slut ghetto gay
exotic f*gn*gger
retarded psycho Rethinking word choice no homo
HIGHLANDER PAGE 11
Carlmont for Dummies
PAGE 12
PAGE 6
THE
The issues that matter
Carlmont High School-- Belmont, California
September 2015 Vol VII Issue I
www.scotscoop.com twitter: @scotscoopnews
New building paves way for future enrollment growth
MINH-HAN VU
The construction crew has been busy working away by T and U wings, hoping to finish building the new classrooms as soon as possible so that the noise can subside and Carlmont can admit more students in the 2016-2017 school year. As of now, the crew is still in the early stages of the project, and are in the process of laying the foundation of the future 10 classrooms.
Kiera Pendleton-White Staff Writer Construction is a constant source of annoyance. It disrupts daily life in odd ways, but it has a nice turnout in the end. As students have been told before, Carlmont has been gaining more students in the past few years. This, among other things, leads to less classes being offered each year and upperclassmen being asked to take six classes instead of seven. According to Carlmont’s social media updates, by 2017 the enrollment increase of students at Carlmont is projected to reach 2800 students. This growth can be attributed to rapid population growth in Belmont, Redwood Shores, and San Carlos. To accommodate this rise in the number of students, ten more classrooms are being built in the original S-wing location. This new set of classrooms gets to take the S-wing name. The portable classrooms that were there have been moved into the area next to the Senior parking lot. For the 10 classrooms, three of them will
be science rooms and the other seven will just be built as regular classrooms. One of the seven classrooms is expected to be used for the journalism program, which will be headed by the English Department Chair and journalism teacher, Justin Raisner. The money used for the construction project required that a Career Technical Education class be built. None of the other classrooms, besides the science and journalism rooms, have been designated yet. The construction for the new S-wing is expected to be finished by the Spring of 2017. “Construction timelines are often behind schedule and I think a more realistic timeline will be closer to the fall of 2017,” said Administrative Vice Principal Grant Steunenberg. Before the school year started, there was construction all over the school improving things such as the roof and bleachers of the Stogner Gym, new flooring in some of the classrooms in the A-wing, and renovating the Associated Student Body room. At the start of the construction of the new S-wing, the entire upper left section
of campus, where T and U-wings are, was inaccessible, but by Aug. 16 a pathway was cleared for the incoming students to reach their classrooms. The pathway consisted of one staircase open for all the students who have classes in that area, and the limited access has resulted in a lot of congestion during passing periods. The traffic has caused many of the students who attend classes in the T or U wings to be tardy to their next class. "I have to go from [the performing arts building] to U wing so I'm always late getting up to U (wing). For my class after, I have to go to D (wing) so it's not that bad, but I know people who are always late," said junior Maleia Guiterrez. A new pathway to these classrooms and to the baseball field is currently under construction. It is going to be a wheelchair accessible pathway as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. “We are hoping this will be completed by October, but once again construction timelines are often behind schedule,” said Steunenberg. The news of a new pathway comes as
a relief to the students who have to fight through the crowds to get to their classes, and have to take odd ways to get there. “Finally! I won’t be run over by everyone trying to enter the hallway when I’m leaving. There’s just too many people and you have to take a roundabout way of getting to your class. You’re supposed to go up a pathway made of dirt and leave down the stairs but nobody listens to that,” said junior Jackie Thompson. Another challenge that the construction brings is the distraction from the sound of construction. “When the teacher talks, you can only hear half of what they say because the construction is so loud. Then we have to keep the windows and doors closed for the noise and it’s been really bad in the heat,” said Thompson. Even though the construction has caused many inconveniences, Carlmont is having to keep up with the demand for more classrooms. Therefore, these changes are helping to make Carlmont better for current and future students.
Prom and Passover conf lict resolved Adriana Ramirez Staff Writer
Prom is no longer going to be on April 22 due to an overlap with the first day of Passover, according to the superintendent. This religious holiday in particular, according to junior Orli Feuchtwang, is important to the Jewish people. Passover, or Pesach, is a remembrance of their liberation by God after generations of slavery in Egypt. Feuchtwang said, “In the beginning of Passover, you have a Seder with your family. The first day is one of the most important.”
The Seder is a ritual performed by a community or family where they retell the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Jewish students have been working hard to get this date changed since they first heard about the conflict. Junior Alyssa Feigelson joined forces with some of her peers to create a petition to change the date of prom. Feigelson said, “Last I checked before I declared ‘victory’ on it, it had 1200 signatures.” In addition to the online petition, Feigelson, Ilana Hamer, Eli Melmon, and other students met with Principal Ralph Crame on Sept. 8 to discuss alternative dates for Prom.
“The purpose of the meeting was to open a line of communication with the students and to let them know that as an administration team, we want to hear concerns from students,” said Crame, “We don't want anybody to feel like we are discriminating against anyone or that their opinion doesn't matter. We want everyone to feel welcome.” Prom was scheduled for the first day of Passover, which upset many students, including Feigelson. She said, “I was really shocked because I went to a Jewish school and this wasn’t an issue there or before in this school. I really wanted to change it and I want to be able to go to Prom.”
Continued on page 5
Page 2
SPORTS
The Highlander
September 2015
How do you expect your team to do this fall?
Carlmont varsity athletes discuss their upcoming season
MICHAEL TAKAMOTO
Nico Ferrario
Erin Alonso
Mario Valenzuela
Isabelle de Wood
Mar Burgueno
“I think we are going to take our league by storm. I want the fans to stay faithful. This year’s squad is talented, hungry, and ready to win.”
“I think we have the potential to do better than last year, and if we continue to work hard, we have a good chance at winning league.”
“This year will be a rebuilding season because we have a lot of new members. There is a lot of work to be done to compete to our best potential.”
“I think we are starting with a new team and we have a lot to learn, but I can definitely see us using our talent to go far in league.”
“I think this year is going to be a strong one. Many of the new members have shown en-
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
Senior
thusiasm, and the veterans plan to make the best of this year.”
Photos and quotes by Minh-Han Vu
Girls can wear their mascara and their cleats Aria Frangos Staff Writer Concealer and foundation slathered on. Powder applied, careful contouring achieved. Blush dusted on. Eyebrows filled in, and eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara applied in turn. Lips lined and colored in. Slip on shinguards and socks, tie up the laces on those cleats, and voila: a worldclass female soccer player is ready to hit the stage. Err, field. The U.S women’s national team (USWNT) has won three out of seven FIFA Women’s World Cups, four Olympic golds, and is consistenly a top team in FIFA rankings as well as in international tournaments. And they have done it all while looking totally glamorous. Beauty magazine Allure published a short online article in admiration of this
feat. They featured photos of goalkeeper Hope Solo, forward Sydney Leroux, and forward Christen Press. The article notes the USWNT’s performance in the World Cup, but mainly discussed how “they’re wearing some stellar makeup, even through all that sweating.” “I don’t really get why they would wear makeup while competing if it wasn’t just for the purpose of looking good on camera,” said sophomore Harris Branch. “They’re working out and sweating, why would they want makeup on their faces?” The answer lies in the issue that looking pretty is the only way for these athletes to make any money. Women’s soccer does not pay well. The National Women’s Soccer League only pays its athletes between $6,000 and $30,000 per year, while the MLS’s minimum salary for the lowest-paid players on the roster is $50,000. To gain audience and endorsements,
athletes don’t just have to be talented; they have to be marketable. In the case of female athletes, this generally means they should appear sexy and attractive by conventional standards. Some even see makeup on high-caliber athletes as empowerment in the idea that women have the ability to play sports at a high level without giving up any claim to conventional femininity. American defender Ali Krieger said she refers to the makeup she always wears when she plays as “war paint.” Many of the USWNT wore this war paint on the world stage on their way to victory this past summer. The championship match of the Women’s World Cup ending up breaking records as the most watched soccer game ever in the United States. “I watched the games for all of the U.S. and many of the other countries with my family,” said senior Alexa Zaino. “I love watching women play soccer because they
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often play a cleaner game of more finesse and possession than men do, although that really does depend on the team.” The record-setting 25.4 million viewers watching the game on Fox was supplemented by the 1.3 million viewers watching on Telemundo to beat the number that had watched the men’s World Cup final in 2014. TV records were also broken by this event in nine other countries, including England and Brazil. Despite popularity of this kind, very little progress has been made in the growth and encouragement of women’s soccer leagues worldwide. “FIFA doesn’t invest enough money into attracting and maintaining the world’s best female athletes in resources and salary,” said girls varsity soccer coach Tina Smith. “It makes sense that there’s a gap in pay for men’s and women’s soccer because of the factors of publicity and popularity, but the gap is too big.”
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Page 3 September 2015
The growth of gender neutrality Anya Meredith Staff Writer
It’s a part of our identity from the moment we are born. We get put in our little blue or pink blanket to identify whether we are a boy or a girl. We grow up, assuming that barbies are for girls and toy trucks are for boys. This is starting to change. Companies like Target have gone gender neutral. According to Washington post writer Rebecca Hains, “For every progressive parent celebrating the demise of the pink and blue aisles, a conservative parent is furious that Target has taken the other side in this culture war.” Feminist Club president and junior Ashley Wen said, “I think that Target going gender neutral is a bold move in the right direction. It’s about time that toys aren’t classified as ‘meant for girls’ or ‘meant for boys.’ I think that by labeling toys as ‘for boys’ or ‘for girls’ perpetuates antiquated stereotypes from a young age. For example, girls are weak, feeble, and love dolls or boys are strong, gruff, and loves trucks.” Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said, “Jesus said, ‘Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female (Matthew
19:4).’ You can’t get any clearer than that.” Junior Casper Rigolfi, who is transgender, said, “I think Target going gender neutral is a really good thing. Girls can like toys that boys like and boys can like toys that girls like. Toys are toys. They shouldn’t be made for a specific gender.” All our life, soMINH-HAN VU ciety seems to be Rather than separating toys into groups specifically for boys or girls, stores such as Target have gone gender neutral telling us what our and began to place toys like Barbies and race cars in the same aisles. gender is. “Society does ing citizens choose a specific gender to as- ideas that play along with typical gender a pretty good job of making people con- sociate with anymore. roles (which we all likely do, unfortunateform to gender roles, which can suppress According to News Public Radio, Swe- ly), we run the risk of placing a value judgone’s individuality, creativity, and a whole den is creating a new pronoun that is not ment on someone’s identity, likes, hopes, host of other words that end in ‘-ity.’” said he or she. Now in the Swedish language and desires. This does not just lead to peoQueer-Straight Alliance Club advisor An- there will be he (han), she (hon), and hen, ple being needlessly offended, but it further drew Ramroth. a gender neutral word. entrenches structural privileges and disadIt is easier for some people to know what The Guardian said, “The pronoun is vantages, as well. We should avoid such their gender is than others. used to refer to a person without reveal- language as much as possible, always at“I always knew I was supposed to be a ing their gender — either because it is un- tempting to be more mindful of our words boy. In preschool I would see boys and just known, because the person is transgender, and their implications,” said Ramroth. know I was supposed to be one of them. I or the speaker or writer deems the gender Target is making a step in either the knew I wasn’t a girl,” said Rigolfi. to be superfluous information.” right direction, or the wrong direction, but Some places however, are not even mak“Any time we use language and express either way it’s a step.
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Page 4 The Highlander
CAMPUS
September 2015
Speaking in silence with VocaliD
New technology provides voices to those who cannot speak Sarah Schisla Staff Writer When seven-year-old Jack tries to speak, he can’t make the words come out. Jack was born with a rare genetic disorder called ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency. As a result, he suffered hyperammonemia immediately after his birth, which caused brain damage that resulted in hypotonia and apraxia, a lack of coordination of muscle movement. This makes simple actions such as chewing, swallowing, and speaking difficult for Jack. Jack’s mother Jennifer Johnson said, “Jack physically cannot produce the muscle movement [required] to control speech. He understands virtually everything we say; it’s just communicating back that’s difficult.” According to the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association (ASHA), approximately two million Americans rely on “an area of clinical practice that attempts to compensate (either temporarily or permanently) for the impairment and disability patterns of individuals with severe expressive communication disorders.” For Jack, this means using a “talker” — a device that reads out loud whatever message Jack composes on screen. While this method works at home with Jennifer, Jack’s computer-generated “voice” has created some serious complications. “He’s had peers say negative things about how his voice sounds,” said Jennifer. “Kids just want to blend in and be normal. If it didn’t sound so robotic, he might not feel so stigmatized by it. Maybe he would be more willing to communicate.” After years of using an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device that was far from perfect, Jack now has a chance to dramatically improve the way he communicates through an organization called VocaliD. Rupal Patel is a professor at Northeastern University and the founder of VocaliD. “People have different voices, even if they’re nonspeaking. VocaliD has developed techniques to blend two ‘voices’ together, [a non-speaking] recipient’s source with a donor’s filter,” said Patel. Ever since he gave a TED talk in late 2013 entitled “Synthetic voices, as unique as finger-
JENNIFER JOHNSON
Jack uses his current AAC device, which costs almost $9000. The new VocaliD device will be drastically more affordable at only $1000. Carlmont will be hosting a Voice Drive to donate student-recorded “voices” on Sept. 25. prints,” Patel has worked toward funding the development of more natural-sounding voices for AAC devices. Patel said, “It all started back in 2002, when I saw a little girl and a man [both AAC users] having a conversation using the same voice. These voices were not representative of the speakers, not an extension of them, as a voice should be.” The startup campaign recently culminated with a successful web-based Indiegogo fundraiser in June, which was 172 percent funded by the time it closed. In a matter of months, the first few “trailblazer” recipients will have their new custom voices, and many more will move
voice, another revolutionary aspect is the cost. Because VocaliD relies on volunteer voice donors, it estimates the cost of each voice will be around $1000. VocaliD is donor-based in order to make personalized voices more affordable for families with AAC users. “It costs [VocaliD] money to save and store people’s voices, so we need people to send the most high-quality recordings, not just care about getting through the task,” said Patel. This way, even more savings can be passed on to the voice recipients.
“Kids just want to blend in and be normal. If it didn’t sound so robotic, he might not feel so stigmatized by it. Maybe he would be more willing to communicate.” Jennifer Johnson (Jack’s mother) away from mechanical or pre-recorded voices toward a more personalized alternative to traditional communication. In addition to the custom nature of the
CAMPUS Secrets weigh down the mind and body The Highlander
Karen Gao Staff Writer
“Don’t tell anyone but…” A friend whispers into her ear, and she swears not to tell anyone. However, even though she keeps the secret, it nags at her constantly, being more than just an annoyance. This situation has occurred many times and yet people seem to be unaware of how much stress and pressure it can cause. Secrets are familiar experience to most, but many underestimate the big impact they can have on people. Junior Sonia Mahajan said, “Secrets have an negative impact if they are harmful secrets. For instance, if one person tells their friend a secret and that friend tells someone else the secret, then the trust and friendship between the first two is broken.” Sophomore Miya Okumura said, “For me, keeping my own secrets is much more of a burden than keeping someone else’s. A few years ago, I would over-think things because I wouldn’t talk about how I felt, and I would start to feel very insecure. I feel relieved when I’m able to talk to someone about my secrets.” According to Tufts University, meaningful secrets can manifest as physical burdens to one keeping them. In a study done alongside EverydayHealth, some of the participants were asked to recall a meaningful secret that they were told in the past, while the others were asked to remember a small personal secret. All of them were asked to estimate things such as how steep a hill was and how far a distance was. The people with the meaningful secrets estimated hills to be steeper and perceived distances to be farther than the other par-
Dr. Radbert Chin, O.D. OPTOMETRIST
ticipants, proving that the secrets had a physical toll. Sophomore Irene Lin said, “Secrets can be a burden depending on on how serious it is or how important it is to you.” A survey commissioned by the company Simple has shown that people, especially women, have a natural urge to share secrets they are told. KAREN GAO Mahajan said, “I don’t Even in High School, secrets continue to be a part of our lives, think that a certain gender but have a real burden on the people involved. has more of a urge to share secrets. There isn’t really a that are not considered important in the difference, because whether someone has long-term such as one’s opinion on a classthe urge depends on the person them- mate or something that is unimportant selves, not what gender they are.” enough to fade from memory quickly. Despite this natural urge, many have “I usually share minor secrets, since I’m come to suppress the instinct to spill secrets not the type to share everything about myfor the sake of the one carrying the secret. self or what I think easily,” Lin said. Okumura said, “Though I don’t have an Other secrets can be very important and urge to share secrets I hear, it is natural for deeply affect people both psychologically people to get an urge to tell a secret.” and physically than most realize. “I never have urges to share a secret “Secrets have more of a psychological because I respect my friend or whoever is effect than physical, but it depends on the telling me the secret,” Lin said, “The person secret,” Mahajan said,“If the secret is negamustered the courage to tell me a private tive or harmful, then there is a deeper efmatter, so in return I keep it to myself.” fect on the mind.” The urge to share a secret is also conHowever, research by Cornell Univernected to level of trust and bonds between sity has shown that creative outlets are an speaker and listener. effective method of lifting the burden of Okumura said, “If I have known a per- secrets. son for a long time and we’re close friends, Lin said, “I think people have the urge and they tell me their secrets, I know I can to share secrets because they need an outlet trust them. I do not trust many people with to share with someone instead of bottling my secrets, and I usually do not like to talk it up inside, and to distract them from a about personal things because I’m afraid secret. It is a healthy way of dealing with that they will think I’m trying to get pity.” secrets and the burden they can bring.” Secrets can be minor, personal things
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The Highlander
Editors
Megan Tao Kelly Song Avery Adams Kimiko Okumura
Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief Sarah Schisla
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Staff Writers
Holly Chen Aria Frangos Sophie Haddad Karen Gao Kian Karamdashti Bijan Khalili Anya Meredith
Page 5 September 2015
PROM
Continued from page 1 It was not anyone’s intention for Prom to coincide with a religious holiday, according to Crame. It was information about the Jewish religion that was missed during the decision of events during the year. “Those dates are set in prior years. We weren't aware that it was that big of a conflict until students and parents brought it to our attention. Simple calendars say [that Passover is from] the 23rd to the 30th, not knowing enough about it. We are now aware that Jewish holidays begin on the sundown the night before to avoid a conflict in the future,” said Crame. When the issue was first found by students, they were not informed about anything being done to change the date. Feuchtwang was worried that the problem would not be fixed. She said, “When I heard that there wasn’t too much action to change the date, I was kind of upset because a lot of times when it comes to Jewish holidays, a lot of my teachers have been accommodating with work.” However, with these new updates about changing the date, given to her by the Jewish club, she feels more relaxed. “I am really happy that they are changing it. It’s everyone’s fault for it being planned weirdly. There [are] a lot of things in the way but I wish there wasn’t so much backlash on changing the date. As long as they figure it out now, then it’s okay,” said Feuchtwang. When it comes to choosing dates, Crame and the rest of the administration are still in the process of looking at all the available dates and conflicts that might align with them. “We are going to make sure to get the best available date at this point now,” said Crame. “Those dates ran from March 11th all the way to May 13th.” It is not an easy process to choose a date at this point. The costs of the tickets may be different or it may be too close to winter formal, according to Carlmont Associated Student Body (ASB) advisor, Jim Kelly. Crame understands that this has been an issue and that the administration will try to avoid potential conflicts in the future. Feigelson has been heavily engaged and involved in working towards a solution to this issue. “I want to make sure that it never happens again and even if it happens and it falls in another [religious holiday], that we get it off that and find a date that works best. We want to make it so that everyone enjoys rom and our [respective] holidays,” said Feigelson.
Ivy Nguyen Taran Sun Adriana Ramirez Kiera Pendleton-White Connie Yi Hannah Young
The Highlander is a newspaper dedicated to providing Carlmont student, staff, and the community with highquality news, features, and opinion articles. We want to keep our readers informed on important issues ranging from Carlmont to international news, and want to engage them with unique stories and images.
RETHINKING W
Page 6
Kimiko Okumura
You meant...
Editor
silly
strange dumb
unfamiliar funny weird interesting stupid
but you said... slutgay ghetto
exotic f*g n*gger
retarded no homo
psycho “We say it because we’re comfortable. If we don’t know you and you say it, it’s offensive. I think you can use it around your friends.”
Alexis Aina Junior
It’s 1957, and a 15-year-old girl enters Little Rock Central High School as one of the first African-American students to attend an all-white school. She walks down the crowded hallways. She sees the white walls and the white people. A nearby student suddenly stops and scrutinizes the color of her skin. “N-(expletive deleted)” escapes from his white mouth to her ear as if it burns his tongue like poison. Fifty-eight years later, two friends carry out the daily handshake and echo “n-(expletive deleted)” throughout the hallway. This word, and many other words of unjust and hateful origin, have slowly become a part of American vernacular. Historically, society used “ghetto,” “n-(expletive deleted),” and “gay” to harm and oppress minority groups. These words have become a part of everyday vocabulary, and society has forgotten the effects words can have. Homophobic, racist, and sexist slurs continue to make an appearance, whether it’s at school, on television, or between two celebrities. It’s almost impossible to quantify the frequency of them used in daily language, but that does not invalidate the harmful effects of words. From July 5, 2012, until Sept. 15, 2015, twitter users mentioned “f*gg*t” 33,240,948 times, “so gay” 9,830,938 times, and “no homo” 9,808,337 times, according to nohomophobes.com. Regardless of how often these slurs are used and whether there’s been an increase or decrease in the usage, the prevalence of these words used in a casual way throughout society poses a problem. Using a word in the incorrect context distorts the meaning and often creates an insulting undertone, whether it’s intentional or not. “I don’t think when people are saying those words they have malicious intentions, but it does affect people,” said senior Belicia Tang. Sexual orientation is not a slur. Mental disorder is not a slur. Where someone lives is not a slur. Often times, when an individual uses the term “ghetto,” it’s to describe something “less than” or “black,” despite the actual definition being a neighborhood where a minority group lives due to economic, social, and political pressure and cannot escape due to limited opportunity. “When I was younger, that was people’s favorite word. They see something that’s not the way they look or they look at someone and they think ‘Oh man, this is ghetto,’” said Chatman. Sophomore Ryan Nowell said, “It makes whoever is talking sound extremely low down, stupid. My perspective of them decreases so much. It’s definitely a problem we need to fix. It’s offensive to a lot of people, it needs to change.” One the more frequently used racial slurs, “n-(expletive deleted),” comes from
“It makes whoever is talking sound extremely low down, stupid. My perspective of them decreases so much. It’s definitely a problem we need to fix. It’s offensive to a lot of people, it needs to change.”
“If y ment hear in ev kn re it al
Ryan Nowell Sophomore
Ken
WORD CHOICE ghetto
ghetto ghetto
ghetto
ghetto
Page 7
ghetto
ghetto
ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto
ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto
ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto ghetto
ghetto
ghetto ghetto
deep roots of oppression and prejudice. When Chatman was younger, some students called him “n-(expletive deleted).” “I just thought, ‘wow, I can’t believe you actually called me that,’” said Chatman. “It’s a word that symbolizes the horrors of racism in this country. And students who use [n-(expletive deleted)] today can never own it. No matter what they say or what they think, there’s so much history behind it that they cannot possibly make it theirs,” said history teacher David Gomez. When Gomez hears students jokingly shout “n(expletive deleted)” across the school hallway to their friends, it triggers the racism he has encountered as a Latino. The prevalence of unintentionally racist and homophobic remarks trigger harmful, personal experiences. “I have a family member who is gay, and when I hear classmates say the word, it’s really painful,” said junior Alexis Aina. However, the recent legalization of gay marriage, the continuing protests of black social justice, and the support
you’re gay or tally ill, and you gay or retarded a negative way, ven though you now they’re not eferring to you, hurts, it stings lot.”
ndall Kaufman Senior
ghetto ghetto ghetto
for the feminist movement have brought awareness to the “We say [‘ghetto’] because we’re comfortable. If we don’t use of slurs. know you and you say it, it’s offensive, because we come “It’s not used as heavily anyfrom there. I think you can use more because of recent news “I believe that a word is a thing. it around your friends,” said and different events that have It is non visible. It is audible only Aina. happened; it’s brought light to “You can use the words having more knowledge about for the time it’s there. It hangs in around your day one friends, what certain things are and not your day five friends,” said not having an ignorant eye to the air. But I believe it is a thing. I sophomore Victoria Matle. certain matters. It gives people believe it goes into the upholstery. “Depending on how you say more light on the subject of it, it can be negative, and with And then into the rugs, and into the way people use it in more what something really is,” said Chatman. my hair, and into my clothes, and of a positive way, it has become However, the common usage more of an okay thing to say in then finally into my body.” of slurs by public figures have society,” said Chatman. demonstrated that as a society, People tend to speak withMaya Angelou it’s nearly impossible to stop evout realizing the effect it has on eryone from using derogatory others. Some words carry more terms. With this in mind, it’s weight than others. better to have individuals use words in a friendly context than used in a demeaning way.
“People who use it in music, or art, or whatever they use it for, they don’t know the history of it. Or if they know it, they don’t care.They don’t understand what the people went through.”
“I hear those words being thrown around a lot,and it’s been conditioned to mean a different thing than they actually mean. I don’t think when people are saying those words they have malicious intentions.”
David Gomez History Teacher
Belicia Tang Senior
Page 8
OPINION
The Highlander
The Tao of Megan Megan Tao Editor
“The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” -Finley Peter Dunne
September 2015
Do you think a person can be described in one word?
High School Musical 4: reality strikes back The football team swaggers down the hallway with their cheerleader girlfriends at their sides. The nerds, band geeks, and everybody else who isn’t a jock quickly scatters with looks of envy on their face as they stare longingly at the “cool kids.” The screen cuts to black as the title of a movie appears, introducing the next flawed depiction of high school in the movie industry. The entertainment industry makes the “cool kids” image desirable and unattainable by defining cool with stereotypes that don’t exist. Producers generalize the characters in high school movies, believing that it will make them more relatable, but it’s exactly the opposite. These characters aren’t relatable because people aren’t defined by one thing. Being good at sports, for example, doesn’t mean you can’t do anything else, nor does it make you superior to people who prefer other extracurricular activities. However, no matter how much we stress about people being equal, the entertainment industry strives to destroy that notion. According to the Annenberg Media Center, in high school movies, there’s always a social hierarchy. The standard hierarchy consists of jocks at the top, nerds at the bottom, and everyone else in between. An element that movies about high school fail to capture is that there’s not just jocks or just nerds, but simply just groups of people. Movies tend to focus on the social aspects of high school because who would watch a movie about immense amounts of homework and the grueling pressure of grades? We don’t need to watch it because we live it. Which is one of the main reasons why movies never portray accurate depictions of high school. Not necessarily about them making it seem like homework and tests don’t exist, but without those factors, the movie is able to emphasize and exaggerate on the social points. For example, there is literally a movie called “Prom” which depicts every possible detail of what is commonly called the “the best night of your life.” Along with the overly dramatic and aggressively segregated cliques, movies like “Prom” are not only inaccurate and filled with false hope, but for some children, are the only resource they have for what high school is like. According to The iNews Network, the movies children have seen throughout their lives have shown them fabricated, melodramatic versions of what high school will be like. Obviously, most children are smart enough to know that people don’t break out into songs when they’re being overwhelmed by their feelings, but I don’t blame them when they believe that they will have the same friends all four years and that there’s always the cool crowd that you need to sit with or you’re “nobody” for the next four years. Middle schoolers are anxious to go to high school because they’ve been told it will be “the best four years of their lives.” They’re the target audience for these movies because they’re easily impressionable and will believe that partying every weekend and being in a relationship comes before school work. These fictitious high school experiences that these movies thrive off of our meant to inspire their audience to actually have “the best four years of your life.” Without realizing it, we do compare our lives to the stereotypical characters and strive for their experiences instead of living with what reality offers. Movies create flawed depictions of high school by stressing social points that are unrealistic, or don’t even exist and yet we still eat it up like popcorn.
“One can have a person who is an “At a quick glance you can be deathlete and 14 [years old] and a fresh- scribed by one word, like ‘she’s happy,’ man and latino and tall and just can’t but I don’t think that who you really are be described in just one word like that.” can be defined like that.”
Kyle Dimick, Freshman
Ariana Crame, Senior
Calling all cell phone addicts Anticipation mounts as the predator draws closer. You grasp your seat and perhaps your friend’s hand, shading your eyes from the unbearably suspenseful film when... bring bring bring. A cell phone goes off, destroying the mood and devastating the audience. Now, events like going to the movies are becoming less and less ceremonial. But the truth is, we don’t take the time to let ourselves be fully immersed in an experience. We unwillingly let ourselves be tethered by a need beyond our control -- our cell phones. The vast majority of the population relies heavily on cell phones, but they often neglect the consequences of these ubiquitous pocket buddies. America is on the tail-end of a transition, one that may either prove efficient or deleterious. Everyone is expected to own one. Most everyone does own one. Even the homeless own them. You heard right. According to Dr. Eric Rice, Associate Professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work, “Sixty-two percent of homeless youth own a cell phone.” Whether you’re an iPhone user or an Android apologist, you probably own a smartphone. And it’s probably more integral to your lifestyle than it should be. Kept close at all times, cell phones rarely escape the attention of their adoring owners. They are a priority, even treated with more respect than teachers. A study conducted by Wilkes University reveals that 91 percent of students text during class. On the flip side, cell phones are continually considered a boon to society. Many make the argument that this is an “informationdriven” world and that cellular devices provide us with quick and easy access to facts and answers. Gotta problem? Just Google it! The downside of this form of quick gratification is that it bypasses the steps we once thought cumbersome but now realize were advantageous. By this I mean that kids are forgetting how to read analog clocks, dictionaries, even use the Dewey Decimal system. Now, some have had the foresight to prepare for future students’ ineptness. Carlmont’s very own Dr. Robert Hunter pioneered the FOMF program which emerges students in real books (gasp) and other paper products to do research. Other institutions are moving with the times, and for better or for worse (really it’s the latter) decided to “simplify” things. The San Carlos Library, for instance, removed the Dew-
ey Decimal system, leaving patrons lost and confused in a place with essentially no organization. It is grantedly piquant to discover how few live now without smartphones. Are they really necessary? What has changed in the past couple decades that suddenly renders humans incapable of surviving without our second brain? Irksomely, texting now takes precedence over face-toface interaction, even when the two are happening simultaneously. Apparently, the person on the other line is preferable to the person sitting across from you. This must be a warm up for a future of communication solely with machines and artificial intelligence. The turn towards screens is a turn away from faces. More and more companies are allowing transactions to be made “in the comfort of your own home.” The age of technology marks a shift towards a more introverted society, timid in terms of human confrontation, adept in the realm of typing and programming. Furthermore, I am not convinced that cell phones are making life any more efficient. If anything, they are just a distraction. Oh, what was that last sentence? You must have glossed over it while you were checking to see if someone texted you. The more serious and sombre side of this distraction is its unfortunate death toll. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,153 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.” Too many people sadly overestimate their abilities to multitask. Even if their mistakes do not end in injury, those who text and drive are causing an easily avoidable hazard. If nothing else, they’re just plain annoying. It is painfully obvious when you glance in the rearview mirror to see an unfocused driver looking at his crotch and not pulling forward at the green light. Because we have this unjustifiable need to always have our cell phones around, we can never really focus on the task at hand. The phone will inevitably flash some notification prompting us to break focus and check it. So, riddle me this: are cell phones the future of intelligence, or the death of productivity?
The editorial article expresses the views and opinions of the Highlander as a whole. This month’s editorial was written by Sophie Haddad.
Page 9
NEWS
The Highlander
September 2015
Summer: the international edition Ivy Nguyen
Staff Writer Obama secures Iran nuclear deal
WHAT: After 34 senators backed Obama’s veto of a Republican resolution to disapprove the deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between Iran, the P5+1, and the European Union (EU) was announced on July 14, 2015. This deal will allow Iran to have a limited nuclear program, limited research, and closely monitored stockpiles. It will also lift various international sanctions that have hurt Iran’s economy for years.
Where are these events happening?
WHAT: NASA and two other meteorological agencies have reported that June 2015 was the warmest June ever recorded, and 2015 is on track to becoming the warmest year on record. This is due to the overall problem of global warming, but more specifically El Niño, which is a warm phase that is helping to transfer large amounts of heat from the tropical Pacific all around the world. SO WHAT: Students are feeling the heat even during the school year. It is also making a nationwide effect on aspects such as agriculture and general health, and environmentalists are saying that it’s time to take action against global warming.
WHAT: Since Greece’s debt crisis began in 2010, many international banks and foreign investors have sold their Greek holdings. Some economists speculate that if Greece defaults on its debt and leaves the eurozone, either the eurozone will be better off, or there will be global financial shocks. Greece has been attempting to reduce the budget deficit by implementing austerity policies to cut expensive social programs and raise taxes. SO WHAT: Some economists state that this debt crisis will trigger a collapse in the world economy. Such a large catastrophe could trickle down to affect even American high school students, making it harder to get a job or making sales taxes higher.
SO WHAT: This agreement may make a new war less likely. However, if a war did occur, current high school students would likely be the ones fighting in it.
The heat of summer 2015 was record-breaking
Greece’s debt crisis may affect the world
Syrian refugees attempt to flee the civil war
WHAT: Syrians have been attempting to flee the ongoing Syrian Civil War since 2011, but the immigration crisis has recently been pushed into the media’s spotlight. Of the four million Syrian refugees who have fled, most have entered neighboring countries - Turkey, Lebanon or Jordan. However, despite their proximity to Syria, Saudi Arabia and other wealthy Gulf countries have refused asylum for Syrians refugees. The EU has plans to make each country in the EU welcome a certain number of refugees. SO WHAT: With a country in turmoil and thousands of immigrants dying on the journey out of Syria, this is a political, social, and moral issue that deserves attention.
North and South Korea increased tensions
WHAT: In August, Kim Jong-un of North Korea declared a “quasi state of war,” and both sides exchanged artillery fire amid threats of nuclear warfare. In response to this, #PrayForKorea trended worldwide on Twitter, while #WeAreFineThankYou trended among Korean users. Many Koreans stated that North-South Korea tensions have always been existent. SO WHAT: As the U.S. is allied with South Korea, there is a possibility of joining the conflict between North and South Korea. This issue is especially pertinent for those on the West Coast, as it is closer to North Korea, which has had a history of threatening to attack the U.S..
Students need to become more aware of domestic news Alyssa Fagel
Managing Editor As the next generation of voters, it is our job as American students to stay up-to-date on current events taking place in our country. Over the summer, many important events occurred that have the potential to impact our lives in the near future. Below you will find four of the most noteworthy stories that took place in the United States over the past few months.
Election:
2016 is going to be a big year for American politics. With President Obama’s second term coming to an end, Democrats are trying to keep their hold in office while the Republicans are desperately trying to make a comeback. Over the summer, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders began to pull ahead for the Democrat party, the latter being much more liberal. The Republican primary is still very di-
vided, with Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, and Chris Christie all attempting to use their well-known names to gain support. The primary election isn’t for another nine months, but it has already become clear that no candidate is planning to go out without a fight.
Flag:
A symbol of southern pride, or a violent reminder of slavery, either way the return of the Confederate flag definitely hasn’t come without controversy. Dylann Roof, an alleged white supremacist, gunned down nine people at a small church in Charleston in June 2015. Roof ’s indictment of a hate crime resulted in a renewed debate over whether the flag holds more meaning in today’s society than just a token of southern honor.
Marriage Equality:
In June 2015, a 5-to-4 ruling of the Supreme Court resulted in the legalization of gay marriage in all 50 states. Justice Anthony Kennedy was the swing vote in the case,
supporting the four liberals in their argument that marriage is an undeniable liberty. The timing of this court decision could not have been more perfect for supporters of the LGBT community, as thousands of people flooding into San Francisco and other major cities on June 28 to celebrate one of their biggest victories to this day.
Peace with Iran:
After 20 months of intense discussions, the U.S. and Iran reached a deal to resolve Iran’s nuclear program back in mid-July 2015. President Obama spoke highly of the negotiation, and in a quote on cnn.com declared it an achievement that decades of animosity had not accomplished. Though the agreement consists of many parts, its main ideas reflect American wishes for Iran to reduce its number of nuclear centrifuges by 66 percent. While the deal still awaits final approvement from Congress, Obama and his followers are optimistic that this accord will keep peace between the two nations for a long period of time.
Page 10 The Highlander
NEWS
September 2015
California goes up in flames The drought’s negative repercussions compounded Taran Sun Staff Writer
Flames have been sweeping across California, consuming forests, wildlife, and residential areas. Over 10 major fires are currently raging throughout northern and southern areas of California, and with the historical drought in full swing, these fires have never had a more optimal nor dangerous time to occur. Senior Kendall Kaufmann said, “Wildfires used to be natural occurrences for the most part. They died off on their own and were often good for nature. Recently there have been many more human causes to the wildfires, when people blatantly ignore posted warnings and the danger caused by the drought.” Within the past two months, West Coast
forest fires have forced evacuations in California and Oregon, and taken away the power from thousands in Washington according to NBC News. The U.S. Forest Service is spending $100 million a week to deal with the fires using aircraft and different engine powered machinery to contain and put them out. These expenses have exceeded the organization's annual budget within the last month. Sophomore Michelle Tenin said, “I’m glad that the U.S. Forest Service is trying to do as much as they can to minimize the casualties of the fires through their evacuations and fire fighting. All of that is great, but I think that dealing with the fires costs way too much money.” The fires have grown and spread so much that their effects can even be seen in the San Francisco Bay Area some days in the form of a thick gray haze in the air,
causing alarm among residents across the bay. During days such as these, people with respiratory issues are recommended to stay inside. Sophomore Sofia Tam said, “I think that the fires are being enhanced by the drought, the hot and dry weather is a huge part of what is making them hard to fight. Without rain, everything has to be done with huge amounts of money and manpower, which won’t change as long as the drought keeps going.” The threat of fires has hit closer to home for some Carlmont students. On Sept. 4, a brush fire near the I-280 and state Highway 92 interchange burned over 15 acres before being contained, according to ABC News. Junior Kyle Jung said, "It’s kind of scary to think that such a big fire could happen so close to where we live. Things like this
seem easier to hear about from a safe distance away, but the fact that there is a fire so close makes it more real and pressing." Firefighters deal with California’s fires in the face of the extreme drought, winds, and heat that take place in the vicinities of the fires. As many as 14,000 firefighters have been deployed to deal with the fires at any one time as these fires continue to pose a threat. Senior Foster Kupbens said, “The firefighters should be recognised for the work they are doing. They might as well be fighting an army, there are so many of them out there trying to contain the fires. It is their job, I just hope that they have the best possible equipment and training.” The wildfires have increased in size and number over the course of the past decade, and if trends continue, California could be headed towards a fiery future.
The Highlander
Page 11
NEWS
September 2015
The issues that matter A review of the front runners in the presidential race, and their stances on important topics
Donald Trump:
Immigration: Trump holds a very strong stance on
Ben Carson:
Immigration: Carson introduced a plan where immi-
Mexican immigration. Trump pushed the idea of sending back US-born children of illegal immigrant parents and has boasted about the idea of building a large wall along the Mexican border in order to combat illegal immigration. Climate Change: He has yet to established a public policy. However, in 2013, he tweeted that global warming was a “hoax.” Public Education: He has no clear public policy established but previously criticized common core standards. Abortion: He recently transferred to pro-life after years of being pro-choice. LGBTQ Rights: He has spoken against gay marriage and the jailing of Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis, who refused to submit marriage licenses after the national legalization of gay marriage. Gun Control: While he has spoken out against gun control, he previously supported a ban on assault weapons and a longer purchasing waiting period in order for more efficient background checks to be done. Other: Trump has angered people with his comments on Mexican immigrants, veteran and Arizona senator John McCain, and fox anchor Megyn Kelly. Despite these setbacks, Trump is still leading many Republican polls. Republican Candidate
grants with no criminal past can obtain guest worker status and eventually become a citizen. Climate Change: Carson claimed that there is no convincing research that man plays a role in the Earth’s changing climate. Education: He suggested scrapping the Common Core system and promoted the power of school choice for all Americans. Abortion: A past abortion rights supporter, Carson switched sides on the issue. Although he is now against abortion, he doesn’t believe an all-out ban is the correct choice. LBGQT Rights: A public figure in the American religious scene, Carson has been outspoken against gay marriage but accepts the new law. He also called for religious rights not to be compromised due to the law. Gun Control: Carson has expressed concern over guns getting into the hands of the mentally-ill, however he stated: “In no way do I think we should restrict the rights, particularly the rights of law abiding citizens to have guns.” Other: He has never run for any political office before, so lack of experience is a concern. Republian Candidate
Hillary Clinton:
Immigration: She has been a huge advocate for more
Bernie Sanders:
Immigration: He has promised to sign the DREAM Act,
lenient immigration laws and has said that “We can’t wait any longer for a path to a full equal citizenship.” Climate Change: She acknowledges climate change and has set ambitious goals for producing energy from renewable resources such as water and wind. Her goal is to have 33 percent of the country’s energy come from these resources by 2027. Public Education: She has promoted a plan that would cut $175 billion in student loans to public state universities. Abortion: She publicly criticized the House of Representatives’ attempt to ban late-term abortions and has supported womens’ right to choose. LGBTQ Rights: In recent years she has fought for LGBQT Rights but in 2004 said, “I believe marriage is not just a bond, but a sacred bond between a man and a woman.” Gun Control: Clinton has called for stricter background checks and gun control after recent shootings. Other: Republicans have attacked controversial precautions Clinton took as Secretary of State before the 2012 terrorist attack in Libya. She is also under investigation for a use of personal email from 2009-2012. Democratic Candidate
which allows young illegal immigrants to achieve permanent status. Sanders is also a supporter of other immigration programs that promote permanent citizen status for adults as well. Climate Change: He believes climate change is a problem that humans can take steps to fix. As Senator, Sanders secured $3.2 billion for grants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Education: He is a huge supporter of affordable college education and on May 19, 2015 introduced a bill that would make all 4-year public college tuitions free. Abortion: Sanders is pro-choice and has defended the funding of Planned Parenthood. Gun Control: Sanders said, “I like hunting but no one needs an AK-47 to hunt.” Sanders has held a mixed gun-control policy but calls for stricter enforcement of the current gun control laws. LGBTQ Rights: A long-time supporter of gay marriage, Sanders has been supporting the cause since 1996. He has also claimed that “all citizens deserve equal rights.” Other: At 75 years-old, Sanders is the oldest candidate for presidency and his age is leaving some voters worried. Democratic Candidate
Information compiled by Kian Karamdashti
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Carlmont
MINH-HAN VU
Plan your bathroom excursions
D23 is more than a tutoring center
If you can afford the trek to U or F hall, their proximity to the rest of the campus brings the fewest visitors of all the bathrooms. These halls host the newest, biggest, and cleanest bathrooms, featuring new hand dryers that actually work. If you cannot partake in these expeditions to U or F hall, avoid C and D hall bathrooms at the start of lunch unless you want to spend the first half of lunch in the line out the door, assuming everyone has beaten you to it; they probably have.
Whether you need one-on-one tutoring from a supervising teacher, a space to collaborate with other students, or simply a quite room to focus on homework, D23 is available after school Monday through Thursday. Open later than the library, the tutoring center closes at 4:15 p.m., making it accessible to those with seven periods or staying for extracurricular activities. Bonus: The D23 tutoring center requires a brief sign-in every day that you attend, followed by complimentary snacks.
Counselors aren’t just for academia
Expand past bologna sandwiches
Not only do the guidance counselors offer their expertise in schedules, credits, and keeping students’ academic lives balanced, but they also offer personal counseling. Whether a student just wants someone to talk to about personal complications, a reference to a professional therapist, or a private meditation appointment, the guidance counselors offer a variety of support for anyone who reaches out for assistance.
For $3.75 you can buy a full meal including an entree, side salad, milk and a juice or piece of fruit at the Pit Stop. Fan favorites include bosco sticks and the spicy chicken sandwich. Or pick and choose your lunch from the student store where prices start at $0.25 for fruit snacks and $1.50 for assorted snacks such as ice cream, chips, and granola bars. Either way, you can get a filling meal for a couple bucks.
Get a jump on life after high school
Get involved beyond classrooms
The transition from high school to an independent life may intimidate some, but the College and Career Center is available to address any concerns, from the SAT and ACT, to any questions on the fundamentals of the college application process. Visits from a variety of colleges are also hosted, with 44 different college visits scheduled between Sept. and Oct. Students can sign up for any of these presentations through Naviance.
Whether brand new to Carlmont or struck with senioritis, students can participate to make high school memorable. Grab your friends and join the Screamin’ Scots at any football game to show your pride through face paint and cheers. Like mom always says, everyone has to go to prom. Even if prom isn’t for you, socialize at other dances like homecoming and winter formal outside of the typical school environment.
Know your way around the office
Take control of your participation
If you need to address any general concerns, such as locker availability, athletic programs, or the necessity of snacks or hygiene products, the Admin secretaries are prepared to assist. For more personal materials, like transcripts and counselor appointments, go to the guidance secretaries. Personal counselors can then address specific concerns over academics or personal matters. But if you would rather approach students about personal matters, Bustamante’s S.O.S. program is the apt choice.
Make a difference in the school; run for office. Any student from freshman to junior year can run for office as long as they complete the application process in the spring. Join clubs. From volunteering clubs to ethnic background clubs, there’s a club for everyone at Carlmont. Lunchtime activities are put on by ASB all year around such as Carlmont Cup, dodgeball tournament, and Powderpuff, where students can gather friends and compete against peers. AVERY ADAMS