Issue 8 - June 2016

T H U RS DAY, M AY 26, 2016

Teaser Teaser Teaser Teaser

A positive step: providing Sports condoms to page 11 middle-school students

Summer Service Trips

Sibling pressure

Making waves

Boys’ swim team makes a comeback

OPINIONS pages 4 & 5

VOLUME 57 NO. 8

You do you

FEATURES pages 6 & 7

SPORTS page 10

Flipside page 12

The Prospector

CHSPROSPECTOR.COM

Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School

10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014

Teachers leaving Tino

JENNIFER ZARATAN

DEPARTING TEAHERS | Adirenne Harber (left), John Bruce (middle), and Jacob Douglas (right), will not return next school year

ETHAN QI news editor

Since its establishment in 1958, Cupertino High School has always taken pride in its stellar teachers. Without their watchful guidance and discerning instruction, Cupertino would not be the diverse and academically-driven setting it is today. This year, we bid farewell to three of them as they venture onto new chapters in their lives.

One of these teachers is English teacher John Bruce. This was his first year and last year teaching English here: with an internship teaching credential in the state of California, he is at the whim of being moved to another school at the state’s request.

On his past year here, said Bruce, “The students that I’ve had this year –– I just have so much respect for them [...] what I will take away will be a very, very potent slice of human potential.”

English teacher Adrienne Harber is another one of the teachers who will not be joining the school next year. For the past 15 years, she has worked in the school’s English department and

will be very dearly missed in her retirement.

“When I came to Cupertino, I just felt at home. I just liked the size and the feel. I chose this school and I have never looked back since. I can’t imagine being as happy at any of the other schools as I have been at Cupertino High,” Harber said.

Stated junior Sanika Mahajan, “Ms. Harber is the type of teacher that has this endearing firm kindness. She was never afraid to tell us when we were out of line, yet she was just as quick to reward us with candy for doing the smallest things right. Her unique quirks, like her love of acronyms (GTW is get to work) and her joke calendar made her class special and brought laughter into the everyday routine.”

The last of the three teachers leaving the school is history teacher Jacob Douglas. In his second year here, Douglas has taught both mainstream and sheltered history and has served as the advisor for the Model United Nations club. With the arrival of his newborn daughter, he will begin a new chapter of his life in

Utah, where he will be closer to his family.

Said Douglas, “I came to Cupertino two years ago because I decided it was time to move on from the place I had been teaching for the previous six years. I’ve loved the time that I’ve spent here [...] but I wish I had more time to spend here so I could continue to build the relationships that I have and continue to be a part of so many great traditions that are here.”

His students appreciate him both in and out of his classroom, especially with his work in the school’s Model UN. “I like Mr.Douglas because he is very approachable and is somebody that you can have a discussion on just about any topic related to history or current events. Every Wednesday after school we would [talk] about the 2016 elections, even though it had nothing to do with the UN,” sophomore Ronak Bhatia said.

These three teachers have contributed greatly to the school during their time here, but the new chapters in their lives lead them elsewhere.

closer look behind FUHSD hosts ELD speech contest A class scheduling SAAGAR SANGHAVI online editor

FUHSD students in the English Language Development (ELD) program presented speeches on a variety of topics ranging from gun control and cultural literacy to corporal punishment. Despite the hurdle of a limited knowledge of the English language, the students prepared a speech over several months that allowed them to shine. This year’s contest involved 20 student volunteers, many of whom served as judges, and 107 participants from the school.

Said ELD coordinator Kate Wilson, “The ELD speech contest is about getting English learners more involved in the community. It is about having an event that is especially just for them, It gets them speaking and helps build their confidence. A lot of times, ELD students lack confidence, and it is a great event that is specifically for them and lets us celebrate their achievements.”

Many students who come to the Bay Area from other countries struggle to communicate in English, especially to an audience.

ELD Speech Contest, continued on page 3

SHALMALI PATIL managing editor

JENNIFER ZARATAN

SPEAK UP | Juniors Babak Talsoleiman (left) and Tatsuya Tatsumi (right) present on the importance of family coming first

Since course verification in April 2016, the guidance counselors and assistant principals have been organizing the class schedule for the upcoming 2016-2017 school year and will continue placing students in their classes throughout the summer.

Students are rarely able to see the inner-workings of the course selection process, often leading to numerous rumors among the student body about future classes. One of these rumos suggests that students will be unable to get seven classes the upcoming school year.

Says assistant principal Mrs. Cathleen Rodriguez, “As long as I have been doing this job, the district policy is that students are guaranteed six classes and they get a seventh class on a space available basis [...] In the past, when our school was smaller, I was able to get more students into a seventh class, especially if it was a program that was running small [...] We have gotten bigger as a school, so I cannot give [classes] out as liberally now but I am better able to make those decisions in August.”

“Some of our classes have gotten so popular, students want to be in multiple ones. In the past, students have been able to say, ‘I want to be in choir, and I want to be in drama,’ but both of those programs are so popular right now that I cannot give students both. Because if I give a student both I might not be able to give it to someone else who wants it as one of their

Class Scheduling, continued on page 3

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News

The Prospector

May 26, 2016

CALIFORNIA PRIMARY

The Prospector

S TA F F 2015-2016

BRIAN ZHONG news assistant

On June 7, voters in California will take part in the Primary Election. They will elect candidates in a variety of offices, ranging from federal positions such as President, Representative, and Senator to state positions such as State Senator and State Assembly member. Voters will also vote on three ballot measures that affect government on the district, county, and state levels. Below are descriptions of some of the items voters will see on the ballot.

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LVII, No. 8 | 2016

President of the United States

Each voter will select one presidential candidate. All of the California delegates are then awarded to the candidate who obtains the most votes. While the Republican Party holds a closed primary, in which only registered members of the party may vote for a Republican presidential candidate, the Democratic Party holds an open primary, in which voters of any party affiliation may nominate a Democratic presidential candidate. Businessman Donald Trump leads the Republican Party as the presumptive nominee after every other Republican candidate suspended their campaigns. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination, with Clinton currently leading the delegate count 2240 to Sanders’ 1473, including superdelegates.

editors-in-chief melissa silva meilinda sun managing editor shalmali patil news editor ethan qi

California proposition 50 Proposition 50 would permit both the Assembly and the Senate of the California Legislature to suspend one of its members by a supermajority or two-thirds vote. The suspended member would lose his or her salary and be banned from partaking in any duties related to his or her office. The suspension would last indefinitely until lifted by a two-thirds vote of the member’s House. While those in favor argue that the amendment would enable legislators to hold their colleagues accountable by suspending them without pay, those against Proposition 50 point out that it would provide lawmakers a way to suspend fellow members convicted of felonies without having to expel them.

opinions editor aishwarya laddha features editor cathernie seok lifestyles editor allison lo

US Senate/us House of representatives/state offices

sports editor lily marvin

The Top Two Candidates Open Primary Act dictates that voters can nominate any candidate for the offices of United States Senate, Congressional, State Senate, and State Assembly regardless of party preference. The two candidates who obtain the most votes in each primary contest will then advance to the general election, held in November. Voters can choose from 34 candidates for U.S. Senate and six candidates for U.S. Representative of District 17, which includes the city of Cupertino.

flip side editor josephine robinson copy editors caroline gee amy zeng sudarshan kannan photo editors jennifer zaratan online editors saagar sanghavi erin song

news jay shroff assistants brian zhong opinions alex shieh assistants anirudh pai features delanie medina assistants jason munoz stephanie shi lifestyles daniel fertelmeister assistants isabel lin sports rishi nair assistants mark wang flip side peter martin assistant online michelle pyke assistants maithilee kanthi photo crew jeremy xue adviser ann peck Editorial Policy “The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. It will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process.

The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy.

If you believe an error has been made or wish to have your opinion expressed in “The Prospector,” please contact us via mail or email. Letters sent become the sole property of “The Prospector” and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy.

“The Prospector” editorial board reserves the right to accept or reject any ad in accordance with its advertising policy.

Contact Us The Prospector 10100 Finch Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 prospector.chs@gmail.com

Cupertino High School Ranks 30th in STEM in the nation AMY ZENG copy editor

On April 19, US News & World Report released its list of the top STEM high schools in the nation. STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math, is one of the fastest growing fields with growing opportunities for innovation, breakthroughs, and inventions. Cupertino High School ranked in the top 30 out of all the schools in the US. This year’s STEM rankings were determined through a detailed and highly selective process. The only high schools to be considered were those which had been awarded a gold medal in the US News 2016 Best High School rankings, narrowing the field to 500 schools. Then, US News examined the participation and performance on AP tests for all STEM-related subjects. These form an overall composite score known as the STEM Achievement Index, which is out of a total of 100 points. Simply taking an AP science or math test counted for 25% of the overall score, while passing the tests made up the remaining 75%.

Cupertino High School received a STEM Achievement Index of 85.4.

The highest score, earned by High Technology High School in New Jersey, was 98.0.

Said AP Chemistry and Chemistry Honors teacher Larry DeMuth, “Our students are the main reason for the high ranking. They truly deserve the credit for their continuous commitment to their STEM subjects.”

Said Jenny Park, a senior who has taken a total of four AP science and math courses, said “I can definitely see why we were ranked 30th. In terms of the sciences especially, we are extremely competitive here and we have a lot

MOVING ON

Teachers offer their final thoughts to the school

NEWS BRIEFS Sadiq Khan is the first Muslim mayor of London, elected on May 5. Brought up with a working class background, Sadiq Khan is a member of the center-left Labour party. Khan was elected on a platform of controlling London’s housing crisis and promoting social justice and equality.

The EgyptAir MS804 Airbus A320 flight was carrying 66 people before it vanished from radar on Thursday May 19. Egypt has sent a robot submarine to recover the flight data from the crash. There is no known cause for why the flight MS804 crashed.

COMPILED BY ANIRUDH PAI

of great faculty who could be doing other things, but who actually chose to be here and chose to teach us.”

Cupertino High School was not the only school in the FUHSD district to climb to up the national rankings –– Monta Vista High School and Lynbrook High School both ranked 14th and 17th place respectively.

The school is looking to enhance its success in STEM-related fields. Said DeMuth, “Preparing our students for the future is essential. As a science department, we strive to offer courses and opportunities that foster a learning environment for our students to experience and excel in STEM at the level that they and our community expect.”

JENNIFER ZARATAN

CHEMISTRY LAB | A student performs an iodine clock reaction in chemisry

Mrs. Harber - English

“Life is too short to be serious all the time” is one of my guiding philosophies. You didn’t get an A on that recent test? It doesn’t mean that you aren’t smart, and besides, there will be plenty more tests! Your secret crush invited someone else to the dance?

There are plenty of other “fish in the sea,” and you are fine the way you are. Take the time to laugh and enjoy your friends’ company and smell the flowers. Appreciate the life you have!

Mr. Douglas - History

While my time at Cupertino has been short, it has been rich in learning experiences and wonderful memories. I have been continually amazed at the drive, motivation, and work ethic of Cupertino students, and the amazing things many of you have already accomplished—I anticipate reading in the news about many of your future accomplishments as well. Remember to make the choices each day that will help you to become your best self, and always be ready to question your assumptions about what you think you know—and everybody else’s assumptions as well.

Mr. Bruce - English

I would like to extend my respect and gratitude to Cupertino High as I depart on a new chapter at San Jose High. If you were one of my students, thank you for your willingness to join in on our academic quests in the literature that we read and the language that we use. Thank you for pushing yourselves to understand more than you thought you could. Thank you for aspiring to be your best, even on tough days and during tough weeks. If you were one of my colleagues, thank you for modeling strong, invested, purposeful teaching that also knows how to have fun along the way. If you were one of my administrators, thank you for welcoming me into the Tino community and offering your supervision and support as I learn more about my craft. Thank you, Dusty, for never losing steam as you pile more coal onto the energy at your rallies. To all, thank you for your patience. I’ll always remember the pioneer country.

Class scheduling continued from page 1

top six,” Rodriguez says. Thus, giving some students all seven requested classes may result in the inability to offer students all six of their guaranteed classes.

In her office, Mrs. Rodriguez has a large whiteboard all the way across one of the walls. Upon first glance, the board is an overwhelming array of colors, numbers, teachers and subjects. The red tags refer to classes that are only available during one period, and the gold tags refer to classes offered during two periods. The red tags are the first to be added to the schedule, and with the help of a computer, Mrs. Rodriguez is able to designate each of these single course into each period. She then checks to see if there are any conflicts in which a student desires two of these single courses which have been assigned to the same period. After the single courses have been locked in, the gold tags go up onto the schedule with as few conflicts as possible. After the red and gold tags have been locked in, Mrs. Rodriguez meets with the guidance counselors and individual department chairs to discuss the distribution of the other courses throughout the rest of

News

The Prospector

May 26, 2016

the periods to eliminate conflict with required courses.

A problem largely affecting the science department is the lack of classrooms available for each teacher to get their own classroom. Approximately seven classes are taught in each classroom every regularlyscheduled day. “[When making the schedule] we are also taking into consideration minimizing the movement of the teachers. I do not want Mr. Stavis to have to teach in four different classrooms or three different classrooms.. and so we try to work the flow so that [teachers] do not have to move often and so that they can have [extra] time,” says Mrs. Rodriguez. This extra time is given by adding a prep period into a teacher’s schedule.

Says Mrs. Rodriguez, “[It taking so long] is really why we start the course selection process so early, and it’s also why we can’t have students changing their mind all through August and throughout the year.”

The schedule-making process proves to be a complicated one, involving much deliberation by school administrators. Although the process is arduous, all the work pays off when students receive their class schedules for the new school year.

ELD Speech Contest continued from page 1

“The hardest part when I came here was with English. I had never learned English in Japan, so it was difficult to speak it,” said junior Mari Hayashi, a former ELD student who moved here from Japan. “The speech contest is what improved my English speaking skill.

Practicing for the contest in the past helped me speak English formally.”

Wilson also noted that she serves as somewhat of a cultural ambassador for the students.

“I love helping students to not only learn academic English Language but also to help them understand what American high schools are like,” Wilson said. “For instance, I get questions like ‘What is Prom?’ or ‘Why are rallies important?’ from my students, and I help them see how they can be a part of the community.”

Lucie Deleule, a French student who spent many years in India, participated in the contest for the first time this year.

“It’s kind of scary at first when you start, but after everyone is motivating each other,” Lucie Deleule said. “You’re with your friends, and you have fun.”

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NaGyeong Lee, a Korean student who accompanied Deleule at the competition, was in her third and final year as a participant. Both Lee and Deleule had grown close through the ELD program — when asked what the ELD program offered them on a personal level, they both replied almost in sync.

“Friendship,” they said simultaneously, and then they both giggled. Lee continued: “The hardest part about moving to a new country is communicating with mainstream students, and it’s hard to find a friend at first.

The ELD program is really good because we can make friends with each other easily. We all know each other’s difficulties and the struggles we go through, and in a way, we grow closer because of that.”

Wilson, who serves tirelessly to ensure that ELD students find a sense of community on campus, finds her work rewarding.

“Every once in a while, I get a sign. I got an email from a student I had last year that said, ‘Thank you for sticking with me, I’m graduating this year. I was going to drop out last year, but you talked me out of it.’ Little moments like these, the little victories, always make me feel happy.”

Citizens move to recall mayor Barry Chang JAY SHROFF news assistant

On April 29, citizens of the City of Cupertino filed a notice of intention in the city’s newspaper, the Cupertino Courier, to recall mayor Barry Chang. The filing of this intent comes after complaints from citizens of abusive and dishonest behavior towards other City Council members and civil society.

Many of the citizens who filed the intent are linked to the Cupertino Citizens’ Sensible Growth Initiative (CCSGI), a group that proposed legislation to limit the amount of new housing and commercial development occurring in Cupertino. The CCSGI first proposed this legislation during the meeting in December and has since been gaining traction in the Lynbrook and Cupertino High School areas.

Some of the animosity between the CCGSI and mayor Barry Chang began when the CCGSI legislation, which would set restrictions on the development of projects such as Main Street Cupertino and The Hills at Vallco, first received enough signatures to be placed on the November ballot, and the wording of the question was deliberated at a City Council meeting on March 31. The question was passed, but a few days later, the mayor called an emergency meeting to bring a new wording of the question to a vote. The new form had an extra clause, extending the maximum height of any new development to 45 feet, above the 30 feet outlined in the December 2015 general plan. The CCGSI believes that Chang implemented called a new vote in an attempt to appease Sand Hill Co. and the other building companies involved in the new developments occurring in Cupertino, which includes Main Street, The Oaks, and Park at Vallco.

Chang has also been criticized for his unruly behavior towards other City Council members and the public. On recallbarrychang.org, the official website for the intent to recall the mayor, members of the public have posted video clips of of recent council sessions where Chang lashed out at citizens and council members for arguing against the new developments and other topics.

According to guidelines set for recalling a city council member, the group now has 160 days to collect about 20% of the constituent signatures — 5,338 in total, in order to put the recall on the ballot. If this is accomplished, the question will then go to the voters in November, who will decide whether to keep Mayor Barry Chang in office, and if not, who should be elected in his stead. If the CCGSI succeeds in electing a new mayor of Cupertino, the voting tide could shift away from the current trend of pro-development.

Opinions

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May 26, 2016

amendment that prohibits discrimination based on race and gender. As Harvard Law professor Lani Guinier explains, this void "leaves one of the fundamental elements of democratic citizenship tethered to the whims of local officials." A constitutional guarantee of a right to vote would instantly flip the script on anti-fraud efforts. A state that wanted to require an ID card to vote, for example, would have to take affirmative steps to ensure that every eligible citizen has an ID card.

Justin Levitt, a professor at the Loyola University School of Law, identified "any specific, credible allegation that someone may have pretended to be someone else at the polls, in any way that an ID law could fix," in elections from 2000 to 2014. He found only 31 cases of voter fraud between 2000 and August 2014.

While obtaining a government-issued ID may not seem arduous, many ordinary Americans lack one: a trip to the DMV can often mean unpaid time off work and unexpected expenses for the working poor, elderly Americans, and young adults. According to a Government Accountability Office report, fees for driver's licenses range from $14.50 to $58.50 and although these may not DELANIE MEDINA seem like significant fees, they can be to some if money is tight. A price tag on voting could be features assistant enough to dissuade potential voters which is its own form of voting restriction. Studies show that more than 21 million Americans do not have government-issued photo identification.

When implemented, these laws have a clearly disproportionate impact on racial minority groups. This effect, along with the accompanying political debate about the laws, resembles a preVoting Rights Act America, when election laws were designed specifically to keep African-Americans from having their voices heard. Requiring an ID in order to allow voters to cast a ballot is In recent years, many states have made voter registration more accessible to their citizens. At tantamount to a poll tax that disproportionately and unfairly targets low-income individuals, racial the same time, however, many states have also worked to create obstacles for potential voters –– and ethnic minority voters, students, senior citizens, voters with disabilities. particularly elders and people of color. States began enacting voter ID laws after Republicans found their way into the political arena in 2010, recapturing a majority in the House of Representatives. cases of voter fraud The laws, which require people to bring a government-issued photo ID in order to vote, passed with convictions since 2000. overwhelming Republican support; Republicans argued they helped prevent voter fraud; they were In Texas, a met with opposition by Democrats who argued that such laws disenfranchised certain groups. Nearly states require some 25% of eligible African American voters do not have a government-issued photo ID, compared to Hispanic sort form of voter only 8% of white voters. Studies have concluded that the voter fraud that strict voter ID laws are registered identification at polls intended to prevent are in fact incredibly rare; the rarity of voter fraud makes many believe that the voter IS 46.5 % to 120.0% very goal of voter ID laws is not to prevent voter fraud, but instead, to disenfranchise minorities and more likely than a nonthe poor –– most of whom consistently vote for Democrats.

Hispanic registered voter to The Constitution was drafted without specification as to who had the right to vote; states to lack this thus passed voting laws that mostly favored white, male property-holders. Despite advancements identific-ation made in civil rights, no actual constitutional amendment grants all citizens the right to vote, only an

Discriminatory Voter ID Legislation Ethnicity: Age: Family:

beyond THE wage gap How differing attitudes toward gender impact the perceptions of both men and women MAITHILEE KANTHI online assistant

By now, most people are well aware of the “seventy-seven cents for every dollar” statistic that defines workplace sexism in popular culture. However, the wage gap remains only one facet of the overall discrimination and barriers that women face in the workforce. Between internal pressure to excel, born from a need to prove one’s worth, to the bias applied towards women seeking power, there remain many unaddressed issues for working women. For example, an internal report by Hewlett-Packard in 2014 found that while women feel the need to be qualified in every way for a job or raise, men with 60% of those skills feel more than qualified.

Additionally, it is more common for female leaders to be viewed in a more critical light, being labeled with negative terms, such as “bossy” or “harpy”, than their male counterparts. Despite many movements attempts to address the issue, most famously Sheryl Sandberg’s recent “Lean In” campaign, it is clear that changes in how women are treated as employees and leaders in their industry needs to be a systematic shift, on all levels.

A number of novels focused on modern-day sexism point out the presence of the “impostor syndrome” among women in professional settings. The impostor syndrome states that a person feels like a fraud in a certain setting, most often wrongly so. In their research for their novel Womenomics, journalists Claire Shipman and Katty Kay interviewed dozens of successful women, including All-Star WNBA player Monique Currie and tech entrepreneur Clara Shih. In their research, they found that despite the overwhelming achievements and qualifications of their interviewees, each woman harbored a belief that they were simply “lucky”

6 million

SEXISM IN THE WORKFORCE

do not have a government issued photo ID.

31 34

HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW

to acquire an ID in 17 states

ation

COURTESY OF UNITED STATES GAO COURTESY OF THE NATION COURTESY OF WASHINGTON POST

in receiving the accolades they earned. Moreover, in a study conducted by American University, researchers found that the “ambition gap” for women begins in college, with sixteen percent fewer women believing they were qualified for public office, as opposed to men with the same qualifications. Conditions like the ambition gap and impostor syndrome point to a greater problem than the mindset of female workers: due to the late start women had in being accepted into the workforce, companies tend to still look more favorably at male leaders, breeding a sense of insecurity among women and forcing them to adopt a perfectionist attitude to compensate at work.

Furthermore, following the Sony hack in 2015, Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence brought attention to the difficulties women face in requesting higher pay when negotiating the terms of their job, due to the negative stigma associated with it. Lawrence described how, despite her outstanding qualifications and equally important role in the film, Lawrence was paid lower than her male counterparts in the film American Hustle. She went on to say that she was more upset with herself; she believed that she had “failed as a negotiator” when signing her contract because she was more concerned with being easy-going than firm. Lawrence highlights one of the common problems women face in requesting fair pay in the workforce, which is the fear that in asking for more money, they would be seen in a negative light. Indeed, studies have shown, though, that many times when women ask for a raise, their attempts often backfire.

Economist Linda Babcock of Carnegie Mellon recorded videos of men and women following the exact same script while asking for a raise and showed the videos to test audiences. In nearly every case, both the men and women watching the videos felt more inclined to give the male the raise, while they reacted to the female’s negotiating as being “aggressive,” despite her equal qualifications. It is due to experiences as such as these that women find it more difficult to stand up for themselves in a work environment and ask for what they deserve, as they also internalize these messages of being “too demanding” when asking for more. And issues such as these are even more difficult to treat than quantifiable matters, such as a measured wage gap, because the problem lies in the perception of others — a not-so-easily manipulated subject.

Even when women make it into the leadership positions they earned, however, they continue to have to conform to the standards that made it so hard for them to rise in the first place. Namely, the challenge of being agreeable so as not to challenge the “authority” of their male coworkers. In Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In, Sandberg talks about the troubles women have in being labeled “bossy” when they act assertive or direct with their workers. While male leaders are expected to be more in command, female leaders are better received when they adopt a mentor persona and guide their workers through the process. While this difference may be beneficial in some sectors, the inherent bias found when approaching a woman who breaks the expectations curbs the ef- fectiveness of her as a leader and places unnecessary limits on her leaderOF� ship style.

Sexism in the workplace is an ongoing struggle, requiring not just changes Fice in policy, but whole shifts cultural attitudes Addressing the wage gap is only cultures a small fraction of the work that must be done to break down the barriers are often that women face in earning fair opportunities in professional settings. dominated by Only when attitudes change can women have more opportunities to norms better suited advance. to men.

MEN ARE FOUR TIMES WomMORE LIKELY TO ASK en dont apply for jobs unless they feel 100% FOR A RAISE THAN qualified, unlike men who are only 60% qualified WOMEN NPR

$14.50 TO $58.50

HUFFINGTON POST

Condoms

Opinions

The Prospector

May 26, 2016

SHOULD BE Provided

by MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO STUDENTS

cess. Young people who cannot access protection through other means need an adult they can approach for information. California already has no age limit on owning or purchasing condoms, though programs like this can provide condoms to those unable to afford or purchase them. These kinds of programs already exist in many high schools nationwide, and access to information and protection is vital for young people’s health.

As for the arguments that the program encourages young people to engage in sexual activity, said EFFECTIVE SEX EDUCATION sexual activity is already happening. A survey of San Francisco middle schools revealed that more than one out of every 20 middle schoolers is sexually active and that half of those students are not using protection. By the age of 18, 62% of females and 70% of males have had vaginal sex. Students are already having sex and many of them without proper contraceptives. A study by the Center For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 41% of sexually active teenagers did not use a condom last time they had sex. A lack of resources will not help young people, and this lack of resources can hurt: SF GATE Planned Parenthood revealed in a 2011 report that nearly 750,000 teenagers become pregnant each year — 82% of these pregnancies are unintentional and lead to higher rates of childbirth complications, a lower likelihood of graduation for the mother, and severe financial complications for the parents. However, the rate of teen pregnancies in the United States has been declining. Since 1990 there has been a drop of more than 42% in teen pregnancies The National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), the source of feder-

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al government data on birthrate and population, have attributed this decrease to improved contraceptive use. Teen pregnancies are often difficult for both the mother and the child, so reducing unintended pregnancy rates among young people is a continual goal. Data show that the best way to lower this number is through access to and proper information about contraceptives.

Some parents have argued that the schools should instead focus on abstinence-only education, telling young people to avoid sex.

While there is nothing wrong with teaching the values of abstinence in the classroom, this method frequently comes with a lack of proper sex education and does not help to reduce rates of teenage pregnancy or STIs. In 1997 the National Institutes of Health put forth a consensus statement denouncing abstinence-only education, saying it “places [the] policy in direct conflict with science because it ignores overwhelming evidence… Abstinence-only programs cannot be justified in the face of effective programs.”

Sex education that denies teenagers accurate information about contraception objectively fails to address issues of sexual health and has been panned by health organization nationwide.

The concern of parents in the community is understandable and sincere but misguided. The legal age of consent in California may be eighteen, but young people still engage in sexual activity in very high numbers. The real issue is not high rates of teen sex, but but instead, encouraging safe sex.

Programs such as these help to lower the rate of teen pregnancies and contraction of STIs, and keep young people informed about their sexual health.

Community members need to face the reality of the situation and accept the program for what it is: not the perfect solution, but an effective way to help.

1 out of every 20 San Fransico middle school student is sexually active

PETER MARTIN managing editor

Controversy has surrounded the San Francisco school board's recent decision to allow middle school students to access condoms through teachers and other administrators.

The board voted unanimously to support this policy change and has stood firm against community complaints. While some parents argue condoms have no place in the classroom, this program would be greatly beneficial to the community.

The school board has made it clear this will not be a giveaway program; there will not be baskets of condoms ly ing around for students to take. Instead, students must privately speak with either a teacher or other staff member to to receive a condom.

Educators ensure that young people involved are safe but otherwise will always provide contraception. The program does not encourage sexual activity, but rather, provides information and protection for those who are already sexually active. While some parents complain that they are unable to opt their children out of the new policy, universal access is vital to the program’s suc-

By 18, 70% of females and 62% of males have had vaginal sex

CON SUDARSHAN KANNAN copy editor

In 1960, President Dwight Eisenhower warned citizens about the dangers of the defense-based economy, noting,“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence… by the military-industrial complex.”

In 2015, the United States spent $595.5 billion on defense, a sum larger the defense budgets of the next seven countries combined. The United States spends more money on defense currently than it did during the height of the Cold War, a time when the United States had an array of enemies longer than Al Capone’s rap sheet. Quite simply, there is no need to “outspend” any other country militarily. With a budget that large, bureaucracy leads to unaccounted or wasted money. Indeed, a 2015 Politico report found that the Defense Logistics Agency, an agency with an annual budget of $44 billion, spent $7 billion dollars on unneeded equipment, and throughout the 1980s was responsible for buying $600 worth of toilet seats; clearly, the money being allocated to defense spending has not been used in a productive manner.

In addition, the US economy stands to gain from cuts in defense spending. A Harvard University study found each dollar in federal defense-spending cuts will increase private spending by roughly $1.30. An economy driven by massive government spending tends to decrease growth in the private sector. Furthermore, cutting defense spending could result in easier borrowing for smaller businesses and potential homebuyers. Economist Dean Baker notes, military spending diverts resources from productive uses, such as consumption and investment, and ultimately slows economic growth and reduces employment. Take the example of the Air Force buying a new fighter jet, versus Delta Airlines buying a new passenger jet (assuming that both planes cost the same). The money spent buying the passenger jet would lead to a return in capital, given that the jet would be used for commercial purposes. However, it is highly unlikely that the Air Force would take civilians out for joyrides on the fighter jet, so the money spent would simply lead to a loss of revenue through fuel, maintenance, and personnel costs.

While military spending does provide employment and economic stimulation in the short term, the long-term effects outweigh the perceived benefits. Large military spending stunts private sector growth, which is what should be driving the economy. Between May 1999 and May 2009, employment in the private sector sector only rose by 1.1%, by far the lowest 10-year increase in the post-depression period.

While Americans must protect national security, large defense budgets do not keep us safe; rather, rational defense budgets keep us safe.

What allows the United States to preserve its status as the global powerhouse is not only a powerful military, but also strong economy — which cannot coexist with an unreasonably large defense budget.

UNITED STATES should maintain LARGE federal military expenditure United States spent $595.5 billion on defense, a sum larger the defense budgets of the next 9 countries put together COURTESY OF THE ECONOMIST

US military is the largest employer in the world.

COURTESY OF MARKET WATCH

18%

OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET IS ALLOCATED TO DEFENSE COURTESY OF SDVP

The U.S. has 5% of the world's population -but almost 50% of the world's total military

expenditure COURTESY OF BUSINESS INSIDER

PRO JASON MUNOZ features assistant

With over 583 billion dollars allocated to its defense budget – — 18 percent of the entire federal budget and half of discretionary spending — the United States has a reputation for massive military spending: the United States spends more than the next seven countries combined.

Proponents of reducing military spending may be quick to point out this seemingly unreasonably large number, and may question why we devote so much of the budget to conducting war.

However, not all military spending is used to fund combat — for instance, salaries and benefits for soldiers and veterans are considered part of the defense budget.

With 3.2 million employers on its payroll, the US military is the largest employer in the world. In 2013, about a quarter of the US military budget went towards paying the workers on its payroll and providing them with benefits. Of the 3.2 million employed by the military, just under half of them serve on active duty — the majority of those employed by the US military are actually workers for private businesses developing new technology for the military, or assembling sophisticated weaponry such as drones or fighter planes.

Military spending sustains the 1.4 million Americans who serve as administrators, inspectors, scientists, and factory workers.

To reduce spending on our military budget would not only leave our country less prepared in case of war, but also leave millions of Americans without a job.

In addition, military spending accounts for more than just weaponry and military operations in foreign countries. The US military provides international aid to its allies, even during peacetime.

The US military gives grants and loans to its allies to receive US weapons and training, funds peacekeeping operations, and trains of leaders of foreign militaries. While it does take money to fund all of these forms of aid, the reinforcement of our international security network makes the world safer for our allies, and as a result strengthens our own position internationally. An investment in our allies is an investment in our own security.

Indeed, historically, the US military has been an invaluable source of aid from a humanitarian perspective as well. Famously, in 1946 the US and allied forces flew food and supplies into West Berlin after its railways had been blockaded by Soviet forces. The National Cold War Exhibition reports that this event, called the Berlin Airlift, cost the US $350 million. The Berlin Airlift however, was not an isolated incident. The US military continues to offer varied forms of aid — from helping countries develop flood control works to delivering medical teams and pharmaceuticals to foreign countries in times of crisis.

The US military’s role in the American economy and in the funding of international aid is invaluable. Cutting military spending would have far larger effects than simply limiting our ability to conduct war, and as a result US military spending should not be cut.

Features

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May 26, 2016

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It is not unheard of for high school students to spend their summer volunteering in another country.

However, senior Decker Ure is not spending just this summer volunteering in another country; after he graduates he will also spend his next two years volunteering in ScotE IF NN E land and Ireland J Said Ure, “I am doing this as a mission for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or, the Mormon Church.”

Although the Church does not require it, many students decide to go on mission trips. They are then assigned by the church or the organization coordinating the event to serve in a certain part of the world.

Ure’s goal is to spread the message of his church, preaching almost every day. “An average day on my mission is pretty full. I wake up at 6:30 a.m. and preach for most of the day until 10 p.m.”, said Decker Ure. He will be preaching to a group of college students, and, sometimes he will even preach in Chinese.

Although Ure is going alone, he will meet many different people there who are also on mission trips. Said Ure, “I do not know anyone else going from this area, but I will meet new kids while I am there.”

People on the mission trip are expected to preach with a partner; however, they are not assigned to the same person for the entire two years.

When students volunteer, it is not only for the benefit of the people they are working with, but also for the tremendous learning experience for the volunteer. Said Ure, “I am really looking forward to the personal growth I will get while I am there. I feel like those looking for religion or some

JOSEPHINE ROBISON online editor

stability in their lives might appreciate what I do.”

Ure will be working with other people around his own age and will be helping them on a personal level, which which he hopes will help him develop better teaching and advising skills.

While Ure is looking forward to helping others, he will miss his friends and family. When he is on his mission trip, Ure will have internet access, but he will not be allowed to use most social media websites like Facebook. Consequently, he has to reach his friends and family through email.

Said Decker Ure, “I am not excited to be gone from my friends and family for two years, though, and I am going to feel really lonely.”

However, to Ure, the loneliness is outweighed by the excitement of being able to help others.

Despite the challenges he will face, Ure is hopeful. “I definitely will not help everyone as much as other types of services can,” Ure said.

Despite the length of his mission, Ure is still looking forward to his journey and hopes more people decide to volunteer for such organizations.

“I think people should always be willing to serve, because they do not know how hard other people’s lives can be. Just a little volunteering can make a lasting impact on another person’s life.”

“I am really looking forward to the persona growth I will get while I am there.”

GOING ABR After two consecutive years of mission trips to Jacmel, Haiti, the school’s Healing Haiti team will return to Haiti to assist the nonprofit, Angel Wings International, in providing medical aid to impoverished people in Haiti. With a new team and new leadership, the 2016-2017 Healing Haiti team maintains its mission to provide relief to the people of Haiti and to allow students the opportunity to make a visible, positive impact on the community while gaining practical

medical expertise.

Junior Isabella Cavlan, who participated in the 2015 Healing Haiti mission trip last summer, expressed her excitement in returning to the Jacmel clinic.

Said Cavlan, “This year the clinic has been updated. It is a lot nicer, and we have a surgery room where we will be able to observe actual operations. We will be shadowing more doctors as opposed to last year in which we were mostly based in pharmacies and worked on triaging, so we are going to be with a lot more doctors and patient rooms and we can watch the patients be monitored themselves.”

In order to prepare the team, the school’s Global Health Club, of which Healing Haiti is a subset, offers the school’s students basic medical knowledge, presenting information about common diseases, global health crises, and basic medical procedures. Said senior Niharika Shukla, who also participated in the 2015 Healing Haiti mission trip, “We want to establish a solid medical foundation for our members through Global Health club. We would also like to create workshops in next year’s meetings that teach students how to take blood pressure or how to triage.”

The team itself has also been communicating with its advisor Myrlande Affriany, the founder and president of Angel Wings International, to learn more about the specific activities in which they will partake during the mission trip. “This year, we want to make sure that the team prepares effectively for the trip by learning more Creole and triaging,” Shukla said.

The team also aims to reach out to more rural areas of Haiti, which have even less access to

medical care than urban areas do. “Rural areas tend to need more help than the inner city areas. The cities tend to need multivitamins and basic medication, but in the more rural areas people need more case-specific medicine, because they have more serious illnesses,” said Cavlan. “This year, we talked with our chaperone about visiting different rural areas, and we are going to try to give our members that experience” Returning members to the Healing Haiti team also expressed excitement in allowing new team members to undergo the gratifying experience that the trip provides. Said Cavlan, “The trip definitely changes your perspective, and I am looking forward to seeing that with the new members.”

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Features

The Prospector

May 26, 2016

7

friends for Philippines AISHWARYA LADDHA opinions editor

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“Kamusta, ang pangalan ko ay” (Hello, my name is...); twelve students have been learning basic Tagalog in preparation for a trip to the Philippines this summer.

The first trip of its kind for high-school students, this two-and-a-half week adventure will be the experience of these students’ lifetimes. Led by senior Meyhaa Buvanesh and another Tino sophomore, the Philippines trip was coordinated with Tino Global Health Club.

Partnering with the nonprofit organization, ABCs for Philippines run by Dr. Julieta Gabiola from Stanford University, these twelve students will be embarking on this medical mission trip with the goals of providing medical sustainability and life skills.

After a round of applications and interviews, these R FE I twelve students were chosen because of the passion and vigor NN JE they expressed towards making a difference and helping others.

Said freshman Tamara Zafer, “Especially with natural disasters, I saw pictures of people with their houses torn down and kids crying, so I have always wanted to make an impact, but you really can’t do anything from when you are so far away. You can donate but you don’t get to see the actual impact happening, so I really wanted to go and witness it

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first hand and help.”

Every team member’s own experiences and passions have culminated into three research projects, which students will head during their stay in the Philippines. To help shape the medical policies of the Philippines, the students will present their findings to universities both in the Philippines and the United States. The three research projects, which have developed under the mentorship of college students, include EMR (Electronic Medical Record), dental hygiene, and nutrition.

Said senior Meyhaa Buvanesh, one of the five students leading the EMR project, “Here in the United States when we got to the doctor, our [medical information] gets into a computer and you have a database of every person’s stats. So we are trying to create that but specifically altered for a mobile clinic, so that the doctors there also have access to a database with their patients [information].“ Although they will be residing in one the more urban areas of the Philippines, the students will be traveling every day to rural villages, seeing and working with mobile clinic buses located in these villages. Additionally, they will receive the opportunity to shadow doctors, triage, and work in the pharmacy.

The factor uniting all these students and making this trip a possibility is their desire to make a tangible and long-lasting impact in the world.

Said junior Abhinav Pottabatula, “A trip to the Philippines, gives me the opportunity to interact with new people, immerse myself in a new culture, learn more about bioinformatics, and in all honesty lets me find out who I want to be.”

“I really wanted to go and witness it first hand and help”

GLOBAL GLIMPSE CATHERINE SEOK features editor

This July, juniors Samantha Zhang and Ziba Jafari, two students from the school’s Global Glimpse program, will travel with the rest of the club to the Dominican Republic for three weeks to teach stu-

dents English and to explore the country.

English teacher Daniel Tkach and Spanish teacher Jessica Schaetzke host numerous orientation meetings to guide students in Global Glimpse. Before leaving for their trip, the students attend several seminars on globalization and leadership. Said Jafari, “We learn so much during our seminars; we do warm-up activities, such as writing in our journals and having in-depth discussions [about globalization].”

Jafari also commented on the importance of hands-on learning; the skills and experiences she will gain during her trip will be all the more memorable. “The best type of learning is done with interactive activities, not in a classroom,” Jafari said.

From July 5th to July 22nd, the team will travel to the city of Constanta and stay at a hostel, an informal hotel with less service than what an ordinary hotel would provide.

Said Zhang, “We will be teaching students English every few nights, and I think teenagers teaching teenagers is more effective than having an adult teach.”

The group will also participate in other activities such as exploring the town, dancing, hiking, and learning about the Dominican Republic’s culture. Said Jafari “The trip

is an educational trip. We are going to see how other countries live, because [not everywhere] is like Cupertino.”

During this trip, the students will not only examine the impacts of globalization, but also will gain a newfound independence. Said Zhang, “It is three weeks away from home, which will prepare you [for the future.] You will be living on your own, immersed in a place where you don’t speak the language fluently, so it’s definitely a good experience [for students.]”

Though Zhang and Jafari both hope to engage in cross-cultural communication, introducing Dominicans to American culture while equally being exposed to a new culture, they are also excited to create new adventures of their own. Said Zhang, “I am excited to eat the food! I hear some [restaurants] eat guinea pigs, and the juices and drinks are really exotic, and I want to make new experiences.”

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ALL GRAPHICS COURTESY OF NOUN PROJECT

Lifestyles WHERE BROADWAY MEETS U.S. HISTORY

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HAMILTON:

LILY MARVIN sports editor

Let’s be real, the extent of your Alexander Hamilton knowledge ends at the ten dollar bill. It is doubtful that you have ever had the desire to learn more, provided you did not have a history test the next day. For many, a biographical musical about Alexander Hamilton and the founding of America sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. But Hamilton was an instant hit, with tickets selling out months in advance. Within its first year, the show received sixteen Tony nominations, the most in Broadway history. Hamilton’s unique music, casting, and accessibility have made it a fan favorite and will keep the show running for years to come.

In 2009, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show’s creator and titular star, performed what would become Hamilton’s opening number at the White House Poetry Jam. Upon announcing that he was writing a rap album based on the life of the first United States Secretary of the Treasury, the audience laughed. Now, almost seven years later, the Hamilton album has debuted as the highest-ranked cast album ever on the Billboard charts, as

REVAMPED TV SHOWS

well as hitting number one on the rap chart. The show’s music is primarily hip-hop and R&B, with only a few traditional numbers performed by King George. Rap battles between Jefferson and Hamilton replace historical cabinet meetings, and the Schuyler sisters are reminiscent of Destiny’s Child. Diverting from traditional Broadway music has opened the play up to broader audiences and made it stand out among fellow musicals.

Miranda emphasized the importance of diversity in the musical’s cast, which features African-American, Latino, and Asian-American performers. This, coupled with modern music, brings a contemporary feel to the production. When asked about casting choice, Miranda said, “Let’s not pretend this is a textbook. Let’s make the founders of our country resemble what our nation looks like today. We are every shade and every color.”

Broadway often has a reputation for being pretentious and unwelcoming; however, Hamilton sets itself apart through its appeal to a diverse audience. Whether it is the Ham4Ham show or the Hamilton education program, this musical is diversifying Broadway’s audience. In partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation, Hamilton gave a total of 20,000 tickets to underprivileged students in New York City. Students researched the history behind Hamilton and performed artistic pieces for

May 26, 2016

the show’s cast before attending student-only performances. An additional part of the Hamilton experience is the Ham4Ham show, a performance given to crowds hoping to win last-minute tickets. Said Miranda, “If you don’t leave with tickets, we want you to at least leave with a story.”

Hamilton’s lasting impact on expanding Broadway’s appeal as well as its efforts to reach out to community members warrants its broad success.

COURTESY OF AMANDA LUCIDON

Switching playlists INDIE v. KPOP

JENNIFER ZARATAN photo editor

MICHELLE PYKE

Gilmore Girls

online assistant

MEILINDA SUN

Star Trek The massive sci-fi franchise Star Trek spans back decades and has produced of a multitude of movies and TV series. The latest Star Trek TV series wrapped up in 2005, and the movie Star Trek Beyond will be released in theaters in late July this year. The show’s reboot, still unnamed, will air on CBS in January 2017. Although many previous writers and producers will return, no former cast members have been confirmed to make an appearance.

Twin Peaks

The Powerpuff Girls The Cartoon Network animated series aired its last episode in 2005 and came back to television in early April 2016. The three superhuman girls, Blossom, Buttercup and Bubbles, are animated in the same style but voiced by an entirely new cast. In comparison to that of the original, the new series has received fairly poor and disappointed reviews; critics maintain that the new show’s plotlines fail to live up to the old show, as the stories are bland and less action-based.

As an indie music loyalist and electronic music enthusiast, I still enjoy listening to practically anything. I tend to appreciate music not for its aesthetic qualities, but instead, for its art. Too often, music tends to be repetitive, with redundant choruses and formulaic cadences. To me, indie music offers a fresh alternative to the monotony that mainstream music too often espouses. I harbor an appreciation not for what sounds generically “good,” but instead, for the kinds of music that feature unique styles and a fresh artistic perspective.

While I have had “phases” in a wide variety of music genres (I certainly would prefer not to revisit the Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber episodes of my life), the one style I have yet to experience is K-pop, which constitutes much of Michelle’s favorite songs. In the pursuit of yet another new experience, Michelle and I decided to exchange our playlists.

My first impression of her K-pop songs, unsurprisingly, was: I have no idea what these people

I have a history of dabbling in multiple genres of music (American rock, R&B, and occasionally rap) that align with certain versions of myself. A typical “phase” for me can last from one week to months at a time, depending on how well I can maneuver myself through these distinct sounds without becoming bored.

The most recent addiction of mine is Korean music (pop, rap, folk music), to which I was introduced in the winter of 2014. I transitioned to a faithful fan near the beginning of March due to the mesmerizing color of Exo’s music. To put it simply, I am drawn to Korean artists because they manage to find a balance between the catchy rhythm of the American music scene and an alternative flavor that keeps me wanting more. When Meilinda described her playlist as a mix of Indie and EDM, I already had a pretty clear picture of what types of songs I would be listening to. With these thoughts in mind, I went through her list of 25 songs.

The very first song on the playlist was “Drive” by Oh Wonder, a duo from London. The R&B vibe from

are saying, but it sounds pretty good! Despite my inability to comprehend, K-pop still uses a surprising amount of English phrases — perhaps to attract other global markets.

Several of my personal favorites from Michelle’s playlist were: Block B’s Toy and Akdong Musician’s Melted. In particular, Akdong Musician’s Melted featured some interesting rhythms and integration of classical instruments, such as the cello. The modern era of music has ushered in more appreciation for electronic music; however, this popularity has lead many to reject classical music — listening to the ways in which modern musicians use classical instruments such as the cello in novel ways is always exciting.

Another interesting selection from Michelle’s playlist was Charlie Puth’s My Gospel, whose lively tempo appealed to me.

While I may still retreat back into the land of indie music and remixes, in the grand scheme of my musical journey, they may just be another short-term “phase.”

this one strongly resembled that of DEAN’s music (for those who are unaware, DEAN is a South Korean R&B and rap artist). This type of music is really a hit or miss for me because I prefer songs with hard beats and captivating arrangements (again, I listen to music to be entertained). When I am in the right mood, though, a lighthearted rhythm and mellow tone, like that of “Drive,” is perfect for me.

Another song that stood out to me was Flume’s Remix of “You & Me.” There were echoes in the beginning that definitely made me anticipate the drop and I was not disappointed. The beat was a bit slow for my taste, but at 1.5 times the speed — oh my.

I am sure that both Meilinda and I agree that everyone has some sort of playlist that reflects their soul, whether it is a physical YouTube list or an endless soundtrack in one’s mind. Music is what allows us explore ourselves without having to leave our home and I think that is a gift every generation has come to appreciate.

MICHELLE

Despite high reviews, the eerie crime drama Twin Peaks only lasted for a season back in 1991. Original creator Mark Frost came back to write the screenplays and stated that the new episodes are more of a continuation than a reboot. The show will air sometime early next year again on Showtime, with a limited but unknown number of episodes. Most of the original cast will retake their roles, with Kyle Maclachlan continuing to play the lead as FBI agent Dale Cooper.

editor-in-chief

MEILINDA

The popular dramedy about the unusually close mother and daughter, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, will be coming to Netflix this fall, with four 90-minute episodes.

Set in present day, the story will pick up ten years after the original series. Creator Amy Sherman-Palladino left the show before the final season, but she is back to write and direct the series. Thirty-seven others from the original cast will also be returning to the show.

The Prospector

May 26, 2016

Lifestyles

9

the real cost of products CAROLINE GEE copy editor

26 percent of slaves are children COURTESY OF FREE THE SLAVES

150 billion dollars are earned each year by traffickers

Do you know where your products come from?

Major clothing brands, including H&M, Marks & Spencer, and Gap, obtain many of their garments from factories in Cambodia. Unfortunately, the workers in these factories face harsh working conditions and low wages. A Human Rights Watch Report, based on interviews with 270 workers from 73 factories, found that children as young as age twelve illegally work in Cambodian clothing factories instead of attending school. Workers are forced to work overtime without pay and frequently face discrimination. Pregnant women are immediately fired, and others face sexual harassment. Although difficult to achieve, widespread boycotting clothing companies that source their garments from countries that use slave labor is one approach to combating poor working environments. Many also choose to buy their clothes from companies that disclose information on their manufacturing conditions.

The Ivory Coast and Ghana, two West African countries, are the world’s leading producers of cocoa. However, West African cocoa farmers resort to cheap child labor and human trafficking to meet the growing demand for chocolate. An estimated 2.1 million children harvest cocoa in West Africa, and the majority of them do not attend school. Children as young as five handle poisonous agricultural chemicals and hazardous tools such as chainsaws and machetes. Human traffickers abduct many of these child workers and force them into slavery. Although chocolate brands that source their cocoa from West Africa, such as Hershey’s, Mars, and Nestle, have pledged to improve working conditions at these plantations, minimal progress has been made. Fortunately, organic or Fair Trade chocolate has a higher chance of being ethically sourced.

COURTESY OF FREE THE SLAVES

21 MILLION PEOPLE ARE VICTIMS OF FORCED LABOR worldwide COURTESY OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION

Child and slave labor have become a regular practice in Guatemala, Colombia, and Latin American countries that produce coffee. Instead of attending school, child workers toil for eight or more hours a day in unsafe conditions. Forced laborers are often exploited to work permanently on coffee plantations and receive less than minimum wage. Buying from companies that keep their product lines transparent and commit to Fair Trade, such as DOMA Coffee, Stumptown Coffee, and Allegro, is one step that coffee-lovers can take to support humane working conditions.

Peeled shrimp has turned into a cheap commodity in America, but the labor that goes into producing this item may cause some to rethink their seafood options. In Thailand, America’s largest seafood supplier, hundreds of underpaid workers peel shrimp in crowded sheds for sixteen hours at a time. Inside these warehouses, migrants and child laborers live in unsanitary conditions and suffer physical abuse. Seafood from Thailand is sent to hundreds of companies in the United States, including Walmart and Whole Foods, making it easy to purchase unethically-sourced shrimp. Conscious consumers should purchase locally-sourced or wild shrimp to ensure that seafood is humanely produced.

ALL GRAPHICS COURTESY OF THE NOUN PROJECT

Sports

10

May 26, 2016

Making Waves “If you are determined to really push yourself, he is an excellent coach for you. But he is not going to police you and make sure you are swimming every set of the workout,” Senior Bobby Karasik said. “No matter how good the coach is, it is always about the swimmer’s mindset — working hard everyday at practice and constantly asking for advice.” Next year, the school’s swim team will be losing their four seniors, many of whom had played a key role in improving the team’s competitive record from the past year. Yet, as a group of young swimmers, the team has more potential to continue its legacy of improvement over this past year.

ALEX SHIEH opinions assistant

For five days a week, the school’s swim team strived to improve, enduring tiresome two-hour practices in hopes that their hard work would pay off. And it did. Bouncing back from a 3-6 record the previous year and a 0-6 record two years ago, the school’s varsity boys’ swim team went undefeated in their league this year; a record number of boys qualified for Central Coast Section (CCS).

Rebounding from a disappointing record from years past, the boys’ swim team made procedural changes. “One thing that has changed is that in the past couple years, coach would pick all the events and sometimes he would give people events that they did not want or were not good at,” Senior and team captain Jed Lee said. “However, with the team captain picking event for the athletes this year, people were able to compete in events they were good at and help score points to win.”

Unlike many of the sports teams, the swim team consists of club swimmers in addition to regular team members. Club swimmers attend practice elsewhere and compete for the school team whenever there is a meet. While these club swimmers often play a critical role in scoring points at a meet, non-club swimmers are also important.

Said sophomore Aditya Lakshmanan, “Doing club swimming is definitely a big help, but in our league, as long as you work hard and put in effort everyday, you will be a crucial part of the team.”

Michael Jarvis, the varsity swim coach, was also pivotal to the team’s success. With a calm and collective attitude, Jarvis provides the swimmers with resources and advice while disciplining the team when necessary.

SLAM DUNK

JAY SHROFF

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS’ RECORD-BREAKING SEASON

RISHI NAIR

sports assistant

Having surpassed the Michael Jordan-led 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls to secure the winningest record in NBA history, the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors has etched its own special place in basketball history.

Much of their phenomenal pace is attributed to point guard Stephen Curry, who has had a season of the ages, shattering record after record.

Curry surpassed the previous single season record of 286, that he himself had set, by sending in an awe-worthy 402. He led the league in scoring, steals and free throw percentage, recording the highest Player Efficiency Rating (PER) at 31.5, helping to unite the team. He is one of six players in NBA history to join the elite 50-40-90 club, meaning he had a field goal shooting percentage of 50 or better, a three point percentage of 40 or better, and a free throw percentage of 90 or better. All these achievements solidified Curry’s case for a back-to-back MVP win — the first unanimous MVP in league history.

In the playoffs of this legendary 73-win season, the Warriors find themselves with a target on

their backs, being the best in the league and heavy favorites to repeat as champions. Led by the crowd-favorite Splash Brothers duo of Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors have met with just a few hiccups so far. Chief among these was the MCL sprain Curry suffered in Game 4 on April 24 during the first round of the playoffs against the Houston Rockets. Sidelined for weeks, the Warriors lost some of the momentum that propelled their 73-win powerhouse they had been all season. After Curry’s return on May 11 in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Portland Trailblazers, the Warriors closed out the series 4-1.

Yet these had just been the smaller battles; the Warriors would have to face the formidable Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. And it was then that “mojo”, one of the Warriors’ greatest assets, was decisive: this team has an identity. After tough losses, it bounces back and destroys the next opponent. The Warriors know they are the best team in the league, and they just needed to start playing like it again. So after the Conference Finals Game 1 loss at the hands of the Thunder, the Golden State Warriors came back in a stunning fashion to win Game 2 in a blowout.

Despite discouraging losses against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors’ record-breaking 73-win season, coupled with the depth of the roster, gives them a glimmer of hope as they proceed to the next games of the Conference Finals.

Keepin’ record A RECAP OF CUPERTINO ‘15-‘16 VARSITY SPORTS

Fall Season:

WINTER SEASON:

SPRING SEASON:

FOOTBALL

BOYS BASKETBALL

BOYS TENNIS

BASEBALL

FIELD HOCKEY

GIRLS BASKEYBALL

GYMNASTICS 2-3

SOFTBALL 6-20

GIRLS TENNIS

BOYS SOCCER

SWIMMING

GOLF 5-7

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL 14-16

GIRLS SOCCER 3-13-2

WATERPOLO

9-2

4-5-1 7-1-4 19-1

GIRLS: 21-1 BOYS: 5-17

CROSS COUNTRY

GIRLS: C. GEE, M. SCHULTS, A. LADDHA BOYS: M. CHAVEZ, O. TANAKA, W. TU

19-8 17-9

9-9-2

WRESTLING

1-9

GIRLS: 5-1 BOYS: 6-0 ww

12-16

TRACK AND FIELD GIRLS: 5-1 BOYS: 2-4

BOYS VOLLEYBALL 19-8

COMPILED BY MELISSA SILVA

Sports

The Prospector

May 26, 2016

11

Ncaa comes out against hb2 North Carolina House Bill 2, HB2, requires transgender people to use the bathroom of their assigned birth

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SUMMER DRAWING

O I L O F T R N O O I P T A R A P E S PR S CLA

On March 23, North Carolina passed the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act (HB2), which calls for public spaces to require that transgender people use facilities based on their birth gender. The law also limits a person’s ability to pursue discrimination claims based on race, religion, color, sex, or handicap; it also disallows cities and counties from setting minimum wage requirements above the state standard.

The law was met with aggressive backlash, first from the transgender community, then from the Obama Administration, and now from major sports organizations, including the NCAA. Condemning HB2 as a violation of national anti-discrimination laws, the Justice Department filed lawsuits against Governor Pat McCrory, the State Department of Public Safety, and the University of North Carolina system. In defense of the law, several of North Carolina’s political leaders filed lawsuits against the Justice Department.

Many have been quick to respond to the law with boycotts. Musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, and Mumford and Sons, have canceled their shows in the state. The sports world, too, came with a response.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver threatened to change the location of the 2017 All-Star Game, which is currently scheduled to be played in Charlotte, home to the NBA’s Hornets franchise.

The NCAA, which, as the country’s main collegiate athletic governing body, represents tens of thousands of students, was the organization with the loudest response. At the NCAA’s annual Board of Governors meeting in Indianapolis, the board unveiled a new rule that requires any NCAA host city to “provide an

environment that is safe, healthy, and free from discrimination.”

Said Kirk Schulz, chair of the NCAA Board of Governors, “The higher education community is a diverse mix of people from different racial, ethnic, religious and sexual orientation backgrounds. So it is important that we assure that the community — including our student-athletes and fans — will always enjoy the experience of competing and watching at NCAA championships without concerns of discrimination.”

While this law does not actually prevent North Carolina from playing host to NCAA events, it is hard to imagine how the state can prove an anti-discriminatory environment while HB2 is in place. North Carolina, home to two perennial basketball contenders, University of North Carolina (UNC) and Duke University, is a popular location for the NCAA to schedule tournament games. This past year, PNC Arena in Raleigh hosted first and second round games of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, one of the country’s most viewed sporting events. The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance announced that the games generated around $4.6 million in visitor spending for the city and the state.

The NCAA rule applies to all events, including educational competitions, not just championship tournaments; it also affects the scheduling of future events. NCAA rules prevent events from being held in cities that fly the Confederate flag or by schools with mascots offensive to Native Americans.

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which includes four universities in North Carolina (Duke, UNC, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest) and is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, has followed the NCAA’s lead.

North Carolina has a long history of hosting ACC championships. The conference’s football championship game has a permanent home in Charlotte’s Bank

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of America Stadium, and the basketball championship tournament is scheduled to return to the state in 2019.

ACC commissioner John Swofford announced that the league will adhere to the NCAA’s standard and will require written proof of non-discriminatory practices from all conference championship hosts.

Said Swofford, “Our league has been all about inclusiveness and not having discriminatory policies from day one, and we will continue to be about that.”

NASCAR and North Carolina’s soccer community have also spoken out against HB2 COURTESY OF THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

NCAA games bring in around $4.6 billion dollars for the city and state COURTESY OF GREATER RALEIGH SPORTS ALLIANCE COURTESY OF OUTWARD

Mississippi will be excluded from NCAA events because of its LGBTQ Segregation Law

COURTESY OF WAPT

ALL GRAPHICS COURTESY OF THE NOUN PROJECT

Flip Side

May 26, 2016

12

MAY IN PHOTOS JENN ZARATAN

JENNIFER ZARATAN

JAY SHROFF

ALEX SHIEH

JENNIFER ZARATAN

ELD SPEECH CONTEST | ELD HALL OF FAME RALLY | The students present at the contest school’s alumni are honored held at Fremont High School at the last rally of the year

TRACK AND FIELD | The SPRING CHOIR CONCERT | SWIM | Students on the school’s athletes compete Capella Choir performs songs swim team race against others for the CCS title in CCS to qualify for States from The Lion King Musical

Cover to Cover

CATHERINE SEOK

A collection of books that high school students should read before they graduate

“Modern Romance” by Aziz Ansari American actor and comedian Aziz Ansari teams up with New York University sociologist Eric Klinenberg in this New York Times bestseller to explore current dating trends and the effects of technology on modern-day relationships. “Modern Romance” received The Goodreads Choice Award for Non-Fiction in 2015.

YOU DO YOU

ALLISON LO

“Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy are schoolmates at Hailsham, a secluded boarding school in the English countryside. There, teachers, referred to as “guardians,” place a particular emphasis on keeping the students healthy. Years later, when Kathy meets Ruth and Tommy again, they must look back on their past to reconcile their relationships.

“Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson “Speak” follows the story of high school freshman Melinda Sordino, who is shunned by her peers after she calls the police on an end-of-summer party. Due to her growing isolation, Melinda stops talking. Through her art class, Melinda finds solace and learns to cope with what happened to her at that party.

“It’s Kind of a Funny Story” by Ned Vizzini Craig Gilner is a fifteen-year-old student at the Executive Pre-Professional High School, a prestigious school in Manhattan. Craig believes that his admission is the ticket to his future, but once he enters, he realizes that he is just average compared to his peers.

Overwhelmed by the academic pressure, Craig stops eating and sleeping, until one night he attempts suicide. Craig is admitted to a psychiatric hospital, where he meets fellow patients and is finally able to confront his anxiety. Inspired by author Ned Vizzini’s hospitalization for depression in 2004, “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” was later adapted into a film released in 2010.

“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak “The Book Thief” follows Liesel Meminger, a nine-year-old girl from outside of Munich, Germany during World War II. While living in Nazi Germany, her foster parents secretly teach her to read and write. Liesel begins to steal the books that the Nazi party seeks to destroy and starts writing her own stories to share with the world.

COMPILED BY STEPHANIE SHI

Over the Summer

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Track and Field State Finals

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Pioneer Day

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Tuesday, August 9

lifestyles editor

Many people think that being the youngest child in the family is easy. It is assumed that older siblings are always there to guide you through life and pave the way for your future. As someone with two older brothers, I can safely say that being the baby of the family is not always as easy as it seems.

To say that my brothers did well in school would be an understatement. They were model students in even the most advanced classes, and I grew up with the constant reminder that being at the top was the bare minimum. To my parents, my brothers had the whole package — straightA’s, high test scores, leadership positions, and countless extracurriculars.

I found that the expectations that others held for me were based almost entirely on the prior achievements of my brothers. I was expected not only to do as well as they had, but to do even better. The pressure to be a perfect student only grew when my brothers were accepted into some of the top universities in the state, as I knew that others would be expecting nothing less from me.

It frustrated me to be constantly held to impossible standards set by someone else. School never came as naturally to me as it did to my brothers; I had to work so much harder to accomplish what they had considered a piece of cake. It was not as if I could control how smart or talented I was, and it hurt knowing that I was, in every way, last and also least.

I am not going to lie and say that this problem magically disappeared overnight. The pressure to be as highachieving as my siblings has always been a major factor in my life. It is difficult to change a mentality that has been so deeply ingrained in me for as long as I can remember. Even now, I still occasionally catch myself making comparisons and feeling competitive. However, after sixteen years of trying to keep up with my brothers, I am finally coming to terms with being different. I am learning to take pride in my own accomplishments and to pursue what I am truly passionate about, rather than turning my life into another checklist. Learning to accept myself is still a work in progress, but I do know this much: there is more to life than chasing after someone else’s achievements.

I am sure many people can relate when I say that living in the shadow of your siblings is tough, especially in a place as competitive as Cupertino. We are always comparing and being compared. But choosing your own path is not something to be looked down upon — it is something to be encouraged.