BRIEFS Data science

By Michael Seton

Tamalpais Union High School District’s (TUHSD) Math Task Force is exploring a potential new data science pathway as part of the district’s math curriculum starting in the 2024-25 school year. In August 2021, the UC Board of Admissions revised its policy to allow students to pursue courses other than a second year of algebra to fulfill the minimum UC admissions requirements. Instead of taking Intermediate, Advanced or Honors Advanced Algebra in their junior year, students could instead take a year-long Introduction to Data Science course as an upper-division math elective. The new Data Science pathway will teach students how to evaluate data and code in the “R” programming language. TUHSD’s Math Task Force will spend the next year developing the curriculum to run a pilot program during the 2024-25 school year.

Alaska oil ‘Cop City’

By Wyatt Turkington

On March 13, President Joe Biden passed the controversial Willow Project. The Willow Project plans to drill further into the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. According to CNN, the reserve is located on federally owned land that is projected to hold around 600 million barrels of oil. Drilling into this reserve would release 9.2 million metric tons of planet-warming carbon pollution every year, or an equivalent of 2 million gaspowered cars. On the other hand, the Willow Project would be responsible for “creating thousands of new jobs … and improving quality of life on the North Slope and across our state [Alaska],” according to the Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Environmental justice groups are currently attempting to challenge the new project in court, while some Alaskan native tribes and citizens see the Willow Project as a chance to grow their economy. The economic benefits could include increased profits and livelihoods for many citizens. However, considering the immense damage it will cause on the environment, it is questioned whether the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Progressions in the project and impact should be followed.

By Ben Choucroun

Atlanta’s “Cop City,” a proposed police training facility, has caused controversy since 2021. Activists, ranging from criminal justice reformists to anarchists, argue the 85-acre facility’s mock village and loud shooting ranges will cause overpolicing and environmental degradation in surrounding neighborhoods.

In January 2023, six protestors were arrested and charged with domestic terrorism, while another protestor, Tortuguita, was killed by police. Atlanta police assert Tortuguita had fired on officers, however, autopsies revealed Tortuguita died in a peaceful position, cross-legged with his hands in the air. Police body-cam footage has not been released, and arguments have arisen over whether charging non-violent protesters with domestic terrorism limits civil liberties.

Then, on March 5, 2023, several protesters destroyed construction equipment with rocks and molotov cocktails. Twenty-three demonstrators were subsequently jailed and charged with domestic terrorism. These recent arrests have intensified the protests surrounding the facility.

By Ava Razavi

Inspired by daylight savings, Leadership has dedicated a spirit week to celebrating and learning more about everyone’s favorite activity: sleep! Students were asked to engage in relaxing activities while also learning fun facts about sleep from posters hung up on the hallway walls. On Monday, March 13, everyone was invited to wear their most comfortable pajamas. The next day was Pi Day, where math-loving students competed to see who could list the most numbers of the value pi. Wednesday was all about relaxation with lavender sachets being crafted outside the Wellness Center. Hot chocolate and tea were passed out on Thursday during lunch. To end the week’s festivities, students were threatened with a pinch if they didn’t wear green – it was Saint Patrick’s Day!

arazavi@redwoodbark.org wturkington@redwoodbark.org bchoucroun@redwoodbark.org mseton@redwoodbark.org