The Raven Report Issue 4 (2017-2018)

Raven Report Sequoia High School

Volume XI, Issue 4

1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062

December 18, 2017

From violinists to drummers, musicians orchestrate success

By HANNAH KLONINGER-STEVER Staff Reporter

Sequoia’s Bands and Orchestra have put themselves out there to showcase their musical and performing skills.

The groups have been rehearsing since the start of the school year and wrapped up the season with winter concerts Dec. 6 and 7. This semester, each group welcomed about 20 incoming freshman and new students to its ranks.

“It’s a big leap from middle school,” junior percussionist Jacob Givens said.

“I think the freshmen are doing a very good job of getting used to the new program and adjusting to the pieces we’re playing.”

While Band has separate intermediate and advanced classes, in orchestra there are not enough people to do so; therefore, all Orchestra students are in one class. Senior Eva Gillet, who has played violin for about ten years, joined orchestra as a freshman and has continued with it ever since. “[Having only one group] can be a challenge because of the wide range of experience on the instruments, but we have sectionals where we work on spots that are really hard,” Gillet said.

“Sectionals are one of my favorite things that we do.”

Net neutrality laws under fire, putting equal access at risk

By JAY TIPERNENI Staff Reporter

Photos by Hannah Kloninger-Stever

Orchestra plays during the winter concert Dec. 6. Both Advanced Band and Band II held their Winter Concert the following night.

Both Orchestra and Band have also cellos or basses sometimes because of faced challenges with being relocated how the room is shaped.” to the A-Wing as of last year, and havOrchestra has had difficulty as ing a hard time hearing well with not having “It’s a big leap from middle all of the instruments enough uniforms to school. I think the freshmen in a smaller space. As fit all of the students, are doing a very good job of of Dec. 14, they have and had to simplify getting used to the new probeen in the process of the outfits. Despite gram and adjusting to the moving into the renothese practical inconpieces we’re playing.” vated M-Wing. veniences, band and —Jacob Givens, [The building in the orchestra continue to junior A-Wing] is supposed take on and master to be a classroom, and the room that difficult repertoire. When a piece for we had in the M-Wing was specifically intermediate band came late in the for band and orchestra,” Gillet said.

See MUSIC, page 2 “In the A-Wing I can’t even hear the

‘Rocky’ start to Nicotine renovations ternate between playing on the football field and outfield of the softball field.

“We can’t have as effective of practices because you’re always trying to avoid the The construction on the new Nicotine turf field next to the football field puddles, and the grass is really thick, so was delayed recently after its initial start it’s hard to play on, and the lighting isn’t earlier this year due to a mishap in the as good on that field, so sometimes we have to call practice eartype of rock used by the contracting com“We can’t have as effective ly,” junior soccer player Chloe Sharratt said. pany. of practices... so sometimes we The new field will have The rock was inhave to call practice early” lights, which is critistalled as the material

—Chloe Sharratt, cal for allowing teams to go underneath the junior to practice during the turf. Workers soon diswinter season as it gets covered that it doesn’t darker earlier. drain properly.

“It’s a different type of field, so when As a result, the girls’ and boys’ soccer teams won’t be able to practice on the we try to come to the turf, compared to new field this season, which they hoped the grass, the style of playing is way difwould happen. Instead, the teams al- ferent,” senior Hector Echeverria said.

By SARAH FAZIO Staff Reporter

Spread: Segregation in our hallways: division among diversity

Page 4-5

“The rock that was supplied by the quarry wasn’t matching the specifications of what’s needed for proper drainage, so it seems like it was mistake on the quarry’s end,” said Melissa Schmidt, varsity girls’ soccer coach and athletic director.

The original estimate for the field was $1.5 million. However, the new rock will not cost the district. “I don’t think it’s actually going to cost the district anything, as a result of this. I think that that’s all between the people installing the field and the quarry itself. But I don’t think we get an impact,” Schmidt said.

The field will be ready ideally in January 2018 and will be used as a practice field by the football teams in the fall, soccer in the winter, and lacrosse in the spring.

17

A monumental vote on whether net neutrality laws will be kept or repealed occurred Dec. 14. Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers (ISPs) such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon, have to treat all data and users on the internet equally.

Without net neutrality, internet service providers can dictate access to certain sources and how fast or slow your internet speeds are based on the source. For example, if Comcast doesn’t sponsor or support Netflix, then they would now legally be allowed to slow your internet speed down while on the site. The current net neutrality laws were established under President Barack Obama.

Repealing net neutrality means that ISPs could control what we see on the internet. Even more importantly, it could mean that citizens would have to pay to access certain websites.

“If I had the power to do so, I’d have to say I would agree with removing net neutrality.” freshman Mason Watkins said. “Leave [the internet] for the business and the people.”

Many people who don’t support net neutrality believe that the government is inefficient and detrimental to the private industry’s success and that it should be left to the people and corporations. One example of government inefficiency that Watkins cites is the DMV. Watkins argues that if internet service were to be regulated by the government, similar to the DMV, then internet users would suffer.

“The [DMV] is controlled by the government. Now the service

See NET NEUTRALITY, page 2

By the Numbers: States suing the FCC (Federal Communications Commision) over Net Neutrality repeal

2 NET NEUTRALITY from page 1 is chaotic and the lines are long,” Watkins said.

For most students and others around the country, support for net neutrality is widespread.

Many advocacy groups have supported of net neutrality.

One of these, BattlefortheNet. com, encourages viewers to contact their congressional representative to stop the repeal.

“The more freely [internet] is available to consumers, the better,” programming teacher Cameron Dodge said.

Sequoia currently gets internet access through the County Office of Education, so its internet may not be affected, but students’ and teachers’ internet

Feature access outside of school will be affected. “[No net neutrality] would make using the internet harder, and that’s not acceptable,” sophomore Michael Simon said.

If net neutrality were repealed, the US could see a similar situation to that of Portugal, where ISPs make customers pay for “internet packages”.

These packages are categorized as social media, entertainment, work, etc. Users have to pay for each package monthly, which is separate from payments required to access paid internet services.

“Internet access is something that should be available to all and should be encouraged, not diminished,” Dodge said.

MUSIC from page 1 mail, they set their minds to perfecting it in a much more limited time frame. Band also had to quickly put together a makeshift bass drum using another drum and felt after the original drum broke during a football game. Fortunately, they were able to persevere and make everything work smoothly.

Band’s two groups have separate rehearsals and repertoire, but they come together to play concerts, football games and rallies.

“Advanced Band took on a released classic, standard band piece that’s really hard that they play in colleges, [which

December 18, 2017 is] Holst’s ‘Suite in E-flat,’” rounded in fake snow falling.

Band conductor and teacher Both groups have much to Jane Woodman said. look forward to next semes“We’re working on some ter, most notably playing at music from the opera Carmen events like graduation. Also in intermediate band and it’s on the agenda is the Spring got a lot of tough stuff, but Festival, where both Band and they’re rising Orchestra to the occawill play for “I’m always excited about the a panel of sion.”

Orchestra stuff we play for festival, because judges and challenged [it’s] really challenging for a lot receive critthemselves of people.” ism and in— Daniel Broome, for the winstruction.

Orchestra conductor ter concert “I’m alwith muways excited sic from “West Side Story”, about the stuff we play for fesMozart’s “Symphony #15” tival, because [it’s] really chaland they even cranked it up lenging for a lot of people,” a notch Paul O’Neill’s “First Orchestra conductor Daniel Snow.” They performed the Broome said. “[I hope] we just piece with an electric guitar, have a good time. That’s what bass and violin while sur- music’s about.”

Speech policies govern Goals unite students of classroom conversations varying backgrounds

point—in my experience [contemporary] liberalism.”

To others, teachers shouldn’t share political beliefs at all, regardless of the school’s policy.

“I hate it when teachers talk Though Sequoia is primarily liberal, it also hosts a conserva- about what they personally think tive minority—a minority whose politically,” junior Leah Dagum right to voice opinions is an issue said. “I’m a liberal, but I think more controversial than it would teachers should keep personal beliefs to themselves because it appear.

“The constitution doesn’t really limits the conversation bedisappear when you walk into tween liberals and conservatives. school,” Principal Sean Priest Things should just be unbiased at said. “But it isn’t that simple. school.”

To others, it isn’t an issue that There was a board policy past that is as simple as a policy being follaid out the lowed or not— specifics for us ““If I share my political views, it is a societal in this district, problem that and that policy students think I’m stupid, and teachers, well, they look at me is too deep for was based on [a Sequoia to advariety of court differently.”

— Jay Miller, junior dress. cases].”

“It’s the Classes are same everyallowed to discuss political issues only if nine where,” junior Chris Valdez said. conditions are met, among them “Liberals often don’t let others that the discussion is relevant to share their views. That is very the course, that it does not “re- true here, but there is nothing we flect adversely” on students due can do. It’s being afraid of what to a number of minority status- your peers will think or say to es, multiple perspectives are ex- you.”

It is also against policy for plored and the teacher does not teachers to discriminate against forward personal beliefs.

Teachers can only share per- students based on political affilisonal beliefs if accompanied by ation or political views, though a disclaimer that it is a personal Priest has not come across this.

“We have a very professional opinion.

To many, the policy seems as staff here, and that would be unthough it is not always followed. professional, so no, that hasn’t “Teachers tend to preach at been an issue that has come up,” you to be liberal,” junior Jay he said.

Some students, like Miller, Miller said. “[According to the policy], it looks like they are sup- have had different experiences.

“If I share my political views, posed to be teaching us to be independent thinkers, but a lot students think I’m stupid, and of them unconsciously or con- teachers, well, they look at me sciously elevate their own view- differently.”

By CHRISTIAN PARDO VILLA and RIO POPPER Staff Reporter and Copy Editor

am not enough American.”

Like Agi, Leon also has an older brother in college, and, like Agi, Leon also wants to go into law. She plans to major in PhilosoJunior Yasemin Agi’s parents both im- phy and minor in political science as an unmigrated here from Turkey—her father dergrad and attend law school after.

Unlike Agi and Leon, Pierce is a fourthwhen he was seven and her mother when generation American. She, in some ways, is she was in her twenties; today, Agi’s famlucky. ily emphasizes cooking dishes inspired by “My family has a lot of connections beTurkish and Muslim culture. Agi and her older brother, Kubilay, who currently at- cause we’ve been here for a really long time,” tends UCLA, can both speak Turkish and she said. “It’s totally unfair, but I do benefit from that.” are Muslim.

Pierce does attempt to give back: she, like Agi plans to go into law. both Agi and Leon, is a “It’s important to have part of several communipeople that have knowl“I was raised here and grew up ty-service organizations, edge of the law because not everyone has the learning about the government sys- including girl scouts and time to know all of their tems of the U.S., and yet I am not the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative, a club rights and liberties,” she enough American.”

—Myriam Leon, that works to get girls said. “We need to have people that know the junior more involved in athletics. And, despite her conspecifics of those things.” nections, she still works Leon immigrated from Mexico when she was a toddler. For very hard, both for herself and for others.

“I always see [Pierce] with elaborate study her, identity is complicated—she identifies as both Mexican and American and neither guides,” junior and friend Lauren Schiff said.

“She’s always super prepared, and she’s alMexican nor American.

“Sometimes I don’t feel enough Mexican ways willing to offer help, too.”

Like both Leon and Agi, Pierce plans to because I’ll pronounce something wrong, or I don’t even know the history of my own be a lawyer.

“I guess I’m good at arguing,” Pierce said. country. I can’t name more than one president or the democratic party there,” Leon “But I also enjoy the prep part of it, too. I’m said. “I was raised here and grew up learn- in Debate, and I love the research, the arguing about the U.S., and yet I also feel like I ment…I just like it.”

By TAYLOR GAYNER and RIO POPPER Staff Reporter and Copy Editor

3

Feature

December 18, 2017

These hashtags took social media by storm Although there is not one leader or group in charge of the movement to help sexual violence survivors and bring awareness to this issue, these two viral hashtags have taken social media by a landslide.

#MeToo

—Compiled by BRIGHID BUGOS

#MeAt14 A timeline of the hashtag that highlighted childhood innocence.

Roy Moore @MooreSenate Nov 9, 2017 Moore, a former State Supreme Court Justice who ran for the Alabama Senate, was accused by at least 8 women of having sexual relations with them as teenagers when he was 32 years old.

Catherine R L Lawson @catlawson Nov 9, 2017 Lawson started the hashtag, posting it with a picture of herself at 14, to prove that children are not capable of consent.

Lizz Winstead @lizzwinstead Nov 11, 2017 The co-creator of the Daily Show gathered momentum for the movement by posting a picture of herself at 14 and asked others to as well.

MeAt14 @Me_At14 Fall and Winter 2017 Thousands of people have shared pictures and stories about themselves at 14, some funny and some reflective of childhood innocence.

Doug Jones @GDouglasJones Dec 12, 2017 The Democratic candidate won the Alabama Senate state with 49.9 percent of the vote, beating Moore, making him the first Democratic Senator in 25 years for the state of Alabama.

Sources: Time Magazine, USA Today, metoo., CNN, New york Times, Twitter

A timeline of the hashtag that has become a rallying cry against sexual violence.

Tarana Burke @TaranaBurke 1997 After Burke, an activist, had an experience with sexual violence, she began to advocate for the awareness of sexual violence survivors, specifically for women of minority background and low income.

Tarana Burke @TaranaBurke 2006 The metoo. movement was founded by Burke to help people recover from sexual violence, de-stigmatize survivors and give them a voice.

Alyssa Milano @Alyssa_Milano Oct 15, 2017 Milano, an actor and activist, promoted the hashtag to help comfort survivors of sexual violence and prove the extent of this problem, after Harvey Weinstein was accused. metoo. @me_too Fall and Winter 2017 Sexual assault survivors and allies have used this hashtag as a way to share their stories and show support for others. It has been adapted into multiple different languages, such as #YoTambien, #BalanceTonPorc and #Ana_kaman.

TIME @TIME December 6, 2017 “The Silence Breakers” were named Time’s Person of the Year, but— to the outrage of many activists—Burke was omitted from the cover. metoo. @me_too December, 18 2017 Over 100 men in high postitions have been accused of sexual violence since Weinstein.

Speier promotes anti-harassment bill

By SHANNON COAN Feature Editor Following the wave of #MeToo stories that overwhelmed social media last month, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who represents California’s 14th district, which houses around half of Sequoia’s student population, shared her own me too. story and started the corresponding hashtag, #MeTooCongress, to encourage others in politics to share their own stories.

As a 23-year-old congressional staffer, the Chief of Staff grabbed and forcibly kissed her. Afterwards, she made sure that she was never again in a situation where he could do something similar, and that worked fairly well.

“I shared it mostly because, when it happened to me, sexual harassment wasn’t even identified, it hadn’t been named and we hadn’t established that it was illegal. I told the story so that women on Capitol Hill would feel comfortable coming to me and talking to me about it,“ Speier said in a phone interview.

While her experience as a congressional staffer didn’t largely affect her future career, she still thinks that this behavior is unacceptable and should not ever occur.

“It didn’t really [affect my career] because, if you talk to most women my age who have been in the workforce, they have a me too. story,” Speier said. “It

was commonplace back then, and there the requirement that complainants sign was no law prohibiting it. Once it be- nondisclosure agreements. The legislacame illegal conduct, then it should have tion now has 110 co-sponsors, and she stopped, but it didn’t.” expects that the bill will be out of comSince sharing her own story in a You- mittee by the middle or end of Jan. She Tube video, women across the country also introduced a piece of legislation and especially within Capitol Hill have which would require mandatory sexual been sharing their own stories and ex- harassment training for everyone in the periences with her. Meanwhile, others Capitol, which passed with bipartisan have been prompted to publicly share support. their own stories, including Los Angeles “I’ve been working this issue for a renewscaster Leeann Tweeden, who was ally long time. When the me too. camthe first to acpaign started, cuse Senator I thought this Al Franken “I shared it mostly because, when it happened is a great op(D- Minne- to me, sexual harassment wasn’t even identified, it portunity to sota) of sexual hadn’t been named and we hadn’t established that take advanassault. it was illegal. I told the story so that women on tage of the “I was in Capitol Hill would feel comfortable coming to me m o m e n t , ” Carmel this and talking to me about it.”

Speier said. past weekend, Outside of

—Congresswoman Jackie Speier, and I had a Representative for California’s 14th District these bills, she 75-year-old has throughwoman come out her entire up to me and tell me how grateful she career championed women’s rights helpwas,” Speier said. “It really touches wom- ing carry and introduce bills on sexual en in all walks of life and in all spaces of assault on college campuses and in the life.” military, child support, equal pay for She is now the co-sponsoring the Me equal work and reproductive health.

Too Congress Act, officially called the “When I first got elected to the state Member and Employee Training and assembly, my campaign manager said Oversight On Congress Act, with Sena- that I needed to get involved in other tor Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), which issues,” Speier said. “I attempted to do would alter the way that harassment is that for a little bit, but then I realized, reported in Congress, make it easier and ‘If I didn’t take on these issues, who faster to file complaints, and eliminate would?’”

SEQUOIA HIGH SCHOOL RAVEN REPORT 2017-2018 The Jingle Bell Rockers Trevor Crowell Maddie Pei Zack Rosenblatt Rudolph Shannon Coan

Christmas Pudding Mackenzie Clarke

The Ghost of Christmas Past Rio Popper “Other” Holidays Candy Cane Benjy Jude Nicholas Abraham Beatrice Bugos Competitive ‘Nog Drinker Brighid Bugos Buddy the Elf Dario McCarty Scrooge Aviva Futonick Naughty Listed Madeleine Reynolds The Elves Soana Afu, Edward Aguayo, Sam Brook, Simon Clarke, Sarah Fazio, Taylor Gayner, Jonathan Guzman, Hannah Kloninger-Stever, Christian Pardo Villa, Ysabelle Punzal, Lauren Stevens, Jay Tipirneni, Sione Tuiaki, Krista Weaver Mrs. Claus Minu Dave Send letters to the editor or requests for advertisement to ravenreport17@gmail.com

Special

4

separate but

Barriers cut through Sequoia’s halls

By SOANA AFU and SARAH FAZIO Staff Reporters It can occur during the simplest interactions; a glance in the hallway to a brief conversation in class: implicit racism can take many forms, and it does.

Unconsciously, individual possess biases and judgements of people from different racial and ethnic groups. People that are implicitly racist often don’t realize it. These preconceived and unintentional views and attitudes may be less pronounced, however, the effects are absolutely evident.

At Sequoia, it is most commonly seen within social cliques. Most students make their friends through middle school or the classes they take.

Students from the same neighborhoods often go to the same local schools and share socioeconomic backgrounds. Many friend groups are very similar in both race and income level.

Latinos comprise nearly 60 percent of Sequoia’s population, while almost 30 percent are white.

The division does not end in the classroom; it With such a large population of Latinos, there extends to the lunch tables, as well. should be an equal representation in classes. HowThese are examples of the silent and implicit ever, this is clearly not the case. racism present in our society and school. These ar“For instance, in my freshman classes, I defieas aren’t completely reserved for one race; howevnitely notice more diverse classrooms ... there’s a er, disrupting them can cause a lot of tension. Stuhuge spectrum of not necessarily intelligence, but dents will traditionally hang out with people they willpower and hard work,” freshman Logan Chin are comfortable with, and these groupings tend to said. “Whereas in my math class, I definitely see be racially homologous. more commitment and desire Despite boasting statistical to get good grades and I see in Despite boasting statistical diother higher level classes there versity, Sequoia still greatly struggles diversity, Sequoia still greatly are more white people.” with representing this in classes and struggles with representing this in classes and social groups. It As classes become more ad- social groups. is not entirely the fault of advanced, they also typically beministration, teachers or curcome more segregated. Latino riculum. It is not necessarily that the two racial students begin to feel more isolated in their adgroups are not compatible nor that they are invanced classes, which are predominantly white and capable of interacting. Instead, a combination of Asian. As a result, minorities face social challenges deeply-instilled societal attitudes and purposeful in addition to external barriers. and historical separation which manifests through “You have people that are pushing to be excelhousing and income disparity, for example, has lent in school, so it’s a good environment to be in. resulted in a complex, institutionalized problem I struggle with ADD ... there’s people constantly in our schools, as well the society they prepare us pushing, so it’s a better environment to stay focused for. even though they are very rigorous,” Chin said.

Tale of two schools: Division Amongst Diversity 17

By JONATHAN GUZMAN Staff Reporter Diversity is prominent in the hallways of Sequoia, but upon entering a classroom, the Sequoia experience is dramatically different. Many diverse schools experience achievement gaps—a common pattern in America’s education system of underachieving low-income, African American and Latino students.

The achievement gap is evident in standardized test scores, course selection, dropout rates and other measures of success within education.

Admissions officers do not just look at grades, but also the rigor of classes a student has taken throughout high school. African American and Latino students make up 37 percent of high school students but only 27 percent of students in AP classes and 18 percent of students passing AP exams, according to the U.S. Dept. of Education.

Similarly, at Sequoia, minorities comprise 72 percent of the student body—59 percent being Hispanics, according to Greatschools.org. Despite this diversity, only 57 percent of students who sat for an International Baccalaureate (IB) exam were students of color. Of the 26 IB Diploma candidates of the Class of 2017, only 31 percent were students of color.

Non low-income

In the U.S., student participation in the IB Diploma Programme is uneven across races. This represents the percentage of students of a certain race who are enrolled in the IB Programme.

4 2 Black

18

Low-income

7 5

10

6

3

1 Native Hispanic American

IB English Year 2 classes include diverse books such as “The Thief and the Dogs”, originally written in Arabic, and “Beloved”, a book inspired by the story of an African-American slave, in their curriculum.

“There are a lot of institutional reasons why there is a divide. Sequoia offers more opportunities for access, but, historically, schools with honors programs have a higher population of white students,” said IB English and Health Academy teacher Nicole Vaughan.

However, she does not entirely blame the system.

“Students have a lower perception of what they are able to do,” Vaughan said.

White

Asian

Black

Native Hispanic American

This may stem from students having to deal with hardships early on in their lives. An estimated 12 percent of students at Sequoia are undocumented.

Although undocumented students are admitted into four-year universities, these students tend to go to two-year colleges due to a lack of financial aid.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) is a program that erodes the achievement gap. AVID is one of four support programs Sequoia offers to help students successfully pursue higher education. Others include BUILD, Boys & Girls Club and Upward Bound.

The recent push for minority students to participate in the IB program

White

Asian

has left some students feeling pressured into taking more difficult classes than they believe they can take. Junior Gerryk Madrigal was a former candidate for the IB Diploma but had trouble dropping it.

“They didn’t want me to drop the IB Diploma because they needed diversity; more representation of Latino and minority candidates,” Madrigal said. “If I were to do the IB diploma it would be to show what I’m mentally capable of achieving not because I am Latino.”

“Students need to know how valid their voice is. Don’t be intimidated to speak up on what you feel strongly about,” Vaughan said.

Feature

5

t not equal

Segregation set by zonation of prior schools There is a clear socioeconomic and racial disparity between the students at Sequoia. It is evident in the classes we take, the friendships we form and harbor, and the groups of people we surround ourselves with—just look around at the people you eat lunch with, or stand with and complain about classes to at brunch.

While it may not be pragmatic to suggest a solution to this partition, the root causes of it can be examined and questioned. What I have found to be true is that students tend to socially gravitate towards other students whom they are familiar with, and those people they either went to school with before high school and/or have classes with. Inherently, the people one goes to middle school with are often dictated by the elementary schools they attended, which quite often has to do with where someone lives in Redwood City or San Carlos.

Hispanic or Latino $69,954

American Indian $54,980

White $101,198

neighborhood near

Clifford ~8% Latino

Median household income, Redwood City All $100,949

$173,102 Median Household Income

$165,000 Median Household Income

Schools like Roy Cloud and Clifford are nestled in microcosms of high-earning non-Latino areas of Redwood City.

While this is not to say that these schools exactly mirror the demographics of their surrounding neighborhoods, they have much higher non-Latino populations than other schools in the district.

$125,700 Median Household Income

neigborhood near neighborhood near

Black or African American $49,085

Multi-racial $137,780

Asian $152,335

Other $62,354

From the beginning of our educational lives we will interact with and perhaps even contribute to racial segregation. Redwood City, in general, demonstrates a rather evident socioeconomic gradient and divide. There are pockets of extreme wealth, and areas at the other end of the spectrum of very low-income. This creates a problem as some schools have a very different-looking student body than others. Some schools that are “feeder schools” into Sequoia, such as Roy Cloud, Clifford and Northstar, are noticeably more white and Asian than others, like Hoover and McKinley. The root of the segregation evident at Sequoia can be found by looking at two large factors: housing and income.

Roy Cloud ~10% Latino This is certainly not to say that Roy Cloud and Clifford are entirely white or Asian or that Hoover is entirely Latino; however, the racial difference between these schools and other schools in the district is marked.

Due to the complexity of this problem, a second installment of this story concerning the inextricable relationship between income, race and school diversity will appear in the next issue.

Central ~8% Latino

$36, 175 Median Household Income

neighborhood near

Hoover ~60% Latino

—Compiled By MACKENZIE CLARKE

Silence is the speech of suppression Sequoia is a sea of diversity: our campus hosts one of the greatest distributions of races, socioeconomic backgrounds and geographic origins in the district.

Yet, within days of commencing our own journey through this diverse landscape, an obvious barrier materializes from the sea of indistinguishable color.

Though the diversity of our school community has led many of us to accept and even appreciate our differences, we are far from perfect. Though largely unintended, the intolerable reach of racial division extends even to Sequoia’s classrooms, in which we learn, Sequoia’s sports teams, with which we play and Sequoia’s lunch tables, at which we sit. Implicit segregation has no boundaries; each day of school is a reminder of how far we have come, but also a reminder of how far we have yet to go before segregation is truly eradicated.

Unfortunately, despite its obvious presence, this divide often goes unnoticed here. For the most part, we abstain from addressing the issue that presents itself in front of us on a daily basis. Though we are fortunate to live in the Bay Area, renowned for its diversity and tolerance, we cannot allow this famous

notion to blind us from the harsh reality—our road to full integration has not yet ended.

The issue is not our inherent lack of vision of the existence of unintended racism, but that we merely turn our heads to it. Such an apathetic mindset is, to some extent, understandable. Discussions on issues of race are uncomfortable and often lead only to disagreement and further unease. We fear these conversations and therefore have migrated towards disinterest in facing our faults.

However, apprehension does not excuse inaction.

There is a failure to communicate our many understandings of the issues that plague our community today, and we have been conned into thinking that there is a shared understanding. Effectively, what we have thought to be mutual was individual. Simply hoping, believing, that everyone understands the presence of segregation in our society today is not an effective enough move to alter the status quo.

We cannot, must not, be so easily halted in our quest to achieve that which we all hope for: a school community that is not only diverse, but integrated, and not only integrated, but unified. We cannot al-

low ourselves to give up, and we cannot let issues such as racism continue to evade the centerpiece of our conversations, both at school and in our homes.

These topics deserve our attention.

The day in which we allow our own fear of difficult conversations to prevent us from having them, is the day in which we allow those issues to win. It is the day in which we fail to meet our own moral duties to work for a better now and a better future. The day we cease to discuss discrimination is the day we allow it to prevail, to continue to plague or school and our community.

We need not allow ourselves to skate over sticky situations and difficult conversations; we must approach these head on with vigor and the knowledge that our discomfort is temporary.

With this in mind, we suggest that you view implicit segregation from a new perspective. We ask that you not take upon yourself to bring and end to the issue, but merely that you start and continue those conversations. By communicating our understandings of the causes and our experiences of the effects, we may finally stop this reprehensible process.

6

opinion

December 18, 2017

Fitness testing sets unrealistic standards for students create individual goals throughout their own high school P.E. careers.

“Everyone comes from different backgrounds, so not everyone comes in with Once a year, our the same attitude towards health and fitso called “fitness ness, so one of the biggest goals for the levels” are measured P.E. department is to distill this lifelong by the extremely health and fitness goal in students. That flawed President’s being said, if everyone is at different placPhysical Fitness As- es, we measure a lot on effort [and progsesment program ress],” Weden said. which determines if If the P.E. department is so fixed on you pass or fail physical education (P.E). having students set personal fitness goals, Students are measured in their ability to they should not be marking students complete physical activities such as run- down if they don’t reach their goals. ning, pullups, pushups and body fat perOne of the most hated fitness stancentage tests. The tests are then sent to dards is Body Mass Index (BMI) and the state government for analysis. There mile time. Everyone must run a differare many daily factors for the results, ent mile time depending on their BMI. such as starting points, different bodies, For those that don’t fit into the healthy different strengths and the stress put on category, like freshman soccer player and grades, that significantly skew the results. cross country runner Emma Sharratt, it One factor for myself and my classmates can be a difficult situation. is having P.E. right after lunch. Among “BMI is one of the test categories. Calother larger things, the time of day can culated out, mine is not in the ‘healthy have an impact on results because know- range’ even though it is healthy for my ing myself, I can perform better at a dif- body. So, according to the [standards], I ferent time. already failed. So, if I fail one more, I will Every student’s test data is sent to the fail P.E. all together,” Sharratt said. state of California.

The current test does It is completely unfair for there not accurately represent Our information gives the state a to be testing categories with very students’ fitness levels. good idea of our specific pre-determined results, For example, the test fahealth in compariwhen there are so many different vors certain people. son to other states.

“A lot of the different “Because there types of people, all at different tests favor certain sets of isn’t an official levels. athletes,” Sharratt said. who can come out “For example, the flexito every school and say, ‘that person looks bility tests may favor dancers and gymlike they’re healthy and fit for their age,’ nasts. People who aren’t dancers or gymwe have to collect all of this data,” P.E. nasts might struggle with these sections teacher Stephanie Weden said. “They are more.” just looking for well-rounded people who If you are trying to work on certain are flexible and strong, and can walk if fitness categories that you might not be not run well.” the best at yet, there shouldn’t be a chance Along with sending data to the state, of you failing that portion of the test. It we are required to do fitness testing to comes down to the fact that some peo-

By TAYLOR GAYNER Staff Reporter

Photo by Taylor Gayner

Students must pass certain standards such as push-up tests in order to pass P.E. class; however, some students struggle to meet these standards. ple can do certain activities better than others. It is completely unfair and inaccurate for there to be testing categories with very specific pre-determined results, when there are so many different types of people, all at different levels.

“In terms of showing total fitness levels, [the test] is not completely valid because it can be accurate and give the right results, but it doesn’t necessarily give the right results for all bodies,” Weden said.

Many students would take the test even if it was not required, but a choice.

Freshman dancer Ashley Lazzaroni said she wouldn’t take part if it was optional, and Sharratt said she would. Physical fitness testing should create a safe environment for trial and error and self goals, but because it is a required test, it is potentially a place for fear and failure.

“The testing pushes kids’ limits on fitness and gets them to move around more, but they might feel bad about themselves

if they don’t reach their goals,” Lazzaroni said.

Fitness testing is meant to help students reach goals and live a healthy lifestyle. When asked what her favorite test category was, Lazzaroni answered “pull ups because it’s the only category where it’s okay if I get a low score.”

The effect of the testing is turning out the be the exact opposite of the goal. Students are not inspired to try their hardest, and they aren’t setting goals they actually want to reach. Student’s don’t get any motivation from the activities we do in P.E., so they choose to not try hard, because they don’t care. It’s going to take a big change and a lot more inspiration for the testing to have the wanted outcome.

To benefit student’s bodies, minds and goals, physical fitness testing should have less of an emphasis on counting towards grades and categorizing individuals based on calculated information, and more of

Let’s uncover history textbooks’ omissions

By LAUREN STEVENS Staff Reporter Even the heroes of history have their flaws.

We tend to forget—or ignore—this fact. Take Martin Luther King, Jr, hero of the Civil Rights Movement. He furthered equality and preached non-violent protest. But he also once asked an abused wife if something about her justified this treatment. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and The Marquis de Lafayette all owned slaves.

Franklin was a philosopher and a scientist. Washington, who admittedly released his slaves upon his death, was arguably one of the best leaders in American history. Bolivar liberated five South American countries from colonial rule. Hamilton was the architect of our financial system and Lafayette was instrumental in both the French and American revolutions. Many of these men even opposed slavery

Photo by Lauren Stevens

in theory.

But they weren’t perfect. All of these people did important things, but we forget that they were still products of the time they lived in. This does not excuse these actions, of course, but it does explain them. What we consider completely immoral now was perfectly normal then.

We should not revile or vil-

lainize them. We must separate our perceptions of historical figures because of what they did from who they are as people.

What they did was great, but they were just people living in times when racism, misogyny and slavery were normal.

Where we exalt some, we villainize others just as absolutely.

Some historical world lead-

ers that we shun because of the horrible things that happened during or because of their leadership have been cast somewhat unfairly in the role of villain, because while they did terrible things, they also did some good.

For example, Joseph Stalin.

He committed atrocities; he ordered millions of deaths. He was a dictator who ruled through

terror and intimidation.

He also industrialized Russia and made it into a powerful military nation, a vast change from the former peasant nation.

Robespierre, in a similar style, was a leader in a time when thousands of people were killed for the mere suspicion of not being a fervent enough supporter of the French Revolution.

Yet he also created laws to protect ordinary citizens, opposed the death penalty that characterized the revolution and defended against monarchies of the time.

Neither of these men were completely evil or good. As with history’s heroes, some wrongs attributed to them were the wrongs of the time, and much of the good they did is ignored.

We tend to paint those in history in black and white, when it’s really shades of grey. Sometimes, it’s easy to amplify people’s good and ignore their bad, or vice versa. Instead, we must look at them as complete people and recognize the innate human qualities that make them neither hero nor villain.

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FEATURE

December 18, 2017

Multifaceted musician makes meaningful music

By SAM BROOK Staff Reporter As sophomore Michaël Dooley sits in front of his computer, he sees all of the different tracks in his newest song lined up in front of him: drums, bass, synthesizers, guitar and vocals.

He puts his headphones on, presses play, and hears every instrument and sound he has made come together as one.

He’s self conscious about his voice at first, but then after a couple more listens he’s ready to send the new music to a couple close friends for input.

After several nervous minutes, he receives a plethora of “love this!!” texts. The outside opinions affirm his decision to press the button, uploading his first original song to Spotify under his alias, Catylact.

His love for music came from an early exposure to the 70s and 80s pop on an iPod his dad gifted him when he was 6 years old.

He started playing guitar in first grade and plays minimal piano by self-teaching and Sequoia’s piano class. He was attracted to electronica partly because of its accessibility.

“Music like that could be created by anyone, even me,” Dooley said.

He personally communicates with many electronica artists by text and Twitter. He met

Photo Courtesy of Karen Dooley

Michaël Dooley has been playing guitar for almost ten years and teaches himself to play piano so he can accoumpany himself in his tracks which he publishes to Spotify. one of his favorite artists, Case and Point, in Boston when he reached out to them after seeing a Twitter post claiming they were there, too. They encouraged him to keep making music and to “make what you want to hear, not what you think other people want to hear.” This artist was on a record label that Dooley loves called Monstercat. He has connected with many other artists on the label.

“I like the label because their artists are just normal people making music that they want to

hear,” Dooley said.

Dooley’s Spotify artist account includes original songs— using his guitar, keyboard and voice. Currently, he has two songs available, both published under a category which he labels “indie electronica.”

“Where are We” was made in the beginning of 2017. His more recent release, “Mistakes”, was created around the same time. However, he returned to it this September and released it after gaining some confidence on the piece and working on it

for some time. Dooley felt apprehensive to publish a piece where he both sings and plays his guitar during many parts of the songs. He creates the songs on his computer using Ableton Live, a digital audio workspace app. At Stanford, he developed familiarity with the technology through classes and teaching himself.

Unknown to most people, Dooley spent most of elementary school lifein hospitals receiving chemotherapy. In eighth grade, he almost spent Thanks-

giving separated from most of his family and friends in the Massachusetts General Hospital to receive radiation therapy for the growing brain tumor that sits on his optic nerve threatening his eyesight. Dooley has been fighting cancer since he was diagnosed at two and a half years old. He manages to make positive memories of his time spent in various hospitals including Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. He fondly remembers playing legos with a friend in the three-week recovery after his second open brain surgery. In second grade, he started Avastin chemotherapy, but he also received his new best friend, Goldie, his service dog.

Following his intense chemotherapy, Dooley is in remission. He started Sequoia's Unite Against Cancer Club. Every other Thursday he meets with his club Vice President, sophomore John Horan and the club members to find ways to help local cancer organizations such as Lucille Packard. In years of being tested on and tried out for new treatments, Dooley believes it is important to always keep an open-mind.

“Stay open to anything because there’s always new things on the horizon, and just because it’s new doesn’t mean it’s bad.”

How to ‘sleigh’ this holiday season become dangerous. “[One time] My mom almost burnt down our kitchen,” freshman Whether celebrating the holidays Olivia Meak said. “We lit the mewith a big green tree or a ‘lit’ meno- norah and left it on for a few hours rah, basking in the 70-degree Cali- to go to my grandparents house and fornia “winter,” dealing with stress [when] we came back, the little table pimples, sleep deprivation and the it was on was on fire because the cancountdown to winter break tick- dle fell down.”

Although the incident almost ruing through our minds, this holiday season is just what we need to wind ined the holidays, it made for a ‘lit’ story to tell for years to come. down and de-stress.

On another account, Quiroz’s stoTraditions vary from holiday to ry was rather embarholiday, some “I don’t celebrate [Christmas] rassing. more festive while “I remember others are simpler. for the holiday, I celebrate it for “All of my fam- the food and the music, and I like when I was little, I was super spoiled ily ... gets togeth- the spirit.”

—Simon Montrose, and my parents tried er,” junior Miriam senior to prank me with the Quiroz said. “We iPad thing,” Quiroz have a really big said.

“It was like [the letter] ‘i’ and a dinner Christmas Eve and then right ‘pad’ and I lost my temper and threw at midnight, we open our presents.”

Quiroz is very family-oriented and the box in front of everyone.”

For many, the most exciting part is a big believer in going all out for of the holiday season are the carols.

Christmas.

“We would always throw really From Jingle Bells to All I Want for big parties and celebrate for days,” Christmas is You, music is what keeps the holidays alive. With controversy Quiroz said.

During the holiday season, often over when to start listening to holisomething funny, embarrassing or day music, many argue that it is never random happens. In extreme circum- too early to get into the holiday spirit.

“I’ve been listening to the mustances, the holiday cheer can even

By YSABELLE PUNZAL Staff Reporter

Hey, let me take you out on a first date in the snow— I promise I’m not a flake-y person.

You make hanukkah “lit”

It would be a miracle if we could come up with one way to spell ‘hanukkah”

Are you Rudolph because you’re one of a kind

sic since September,” senior Simon Montrose said. “[My favorite song is] Underneath the Tree by Kelly Clarkson.”

For Montrose, the excitement comes from the festivities, not the holiday itself.

“I don’t celebrate [Christmas] for the holiday, I celebrate it for the food and the music, and I like the spirit,” Montrose said. “The hype is the fun part.”

Along with music, holiday treats like Starbucks’ peppermint mocha, and jelly donuts are the icing at the top of the cake. It’s a time to stuff

Baby, we need to get together before Christmas, because you can’t spell ‘love’ with Noel

oneself with the sweetest of snacks, ones that may not be the healthiest.

“You know the little sugar cookies that you get from the drugstore with the little christmas images on them?

They’re like the stupidest things, so bad for you, but I love them so much,” Montrose said. “Those are easily my favorite holiday food.”

Whether it’s the food, the memories, the music or the stories, all of it makes for a great way to spend the holidays. With family and friends by your side, we rejoice in the festivities of the season, excited for what’s to come in the years following.

2017: Year in review...

Sequoia High School January 12 Class of 2018 IB Diploma students started Theory of Knowledge in which the Extended Essay—a 12-15 page research paper—is now written in one semester.

Global January 21 2.6 million people across the world participated in the Women’s March to protest the first full day of President Trump’s tenure.

April The Figdet Spinner becomes popular among youth as it helps with releasing nervous energy and psychological stress.

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december 18, 2017

February 1 The newly constructed A-Wing opened for English and music classes to resume the semester in.

February 20-22 Girls Varsity Soccer competes in CCS round 1 games becoming the first ever Sequoia soccer team to qualify for CCS.

May 22 During Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester, UK, an explosive went off in the crowd and was later ruled as a “terrorist incident”.

May 25 The DC Extended Universe “Wonder Woman” film was released grossing $411.5 million in the summer for the North American box office.

May 19 2017 graduate Bryce Stevens’ play “178 Blank Pages” is the first ever student-written and produced play that was commissioned by the Sequoia Drama Club.

August 1 Superintendent Mary E. Streshly starts her term after chosen from a nationwide pool of candidates.

August The Rohginya crisis reaches it’s height of the “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”, coined by the United Nations, as Rohgingya refugees flee in massive number to neighboring countries

August 12 White Supremacy groups rallied in Charlottesville that eventually resulted in violent clashes between different white supremacist groups and anti-supremacy groups.

October 10-13 Multiple sports games were canceled across the district due to poor air quality from the Napa Valley fires. Students were told to stay inside during lunch and brunch, as well.

August 16 New Instructional Vice Principle Kristin Stout starts her first day at Sequoia.

August 21 Students witnessed the solar eclipse that swept across the US for the first time since 1918 during brunch.

August 17 The 10 year anniversary of the release of Disney’s “High School Musical 2”.

August 25 Hurricane Harvey hits Texas causing massive destruction with flooding and the high winds.

September 5 President Trump repeals DACA which shielded undocumented immigrant youth from being deported.

November 11 Both Boys and Girls Varisty Cross Country teams raced at CCS. The Girls Varsity broke the school record by 2 min and 39 sec at Crystal Springs Cross Country Course on Nov. 4.

November 17-19 “Chicago” is preformed

by Sequoia students in Carington Hall as the annual musical. This was the highest selling show at Sequoia as it sold out all three shows.

September 10 Florida experienced Hurricane Irma which caused massive destruction in the South of Florida.

December 12 San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee dies (below) suddenly in a Safeway from a heart attack.

October Many women and men were accused by their counterparts for sexually harassing in the work place.

October 1 During Rout 91 Music Festival in Las Vegas, a massive shooting broke out killing 58 concert-goers and injuring hundreds.

Ed Lee December 12 For the first time in 25 years Democrat Doug Jones was elected to represent Alabama in the Senate.

—Compiled by BEATRICE BUGOS

Ravens soar through the open skies

By AVIVA FUTORNICK Online Editor The engine roaring, speed picking up, hands grip the controls and suddenly you’re 100 feet in the air. For most, this is a rare experience, but for seniors Alex Strehlow and Alexander Berkaloff, it’s a common and welcoming experience.

Strehlow and Berkaloff are student pilots­­­­­—in training or have received their pilots license.

Strehlow has wanted her license since the age of 12, when her uncle, also a pilot, took her on a flight.

“I knew that was the moment I wanted to [become a pilot,] and I also knew that it would be a lot of work,” Strehlow said. “It wasn’t until freshman year when I found out about the Upwind Scholarship that I realized it was a possibility.”

She received her license in August, after completing the Upwind Summer Scholarship Program.

The Upwind Summer Scholarship Program provides a select number of students interested in receiving their credentials with license preparation, on the ground training and in flight training during the summer between junior and senior year.

Applicants begin ground school their second semester of junior year and complete in-flight train during the summer before testing for their license. “We did all of the

Photos Courtesy of Alex Strehlow and Alexander Berkaloff

Strehlow (left) with her flight instructor Sid Basu at San Carlos Flight Center. Berkaloff (right) preparing to take off for a glider flight. flights and training over the summer so Berkaloff has taken a sightly different

by August I was basically prepared to take approach to his training. After knowing my test,” Strehlow from a young age that “It’s a humbling experience said. he wanted to be a pilot, Before receiv- to realize these sorts of skills are Berkaloff began training their certificate, something you’re so disconnected ing to fly glider planes students must com- from in your real life.” at an aerospace field in plete an aeronautical —Alexander Berkaloff, France the summer beknowledge and Fedsenior fore high school. eral Aviation Admin“I’m focusing on istration knowledge learning to fly gliders test, pre-solo training in the airplane, right now and my plan is to receive my solo training, cross-county training, solo gliders license before my pilots license,” cross-county training, practical test prep- Berkaloff said. aration and a practical test.

A glider aircraft is a heavier-than-air

aircraft that is supported by a dynamic reaction of the air as opposed to an engine. Due to this, the time and distance of a glider flight depends on the glide ratio instead of fuel quantity.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, personally,” Berkaloff said. “But it’s a humbling experience to realize these sorts of skills are something you’re so disconnected from in your real life.”

For Strehlow and Berkaloff, aviation is more of a hobby than career path. However, both Strehlow and Berkaloff plan to purse aeronautical engineering in college.

Now they are able to literally reach the sky anytime they want. With her license, Strelow is technically allowed to fly solo anywhere she wants, but is trained on a plane that can only hold enough fuel to travel about 100 miles.

The biggest obstacles Strehlow has faced are the large costs involved. She would like to go and fly at least two times per month, but the cost of renting planes and fuel is often very expensive.

Berkaloff is met with similar restrictions as his flight time will often depend on the air conditions surrounding him as oppsed to the supply of fuel.

“Flying has taught me not to take any unnecessary risks,” Strehlow said. “But also don’t give up, there is always a reason to give up, but if you want something, work for it and it will happen.”

F