The Pepperbox
June
BOX BRIEFS June 5: Senior Prom from 8:00-10:00 p.m. June 8: Graduation tickets distribution at rehearsal June 9: Safe and Sober from 6:00-11:00 p.m. June 10: Graduation at McKinleyville High, 5:30 p.m. Want to advertise or buy a mail subscription to the Pepperbox? Email Business Manager Ella Waterhouse at pepperbox@nohum.k12.ca.us !
EDITORIAL STAFF Isabel S. Wedll Editor-in-Chief Stella Waltson Editor-in-Chief Gabriel Patterson-Owen News Editor Avery Thornburgh Feature Editor Leila Barker Feature Editor Jake Knoeller Sports Editor Ruby Langdon A&E Editor Bailey Ives Opinion Editor Maiya Brown Opinion Editor Serendipity Welsh Photo Editor Eva Weller Photo Editor Lila Cohen Online Editor Ella Waterhouse Business Manager Marisa Mendosa Art Director Mari Pepper Social Media Editor Terra Sandell Social Media Editor Camden Nichols Copy Editor
REPORTERS
Andrew Mettier Bella Badberg Brysen Brandon Ernesto Cappuccio Jack Baca Jack Malast Riley Walsh Rune Bluntzer Zane Clarke
The Pepperbox would like to thank Western Web, based in Samoa, for printing at-cost. Western Web supports student journalism throughout Humboldt County and has made publications like the Pepperbox possible for decades. We appreciate their dedication to Western Web keeping print media alive.
IN THE BOX Prom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Retirees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Final Bro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Students wih Disablilities. . . . 9 Senior Profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Senior Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Latin America . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Allyship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 FLOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Questions regarding editorial content of the Pepperbox should be directed toward its editors. Opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily those of Arcata High School.
Adviser Jessi Merrill
Editor’s Box Isabel S. Wedll
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Editor-in-Chief
t was around midnight on a school day when I wrote my first draft of this piece. It feels surreal that my high school career is ending within a flash of my glowing computer screen as I sit through my Zoom classes. Never did I expect that I’d be writing a goodbye piece like this, especially from my bed, instead of a noisy classroom. When I imagined the end of my senior year, it certainly didn’t involve a pandemic or being co-editor in chief of this publication. Joining the Pepperbox was simply a last-minute thing I decided I wanted to do when planning for my junior year. I had the expectation that my tasks and responsibilities would be small. Oh, how I was wrong, but wrong in the best way possible. My first story was on microaggressions and racism that occur in what is perceived to be the liberal bubble of Arcata. Then I moved on to other serious topics like childhood trauma, took a break, and delved into the world of comedic journalism. So many doors were opened by the “simple” journalism class. The Pepperbox’s fabulous editor-in-chief last year, Fiona Murphy, and the publication’s former adviser, Danielle Witten, took me under their wings. I’m indebted to them for their kindness, humor, and guidance in an immense world of writing and reporting. Through the Pepperbox, I was given, for the first time, a platform for my thoughts and an opportunity to express the thoughts of others who were unheard. The busy “newsroom” brought a sense of comfort
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to me, allowing the growth of all areas within my being. As I wrote more and consumed more media, my perspective metamorphosed into what it is today. My thought process, writing skills, perspective, and hunger for information became a catalyst to keep me going during the pandemic. As frustrating and nerve-racking as the production of this paper can be, it is worth it in the end whenever I see my name published in ink. The fulfillment that that moment provides makes the whole stress cycle worth it. It leads one to jump right back into the chaos and strain. When this academic year started, my leadership role in the publication was prominent, but secondary. The year went on, and I graduated to a higher leadership position as the co-editor-in-chief. Never did I think such an important role would be handed to me. It’s been awkward and arduous trying to keep this paper online, in a pandemic with no physical support. I wish I could’ve done justice for this newspaper as a leader and as a writer. Alas, the year is at an end and I’ll be frolicking my way onto the Humboldt State campus and into the lovely capitalistic workforce. In the end, even with the errors, stress, and satisfaction, The Pepperbox gave others and me a place to grow beyond the stereotypical immature teenagers.
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Editor’s Box
Class of 2021
Stella Walston
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Editor-in-Chief
’ve struggled with countless introductions over my course of writing for The Pepperbox, but I think this one might be the hardest. Normally my issue is knowing the right hook or phrase that will make people interested in reading more. This time, it’s because I’m sitting down to begin my goodbye letter to one of the most important and significant experiences of my life. I started writing for the Pepperbox on a complete whim in my sophomore year. My first experience with the class essentially represented the rest of my experience with it- overwhelming, rapid-paced, somewhat confusing, and like I wouldn’t trade it for the world. However, my saving graces in the class ended up being my insanely talented and endlessly knowledgeable leaders- the incredible Danielle Witten, who could lead through anything and was unconditionally supportive, or my own Editor-In-Chief when I was Managing Editor during my junior year, the one and only Fiona Murphy, who is one of the most driven people I’ve ever had the privilege of working under. This school year has been harder than most for more reasons than just COVID. A week before my senior year started—the year that I was to be Editor-in-Chief of the Pepperbox—I received the news that due to conflicts with my class schedule, there would be no way for me to actually take the class course of Journalism. Without going into too much detail, that week was one of the most stressful I’ve ever had. There were points when I was ready to call it quits entirely. Yet here I
Friday, June 4th, 2021
sit, writing a letter for the Pepperbox. How? The biggest blessing of my life—my Co-Editor-in-Chief, Isabel Wedll. Isabel took on an enormous amount of responsibility and leadership when it became clear that I couldn’t “double remotely” lead the class, and I’m not kidding when I say that this paper would have crashed and burned in a week without Isabel’s endless patience and support. I couldn’t have asked for a better Co-Editor. Throughout the course of writing articles on everything from overpopulation on the AHS campus, gender roles in the 21st century, or even the infamous 2020 Trump rally that happened on campus, I’ve given blood, sweat, and tears to this class (but mostly just tears). I’ve stayed at the school until midnight creating formats and layouts, just to scrap it and start all over. And every single time, I’ve pushed through and come out the other side more confident as writer and as a person. This class not only showed me how to express myself through objective journalism, but showed me the genuine importance of putting a lot of hard work into something for no other reason than it being truly important to me. Student journalism is, I believe, one of the most important things that high schoolers can get into. Being able to sort fact from bias is critically important in a world where news consumes our lives. No matter what this class threw at me, I have never regretted being a part of this paper. I had some of the best times of my high school career getting to write for and lead this class. No matter where life ends up taking me, the knowledge, experience, and friendships I’ve formed in this class will continue to make me a better writer and person.
Friday, June 4th, 2021
Our last dance
Class of 2021
Mari Pepper
A
Co-Social Media Editor
s this school year whizzed on by, the big question on every senior’s mind has become: “Are we going to have a senior prom”? Well, now we know that the answer is yes! Prom will be held on June 5th, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. With that being said, this year’s senior prom is going to be completely different than usual due to COVID-19 restrictions. This year’s prom will be taking place on the senior lawn and the quad area so that people will be able to be socially distanced. Furthermore, everyone will be required to wear masks. Even with all that space and the use of masks, the limit of people allowed to attend the dance is 250 students, and that is only if Humboldt County remains in the orange tier. “If Humboldt makes it to the red
Graphic Credit: Emma Sayer
tier, only 90 students will be allowed,”Senior Class Secretary Ashlen Dickerson said. “If we reach the purple tier, the dance will be canceled and everything will have to be virtual.” In addition, everyone must have the appropriate paperwork upon
The Pepperbox | Page 5
A graduation celebration Avery Thornburgh
entry. This includes COVID-19 waivers, paperwork proving you are either fully vaccinated two weeks in advance, or proof of a negative COVID-19 test 48 hours before the event. Students who are fully vaccinated will have to submit their vaccine record to the attendance office prior to the event. On site testing will also be available at prom, but, according to the ‘Senior Prom’ website, “If an individual tests positive at the entrance of the dance, the event will be canceled,” so this method is not encouraged. Since everyone is required to social distance at all times, you may be wondering what the point of going to this year’s prom is. Well, in addition to socially distanced dancing, there will also be a photobooth with printed photos, free goodie bags full of school spirit trinkets, including longsleeve black t-shirts featuring a design made by local graphic design company, Visual Concepts, a senior slideshow, a DJ, and tables and chairs for refreshments and snacks with outdoor heating. The refreshments will be provided by the Paloma Mobile Caravan and our school’s culinary teacher, Neil Kalson, and drink options include lemonade, kombucha, and Italian sodas. Most of these changes to the usual snior prom are definitely not ideal, but a big positive is that the whole event is free, and most importantly senior prom is scheduled to happen, a well deserved reward for a year of online school.
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Co-Feature Editor
ith the end of the year approaching very quickly, many traditional end of the year celebrations are usually supposed to happen around this time. This year with COVID-19, and most of the school year being online, we have lost so many school traditions, especially for seniors. One of the big end of the year celebrations, along with graduation for seniors, is the Safe and Sober event on the night of graduation. Last year, Safe and Sober was cancelled due to the pandemic. With school starting up in March, things have slowly started to return to normal. Trying to set up events like this so last minute while also trying to keep it safe has been challenging. Trying to plan some kind of a Safe and Sober celebration is no different. The Safe and Sober parent committee this year has been working together and fundraising for a few months now, trying to plan something for this year’s seniors. To date, they have raised over $15,000 to host this event, and are still aiming to raise around $20,000. Though they do not have a plan set in stone, they do have a general idea of what it will look like. The plan is to have an outdoor and daytime “graduation celebration” that should occur after graduation rehearsal on Wednesday June 9. It will be held on the school’s softball field and upper parking lot. Vickie Thornburgh, one of the parent committee members, states that it will include “carnival” themed activities. Seniors can expect games like a riding bull, dunk tank, inflatable slides, giant jenga, corn hole, a giant tricycle track, and a DJ. There will be free food and drink trucks, and door prizes for the seniors, as well as some sort of a mural created to commemorate the event.
One of the biggest challenges of planning this is working around COVID-19 restrictions. When asking Thornburgh about their plans for keeping this event safe, she said “We are completing a public health application to hold the event. Seniors will be rapid tested at the graduation rehearsal prior to the event and will be given wristbands to be allowed into the event.” She also said to expect a Google Form to come out soon for seniors to complete to finalize the event’s number of attendees. As of now there will be no guests allowed and they will be looking for parent and community volunteers for the event. The parent Safe and Sober committee has started talking with senior representatives to get their input and ideas on this upcoming event. It’s exciting to hear that plans are being made this year for senior events, unlike last year when graduation and Safe and Sober had to be cancelled unexpectedly. Hopefully, with events such as Safe and Sober, this year’s seniors will be able to have somewhat of a normal end of the school year.
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Class of 2021
Friday, June 4th, 2021
2021 Retirees
Serendipity Welsh
Lila Cohen
Photo Editor
Online Editor
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Kathi Olesen
fter 25 years as an academic counselor at Arcata High School, Kathi Olesen will be retiring this June. She has made huge contributions to our school and has opened up future opportunities for AHS students in the form of the College and Career Center, now staffed by Darcy Robins. “It’s a rewarding job. It’s challenging, because you have to be a person that can multi-task because anything that doesn’t fit into classroom gets thrown at the counselors,” Olesen explained. Over the years, the counselor positions have accumulated more and more responsibilities, including the addition of planning the sophomore PSAT and coordinating more AP exams. Olesen reflects on her fondest memories: when she was able to see her students that struggle really excel. “My top students graduate from Stanford. I’m excited for those students, and I know that they’re on their way,” she said. “It’s the students that struggle that touch your heart deeply, that come back because they finally have it kicked in and you see them do well.” Even though Olesen has been working at the school for 25 years, the COVID pandemic was a definite catalyst for her retirement timeline. In retirement, Olesen looks forward to having more time to workout, do yard work, and volunteer at her neighborhood elementary schools. Even though she wasn’t planning to retire this year, she aims to enjoy this change because as COVID has reminded us all, “life might be short; who knows? [...] Go and enjoy the things you want to do”.
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Cindy Condit
t was “a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away,” Cindy Condit started with a smile. On Thursday, May 6th, I sat down in Room 402 to talk to Condit. With her retirement date set for less than a month away, she had a lot to reflect on and advice to share. She accepted the job offer from AHS and started work in June of 1986. Throughout her time teaching at the school, she has taught Biology, Life Science, Geology, Physical Science, Chemistry, and all the agriculture classes. A highlight of her teaching career is when she is able to watch the young students start the year off as “these terrified little freshmen looking at you like you’re the most horrible, terrifying thing in the world and by Christmas you’re telling jokes.” She has loved developing her own love of learning in her students by applying the three F’s in teaching: “Be firm, fair, and friendly”. She reminds incoming and current teachers that “teaching should be fun. If you don’t like a lesson, it doesn’t go well, don’t blame the students. You’re the one that wrote the lesson; fix it. Suck it up and take responsibility for a bad lesson.” In retirement she is looking forward to rekindling her love for painting and looking through old family photos although she will miss her students and the routine she has kept for some 35 years. Condit has been a bright light in the school community and can retire knowing she has given her students the best gift they could get, a deep appreciation and love for learning.
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JoAnn Moore
any students recall walking into Room 204 sophomore year with desks specifically configured and posters plastered across the walls. After 16 years of teaching at Arcata High and 29 years teaching overall, the person so many remember for challenging projects and captivating films is retiring. JoAnn Moore has taught Freshman Basic English, Freshman CP English, Sophomore Basic English, Sophomore CP English, Sophomore Honors English, and Creative Writing. One of Moore’s favorite parts of teaching is building relationships with students. “I learn from my students all the time, and I love that,” she explained. Moore has always taught classes that allow for creativity,
and does an incredible job of teaching students how to express themselves. Moore will “definitely miss the students the most, as far as [her] relationship with them, and all of the laughs and getting to know people.” In her retirement, Moore looks forward to reading and writing more, self-care, and spending time with her grandchildren. While Moore and her sophomore classes will be greatly missed, she has some advice for incoming teachers. “Be willing to share some of yourself with your students,” Moore explained. “[If] you can make good connections with your students then [they’re] willing to do the hard work you’re asking them to do.” In her absence, Moore wants students and Pepperbox readers to remember to “never underestimate the power of a good story.”
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Class of 2021
Friday, June 4th, 2021
End of a bromance era, full stop Isabel S. Wedll
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Co-Editor In Chief
ast year, pre-pandemic, I did a profile piece on a suspected bromance brewing in the social studies department. Who were these bros in question? Why, they’re none other than Adam Pinkerton, Owen Moore, and Jeff Mielke. I started this series solely because I knew it would be entertaining. The interview was full of mayhem, comical, and a pain to take notes for in-between laughs. But it was worth it to bring laughter and insight to the Arcata High campus. So, to wrap this series up, I thought I would interview the Bros on a nice, light-hearted topic; COVID-19 and its effects on society. To break the ice, my first question was, “Which one of you would be most likely to cause the pandemic?” “100% Moore,” Pinkerton quickly responded. “What?!” Moore responded in an offended tone. “It’s 100% you, absolutely. Which one of us spends time just in random wilderness walking around the most?” Pinkerton rebutted. The trio bickered for a while until Moore came up with his own answer. “They would infect me and then blame me,” Moore stated. Mielke agreed with Pinkerton and helped continue the banter that implicated Moore. On the other hand, Moore said that Mielke would be patient zero. This then led to a whole discussion on washing hands. With great life experience and an obsession with history, I thought these bros could give advice to the students of AHS. “Advice for the current class would be carpe diem. Take advantage of your opportunities, while you can set yourself up for success
later in life,” Pinkerton said. “Mine would be, be curious. Ask questions,” Mielke suggested. “No one can teach you as much as you can learn. My second thing would be, read. Full stop,” Moore said. Now, Moore’s usage of “full stop” led to a lovely tangent led by Mielke. “You say full stop; is it an actual full stop?” Mielke questioned. “Full stop, for Americans like Mr. Mielke, is often translated to ‘period,’” Moore said. As for their thoughts on returning to “normal”, Pinkerton and Mielke had some great takes. “[Any] ‘normal’ is continually changing,” Pinkerton said. “So, one day, it’s very much my hope that we will no longer need to be as concerned for our health walking around. But we’ll wait to see what happens.” “[I] teach turning points, right? And you never return to the same point. [You] are always adjusting. You’re always adapting, you’re always experiencing new things and trying to figure out those new things,” Mielke said. “And then those new things become old things and then new things appear. So we’re always going to be adjusting to the new normal.” “Good point. That’s the most sensible thing you’ve said all day” Moore said. Mielke then continued to shove more food into his mouth, and, of course, this led to another discourse that would eventually lead to Talladega Nights references. “If you’re not first, you’re last,” Pinkerton said. “We’re quoting the Bible now?” Moore asked. “Is that what Jesus said? ‘If you’re not first, you’re last?’” Mielke queried. “I think it was something like that. I would have to look it up,” Moore concluded. “‘Second place to the first loser,’
Isabel S. Wedll/PEPPERBOX
-Jesus of Nazareth,” according to Mielke. We proceeded along in between laughs as I tried to wrangle the conversation back to my questions. What is their advice for seniors on the brink of entering adulthood? “Be patient. You will not be the person you want to be for a long time, maybe ever. Be patient with yourself. Give yourself a break,” Moore said. “I’d say have a sense of humor; don’t take yourself too seriously,” Mielke stated. “We don’t take you too seriously,” Moore insisted to Mielke. “Thank you. I appreciate that.” “So I would say healthy relationships are probably one of the most important things that you can do for yourself,” Pinkerton stressed. “Never underestimate kindness and hard work.” “And wear sunscreen,” Mielke added.
We went fully off the rails after that comment and began to discuss pop culture and history. It all led to a discussion about if this pandemic will truly cause change in our society and culture. “[I] share the idea that we hope that the positives that are coming out of this is that people realize what’s important to them,” Pinkerton explained. He then went on to explain that many people will likely not change and proceed with their lives how they were pre-pandemic, which can be seen historically. Overall, even with the hysterical tangents, it was pleasant to sit down and have a conversation virtually (unfortunately) with these Bros that have evolved into my mentors. I’m saddened to end this series, but grateful for the laughs and delight these tres amigos have given our community. Thank you, Mr. Pinkerton and Mr. Mielke. And grazie, Mr. Moore.
Friday, June 4th, 2021
Class of 2021
The Pepperbox | Page 9
Reactions and responses; reflections from the disability community Ernesto Cappuccio Reporter
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hile some people were at home, bored and making TikTok videos, other people were worried for our lives during the pandemic. People with disabilities are forced to constantly worry they are going to get COVID-19 and die. For a while, you could not get a vaccine, which made quarantining and social distancing very important. People with disabilities are often super isolated, pandemic or not. Some people are shut out of doing stuff that everyone else can do. For example, many people with disabilities can’t drive a car, meaning that they are forced to stay at home more often than
people that can drive. Some people with disabilities have poor immune systems, or reduced lung capacity. This means they’re more susceptible to COVID-related issues, or when access to medical care is reduced. According to Yale Medicine, a 2020 study found that people with Downs Syndrome who get COVID are four times more likely to be hospitalized and 10 times more likely to die than the general population. Many people with severe disabilities found themselves unable to receive the daily professional care that they received from their school or medical teams. Lawrence (Trooper) Johnson is a two-time all-star para collegiate athlete that has had his disability
for 39 years. He got his disability from a drunk driving accident. Johnson runs the Bay Area Outreach Recreation Program and feels that the worst part about the pandemic for him is that his team of disabled youth can’t get together and practice. Johnson is looking forward to opening up practice later this year. However the pandemic has not been totally bad for Johnson. He got to spend more time with his family because he was not going on business trips, or going to tournaments. “I have gotten to stay home with my family more this year than previous years”, Johnson said. Koda Inman-Ahlstrom has been disabled for 16 years. Inma-Ahlstrom is in a wheelchair due to a
spinal cord injury from a car accident when he was a small child. The greatest challenge that he has faced was being stuck indoors all the time. Due to his disability, he has had a difficult time accessing many of the activities that he is used to. However, he sees a light at the end of the tunnel. “At the beginning of the pandemic I was scared that I was going to get the virus. Now that I’m almost vaccinated completely I feel better about going out,” Inman- Ahlstrom told me. Now that there is a vaccine, people are less worried. With the vaccination rate increasing everyday, there’s now hope that things will get better for everyone.
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Class of 2021
Friday, June 4th, 2021
Reminiscing 4 years of sports Camden Nichols Reporter
Jake Knoeller Sports Editor
Zoie Andre - Basketball 4 years “My favorite basketball memory was beating Fortuna last year because they were undefeated in league at that time and our team played so well!”
Mason Nichols - Baseball (+ Football, Basketball) 4 years “My best memory from playing baseball throughout my high school career was being able to win a NCS championship, as well as being surrounded by a lot of genuine teammates and coaches that helped build me as a player and person along the way.” Leila Barker/PEPPERBOX
Photo Credit: Gypsy Rader
Yasko Massias - Tennis 4 years “Probably the fun road trips up to Del Norte where I got to socialize with my teammates and play as well as support amazing tennis.”
Photo Credit: Buzz Parker
Coleman Barker - Football 4 years “It’s too hard to pick just one. I loved every minute of football and I wish I had a couple more. I can’t stress enough how much the younger players should relish this opportunity to play while it still exists.”
Photo Credit: Sebastian Hasselquist
Friday, June 4th, 2021
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Class of 2021 Madisen Berube - Tennis (+ Basketball) 2 Years “My favorite memory is probably when we played t-ball at practice and we took it seriously, but we also had fun together as a team!”
last season because we balled out and took many dubs! I really enjoyed playing both softball and basketball for 4 years at AHS!” Tatum Carlin - Basketball 4 Years “My best memory is probably all of our tournaments we got to go to and watching my teammates and myself become better players over these four years.”
Photo Credit: Paul Swanson Photo Credit: Ted Weller
Eva Weller - Volleyball 4 Years “I love getting to know new teammates each year and getting to play with some of my closest friends.”
Photo Credit: Jennifer Berube
Bella Volz-Broughton - Basketball (+ Softball) 4 Years “My best memory playing basketball at AHS was going to tournaments and staying in hotels with Madisen, Zoe, & Lola. As well as
Photo Credit: Maja Carlin
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Class of 2021
Friday, June 4th, 2021
What’s the difference? Bailey Ives
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Opinion Editor
got tired of people automatically assuming that if someone was speaking Spanish they were Mexican, so I decided to educate people. As I was researching, I realized that there was a lot I didn’t know either so I decided to compile some of the information I learned. There is still way more information to learn and read about, but these are the basics. Both Mexican and Latine are regional terms. People that come from Mexico are Mexican and people who come from Latin America are Latine. Latine is a gender-neutral alternative like Latinx, the only difference is Latinx is an anglicized word. However, Mexico is also part of Latin America.
Mexican is not a race, but it is considered an ethnic group. This is because Mexican people can share a common identity, culture, and religion. Spanish is the most common language, but there are many different languages. The Mexican government itself recognizes 68 different national languages, 63 of which are indigenous. Latine is also not a race, but similar to Mexican, it is an ethnic group. “Latin America is defined as nations in the Americas and the Caribbean whose residents predominantly speak Spanish or Portuguese—two of the many languages descended from Latin,” the Getty Blog states in their article, ‘An Overview of Latino and Latin American Identity.’
Latine people come from Latin America, and that means Brazil, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Carribean, Belize, and Mexico. Latin America is made up of the territories where Spanish, Portugese, and French languages are spoken. This does not mean France is part of Latin America, as France is part of the European Union. Spanish is also the most commonly spoken language of Latin America, but in Brazil they speak Portuguese. While Suriname and French Guyana both speak French. The term Latine encompasses all indigenous Latine people as well. The number of indigenous languages in Latin America has dropped from over 2,000 before colonization, to less than 600. In both Mexico and Latin Amer-
ica, there are different dialects from different regions. The most common indigenous language in Latin America is called Quechua. Spanish is the most common language that is spoken among Mexican and Latine People, but they are not Spaniards. Spanish people are from Spain, and the only reason that both Mexico and Latin America speak it is because of colonization. The identities of Mexicans and Latine are tied to geography and the Hispanic identity ties to language and excludes Brazil. If you are ever confused, do some research. It’s not that hard to educate yourself, and it can mean a lot to those who are tired of just being called Mexican, which again is not a race.
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Class of 2021
Friday, June 4th, 2021
Opinion: The meaning of allyship Bella Volz-Broughton, Maya Scanlon, LeMonie Hutt Guest Writers
Marisa Mendosa
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Art Director
his past year many people’s focus has been to improve their allyship and equity work, but some fall short when it comes to collaborating with BIPOC (Black, Indigineous, and People of Color) students, families, and community members. This affects BIPOC the most because we are continually being misrepresented, underrepresented, and manipulated. We are done feeling this way! We are the only people that can liberate OUR people because we have lived life experiencing these things; so we need white people to know their
place in this work and listen to us for how to be good allies. Additionally, asking a BIPOC of whether or not it is the right place is always an easy way to get confirmation. Feeling too uncomfortable to ask a person of color how to best be helpful is generally a sign that this work isn’t something to be involved in. White fragility refers to the discomfort white individuals may feel during discussions about race, including the need for white people to defend themselves and their actions in these situations. In situations when a person’s white fragility interferes with their allyship, the question becomes whether the person can and would be willing to truly learn from people of color. Examples of this were shown during the Northern Humboldt Union High School District board meeting on May 11 where many students of color felt as though
those who said they were allies had their white fragility get in the way and silenced the voices of the students. “I will always remember the May 11 board meeting,” Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Club President, Maya Scanlon stated when addressing the situation. “Watching the meeting unfold was not only disappointing, but also painful. The disconnect between intention and its associated harm was misplaced onto the BIPOC students. Teachers I had always admired were speaking in such vindictive tones towards my fellow, brave peers. I lost an immense amount of respect towards the Arcata High School staff members.” Many BIPOC are frustrated in these scenarios when they feel as though they must be polite to accomodate for white fragility, when in
Marisa Mendosa/PEPPERBOX
turn we also feel hurt. Continually having to educate others, including our teachers, is a tiring process, and a job that students shouldn’t be required to do. When white people say that a space is safe for BIPOC voices, we expect not to be shut down. Times like this discourage students from speaking their truths of feeling hurt with the fear of being criminalized for expressing feelings white individuals don’t want them to have. This is a constant problem for BIPOC students and is the main reason why we don’t feel safe coming to adults when we experience racism or microaggressions because we are worried about the backlash we will receive. “I’m worried how one can really grow when any mention of criticism comes off as attacking and if the only solution is to simply accept it,” Marisa Mendosa, AAPI Club secretary stated as a reflection from the board meeting. “Because being passive on things like this is what has been happening for years, and it seems like we are being discouraged from speaking our truths.. If your goal is to support BIPOC students and uplift their voices, then that is the complete opposite of what is happening if you are actively dismissing our concerns.” LeMonie Hutt, Native American Club President, added to her own experiences with these fears. “As a Native woman, I have to be constantly aware of the pros and cons of speaking my mind. For example, what kind of suffering will I face in the future if I make this statement because anytime I have spoken up for myself and my tribal identity, I have always been met with some form of backlash. I have to quickly analyze the environment for how safe it is to speak and if I will be listened to.” Bella Volz-Broughton stated
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Class of 2021 further information on equity work as a mixed Black woman. “I am usually one of the only BIPOC in different spaces in Humboldt County. This tends to put a lot of pressure on how I look, speak, behave, and interact with white people, in order to not tarnish the image of the black community. Although I shouldn’t have to represent my entire community, I have been told my entire life that my actions reflect those of the entire community in the minds of the oppressor,” she explained.
We are the ONLY people that will liberate OUR people. - Bella Volz-Broughton
Marisa Mendosa/PEPPERBOX
“So everytime I speak in a space predominantly filled with white people my mind always drifts to this ideology. I have been able to slowly grow out of this ideology as I am coming into my power. However, this past board meeting has deferred me back to this mindset, and reinforced that my feelings, experiences, expertise, and power will always be second to those of my white counterparts; regardless of how much I assimilate to the white standards of who I should be. I am not saying my activist work has come to a halt, if anything this event has caused me to want to fight harder for liberation of BIPOC communities. We are the ONLY people that will liberate OUR people. We will continue to make safe spaces for each other, protect
each other, and amplify each other’s voices.” It is great to have allies fighting at our side, but first and foremost, BIPOC must be at the center of the conversations and cannot have white allies doing all the work without having the life experience. In the past, the diversity clubs on campus, AAPI Club, BSU and NAC, have collaborated to hold a listening session for the students of Arcata High creating a safe space without having to contemplate the fears of speaking one’s mind. The Nov. 9, 2020, listening session gave BIPOC students an opportunity to share their experiences in the school’s environment; as well as, provided white allies an opportunity to listen and hear the truths from their BIPOC students. This was one of the first steps needed for BIPOC students to feel safe, comfortable, protected, and honored on campus, but it was organized by the students of color and was an outlet we created to speak our truths. We need spaces to heal together and feel like we don’t need to assimilate to white standards to share our feelings. For allies, it is important to take action and grow without taking offense when hearing these truths. It’s not supposed to be easy or necessarily comfortable, but growth comes from reflection and acknowledgement which can only come if student truths are spoken. As equity work continues next year, it’s very important that allies realize five simple things about allyship: 1) Understand your privilege. Privilege in this context refers to not having to experience or think about certain things because of who you are. 2) Listen and do your homework, refers to how it’s important to listen, research, and comprehend what is being explained 3) Speak up but not over. When it comes to speaking up for BIPOC it’s important to acknowledge your
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standing on the topic. For example a white person is not going to know more about the minority experience than a BIPOC person. 4) You’ll make mistakes! Apologize when you do. 5) Ally is a verb. This work means more than just equity for BIPOC. Something many BIPOC would like others to recognize is the relationship we have with equity work is somewhat strained and conflicting. This work can be extremely painful and draining for BIPOC students. To dismiss our pain and suffering through this work, dismisses our utter existence as BIPOC. We don’t want to just be heard, we want the same respect, recognition, and protection that our white peers receive when fighting for equity, equality, and justice. “Equity is not something that we are “passionate” about, because we do not get that privilege,” Hutt explained.
Equity is not something that we are ‘passionate’ about, because we do not get that privilege. - LeMonie Hutt “Equity is our future, it determines how we are treated and what rights we hold. Along with this, our fight for equity is not only for us, but for future generations. When we fight for equity we are not fighting because we enjoy the subject or enjoy the conflict, we are fighting for equality because equity determines our future and place in society.”
Friday, June 4th, 2021
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Faux (Not News)
Arcata High Wins Coveted Award Ella Waterhouse Parking Lot Enthusiast
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urprising absolutely nobody who has had the pleasure of driving through this parking lot, Arcata High School has recently claimed the award of “Best Parking Lot in Humboldt”. Students, faculty and parents were elated with this news since they get to experience driving through the unflawed, spacious, and overall incredible lot everyday. “It was a no brainer. The Arcata High School parking lot is simply stunning,” the award host, stated. With one entrance, drivers get to learn about patience and taking turns. These important
life lessons are not the only ones that drivers learn as they navigate through this gorgeous maze. Since AHS has a large student body, this lot mixes perfectly with the needs that this school presents. Student drivers, parents, and faculty alike all get to compete over the same few, precious spots- which, if you ask me, is a great way to learn about sharing and graciousness. With no available parking spots remaining, students get graced with the opportunity to park in bordering lots. This helps to remind students of the importance of punctuality, as they must arrive early to ensure they can get to class. Having a parking lot with two exits that lead into a four way intersec-
tion allows students to fight their way out and show some real bravery. All the cars leaving at the same time create invaluable experiences for drivers to play real world bumper cars. With an increase in insurance claims due to this parking lot, the student drivers at Arcata High School have been able to learn about how to deal with insurance companies and build connections with their local mechanics. Arcata High School happily accepted the “Best Parking Lot” award. This award proved to the school and the parking lot users alike that no changes need to be made to the flawless design. The best part of this parking lot? The life lessons it provides
its students that allow them to learn outside the classroom. Arcata High staff has announced that they will, no doubt, be receiving this award for many years to follow since the design will obviously undergo no changes. “This award is well deserved. The impeccable design and ease for students to drive through our parking lot is what made us so fitting for this,” an AHS history teacher exclaimed. For student drivers, this is a relief. The Arcata High School parking lot is a staple for student drivers’ “firsts”, and no change to that is seen in the future.
Parking Pandemonium Ruby Langdon
Student Parking in Mack
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ur annual parking lot article is as necessary this year as ever. In the past, reporters have complained about how crowded and awful to navigate the lot is, but they had no idea how bad it could really get. Usually, spaces are filled up so early in the morning that not all the students have a space. It seemed to get worse year by year with the rapidly growing capacity of our school. So, with the abundance of student drivers, getting anywhere is slow moving and tedious. But now the issues of yesterday are like a tiny little thorn in the foot in comparison to the dagger that’s plunged into the stomach of many students as they enter the campus this year. “I really wish I hadn’t complained before. I never could have
Ruby Langdon/PEPPERBOX
Cars and students flood the parking lot as they attempt to exit the painfully overcrowded lot. imagined it getting worse. Now, it’s like I’m being punished,” a broken senior sobbed. Sophomores learning to drive is always something that takes up more and more space as the year goes on, but now it’s as if the freshmen are driving too! Some students have even started
walking, biking, and skateboarding to school because of the state of the lot. “I don’t have my license yet, but every time I walk on campus I’m filled with visceral rage, just from seeing the parking lot,” a frustrated freshman remarked. Leaving the maze has always been a difficult task, but enter-
ing feels even more stressful this year. Cars lined bumper to bumper can’t even pull into available spaces without the fear of being violently attacked by other students. ¨Sometimes I get to school at three in the morning just to park across three spaces so I can make sure my friends have somewhere to park later in the morning,” a somewhat ashamed junior admitted to me. Even those who used to park on the street because there were no spots in the lot aren’t safe this year. “You may as well drive to McKinleyville! I can sense how bad it is from home,” one distance learner said. You might think that having over half of the school at home would actually lower the fullness of the lot, but that’s absolutely not the case. I couldn’t tell you why though. Out of all the troubles of this year I can confidently say that the Arcata High School parking lot has been the absolute worst of all.
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Faux (Not News)
Don’t forget your pencils, paper, and... pets? Serendipity Welsh
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Pet Advocate
ith only a few weeks left before summer vacation, cheers of “bring the pets!” filled the senior lawn of the Arcata High campus. Many underclassmen students look forward to finally returning to a semi-normal school year after summer vacation. With school being online for the entirety of last year, many people are missing their friends more than ever, but what about our new furry friends that we’ll be leaving behind at home? That’s exactly what the school board will be discussing at the upcoming board meeting. Many students are advocating being allowed to bring one pet to school for the upcoming school year. While we’ve been at home for the last year and a half, many pets have gotten used to the realities of spending every last second with their owners. However, with the return to in person school next year, many students are worried about their pets’ well being. One anonymous student stated, “My dog spent every single Zoom
class sitting beside my desk. I’m worried he’ll get sad and anxious when I’m gone all day.” While many students are loudly voicing their opinions in favor of pets coming to school, some students are going to extreme lengths to be taken seriously. “I’m planning to ditch school until I’m allowed to bring my baby duck to school. He thinks I’m his mom and I’m not letting the school board break his heart,” an anonymous student said. Other students are taking to different methods. A group of juniors are planning a sit-in with their pets. They plan to camp out at the school, pets and all, until the board rules in favor of their demands. The school board hasn’t put specific restrictions on the species of pets. This leaves students open to bringing the typical dogs and cats, along with birds, lizards, snakes, hamsters, and even pet rocks. Many bizarre occurrences have taken place throughout the vast majority of 2020 and 2021, with the potential for exotic pets roaming the hallways this August, we’re in for another crazy school year.
Friday, June 4th, 2021
Senior Ditch... Year? Marisa Mendosa
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Ditcher
he time-honored tradition of Senior Ditch Day was drastically changed by the seniors of the Class of 2021. Rather than sticking to the typical one-day of ditching school to either sleep in and lounge around or hang out with friends, this year’s seniors took it a huge step further: not attending a single day on campus. For the entirety of the 2020-21 school year, the participating seniors ditched coming to school and opted to lay in bed every day in pajamas without ever entering school premises. “We actually came up with this idea over the summer,” senior Vice President Maya Scanlon explained. “A group of us were just tired of coming onto campus after three years. We coordinated with the whole senior class through Instagram and everyone got on board with the idea.” One senior recalled how absurd everything was. “That first day was so weird, no one showed up to school and we were all just FaceTiming each other. I can’t believe it lasted this whole year.” The charade continued for a few weeks before it seemed to expand.
What started as an inside plan amongst the seniors grew to include even the staff members. “We couldn’t let the seniors have all the fun,” Danielle Witten explained. “So some of us teachers joined in and stayed home.” It was a very odd experience for many of the senior teachers to be teaching to a completely empty classroom. “Pretty much the entire year I taught to an empty room,” Government and Economics teacher, Adam Pinkerton, recalled. “It feels pretty weird and silly to teach when you know no one is listening.” In late April, some of the seniors chickened out and decided to return to campus for the remainder of the year. “I couldn’t continue,” senior Vivian Gerstein said. She was one of these seniors who decided to return to campus. “It had been so long since I had been on campus that I actually began to miss it. I actually got bored from sitting in my bed.” However, many seniors have made it almost the entire year without setting foot on campus once for a day of classes.
Photo Credit: Martina Mapatis Serendipity Welsh/PEPPERBOX
Friday, June 4th, 2021
Faux (Not News)
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COVID suits and Dwight Schrute TikTok trends Lila Cohen
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Bought a hazmat suit last March
ith the hissing of my breath and the crinkle of plastic with every step, I feel like I’m in my own little balloon bumping along on the ground,” an anonymous Arcata High student described. Hallways that used to be filled with an assortment of brightly colored clothing and unique hairstyles are now just a sea of white-clad figures moving independently. Who would have thought that in March of 2020, when we left school, that we would be returning in hazmat suits (or what have been lovingly named COVID suits). At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we started wearing masks, but it wasn’t until August 2020 that we had to wear these beloved suits into public spaces and eventually to school. “COVID suits are actually the worst”, an annoyed AHS student remarked. Students across the school have agreed with this sentiment. One thing that’s particularly frustrating for students is that there is no ventilation in the suit, so when it gets even remotely hot or sweaty, which is hard to avoid in the spring and summer months, it fogs up the inside of the plastic for the rest of the day. This has become an issue, particularly in PE class. Admin has refused to cancel PE even under the circumstances and require students to run (or more accurately, waddle), and participate in games and activities designed for a preCOVID suit era. “Watching the kids in PE try to run laps in their suits is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen,” a PE teacher remarked. Laughing, one senior adds, “I’m happy that I finished my PE credits last summer, because running in
these things is impossible.” The COVID suits also make every student look the same. “I barely know anyone here, and making friends is hard in these suits because I can’t recognize anyone,” a freshman explained. A sophomore student added, “I could be walking down the hallway and no one would recognize me because I look identical to everyone else. It’s like an extreme version of school uniforms.” Some introverted students seem to enjoy flying under the radar and the lack of social contact, but the consensus at AHS is that most students miss social connections and individual expression in their clothing and appearance. Social media has taken the place of the social contact that has been eliminated by the suits. Social media is the only time when students can see their classmate’s and friends’ actual faces not hidden in their suits. A junior reflected that before COVID-19 and COVID suits she enjoyed social media and posting cute pictures of things she was doing, but she never thought people paid much attention. “Now I feel like my social media profiles are the only way people know me so it seems way more important and stressful,” she explained. One very unsafe trend that has started is ‘suit popping’ stemming from a scene in “Lice,” the tenth episode of the ninth season of the American Comedy series “The Office”. In the “Lice” episode, Dwight Schrute, one of the main protagonists of the show, accidentally rips his hazmat suit and yells “Oh God, oh no. No. No. No! No! ” in a terrified voice. It became a trend on TikTok in August to act out this scene as new CDC guidelines made hazmat suits mandatory in public spaces. This TikTok trend soon became something of a practical joke where random people would puncture someone’s hazmat suit then
Lila Cohen/PEPPERBOX
Dwight Schrute memes and TikToks have been trending since August of 2020 yell “Oh God, oh no. No. No. No!” in a pitchy voice as they ran away. Since the beginning of this trend, we have had six of these ‘pranks’ played at school, each ending with the suspension of at least one student. Admin reminds students in the bulletin this week that, “damaging your COVID suit or another student’s is very unsafe and leaves the student with the damaged suit susceptible to infection of COVID-19.” They add that “‘suit popping’ is absolutely prohibited at AHS. There is a zero tolerance policy for this act on campus; student offenders will earn at least
a week’s suspension for their first offence.” As students prepare for the end of the school year, hopes are high. Hopefully by next year, “masks will be the only COVID protections we will have to wear so students can resume more normal social interactions and activities at school,” an AHS English teacher added. “Everyone has gone through so much this year, but we made it! Finally an end to the school year that felt like an eternity.”
Quotable. These are all real quotes said by people during Zoom classes. We had to include this page for the only print issue of the 2020-21 school year.
“His middle name is danger.”
- Adam Pinkerton, introducing his evil cousin, Dr. Mr. Danger Pinkertonia
“It’s funny that you’re so wholesome.” -Danielle Witten, on teenage quarantine habits.
“I would rather have an octopus than a toddler any day.” -Shannon Kresge, on phylum mollusca class cephalopoda.
“The bloodline ends with me.” -Carly Lankarani, on not wanting children.
“We discussed what is this? [Like] a song at a wedding? Our Song? Are we at that level of bromance?” -Owen Moore, on discussing if the Bromance has a designated song.
The Pepperfaux
June
BOX BRIEFS
I don’t know it’s no longer my problem what happens at Arcata High because I’m graduating. It’s likely we will experience some more political drama, the state reopening, governor run-off election, and so many fun things!
IN THE FAUX Hazmsuits & TikTok Trends. . 4 Pets/Senior Ditch Day. . . . . . . . 5 Best Parking Lot/Problems . . . 6
EDITORIAL STAFF & REPORTERS Isabel S. Wedll
Editor-in-chief
Stella Walston
Editor-in-chief
Let’s be real. Isabel was carrying this publication through the website, and Stella was editing each piece in the wee hours of the morning.
DISCLAIMER This is the PepperFAUX, meaning everything written here is FAKE news. It is all for satirical fun. Please, for the love of everything holy and unholy do not take any of this seriously. It’s all jokes, you know ha ha, funnies. We are just trying to be the teenage-version of The Onion! This is purely for entertainment, so don’t get butt hurt. It should also be noted that everything written here is protected by the law. As Fiona Murphy, last year’s editor-in-chief, noted that there’s a John Oliver episode about slap suits; so do us a favor and look it up. Once again for emphasis, this is FAKE.
(Yes, I know it’s short this year. HEY that’s what quarantine does, it drains a person’s creativity. Check out our website for exclusive Pepperfaux articles.)
If there’s an opinion you would love to share, feel free to email the editors at pepperbox@nohum.k12.ca.us. We probably won’t respond because we are graduating. So wait til the next school year starts to complain.
Adviser Jessi Merrill