Carlmont Highlander May 2017

The Highlander May 2017 Vol VIII Issue VI

Carlmont High School — Belmont, California

System flaws cost needy students Megan Tao You order a burger and fries at In-n-Out. Your friend only orders a burger, but she eats half of your fries.

Therefore, your friend was able to enjoy your fries without paying the cost for them.

This scenario is one that most people experience in their lifetime but don’t realize the problems being a “moocher” can cause on a bigger scale.

Free riders, or moochers, are people who reap the benefits without paying any of the costs. For example, a free rider can be a person who doesn’t pay their fair share of taxes but still is able to use a public good.

According to “The Guardian,” means-testing benefits are not always efficient or fair due to the fact that people who actually need the help tend to miss out on such benefits.

“I think that sometimes it can be really hard for means-tested programs to actually allocate funds fairly,” said Evelyn Lawrence, a senior.

This inefficiency can be attributed to the free rider problem.

One of the means-tested programs that Carlmont offers is free or reduced-price lunches. The main criteria in order to be eligible for this program is household income coupled with the size of the household.

“My dad right now is trying to build his own startup, so we signed up for this program so we don’t have to

See FREE RIDERS page 11

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Graduates explore alternative options PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ESTELLA LIPPI

Adriana Ramirez

You don’t need to go to college.

Society emphasizes the importance of college after high school, but there are many other paths students can take that are just as important as college.

“The goal is to be able to support yourself. Studies show that if you have a college education you will make more money. But making more money isn’t always the end game.

It’s liking what you do, doing it well, contributing to society; and that doesn’t mean you have to go to an Ivy League school,” said Nina Rasor, College and Career Assistant.

According to an annual Matriculation Survey, most Carlmont students do attend a college or university after high school. In 2015, 93 percent of students matriculated into a two-year or four-year college while the remaining 7 percent was classified as other.

“It might be because parents that have gone to college expect their children to go to college. There’s also so much competition for jobs nowadays. So having that degree from a college is what people are looking for. It’s pressure from all around — from parents to society,” said Rasor.

The “other” 7 percent of students indicated they are either going to work, travel, take a gap year, or join the

military, among other things. Sandor Quelle, a senior, will be enlisting in the Marine Corps.

“I plan on being in the Marines for at least my four-year contract and may re-enlist after that expires. I chose this because being in the corps has been a family tradition for a while, and I wanted to see the world while hopefully doing some good,” Quelle said.

Other people plan to take a gap year to travel, intern, or work. In May 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found jobs by designated education level. It found that 39 percent of jobs fall into the high school diploma or equivalent category while 18 percent of jobs fall into the Bachelor’s degree category.

Savanna Dillon, a senior, said, “I’m going to start off as a hairstylist, and that way I can get some experience and have a good job. In my opinion, having experience is the most important aspect to be able to do a job. It’s one thing to read something in a textbook; it’s another thing to do it hands-on. Knowing something and doing something are two separate things.”

For some, the future may be uncertain, and it can be hard to determine what they really want to do. Former

See POST-GRADUATION page 11

INSIDE THIS ISSUE CAMPUS FEATURES LIFESTYLE HOMOPHILY NEWS SPORTS OPINION STEREOTYPES

2-3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10 12-13 14-15 16

Disillusionment of the future

College athlete controversy

The future falls short of expectations

Collegiate athletics don’t pay players for their time

(PAGE 5)

(PAGE 13)

Bay Area demographics Exploring the reality of student stereotypes

(PAGE 16)

2 CAMPUS

May 2017

ISABEL MITCHELL

Immersive trips offer cultural experiences Celine Yang T-shirts for a month — check. Passport?

All ready to go. An English-Spanish dictionary because there might be no electricity — check.

You hug your parents goodbye at the airport and step onto the airplane with a sense of finality. You take a deep breath, ready to experience eight weeks in another country.

This was the experience of Jackie Thompson, a senior who went to the Dominican Republic as part of a cultural immersion program called Amigos de las Americas.

Amigos is an intensive cultural and volunteer experience that takes place over the summer and can have many benefits, such as meeting people from other parts of the world, learning a new language, and experiencing another culture.

While Amigos has many benefits, this type of intensive cultural experience may not be possible for everyone. Carlmont currently offers intensive programs such as Amigos as well as a French exchange program, but some students are interested in experiencing a foreign culture in a shorter period of time and with less intensity.

“I would do a shorter cultural immersion trip, depending on the cost. Also, I

think more students would feel comfortable traveling in an unknown country with their peers,” said Tara Najafi, a junior and Spanish student. “If the Spanish program offered a cultural immersion trip that wasn’t as intimidating as Amigos, I think it would be a good way to broaden the perspectives of students.”

Many schools that do shorter trips often do them over spring break or even during the school year, when the whole language class travels to the country whose culture they’re studying. This is a way to introduce a new culture without too much commitment.

Carlmont doesn’t offer these kinds of shorter trips at the moment. French teacher Katya Burton used to hold trips to France for her French classes during the school year, but had to stop them several years ago. She may restart these trips sometime in the future, but as of now, she is choosing not to continue the program.

Despite the lack of shorter trips, Burton said, “I highly encourage students to host a French exchange student, since a lot of them make connections with our students and end up hosting them in France.”

However, that is not to say that more intensive programs like Amigos don’t have their benefits.

Thompson said, “There were two main

reasons why I wanted to go on [Amigos]; first, I love to try new things. On Mondays we had a thing where I learned how to make a mango smoothie with my host sibling and cousin. There was also the cultural aspect of it since I’m half-Latina, so [going on Amigos] had more personal meaning to me.”

Spanish teacher Bertalicia Godina also mentioned that cultural experiences can result in different experiences for the participant.

“Some kids [in Amigos] got homesick and flew home early, so [the experience] can be different for every person,” said Godina. “However, I saw tremendous improvement in language skills from many students who went through the program.”

While a shorter trip might currently not be possible at Carlmont, there’s time after graduation to experience an immersion experience like Amigos. Many students take a gap year after high school or college, and are able to fully integrate themselves in the culture, and possibly even work in the country.

Rayna Yang, a senior at University of Washington, Seattle, took a gap year when she had a chance to go to Madrid, Spain for a research opportunity for her major. She went for the opportunity to work and learn, but also for the chance to see life abroad.

“When you’ve lived in one place for most of your life, you become accustomed to the culture and norms of the people around you,” said Yang. “Then again, you could also live abroad and still leave with the exact same mentality. Ultimately, being abroad is just one way of diversifying your experiences. It’s up to you to decide how you want to incorporate those experiences into the way you live and interact with others.”

Experiencing life in another country can affect people in different ways. Thompson was inspired by the eight weeks with her host family and wants to go abroad again, possibly as a supervisor for Amigos.

Godina, who herself had studied abroad in college, said, “I highly encourage students to challenge their worldview by experiencing new culture and language.

Students should consider Amigos or something like this because it’s worthwhile — you never know where it can take you.”

Even if going abroad isn’t possible in high school, there’s always time after graduation. Senior Hanna Francis chose to do just that — she’s holding off on college and preparing for a year abroad in Germany.

Francis said, “I think [my experience will] be alright; it might just be a bit challenging in the beginning. I mean, I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t worth it!”

John Linneball Tutoring john@johnlinneball.com (415) 986-7355

CAMPUS 3

May 2017

Sharing medicine against policy Taking medications can violate school rules Nicole del Cardayre “Hey, do you have any Advil?”

This is one of the most commonly asked questions throughout the school day.

Headaches, cramps or a fever are all onset inconveniences that can create an annoyance at school.

However, many students can’t treat these pains as many school districts have made it against school policy to carry medication of any kind on campus.

According to Schoolgovernance.net, schools generally do not administer medications that have not been specifically prescribed by a medical practitioner for a particular student with a particular medical condition.

“Whenever I need an Advil, I have to go down to the office and call my mom so that she can approve my request to the health aide,” said Josh Fong, a junior.

According to FindLaw.com, most states have enacted laws that give school systems and school boards the authority to implement local policies regarding the distribution of medication on school grounds. Those regulations and policies, however, must be coherent with state laws regarding the “unauthorized practice of medicine.”

“As a student, I get headaches or sometimes don’t feel the greatest and need an Advil during class. I think it is a little ridiculous to make someone walk all the way to the health aide in order to obtain a small pill that many families carry in their homes, without a prescription,” said junior Jake Stulbarg.

At Baker Junior High in Dayton, Ohio, 13-year-old Erica Taylor was suspended for nine days because she was carrying Midol, the non-prescription drug that relieves

pain associated with menstrual periods.

Taylor received the pill from her classmate Kimberly Smart. Smart then served a 10-day suspension and was further notified that she was to be expelled.

“The precautions that were taken and the level of sensitivity to this subject is very controversial. In some cases, I think it is OK to share a common medication, but not always,” said Fong.

California’s Education Code Section 49423 states that if a student has a medication prescribed by his or her physician, the student may take the medication during the school day as long as they follow the Code’s guidelines.

The Code states that the student must have both a written prescription from their physician and one from their current guardian authorizing the use of their medication.

The student may then take the medication from the school’s health aide or nurse.

“I don’t know how strict Carlmont’s policies are regarding the distribution and sharing of medication, specifically Advil. Many students do share medications like Advil, as most don’t consider it a risky thing because of its popularity in most houses,” said sophomore Sarah Brown.

Sammy Gingher, Carlmont’s health aide, stated that Carlmont has a no tolerance policy regarding the use of medication on campus that has not been registered through the office.

“No medication can be shared whatsoever. If you have to take a certain medication on campus, then students can come into the health office during school and get the corresponding

form w h ich BLIC U then the P 0 /CC H A parents and UM KUS physician have to fill RTA I T GIE G out.

All medications have to be E R in a sealed bag, even if it’s something as simple as Neosporin,” said Gingher.

Carlmont’s policy towards medication has few exceptions regarding the use of personal medication on campus.

“The only exception for any medication that students may carry on them at all times are inhalers and EpiPens,” said Gingher.

At many schools, including Baker Junior High, suspension and expulsion are measures that are taken when dealing with the matter of shared medication on school grounds.

“If I feel that the student was unaware of the medication policy, I will confiscate the medication and remind them of Carlmont’s policies. However, on a second offense, the medication will be confiscated and administration will become involved depending on how severe the case is,” said Gingher.

IN

A DOM

Senioritis afflicts many as school winds down Ryan Geronimo With a little less than a month of school left, working and studying diligently is the last thing on the mind of the typical senior.

“Senioritis” is properly defined by Merriam-Webster as “an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades.”

Yes, “senioritis” is an actual word that has been defined by an actual dictionary.

According to an article for NBC, the National Association for College Admission Counseling calculated that 22 percent of colleges revoked an offer of admission in 2009. Of those revocations, 65 percent were because of the final grades of the student, who chose to take it easy the final months of high school.

The months of March, April, and May are often filled with exciting new things, such as college acceptances, as well as not as exciting things, such as AP testing and finals. Depending on the student, they also might have extracurriculars such as band or a sport that they are committed to for the rest of the school year.

According to the official College Board website, colleges still expect their students to maintain their focus in their courses, as they reserve the right to question drops in

grades and rescind a future student if they find it necessary.

Quoted directly from the College Board website, “Colleges may reserve the right to deny admission to an accepted applicant should the student’s senior-year grades drop. (Many college acceptance letters now explicitly state this.) Admission officers can ask a student to explain a drop in grades and can revoke an offer of admission if not satisfied with the response.”

After hearing back from colleges, some students may tend to take it easy once they solidify where they are going in the future.

“I have committed to a four-year university, so oftentimes I feel that the work that I should be completing, in actuality, will not get me anywhere,” said Liam Jocson, a senior.

Along with knowing what the future holds, many students just settle for the bare minimum, as most colleges require their students to maintain only a C average, and in some cases a B average, depending on the school. Students may use the bare minimum that colleges require as an excuse to stop putting effort into their studies.

“My situation as a second semester senior has resulted in a decrease in effort towards daily homework assignments.

This stems from the fact that I am able

to get away with a passing grade in a class, and while it might not be my goal, it will get me into college without being rescinded,” said Jocson.

Although senior year is riddled with stereotypes of laziness, oftentimes seniors are simply tired. With a long period of taking standardized tests, as well as filling out college applications, students tend to be worn out from the requirements set by college institutions.

“Even though senior year comes with this stereotype of slacking off, first semester is a hectic time. There’s college applications, classes that are still counted towards college acceptances, and with extracurriculars, balancing everything can be tough,” said Carlmont alum Kian Karamdashti, who now attends UC Santa Barbara.

Sometimes, the fatigue at the end of the year might not even be caused by school.

A lot of students have non-academic obligations such as work and helping with their families.

Senior Olivia Manzaneres said, “I work six days a week, five hours a day. After school I go straight to work, and after that I go to the gym to exercise. By the time I get home, it is usually close to midnight and I value rest more than staying up until 3 a.m. to finish an assignment that is only worth a few points.”

It can be argued that having senioritis is just a mindset, as having senioritis is just another way of saying that one has lost motivation.

“Personally, during my senior year, I was not as committed academically as I was to my extracurriculars, and I slacked off more than I ever had [before],” said Karamdashti.

“Once I got to college, I told myself that grades mattered more now and really bunkered down. Right now, I am doing better academically than I ever did in high school.”

College and high school are two different universes; in college, students may find that they are presented with a fresh start.

“My motivation in college and high school are two completely separate things.

Although I lost a lot of motivation at the end of high school, I came to college very motivated and was able to do well academically in my first year,” said Carlmont alum Sam Levy, who is currently attending Ohio State University.

Everyone’s experience with senioritis is different. Some have other obligations that make it hard for them to do their work, while others are purely lazy.

“Senioritis is going to happen to everyone, it’s inevitable. You just need to make sure you get your work done and try not to fall too far behind,” said Levy.

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4 FEATURES

May 2017

Fair Trade gains traction in markets

Suppliers comply to demand for fair working conditions Sarah Tocatlian

America consumes more chocolate than any other country worldwide.

But where is this chocolate produced?

According to the United Nations Children’s Funds, almost half a million children work in farms across the Ivory Coast where they produce nearly 40 percent of the world’s supply of cocoa.

Hershey’s, M&M, and Nestle are some of the large companies that knowingly use child labor and slave labor to make their chocolate.

The chocolate that you gift to your special someone on Valentine’s day. The chocolate that the Easter bunny hides around your house. The mounds of chocolate that you collect on Halloween.

Hundreds of thousands of children, many of them trafficked across borders, are engaged in the worst forms of child labor — making that chocolate for you.

“Hearing about all of the horror that goes on in these countries is devastating, and as a supporter of Fair Trade, I think that the fact that little is being done about this issue is the scariest part.”

Katya Burton French teacher

According to the Daily Mail, children, usually 12 to 14-year-olds, but sometimes younger, are forced to do hard manual labor for 80 to 100 hours a week. They are paid little to nothing, are barely fed, are regularly physically abused, and are often viciously beaten if they try to escape. Most will never see their families again.

Learning about these atrocities has opened the eyes of many and has influ-

world countries were paid fairly for their work,” said Bianca Vitale, a junior.

To achieve certification, companies need to submit to audits and interviews to make sure the food is produced with fair working conditions and environmental stewardship along the supply chain. Packaged products can then bear a “Fair Trade Certified” seal, which carries a price premium.

It is easy to spot the products around stores that have the Fair Trade label on the packaging. When you choose products with the Fair Trade label, your day-to-day purchases can improve an entire community’s day-to-day lives.

“I think that it is so important to look to buy Fair Trade products, because it can make such a huge impact on so many people’s lives. In some of my classes, we go over current issues in the world, one of which is SARAH TOCATLIAN Fair Trade. I think it is important to expose Trader Joe’s encourages products that promote fair working as many people as possible to the issue in conditions, such as Organic Fair Trade Shade Grown Ethiopian Coffee. order to make a change for the better,” said Burton. enced people to take a stand against these This matter has inspired many other unfair working conditions. The Fair Trade companies to make strides towards Fair movement has gained many supporters be- Trade — trade where producers in develcause of the rising awareness brought to the oping countries are paid the fair price that issue of child and slave labor. they deserve.

Fair trade is a global and so“Hearing about all of the horror that Fair Trade certification status, which is cial movement that first started in goes on in these countries is devastating, conferred by independent groups to dethe United States in the 1960’s. Its and as a supporter of Fair Trade, I think note environmental sustainability and fair stated goal is to help producers in that the fact that little is being done about working conditions, has surprisingly been developing countries achieve better this issue is the scariest part,” said French around for years. teacher Katya Burton.

Independent groups, including Fair trading conditions and to proAlthough some large companies haven’t Trade USA, provide certifications to a host mote sustainable farming. The way done anything about the exploitation of la- of products that people buy in stores, rangthat the majority of trade in these bor that they use for the manufacturing of ing from fruit and nuts to home goods. The developing countries is currently their products, the issue of child and slave certification is most commonly associated carried out involves child labor labor has gained more attention. with coffee, which launched the Fair Trade and slave labor. Members of the “I have heard that the company Ferrero, movement in the 1990s. movement advocate the payment of the company that makes Nutella, uses child “Trader Joe’s sells different sorts of Fair higher prices to exporters, as well as labor to make their products. I am a big fan Trade coffee, such as their Organic Fair improved social and environmental of Nutella, there is almost always a jar of Trade Shade Grown Ethiopian Coffee and standards to be able to put an end it in my kitchen, but learning about how their Organic Fair Trade Wake Up Blend. they use child and slave labor really turns I know some people that buy this because to the unfair treatment of workers me away from buying it,” said Salma Sebt, of the fact that they can enjoy their coffee from these countries. a junior. knowing that the farmers in those third-

What is Fair Trade?

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Your dream is our reality

FEATURES 5

May 2017

Where are we headed?

Scientists continue the search for a cure Jonny Pappas

Despite the years of research and growing awareness and support, families continue to watch their loved ones die every day.

If the media continues to tell us that we’re so close to curing cancer, where’s the cure?

The fact that cancer is still so prevalent in our world after decades of fighting it is not only scary to most people, but surprising. We have allocated an enormous amount of resources to this issue and it still feels like we have made little, if any, progress.

The effect that cancer has on not only its victims but those around them is profound.

Madeleine Lyell, a recovering cancer patient, had to experience this firsthand as she had stage I breast cancer in 2014.

“I remember thinking that I may not be around to see my children get married, have their own children, and be happy in their own lives,” said Lyell.

Dr. Brian Missett, Radiation Oncologist for Kaiser Family Medical Foundation, doesn’t look at it in those terms.

“I think about it from a perspective relating to disease that we see in medicine and other venues. A lot of what we are seeing with cancer is that we have the ability to treat it effectively enough so that we can turn it into a chronic disease [rather than a terminal disease.] This means that if someone is diagnosed with cancer, it may be a kind of cancer that we can make go away initially, but they are still at risk for having it come back,” said Missett.

“So no, we haven’t technically cured cancer, but our treatments are effective enough for now.”

The promise for a cure started back when people first discovered what cancer was and how it worked at the most basic of levels.

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is the name given to a collection of related diseases. Cancer in action is when some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues.

Normally, human cells grow and divide to form new cells.

When cells grow old or become damaged, they die and new ones grow.

Cancer happens when a mutation occurs that blocks the signal that tells the cell to stop reproducing, causing uncontrolled growth and the formation of tumors.

The biggest hope people received as a country, and as a society, was when Nixon signed the National Cancer Act of 1971, officially starting the war on cancer.

However, since then, cancer has spread across our nation and it’s getting worse and worse.

According to CNN, more than 500,000 people die from cancer each year and 471.62 new cases of cancer are diagnosed per every 100,000 people worldwide.

Although the mortality rate has been steadily dropping since the early 1990s, the amount of people being diagnosed has increased.

Eleventh-grader Jason Lloyd’s grandmother died of lung cancer in 2014. When he reflects on how that shaped both his own life and the lives of his whole family, he believes that it was very impactful.

“It made us open our eyes and say ‘you gotta do what you want and you got to do it quick,’” said Lloyd.

From the perspective of many experts, society will most likely never find an end-all cure to cancer, but rather develop more targeted and more personal treatments.

“I think about it the same way a lot of people think about the characteristics of a community. It would absolutely be a better place if we lived in a more peaceful community or a community with less crime, but that’s not the reality. That doesn’t mean that folks should not hope for it or try to get closer to it though,” said Missett.

Although strides have been made towards finding a cure, the scientific community still has a long road ahead. According to the Federal National Institutes of Health, Washington funded $4.8 billion in cancer research in 2013.

Funding has averaged $4.9 billion over the past six years. Global spending on cancer medications rose 10.3 percent in 2014 to $100 billion from $75 billion in 2010.

As the search for a cure continues, new research is released to help people better understand how specific cancers should be treated.

The hope for a cure is still out there, but the pursuit of a perfect treatment is yet to be found. With all the money and resources provided, the people of the developed world have the ability to continue to put pressure on scientists everywhere to eradicate cancer.

All in all, scientists may not be as close to a cure as the media is telling people, but hopes are high in the medical community that one day we will think of cancer the same way as we think of the common cold — nothing more than a resolvable burden.

The future of cancer research is broad and will continue to produce the possibility of a cancer-free society.

The end of the world is closer than ever Jackson Monge

“I remember thinking that I may not be around to see my children get married, have their own children, and be happy in their own lives.”

Madeleine Lyell

recovering cancer patient

“There likely won’t be a nuclear free-for-all, but a more limited exchange.

But it would still heavily damage electronics and the environment and hurt economically strategic locations.”

Jarrod Harrison history teacher

“ A lot of what we are seeing with cancer is that we have the ability to treat it effectively enough so that we can turn it into a chronic disease.”

Dr. Brian Missett

Radiation Oncologist, Kaiser

From Evangelical preachers to “doomsday preppers,” people have their own predictions about what will cause the end of the world. The threats facing the world today are far more tangible than a massive solar flare or a zombie apocalypse.

Could the lowering crop diversity because of genetically modified (or GM) crops be the end of us? Could it be the “super pests” that GM crops create that kill off and harm the ecosystem?

Or will the end of the world come from the extinction of necessary species we need to grow and cultivate plants?

Or could our downfall come from our own designs — from a massive war and nuclear exchange?

With a decreasing biodiversity in plants, ecosystems are being harmed.

The United Nations, in weighing GM crops’ pros and cons, said, “GM crops could pose a threat to crop biodiversity, especially [in] areas that are centres of origin of that crop... GM crops could substitute traditional farmers’ varieties that have been bred or evolved to cope with local stresses.”

GM crops are engineered to grow faster and yield more. This allows them to easily invade new areas. Since many GM plants are genetically identical, there may be a shared weakness, meaning if exploited in one, all of its copies are susceptible as well.

According to the National Academies Press, “Homogeneity and uniformity can offer substantial advantages... but this same genetic homogeneity can also reflect greater susceptibility [to] pathogens... The [more] uniformity over large areas, the more vulnerable such varieties are to losses from epidemics.”

Mass crop failures could happen if destructive super pests are able to kill swathes of GM crops with uniform genetic code.

With biodiversity, plants are genetically diverse and have various strengths and weaknesses among its own species. This means that super pests could only affect some, not all, of a species.

“GMOs’ resistant traits can strengthen invasive species,” said junior Casey Felton.

“I don’t think it’s as much of a threat to the ecosystem as it is to biodiversity.”

Not all GM crops share the same exact genes, and each company has their own unique strains.

How e v e r, they are wide-

spread, which means one pest can kill only one variation.

The endangerment of bats and bees are detrimental to the world’s ecosystem.

According to Think magazine, bees and other pollinators pollinate 87 percent of the plants we use regularly for food, medicine, and raw materials.

Additionally, 70 percent of the world’s crops need pollinators to grow and reproduce. These crops increase biodiversity through cross-pollination across the different species of plants.

“We need plants to grow, and pollinators are an important part of that,” said Risako Nozaki, a junior.

“Wind and human pollination are not as efficient as bees and other animals. It’s less work for us, and it’s the animals’ natural job in the ecosystem. If they are gone, animals that eat them will start to go away, and the animals they eat will over populate. The chain of the ecosystem will begin to break.”

Aside from threats to the environment, war is a possibility.

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists has a hypothetical Doomsday Clock. The clock’s time is determined by how close the scientists believe nuclear destruction is.

On the Doomsday Clock, the end of the world will hypothetically occur at midnight. We are currently the closest we’ve been to midnight since the 1980s — we’re two and a half minutes away from midnight.

“It is possible; it really depends on who starts shooting who,” said history and international relations teacher Jarrod Harrison.

“I don’t doubt a regional conflict could escalate. Tensions and conflicts are everywhere. There likely won’t be a nuclear free-forall, but a more limited exchange.

But it would still heavily damage electronics and the environment and hurt economically strategic locations.”

War hurts a country’s people, infrastructure, and economy. If a large international war with a nuclear exchange were to occur, the environmental damage would hurt the ability to grow foods and necessities to life.

Not only are there threats to the environment by the extinction of pollinators, but also threats to the environment, economy, and infrastructure from war.

Despite the gravity of these threats, they are still far in the future.

“What it all comes down to is the environment. I think it’s good to limit the use of GM crops and preserve wildlife.,” said Felton.

“Everything goes back to the environment, and we need it to survive.”

6 LIFESTYLE

May 2017

Students save up for summer fun Outside Lands and senior trips empty wallets Mackenzie O’Connell Destination: unknown. Cost: a lot.

Not only does the senior trip drain your wallet, but so do many other summer activities.

Coachella, Outside Lands, senior trips to the Bahamas, and other similar festivities overwhelm Instagram and Snapchat stories throughout the entire summer.

Once summer is over...

The Snapchat stories have disappeared, and your savings account has too.

Without the hours of schoolwork during summer, spending can increase as there’s so much free time to fill with food and fun.

Many students at Carlmont participate in these activities and spend hundreds of dollars to acquire these memories filled with cute outfits, music, and food.

Roz Soheili, a senior, attended Coachella, a music festival consisting of three days in April in Palm Springs with a series of good artists and memories. However, its total cost is around $1,000.

Soheili said, “I think people choose to spend money on festivals and trips because they want to make memories, try new things, and explore new places. I have always loved going to concerts and traveling, and it’s really fun to be able to experience new adventures with your friends. I couldn’t be happier paying [the price].”

Students have also become involved in planning the senior trip that costs $1,479 for a six-day and five-night trip.

Nicole Eftimiou, a junior, is already planning the senior trip for the class of 2018. Though it is expensive, the program offers one year for kids to pay the total of the trip.

Eftimiou said, “These trips are once in a lifetime and people want to enjoy them with their friends now before high school ends. Many kids have paid off the senior trip

themselves and said it’s an easy task because you have time.”

Although the senior trip does offer luxury with a chance for a nice tan, there are alternatives to having a cheaper yet fun summer.

“There are great local alternatives to the big-named festivals like Outside Lands and Coachella, including some San Francisco venues and the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, which can be affordable if they’re purchased right when they go on sale. Also, even though traveling can be really expensive, there are plenty of ways to meet a budget. Plus, with our proximity to beaches and local camp grounds, there’s a way for people on a tighter budget to still do something fun with their friends,” said Soheili.

Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, a writer for Money Magazine, also believes that some summer adventures are worth the amount of money such as a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

O’Shea-Evans said, “There are aquariums, and then there’s the Monterey Bay Aquarium, among the best in the world. Watch rescued sea otters and African penguins feed and see leopard sharks and red octopus circle a 28-foot-tall kelp forest. It’s purportedly the biggest aquarium exhibit in the world. Go on a weekday afternoon to avoid crowds for $50.”

Some kids at Carlmont prefer to save money and go on summer excursions locally.

Jason del Cardayre, a junior, said, “Personally, I do not think it’s worth it to put a large amount of money into things when you can find things to do that are cheaper. I do think exploring different countries or trying something new that you’re passionate about is worth it. But putting money into things that are short and temporary isn’t worth it. I surf and stay local for a lot of the summer.”

Max Ladabaum, a junior, has a similar view and says that people spend money on concerts such as Coachella,

ISABEL MITCHELL

yet only a few of their favorite artists perform.

“That’s a very personal choice on how to spend your money, but I feel it’s a rip off. I would go to an individual artist’s concert, but why go to a concert when I don’t like all of the artists and spend all that money?” said Ladabaum.

No matter how someone chooses to spend their money over the summer, the Bay Area offers affordable opportunities for those who seek them.

Kevin McGee, a junior, said, “You can make anything fun with some friends and a good attitude.”

LIFESTYLE 7

May 2017

Society’s tattoo count increases Young adults change the status quo with body art Sophie Penn Less than two decades ago, it was rare to see the average middle-class citizen walking around with visible tattoos.

However, with the growing culture of creativity and self expression, permanent ink is trending, particularly among millennials.

There are various reasons explaining why someone may get a tattoo at a young age; whether it is a symbol of a loved one, an inspiring design, simply a personal statement, or the very occassional dare.

Jen Dirstine, a senior, has an assortment of flowers tattooed on her ankle, with each flower representing one of her family members.

“I’ve been in love with tattoos for so long; I had always admired that they were pieces of art that were so special you put them on your body, so once I could get one, I did,” said 18-year-old Dirstine.

Dirstine’s friends and family fully supported her decision to get a tattoo at a young age.

“My parents were super supportive about it; in fact, they paid for it. All my friends and even people who I know aren’t very keen on tattoos really admired it and the story I had behind it,” said Dirstine.

According to Pew Research Center, 36 percent of Americans between the ages 18 and 25 have at least one tattoo. This number is much larger in the younger generation than in older ones.

Although some tattoos are fun and meaningless doodles, many are meticulously designed with a deeper intent.

Psychology teacher Michelle Mckee has multiple tattoos, including an Ichthys, a Bible verse, and a Celtic trinity cross. All of her tattoos have a deeply personal meaning, and there is a story behind each one.

“I have rules about tattoos for myself. I have to want it for at least a year before I get it, and it has to be in a place that’s visible to me, because it is for me,” said Mckee.

With the increase in popularity of tattoos comes a change in the connotation.

Mckee said, “I feel that TV shows about tattooing have really changed the stigma of them and shown them as more of an art form. Tattoos are so prevalent, it seems like they are more accepted now.”

The launching of “Miami Ink” in 2005 marked the first popular reality TV show about tattoos. The show is based out of a tattoo parlor in Miami Beach, Florida.

For the first time, viewers could get a glimpse into the world of ink and watch the process of tattooing, without actually stepping foot in a parlor.

The show was wildly successful, with six seasons and air time in over 160 countries.

The rise of tattoos in pop culture and media resulted in a shift in societal views. As they became socially acceptable, more and more people began getting inked.

This contemporary trend was especially popular among America’s youth.

According to a study cited in 2016 Huffington Post article “Tattoos in the workplace: The research Forbes was too lazy to do,” 86 percent of young professionals did not think that piercings and tattoos reduced the chance of getting jobs.

“I think there’s a different standard of tattoos with millennials. There’s more of a drive towards individualism, and I think tattoos are a physical representation of inner selves,” said Sophie Clark, a senior.

Modern pop culture has brought a shift in the connotation of tattoos, and young adults have emerged as the face of the trend.

“I do not think that kids are given enough credit when it comes to making decisions for themselves,” said Dirstine.

“I believe if you are passionate and desire something enough, there should be no reason for someone to ever tell you, no matter how young you are, that you don’t know what’s best for yourself.”

SKYLAR WEISS

Jen Dirstine, a senior, models a tattoo on her ankle.

Each flower represents a family member.

SKYLAR WEISS

Sophie Clark, a senior, has a tattoo on the inside of her arm. It represents the challenge of fear.

Teacher interactions exceed classroom walls Nour Zabaneh

The traditional high school teacher-student relationship begins and ends with the school day.

The day-to-day conversations betweeen them tend to consist of science, math, English, and other subjects, with the occasional conversation involving personal lives.

However, the adequacy of the teacherstudent relationship can all come to an end with a phone and a simple follow request.

With the incorporation of social media, student and teacher interactions now can go beyond the classroom and into the cyberworld. Just by a “friend request” or “follow,” both parties are given full access to each other’s personal lives.

But questions arise regarding the appropriate boundaries — what differentiates appropriate and inappropriate teacher and student interaction on social media? Are these boundaries guided by one’s ethical guidelines or by the law?

“At Carlmont, there are no formal school policies regarding social media, so we ex-

pect staff to use their best judgment,” said Instructional Vice Principal Jen Cho. In 2011, Missouri passed Senate Bill 54, deeming it illegal for teachers and students to interact after school on any forms of social media.

The bill’s goal was to regulate and limit any teacher-student interaction before it became inappropriate, but the extreme policy did not last long. Missouri State Teachers Association challenged the bill and deemed it unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

The court granted a preliminary injunction, but the Missouri State Teachers Association passed a new version of the law so that the 529 school districts in Missouri had to adopt a less strict policy.

Due to the lack of regulation at Carlmont, some students and staff share friendly interactions on campus, as well as on the internet.

Carlmont 12th-grader Matt Irwin connects online with his choir teacher Genevieve Tep. He said, “I’ll text Mrs. Tep outside of

the classroom if I have any questions about anything related to choir or Choir Council. I feel like it’s super beneficial because it keeps the lines of communication open beyond the school day.”

These interactions include Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, as well as other social media outlets.

“I communicate with students on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Usually, it will be my clerk group; [I] definitely want to have them on iMessage so that we can communicate when there are meetings, and so that they can negotiate with the office. That would be the most formal way of communication,” said Cho. Many of these interactions are open to the public, so anyone following either of the participants can see this correspondence. Only through Snapchat and forms of direct messaging does the communication become private.

“Other students I have on social media are anyone that I have been having conversations with throughout the year, and I have a lot of students that I check in on,”

said Cho. Similar to campus interaction, staff are expected to follow not only the law and the regulations of the school, but also act with the correct ethical guidelines even outside of school.

“Our communication at school and on social media is very similar, if anything, [Tep] is more friendly on social media. She utilizes things such as gifs, emoticons, and bitmojis to communicate emotional intelligence,” said Irwin, reflecting on his relationship with Tep. At Carlmont, staff and students have built strong relationships due to their ability to freely communicate. Although there is a lack of policy, the years of correspondence have remained appropriate.

“Part of the reason why Carlmont students and teachers have such a strong relationship is because the trust is built between both parties throughout the years.

But, trust is something that takes a long time to build and only one instance to break, so there’s pressure on everyone to remain appropriate,” said Irwin.

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Your friends in high school shape your friends forever Hanalei Pham

HOMOPHILY Athletes are friends with other athletes. Smart people associate with other smart people. Rich people with other rich people. White with white. Black with black.

In the 1950s, sociologists coined the term homophily to describe people’s tendency to associate with people who are similar to themselves, according to the New York Times Magazine. Birds of the same feather truly do flock together.

In their paper “Birds of a Feather: Homophily in Social Networks,” sociologists Miller McPherson, Lynn SmithLovin, and James Cook wrote, “Similarity breeds connection.”

However, while similarities bring people together, differences serve as divisions, keeping people apart.

Homophily manifests itself due to similarities and differences in status, way of life, interests, and beliefs, and its effects have been seen in many forms from peers to friendships and confidants to romantic relationships.

BAY AREA In schools, the effects of homophily on friend groups can be quite profound.

A survey conducted by Public Religion Research Institute in 2013 found that 65 percent of black Americans reported only having black friends, and 75 percent of white Americans said they had only whites in their social circle.

At Carlmont, many friend groups are formed along racial lines.

Sophie Liu, a junior, said, “Almost all of my friends are Asian. This is primarily because where I was seated in middle school. But besides that, I think it’s the level of classes I’m taking; they just tend to have more Asians in them. Also, I think people tend to be friends with people who are of a similar race because you culturally identify with people of the same ethnicity. For example, you share the same holidays, languages, and home situations.”

According to McPherson, Smith-Lovin, and Cook, “Race and ethnicity are clearly the biggest divide in social networks today in the United States.” In essence, people predominantly associate with those who are ethnically similar to themselves.

For many years, students from East Palo Alto were split among the five high schools in the district. However, since Sequoia Union High School District made the decision to stop separating East Palo Alto students and instead allow them to attend Menlo-Atherton, diversity at Carlmont has declined and its lack of racial integration has become more apparent.

Earl Kwofie, a junior, said, “Groups in Carlmont represent the student population more times than not, but with regards to various mono-racial groups, it’s not a racial or racist thing. People like being around people who look like them or share common experiences or mindsets. If that just so happens to vary with race, then so be it.”

However, race is just one of many factors. Students bond with other students who share common interests, values, and goals. For example, students who are pas-

sionate about music band together. Consequently, groups such as “drama kids,” “choir kids,” “athletes,” and “ASB kids” form on school campus.

Josh Vendrow, a junior, said, “I look for intelligence because I want friends that I can have thoughtful conversations with and share my academic drive. Everyone is taking multiple AP classes. It is a reality at Carlmont that white and especially Asian students take far more honors classes than minority students. This contributes to the divisions in friend groups.”

On a similar note, teenagers are friends with other individuals who exhibit similar patterns of behavior.

McPherson, Smith-Lovin, and Cook wrote, “[Past studies] demonstrated that both positive behaviors of school achievement and negative behaviors like smoking marijuana were homophilous more because of selection into relationships with similar others than because of behavioral influence within friendship cliques.”

However, this separation can compound the differences between students.

High-achieving students propel each other forward, motivating each other to do their best and forming connections for the future.

English teacher Denise Steward said, “We have all been friends for 30 years, and our children are friends now. We are a family; we help each other out. I would trust them with everything — always have, always will. A lot of us went into helping professions, [such as] teachers, nurses, a firefighter, and a police officer. That’s who we are.”

In contrast, students in “the bad crowd” are exposed to a myriad of negative influences.

According to the article “Adolescent marijuana use: role of parents and peers” by Denise Kendel, a professor of sociomedical sciences in psychiatry at Columbia University, “Peer and parental influences are synergistic; the highest rates of marijuana usage are observed among adolescents whose parents and friends are drug users.”

Furthermore, the choices made in high school can fundamentally impact the course of one’s life. Connections formed in high school carry on into college and the professional sphere. In many scenarios, the phrase “it’s not what you know, but who you know” does apply, and homophily directly impacts who one knows.

“Research tells us that between 60 to 80 percent of jobs are found through personal relationships,” said John Bennett, director of the Master of Science in organization development and coaching certificate programs with the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte, in an interview with Fox Business.

Fostering relationships with positively influential people can lead to job opportunities and open doors in the future. On the other hand, poor decisions as a teen can follow a person throughout one’s life. For example, “early adolescent pseudomature behavior predicted long-term difficulties in close relationships, as well as significant problems with alcohol and substance use, and elevated levels of criminal behavior,” according to an article published in the Journal of Child Development.

Felton said, “In all honesty, homophily is a trend that favors the lucky. As a upper-middle class, white male with a 5.0, I see the effects of the ‘homophily of privilege’ in my life. My friends are almost all of a similar economic standing and in many of the same advanced classes. I realize that I will likely marry someone of a similar intelligence, attractiveness, and economic background. That’s simply the reality of it.”

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JORDAN HANLON

10 NEWS

May 2017

Innovation overrules conservation Justin Som

Drive a Prius because it’s eco-friendly. Compost food waste because it puts less pressure on the environment.

Take public transportation to stop carbon emissions from obliterating the ozone layer.

These methods of prevention are only temporary solutions to long-term problems. For the past two decades, few inventions have been made to repair environmental damages.

“We need to act now to reverse what has been done to the environment,” said sophomore Michael Atkin. “As we speak, the environment is deteriorating. Take the melting of the polar ice caps, for instance. We need people to create more permanent solutions to resolve these issues while maintaining our previous efforts like composting and recycling.”

On a broader scale, some nations have imposed limitations on their citizens to reduce their toll on Earth’s atmosphere.

For example, in 1987, 197 parties, including the members of the United Nations and European Union, signed the Montreal Protocol. Under this agreement, the various nations decided to pledge support towards ceasing production of hazardous pollutants: chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

“Conservation efforts can definitely help the environment, but they won’t mean anything if only half of the population does it,” said Richard Wang, a junior. “I understand that these methods obviously won’t repair the damages done by humankind, but we just need to make sure that conditions don’t get worse until someone reaches a breakthrough. We need solutions that actually repair damages.”

The polyurethane Oleo Sponge, created by the Argonne National Laboratory, is the first of several inventions made for the purpose described by Wang.

In March 2017, environmentalists led by Seth Darling invented the world’s first reusable oil sponge. According to Argonne, the applications of this technology would be best used in the ocean where it can soak up much of the oil that has been spilled by humankind.

“The Oleo Sponge offers a set of possibilities that, as far as we know, are unprecedented,” said Darling.

The sponge can soak up to “90 times its own weight in oil, and in addition, can return the oil to its user for reuse,” reported Argonne Laboratories.

In the case of the Oleo Sponge, many environmentalists are optimistic about the implications of its effects. The sponge will permit conservationists to reuse the oil spilled in the world’s oceans while simultaneously reducing the oceans’ acidification by lowering oil concentration.

This first step is only the beginning towards reversing environmental problems. As noted by Wang, these conservation methods are only delaying the results of large environmental crises.

Sammy Zhang, a junior, believes that the lack of scientific innovation in past years is because many scientists don’t receive enough investments from companies to continue their research.

According to Zhang, because many of these inventions take large amounts of energy and resources to create substantial results, researchers choose not to follow up on their findings.

On the other hand, scientists may not be gaining enough publicity for their inventions as a result of being published in lower-level science journals.

“When choosing whether or not to fund a project, many companies consider profit over product,” said Zhang. “It’s logical to do this. But morally, when large companies choose projects to fund, they should base their choices on how their end product can better the world instead of what they can get out of it. That is the only way we can help the future generation.”

ISABEL MITCHELL

Homemade slime brings many side effects Jordan Greene

Every day, social media influences people’s lives and actions.

In the past few decades, an increased usage of new social media platforms has opened the doors for opportunities and trends. As a result, individuals daily are saying “yes” to choices that may have negative consequences.

In February 2017, a new craze began circling the internet — slime. This homemade product began attracting the attention of children and teenagers worldwide.

Dylan Reinhardt, a junior, has bonded with his sister through slime and has witnessed his sister’s fascination with the trend.

“Since the slime craze began, my sister and I have made slime

a number of times. After seeing it pop up on my Instagram feed one day, I thought that it would be super fun to make. When I went to make it my first time, it didn’t go as well as I would have liked, but since then, I have been progressively getting better at making it,” said Rhinehardt.

Slime’s main ingredients consist of glue, water, food dye, and borax. Slime has created a new outlet for play, but there have been many side effects reported from the creation of this product.

According to CNN, many people have had negative experiences creating slime. From failure to follow the necessary precautions while creating this product, children have developed negative side effects, such as fevers and thirddegree burns. This all comes from

one thing — borax.

Boric acid, sodium borate, and sodium perborate are estimated to have a fatal dose from 0.1 to 0.5g/kg. These substances are toxic to all cells, have a slow excretion rate, and negatively affect the kidneys. Boric acid solutions that touch the eyes or bare skin are especially toxic to infants.

In an interview with NBC, Dr. Uluski, a medical Doctor at Yale-New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael, said, “If a child ingests slime made with Borax, it could be toxic and could even cause seizures.”

Talia Herzberg, a junior at Summit Preparatory Charter High School, tried making slime in the past and experienced harmful side effects that have caused her to question social media trends.

“I’ve made slime a few times with my friends, and one time, I ended up getting sick. At first, I didn’t know what caused me to feel that way, but after researching about the products I used, I was able to see how harmful making slime could be,” said Herzberg.

Although this issue has aroused concerns, unaware adolescents continue to follow social media accounts that promote the creation of harmful substances like slime. Society has put an emphasis on following trends in order to maintain social status and keep up-to-date.

“Every time I see a cool new trend, I feel the need to try it. I haven’t gotten sick from making slime and the possibility of it shouldn’t affect whether or not I

have fun and try new things,” said Rhinehardt.

Societal expectations make individuals feel pressured to follow trends in order to present themselves as informed about society. However, despite feeling the need to allow these trends to enhance popularity, other individuals have become aware of the negative consequences that may arise from blindly following online platforms.

“Over the past few months, I’ve become more aware of what I see online. Instead of just blindly following the trends, I have become more familiar with what I see and what I am doing. I have also learned to accept that following something online shouldn’t define who I am or my popularity,” said Herzberg.

FEATURES 11

May 2017 from FREE RIDERS page 1 endure as much since we don’t have as much money as we hope we would,” said sophomore *John Smith.

However, Smith and his family are able to live in Redwood Shores using their grandpa’s savings as a way to do so.

“I would consider [Redwood Shores] a more wealthy neighborhood because I see that a lot of the people in Redwood Shores live more comfortably,” said Smith.

Smith’s family has the money to live in a considerably wealthy neighborhood but still qualifies for free lunches. This is an example of one of the problems of meanstested programs.

Many of the people who receive such treatment don’t really need it, while those who do are left without benefits.

Personal finance teacher James

Cappels agrees that treatment should be given to those who actually need it and don’t live a life of luxury.

“I do not think those luxuries should qualify for financial need, as those luxuries should be responsibly planned for. People shouldn’t get financial assistance while enjoying luxuries that got them there in the first place,” said Cappels.

Since means testing relies heavily on household income, it sometimes fails to captivate the full picture. Another example of this issue is highlighted in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program (FAFSA).

FAFSA, another means-tested program that high schoolers are familiar with, offers financial aid to students going to college.

According to Federal Student Aid, one of the basic eligibility criteria for federal student aid is demonstrating financial need

from POST-GRADUATION page 1 Carlmont student August Linn attended college but didn’t finish; she became a tattoo artist instead.

She said, “Many people inspired me to continue doing something with my artwork, so I chose to leave a permanent mark on people’s bodies. I love my job, but it’s not easy. In every job, there are going to be good moments and bad ones, but you just have to see the worth and the [reasoning] behind it all to keep your drive going.”

Although Linn loves her job, she also believes that going to college is a significant

based on household income, along with being a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, having a valid Social Security number, and other basic qualifications.

Miranda Wong, a senior attending college next year, applied for FAFSA and was able to qualify for some financial aid.

“It’s better than nothing; I’d rather get some money than nothing,” said Wong.

Wong believes she was able to get financial aid because she lives in a single-income household.

Patrick He, a senior also attending college next year, applied for FAFSA but did not qualify for financial aid.

“Standard of living should also be taken into account,” said He. Standard of living is essentially how much it costs to live in a certain area. It’s not specifically solely tied to housing prices, but also tied to characteristics such

decision people should make.

“I think college is very important, especially in the economy we live in now. You need to be smart when you start working in business or whatever industry you are going into because it is extremely competitive. You need a lot of skill and a good background in order to get to a good spot.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, research done in 2015 found that a median annual wage of a plumber was $50,620, which is higher than the $36,200 median wage for all workers.

For Jimmy Reyes, a plumber, going to college has not been necessary. He attended

as availability of employment and class disparity.

According to USA Today, California is rated to have the sixth highest standard of living.

This means people need higher incomes to live comfortably in California compared to living in Mississippi, which USA Today rated as the state with the lowest standard of living.

He believes that standard of living is a criterion that FAFSA should especially consider along with household income. For example, people in California appear a lot wealthier than people in Mississippi, but the higher income is used to compensate for the higher standard of living.

Taking standard of living into account could possibly be a solution for the problems that come with means testing.

Another solution could be further educating students about

a vocational school, and that got him to the place where he is now.

He said, “My mother suggested I should go into plumbing since not many people were applying for it. People were rarely interested in plumbing because they thought it only involved working with dirty pipes.

When I found out what plumbing really was, I liked it because it is more than that; it is construction and many other things.

I have been a plumber for 32 years, and I have loved it. It has been better than what I expected.”

College doesn’t always have to be the key to happiness nor to success.

their financial decisions.

“Finances have the biggest effect on a person’s quality of life. I think the fact that it isn’t taught in schools to every student is setting the current generation of students up for years of financial confusion once they graduate,” said Cappels.

At its core, means-tested programs are supposed to benefit those who can’t support themselves otherwise. However, free riders lower the effectiveness of means testing as they take away from people who can benefit more from the aid.

“I definitely think that the basic intention of means testing is important because government funds are limited. I believe that money should go to those who actually need it,” said Lawrence. *This name has been changed in order to protect the privacy of the student.

Dillon said, “My parents think that once you take a gap year, you won’t want to go back to school — which can be true — but at the same time, if I’m already going to beauty school and I have a job, going to school isn’t necessary. If I have a career, I don’t need to go back to school.”

College is not the only option. In the end, it all depends on the person and what they have set their mind to.

Rasor said, “Learning is necessary through trade school, community college, four-year college or professional development. Everyone has their own path to selfsufficiency.”

12 SPORTS

May 2017

AYSO VIP League includes all Bay Area soccer organization welcomes disadvantaged players Skylar Weiss

On a typical Saturday morning at Red Morton Park in Redwood City, the AYSO VIP team is playing soccer on a section of the turf field.

The AYSO VIP program allows players of many ages and capabilities to play soccer, despite their learning differences or physical differences that keep them from participating in the traditional AYSO league.

“The athletes have the opportunity to be engaged in a physical activity, to interact with each other and the buddies, and to have fun. The community as a whole gets to experience and include more of its diversity,” said Matt Tinsley, the Associate Program Director of AYSO VIP. The program had previously existed in a few cities in the Bay Area, but it wasn’t until two years ago that Redwood City resident Steve McCreddin wanted to implement the program into Redwood City’s AYSO league.

A typical practice follows a routine but is conducted with a flexible approach. Each player gets paired up with a buddy — typically a high school volunteer. Accompanied by their buddies, the players warm up and then proceed to play soccer. The practice often ends with a brief field

activity before the players run through a tunnel of family members and friends.

“Practice is a little bit like organized chaos — we’re never entirely sure how many athletes will be there or who they’ll be. Thankfully, we always seem to have just enough buddies. We do a warm-up of stretches and skills disguised as animal impressions and a dribbling drill called ‘chase the coach.’ We then split the athletes into a series of games based on enthusiasm and speed. Finally, we do a group cheer, a quick game of ‘pirate, pirate,’ a parent tunnel, and then snacks,” said Tinsley.

Carlmont teachers Andy and Karen Ramroth have been with the program ever since it began in Redwood City when their neighbor McCreddin encouraged them to join.

Besides volunteering themselves, the Ramroths have contributed to the program by advertising AYSO VIP to their classes, bringing high school volunteers from Carlmont to the field.

According to Ramroth, 15 to 20 Carlmont students have volunteered the past season, often making up the majority of the teenage volunteers.

“One could argue that if it weren’t for Carlmont students, the program would not be successful. There have been

some weekends where the [buddy volunteers] have been mostly from Carlmont. If they aren’t there, there’s not a lot of support, there can’t be enough players, and the parents can’t be out there watching their kids. A lot of happiness and value is created by Carlmont kids being out there,” said Andy Ramroth.

To volunteers, AYSO VIP stands apart from other volunteer programs because of its emotional rewards. The focus of the VIP contrasts the attitude associated with other types of volunteering that many are familiar with — an obligation to earn service hours.

Sofia Tam, a junior, volunteers for AYSO VIP most weekends.

“I volunteer because I really love working with kids.

I also really love soccer, so when you put those together, you get VIP. I come back every practice to have fun while giving back to the community,” said Tam. In the end, the program benefits more people than just the players.

“You’ll find that the kids and their families appreciate you so much for being there to make this program work.

They’re some of the nicest, sweetest kids you’ll ever meet,” said Andy Ramroth.

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SCOTLIGHT magazine

April 2017

SPORTS 13

May 2017

Commitment without compensation

College athletes put in time but receive no salary Nathan Godwin

During the 2017 NCAA Basketball Tournament in March, the debate of whether college athletes should be paid was, once again, reopened.

For some, it is a clear-cut issue: collegiate athletes shouldn’t be paid.

Many believe that money given to players would subtract from funds reserved for maintaining facilities and paying coaches.

For others, when they see the large profits being made off of some college teams coupled with the time commitment of training, they begin to wonder if education is enough compensation.

“I can see the logic for both sides of the issue. I know how much work the athletes put into their sport and how much class they have to miss, but they often get to go to school for less or have their tuition completely paid for,” said Aaron Hoch, a junior.

In college sports, the profits keep increasing with the NCAA signing a deal with CBS and Turner for an eight-year $8.8 billion extension of the broadcasting rights of NCAA Basketball Tournament.

The money in college basketball is dwarfed by the profits made off of college football. ESPN signed a $7.7 billion contract with the NCAA in 2012 for the right to broadcast the College Football playoffs; this agreement was reached two years before the playoff system would begin with ESPN betting big on the event.

MONA

It paid off, as a 30-second TV commercial spot now costs $1 million during the game, according to a self-released report from ESPN. With all this money swirling around college sports, it may come as a surprise that many student athletes struggle to make ends meet.

A 2010 report by the National College Player Association found that 86 percent “full” athletic scholarships at Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools leave players living below the Federal Poverty Level.

“I don’t think that there is a clear-cut solution to this issue, I don’t think athletes should be paid the same way as professional

MURHA

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players, but college athletes need to be treated better by their colleges. When I hear about all the money being made from college sports, it seems crazy that there are players struggling to get by,” said Miguel Encarnacion, a junior.

In some instances, the education that was promised to the student-athlete was not the education received; this was the case in a 2015 lawsuit filed against the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC), which cited that the school purposefully funneled student-athletes into “paper-classes.” The classes required little work and almost no attendance and gave students a less stressful workload.

The lighter workload may be beneficial

to athletes who play professionally after college and need to focus on their sport, but according to a 2012 NCAA survey, “excluding baseball, the likelihood of a NCAA athlete going pro is about 2 percent.”

This small percentage means that for the vast majority of student-athletes, their sports careers end in college. After, they will have to find work and use their degree, and for students like those who sued UNC, the education they received was not enough compensation for the time they gave the school and the money that was made off of their work.

In 2015, Northwestern University football petitioned to form a union so the players could be university employees and receive some pay. However, their petition was thrown out by the National Labor Relations Board, ending the hopes for the players.

The Northwestern administration spoke out against the petition, believing it could create a dangerous precedent for many schools.

Nevertheless, the debate continues as athletes appeal to the NCAA and even to courts to decide outright on the issue.

“It’s a difficult situation because the big schools that make money off their programs could stand to pay their players in some capacity, but the smaller schools, and especially the less popular sports, can’t pay their players,” said Kyle Kawakami, a senior.

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14 OPINION

May 2017

Reflecting on the ‘first 100 days’ Both parties experience disappointment under Trump administration Leea Ivanel Many things have come out of Trump’s first months in office: a dysfunctional travel ban, a terrifying health care plan, a loveaffair with Russia, and a lot of drama.

For the past year, turning on the news has been like turning on the telenovela channel, except it’s much less entertaining to watch when you realize you’re watching your government and society devolve before your very eyes.

There have been many issues with this administration, and from a conservative liberal’s perspective, most of those issues exist because of the views Trump is preaching.

However, no matter what side of the political spectrum you fall on, one thing can be agreed upon: this administration is a failure.

The truth is, Trump and his people have not managed to successfully, in an appropriate manner, implement any policy thus far.

The Travel Ban was one of the first policies of this so-called “Trump era,” and it failed from the start. After widespread protests took place across the nation’s airports,

it was struck down by judges in Hawaii and Maryland, and it has yet to go into effect again.

Not only was the ban morally wrong — the world’s most powerful country should not be turning away the needy — but it was a legal mess that caused chaos and shook foreign relations with the Islamic world.

While some Trump supporters like to blame such incidents on those “damn liberals,” this was not the fault of the opposition; this was the fault of an incompetent administration. Perhaps if the constitutionality of the ban would have been checked before it was passed, and if Trump could have refrained from saying he wants a “complete and total shutdown of Muslims entering the U.S.,” there would not have been so many issues.

On one hand, Trump failed his supporters by being unable to keep his promise to pass the ban. On the other hand, he humiliated and offended the opposition. Either way, no one is satisfied.

The ban is just one example of the shortcomings of Trump’s presidency in his first couple of months. Another dark cloud that is looming over his term is Russia.

Dubbed as “Trumpgate,” Trump’s ad-

ministration is showing more and more dubious ties to Russia each day.

The recent firing of FBI Director James Comey — as he was investigating the administration’s ties to Russia — further solidifies the trend, and Trump’s Twitter threats to stop holding press briefings only make it more obvious that this administration has no plans to be as transparent as the last.

Democrat, Republican, or neither, this should be seen as a big concern.

In fact, this reveals once and for all that this administration is its own worst enemy.

Trump has an unfortunate inability to take blame and responsibility for things, and he is clearly too paranoid to handle any sort of contradiction to what he considers to be “facts” in his “alternative fact” filled mind.

Every time something hasn’t worked, it has been someone else’s fault: a “so-called judge,” the evil media, a nasty woman.

In reality, what is happening is a lovely system called checks and balances, established by the same Constitution which Republicans view as holy for giving them the Second Amendment, which is meant to keep the power of the president in check

through the two houses of Congress and an independent judiciary and media.

What Trump and his supporters don’t realize is that nothing in the government is broken because his executive orders are being overturned and his bills aren’t passing through Congress. In fact, the government is working great.

Unfortunately for our new president, America is the world’s strongest democracy, so simply showing up and signing an order into law does not mean that order will instantly be followed without opposition.

This country’s government was built in such a way that it is the responsibility of the party in power to gain enough support for their bills through discussion, compromise, and persuasion, and if they cannot do that, then they are the failure and they are to blame, not the opposition.

This administration needs to realize that if it’s anyone’s fault for their shortcomings, it is their own.

If they will continue to refuse to be transparent about their policies and if they will continue to act in irresponsible and impulsive ways, their four years in the White House will be a tremendous disaster for the interests of both parties.

Political gridlock is inevitable for Americans Alexander Derhacobian

Political gridlock has become as synonymous with American culture as Coca-Cola, fast food, and apple pie. While one of the most detested facets of America’s political climate, gridlock is a cornerstone of the United States’ history of liberty and democracy.

The origins of American gridlock date back to the founding of the nation. The Founding Fathers hoped to create a government where the consolidation of power in one body or one person was unfeasible. Under the rule of King George III, the tyrannical British monarchy was characterized by an oppressive unity of legislative, executive, and judicial authority. To prevent this centralization, the Founders created a system in which inefficiency

and stagnation were inevitable.

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the Founding Fathers worked diligently in the sweltering heat of the Philadelphian summer to draft a document that was a manifestation of progressive political thought. It created a bicameral legislature, restricted the powers of the chief executive, blueprinted a democracy, and most importantly, called for a complete separation of powers.

Although the cause of American gridlock, the separation of powers and the arduous legislative process are the sole guarantors of liberty in the United States.

While the grandiose themes of the Bill of Rights are always considered the foundations of American freedoms, they contribute almost nothing to the nation’s liberty.

While considered by many as

the focal point of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights was a mere afterthought. The creation of the Bill of Rights was not a central issue during the founding of the United States. Even some of the most ardent defenders of the Constitution, such as James Madison, labeled the Bill of Rights as “parchment barriers,” highlighting that its provisions did not guarantee freedom.

A Bill of Rights is not unique to the United States. The clauses of the document have been reiterated by countless countries across history, and time and time again, many of these states have failed to achieve the liberties of American democracy. The reason for their failure lies in the unique nature of America’s political system.

During his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee

on Oct. 5, 2011, the late Justice Antonin Scalia described how the Bill of Rights doesn’t guarantee individual liberties, but rather the structure of the U.S. government is the guarantor of these rights.

“Every banana republic in the world has a bill of rights. Every president-for-life has a bill of rights. The bill of rights of the [Soviet Union] was much better than ours. I mean it literally,” said Scalia.

The primary difference between American democracy and any other form of governance is the fierce and sometimes irritating polarization between Democrats and Republicans. Many Americans regard this aggressive national debate between conservatism and liberalism as the culprit behind stagnation.

In the United States, a nation

that embraces diversity in all aspects of life, gridlock prevents the triumph of one majority above the rest. In a time of racial and religious homogeneity, Madison predicted that the future diversity of the United States would be preserved by the gridlock.

“Among the great variety of interests, parties, and sects…a coalition of a majority of the whole society could seldom take place upon any other principles than those of justice and the general good,” said Madison.

Instead of criticizing political gridlock as an impediment to progress, Americans must recognize that the most effective laws are born through strife and disagreement. After all, if the people demand rapid decision making rather than gridlock, dictatorship might be a favorable alternative.

Divorce is healthier than a failing marriage Armon Mahdavi It is a common assertion that humans have a desire to keep their promises as much as possible. Yet according to Business Insider, about half of Americans break the “til death do us part” pact.

Divorce is dreadfully common, but it is still highly stigmatized in our society. Even though married couples try their best to stay together, if it isn’t working out, the option of separation should be considered.

Many feel that the unhappiness derived from getting a divorce would outweigh the unhappiness of a miserable marriage, but that is not necessarily true.

The University of Arizona did a study on the correlation between women’s marital quality and their life satisfaction.

The study found that women in poor quality marriages who got divorced ended up having the highest life satisfaction of all types of women involved in the study.

Generally, people who get married do so because they are in love and see themselves living happily with their partners forever. However, it is human nature to grow tired of things, and often, this is the case with romantic partners.

While the ability to fall in love is one of the greatest as-

pects of the human experience, the ability to grow tired of things is one of the worst. Humans have a natural tendency to fight against unhappiness, yet this emotion usually wins in that battle.

Society’s complex relationship with long-term happiness has been discussed by doctors and philosophers.

Some of these claims are in nature theoretical, while others are more definitive.

The studies of neurologist Dr. Irving Biederman show that the human brain craves stimulation. It looks at the world through the eyes, shooting pleasure-inducing opioids at the sight of anything new. As we see and experience things over and over again, our brain shoots fewer opioids.

New experiences make us happy, so anything that we experience for a long period of time will dissipate in pleasure, including marriages.

In Albert Camus’ novel “The Plague,” a character states that man is “incapable of suffering for a long time, or being happy for a long time.” It is a sad element of our condition, but in order to limit our misery, we must acknowledge our aversion to monotony.

However, I still do believe that there are couples who are destined to be together their entire lifetime. It is just

an extremely rare occurrence. Fifty percent of couples get divorced, yet I wonder how many of the ones who remain married are truly happy.

It bothers me when people avoid separating only because they feel society will look down upon them. I’ve seen marriages like this all my life — full of bitterness and void of warmth.

Another reason people avoid divorce is the fate of their children. Although divorce is a traumatic event, being raised by unhappy parents is also tragic.

Environmental Psychologists unanimously agree that the environment a child grows up in is a defining factor in their future mental health. If one is raised and surrounded by miserable people, it is possible that they will develop a close relationship with misery throughout the rest of their lives.

Divorce is unfortunate, but it is only logical that it shall occur for many people. If our passion for someone or something fades it is simply because we are human, and we should not feel guilty for being human.

While we should try our best to keep the ones we love, we should not trap ourselves in a constraint of misery. A divorce is not only a justifiable occurrence, it is a logical one.

OPINION 15

May 2017

Flaws in the system expose ‘moochers’

The Meredith Mindset Anya Meredith

“And I believe that good journalism... can make our world a better place.”

-Christiane Amanpour

Entering Rape University JORDAN HANLON

Editorial

Enjoy the last four years of adolescence “My fellow graduates. Over the last four years here at [Insert name of high school], we have learned a lot.

Mr. [Insert name of math teacher] taught us how to [Insert a complicated sounding math thing]. Ms. [Insert name of English teacher] taught us [Insert interesting tidbit from a favorite piece of literature]. And Mr. [Insert name of widely known funny, popular teacher] taught us [Insert something odd that parents might be surprised to learn].

And all of this knowledge will no doubt be valuable as we go forward in life. But I think that the most important thing that we have learned over the last four years is [Insert major theme].

So now we’re high school graduates. And soon we’re going to be signing each other’s yearbooks and saying goodbye. There will be hugs and tears. We’ll do our best to stay in touch. But we’ll be living our lives and doing our best.

As a final thought going forward, I’d like to leave you with a quote from [Insert name of someone you’d like to quote.]

He said, [Insert final quote.]

Thank you all.”

With the sea of blue and white gowns cloaking the bleachers, it only seems appropriate for the valedictorian to give their slightly altered rendition of this trite speech, the graduates to nod their heads in agreement, and the crowd to shed a tear of pride.

We sacrificed sleep, social outings, and sanity for four years to make it to this point. But in reality, we would’ve made it to this point despite all those sacrifices.

Although your chances at getting into Yale University diminish without these strains, they weren’t really that feasible to begin with.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2005, there were 4,140 higher education institutes, including public, private, 2-year, and 4-year institutions. Every single graduate could go to a different college each year for four years and still not run into anyone from their graduating class.

While that may not be the most efficient way to earn a degree, it does prove that there is a school for everyone who wants to attend. And for those not planning on further classroom education, there are an infinite amount of opportunities to seek after graduation.

Each of us has our own path; it’s not necessary to

THE

stir up competition and feed into such a cutthroat environment.

Go to the beach. Take a mental-health day. Get that extra two hours of sleep. We’re all going to make it in one way or another.

One student’s plans might seem superior in the eyes of a Harvard alum, but another’s might seem greater in the eyes of a successful electrician.

It’s easy for seniors to preach about the futility of stressing about the future from the security of college acceptances under their belts. And as much as the adults in our lives tell us everything’s going to work out eventually, we can’t seem to ease up until we hear that comforting, overdone speech at graduation.

But it truly is ok; not only is it going to be ok, but it is currently ok.

Come graduation, we’re all going to be in the same place celebrating our past accomplishments as well as the ones we will soon seek. We’ll go our separate ways four hours after the celebratory bagpipes wail.

But this isn’t just for the seniors; as soon as students step onto Carlmont’s campus, college talk suffocates them. SAT preparation begins as early as freshman year, college campus visits supercede family vacations during sophomore year, and The Common Application essay topics are thrown around in the midst of junior year.

It’s too easy to preach against competition when days away from graduation, but it doesn’t need to be this way for any student, whether a freshman or a senior. Nobody needs to strain themselves prematurely.

These are the last years of our adolescence; they don’t need to be associated with graying hair and sleep deficits.

So now we’re high school graduates. And soon we’re going to be signing each other’s yearbooks and saying goodbye. There will be hugs and tears. We’ll do our best to stay in touch. But we’ll be living our lives and doing our best.

As a final thought going forward, I’d like to leave you with a quote from David McCullough.

He said, “Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view.”

Thank you all.

HIGHLANDER

Editors

Editor-in-Chief Avery Adams

Jill Albertson Rachel Borshchenko Jordan Hanlon Connor Lin Isabel Mitchell Mona Murhamer Skylar Weiss

ScotCenter Editor-in-Chief Estella Lippi

Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief Megan Tao

Faculty Adviser Justin Raisner

Lily Bakour Brooke Chang Nicole del Cardayre Nate Godwin Leea Ivanel Estella Lippi

Staff Writers

Anya Meredith Jackson Monge Mackenzie O’Connell Sophie Penn Hanalei Pham Adriana Ramirez

Justin Som Megan Tao Sarah Tocatlian Skylar Weiss Celine Yang Nour Zabaneh

The Highlander is a newspaper dedicated to providing Carlmont students, staff, and the community with high-quality news, features, and opinion articles. We want to keep our readers informed on important issues ranging from events at Carlmont to international news, and want to engage them with unique stories and images. The Highlander is a publication completely run by the students of the journalism classes at Carlmont High School. Story ideas are generated by the students and the published content is up to the discretion of the editorial staff. This month’s editorial was written by Avery Adams and the editorial cartoon was drawn

by Jordan Hanlon.

Congratulations! You have just been accepted to college!

Now, it’s time to start preparing.

You will need dorm decor, shower supplies, new clothes, and a rape kit.

According to a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll, “25 percent of young women and 7 percent of young men say they suffered unwanted sexual incidents in college.”

You probably didn’t know that though, did you?

All girls have heard the warnings to carry pepper spray when they’re walking alone or to never leave a drink unattended, but not many have heard that according to One in Four USA, “One in four college women report surviving rape or attempted rape at some point in their lifetime... This rate has remained the same since studies in the 1980s.”

This rate has remained the same since studies in the 1980s.

Why are people not more aware? Why has this rate not changed?

Because colleges are too scared to admit their problems.

Colleges are more concerned about funding their new football stadium or science building than with the well-being and mental health of their students.

Although one in four women in college are sexually assaulted, only a fraction of assaults are reported, and even fewer result in punishment for the perpetrators.

For example, Erica Kinsman, a campus sexual assault victim featured in the documentary Hunting Ground, reported to the police that she was raped several hours earlier by an unknown man after drinking in a popular local bar.

When her perpetrator, Jameis Winston, was asked in court whether he had her verbal consent, he responded saying, “Moaning is mostly physically. Well, moaning is physically. And verbally at that time, Your Honor.”

Winston gave no statement clarifying that Kinsman ever gave any other verbal consent.

However, the star football player for Florida State University (FSU) was not found responsible for raping Kinsman, although Winston violated FSU’s student policy requiring verbal consent of sexual encounters.

Colleges are more concerned with their reputation than the wellbeing of its students.

Clearly, incoming students need to be prepared in case of rape because there’s no guarantee that they will get the support they need from their school.

When you are accepted, colleges want you to think about whether you will join sororities like Alpha Delta Pi or Alpha Sigma, not about how, according to U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, “A total of 29 percent of sorority women reported having been sexually assaulted while in college, four times the rate (7 percent) among non-sorority members.”

Honestly, the best thing to do is be prepared because it is naive to expect the best of people.

You’d think that society would be over the idea that “boys will be boys” by now, but clearly that’s not the case.

Of course, males are not the only ones guilty of rape, it’s just that rape statistics where females are the perpetrators are much lower than rape statistics where males are the perpetrators.

According to the website RAINN, “About 3 percent of American men — or 1 in 33 — have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.”

For any of my peers (female and male) about to enter college, please be sure to take precautions.

It’s sad that I even have to prepare for the possibility of being raped in college.

I should be focusing on my education, not scheduling my day so that I will never be walking on campus alone at night.

Of course, I’m not saying that colleges don’t completely disregard the well-being of its students or that colleges don’t discourage sexual assault; many schools do.

The main problem is that colleges don’t do enough to punish perpetrators.

According to data The Huffington Post obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request to the U.S. Department of Justice, “A conservative estimate of the cases shows 13 percent of students found responsible for sexual assault were expelled; at most, 30 percent were expelled. In addition, between 29 to 68 percent were suspended.”

I am very excited for myself and my fellow classmates attending college and for the experiences we will have.

However, I worry about the statistics surrounding sexual assault on college campuses and the lack of support colleges give.

I hope that during my time in college, changes can be made to improve the approach colleges take when dealing with sexual assault cases that lend more support to their students.

16

WELCOME TO THE BAY AREA PICK A LIFESTYLE: STEREOTYPE 1: ASIAN

WEALTHY & TECH-ORIENTED

STEREOTYPE 2: WHITE

WEALTHY & TECH-ORIENTED

YOU HAVE SELECTED:

STEREOTYPE 2

EXPLORING THE REALITY OF STEREOTYPES Brooke Chang

Welcome to the Bay Area!

Only whites and Asians accepted.

Although this is not completely true, this stereotype has weaved its way into society, and many people have come to identify with it.

Chloe Kelly, a junior who moved to San Carlos from Florida in 2015, said, “Before I moved here, I saw the Bay as a technology hub that was exclusive to wealthy people that were Asian or white. Everyone kind of saw the Bay Area as just San Francisco, full of young, privileged people that paid rent with tech money.”

Many have formed a similar idea of the average person from the Bay Area due to their experiences living here.

“A lot of people here are Asian or white, or some mix including those races, and we are really perceived as a community that values technology. I guess the average Bay Area person would be someone who is of those races that likes technology,” said Mikayla Fong, a senior.

Whether it stems from far away places or from the heart of the Bay, the reputation of the Bay Area is that it is predominantly white and Asian, wealthy, and technology oriented.

Despite the falsity of many other stereotypes, these expectations hold true, to a certain extent.

According to the Bay Area Census, the overall Bay Area population is 42 percent white and 24 percent Asian, Pacific Islander, or Hawaiian. Meanwhile, the Carlmont population is 44 percent white and 18 percent Asian, Pacific Islander, or Hawaiian, according to the

California Department of Education.

Furthering the legitimacy of these stereotypes is the fact that the assumptions being made highlight physical and mental constructs that many young adults in the Bay Area identify with.

“I think I fit the majority of the stereotype because I’m white and I definitely feel pressured to go into a technology-related career. My parents want me to do something computer related because you can earn a lot of money that way,” said Ana Bazgan, a junior.

In a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology by Michael Inzlicht, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, the stress of stereotype confirmation is proven to have negative consequences on those being typecasted by the expectations.

“Studies have shown that people perform poorly in situations where they feel they are being stereotyped,” said Inzlicht, according to U.S. News.

Many experience this effect as they see parts of themselves reflected in the physical stereotypes but disagree with what those stereotypes imply about their personality.

Edward Vendrow, a junior, said, “I definitely fit in with the Bay Area programmer stereotype and I’m white, so that’s two features that I identify with. But I think the programmer stereotype comes with the idea that I’m super nerdy and socially awkward, which I think, or hope, I don’t actually fit into.”

Although many find that they can fit the physical definitions of what someone from the Bay Area is expected to be, they also see many ways in which they differ from the stereotypical expectations.

“I’d say the main difference between who I am and

who the stereotypes describe is my personality. A stereotype can describe actions or trends, but it can’t really define who a person is. For example, I fit into the surface-level ideas of a white person who is into technology but that’s just a boring description of me that leaves out what makes me who I am,” said Bazgan.

Others see themselves as outcasts because they do not identify with the stereotypes at all.

“I definitely don’t fit the usual Bay Area stereotype because I’m African American. That creates a whole different set of things that are expected of me, and they are mostly negative,” said Amanda Morrow, a junior. “I don’t fit those expectations either because I’m not ‘ghetto’ like people assume I am.”

Bay Area cliches, like many other stereotypes about race, are often seen as exaggerations rather than truths.

Angie Vinarskaya, a junior, said, “The stereotypes that I hear are mostly things that stem from the prejudice and racism of the past. Modern stereotypes like those of the Bay Area are just exaggerations of what other people see through the media.”

Despite the truths that back parts of these stereotypes, other aspects of the groups that are being generalized provide a contrast from what they are expected to be and create individual human beings out of people that are deemed to be the same.

“The stereotypes do cover a good amount of people, but I don’t think that they include the majority because that’s impossible. Even those that fit the expectations aren’t 100 percent defined by those characteristics, and I’m sure that there’s plenty of people in each group that don’t fit what is being stereotyped at all,” said Bazgan.

“Stereotypes are just generalizations, not definitions.”

ENJOY YOUR NEW LIFE IN THE BAY AREA! AVATARS FROM BITMOJI , PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CONNOR LIN