Highlander Issue 2 Oct 2016

The Highlander October 2016 Vol VIII Issue II

Carlmont High School — Belmont, California

www.scotscoop.com

Skin color matters Isabel Mitchell Admit it.

When a white person kneels during the national anthem, there is that fleeting question many ask: what are they doing?

Some people are hesitant to stand up for injustice or for movements such as Black Lives Matter because of their ethnicity. Some black people face the same issues simply because of the pigment of their skin.

They are not black enough.

People have been ridiculed for not being black enough to stand up for injustice and for movements such as Black Lives Matter. This division may discourage people of other ethnicities from supporting this cause and other movements that do not align with their race.

“I believe that people do limit their support on movements like Black Lives Matter based on their ethnicity and skin color because of their

peers. For some people, being a part of those types of movements can be an awkward situation to be a part of if you’re not [black] and you join the Black Lives Matter movement,” said junior Katie Rogers, who is caucasian. “But in all honesty, people should make decisions to support or not support these types of movements based on what they believe is just, and not because their skin is a certain color or they have a different ethnicity.”

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem, causing uproar across the United States, beginning in Aug. 2016. Kaepernick has been criticized for pledging his support to the Black Lives Matter movement.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick explained to NFL Media in an interview two days

after a game on Aug. 26, 2016.

“To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.

There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

For some, Kaepernick is not qualified to be the face of the Black Lives Matter movement because he does not experience the hardships that a typical black person undertakes.

Students at Carlmont have also received similar comments from their family members and peers.

“I don’t think people realize the effect it has on a person of color who has grown up in a dominantly white area constantly being told by relatives ‘You’re so whitewashed’ or by peers and classmates things like ‘I forget you’re black sometimes because you talk white.’ I think that if you are black, even like a small percentage, you shouldn’t

See SKIN COLOR page 10

Twitter: @scotscoopnews

ESTELLA LIPPI

Racial movements lack understanding Adriana Ramirez There is no end if there isn’t a beginning.

In order to reach an end — in other words, a solution — everyone needs to begin by finding, identifying, and agreeing as a collective group, what the problem is and how they are going to address it.

Currently, there are two main statements — Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter — that have formed and caused disagreements and confusion between people.

According to their website, Black Lives Matter (BLM) is a national organization and movement working for the validity of black lives. This organization is working to (re)build the black liberation movement. This movement is working towards a world where black lives are no longer targeted for demise.

All Lives Matter (ALM) is

a social media statement and hashtag. Their initial intent might have started with wanting everyone to join hands and fight for equality amongst all, but it has since deviated from that and has now become a statement against the Black Lives Matter organization, according to the Huffington Post.

Different people have different interpretations on the messages of BLM and ALM. As a result, they support the one they perceive to be socially and morally correct in their eyes. These interpretations are a result of people not being well-informed on this topic.

“If people are well-informed on this topic, it helps them make better choices because it helps them not judge; but at the same time you have to have the mentality, like I am going to do

See MOVEMENTS page 10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE CAMPUS NEWS FEATURES HALLOWEEN LIFESTYLE SPORTS FEATURES OPINION ELECTION

2 3 4-5 6-7 8 9 10 11 12

Evolution of Halloween

Screamin’ Scots controversy

Lesser-evil voting

Students spread awareness of world benefits

The ins and outs of the college application process

This generation will be first to venture to Mars

(PAGE 6)

(PAGE 9)

(PAGE 12)

2 CAMPUS

October 2016

Carlmont lacks political diversity

‘Liberal values’ obstruct conservative voice Megan Tao

“I reject the politics of ignorance and fear. All people are welcome and valued here.”

Signs with this message on it can be found in classrooms trying to promote equality and acceptance.

However, some students are questioning what ignorance really means and if all values are actually accepted.

“Carlmont’s liberal environment plays a big factor in the accepting atmosphere we have, which is great, but the school has taken a side, which shouldn’t be happening considering that it’s a publically funded state school,” said senior Alex Jin. “If a student has their own beliefs taken from their families or themselves, that’s their own choice; they shouldn’t be judged for that.

It’s a public school. We’re supposed to accept all ideas.”

American government teacher Karen Ramroth explains that the message stems from a theory called the Trump effect, which finds that kids, particularly in elementary and middle school, are bullying each other and treating each other with more disrespect due to the influence of presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

From this, researchers are finding that this effect makes it socially acceptable to look down upon someone if you disagree with their idea.

“The [poster’s] idea is it’s okay to disagree on policies and ideology all you want, [and] that’s part of a healthy democracy, but when you start insulting people and advocating for things like racial profiling and stripping of human rights, those are

BROOKE CHANG

different issues,” said Ramroth.

That message started appearing in Carlmont classrooms last school year during politically-geared spirit weeks such as Feminism Week and Scots Spread Love Week, which focused on combating Islamophobia.

Ironically, these spirit weeks and posters that are supposed to celebrate diversity and inclusiveness leave some students finding the school-wide support of certain social beliefs to be a bit jarring if their opinions don’t match the majority.

“I think if your opinions don’t match with what the majority thinks, then you get a little bit of backlash. People can think the way they want. To some, their opinions are considered ignorant, but it’s their opinion, and why put a bad name on it,” said Jin. With these more politically geared spirit

weeks, some students believe that Carlmont’s liberal environment plays a big role in defining the Carlmont community.

“I think it’s really important, especially here considering how liberal we are, that everyone has varying opinions, and we need to be open-minded about it and not just stick to our own opinion,” said sophomore Evelyn Gordi.

For the most part, Carlmont seems to be a very accepting place, until there comes an opinion that does not fit within the liberal environment. Carlmont welcomes diversity, but some think that does not include political diversity.

According to Merriam-Webster, diversity is the quality or state of having different forms, types, or ideas.

Therefore, political diversity is having opinions or ideas that range on the political

spectrum.

Carlmont’s liberal environment has suppressed political diversity, which is an issue for a school that claims to welcome and value all people.

To try and stimulate healthy political discussions in class, Ramroth incorporates current events into the lessons.

“I try to provide [students] with as many opportunities to discuss because I think the way you get good at discussing political ideas is through practice,” said Ramroth.

Ramroth continues her support of political diversity by showing that it can be used as a learning tool.

“High school and college are the places where [students] want to expose [themselves] to as many different ideas as [they] can. The more [they’re] exposed to it, the more [they] can think about whether [they] agree or disagree on the topic,” she said.

Instead of having a gut reaction of a topic being good or bad, Ramroth suggests that students actually take the time to think and maybe learn a little bit about the opposing view, even if the student disagrees with it afterward.

“My hope for all students is to be exposed to as many different ideas as possible. And when you’re made uncomfortable by something, ask yourself why and be open to discussions with peers about why you feel the way you do and be willing to back it up with evidence.”

The most effective way to promote political diversity on campus and make Carlmont a completely safe place for opinions to be shared and discussed is by simply listening.

“It’s important to get other people’s side of the story,” said Gordi.

Robotics evolves from a club to a class Sophie Penn

Last year, students may have noticed a particular group of kids who would hang around after school hours, sometimes for long periods of time.

A lot of people didn’t know why they were there, or what they were doing that took up so much time.

They weren’t sports kids, ASB kids, or drumline.

No, these students were holed up in a tiny room on the edge of the quad, building a robot.

Robotics teacher David Talcott said, “When we started, we basically had nothing. In the last year, we’ve accumulated tools, space, and more students.”

Robotics started out without a large space to work, or very much equipment.

The goal of both the club and newly-founded class is to build a functional robot to compete at the Silicon Valley Regional Competition (SVRC).

Principal Ralph Crame said, “Right now they’re learning all the techniques and what they need to know in terms of engineering, and Mr. Talcott is providing lessons to prepare them for the build season.”

Junior Joyce Satzherr reflects, “In the club last year, everything was after school, which made it harder to have enough time. Build season is January through February, and those hours would be everyday after school from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. or 8 p.m.”

Previously, robotics had been a joint team with Wood-

enrollment Increased from 22 to 50 students

side, but it became an official Carlmont club last year.

Carlmont’s student enrollment in the club had grown enough for them to branch off and start their own official team.

Just one year after being an official club on campus, robotics has become an elective class.

To become a class, Carlmont administration has to approve the addition of a new elective.

“To get the class established we had lots of meetings with Mr. Talcott and Ms. Cho to plan for the class, as well as meeting with the guidance department to make sure enough people would sign up,” said Crame.

Robotics class takes place during sixth period and qualifies for UC-certified elective credits.

One reason for the addition of the class is that the enrollment of students in robotics has grown from 22 active members to 50 since first becoming a club. Another factor was a lack of necessary hours.

Saltzherr said, “We found that we were running out of time and we wanted to have more training and get a more diverse range of skills.”

With the new setup, students who are in robotics can choose to either be in the class, in the after school club, or in both, such as Saltzherr.

“Now with a class, we have a lot of new people who also

Counts as UC-certified elective credit

have outside activites,” said Saltzherr.

For students who were interested in robotics, but couldn’t fit the after school hours into their schedule, this class offers them a way to get involved.

Senior Kyle Jung said, “I joined robotics this year because I always wanted to join the team, but didn’t have time until it became a class.”

The team is planning on competing in up to two contests this year, and although they aren’t holding out for a win, the group plans on representing Carlmont positively and having fun.

“I think we’re hoping to represent our school and ourselves very well [at the contest].

Our goal isn’t to win just yet, but I ESTELLA LIPPI think we can definitely show that we know what we’re doing and that we do good things as a team,” said Talcott.

Build season from January through February

JILL ALBERTSON

NEWS 3

October 2016

Marijuana legalization on more state ballots

States vote on whether the drug should be legalized medically or recreationally Justin Som In the midst of the political ruckus that is the 2016 presidential election, there is an issue that has been avoided by both Democrats and Republicans -- marijuana.

Nine states will be voting on whether to legalize the drug fully or only for medical purposes.

The presidential candidates of the Democratic and Republican parties, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, are both against the nationwide legalization of medical cannabis.

On the other hand, the candidates running as third party representatives, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, support the drug’s national legalization.

“I have always maintained the opinion that legalizing marijuana will lead to overall less substance abuse because it’s so much safer than everything else that’s out there starting with alcohol,” said Johnson in an interview with CNN in June 2016. The Libertarian has wanted to legalize marijuana since 1999, saying that he has used the drug beforehand.

However, in August 2016, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced that it would be taking medical cannabis off of the list of accepted substances for medical use.

According to the DEA, the claims from users saying that the drug has pain-relieving effects have never been proven as accurate. The effects of marijuana have not been studied enough in order to prove its effective use as a painkiller.

If marijuana were to be legalized nationwide, there are large profits to be had for many.

State legalization of marijuana

SARAH TOCATLIAN

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), the largest marijuana-affiliated non-profit organization in America, indicated that the growing of the plant in large industries would support “tens of thousands of jobs, tens of millions in tax revenue, and billions in economic activity.”

Authorities have mixed views on the marijuana industry. While it could be used to generate large sums of money, some believe that recreational marijuana profits aren’t ethical.

“I don’t think athletes or injured people should use marijuana for medical purposes,” said senior Derek Tzeng. “In my opinion, I think marijuana does help relieve pain, but I don’t think it’s the best way [to do this]. Athletes and people who are injured can use much less controversial methods like stretching, icing, or rest to recuperate after an injury.”

49%

of Californians support legalization GALLUP

Similarly, in a study from February 2016, it was found that marijuana helped relieve the effects of depression. The University of Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions discovered in their study that medical cannabis lowered feelings of “pain and anxiety, and increased well-being.”

Dr. Samir Haj-Damahne, the leader of the University of Buffalo’s study on marijuana’s effects, stated during a press conference that “using compounds derived from cannabis... could potentially help stabilize moods and ease depression.”

Marijuana is not legalized at the national level, but in certain states, it is allowed under special laws. There are 25 states that have legalized the growing of the substance and three states that permit its use both recreationally and medically. In the current election, another nine states will

be trying to add themselves to this group.

Marijuana cultivators can raise their own marijuana plants at home if they act within government regulations and have a DEAissued permit. The only worry of prosecution is if one exceeds the permitted growth rate or the allotted crop area of 100 square feet.

“I don’t think marijuana is that harmful to the human body, but I think it should be more restricted,” said junior David Shen, who volunteers at Stanford Medical Center. “In California, [patients] can get marijuana by simply telling their doctor that they feel pain, and the doctor is allowed to give them permission to get marijuana from a clinic.”

In a Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) statewide survey from 2014, 49 percent of Californians supported the legalization of the drug, while 47 percent

60%

of Americans support legalization

said that they did not.

Many Californians disapprove of marijuana legalization do so because of the reasons set by the DEA for why it should not be legalized.

According to the DEA, the drug can cause psychological dependence, and will also initiate a “high potential” to be overused or abused by users.

Additionally, some doctors and rehabilitation facilities have found that marijuana has been used as a stairway to more addictive and hardcore drugs like cocaine and heroine. However, this theory is not supported by the DEA. The only states thus far that have approved full legalization are Colorado and Washington. Other states such as Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada only support medical use.

“To be honest, I don’t think marijuana should be used as a pain reliever or for recreational use,” said Shen. “Most modernday medicines are regulated much more heavily because they are manufactured in factories, but marijuana isn’t because it’s a plant.

There may be a lot of dangers in different samples because there aren’t many restrictions.”

The value of marijuana in society has mixed perspectives. Despite the fact that its users have claimed that the drug improves well-being and can replace painkillers, the DEA believes that the studies do not present a strong or well-founded connection.

Until the election, marijuana will only be legal in the 25 states where it is permitted, and illegal where the state legislation has forbidden it.

25

states have legalized growth SARAH TOCATLIAN

4 FEATURES

October 2016

Public hospitals struggle for funding San Mateo Medical Center in need of stronger support Skylar Weiss When people are sick, many think to go to the hospital.

That being said, some people get sick just from the thought of going to the hospital.

This is because they cannot afford the medical expenses that private health care providers charge.

Fortunately, this is where public health care comes into the picture. Public hospitals provide an alternate option for any person who cannot afford private health insurance. It appears to be the perfect solution for struggling residents, however these federally implemented systems encounter more obstacles than other types of hospitals.

According to the California HealthCare Foundation, about 11 percent of California’s population lacked health insurance in 2014.

The California HealthCare Almanac stated that to combat the number of lowincome citizens who struggle to afford health insurance, all 58 California counties provide “safety net” healthcare systems, which are publically funded.

Accordingly, San Mateo County has its own public hospital, the San Mateo Medical Center.

“Our county hospital’s mission is to care for everyone who comes through its doors.

We do not discharge people or move them elsewhere if they can’t pay for their care. Instead we try to get people health coverage by any means we can,” said Dr. Grace Hassid, Board member and Infections Control Officer of the San Mateo Health Foundation.

The San Mateo Medical Center’s mission seems as if it is universally practiced by all hospitals, however several medical centers do not function in such a way. Although every hospital is obligated to stabilize a suffering patient, private hospitals have the ability to withhold treatment for anyone who lacks insurance to cover it.

“There is a duty on the part of every hospital to at least stabilize the patient, but

ESTELLA LIPPI

The San Mateo Medical Center takes care of any patient in need.

Hassid stated that the medical center that doesn’t mean long-term. All private hospitals get patients who lack insurance was formerly a level one trauma unit, but and can’t pay; they will stabilize the patient it could no longer be maintained because of expenses. Likeand do what they wise, the hospital have to do to keep the patient alive, “Our county hospital’s mission is had plans to develand then as soon to care for everyone who comes op a labor delivery unit, but they as the patient is through its doors. We do not were dropped at considered to be discharge people or move them the final moment stable, they get because they were moved to the elsewhere if they can’t pay for too costly. county hospital, their care.”

Some may conand that’s us,” said Dr. Grace Hassid sider it a serious Hassid.

Board member and Infections problem that the Similar to most San Mateo Medical county hospitals, Control Officer of San Mateo Health Center is located in the San Mateo Foundation a county in which Medical Center facseveral residents es a number of dayto-day challenges regarding funding due to are capable of financially supporting it, yet is always in need of funds. Hassid believes it being a public organization.

“We rely completely on local funds, on that the hospital just hasn’t had enough pubstate funds, and on federal funds to help lic exposure due to financial restrictions.

“We have no money for advertising or for us care for the poor and uninsured,” said promoting ourselves in any way,” said Hassid.

Hassid.

The hospital’s location also contributes to its lack of exposure.

“We are tucked away in a residential area, so if you don’t have a reason to go between 37th and 39th or Hacienda and Edison streets in San Mateo, you will never see us or know we exist,” said Hassid.

“I didn’t know we have a public hospital!

I think it’s a really good idea, but it’s disappointing that plenty of people probably don’t know about it, so they don’t know how to help it,” said Alexis Eliopoulos, 11th-grader at Carlmont High School.

The San Mateo Medical Center may not be able to afford advertisements, but they still accept any sort of donation.

“We have a foundation called San Mateo County Health Foundation and it tries to raise money in the community because there are certain things the hospital needs that federal and local funding just cannot cover. Donations of any size are greatly appreciated,” said Hassid.

Public health care may not be a part of all lives in the San Mateo county, but that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be a common concern. In fact, some of the students in Sequoia High School District may be utilizing care from public hospitals.

“It’s heartbreaking to know that many of the kids I see every day in the halls can’t afford health insurance. It makes me wish that more people, including myself, knew more about the fact that the public health coverage they use could use more money,” said 12th-grader Blake DuBois.

No matter what form of health care an individual uses, Hassid and others involved with the San Mateo Medical Center believe that community involvement greatly contributes to the success of public hospitals while giving satisfaction to those who help.

“If you donate anything — your money, your time, your resources — you get so much more in return. It’s amazing,” said Hassid.

2043 Ralston Ave. Belmont, CA 94002 650.595.2644

Your dream is our reality

FEATURES 5

October 2016

Cultures blend as ethnicities mix Carlmont students embrace their multiracial origins Leea Ivanel

LEEA IVANEL AND CELINE YANG

LEEA IVANEL AND CELINE YANG

Sophomore Jayden Kuhn and junior Abygail Lan hold signs expressing pride for their mulltiraciality.

“I’m Armenian, Norwegian, Irish, English, German, Filipino, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Chinese. I’m very proud to be as mixed as I am,” said junior Kalea Pasion.

There are many types of labels people identify themselves with today, and being multiracial is just another one of them — however, it is not one that is often talked about.

Multiracial people, according to a study done by CenusScope, make up about 2.4 percent of America’s population, and according to the California Department of Education, around 16 percent of Carlmont’s student population.

With Carlmont High School having a variety of opportunities to express one’s identity, such as Pride Week and the Heritage Assembly, it may come as a surprise to some that Carlmont doesn’t also celebrate multiraciality.

Pasion said, “I think mixed race should be celebrated, especially since it’s become more common. The best part of being multiracial is that I get the best of each culture and I can fit in almost everywhere!”

However, being multicultural who share their culture, such as is about more than just about sophomore Abygail Lan, who is making friends and fitting in. a quarter-Iroquois and Cherokee Pasion said, “It’s a huge part of and half-Taiwanese. who I am. Many of my cultures “While there aren’t many Naemphasise community bonds, so tive Americans left, I instantly it’s very imconnect with portant to people that “Being multicultural has share me to be welmy coming and culture.

Bealso shaped how I see the kind to as ing multiculworld because I undermany people tural has also stand the perspective of as I can.” shaped how I A strong see the world more than one group.” emphasis on because I unAbygail Lan c om mu n it y derstand the junior bonds also p e r s p e c t ive exists with of more than other mixed race individuals, one group,” said Lan. such as senior Josh Harris, the Similar to Pasion, Lan said that president of the Latinos Unidos she is proud to be a part of her club. Harris is half-Latino and many cultures. half-black, and he is affected by Every multiracial person has the racism and prejudice both a different experience with their communities have been facing. identity. For some it’s a big part of Despite the downside of being who they are, and for others it is a multiracial, Harris said, “People way to connect with more people. like to single my family out, but Whatever the case may be, that’s only brought us closer to- multiraciality is an identity that gether. In my cultures, family is is quickly growing, and even the strongest bond you have, and though each multiracial person it reminds us of how awesome we comes from different cultures, it are.” is still one’s identity.

Still, there are some who do Harris said, “We are united as not have the opportunity to inter- one, and we are proud to be mulact within a large group of people tiracial.”

Microaggressions spark controversy Celine Yang “Who said it was ok for you to say fútbol?... [You] want to use our language?

Trick NO! White students appropriating the Spanish language, dropping it in when convenient: never ok.”

“Clearly you only see me at face value and yes I’m white and male, what do you want me to do about that? [...] My second family is Costa Rican, and I am a part of that family no matter what you say.”

This online exchange between two college students reflect a social phenomenon on the rise. How people address microaggressions is a topic of controversy, since microaggressions are built on stereotypes.

It reflects the confusion and sensitivity that surrounds them, and is often termed as ‘unintentional discrimination.’

“It’s not as blatant as bullying, where you can tell it’s wrong,” said senior Naser Abdelrahman, vice president of Muslim Fellowship Club. “It’s hard to tell people they’re wrong because they’re usually not trying to be offensive.”

As a result, reactions to microaggressions range from hostile to constructive.

One way, as the two college students

demonstrated, is adopting an antagonistic tone. While some feel that the reaction is justified and points out the potential offense, others find that this method of dealing with microaggressions is unhelpful and only makes the situation worse.

“The person who [committed the microaggression] might feel like they’re being attacked. If you don’t explain why it was offensive to you, it won’t help [resolve the problem],” said sophomore Kaylee George.

Instead, many choose to approach the situation in a more positive way, such as explaining why the comment could have been received as offensive. This style of emphasizing education, interaction, and communication is becoming increasingly popular.

Abdelrahman advocates this method on campus. Muslim Fellowship is one of the several clubs that focuses on raising awareness for different identities.

Abdelrahman said, “What we do in [Muslim Fellowship Club] is try to have a larger presence of Muslims on campus that’s different from what’s shown on TV or in the media. People can see Muslim students who defy the stereotype —

they’re like everyone else and are peaceful people.”

Many who have experienced microaggressions understand why they happen.

They occur everywhere, and that has an effect on how people view others.

“We all have stereotypes in the back of our head. They’re reinforced in the media with TV shows like ‘Blackish’ or ‘Fresh Off the Boat,’” said George. “It’s okay to [commit microaggressions] sometimes since it’s a part of human nature, but we don’t need to play stereotypes in such a harsh way.”

While comments can bother some, many understand the reasoning and try to change the perspective on microaggressions. Although it’s understandable, it’s still viewed as an offensive and hurtful comment.

“An aggression is an aggression, even if it’s ‘micro,’” said AP US History teacher David Gomez.

It’s what happens after the microaggression that matters.

Gomez said, “People have to be educated due to ignorance. It’s better to have a calm and reasonable response rather than focusing on anger.”

What are microaggressions?

Microaggressions are everyday comments based on identity that seem harmless to some, but can be offensive to others. Comments such as “Where are you really from?” or “Can I touch your hair?” can cause conflict -- both online and in-person. This is due to differing degrees of sensitivity, since the offense is often subtle. While the effects of microaggressions are felt by many, it’s not always the comments that are the issue; it’s how people deal with them.

Today the topic of microaggressions has moved from the internet into the classroom. College campuses across the nation have incorporated diversity training into freshmen orientation, and high school classrooms are actively discussing race. While microaggressions are gaining attention and validation from the many students who have experienced them, how to deal with them is not always as clear.

Check out our online publication! www.scotscoop.com

Killing the innoc

6

Ages 1-7

97.5

PERCENT

OF CHILDREN GO TRICK-OR-TREATING BEFORE THE AGE OF 8

50

PERCENT

OVER OF KIDS AND TEENAGERS STOP TRICK-ORTREATING BEFORE THE AGE OF 14

Ages 8-14

Ages 15+

27 PERCENT

OF PEOPLE ATTEND PARTIES ON HALLOWEEN AFTER THE AGE OF 15

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JORDAN HANLON SURVEYMONKEY.COM FIVETHIRTYEIGHT.COM

cence of Halloween Unveiling the evolution of Halloween habits Brooke Chang Parents used to be afraid of their children eating too much candy on Halloween. Now, they’re afraid that their children will look like sluts.

As Halloween approaches, many teens find themselves reminiscing about their past costumes. Some remember wearing tiny Winnie the Pooh shirts, while others remember playing with Ninja Turtle swords at recess.

However, when teens reach high school, many find that the whole basis of Halloween has changed.

“There’s more excitement on Halloween as a kid; you can go trick-or-treating and eat lots of candy. However, as you grow up, it becomes less socially acceptable to trick-or-treat and eating candy isn’t a big deal,” said senior Lexi Posey.

Instead of trick-or-treating around the neighborhood in their Ninja Turtle costumes, many teens are persuaded to go to a party at a friend’s house. These parties often have a suggestive atmosphere in which teens feel it necessary to wear shorter costumes and show off their bodies. This is because of the way that social media and society portray women in magazines or movies.

Many costume companies have thrived off of this need for sexualizing Halloween by advertising costumes like “Sexy Winnie the Pooh” and “Sexy Cin-

derella” to teen and young adult markets.

Some believe that the cause for seductive Halloween costumes starts from the roots of American culture.

Those who support this idea believe that the Disney characters, Barbie and Ken dolls, and constant media beauty standards that surround children can affect their perceptions of gender roles and appropriate clothing later in life.

According to The New York Times, Dr. Adie Nelson, a professor of sociology at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, said, “Heroic figures for women or considered icons of femininity are very much anchored in the femme fatale imagery.” She also said that those figures include Disney heroines, witches, cocktail waitresses, and french maids.

Many students agree with Nelson and can see this impact from American culture as it affects their peers.

“The way Halloween costumes and traditions change from childhood to the teenage years has a lot to do with the way society has shaped younger generations. High school students have been influenced by pop culture since they were children. That’s why so many people want to dress as the

celebrities that they look up to, but these costumes aren’t always age appropriate,” said junior Josh Camerino.

Other students, however, believe that this change in Halloween costumes are due to peer pressure rather than pop culture.

Many teens struggle to fit in with their peers. On Halloween, this struggle leads those teens to select more scandalous costumes instead of dressing as they truly want to.

Freshman Mackenzie Wyman said, “When you’re younger, costumes are more childish and represent something that you enjoy, but in high school, it’s more common to choose a costume that will make you fit in with and be liked by others.

Most people want to be with their friends and have fun at parties, but it seems like shorter costumes are needed to do so.”

The many different costumes as well as the parties pose as a great fear for some parents.

“It’s definitely scary as a parent to let your child go out with friends on Halloween,” said history teacher and parent Greg Schoenstein. “For starters, it’s dark out and people are in costumes, easily hiding their identities. The types of costumes and activ-

ities that are more common for teenagers only promote the actions that parents are really afraid of.”

The decision made by some teens to ignore their true desires for Halloween costumes often has large effects on their perceptions of the holiday as well as their self-image.

Camerino said, “Halloween is about dressing up and taking a break from your normal life, which can be a relaxing experience. When people choose costumes just to please others, they are taking that break away from themselves. The shorter costumes just take even more away from the meaning of Halloween and lead people to unnecesarily sexualizing a day that should be fun.”

As teens often take the relaxing break from being themselves on Halloween, they choose costumes that are much different from how they usually dress because of the feeling that they are not good enough. Instead of showing their true selves, they prefer to be like other teens in order to fit in with the social “norm.”

Despite the growing number of influences on decisions regarding Halloween plans, some students still try to be true to themselves while choosing costumes.

Posey said, “People may be more judgemental about costumes when you’re older, but it’s still important to dress the way you truly want to. Dress for yourself instead of dressing to impress.”

8 LIFESTYLE

October 2016

Making false memories for social media

Teens spend more time fabricating memories than living them Lily Bakour Whether they are at the mall, on a scenic hike, or at the beach, most teenagers love to document what they’re up to.

Millennials are living in their pictures, on social media, and on their electronics in general. Instead of living each moment that is presented to them, teens are on their phones snapping photos of them– all the time.

Michael Morris, a senior at Carlmont High School with almost no social media, said, “I am genuinely not interested in seeing what people are doing every second of their life. I’m not a fan of others showing off the fun they are having instead of actually having it.”

Famous locations are often visited for social media, as it is a trend to be at certain places, or even eat certain foods. Teens follow their peers to different locations in order to post photos there, showing that they too, can keep up with the trend.

Junior Liz Boman said, “There are two types of people: people who take photos to brag about what they are doing and who they are doing it with, and people who simply share the photos they love.”

According to Boman, many people feel better about themselves after they post about their social interactions, showing friends that they have a life. By having others watch their “stories” on Snapchat, “like” their photos on Instagram, or “thumbs-up” their statuses on Facebook, teens are filling

LILY BAKOUR AND ESTELLA LIPPI

Many social media users spend extra time on the pictures they post. their insecurities with recognition.

Teens are able to create a new image of themselves that they want to show on social media platforms -- ones that they are not able to show in real life.

Whether it is for bragging purposes or simply to let people know where they are, this obsession with using pictures to validate oneself prompts teenagers to spend nine hours, on average, glued to their phones, according to Washington Post.

Studies from Pew Research Center show that most teens can not go more than ten minutes without checking social media or fiddling with their phones. They also show that teens pick up their phones an average of 200 times a day.

Senior Roz Soheili said, “It seems like second-hand nature to take pictures, and I think it’s simply a social norm since everyone does it. I feel like I do it because everyone else does; you see what people are

doing, and it’s fun to connect to everyone by doing similar things.”

Soheili finds joy in documenting her whereabouts, and she likes to share them on her Instagram and Snapchat.

Most teens find it fun to be on their phones.

However, teens are unaware of the thousands of engineers who are hired to work on using their psychological vulnerabilities to feel certain ways.

Studies at Time and Qualcomm show that, all over the world, most younger generations would agree on the fact that the quality of their sleep has worsened due to the time they spend on electronics.

Unlike the direct effects of cigarettes, it is harder for younger generations to see the negative results from being on a phone all the time.

Dr. William Barr is the chief of neuropsychology at the New York University School of Medicine.

In an interview with ABCNews.com, Barr said, “If you use your cell phone a lot, it becomes part of you.”

Cell phones are becoming more than an accessory or device used to communicate.

They are becoming a piece of the identity to the ones who are using them.

Morris said, “I think people are missing out on what’s right in front of them. They need to look up and do things they love for themselves and enjoy what life has to offer– not through their phone screen, but through their own eyes.”

New star sign shifts personality types Nicole del Cardayre

The sky has shifted.

The stars have changed.

The Earth’s axis is different.

Because of these changes, NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has introduced a 13th zodiac sign: Ophiuchus.

A big question has been raised regarding the changes of the zodiac calendar: Will this change make people alter their personalities to match their new zodiac sign?

“I like my sign, and it seems to be pretty accurate. I’m a Pisces and if the Ophiuchus is true, then I’d be an Aquarius, but I don’t see myself as that at all,” said junior Julia Walsh.

In September, Cosmopolitan magazine published an article about NASA’s sighting of the 13th zodiac sign. This article was the main catalyst that spread awareness of Ophiuchus.

“My initial reaction was negative because I like my sign and

believe it strongly reflects who I am. I also associate people in my life with their signs because they prove to be accurate. For example, I know Pisces is a sign that reflects creativity, and I’m a very art-oriented person,” said Walsh.

For people who strongly identify with their sign and read daily horoscopes, the article came as a shock.

“I don’t really like the new sign and I think a lot of others don’t either because it shifts everything and a lot of people are defined by their signs,” said Walsh.

Because of the slight date change in the zodiac signs, some people’s zodiac personalities have changed drastically.

For example, a Leo’s personality is characterized as outgoing and powerful; however, with the new zodiac dates, Leos will now become Cancers, who are characterized as shy and driven by their emotions.

“I don’t think I will change my sign because I’ve related to the Cancer zodiac sign for a while, but I may look at what my other

sign could possibly be and compare how relatable it is to who I am. I feel like most people won’t really notice it unless it directly affects their astrological marking by making them change to a new sign or adopting the new sign,” said junior Alexis Eliopoulos.

“I think for a while it may be confusing to people, especially if they’ve related to their sign for so long, but I don’t feel people will change their personalities because of the change of their zodiac sign.”

With the 13th sign being added to the zodiac calendar, there is controversy regarding the shift of the signs. Ophiuchus’ dates are Nov. 29 to Dec. 17, shifting all of the signs’ dates by approximately a month.

“I like my sign, and it seems to be pretty accurate. I’m a Pisces and if the Ophiuchus is true, then I’d be an Aquarius, but I don’t see myself as that at all,” said Walsh.

Ophiuchus means “serpent holder” in Latin. It is the only zodiac sign that is connected to a person: Imhotep, an ancient

“I don’t really like the new sign and I think a lot of others don’t either because it shifts everything and a lot of people are defined by their signs.”

Julia Walsh junior

Egyptian. All of the other signs have animals as their symbols.

The traits associated with Ophiuchus are curiousness, jealousy, strong leadership skills, and competitiveness.

According to astrological zodiac signs, the 12 original zodiac signs were meant to further one’s understanding of personality traits and view the potential one has. Each sign has multiple traits that can be applied to everybody’s lives.

Horoscopes combine all the aspects of the zodiac signs and predict the future of people’s lives.

Horoscopes can be found almost anywhere online, in magazines,

and on social media.

“When I read the daily horoscopes that magazines or Snapchat articles have it’s kind of weird to see how insanely accurate they are,” said junior Katie Snider.

Some people take horoscopes very seriously and believe them to be true, while others do not share this common belief.

“If the new zodiac was really important, it would have been added in before now. However, I think the addition of the new zodiac will prove to be very interesting because it may force people to re-evaluate where they stand on the zodiac calendar,” said Eliopoulos.

SPORTS 9

October 2016

Athletes stressed to make team Tryout pressure weighs on athletes’ performances Rachel Borschchenko Cleats laced.

Socks high.

Soccer balls in hand, the players form a straight line in front of the coach. Shaking with nervousness, they are ready to take on a challenge.

It’s time for tryouts.

Starting Oct. 31, Carlmont’s sports teams will prepare for the winter sports season. Boys and girls soccer, boys and girls basketball, and wrestling will all be narrowing down the athletes they accept.

Each sport starts out with a large number of athletes vying for a spot on the team, and as tryouts progress, cuts are made in order to create the most successful teams possible.

Though sports are a good way to get involved in the school and for some, earn PE credits, many people believe that tryouts

are stressful for the athletes.

Junior Thomas Reznik played tennis for Carlmont as a freshman and believes that creating a balance between schoolwork and tryouts can be difficult.

“Tryouts go from right after school until the late afternoon, so it is very hard for my time management to balance plans after school with tryouts as well as schoolwork,” said Reznik.

Isabel Mayoss, a junior, has played on Carlmont’s soccer team since her freshman year.

“Starting tryouts makes my day a lot busier. With this new school schedule, it no longer gives me time to go home, eat a snack, rest a little, and get ready,” said Mayoss.

For sports like soccer, tryouts last for two weeks, and may run even longer.

Tryouts typically last two hours right after school. Cuts are made in waves, meaning

some players may not be cut until the last day of tryouts, while others can be cut several days into tryouts.

Seeing as tryouts cut over two hours of time from a student’s time after school, some think that this creates excess stress, especially for upperclassmen, who already have a large workload from school.

In a study done by the University of Phoenix, high school teachers say they assign 3 1/2 hours of homework per week, meaning that a student taking five classes would have 3 1/2 hours of homework a night, on average.

In addition, the National Sleep Foundation states that teenagers need at least eight to 10 hours of sleep per night.

With hours of homework and stressful tryouts after school, students may find it hard to balance all aspects of their lives.

“Tryouts start right after school, which bothers me because I am not truly ready to

perform until I have had a break. It will also make me have to wait until after soccer to get my homework done, meaning I have to stay up later,” said Mayoss.

Another factor that can further add to stress is the tendency for athletes to compare themselves to one another during tryouts.

Because players trying out for varsity and junior varsity both try out together and see each other play, comparing one’s skills to another is inevitable.

“It’s hard when you see people who are better than you because it makes you reconsider how good you are at soccer or whatever sport you play,” said Mayoss.

That comparison between players could cause them to lose confidence in their own ability playing a sport.

Tryouts are a way for coaches to see where athletes are, but in the eyes of many, they bring added stress to the table.

Screamin’ Scots butt heads with teams Mackenzie O’Connell

Confetti flies into the air, the band plays loudly, cheerleaders dance, and Monty runs around the field to support the school’s football team under the popular Friday night lights.

Chants are led by students as screams fill the fields and courts.

“I believe that we will win!”

“I believe that we will win!”

The Screamin’ Scots fill up the bleachers during numerous sporting events to get the crowds pumped up to support the teams.

But after recent losses, the support turned negative on social media after the game.

Some football team players have shown disappointment because they feel that when they lose, the fans are quick to put the players down.

Senior football player Brenan Lasala said, “Some of the fans don’t really care. They come to the game to socialize and have fun with their friends, but after [the game] they say, ‘Carlmont is a laughing stock; we can never win a football game.’ We like to turn around and see people at our game but we just don’t like the negative attitudes.”

Recently on Twitter, Screamin’ Scots and the football players had a dispute about the overall attitudes of both sides. The tweets fueled lots of tension between the two groups.

Senior football player Devin Chambers thinks many of the Screamin’ Scots have begun a boycott and stopped showing up to recent games.

“They don’t care. I want Screamin’ Scots to come, they’re chill, but they were saying they boycot-

ted our last game, which wasn’t cool. If you boycott our game, it just shows that you don’t care. If they are bothered by one player, they should not take it out on the whole team,” said Chambers.

Football coach Jake Messina said, “Frankly, I have no reaction.

I would coach the game the same whether there are two people or 2,000 there.”

However, the Screamin’ Scots had a different perspective as many felt athletes should not play a sport unless they appreciate the Screamin’ Scots and their cheers.

Senior volleyball player Sarah Smyth said, “To me, because I play a sport, I love when Screamin’ Scots comes to our games because it is nice to have people cheering. I can understand where the football team is coming from, but I don’t think they went about

[voicing their opinions] in the right way.”

ASB teacher Jim Kelly was aware of the Twitter dispute and tried to see both perspectives to give each side the benefit of the doubt.

Kelly said, “Considering that Screamin’ Scots is something I helped create in 1998, and I am the teacher of ASB, I take pride in both things. Therefore, if ASB is criticized, I am going to pay attention to it, but I also give the benefit of the doubt and understand where the athletes are coming from. Nobody is perfect, and people might make mistakes. I don’t think there will be any negative effects for the future; a lot of the tension has been relieved. Screamin’ Scots are continually working to provide a positive influence on the game.”

After the controversy between

the two sides settled down, both groups came to an agreement that the argument should have been settled in person rather than over social media.

Kelly said, “Criticizers might have posted things on social media, but with more thought they wouldn’t have posted it. One of the football players apologized for posting stuff on social media.

We talked about what was posted, and how next time they could communicate more effectively by giving the criticism to me or Screamin’ Scots captains.”

Screamin’ Scots member Tyrese Lopez said, “I am still excited to go to the games because it’s a fun and spirited environment. I am not mad that the football players reacted that way because the Screamin’ Scots shouldn’t have behaved that way.”

ISABEL MITCHELL

10 FEATURES

October 2016

WHICH MOVEMENT DO YOU SUPPORT?

Jack Hicks

Amanda Morrow

Sophie Clark

“I’m not saying the Black Lives Matter movement isn’t important, but it’s only singling [one group] out when all races have struggled. My dad was a police officer, and just like he dealt with black people, there were problems with all people.

Everyone should be fighting for equality, not only black people; that’s what America is.”

“I think that Black Lives Matter is based on the fact that African-Americans have been oppressed for a long time. I understand that all lives matter but right now, with police brutality and everything, African-Americans are the ones that are being oppressed, amongst others.

With BLM, it feels like we can’t stand up for ourselves without everyone feeling like they are oppressed.”

“Black Lives Matter calls attention to the movement of giving more racial oriented people the attention, support, and equality they deserve while ALM is sort of a thing white people say to make themselves feel better. There is a real problem here and BLM is a movement, it is specifically devoted to quality of Black people and other minorities. All Lives Matter is a joke.”

Audrey Crook sophomore

junior

“I definitely agree with the Black Lives Matter organization with how it’s not ‘only black lives matter’ but ‘black lives matter too.’ I think that is really important. There is a

lot going on, [for example], people hating on Middle Eastern people. So I think that not only black lives matter but also other lives that are not recognized matter too.”

from SKIN COLOR page 1 be ashamed of it and allow it to suppress your feelings,” said senior Erin Wise, who is black. “Black or biracial people all around the country should be standing up against the injustice because it could at some point affect them or their families.”

There are various examples present at Carlmont that demonstrate how some people are not comfortable extending their support to a movement. Some may be afraid of judgment from their peers if they support a club that may not align with their ethnicity or skin color.

Statements similar to “I’m not Persian, I can’t be in that club” are prevalent when students are asked if they are part of a cultural club. Instead, students can learn through these clubs about a culture that is not their own.

Simone Alemendarez, a junior, said, “Many people shy away from getting involved in groups outside of their

from MOVEMENTS page 1 something about this, such as Black Lives Matter. I’m going to make sure that there is less police brutality; but it is still hard to do,” said Amanda Morrow, a junior.

English teacher Cindy Shusterman has attended Sojourn to the Past, an educational trip to the South to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement. She believes that in order for there to be a movement, people need to do more research and truly understand what the motives behind such movements are.

“Things like Black Lives Matter have always started with people, normal citizens, who wanted to see positive change in their own communities and cities. It was the same way in the Civil Rights Movement. Participating in protests, boycotts, and sit-ins is a tried and true way to enact social and cultural change, which is what the Civil Rights Movement did incredibly well,” Shusterman said.

In order for there to be an organized movement, people should be properly informed about what the organizations’ core values are and what they are advocating for.

“The problem with not being well-informed is that if you are not well-informed, you’ll get

culture, such as Black Lives Matter, because they are not black themselves [and feel] out of place. I believe in order to achieve justice, those who have privilege must use it to bring awareness to issues. People filter what goes around them through their own lense; however, in order to unite, we must look through different perspectives.”

Even though one may not align with the race of a movement, people should take the initiative to support causes or groups they endorse, according to Joe Sison, who is the freshman class president.

“I believe that when given the opportunity to stand for what you believe in, you should take it. Whether that means kneeling for the national anthem or joining the Black Lives Matter movement or even something as simple as joining the Persian Club. We live in a society that is pushed and motivated by fear. We fear being misunderstood by people who aren’t willing to take a stand for a matter,” said Sison.

Clubs at Carlmont are working to be more inclusive and

the misconception of what the movement actually means. When people say ‘All Lives Matter,’ they don’t know what it actually means, they just say it because they believe all lives matter,” said Black Student Union (BSU) President and junior, Earl Kwofie.

The division between Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter is impeding on America’s progress. America is divided, and instead of focusing on the real problems, people are focusing on which side they are on.

Sophomore Audrey Crook said, “I believe there is a middle ground between BLM and ALM,

THE

senior

junior

even if they are opposing sides [right now]. I think if everyone works together, that’s how you are going to get equality. It’s not going to be [achieved] by a bunch of different groups because that in itself is not equal; it needs to be a mix for everyone to be equal.”

Some people might be confused as to who they should support due to the lack of information necessary to form a clear stance.

“It’s important to know what you are talking about before you argue. There is always some background research that you have to do because if you don’t do that,

make students feel comfortable by participating in meetings and events, according to Clubs and Culture Commissioner Eva Peate.

Peate said, “Cultural clubs can make students of every race feel included because even if you’re not necessarily from that culture, it can be an opportunity to educate yourself and learn about what defines other cultures. They can make other students feel included or comfortable by participating in Clubs Fair, where every student can learn a little about their club.”

As clubs continue to work to create a safe environment for students to express their opinions, students at Carlmont have multiple opportunities to join movements with the values they believe in, regardless of their race.

Wise said, “Don’t be a bystander in an issue that is easily fixable, because that’s how an issue worsens. Like the famous quote from E. Lockhart, ‘Do not accept an evil you can change.’”

then you’ll just be speaking without any knowledge. When it’s time for you to give your argument, you [could give] your argument based upon what you think you know, and that may not be what the person or topic meant,” said American Academy senior Agnes Reyes.

According to Morrow, America seems to be fixated with separating people into groups based on certain qualities.

She said, “We are all just obsessed with differences, no matter what it is. [For example], ‘you’re Black or White.’ I feel as if America can’t come together at all. There

HIGHLANDER

Editor-in-Chief Avery Adams ScotCenter Editor-in-Chief Estella Lippi Scot Scoop Editor-in-Chief Megan Tao

Staff Writers Lily Bakour

Estella Lippi

Rachel Borschchenko

Anya Meredith

Hanalei Pham Justin Som

Brooke Chang

Isabel Mitchell

Megan Tao

Nicole del Cardayre

Jackson Monge

Skylar Weiss

Nate Godwin

Mackenzie O’Connell

Celine Yang

Leea Ivanel

Sophie Penn

Adriana Ramirez

Editors Faculty Adviser Justin Raisner

Jill Albertson

Jordan Hanlon

Mona Murhamer

Connor Lin

Sarah Tocatlian

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 Sarah Tocatlian. This month’s editorial cartoon was drawn by Hanalei Pham.

ADRIANA RAMIREZ

obviously has to be a Black Lives Matter and a White Lives Matter because no one can come together and say, ‘OK, there is a problem and we need to fix it.’”

Many voices are louder than one voice; unity is important when it comes to large movements, according to Kwofie.

He said, “Solidarity is strong.

When you are in a group, you are able to accomplish more than when you’re by yourself. So when people try to find ways to separate people from each other, it is a problem. When we are not unified, we are not solving anything.

When we are separated, we are just fighting against each other; nothing is ever going to get done.

[We should] try to understand each other more, instead of feeling bad for someone or trying to argue against someone all the time.

Try to find a middle ground.”

As Obama once said, “Protest is fine, but it becomes more profound if activists know what change they are seeking.” If people focus on the problems that need to be addressed and are wellinformed on those problems, movements become far-reaching.

Reyes said, “It’s always good to know beforehand what you are advocating for, that way you know what you are talking about, you know where you stand, and you know the topic inside and out.”

October 2016

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

-Christiane Amanpour

Tell a lie, save a life

“Talking to strangers will get you kidnapped.”

“Candies with opened wrappers will have razors in them.”

“If you leave a candle on in your jack-o-lantern, it will catch on fire.”

As the Halloween season comes around the corner, I have found myself thinking about all the lies my parents have told me about this holiday.

Beyond that, I thought about all the lies my parents have told me in general over the years.

More importantly, I’ve thought about why they lied to me.

Was I just so naive that they didn’t think they could tell me the truth?

In some ways they were right.

I probably should’ve known that my parents didn’t have secret cameras all over the house that they could always watch me on.

But why was it necessary that they let me think that the tooth fairy was real? Or that my pet fish was just “taking a long nap?”

It used to make me angry thinking about all the lies my parents have told me throughout my life.

If they lie to me, everything’s fine. But when I lie to them, that’s a whole different story...

However, I’ve come to the realization that my parents’ fibs were an effort to protect me.

Talking to strangers could actually result in being kidnapped, or eating candy that had come from open wrappers really could have something dangerous in them.

Their lies have protected me from more than just physical harm.

My parents told me that the tooth fairy was real to give me a reason to look forward to pulling my teeth out.

Think about it: Why else would a child look forward to losing their teeth other than the incentive that they’re getting paid for it?

It’s much easier to pull a tooth when you know you’re getting paid to do it.

My parents also told me that my pet fish was “taking a nap” and was not dead because they didn’t want to crush a two-year-old’s feelings.

I guess my parents were ahead of the curve because according to the website Fast Company, lies are good for you.

Fast Company said, “There might be interpersonal benefits that help others that require lying … In some cases, benevolent lies may be the kindest and most reasonable course of action.”

I never would’ve thought that when parents lie to us, it could actually be helpful.

However, I now understand that the lies our parents tell us are often told for a reason.

Many people think that lying is terrible and morally wrong, but I would have to disagree.

Lies actually seem to be beneficial for society.

According to The Wharton School professor Maurice Schweitzer, there are two different types of lies: selfish deception and deception in order to protect others.

Selfish deception is the idea that you lie in order to gain something, whereas deception to protect others is lying in an effort to help someone else.

Schweitzer believes that deception in order to protect others is acceptable because you are sparing other people’s feelings.

Although I agree with Schweitzer that lies are good for society, others disagree.

Psychotherapist Brad Blanton, pioneer of the “radical honesty movement,” has said, “Truth-telling is the essential foundation for psychological health and we can only transform our lives for the better by being completely honest.”

Blanton believes that lies leave “emotional stains” on our relationships.

Blanton’s ideology is that people should express every thought and emotion — even anger and hatred.

While Blanton believes that all lies are bad, I believe that people should consider the circumstances before they assume that.

So, the next time you want to call out your parents when they lie to you, think about why they might be telling you that and how they might be protecting you.

Editorial

OPINION 11

Only one candidate is fit to lead America needs a president who can take responsibility for all of the problems that are facing the country today.

The 2016 Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, hasn’t shown the American people how he is going to take responsibility for the various problems America currently faces.

On the other hand, Hillary Clinton is the best candidate that America has because she discusses what she will try to change.

These differences are very evident, especially when it boils down to their thoughts on racial strife in the United States.

Throughout the campaign, Trump’s insensitivity regarding different races and religions has become more prominent.

Because of his previous inconsiderate comments, it is clear as to where he stands regarding the Black Lives Matter movement.

Trump has held numerous rallies where he stood in front of audiences with a white demographic, speaking about the crime that occurs in black communities.

At these rallies, he insists that black people should cast their votes for him because the social programs put in place by Democrats have failed to help reduce crime.

Trump has made no real proposals about how to resolve racial conflict in America, which makes all of his arguments weak and unconvincing.

Contrary to Trump’s statements that people should settle and vote for him, Clinton has done a much better job of showing that she sides with black people and supports the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality.

Clinton has spent more time trying to gain the votes of the Black Lives Matter representatives than her op-

HANALEI PHAM

ponent has, managing to acquire support from mothers who advocate for the movement. However, she has not been able to receive support from the movement’s co-founder, Alicia Garza.

Clinton previously showed her support for the movement last July when speaking to a crowd in South Carolina. She catered to blacks by attacking the American police system and reassuring her audience that their fears about police were well-founded.

However, while expressing sympathy to the black community, Clinton also sympathized for the police officers that Black Lives Matter representatives wish to convict.

Garza has accused Clinton of only using black people for publicity and votes. Garza has also compared her to her husband, Bill Clinton, saying he made promises to the black community during his campaign and did not follow through with them during the time that he was president.

Clinton says that America must reform its criminal justice system because everyone would be safer if there was respect for the law and if everyone was respected by the law. This sounds appealing to many, but it leaves people

like Garza skeptical.

Even though they are just plans, Clinton’s proposals to improve the lives of black communities are incredibly better than Trump’s long record of engaging in racist behavior.

Throughout the course of the campaign, Trump has spent more time exposing scandals regarding Clinton than actually focusing on how he plans on improving America if he is elected president.

In response to Trump’s accusations, Clinton talks about how Trump likes to discuss lies about her and her husband to distract people from the fact that he doesn’t have any major proposals to improve the country.

By spending most of her time talking about how Trump has no plan, she spends less time talking about what her intentions are regarding the Black Lives Matter movement.

Even though both candidates have spent a significant amount of time arguing about how their opponent is unfit to be president, Clinton has done a much better job of showing what she could do for not only black people in America, but for the entire country as a whole, making her a better fit.

The death penalty in California must be abolished Nate Godwin In November, there will be two conflicting propositions on the ballot.

The first is Proposition 62, the “Repeal of the Death Penalty Initiative.” If passed, this would remove the death penalty and establish life in prison without parole as the punishment for murder.

The second is Proposition 66, the “Death Penalty Procedures Initiative.” This would change the process for an inmate sentenced to death, which would affect the appeal process and retrials for cases involving the death penalty.

California voters should repeal the death penalty; our government should not be able to kill citizens, regardless of their convictions or crimes. It is often the case that the death penalty is not applied fairly in the United States.

In court, prosecutors will often avoid the death penalty if the accused is wealthy or white. With this in mind, it is no surprise that the use of the death penalty unfairly affects poor minorities who cannot afford the defense required to be acquitted from a death penalty case.

In the case of “People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson,” Simpson was on trial for a double murder, which he clearly committed, upon examining the evidence. However, as a wealthy former-athlete and celebrity, he could afford the expenses of a defense which could get him acquitted.

If he had not been the celebrity that he was, there is no doubt that the prosecution would have attempted to use the death penalty. Simpson’s status and public persona made it difficult for the persecution to predict how the jury would rule on the case and if they would even convict him of a double murder. A double murder can warrant capital punishment under the law. However, when someone’s ce-

lebrity status makes them exempt from full punishment, it becomes an unjust enforcement of an unnecessary law.

Not only is the system unfair in California, it is not effective. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the average time spent on death row, the section of prison holding inmates sentenced to death, is 178 months, or roughly 15 years. Maintaining each death row prisoner costs taxpayers $90,000 more per year than a prisoner in general population.

This has been a problem for some time. In 2014, a United States District Court ruled that California’s death penalty system is unconstitutional because it is arbitrary and plagued with delay. The higher court cited that California’s law was cruel and unusual punishment and that “no rational jury or legislature could ever impose life in prison, with the remote possibility of death.” The court also cited the poor use of lethal injection which was supposed to be administered by a medical professional.

In 1958, the Supreme Court decided in “Trop v. Dulles” that the Eighth Amendment contained an “evolving standard of decency that marked the progress of a maturing society.”

Although this case was not a death penalty case, its logic should be applied to all laws in our state and nation.

Our society has matured and should no longer accept the death penalty as a humane treatment of a human life.

Capital punishment no longer has a place in our court system.We should no longer have an eye-for-an-eye mentality in our justice system; it’s beneath us as a nation.

In November, our morality is up for a vote. Do the citizens of California want to allow an unfair and flawed system to continue? They shouldn’t; citizens should demand better treatment for fellow humans and pass Proposition 62 instead of Proposition 66.

12

2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Presidential Candidate Favorability Trump

Clinton % 0

31% Favorable 66% Unfavorable 42% Favorable 54% Unfavorable 20

40

60

80

100 STATISTICS FROM GALLUP CONNOR LIN

DONALD TRUMP VS HILLARY CLINTON

The lesser of two evils is not always greater

Many voters turn to third parties in hopes for a better candidate Jackson Monge

The 2016 election has been very divisive, with the majority of voters deciding between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

From the hurricane of slander that has come from this election, it’s fair to say a large portion of Americans dislike both candidates. According to statistics from Gallup, Trump has a 66 percent unfavorable rating. Clinton doesn’t trail far behind with a 54 percent unfavorable rating.

Many Americans don’t want to be forced to pick sides. Some voters on both sides of the political spectrum have found common ground by avoiding both nominees.

Due to Trump’s attacks on Ted Cruz, a few of Cruz’s delegates have refused to back Trump. In an interview with WIRED magazine during the Republican National Convention, Illinois delegate James Kammer said, “He maligned his wife. If you’re married and another man trashes you... what would you expect your husband to do?”

Bernie Sanders’ campaign denounced both Clinton and Trump.

Despite his loss, some remained loyal to Sanders’ ideals and continued to refuse to support either of the current nominees.

Actress Rosario Dawson, a staunch Sanders supporter, refuses to endorse Clinton, despite her party affiliation.

In an interview with CNN, Dawson criticized the pressure to support Clinton: “We are literally under attack for not just supporting the other candidate… now as a campaign strategy, we are being bullied and somehow that is okay.”

The strong feelings against both candidates is also felt by students.

Junior Ian Jones said, “I feel people are forced to choose who they hate less, and who they despise more. The other parties, aside from Republican and Democrat, don’t matter.”

Some voters have turned to multiple third parties; support for such parties has increased greatly since the 2012 election.

A Gallup poll in 2012 found that 3 percent of registered voters supported Gary Johnson, and 1 percent supported

the Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

A poll done by Detroit News on Oct. 12 found that the support for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson was at 10 percent and support for Green Party candidate Jill Stein was at 5 percent.

Since the 2012 election, Libertarian support has tripled and Green Party support has nearly doubled.

“From what I’ve seen, not many wholeheartedly support the two nominees. Slander and scandals are what people focus on. People complain about Trump and Clinton, but they hardly acknowledge the other way out: the third party candidates,” said junior Joshua Vendrow.

Some have chosen to skip voting altogether.

On the Daily Show, actor Lewis Black expressed his anger about those deciding not to vote: “I know we messed things up for you … But we were counting on you to fix things, not finish the job!”

While some may criticize not voting, it can be a powerful message about our political state.

Freshman Quinn Felton said, “Morals

are much more important than a party affiliation. Not voting can be a powerful statement, showing that you’re tired of being forced to pick and choose.”

While lesser-evil voting is a large problem, it may have solutions. Current laws limit the exposure of the third parties, making them unknown to some.

“Since most voters lean more towards the center, extreme candidates don’t tend to do very well,” said government teacher Karen Ramroth. “There are election rules that prevent third party candidates from being listed on the ballot unless they earn a large enough percentage of the vote. Laws like this keep third party candidates relatively unknown.”

Perhaps the solution to avoiding disliked nominees is to be more welcoming to the other parties. In addition to reducing the polling requirement for candidates, this would make third party campaigns more public.

Regardless, this election will be divisive and test how united people are, and how far Americans are willing to go to make people’s voices heard amongst the roaring noise of fanatics.