and live nearer to the school are going to be the ones who are making the demands on the educational system,” she said. “They’re going to be the ones speaking at the school board, and so they’re impact on the education system going to gain a lot more access and rights that’s in line with what they want for their students, from their white homes.” Similarly, there seems to be a lack of community acknowledgehe effects of Palo Alto’s extensive history of racial segregament toward these socioeconomic disparities, according to Perkins, tion has compounded to form clear disparities in the quality making any efforts to resolve them more difficult. “This kind of of education offered by East Palo Alto’s Ravenwood School divide between East Palo Alto and Palo Alto is so known to the community but so unspoken,” Perkins said. Even as diverse groups of students are brought together in educational environment around the Bay Area, the social and cultural divide deepens, according to Carlomagno. “A lot of our “A lot of our black and brown Black and Brown students don’t see themselves in the school community or see themselves in the teachers they have, or they students don’t see themselves just don’t feel like they’re represented,” she said. “I’ve had stuin the school community or dents tell me that the only way it’s going to change is if we find a way to increase our enrollment of Latino and African-American see themselves in the teachers students, or to increase the staff we have that are people of color, specifically [those who identify as] Latino and African-American.” they have, or they just don’t Howard cited the distance between the two communities as feel like they’re represented.” yet another factor dividing students. “If you are living in East Palo Alto, you have to take this really long bus ride,” she said. —special education teacher “You’re not close to any of your school peers, because you’re coming from this other region.” courtney carlomagno Perkins believes focusing on creating resources is key to lessening the education gap between students from low-income families, including those from East Palo Alto, and students from affluent Palo Alto homes. “One of the big solutions would be to pay The Oracle | Election Issue

attention to and where they’re going to,” she said. “Are the resources being allotted to the students who need them the most? Or are the resources being allotted to the students who already have the most?”

a nature preserve for a select few

ducational inequalities aren’t the only modern-day remnants of Palo Alto’s history with racial segregation. Even today, a debate is raging over who exactly should access Palo Alto’s Foothills Park. Foothills Park, a large nature preserve owned by the city of Palo Alto, has limited park access to Palo Alto residents ever since it was purchased in 1965. A recent lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other plaintiffs has threatened this policy.

dents argue that opening the park up to non-residents would sharply increase maintenance costs due to the required presence of a fulltime ranger and the potential increase of garbage collection needed. Yet this past summer, the City Council approved a pilot program to open the park to select non-residents willing to purchase a permit. Lythcott-Haims hopes that Palo Alto will ultimately open up the park. “I’m ashamed to live in a city that restricts access to this open space that was never originally belonging to Palo Alto,” she said. Despite numerous efforts to bridge the gap between the two cities, especially in light of recent nationwide equality movements, much work remains. “It’s clear that we do have the vestiges of the systemic inequities within this community from these various housing policies in the 1950s and 1960s,” Stone said.

“It’s clear that we do have the vestiges of the systemic inequities within this com m u n it y from th ese various housing policies i n th e 1950 s a n d 1960 s .” —City council candidate and pausd teacher greer stone According to Palo Alto City Council candidate Greer Stone, the plaintiffs’ rationale is that the current policy violates non-residents’ rights to freedom of speech, travel, protest and assembly. “If you’re a non-resident, you can’t go into the park to protest the park being closed [or say] that it should be a public space and the public should have the right to be able to enter the vehicle to enter the park,” he said. While there is no direct evidence that the decision to close off the park was made with racist intent, the ACLU also cites Palo Alto’s history of racial segregation in their lawsuit. Indeed, the stated intent behind the residents-only policy, according to Palo Alto, is associated with the park’s purchase. In 1965, when the city was making plans to buy the land, Palo Alto reached out to neighboring cities to see if they were interested in splitting the cost. No one cared to chip in. Since then, Foothills Park has been open to Palo Alto residents only—in other words, only to those who pay taxes to keep the park open. In that vein, some Palo Alto resi-

Joshua Yang

Julianna Chang

The Electoral

Co l l e g e

Whose vote really matters? in the 1700s, only white men who own property are given the right to vote. Property qualifications are abolished, and in 1870, the 15th amendment prevents voter discrimination based on race, color or previous conditions of servitude. women gain the right to vote in 1920; However, only white women are able to exercise that right. The voting rights act of 1965 protects voter registration and voting for minorities. The 26th amendment, passed in 1971, gives people above the age of 18 the right to vote.

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States are working to allow those on parole or certain felons who have concluded their sentences to vote.

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The Oracle | Election Issue

Sarah Chang

history & politics

s unexpected as the results of the 2016 election were, one of the most striking statistics was the number of votes allotted to the candidate who lost the overall popular vote. While President Donald Trump won by 77 electoral votes, he ended up with roughly three million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton. Only five times in the history of the electoral college has a presidential candidate won the Electoral College but lost the popular vote–and as a result, many have called into question the legitimacy of this system. Established as a part of the Constitution, the Electoral College is an institution created out of compromise. Many of the Founding Fathers were against electing presidents through the popular vote; they argued that this system would encourage candidates to only campaign to the masses, and would thus alienate the minority. Fearing the “mob mentality,” they settled on a compromise in which each state would be granted a certain number of electors based on population; then each of those electors would nominate a candidate. This came with a problem on its own, as it was unclear how slaves would be counted for Southern states’ population–this dilemma was resolved by the three-fifths compromise. However, with this system, states receive a set number of electoral votes regardless of how many people actually vote, so states have little incentive to increase voter turnout. At the time of its creation, the Founding Fathers could not predict the impact of the modern day Electoral College. First, they assumed that most elections would come down to the House of Representatives, as the rules stated that if no candidate won a majority of the Electoral College, then the House of Representatives would decide. Second, they could not foresee the dangers of the two-party system and its tendency to elect candidates who win a certain few states. Today, many believe that the Electoral College should be abolished; such advocates argue that the Electoral College favors certain states. Since the number of electors a state receives is based on the sum of their number of representatives and senators, some states have a higher amount of representation than others. For example, California has 55 electors, while Wyoming only has three. While this discrepancy is considerable, it should be even greater given that California has roughly 780,000 people per elector and Wyoming has roughly 190,000 people per elector. This means that a vote in California’s is weighted far less than one in Wyoming. Many also point out that the Electoral College should be abolished because it favors swing states. Often, election results are decided based

The electoral college, explained The Electoral College itself is a group of electors that represent their respective state and cast their ballot based on which candidate received their state’s popular vote. The number of electoral votes allotted to each state is based on the number of seats they have in Congress. In order to win a presidential election, a candidate must earn a majority of the electoral votes, which is at least 270 out of the allotted 538 electoral votes.

on a few states, which have a similar number of supporters for either major political party, making them more valuable than states that vote consistently for a specific party, like California or Wyoming. These states, which may flip either Democratic or Republican, serve as the battleground for candidates’ campaigning and attention. Indeed, in 2016, two-thirds of campaigning was conducted in just six states. Lastly, supporters of abolishing the Electoral College believe that the voice of the majority can easily be drowned by the minority. All of the electoral votes are granted to the party that wins the popular vote in almost every state: thus, all of the votes that were for a different candidate are discarded. With this method, a candidate can win the presidency, but not the popular vote. Certainly one of the most egregious instances of this was the 2000 election.Throughout the night of Nov. 7, 2000, the race was too close to foreshadow the results. Ultimately, the presidential election came down to the state of Florida; when the final votes were tallied, George Bush had won the majority of the votes in Florida by just 537 votes over Al Gore. As close as it was, the call for a recount was blocked by the Supreme Court, and George Bush was elected president despite losing the popular vote by upwards of 500,000 votes. While it’s easy to criticize the Electoral College, its existence today is a testament to its strengths and the issues that exist in Congress. The Electoral College, for one, helps prevent recounts and runoffs. If the public wants a president that reflects the values and beliefs of the majority of Americans, not just a few states, the Electoral College should then either be reformed or abolished entirely. —Written by Devon Lee

1964

since 1964, every candidate who has won florida has won the presidency. in 1984, Walter Mondale won 40.6% of the popular vote, but only 2.4% of electoral votes.

40.6%

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two out of the last five elections have had the winning candidate lose the popular vote.

California has 55 out of the 538 electoral votes.

A republican has never won the presidency without winning ohio. history & politics | Election Issue

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