May 2014 Junior Statement

The Junior Statement May, 2014

JSA Nation - Spring State 2014 Highlights

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Table of Contents

News

Is JSA a Patriarchy?

11-12 Ohio River Valley Spring State

Feature 2 - 3 Is JSA a Patriarchy?

12 - Northeast Spring State

Staff Writer

National & International

Opinions

4 - Flight MH370’s Disappearance into the Deep Depths

13 - CIA's Tourture Program Exposed

5 - New Drug Causes Botched Texas Execution

14 - Citizens United Against Campaign Finance 15 - The Future of Corporate Crime

JSA Events

16 - Goodbye Seniors

6 - Mid Atlantic Spring State

17 - Join JSA !

6 - Northern California Spring State

18 - European Net Neutrality

7 - Pacific Northwest Spring State

19 - Equality For All

8 - Midwest Spring State

20 - Marriage: Every Girl's Dream?

9- Southern California Spring State

21 - ORV Spring State Highlights

10 - Arizona Territory Spring State

22 - Are American Schools Falling Behind ?

11 - Texas Spring State

23 - Affirmative Action Doesn't Play Fair 24 - SAT Sees New Changes

The Junior Statement Staff Jack Cahn Editor in Chief Michael Lahanas Layout Editor Kelly Kim Copy Editor Kelly Kim and Michelle Min News Editors Simran Singh and Emma Seely-Katz Opinions Editors Jenny McGinty & Ben Lanier Events Editors Nassim Touil and Victoria Yu Graphics © 2014 All Rights Reserved

Samuel Breslow

25 - Is the Art of Debate no Longer an Art? 26 - China Rejected Allegations of North Korean Human Rights Abuses 27 - Let There Be Sleep!

28 - College Inc. 29 - Back Cover: JSA's 80th Anniversary

Investigation Finds Potential Evidence of Gender Inequality among JSA Elected Officials Despite the many advances that have been made in gender equality over the past few decades, women still represent only 18.5% of the current U.S. Congress, 5% of state governors, and an embarrassing 0% of presidents.

This begs the question: does JSA, as a simulation of our government, fall victim to the same problem?

An investigation conducted by this author analyzed data from 556 JSA Elected Officials (EO’s) and 1729 Chapter Presidents (CP’s) to try to find out.

The data from the CP’s, which can be used fairly safely as a signifier of JSA as a whole, indicates that the male-to-female ratio within JSA matches the ratio in our overall society almost exactly—both are 51% female. There appear to be shifts over time (back in 2006, for instance, nearly three quarters of all graduating CP’s were female), but these average themselves out when viewed as a whole.

However, the data from the EO’s tells a far more alarming story. Only 43% of the EO’s in the dataset were female, and there has not been a single year since 20062007 (the earliest academic year with reliable data) in which female EO’s have outnumbered their male

counterparts. The data specifically relating to Governors yields similar results, further reinforcing the conclusion that a glass ceiling effect is preventing female JSA’ers from attaining parity in the organization’s top leadership roles.

There is a significant amount of variation between the different geographic regions represented in JSA. In the past few years, Texas has had over twice as many male

EO’s as female EO’s, whereas two states—the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and NorCal—have actually had more female EO’s than male ones. These trends do not necessarily correlate with the CP data: for instance, Texas (the least egalitarian state for EO’s), has had

proportionally more female CP’s than any other state.

Although conscious attitudes towards gender equality within JSA are unwaveringly progressive,

these numbers indicate that the pervasive stereotypes in our society against female leadership may to be having a subconscious effect on voting patterns or decisions to run for office (or both).

Oddly, there seems to be a trend where the EO’s influence the CP’s of the following year: for every year since 2006, an increase or decrease in the percentage of EO’s of a given gender has led to a corresponding increase or decrease in the percentage of EO’s of that gender graduating the following year.

It also appears that, in some cases, traditions can be established about the gender of a given office.

For instance, the PNW governor was female for over a decade between 2001-2002 and 2011-2012.

PNW Lieutenant Governor Jackie Salzinger says, that even once women attain leadership positions in JSA, they often face discrimination.

“I feel like I’ve had to fight for respect sometimes in situations or work relationships where a guy would have just been given the benefit of the doubt,” she said. continued on next page

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Is JSA a Patriarchy? ...continued Salzinger believes that much of the issue ultimately stems from a lack of awareness. “Most people I know in leadership won’t even acknowledge that Sexism—institutional or otherwise—exists in JSA…If people would at least acknowledge the issue, then perhaps it would solve itself,” she said.

Allegations of Sexism in JSA Salzinger succeeded in raising this awareness and generated a storm of controversy in April when she revealed the existence of a secret JSA Facebook group entitled “Guardians of Democratic Society” a.k.a. “GoDs,” The group is a fraternity which describes itself as an “all-men’s cult that will secretly but most definitely influence the course of JSA for the future.”

Many of JSA’s most prominent leaders (including half the current Council of Governors) belonged to the group, some of whom allegedly participated in a game in which they assigned each other “points” for participating in sexual acts with high-ranking female JSA’ers.

Salzinger attributed several sexist quotes directly to various JSA officials, inciting allegations that she had violated their right to privacy.

Some GoDs members also criticized the manner in which the group was discovered: an anonymous JSA’er used a borrowed password to log into a GoDs member’s Facebook account and to take screenshots which were subsequently distributed to Salzinger and others. “The way that this information was accessed is frankly disgusting,” GoDs member Brian O’Rourke said.

Texas governor Indre Altman, who has worked extensively with many GoDs members, said that

she was “in“Most people I know in leadership credibly diswon’t even acknowledge that Sexappointed” in their actions, but added that ism—institutional or otherwise—exthey “are—at ists in JSA…If people would at least heart—good people.” Ohio acknowledge the issue, then perhaps River Valley (ORV) goverit would solve itself.” nor Winston Underwood Jackie Salzinger issued a formal apology in which took responsibility for his membership in GoDs and called for a new policy of respect in his state. “These actions will not continue or be tolerated in the ORV,” he said.

Following the incident, Salzinger said, “I’m glad to see we are starting a national conversation within JSA and beyond on how sexism affects opportunity and how best to make sure everyone, regardless of gender, “The way that this information was sex, sexuality, accessed is frankly disgusting” ethGoDs member Brian O'Rourke nicity, nationality, etc., has the chance to become a leader.” ■

Flight MH370’s Disappearance into the Deep Depths Keshan Huang Staff Writer

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ISAPPEARING INTO the vast Indian Ocean with few trails, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has been an unresolved mystery since its disappearance on March 8. The Boeing 777200ER, carrying 239 passengers, vanished on its path from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia to Beijing Capital International Airport in China.

With the use of satellite data, investigators announced that the airliner lies at the bottom of a region in the southern Indian Ocean that is about the size of New Mexico. The plane’s Black Box, an electronic device that records 25 hours of flight data and two hours of cockpit audio, cannot be pinpointed with pings, locator beacon signals, because of the 30-day battery life and the 20,000 feet (6,000 meter) depth limit. If the Chinese and Australian ships searching for wreckage find the Black Box, the recordings might reveal the causes of the plane crash. However, the endless probing in the deep depths is similar to looking for a needle in a haystack; even using high tech machines such as the unmanned Bluefin 21 sub, launched from the Australian Defense Vessel, has left searchers perplexed and clueless.

The search for the Black Box brings the victims’ families one step closer to the truth. In the midst of all of this, the families of the victims face the indescrib-

able challenge of accepting an appalling disaster with no clear conclusion. "I don't care what your government does. I just want my son back,” protested the mother of Li Le, a 36-year-old Chinese aboard Flight 370. Just one example of many, Le is the epitome of the frustration, fury and feverishness radiating from the relatives.

After two months, the case remains unresolved, but the truth remains ill-omened. A passenger’s brother-in-law, Ye Lun said, “The longer the wait, the bigger the mental shadow we have.” Many families cling to the sliver of hope, in a case where hope does not seem to be in the equation.

In the conference room of Beijing’s Lido Hotel, relatives

wrote poignant messages on a board such as, “"Little Ling, why don't you call home?" and "We're waiting for you to come home for dinner." The crippled hearts and crushed mentality of these relatives have shown the incalculable cost of this incident.

Coming to a sense of closure and acknowledgement, the first funeral has taken place for the passengers aboard the plane along with talk about compensation from Malaysia Airlines. The airline has encouraged the despondent families to return home from the assistance centers in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur. In addition to seeking legal compensation in the courts, the families are given financial aid by the airline’s Family Support Center. According to the head of the search team, the search may take up to a year but at the very least, the families deserve the determination, commitment, and care. However, the amount of money the families receive in reimbursement will never compensate for the disappearance of their loved ones. ■

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Mid Atlantic Spring State

New Drug Causes Botched Texas Execution Rachel Donaldson Staff Writer

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HEN THE ISSUE FIRST arose, an emergency hearing took place before a state judge in Austin, TX. Attorneys for Sells and Ramiro Hernandez-Llanas, another convicted murderer, had filed a lawsuit asking for the name of the supplier of the drug used for the lethal injections. In their lawsuit, the inmates’ lawyers pointed out that "Without information about where the drugs come from, and the purity, potency and integrity of those drugs, neither Mr. Hernandez-Llanas nor Mr. Sells can evaluate the risk that their executions will subject them to cruel and unusual pain in violation of the Eighth Amendment."

Earlier this year, Texas had purchased a supply of lethal drugs from a compounding pharmacy in Houston, but the stock expired at the end of March. The pharmacy did not agree to sell any more

drugs to the state, referencing the discontent and threats aimed at the company after its name was made public. This led Texas to seeking out its new secret supplier. Officials in Texas claimed that it was imperative that their drug supplier’s identity be kept secret to shield the company from violence threats and insisted that the drug does fall within the range of acceptable potencies for executions.

The state’s lawyers argued that the inmates’ attorneys were only using the case as an attempt to postpone the executions.

On the other hand, defense attorneys demand the name of the supplier to insure that inmates are not forced to undergo unconstitutional suffering and pain before death and to verify the drug’s quality. Maurie Levin, an attorney for the inmates, stated that “this last-minute litigation and stays of execution would not be necessary if the prison agency had not ignored the rule of law and tried to shield this information from the

public and the light of day."

Vanessa Gilmore, the judge in the lower court ruling, decided that it was necessary that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice disclose to the defense attorneys details about how the drug was tested. She explained “The state's secrecy regarding the product to be used for lethal injection has precluded the inmates and their attorneys from evaluating or challenging the constitutionality of the method of execution.” Defense attorneys did win an order from a Texas court, bringing prison officials to reveal the provider of the drug to the attorneys themselves, not to the public.

When the Supreme Court rejected the demand to release more information about the supplier to the public and denied the halt of the execution as his lawyers searched for information from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Tommy Lynn Sells was put to death on April 3rd. After he was injected with the drug, there were no apparent signs of unconstitutional suffering; Sells merely closed his eyes and began to snore. He stopped moving after less than a minute, and was pronounced dead only thirteen minutes after being given the drug.

Ultimately, the Supreme Court allowed Texas’ prison officials to keep the name of their supplier a secret and details of the drug unknown to the public. ■

Sankruth Kota Staff Writer

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N APRIL 12TH-13TH, over 400 students gathered for the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Spring State for what was truly a memorable and unforgettable experience for all. For many it was their first overnight conference in JSA, but for others it was a sad sign of departure from the organization. Elections brought about competition between candidates for NJR Vice-Mayor, NJR Mayor and MAS Governor.

The debates, which followed the theme of, Boom or Bust: America At a Crossroads, ran very smoothly and got many new JSAers as well as experienced ones quickly engaged. Nighttime activities which consisted of the dance and crisis scenarios were truly great!

Spring State 2014 ended with

many sad graduating seniors, but inspired the next generation of JSAers to get involved in the organization.

As JSAers came in for registration in the morning, they could see hardworking candidates getting their campaigns together at their respective tables ready to inform the people about what their plans for improving JSA. Opening session, welcomed all the members of the MAS and the SAR, who were eager to debate their views on the variety of topics presented at Spring State, and was an easy transition into the hours of debating that had soon to come.

Debate blocks ran

smoothly and it was amazing to hear everyone's ideas come together.

After dinner came the nerve-wracking elections. Nithin Vejendla was elected Vice Mayor and Ian Baum was elected NJR Mayor. On Sunday, chapters competed for Chapter of the Year. In the end, South Jersey Chapter won this prestigious title. Although this was the last convention for

Northern California Spring State Ben Lanier

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Staff Writer

N APRIL 4TH-6TH, THE Northern California Region hosted one of the largest Spring State conventions of the year, with attendance that reached over 1000 individuals, including both students and teacher assistants.

The convention theme was "Boom or Bust: America at the Crossroads", highlighting the current rift in American politics.

The theme encouraged students to debate and discuss important decisions that could change their country, fostering healthy political discourse between delegates.

During the nighttime activities, Northern California hosted a Talent Show for the first time, a Governor's Roast, and "JSA Talks", a spin on Ted Talks. In JSA Talks, delegates could talk about a topic they were passionate about, a

block in which delegates said "was the most engaging."

The keynote speaker, Assemblyman Buchanan, insightfully spoke about student's roles in their community. Mr. Buchanan reminded students that change begins with the individual, and that the root to all progress is education.

Northern California's Spring State was unique because of the high number of well qualified candidates running for positions, as well as the energy and excitement in the atmosphere of the convention due to elections.

There was a platform to cater to every desire and campaign tactics never used before. From a logistics perspective, everything was executed smoothly, with only a few minor hiccups due to errors by the hotel staff. According to Northern California Communications Director Reema Kakaday, "This convention was definitely one to remember, filled with late-

night speech drafting, passionate debating, tiring campaigning, and endless laughing. JSA will always be the highlight of my high school career." Northern California Governor, Joshua Kisbye, "In all of my four years in JSA, I have never attended or facilitated such a successful convention. Every JSA member I talked to felt the same way and enjoyed themselves at Spring State."

The favorable outcome of the convention as a whole leads the NorCal Region into an exciting period of planning for next year's Fall State. ■

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Pacific Northwest Spring State

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Jackie Salziger Staff Writer

FTER ONE OF THE strangest years imaginable, the Pacific Northwest Junior State held the second-largest Spring State convention ever on April 5-6, sending off graduating seniors and electing a new crop of leaders.

It has been an odd year for the PNW. After the largest Fall State in PNW history, the state was poised for another record-setting Winter Congress until the entire convention had to be cancelled and rescheduled suddenly due to a poorly-timed snowstorm. Barely managing to squeeze in a “Winter” convention in March, and operating with an unusually early Spring State, PNW only had a week to register chapters for the last state event of the year. It has been a fast-paced couple of months, and the PNW Cabinet has done a commendable job planning two whole conventions in a period of just over a month.

Spring State was perhaps the most exciting event of the year, featuring unique activities and opportunities for delegates. In homage to the national activism theme of the year, one block included a unique “Mock School Board” (which many students cited as their favorite activity of the weekend.) Another block featured a forum with Washington education professionals, including the ranking Republican on the Education committee in the WA House, the Government Affairs

Director of WA advocacy group “Stand for Children”, and the Asst.

Washington State Superintendent for Student Success.

The convention also offered a diverse variety of debate topics ranging from the Affordable Care Act to the Syrian conflict to Pope Francis himself. In a post-convention survey, many students said their favorite debates were a melodramatic “Historical Faceoff ” between Karl Marx and Adam Smith, a gavel debate on whether the U.S. is the best country on earth (which the ever-entertaining PNW Governor opened by singing the entirety of “God Bless America”), and a surprisingly-respectful team debate concerning feminism and gender issues, which represented the culmination of far too many online comment wars throughout the year.

That weekend of Spring State also served as the grand finale of election season. Candidates had a shorter-than-usual window of time to campaign, but that didn’t keep people from creating clever videos and graphics as well as well-developed platforms to win the hearts of voters. The Oregon region had a particularly exciting year, as it was the first time their electorate was composed of more than a couple of schools. PNW really had a batch of very qualified candidates this year for every position, and even before results were determined, PNW’s executive cabinet was excited for the new year to begin. At the end of the weekend, almost every single race was close, but definitive; Ste-

phen Fleischman was elected next year’s Pacific Northwest Governor, and Maddie Rosser the PNW Lt. Governor. Another result worth noting is that four out of the five major elected officials are women.

PNW’s Statesperson of the Year was announced as Director of Activism Austin Weinstein, and defending champion Westview High School took Chapter of the Year for the second year in a row.

Looking back at the success of this years Spring State, it can be said that without a doubt Pacific Northwest JSA is home to the most authentically-passionate high schoolers out there. Jackie Salzinger, PNW 2013-1014 LtG remarked, "Students aren’t here for the awards; they’re here for the experience, for the chance to lead, because they aren’t willing to wait until later in life to start making the world a better place. Through JSA I have developed as a political thinker, an effective leader, and overall as a more well-rounded human being ready for a life of civic service -- and I know JSA can do that for anyone who seeks that same growth."

Nostalgia has crept into the minds of many outgoing JSA seniors, but at the same time excitement for what’s to come and to see what great things fellow JSA peers will go on to do in their lives.

Spring State held a grand theme for delegates as it is about saying goodbye in the end, but more importantly, looking ahead to a bright future for both the State and the generation of Statesmen who will graduate this year. ■

Midwest Spring State Ben Lanier Staff Writer

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N APRIL 26-27, THE Midwest region hosted its Spring State convention with a total of 260 students in attendance. Delegates were fortunate to hear from keynote speaker Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the first Jewish mayor of a major American city, former Chief of Staff to president Barack Obama, and a Senior Advisor to former president Bill Clinton.

At the convention, local legislators led attendees through talks on various issues. There were two Legislator Thought Talks, one with State Representative Patti Bellock, the Deputy Minority leader for the House Republicans, and one with Mrs. Dianne McGuire, chair of the Naperville Township Democratic Organization. Delegates were encouraged to speak directly with these two leaders about topics such as healthcare, domestic violence, education, and mental health awareness, and to see how these issues are currently being handled by our government today.

Midwest Spring State also hosted an Activism Video Booth, in which delegates shared their Six Word Stump Speeches for a Midwest JSA Pub Squad-produced video, as well as answering questions about issues they care about. The Midwest Activism department also hosted a book drive to support literacy programs for inner-city students in Chicago, and a table during Night Activities for Political Compass Surveys.

The event's night activities featured a brand new event called "Interpretive Charades", in which there were one or more actor(s) who acted out a specified role or phrase. Then, two people interpreted the skit in debate format, argued via crossfire, with the audience then determining which interpretation was most persuasive.

Finally, the actor revealed exactly what they were acting out.

There was also a photo booth by the dance, with pictures being published on "Midwest Media", the region's multi-media vault Facebook page. At the end of the event, there was a Gavel Debate Extravaganza, which is a fastpaced gavel debate, similar to the epic impromptu gavel debates that were held at MidSoHio WinterCon between MW LtG Bobby Mannis and PNW Governor Tyler Pichette. In this year's Gavel Extravaganza, students delegates were about to debate about the necessity of redistributing wealth when establishing a stable democracy.

Students were also able to participate DEFCON, in which a moderator leads the audience through a crisis situation. Participants debated the options presented, before choosing one course of action. Each choice led to another situation with additional action options engaging, students in the process in a way unique to normal debate blocks.

Midwest Public Relations Director, Helen Wei, stated, "What amazes me during each convention is how respectful students are to one another despite different opinions. When controversial issues are being discussed, it's easy for matters to become personal,

but our delegates maintain a level of courtesy and professionalism so that debates are still engaging and intellectual. But not only are our students considerate towards each other, they are also highly respectful to our guest speakers.

With Mayor Emanuel, Representative Bellock, and Mrs. McGuire all present at Spring State, it was extremely impressive to see statesmen represent the Midwest, ask difficult yet courteous questions to well-known leaders in our state, and receive real responses about some of the most important issues in our time. Due to extensive planning by the Midwest Cabinet and with help from student volunteers from the Midwest, the convention was able to flow smoothly, even despite added security measures necessary for Mayor Emanuel to attend. All in all, the student delegates really enjoyed the benefits of going to Spring State and translated that into their own speeches and debates."

With the success of Spring State lingering behind, newly elected Midwest officials are excited to plan in the upcoming year with exclusive events for their 2014 Fall State. ■

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Southern California Spring State Ahmed Shah Staff Writer

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OWN THE STREET from Disneyland, a sea of high school students dressed in formal attire swarmed the Anaheim Marriott’s lobby, anticipating the start of Southern California’s Spring State - the convention would host over 950 JSA delegates and span a total of three days, from Friday, April 25 to Sunday, April 27. Campaign posters plastered the walls and bribes in the form of candy and other goodies were distributed in an effort to make impressions before opening session. For many, if not most, Spring State is undoubtedly the most enjoyable convention given its length, along with the excitement and anticipation of elections.

Opening session consisted of introductory remarks from Governor Lieberman along with other elected officials and cabinet members; interestingly enough, it was announced that Tracy Thomas, Southern California’s program director, is expecting a baby girl.

In light of JSA’s “Fight Apathy” campaign, Pete Peterson, the leading candidate for California Secretary of State, delivered the keynote speech regarding electoral awareness and the means to combat political indifference.

Saturday was debate day. There were five blocks of debates ranging from human cloning to Israel-Palestine; a block of workshops was also included. Special activities included a “time machine debate,” simulating colonial America’s rebellion against England, as well as a rap battle considering the worst state – ironically, California was chosen. Separate regional elections were held in the evening, as vice mayors, mayors, and senators were elected – the AR vice mayor and mayoral runoff elections were held again the following day because a 51 percent mark was not reached by any of the candidates.

The last day of the conven-

tion was characterized by state elections and closing session, in addition to the Angeles Region runoff election – the vice mayoral election was especially close, with a difference of five votes.

This Spring State was particularly remarkable in that it was the first time JSA delegates could vote for candidates directly, as opposed to the previous Electoral College system of voting in which chapters were given a certain number of votes.

Candidates were allotted time to present a campaign video and a speech, followed by five minutes of campaigning. Ami Hayashi prevailed in the Speaker of the Assembly race, while John Abughattas took the title of Lt. Gover-

nor - there was only one candidate for Governor, Jennifer Kodia, so a motion to suspend the rules was passed and there was no gubernatorial election.

Moments of melancholy highlighted closing session, for not only is Spring State the last convention of the school-year, but for seniors, it the last convention period. Still, the beauty of Spring State is the peaceful and civil transfer of power to a new generation of leaders. While the convention marks the culmination of campaign season, it also establishes fresh foundations for the following year.■

Arizona Territory Spring State Cristina Brentley and Jenny McGinty Staff Writers

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RIZONA TERRITORY Spring State convention delegates gathered on March 29th and 30th at the HHonors Phoenix/Mesa Hilton to kick off the nation's Junior State of America Spring State season. Arizona was excited to be the first JSA State to host a Spring State for the 2014 year.

Chapter after chapter filed into the beautiful Phoenix/Mesa Hilton lobby as soon as registration began. In total, 206 students attended the Spring State convention. Among the events scheduled for the first day of the convention were fascinating debates, thoughttalks, and a large assortment of informational workshops. Nominations for this year’s Governor and Lieutenant Governor were also held. Four candidates were nominated and delivered fantastic, compelling speeches. Students left the first day of Spring State feeling well informed and exhausted by a fun filled day.

Delegates from the convention were also able to participate in the first Mock School Board meeting

that every State hosted at their Spring State this year. The group of students who attended the meeting were able to discuss their perspectives on the philosophy of education they thought local schools should have. They debated the typical questions a school board faces such as: What should students know and be able to do when they graduate?

How can schools best educate students who come from diverse backgrounds? Mock School Board members also debated a very controversial subject of sex education reform. Members participated in mature discussion on how to efficiently reform sex education in schools in order to get important information such as reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, and birth control to students.

As the second day of conference came around there was one thought on everyone’s mind: Election Day. The conference rooms were abuzz with campaigning and discussion of candidate platforms and strategies. Final speeches were delivered by anxious contenders when voting finally began. The

room held its breath twice as votes were tallied by the Fair Elections Committee (FEC). Both elections were extremely close, but Chetan Bafna was reelected for his second term as governor and Cris Rojas was elected as the new Lieutenant Governer. Edda Margenson, JSA Arizona program director, then took the stage to honor Chetan Bafna with a plaque for his term as Governor.

Edda also announced the 2014 Statesperson of the Year, Monica Sampson, JSA Arizona’s Director of Expansion. Monica was recognized for her hard work and success in expanding the number of chapters in the Arizona Territory.

The Arizona Territory was very successful in hosting this year’s first JSA Spring State. Delegates were able to interact with one another in a way that is impossible in many high school organizations. Chetan Bafna, outgoing and incoming Arizona Territory Governor, epitomized what it means to not only #bethepeople, but be with the people by concluding, “People have asked me why I invest so much time into the Arizona Junior State of America.

Some think it's the message. Others think it's the conventions. While both of these play a large part into it, they aren't what JSAZ means to me. The people are what make JSA. The people are those we bond with. The people are those we learn from. The people are those who we enjoy ourselves with.” Newly elected officials are excited to start the new year with reviewing cabinet applications and working together to plan for 2014 JSAZ Fall State. ■

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Texas Spring State Jenny McGinty Staff Writer

On April 4th, 2014, JSA delegates gathered at the Houston Marriott in Houston, Texas to participate in the annual Texas Junior State Spring State. Despite the fact that the hotel was busy hosting multiple proms, a national qualifying competition for debate, and UIL One Act Play competition, over 200 students participate din Texas Spring State, engaging in debates, elections, and a state wide activism project.

An exciting event that students were able to continue to participate in was the state-wide activism project that was launched at Texas Fall State 2013. Students joined in activities that taught them how to spread awareness about human trafficking and work together in learning how to help stop it at a local level. Delegates at this year's convention were also able to hear from Nicole Minor from The Pangea Network, a non-profit working the globe to empower women and young people. Ms. Minor emphasized to students that education means empowerment, and empowerment means helping lives

to change in a sustainable and effective way. The activism project and Pangea Networks vision helped JSA members understand the personal development and financial growth that both women and young people need around the globe. Throughout the threeday convention students were able to fundraise roughly $250 for the Pangea Network, showing what appreciation they have for Ms. Minor coming out to work with them.

However, fundraising did not stop there for Texas JSA members as students also participated in a major fundraising campaign to raise money for scholarships. A grand total of $1,500 was raised in order to help chapters who have to travel far or who may not be able to afford convention fees. Catherine Zhang, Pan-handle Metroplex Region Conference Coordinator, described the region's fundraising mission concisely when she said that it is not enough to just "be the people" but that it is also pivotal to make sure that students can be "with" the people. Alejandro Juul,

Texas JSA Director of Fundraising, concluded that "it was a huge success that no member in the fundraising cabinet had expected."

Another exciting event unique to Spring State were the state and regional elections. This past year's state board decided to try something new that no delegacy did before in Texas JSA. The election results were broadcasted via powerpoint as each student voted in front of the entire convention. “The great thing about Spring State that makes it different from any other JSA Convention is that students get involved without having to go up and speak in a debate,” Texas JSA Publicity Agent, Kendall Hardy said. “The elections allow us to help our friends campaign and see what it’s like on a first hand basis, which is a perfect way to actually ‘be the people.’”

Despite the busy weekend, Spring State served to be a great experience for all those who were able to come. The newly elected officers are excited to kick-start the new year and start planning for Fall State 2014. ■

ORV Spring State think best fits the position. This year many of the students running for office made the convention fun by passing out campaign materials such as pens, buttons, stickers, candy and many more.

On Saturday night, the students voted for Senatorial candidates from their respective districts in the ORV. The newly elected Senators are : Anna Smoot from the Central Ohio District, Clellan Mcmurry from the Southern Interior District, Nigel Watson from the Southwest District, and Alec Brennan from the Great Lakes District.

On Sunday, Matthew Caldwell was elected as the Speaker of the Council of Chapter Presidents.

Lastly, the largest elections to take place were for the positions of Lieutenant Governor and Governor of the Ohio River Valley

State. Running unopposed, Jane Klaus was elected the new ORV Ltg and in a close race Michael Lahanas was elected the 2014­-2015 Ohio River Valley Governor.

Overall, the students that attending the Ohio River Valley Spring State had a fun and memorable time. Nigel Watson recounted, “Spring State was amazing, the raw atmosphere of debating in the Statehouse was just amazing.

Furthermore, being surrounded by hundreds of people who are your age and also care about the same things you do is just something I thought I’d never experience.

Only in JSA!” Sophomore Hannah Edwards also related, “Spring State 2014 was everything I could have imagined and more. The debates were incredible and the friendships made will last a lifetime!” ■

Northeast Spring State Brian Dong

ORV Spring State Emily Kallgren Staff Writer

On April 26 and 27th the Ohio RIver Valley state held their annual Spring State Convention at the Ohio State House in Columbus Ohio. Over the course of the weekend these high school students from the Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky areas all came together to share and discuss their opinions through conversation, debate, and elections.

This year’s ORV Spring State

Convention gave students the opportunities to discuss and debate pressing topics such as: nuclear power, the American idea of freedom, and gender-segregated schools. In addition to the traditional, speed chess, and Midwest speed chess, students in the ORV also held the first Mock School board in one of the blocks. In this block, students were able to step forward and ask those who were acting as the school board about issues that they thought were important to their mock school dis-

trict. Such issues included school lunches and tuition tax.

Though sharing ideas through debate and conversation are an important part of any convention, one of the most important part of the Spring State convention is the elections. Since it is the last major convention of the year, Spring State is a time to renew the positions held by students in the state elected roles for the next year. All students are able to participate by either running for an office or voting for the candidate that they

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Staff Writer

N APRIL 5, 2014, JSA’S Northeast State (NES) held its annual Spring State conference at the Stamford Marriott Hotel in Connecticut.

About 610 delegates attended the event, making it the largest Spring State in NES history. The convention started off with an inspirational speech by Connecticut’s Secretary of the State, Denise Merrill.

Afterwards, the candidates

running for regional office spoke in front of every delegate about their platforms and were nominated.

After debating multiple blocks on primarily economics-related issues, delegates enjoyed an Activities Block that included impromptu debates and musical chairs.

Then the candidates defended their records, qualifications and platforms in a candidates forum for an hour, answering any last minute questions regarding their ticket.

A few tense hours later, elections finally took place. Frank

Kachmar was elected as Northeast State Governor, Marissa Birne as Northeast State Lieutenant Governor, Michael Abel as Empire-Constitutional Region Mayor, Sam Shneyder as Empire-Constitutional Region Vice Mayor, Jenna Wong as NER Mayor, and Alyssa Wang as NER Vice Mayor.

Current Northeast State Governor Ben Reytblat and Notheast State Lieutenant Governor Austin Ostro gave their final closing speeches the following day, ending the largest Spring State in Northeast State history on an emotional note. ■

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CIA's Tourture Program Exposed Ahmed Shah

that the agency destroyed incriminating tapes in an effort to conceal Staff Writer the severity of its interrogation methods. As the committee conHE CIA’S SADISTIC DEtinued its inquiry, the CIA’s blatant tention and interrogation lack of cooperation was apparent program has incessantly as critical files and documents been defended as an essential went “missing.” The “Panetta Recomponent of the “War on Terview,” a report authored by former ror” and a means to obtaining CIA director Leon Panetta even life-saving information; howevconfirmed “CIA wrongdoing,” but er, a leaked Senate Intelligence it too went missing. By December Committee report has concluded of 2012, the committee had comotherwise. The report established that the CIA has time and time pleted the report and moved to again exaggerated and distorted declassify it, but the CIA’s analysis the achievements brought about was needed to confirm the specifby its torture program. Efforts to ics. declassify a summary of the report Obviously, the agency has a are already underway, reigniting problem with a report criticizing the debate over the effectiveness and exposing its legally questionand the moral justifications of the able, if not unlawful actions so program. The report ought to be everything from then on has been declassified if there is ever to be a a continuation of the committee’s substantive and straightforward efforts for declassification coundiscussion among the American people and their legislators regard- tered by the CIA’s opposition and ing any potential reform of the unwillingness to cooperate with current “status-quo” CIA policy. further investigation regarding the Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), “Panetta Review.” chairman of the Senate IntelliIn an act of bold heroism, gence Committee, emphasized someone leaked the 6000-page that the investigation into the report to the Washington Post, CIA’s torture program began in which confirmed, “… the CIA 2009, after it was revealed in 2007 misled the government and the

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public about aspects of its brutal interrogation program for years...” The report accuses the agency of distorting facts pertaining to the actual effectiveness of “enhanced interrogation techniques” as well as their intensity. Through a series of detailed case studies included in the report, the committee concluded that there is absolutely no evidence that the CIA’s torture program helped gain substantial information. The CIA went so far as to attribute intelligence to enhanced interrogation techniques, even though that information was given up before torturing the detainees.

On April 3, the Senate Intelligence Committee voted 11-3 to declassify a 400-page summary of the report. From here on, the declassification process is in the hands of the White House, as well the CIA, as details pertinent to “national security” will be trimmed out. From the leaked report, we know that the CIA’s torture program is not essential to defense of this nation; still, declassification of the report will allow for a more transparent and straightforward debate concerning the justification of such a program. ■

Citizens United Against Campaign Finance Jackie Selzinger Staff Writer

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MERICANS LIKE VAGUE language. We like idealism and rhetoric in support of “freedom,” “liberty,” and a government of, by, and for “the people.”

We focus on the ideas of politics, not specific legal definitions. It is not surprising, then, that Americans were so upset when nine robe-wearing individuals of the average age of 67 got together in a D.C. building to decide the ultimate meaning of “speech.”

Just this past week, the Supreme Court handed down McCutcheon v. Federal Elections Commission, another in a series of decisions that have torn down campaign finance laws, and many Americans are (often inarticulately) irate.

Some context: the plaintiff, Shaun McCutcheon, is the CEO of an electrical development and mining company in Alabama, and his pastimes include donating lots of money to conservative candidates in various state and federal races. His lawsuit specifically sought to strip down the limit on aggregate campaign donations -he took issue with the law limiting the total amount he could spend per election cycle (therefore, in effect, setting a maximum number of candidates he could support).

This case was a major push by the Republican Party, garnering support from both the RNC and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell; conservatives were able to predict that the decision would fall in their favor.

The Supreme Court is supposed to be immune to politics, but ultimately this decision came down, as usual, to ideology. The majority of justices consider money in campaign donations to be a form of “speech,” including all four conservative justices and Anthony Kennedy, the notorious swing vote. The fact is, however, that although many were upset by the court’s decision, it was predictable; the same arguments were made

as in Citizens United, and we can expect similar results should campaign finance be presented to this court in the near future. The truth is that even if you disagree with the idea of deregulating campaign finance, the Constitution, the governing text of the Supreme Court, does not include explicit protections of such regulations. In short, the constitutional argument for campaign finance laws is not airtight. Equating speech and money sometimes seems, from the liberal perspective, to be a convoluted argument, but conservatives in the same way don’t always understand the use of the commerce and elastic clauses to support liberal justices’ claims.

Since specific legislation on campaign finance has been ruled unconstitutional, Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) supports a solution that goes directly to the source.

He has proposed a constitutional amendment that asserts simply that “[c]ongress shall have power to regulate the raising and spending of money and in-kind equivalents” both in federal and state elections. It also clarifies that “[n]othing in this article shall be construed to grant Congress the power to abridge the freedom of the press” and, most importantly, it ends with this: “Congress and

the States shall have power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” That last section is the meat of the amendment, because it would uphold any passed campaign finance laws as legitimate, as constitutional.

Congress has a reputation for excellence in the realm of fecklessness, and its inability to pass legislation wouldn’t stop here -- Udall’s amendment will likely never become law. It would have to be supported by a whole ⅔ of Congress (who would not likely want to legislate their own re-election funds) or be proposed in a new constitutional convention called together by ⅔ of the states, something that has yet to happen in U.S. history. Regardless, it is at least interesting in the scheme of this conversation, and the alternative is to wait for the death or retirement of a Supreme Court justice while a liberal holds the White House. Neither solution is immediate, and for now we are stuck with the money-saturated politics we have. America may be the beacon of democracy, but Americans have reason to be cynical of their system -- for now it seems the government’s official definition of “people” is very different from what most Americans believe in. ■

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The Future of Corporate Crime Rohan Marwaha Staff Writer

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REET BHARARA HAS had enough. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Bharara believes that the government has gone too easy on corporations this past year. He wants to begin cracking down on the corporate crime that is currently overlooked by government officials.

We can expect US attorney general Eric Holder to be stepping down soon. With his share of successes and failures, Holder has reached a point where the controversies have overshadowed his public image. After a statement that some corporations have become too big to persecute, he came under a great amount of fire from critics who claimed his statement was inappropriate, saying that it set a bad precedent for the US attorney general to make such statements. In reality, he was correct. He claimed that some banks are simply “too big to fall.” Banks like Citibank have a great impact on the global economy. Citibank operates in 36 countries and has more than 3,777 branches globally. When Citigroup lost around ten billion dollars in 2008, the US was forced to save the giant from falling. Twenty-five billion dollars were given to save the massive company. If a government is willing to save a company from failing in order to save its stock, will the government really take issue with a CEO or a company with stock that could plummet from news of a scandal?

In the past, it seemed like these large companies were simply impossible to convict. Government officials were simply too afraid of the effects of their actions. They were not ready to take the blame for causing a major economic player to fall. Who could blame them? Some companies and CEOs are simply too big and powerful too fall. Can anyone ever see Bill Gates being tried for fraud? What would the repercussions be for convicting someone like him?

In previous years we have seen a

plethora of situations where prosecutors have let off CEOs guilty of corporate crime. In 2012, the Justice Department announced that it would not file any charges against “Wall Street’s Number One Dealmaker” for misleading investors in order to profit from the collapse of the mortgage market.

This “world’s best investment banker” is a person that simply cannot afford a black mark upon their reputation, especially one of this magnitude. If the Department of Justice had convicted Goldman Sachs, the company would have faced a massive image crunch

along with a drop in customers.

Who wants to do business with a company who has swindled people in the past? Goldman is another giant that is too big to fall.

However, going back to Bharara, we can see he possibility of a paradigm shift. He will not take “no” for an answer. He is ready and prepared to file charges on each and every person found

responsible for any kind of corporate crime. The days are gone where white collar criminals simply enjoyed their spoils. Bharara, who still may be a contender for the position of US Attorney General, is currently getting involved with JPMorgan Chase’s scandals.

Just last fall, JPMorgan Chase paid a record-breaking thirteen billion dollars to settle charges of swindling. Bharara himself acknowledges the repercussions of prosecuting the Wall Street giants. He knows that stocks will fall. He knows that executives will be removed. He simply does not care. There is nothing and no one above the law to him.

He is eyeing JPMorgan Chase to make an example out of them. He is disgusted that CEOs who are responsible for such fraud are celebrated in their companies.

Many times they are even given a raise. An example would be Jamie Damon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase. Every year, Damon’s pay is hiked despite a now countless number of high profile cases and fraud scandals.

A new age of change is approaching. Wall Street better brace itself. There is a new kid on the block and he is not going to be pushed around. ■

Goodbye Seniors SiTian Zhang Staff Writer

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T IS THAT TIME OF YEAR again. JSA Spring State conventions across the nation have flooded with tears and hugs and last goodbyes, as seniors, the long-fostered leaders of the Junior State, head onwards towards what one described to me once upon a time as “bigger, better things.”

The rest of us, the ones left in the slightly emptier debate halls and history classrooms, planning the next JSA event alone for the first time, cannot help but feel a sense of loss, of gratitude, and perhaps most importantly, one of pride.

Thus, it is altogether proper and fitting that we take a minute to contemplate the impact that they, each years’ “they,” have left not only in the Junior State but in our lives.

They begin, as you walk into your first ever JSA meeting, as the admired upperclassmen, astounding in their oratorical and intellectual prowess, distant in their perceived maturity. You hold them in the highest esteem and dream of the day in which you, too, can stand at the front of the classroom and shock your classmates into silence using nothing more than the power of your words.

You dream of the day when you may single-handedly run a chapter, when you may find yourself on the receiving end of that respect you willingly give so much of. Soon enough, you have somehow entered their field of vision. They guide you, encourage you, and push you to the front of that room…They lead you to consider new schools of thought,

question beliefs you formerly held blindly. These seniors were your heroes.

The next year, they are mentors. They guide you through the early steps of leadership: how to communicate, how to fill out club forms, how to think on your feet, how to persuade teachers to help out with this or that…They are fun, they teach you to have fun every so often, and they show you how fun and accomplishment can be one and the same. They ruffle your hair, pat your back, and tell you they have faith in what you are capable of, that you do and will continue to make them proud.

They inspired and continue to inspire you.

Then, one day, they become something more than heroes or mentors—they become family. At this point JSA and life have somehow blended seamlessly together. Your JSA “partner-in-crime” has somehow become your best friend. You discuss love lives and family lives and the future in JSA meetings, but plan JSA trips over

tacos during cut classes. You have each other’s backs and you know it. They come to your rescue when you are at your most frazzled state.

Every so often you enter into an extensive debate over something political or social or economic (somehow this happens just as often outside JSA as inside). No one necessarily persuades the other to change their opinion. No one manages to agree. Yet, at this point, you can occasionally hold your own.

You have been mourning their eventual loss long before Spring State (it may have started in September, in fact), yet, you are not too sad because at this point you know they will be in your life forever.

These are our seniors: heroes, mentors, friends, family.

And they have attended their last ever JSA convention.

All that the rest of us have left to say is: Thank you. We will miss you. We will keep it all going. ■

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European Net Neutrality Andrew Laberee Staff Writer

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ARLIER THIS MONTH the European Union took the lead in establishing net neutrality laws when a strong net neutrality law with major roaming reforms made it past its first Parliament vote. The internet should be open and equally accessible to individuals and businesses regardless of how it is used. But many telecommunications companies want to classify web services of their choice as "specialized services" which they can treat differently. The cyberspace frontier, which most see as a level playing field, remains at risk of becoming occupied by special interests of industry. Net neutrality laws focus of keeping out all "access prioritization" scenarios.

Does the US have a net neutrality law in place? No. The power grab is ongoing with Comcast and other ISPs lobbying non-stop to keep us from making changes that would preserve and protect an open internet. Sadly, recent developments in case laws have

been bestowing more authority to local ISPs. One such law resulted in Netflix having to pay Comcast to have its content delivered unburdened to users. It is precisely this kind of thing that the UK law seeks to squelch.

In its simplest terms, net neutrality means no discrimination.

It prevents internet providers from blocking, speeding up or slowing down web content based on source, ownership or destination.

As Save The Internet has clearly stated: "The free and open internet brings with it the revolutionary possibility that any internet site could have the reach of a TV or radio station. The loss of net neutrality would end this unparalleled opportunity for freedom of expression."

We take our open use of internet for granted everyday. Traditionally, the internet has been treated like a pay-to-enter park, where the providers are receiving the payment. Net neutrality advocates are essentially criticizing the rise of specialized services that result in swing sets and slides that cost $4.99/month to use.

The amendments in the EU law caught several loopholes placed in the initial package. These loopholes would have allowed online businesses to arbitrarily impose hidden and unexpected costs. The EU law has made it past the first hurdle, amendments in place, in defense of free slides and swing sets everywhere.

One can only hope that the US will follow suit soon by ensuring fair access to bandwidth and content for all. However, with an FCC chairman (Tom Wheeler) who was head of the National Cable Television Association and Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, it could be a very long wait. â–

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Opinion - 20

Equality For All Samuel Breslow

egalitarian state for EO’s), has had proportionally more female CP’s than any other state.

Although conscious attitudes Despite the many advances that towards gender equality within have been made in gender equality JSA are unwaveringly progressive, over the past few decades, women these numbers seem to indicate still represent only 18.5% of the that the pervasive stereotypes in current U.S. Congress, 5% of state our society against female leadgovernors, and an embarrassing ership are having a subconscious 0% of presidents. effect on voting patterns or deciThis begs the question: does sions to run for office (or both).

JSA, as a simulacrum of our govOddly, there seems to be a trend ernment, fall victim to the same where the EO’s influence the CP’s problem? I analyzed data from 556 of the following year: for every JSA elected officials (EO’s) and year since 2006, an increase or 1729 chapter presidents (CP’s) to decrease in the percentage of EO’s try to find out. of a given gender has led to a corThe data from the CP’s, which responding increase or decrease can be used fairly safely as a sigin the percentage of CP’s of that nifier of JSA as a whole, indicates gender graduating the following that the male-to-female ratio with- year. in JSA matches the ratio in our It also appears that, in some overall society almost exactly— cases, traditions can be established both ratios are 51% female. There about the gender of a given office. appear to be shifts over time (back For instance, the PNW governor in 2006, for instance, nearly three was female for over a decade bequarters of all graduating CP’s tween 2001-2002 and 2011-2012. were female), but these average PNW Lieutenant Governor themselves out when viewed as a Jackie Salzinger says that, even whole. once women attain leadership However, the data from the positions in JSA, they might face EO’s tells a far more alarming discrimination. “I feel like I've had story. Only 43% of the EO’s in the to fight for respect sometimes in dataset were female, and there has situations or work relationships not been a single year since 2006- where a guy would have just been 2007 (the earliest academic year given the benefit of the doubt,” she with reliable data) in which female said.

EO’s have outnumbered their male Salzinger believes that much of counterparts. The data specifically the issue ultimately stems from a from governors yields similar relack of awareness. “Most people sults, further reinforcing the conI know in leadership won't even clusion that a glass ceiling effect is acknowledge that sexism—instipreventing female JSA members tutional or otherwise—exists in from attaining the organization’s JSA…If people would at least actop leadership roles. knowledge the issue, then perhaps There is a significant amount it would solve itself,” she said. of variation between the different Salzinger raised this awareness geographic regions represented in in April when she revealed the JSA. In the past few years, Texas existence of a secret JSA Facehas had over twice as many male book group entitled “Guardians of EO’s as female EO’s, whereas two Democratic Society” also known states—the Pacific Northwest as, “GoDs,” a fraternity which (PNW) and NorCal—have actuallegedly describes itself as an ally had more female EO's than ‘all-men’s cult that will secretly male ones. These trends do not but most definitely influence the necessarily correlate with the CP course of JSA for the future.’ data: for instance, Texas (the least Many of JSA’s most prominent Staff Writer

Marriage: Every Girl's Dream? leaders belonged to the group, some of whom allegedly participated in a game in which they assigned each other “points” for participating in sexual acts with high-ranking female JSA members. Salzinger attributed several sexist quotes directly to various JSA officials, inciting allegations that she had violated their right to privacy.

Many criticized the manner in which the group was discovered: an anonymous JSA’er used a borrowed password to log into a GoDs member’s Facebook account and to take screenshots which were subsequently distributed to Salzinger and others.

“The way that this information was accessed is frankly disgusting,” Brian O’Rourke said. "The statements made by some of our members were idiotic, and had they been public, malicious. But they were never meant to be public, and never were public until others posted them."

Texas governor Indre Altman, who has worked extensively with many GoDs members, said that she was “incredibly disappointed” in their actions, but added that they “are—at heart—good people.”

Ohio River Valley (ORV) governor Winston Underwood issued a formal apology in which he took responsibility for members of GoDs and called for a new policy of respect in his state. “These actions will not continue or be tolerated in the ORV,” he said.

Following the incident, Salzinger said, “I’m glad to see we are starting a national conversation within JSA and beyond on how sexism affects opportunity and how best to make sure everyone, regardless of gender, sex, sexuality, ethnicity, nationality, etc., has the chance to become a leader.” ■

Kelly Kim Staff Writer

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WAS READING EMMA Goldman’s intriguing and captivating piece that was published on the Lapham's Quarterly, in which Goldman explains her thoughts on Marriage and Love. Goldman, at one point of her article, says, “Marriage and love have nothing in common; they are as far apart as the poles - are, in fact, antagonistic to each other”. I had not thought that marriage and love were inverse to each other. Like the majority of society, I had thought that marriage was always the result of love and that marriage and love had a symbiotic relationship.

Reflecting on my views on marriage, however, I never fantasized about the “ineffable” day during which I would be adorned with flowers, gifts and a white dress.

As a child, I never pretended to get married nor did I buy any wedding themed dolls or barbies. When I became a freshman in an all girls boarding school, my opposition to marriage grew stronger. I also became more offended when people presumed that all girls dreamed about getting married.

A part of me doesn't want to get married, because I am afraid that my role in society may change, that my independence would be taken away with my marriage; I am afraid that my responsibilities will shift from focusing on my career and education to housework and children.

The role of a wife seems so limiting, and just thinking about it now makes me want to suffocate. To me, a life with no independence would be synonymous to Dystopia, which is why I related to Edna Pontellier in Kate Chopin's The Awakening when she craved for independence and freedom, ultimately killing herself due to societal restraints.

While I do eventually want to get married, I have no desire to do it early in my life. In fact, I tell my friends that I wouldn’t get married until I know a man inside and out and my career is completely stable.

To me, marriage signifies creating a family. One gets married to create a family and have children, and having children is something that I was never excited about either.

My conception of marriage is very frank and realistic. While my own parents did not divorce,

most of my friends’ parents have.

I always hear of the phrase “failed marriage” and wonder what that truly means. What were people expecting in the first place when they got married? Goldman writes, “That marriage is a failure none but the very stupid will deny.” A stable marriage is so rare in our current society that I don’t think a “failed marriage” should be a surprise to anyone. ■

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Are American Schools Falling Behind ?

SJ Hyman Staff Writer

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Spring State 2014 Highlights - Ohio River Valley

HIS PAST YEAR HAS seen record snowfalls across the country leading many districts to request snow waivers, reprieves from the additional days the extreme waiver forced the schools to shut down than they had already allotted for in their schedules. As a result, the State School Superintendent of each state is faced with the decision of whether they should grant the waivers or force the schools to make up the lost time. If the waivers are not given the schools have a number of ways to make up for the lost time; to remain open late into June and reek havoc on the plans of students and teachers a like, to cut down on spring break and professional days, and to go so far as to hold classes on Saturdays (something the state of Indiana is recommending).

None of these options are without their downsides, as many require families to change their plans and some even require students to go against their religious practice or miss the make up days (as classes on Saturday and Good Friday would do). Even if going further into to summer didn’t prevent students from carrying out their planned activities, it might not even make up for the loss in learning as many students find it harder to concentrate with the nice weather beckoning to them in their stuffy classrooms and are ready to be done with school.

With no satisfactory options, the question then becomes why the waiver are needed in the first place. The answer is that each state requires approximately 180-days to qualify for a full year of school.

This number dates back to a time when agriculture was the main driver of our economy and families needed their children to help plant and harvest crops during the summer. Although agriculture remains a large part of the American economy, only a small fraction of school districts have children

that help their families with the harvest, making the requirement irrelevant. In fact this now arbitrary consideration may even be hurting the quality of the education we receive and inhibiting are level of competitiveness with the rest of the world.

Students in many of the nation’s with higher test scores attend school for 200 days or more each year, such as Germany, Denmark, Australia, and Japan. Even students in Iran are required to go to school for ten months (equivalent to about 200 days). While students in China attend school from the beginning of September to mid-July and spend the summer months taking additional classes and studying for upcoming exams.

Although an addition of 20 days may seem to be immaterial, they equate to approximately one more month of classes and about one eighth of the school year.

Like most students, I look forward to my summer break throughout the year and try to make the most of the time I have off by mentally preparing for

the next year and learning new skills from jobs and internships, however the question of snow waivers and the 180-day school year makes wonder if the current structure of the school year could use some adjustments to better prepare students for the world after school. Whether or not the snow-waivers are granted students, administrators, and legislators alike should be asking themselves the same question. â–

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Affirmative Action Doesn't Play Fair Ben Lanier Staff Writer

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N MARCH 27TH, thousands of high school seniors from across the globe waited nervously to hear back from the best colleges in the world. For some seniors, their day ended in heartbreak and bitterness. For others, like Long Island teen Kwasi Enin, it was a day of jubilation, as he managed to get accepted into all eight Ivy League schools. The mainstream press was quick to cover Enin's story. Many news outlets congratulated him, discussed his impressive SAT score and musical abilities, and his good academic standing. But few papers discussed one of the most important factors in his admission, his African American race. Kwasi Enin's story, and the media's incomplete coverage is another reminder of the tragic role of affirmative action in the American college admissions process.

A recent study found that African Americans accepted to Ivy League universities on average received a 400-point "bonus" on the SAT. This phenomenon occurs because of an extreme lack of high performing African American students. In 1995, a study found that only 70 African American students in the entire country scored above a 700 on the verbal portion of the SAT, compared to 8,239 white students.

Ivy League

schools are thus left to compete over the very few African American students qualified to attend their university.

As a student at Stuyvesant High School, a school that is predominantly Asian American and low income, with 50 percent of the attending students qualifying for free lunch, the way affirmative action is currently practiced angers me. Ivy League schools maintain de facto quotas on Asian students, accepting them at a rate of 16 percent plus or minus 2 percent. Over the years, as the proportion of Asian American students winning awards in math, science, and other subjects has increased, this number has somehow stayed the same.

Affirmative action should be based on income and wealth.

This is not only fair to the poorest students who managed to achieve the same level of academic success with fewer educational resources, but it also helps the colleges. Since students from a lower income background were able to reach the same point academically as wealthier students despite having fewer resources, they will outper-

form the rich kids over the course of their academic and professional life given the same resources; they have more potential. For colleges, this is a better system from both a moral and academic perspective.

One of the most obvious faults in offering an advantage to students from lower income backgrounds is the inability of poor kids to pay for their education.

In our current system, wealthy individuals, and usually wealthy alums, donate large sums of money to the university under the guise of wanting to help pay for scholarships, but often with the real intent of ensuring that their children can gain admission. In order to solve this issue, a combination of a voucher system and a program of generous student loans for the most expensive colleges should be put in place.

It is time to make the college admissions process more egalitarian, and to help those at the bottom who need the help the most.

It is time to implement a system of affirmative action based on socioeconomic status. ■

SAT Sees New Changes Catherine Zhang Staff Writer

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HE FIRST TIME I ENcountered the SAT, I saw a flood of stressed high school students, all anxious about their upcoming examination. They were discussing test strategies, definitions of seemingly foreign words, and possible essay topics. It was at this instance that I realized the implications that one test, the SAT, had on a student’s future.

Although only a seventh grader dropping off a family friend to his test center, I too had the opportunity to take the dreaded SAT a few years later this January. I recount the countless hours I invested into this test, from attending SAT prep to filling my room with SAT flashcards. I came to despise the test and the way it was formatted.

However, when David Coleman, president of Collegeboard, recently announced the newest changes to the SAT, I was glad that that I had taken the old edition. Although revised good intentions, the new SAT is not the way that Collegeboard should be structuring its tests.

One of the changes that David Coleman hopes to institutes is to eliminate the score disparity between socioeconomic classes. In an attempt to make SAT preparation more accessible, Collegeboard and Khan Academy have collaborated to create new preparatory material. These new videos will introduce students to strategies designed for the SAT. However, despite these new groundbreaking changes, the score gap will remain persistent even with the changed SAT. The problem behind the SAT and all standardized test remains that wealthier students have access to more preparation opportunities. Unlike many other students, upper class students attend expensive tutoring locations, such as the Princeton Review, and take individualized classes to help boost their scores and target weaknesses.

In fact, a Collegeboard revealed a study in which it found that a student with a family income of $20,000 scores an average of 1326, whereas a student with an income

of over $200,000 scores an average of 1714 points. Even though Collegeboard has linked up with Khan Academy to introduce SAT prep to students who may not have the financial capabilities to sign up for courses, the preparation in no way compares to the extensive amount of assistance that students from elite families get. With one-on- one preparation, expensive tutors, and hours of preparatory classes, upper class students will score higher regardless of whether the test is changed.

The new SAT cannot equalize the test so students from different echelons perform similarly. The stratification between the upper and lower class is a perpetual cycle that humanity simply cannot eradicate.

Another problem that the new SAT has brought about is the elimination of its writing section and making the essay an optional portion. In the modern world, written communication has become a critical component in the path to success. Whether it be writing an email to your boss or an essay for a teacher, developing good writing abilities is extremely important. By no longer testing the writing section, the SAT is essentially reversing the purpose it was formed for: to ensure students are ready for college. Colleges want to see how well a student is versed in their communication abilities and want to ensure that he or she is prepared for the rigor of college classes. The SAT, with the loss of the writing section, no longer helps show students that they are equipped for intensive college writing experiences; it is a clear repudiation of the principles it was created for. Why take the SAT if it does not help display your strengths?

Furthermore, the new SAT is a degradation of standards. By excising advanced mathematical concepts and difficult words, Coleman claims that the new test is reflective of curriculum taught in school. Unfortunately, what Coleman subtly points out is that our education standards

as a nation have fallen and thus, the SAT must be altered to follow the general trends. Coleman’s decision to rid of “esoteric” or “antediluvian” vocabulary on the SAT simply shows that students no longer read the classics as much as we used to. Instead, we turn to action-packed novels that appeal to our millennial senses. As a current AP Language student, I can say that I have only read a few classic novels in the span of my educational career. Although I support teachers allowing students to liberally choose novels, I do advocate that there needs to be a push towards reading of old literature: Jane Eyre, To Kill a Mockingbird, Pride and Prejudice.

Instead of axing these vocabulary words, as they now seem obsolete, Coleman, as one of the architects for the Common Core, should help institute these novels into the curriculum to promote a stronger vocabulary foundation from childhood I do applaud Coleman and Collegeboard for recognizing the deficiencies in the test and acting upon them. However, these changes are not the ones that need to be implemented. Instead, I suggest a complete renovation of the SAT with input from both educators and students across the globe.

With the opinions of others aside from test creators, the SAT will be catered towards the approval of the consensus. I see a day where the SAT will be no longer feared, disparaged, and hated by students, a day when the examination will be modernized. ■

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Is the Art of Debate no Longer an Art? James Lowell Staff Writer

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ECHNOLOGY CHANGes things, but who would have guessed that technology is radically changing even the ageold practice of debating? Gone are the days of making up facts, exaggerating issues, and in some cases, thinking for ones self. At this past Spring State, JSAers did not have notepads and pens in their hands to prepare arguments; instead they held smartphones, constantly “googling” information, or perhaps checking their ever-changing Instagram feeds.

The most prominent example of the use of smartphones is the rampant use of statistics during debates. A speaker in a debate about religion and its involvement in politics put out a statistic about a poll where, “51% of people would not vote for an atheist.”

This poll upon closer inspection, via a smartphone, did not include more than a few thousand people and was not a national poll. These two key facts made the statistic substantially less profound and less convincing. Without the use of a smartphone, however, the audience would not have been able to learn more about the issue, nor would they have been able to dispute “facts” thrown out by speakers. Another example of the use of smartphones was the debate about sanctions in Iran. One speaker said that Iran has never publicly stated it wants Israel removed from the map. Upon hearing this statement, I noticed almost every single person in the room turn to his or her phone and quickly fact check. In the next minute, 3 hands went up with “a point of clarification”.

But the use of phones in debates is not always beneficial. If a debate becomes solely about countering one statistic with another, using facts found on your smartphone, the art of debating is lost. A debate is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debates

are much more complex than deductive reasoning, which only examines cause and effect. They are more than factual arguments that simply deal with statistics.

They are more than rhetoric, which is just articulating one idea in several different ways. Rather, debate is a skill that requires the use of all tools, not just those that can be “googled.”

The use of smartphones can also lead to an additional problem: verbal plagiarism. I have seen many people walk up to the front of the room with a smartphone in hand and read directly from an article or book, and pass it off as their own argument. No one wants to listen to people regurgitate the writings of others, research that they could easily do on their own time. What we want to hear is people’s own individual stances, their own opinions and their own insight into the issue. JSA debates are great because of the people debating in them, not the facts that these people spit out.

There are some, however, who have been able to take the plethora of information at their fingertips and use it to complement and strengthen their arguments. These are the debaters that are great to watch and listen to. These are the debates where speakers are taking the mass amount of information available to them and quickly synthesizing it into simple yet coherent arguments. A key example of this was Chelsea Richardson, the Mid-Atlantic State’s Executive Director of Debate, who spoke in a debate about Citizens United, a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Chelsea was a using a laptop for research during the debate. I noticed her pouring through information on the computer while others were speaking, finding the facts she needed to craft her rebuttal.

When her chance came to make her closing ar-

gument she stood up and summarized a dissenting judge’s opinions in an old case. She then took that information and made a great argument about the importance of dissenting opinions and looking to the insight of the past. Chelsea went on to earn the best speaker award for her performance in that debate and rightfully so, because she was able to combine facts and rhetoric, making an argument that was both convincing and appealing.

Information is at our fingertips, literally and figuratively. True debate, however, does not just deal with the nature of the facts, but rather in how we use this information to craft a better argument.

The use of smartphones in debates both adds and detracts from the art of debating. Technology is helpful because smartphones can provide us with facts to supplement our arguments and allow the points we make to be even stronger. Despite this, smartphones and technology have negative effects on debates. Often, some rely on pure statistics on their phone and pass it off to be their personal argument, rather than using statistics to make build a stronger case. People like Chelsea, who use the privileges of the smartphone the right way, are the people who make the most of technology, win the debates, and show the most skill. They are the ones to look to in order to truly see how technology can make JSA debates even better. ■

China Rejected Allegations of North Korean Human Rights Abuses Jack Chan Editor and Chief

On Monday, March 17, Chen Chuandong, a counsellor at China's mission in Geneva, publicly rejected allegations of North Korean human rights abuses. In his speech to the U.N. Human Rights Council, he called the allegations "divorced from reality."

"The inability of the commission to get support and cooperation from the country concerned makes it impossible for the commission to carry out its mandate in an impartial, objective and effective manner," Chen said.

Chen's comments came as a response to a U.N. report that exposed crimes against humanity perpetrated by Kim Jung-un's totalitarian regime in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea against its people. The report detailed the lives of over 120,000 innocent civilians in North Korea who have been forced to eat rodents and grass in order to save themselves from the starvation and mistreatment that in the past three decades have killed between 200,000 and 3 million people.

China's flat out denial of the abuses in North Korea is not surprising.

First, the U.N. report that exposed North Korea also attacked China. It discussed the Chinese government's inhumane policy of sending North Korean refugees back to North Korea where they face severe repercussions and are often killed.

Second, China has long been a supporter of North Korea. As North Korea's largest trading partner, China has helped keep the North Korean economy afloat amidst international sanctions for decades by providing North Korea with more than 42 percent of its imports. Today, that number could be as high as 70 percent according to recent data. Chinese analyst, Shi Yinhong has characterized the Chinese-North Korean

relationship as one characterized by "largely unconditional political support."

Third, China is itself a human rights abuser and has attacked political dissidents and persecuted minority groups including its Falun Gong and Uyghur minority populations.

Amnesty International wrote in its analysis on China that: 500,000 people are currently enduring punitive detention without charge or trial, and millions are unable to access the legal system to seek redress for their grievances. Harassment, surveillance, house arrest, and imprisonment of human rights defenders are on the rise, and censorship of the Internet and other media has grown.

By denying allegations of North Korean human rights violations and refuting the U.N.'s February report, China sought to discredit the U.N. Human Rights Council just days before the U.N. was scheduled to report on human rights abuses in China.

China's decision to support North Korea, however, has backfired.

Since Chen Chuandong's statement Monday morning, UN leaders have already begun making inquiries into China's human rights abuses. Hu Jia, a human rights activist in Beijing, called the UN "weak on human rights" and pointed out that China has a larger persecuted population than does North Korea. Drawing attention to its own human rights abuses by denying North Korea's has led to backlash and China paid the price on Wednesday March 19 when the U.N. brought attention to human rights abuses in China.

While China tries to protect the North Korean government, human rights activists, the European Union and United Nations leaders are now calling for the referral of North Korea's human rights abuses to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"The EU believes that it is imperative that there be no impunity

for those responsible for human rights violations,'' EU representative to the UN in Geneva, Mariangela Zappia, told the U.N. Council for Human Rights.

This seems increasingly unlikely. China will use its veto in the UN Security Council to reject any attempts to refer North Korean human rights cases to the ICC. In fact, as a member of the Human Rights Council, it is within China's power to stop the ICC resolution from ever reaching New York.

The inability of the U.N. and ICC to stop the world's worst human rights abusers is disturbing. International courts once prosecuted Nazi war criminals and brought justice to those who persecuted millions. Today, however, they are unable to stop the perpetrators of abuses that have been compared to "the scourges of Nazism, apartheid, [and]the Khmer Rouge."

In Africa, Joel E. Staff of The Diplomat finds that China is supplying 90 percent of Sudan's small arms purchases, and has for a decade helped Sudan build its own small arms and ammunition factories. These weapons were used to carry out the genocide in Darfur and spur regional conflict and instability.

As China's foreign policy increasingly comes into conflict with that of the United States and as the U.N. becomes increasingly powerless, the United States must pursue foreign policy actions outside of the U.N. Security Council in order to avoid conflict while still addressing the human rights abuses in North Korea.

First, we should impose a crippling new regimen of sanctions against North Korea. Second, we should engage in a renewed effort to expose and and embarrass Kim Jung-un's totalitarian regime for its crimes against humanity. This way, the United States can push North Korea to release its grip from around the necks of its innocent people. ■

Opinion - 27 25

Opinion - 28 25

Let There Be Sleep!

Laura Whelan Staff Writer

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ROUND 28 PERCENT OF high school students have admitted to falling asleep at least once in class every week.

Sleep deprivation in teenagers is a serious issue that harms memory consolidation, increases stress, and can increase obesity. Schools, given that they are institutions intended to equip their students for the future, have a responsibility to give students the sleep they need.

Teenagers are biologically programed to go to sleep later.

As adolescence begins, bedtimes and waking times get later, a trend which continues until 19.5 years of age in women and 21 years of age in men. At 55, this trend reverses itself, and the wake and bedtime shifts back an average of two hours earlier.

But teenagers’ internal clocks aren’t the only things pushing them to sleep at a later time.

Things such as access to TVs,

gaming devices, cellphones, Netflix, parents’ relaxed attitudes about sleeping late, and so on, all push sleep further away.

All of this just increases teenagers’ sleep debts. Teenagers, although going to sleep later, still need 9 to 9 ½ hours of sleep per night. However, with early wake times mostly due to school, the average sleep time for teenagers is between 7 and 7 ½ hours.

When sleep needs are not met, the effects can be disastrous. Impulsive behavior, lack of empathy or sense of humor, bad moods, and falling asleep in class are only some of the results. Lack of sleep also sponsors the creation of the hunger-promoting hormone ghrelin and decreases leptin, which gives the feeling of fullness.

This suggests that long-term sleep deprivation can be a cause of obesity, diabetes, and hyperextension.

Less sleep also prompts the increased consumption of caffeine.

In 2007, teenagers accounted for half of the caffeine overdoses at 57

poison control centers. Caffeine also has a half-life of five to nine hours, which means that consuming a caffeinated drink late in the day further delays sleep at night, creating an unfortunate and endless cycle of sleeplessness.

Starting school later would have a positive influence on teenager’s sleep patterns. A Rhode Island high school pushed its start time from 8 to 8:30. After a study of 201 students there, it was found that the percentage of students who said they got at least 8 hours of sleep a night went from 16 to 55 percent. Class attendance increased, while fatigue-related health-center visits decreased. The number of students who said they felt unhappy, depressed, annoyed or irritated also dropped significantly.

Rhode Island is not the only school trying to improve the lives of their students, but there are still too many schools with start times that are far too early. It is up to the students to demand change and have their voices heard to make a change in their community. Sleep is a necessity, and it must not be treated as a luxury. ■

College Inc. Harry Petsios

nior turned to my school’s administration for guidance. Primarily, she sought to avoid paying the $178 in exam fees. Unfortunately, EVERAL MONTHS AGO, her pleas fell on deaf ears. When as I sat in my AP U.S. History the senior proposed to drop the class, my teacher was lecturing exams, the school threatened to and announced that “the Sherman withhold her diploma. Her situAntitrust Act effectively terminatation left her between a rock and ed all corporate monopolies.” Little did I know, however, that I was a hard place, with a $178 fee and in the midst of academia’s greatest two useless exams hanging over her head. conglomerate: the College Board.

It was at this moment that I reUpon mention of the College alized the College Board’s chokeBoard, most individuals’ minds hold on our education. drift towards the SAT. In addition Although alternatives such as to the standardized admissions the ACT have made progress in test, the College Board oversees overthrowing the SAT’s monopoly, no suitable alternative exists another branch of education: advanced placement, or “AP” cours- in the realm of AP. The AP’s sole es. By definition, AP courses are competitor is the International meant to be on par with college Baccalaureate, a program based courses. If an AP student scores a in Switzerland. In its fledgling 3 or higher on their subject exam state, however, the International in May, he or she may become Baccalaureate is in no position eligible for college credit. to challenge the College Board’s Recently, a senior at my school authority. asked me for advice. She had enThis absence of effective comtered an upsetting predicament in- petition leaves a multi-million volving AP courses. The school to dollar corporation in command of which she was accepted informed our educations. Like any business, her that they would not accept AP the College Board seeks to harvest credit for two of her courses. as much money from its captive With May approaching, the seaudience – the students – as it can.

Staff Writer

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To this extent, the organization is free to levy outrageously expensive prices to administer AP exams.

The common excuse is that “ninety dollars on an AP exam can save you thousands in college.”

However, the fact of the matter is that many top-tier colleges reject college credit from many AP courses. Those exam fees soon amount to little more than wasted money.

By opening up the academic market to competition, the process of standardized testing would become much more consumer-oriented. Rival organizations would compete and keep prices low and exam comprehensiveness high.

Overall, it is without question that a dose of rivalry would improve the quality of the American education system.

Through consideration, one truly grasps the degree to which the College Board dominates our academic careers. What would we be without this organization? No flawed SATs, no erratic subject tests, no wasted AP courses. There would be no $600 million entity at the helm of the education system.

Why, wouldn’t that be a catastrophe!

Let me be clear – I do not endorse the dismantling of the College Board as an enterprise. However, the education market in its current state is terribly homogenous: the lack of competition paves a path for an academic dictatorship by the College Board. Academia must be diversified beyond this organization, lest we subject the future of millions of American students to a single corporate entity. ■

JSA's 80th Anniversary - 1934-2014