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STRIKE?
Vol. 60 No. 2
10.07.16
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207
District, teachers’ dispute over contract details may cause unwanted backlash for students
PHOTO BY SARA ABDELTAWAB AND JULIA ROSETE (Left) During the week berfore school starts, teachers are outside picketing with signs, clad in STA shirts. (Right) At a monthly SUSD board meeting, district teachers rallied together in support for a better contract. Go to staggonline.net to watch coverage of the meeting and of the contract conflict.
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JeffersonLeiva WAR HAS BEEN BREWING SINCE APRIL 22, WHEN THE STOCKTON Teachers Association and the Stockton Unified School District began to formally renegotiate teacher contracts. Math Department Chair Andrew Walter points out that “like a cold war, people are fighting for ground but no one is making any headway.” This issue has affected everyone in the district one way or another. Advanced Placement student Alyssa Martinez, a senior, is concerned with the uncertainty of a possible strike. “Without instruction, a strike would affect us negatively,” she said. She adds that without instructional time, “we would be missing out on the opportunity to prepare for these AP tests.” Martinez hopes STA and SUSD reaches a settlement before “it affects our future.” “The district doesn’t know what happens in the classroom and we need them to know how the teachers feel.” Some teachers have felt the uncertainty of a strike take hold of their work and personal lives. One is music director Joseph Updegraff.
“Every day I was waking up and wondering what was going to happen,” Updegraff said. “Why should I teach something new if we are just going to go on strike?” He went on to explain that “at this point, I don’t care if the strike happens or not. I’m going to teach the way I’m supposed to teach. I’m going to schedule tests and quizzes. If we go on strike, we go on strike.” And he is not alone. Ninety-seven percent of teachers who attended a strike vote on Sept. 8 have agreed to strike if STA and SUSD are unable to settle. Teachers have been encouraged to picket 30 minutes before and after school to spread awareness of the current successful deliberations between the district and the union.
A record number of viewers, over 80 million people in all, tuned in last month to watch the first presidential debate between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump. The 90-minute long discussion about taxes, foreign policy, health and many other topics caused Americans across the country and others around the world to watch and listen, paying close attention to what each of them had to say about each of the ideas. One of the biggest topics being thrown around between the two candidates was the fact that Trump has not released his taxes. He explained that he is under audit and said “as soon as the audit’s finished, they’ll be released.” However, the Internal Revenue Service has
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We have to restore trust, we have to work with the police, we have to make sure they respect the communities and the communities respect them...” HilaryClinton
STA and SUSD have been debating several articles in their contract. These articles cover everything from teaching hours to wages and benefits. One article that was brought up by the district would have allowed the transfer of teachers at will, which caused major uproar. The amendment to the article would have allowed the district to transfer teachers to different schools without their consent. This was one of the main proposals that teachers like Updegraff severely opposed. But now, after withdrawing the proposal, the district drew up a new “generous offer” as stated on their website. The offer would give teachers a 6 percent pay increase retroactive to last school year as well as consecutive 2 percent wage increases for the 16-17 and 17-18 school years. Yet the district would cap health insurance to $1,350 a month. “We wouldn’t be getting any kind of raise,” Updegraff said. “That money would go off to paying our health care.” The district also came under fire after propos-
stated, according to debate moderator Lester Holt, that he is free to release his taxes even under the current audit. Trump then said he will release his tax returns against what his lawyers have said “once (Clinton) releases her 33,000 emails that have been deleted.” Clinton made a few attacks against Trump as well, commenting on his praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin, her fear of him being in control of nuclear codes, and suggesting he hasn’t released his taxes because he might be trying to keep something hidden from the public. Many “punches” were dealt throughout the night, and only the next two debates and Nov. 8 will tell who will really win.
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If you think you’re gonna make... whatever you make, and bring them into our country without a tax, you’re wrong.” DonaldTrump
left: Secretary Clinton Speaks with Reporters by U.S. Department of State (Public Domain) right: Donald Trump by Matt Johnson (CC BY-NC)
GRAPHIC BY ALBERTO VALENCIA
Bottom Line FAFSA Workshops
CSU and UC Applications Blood Drive
If you missed the free “Cash for College” (FAFSA) workshop on Oct. 5, hope is not lost. There will be other workshops hosted at surrounding schools. The next workshop will be at Linden High on Oct. 19. Visit the Career Center for more information.
CSU applications are now open as of Oct. 1. Apply online at www.csumentor.edu. UC applications will be opening on Nov. 1. Apply online at www. universityofcalifornia.edu. Both applications close on Nov. 30.
A blood drive will be held Oct. 24 from 8:00am-1:30pm in the small gym to raise money for a local scholarship. Any student 16 years and older can go to K-1 to get a permission slip.
ing to pay substitute teachers $350 a day. “By them offering more money than what’s in our contract, they are technically breaking the law,” Walter said. “Because they are offering subs more money than they are legally allowed to do.” Yet despite the legal disputes both sides agree that no one wants a strike. So far, teachers have done demonstrations and rallying. Most notably, on Sept. 27 around 100 teachers showed up to a monthly board meeting to show comradery and support for their co-workers. At the meeting, a speaker pointed out that students would be severely affected if there were a strike. She pointed out the worksheets some students would be given. “These do not pertain to anything in the curriculum,” she said as she held a sheet to the board with the outline of popcorn. Martinez is concerned about a possible strike and encourages that “everyone needs to get their voices heard or then we become forgotten. ... We are the ones who are ultimately affected by this.”
Fight for LGBT rights in Mexico
AmberlyButler
It’s hard to comprehend the type of struggles same-sex couples have to go through everyday. Imagine fighting for the right to love and cherish the company of someone who makes you feel whole and at home. Now for the people of Mexico, that fight may be coming to an end. Junior and member of the Gay Straight Alliance Club Marco Luna, who is of Mexican heritage, spoke out on this issue and the difference in culture and acceptance of gay people. He spoke about his family, and what it would be like if they were LGBT living in Mexico, saying they “were brought up with the mentality that it wasn’t okay.” He also mentioned the fear it would bring because “the town is small, so if one person knew, everybody knew.” Enrique Peña Nieto, president of Mexico, has submitted a proposal of two bills to their congress to legalize same-sex marriage. The two bills would allow states to legally wed gay couples without having to completely rewrite their marriage laws. They also would call for schools to teach about homosexuality in sex education classes. Near the Angel of Independence monument in Mexi-
co City, on September 25, over 215,000 people marched against the two bills and gay marriage. The people who marched believe that marriage is only to procreate, not just love. President of the GSA Club Mariposa Guerrero also spoke about this subject. She knows that it could be difficult to push for rights like these, saying “It can be hard for some cultures to accept something that used to be seen as taboo or wrong.” So far only a handful of the 31 states in Mexico are pro-gay rights. Whether the bills are passed or not doesn’t change the fact that it is still up to each state to individually allow the weddings and sex education classes. The last thing President Nieto wants is to have division and tension between states because of that. Guerrero and Luna both support the two bills, hoping that the community of LGBT members in Mexico can fight through the marching and protests to get the rights they deserve. Luna hopes they can have the feeling he felt when the U.S. allowed gay marriage, saying “Honestly, I cried. I had this mix of emotion, this rush, because now, finally, we were all equal.”
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2
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
STAFF EDITORIAL
Opinion
10.07.16
The Stagg Line
Strike would mean sacrifice from all E veryday for the past few weeks, students and teachers have woken up and wondered whether we would make it through the remainder of the week, whether the district would come to a compromise with the teachers’ association, whether the teachers would be on strike. For the past few years there have been issues between the district and the teachers and they have never truly been resolved. To say the district has done nothing in effort to resolve them would be a blatant lie, but are they truly doing enough, or are they trying to pacify the upset part? For years, issues have been covered with bandages and swept under the rug, deemed something to worry about another time. But now, that time has come, and a very real issue that not only affects teachers is now playing a role in students’ lives. As of now, 97 percent of teachers that voted on the issue have agreed to go on strike if the STA and SUSD do not come to an agreement. That means that if a compromise cannot be met, a strike will ensue at the expense of our district, as a whole. Are students and teachers meant to act as if talk of a strike has not been all over campus? Lesson plans are made
PHOTO BY JULIA ROSETE At the district board meeting held on Sept. 27, a speaker points out the inconsistency between the curriculum and worksheets that substitutes would give out to students in case of a strike.
as per usual and students are expected to treat everyday as if it truly is like any other day, but it is far from it. Teachers are picketing, calling for action from the district, but is the district listening? Negotiations have gone unsuccessfully much to the dismay of both parties. The district readily describes itself as “generous” to which the STA calls the offer “unsatisfac-
tory.” If it comes to a strike, then an issue teachers previously had to deal with alone will be forcefully brought to the attention of students and consequently, the families of those students. While some students are excited by the the idea of missing school, the sad reality is that the campus would no longer be a learning environment. It would essentially be a mass babysitting center, where students are assigned a certain room and put in front of a TV or given busy work, and every day wasted doing this may have to be made up at the end of the year, according to the district. The aspects of school that students dislike may be taken away, but so is every beneficial aspect as well, and then some. It has nothing to do with not caring about one’s students when a teacher strikes – it is a call to action. Teachers are not paid on the days they are on strike and it ultimately affects their retirement, as they will not receive credit for the full year. It requires sacrifice. There is no “bright side” to this issue but instead a hope that in the end, the teachers’ ultimatum will be met without affecting students.
Kaepernick’s Pro athletes make change by actions were taking a stand on social issues for good cause A B
StephanieJimenez Ray Rice, physically and verbally assaulted his wife Janay Rice. This, of course, caught the eye of the media. I strongly believe that Rice deserved the negative feedback, because what he did was simply wrong. But what blows my mind is that I listen to people comparing these two. Yes, both created controversy but one was negative and the was positive. This comparison is definitely inappropriate. Kaepernick has only protested peacefully and will continue to do so. When one thinks of a football player being mentioned in the news, it is assumed as a horrible reason but this time it was not the case. Just because he makes a living playing a game, doesn’t not mean he can bashed for his beliefs.
Some people may see his action as a sign of disrespect because he is not standing up to show support to the country and for the people who risk their lives for our freedom. Meanwhile, others see it as a good thing because he’s bringing awareness to this situation and showing his support. I am with the latter group because all lives do matter. The goal of the #BlackLivesMatter is for people to understand that all lives matter. We need to get rid of the unfair bias many people have against African-Americans. We need to bring attention to it. If we don’t raise awareness, then the government is not going to do anything about the situation.
Demarcus Cousins, NBA center, already went to a town and brought the citizens and the officers together to resolve their differences. It is good that he is already taking action and taking steps towards doing something to try and resolve this problem. Athletes are using their fame to raise awareness and bring people together. We need to do what Cousins did and bring our community together, police and citizens. Even though we are not as famous or as rich as he
Kevin Gutierrez
GRAPHIC BY MATTEO DANFORTH
eing a well known football player, San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback, Colin Kaepernick has created controversy in the nation. But it is up to one to decide if it’s a positive or negative controversy. After not standing up for the National Anthem at a preseason game against Green Bay, Kaepernick created dispute among spectators and the rest of America. But he has a reason for his actions. He believes that it is not right to respect a flag that does not respect people of color. This refers to the Black Lives Matter movement. In other words, he will not support or show pride toward something that is not being addressed, which is the numerous assaults and homicides of African Americans. Considering myself apathetic towards any sort of sport, Kaepernick has made me pay attention to football for the first time ever. Meaning, it is surprising for a football player, especially of that fame, to speak out for this movement. It changes my perspective on athletes. People will speak, that is given. But Kaepernick is the reason why people are speaking. He is the reason why the BLM movement is being talked about. Everything he’s done has been for a reason.He’s using his fame in a favorable way. Unlike other recognized players. I respect him because of that.Not too long ago, former NFL football player,
thletes from various sport organizations have been showing their support for the #BlackLivesMatter movement recently. Colin Kaepernick, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has shown his support by taking a knee during the National Anthem. This has caused an uproar. He has already promised to donate $1 million to charities that support racial equality.
Stagg Line Staff & Policies Stagg Line
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207 The Stagg Line is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association, whose awards include the following: ff All-American: 21 years ff Hall of Fame ff First Place, Best of Show: 5 times ff National Newspaper Pacemaker: 7 times Stagg Line journalists over the years have won many awards and scholarships, including California Journalist of the Year, National Story of the Year and National Photo of the Year.
The Stagg Line newspaper is published monthly and distributed free to students and staff members. Our website staggonline.net is updated regularly with online exclusives.
The Stagg Line is a long-standing open forum for free student expression. That means, student editors and reporters make content and style decisions with the adviser offering guidance. The staff editorial, which appears at the top of this page, reflects the opinion of the entire staff and therefore is not signed. A personal column is signed and reflects the writer’s point of view. Readers are welcome to submit letters for publication regarding any story published or any school issue. We will make every effort to publish any letter that is not libelous, obscene or inflammatory. Letters longer than 250 words may be edited for length. Letters may be given to any staff member, delivered to A8 or emailed to dbott@stocktonusd.net.
REPORTERS SamanthaBaker AmberlyButler MariaCastillo LeslieCoronado LouisFuentez KevinGutierrez ErnestoHarwell TristenTucker AlbertoValencia AaronVang AngelVasquez MarkWalding
is, we still need to do something. Not only famous athletes have been showing their support to this movement, but high school student athletes as well. The entire football team for Garfield High School in West Seattle took a knee during the National Anthem. Regular students saw a problem and took action into their own hands. We need to do something about this predicament ourselves if the government will not do anything about this situation. If athletes that focus on their sports noticed this situation and saw it as a real problem, then maybe it is time the government gets involved. They need to enforce the law that a police officer can’t shoot unless he/ she is being attacked or going to be attacked better than they do now. Maybe even add more severe
consequences if that law is broken. We need to raise more awareness so they will notice us. When we have their attention we could tell them our ideas and come up with a viable solution to this problem. It’s significant to raise awareness to get this issue resolved. We could do little things to influence others, such as post influential material that will catch others’ attention on our social media accounts or go big and hold entire events dedicated to #BlackLivesMatter. Raising awareness isn’t the only thing we can do. We could start being nice to all everyone. We could also show our support and respect to the officers of our area because being an officer is harder than it looks. Officers play an essential role in our community. If someone had something stolen from them or if they are in some type of distress, they would call the police, but when an officer kills a man of color it is hard to not hate them. But it doesn’t make any sense to hate officers if they are here to protect us. That’s why we need to bring our entire community together and be a whole like we should be. We need to be a whole society not Caucasians with Caucasians, African-Americans with African-Americans, Asians with Asians, but all together. We are all different and unique, but we should treat each other equally and with the same respect. We need to work together to end this crisis because all lives matter, but it can’t be done alone.
EDITORS PhillicityUriarte-Jones editor-in-chief MatteoDanforth news editor StephanieMatsumoto opinion editor EstefanyNunez features editor JuliaRosete entertainment editor SaraAbdeltawab sports editor JeffersonLeiva web editor StephanieJimenez photo editor DonBott adviser Follow us on Facebook (Stagg Line) as well as Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram (@staggonline). Current and older issue PDFs are available at issuu.com/staggline
10.07.16
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
S A I B L A I C RA
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Opinion
Why has skin color such a huge factor in crime?
t’s the color of their skin that gives them more prison. benefits. It’s the color of our skin that sets us Supporting my opinion isn't difficult. apart from them. They have the freedom to act Brian Banks, an African American star football as individuals while people of color are put under player at Long Beach Poly High was sentenced five a stereotype. years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Other than their skin color, how do we differ Banks spent five years of his life in prison, and entiate them from us. Is it their hair? Maybe it's lost thousand of dollars in scholarships when Watheir eyes? Even better it's probably just because netta Gibson told the court a bunch of lies about they have “good behavior.” I mean that is why Banks raping her. A man who didn’t commit a they let Brock Turner out right? The Stanford crime did more time than Turner did, but not only rapist. The kid who prison would have a negative did he do more time, he wasn’t given the opportueffect on, or as journalists like to refer to him as nity to be put in a safer prison, yet Turner did. “Stanford swimmer.” The judge that gave Turner six months thought Let's talk about Turner for a second. a regular prison would be “too severe,” for Turner He's a smart, young, athletic man who was so they moved him to a better one. going to Stanford, which happens to be a very Where is the fairness in that? elite school. But he's a rapist. A man who had his whole life ahead of him SaraAbdeltawab Yet most people don’t refer to him as that. spent the past five years in prison for something he Why? Let's backtrack to a year ago. didn't do. And how many did Turner spend for actually doing the In actuality, Brock Turner was supposed to serve 14 years in crime, three “horrific” months. prison for being charged with three felonies of sexual assault. Prose Demanding justice does not mean disliking white people. I'm cutors asked for six years, but the judge gave him six months. speaking for equality. I'm essentially speaking for justice. I hate how What I find preposterous about the whole ordeal is that he only a good majority of white people benefit more from society than served three months. Three months? For rape. Rape is rape, you do most of us do, people who aren't white. the time for committing the crime is how I look at things. Clearly I don’t mean to sound as if I am putting all the blame on white the judge didn't look at it through the same lens that I did. people, because having money has a lot to do with it too. The reason This topic makes me so angry because white people get away I say that is because the way our court is set up foreshadows if you’ll with so many things that people of color could never get away with. be convicted for a crime or not. Depending on who’s testifying for Kraigen Grooms is getting no jail time, yet he deliberately adyou, or how much money is in your pocket to pay for the best lawmitted to rape a child and record the horrific event. If a black man, yer out there. or a man of Hispanic origins, maybe even a Muslim man, were to And until I start to see a social change my view on white privirape or harm someone, they would get a much longer sentence in leges will never change.
Difference between blacks and whites in court system 100
Bureau of Justice Statistics says “black defendants face longer sentences than white defendants for the same crime.”
90 80 70
Fox News in 2013 reported that black men are seven times more likely to be arrested for rape than white men.
60 50 40
57%
30 20 10
11% % of white males % of black males charged with rape & charged with rape & ultimately convicted ultimately convicted
In 2012, white people were arrested for 275,000 crimes. Black people had at least 100,000 less arrests, but yet the conviction rate for blacks is four times more than whites. INFOGRAPHIC BY SARA ABDELTAWAB
PROP 62 v. PROP 66
‘Yes’ on 62, ‘no’ on 66 is ethically right, fiscally better
L
ethal injection. Electrical chair. Murder. For centuries, the death penalty has been practiced as a means of judgement. It’s shocking that to this day killing a person convicted of capital crimes (like first degree murder and treason) is seen as a reasonable punishment. This federal issue has been amended numerous times and is outlawed in 18 states. But as November slowly makes it way, California could yet again join that list. In the voting booths, citizens will have to ask themselves a question of profound contention: do I or do I not support capital punishment? The answer is a difference between 62 and 66. Proposition 62 looks to completely eradicate the death penalty from California law. Inmates formerly on death row will instead serve life sentences without chance of parole. In addition to this, inmates will work and have more than half of their pay go to paying restitutions for the victim’s family. Proposition 66, on the other hand, would speed up habeas corpus petitions and the appeals process to a five year maximum limit. Additional requirements would also be set for attorneys to “ensure competent representation.” Similar to Prop 62, 66 also specifies that more than half
MatteoDanforth
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Voters aren’t children. It’s safe to say that most voters have a clear idea of the ethical significance of the death penalty.”
of the inmates’ pay will go to restitutions. Ok...so what does this all really mean? When you strip away all of the legal language
and political rhetoric, Prop 62 would completely abolish capital punishment once again in California while Prop 66 would expedite the process for appeals. There is obviously strong support from the religious community to vote yes on Prop 62 and vote no on Prop 66. For years, various faith groups have advocated against the use of the death penalty as a means to punish criminals. Although the morality of capital punishment is the main argument in this debate, playing up this aspect of the conflict would be insulting. Voters aren’t children. It’s safe to say that most voters have a clear idea of the ethical significance of the death penalty. The other argument– and in many ways the more significant issue– that voters face yet again is just how much taxpayer dollars will be going into this system. In a paper written by Judge Arthur L. Alarcon in 2011, it was estimated that Californians have paid over $4 billion to fund the death penalty system since it was reinstated back in 1978. Now, if citizens were to vote yes on Prop 66, more taxpayer money would go toward legal fees for the appeals process and defense. Not to mention prison spending would more than
likely increase since death row inmates, under Prop 66, can be held and transferred to any institution. Voting yes on Prop 62 would cut legal spending dramatically, doing away with expensive defense costs and the toll of judicial proceedings. Not only that but prison spending would significantly decrease since death row would simultaneously be done away with. That’s more money that can go to correction and rehabilitation of inmates; therefore decreasing the percentage of repeat offenders. Although capital punishment seems like a black and white issue, there is a lot of grey area in between. The rage and thirst for justice that overcomes the families of victims blurs the lines of morality. Politicians often use the death penalty to fuel their agendas. Voters now have to weigh not only the morality of the issue but the economic impact it is having on the state and residing counties. The noose must be tied on the death penalty. Californians have paid too much for too long for a flawed system. Voters now have a chance to vote for a solution that will bring true justice to the families of victims. So at the voting booths, I don’t predict a hung jury.
3
The Stagg Line
Voting should be left to the next generation O ur country faces many problems, from crime to taxes being raised, to immigration. These problems can be simply solved though, all we have to do it get rid of elderly votes. Every problem that we have in this country is connected to the elderly’s bad votes and decisions. We should not allow their votes and poor decisions to ruin our future. When a president is elected, there is going to be change. Whether the changes be immediate or gradual, they are certainly going to happen. So why should a generation who will not be affected as much by these changes get to vote for them to occur? Every year an average of 758 bills are voted on and passed. Some of these bills will have an impact for many years to come. A prime example of an influential bill that was recently passed due to the aid of the elderly is the Brexit vote, which will lead to the separation of Britain from the European Union. According to politico.eu, the majority of votes for the Remain of Britain and EU came from people aged 25-49. On the other hand, most older voters ages 65+ preferred Leave. This shows exactly how negative elderly votes are to society. Brexit is said to take effect next year as early as possible. My point is this bill is going to change and shape the future. It is the younger generations that are going to have to live with and be affected by said changes. The elderly who helped pass the bill are not going to face these changes. They have no right voting for something that they most likely will not live to see the repercussions of. Political views 60 years ago were very different from modern day views. Logically, as generations pass and new ones arise, new opinions and political agendas surface. So of course some views become outdated, seeing as they were formed many years ago. Allowing people with oldfashioned stances on issues to make decisions will not help us move forward as a nation. We will be stuck in the past, making the same bad judgements again and again. The ideal voting age group would be 25-44 years of age. This is because they have modern day views. They have had more exposure to what is going on in the world due to their subjection to current events social media. They are more likely to not only see things from another point of view, but analyze other decisions and reasonings as well. Unlike the elderly who have a one track mind, and don’t even know how to use a computer without
AngelVasquez
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It is the younger generations that are going to have to live with and be affected by said changes, not the elderly who helped pass the bill.
assistance. How exactly are they suppose to keep up? According to usnews.com, 61 percent of seniors voted in the 2010 election of November. People under the age of 45 were less likely to vote. This voting turnout may make younger people feel like they don't have to vote, seeing as it is being handled by the elderly already. Discontinuing the vote of the elderly may raise the voting turnout of younger age groups. The impact of losing such a large amount of voters is going to push different age groups to get out and exercise their right to vote. The political input of younger generations is much needed, so what else would get them to vote? Ironically enough, the elderly have the highest voting turnout than any other voting group. Because of this, politicians try to appeal more to them by providing benefits like Medicare and Social Security. This in return makes it so younger generations do not get as much benefits because politicians do not try to appeal to them. So if the elderly were ever banned from voting, there would have to be a significantly large increase in younger voters. I have nothing against old people, they give us cookies and knit us sweaters stitched with love. But lets just face the truth. The elderly have left this economy in a mess with their bad decisions. If we are to ever successfully move forward as a nation, we need to get the views from today. Not the ones that are stuck in ancient times.
GRAPHIC BY MARK WALDING AND KEVIN GUTIERREZ
4
Features
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Bernie Sanders sparks political awakening in millennials
SaraAbdeltawab
Some call them the next generation, others call them “the young folks,” but Bernie Sanders refers to them as “young Dems.” Kids of this generation may feel they have no say in political talk, and often times it may seem as if their age determines their knowledge. Sanders himself brought out the political side that a lot of millennials have in them. What engaged a lot of the “young Dems” is the free college Sanders offered to pursue if he became president. On the other hand, some say he just has a way with words. For senior Joel Castillo that was the case. “His ideas engaged me more into politics,” Castillo said. “He’s a leader, not a follower. That’s why I like him.” He went on to say that Sanders was a rebellious candidate and he did what he believed in. A couple of months ago Castillo attended Sanders’ rally in Stockton and even got the chance to stand on stage behind candidate. “I didn’t really know his (Sanders) views, so I went to the rally to become more informed
of him,” Castillo said. “He talked a lot about making his reality true, that if you believe in something go for it.” But not everyone agreed with Sanders’ choices, because in order to make college free Sanders was planning on taxing the wealthy, which may be one reason he lost to Hillary Clinton. All over social media teenagers and adults who were rooting for Sanders were devastated when he did not win the nomination for the Democratic party. Now, they weren’t sad because they aren’t going to be able to attend college for free, but because a lot of people say Sanders had a connection that the other parties didn’t have with “the youth of our next generation.” “He’s a joke, nothing he says is real,” said senior Antuane Hill, who went on to say when he votes in November he’s checking the box by Donald Trump’s name. Hill says he doesn’t agree with Sanders’ views, because all it is is a “fantasy that he’s living in.” Hill mentions that his family doesn’t support his decision of being part of a Republican party, but that Trump is “a man of
truth,” and nothing anyone says could change his mind. The fact that he knows of either candidate's views has a lot to do with the attention his peers have been paying. In contrast, alum Celine Lopez said “His speeches were really energizing and passionate, bringing out voices about people who couldn’t speak for themselves.” Alum Ruth Garcia said
“Some students were uneducated on the topic and supported Bernie because he was the latest trend on Twitter. Everyone our age felt the Bern so how dare anyone disagree with the majority and support anyone else.” Even though Sanders isn’t in the election anymore, a lot of young and older people are actively following politics.
Does our voice matter?
“It’s mainly the younger people that feel that Hillary should win the election, and I worry that those voting for Trump don’t realize that he is going to cause a lot of harm. But, I can only hope for the best.”
David Almanza Senior BERNIE SANDERS RALLY STOCKTON CALIFORNIA BY RICHARD LOPEZ (CC BY-2.0)
Sen. Bernie Sanders visited Stockton on May 10 and many students showed up in support of his campaign.
Political ideology influenced by environment, family, friends SamanthaBaker
parents’ opinion, though. She says, “I still stand with Democrat because I think their rea DNA is not all that we inherit from parents. soning is better.” Even things such as values and political ideologies tend to reflect She also said that the media has a lot to do with how our political some of these influences that we are exposed to in our upbringing. opinions are formed when a lot of young people don’t know the true With the elections fast approaching, we will get a glimpse of situation. what Americans may be influenced and driven by when it comes to “Since Donald Trump is a racist then they’d just go with Hillary, their vote. but I don’t even think they know the difference between a Democrat The influences, from parents or otherwise, and a Republican.” will have a great impact on how the country will Those with parents disinterested in government be run as the majority of teenagers get closer and and politics may have less exposure to the machicloser to being able to vote. nations of the country, yet there are other means of Therefore it’s important to know the things exposure other than just through family lives. that affect young adults because those will shape David Gochez, a senior, admits his parents arhow they vote. en’t really political yet he’s a Democrat. Joshua Hughes, a senior, doesn’t take either He says, “What got me into politics was my side in the election because he believes that both teacher, Mrs. Hayes, because she made us look candidates are corrupt. more into politics and to see what’s going on as “One’s considered a liar and one’s considered well in our country.” JoshuaHughes Antuane Hill, senior, is a Republican and supa cheater,” he says of them. Hughes sees that most of what influences our Senior ports Trump. political opinions are certain elements of our en “I support Trump because it’s just that people vironment. “It’s kind of affected by media and propahate the truth and he speaks the truth,” he says. ganda.” He says that he wasn’t interested in politics until this year until His mother, who is completely against the government, has he saw Trump running. shaped his view to an extent, although he says, “She hasn’t really His parents don’t like that he is backing Trump. changed my belief so much because I still have an opinion on how “(They) don’t support the fact that I’m voting for Trump.” things should go.” Family, upbringing, media, and teachers that students en Many young adults may acknowledge the influence of their par- counter tend to make up most of the influences that drive their viewents and their view of world issues and politics as well. points and opinions as they grow older. Oleedia Pemble-Harris, a sophomore, said, “I think since (my With all these influences acting upon them, the world will start parents) are Democrats, I decided to be Democrat.” to change as the young become adults and take over. Pemble-Harris insists she isn’t just a Democrat because of her
“Things that directly affect my community matter to me most, and I have so many questions, but often times I feel like instead of wanting me to speak up, I am hushed and told to worry about other things.
“
One is considered a liar and one is consider a cheater. It’s kind of affected by media and propaganda.”
GRAPHIC BY TRISTEN TUCKER
Most seniors are 17. They are nearly adults, wise from years of schooling but not yet with age. Surroundings are governmentally regulated, and classes as well as teachers have begun to open ignorant eyes to what having a voice means. These near-adults are required to take a Government class but are not yet allowed to exercise the right to apply this knowledge. Does their opinion not matter? Who is going to listen to a voice that has no weight in the upcoming election? Lacking political weight because of age places someone in the same pool as those who do not vote because they do not care. Appealing to the desires of the underage is not commonly a priority for candidates in any election but appreciated by the children that are politically aware. These teenagers care. They care about their futures, and about the way elections are going to affect it.
Settling for the ‘lesser of two evils’ is the reality of upcoming presidential electiion
EstefanyNunez and PhillicityUriarte-Jones
“Lesser of two evils.” It’s most likely been heard more than normal over the course of these last fews months. The phrase essentially refers to a principle of compromise. When faced with two unfortunate options, it’s rational to choose the option which will cause the least amount of harm. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump have been in the hotspots recently in the 2016 presidential race. Both candidates have been under massive fire from media, politicians and viewers. “Trump likes the attention, he says he doesn’t get upset easily,” junior Jennifer Rodriguez said. She sees Trump as an irritable child, and Clinton as someone who instead of thoroughly arguing her case, plays to his weaknesses. To someone looking for a strong leader, their childish games are troubling. “If they’re acting like this now, how are they going to act when either of them becomes president?” It’s becoming more difficult for Americans to decide on who they are going to vote for at the polls. That’s when compromise comes into place. Even those too young to vote are looking for the “lesser of two evils.” The aversion to Trump is spread throughout campus as there is a large percentage of Hispanic students, and an even
“
larger percentage of minorities in general. For junior Moses Richardson it becomes an issue of human decency. The overzealous approach to deportation is startling, as it seems to him that Trump does not look at the human aspect of the issue. He sees it as a callous and heavy-handed approach to a genuine and senBrandonJaramillo sitive issue, as if it is a business transaction. Senior This businessman mentality has gotten Trump to where he is now, but Richardson is not confident that that is an efficient way to run a country. “He’s hungry for money and power, and what is a presidency going to give him? More. What is he going to do with that?” Vanessa Quinones, a junior, also sees this side of him when he says something controversial, and then claims he never said anything of the sort. “You can’t insult and degrade Mexicans one day and then claim to love them the next just to get their
I favor Hillary. She lied, yes, but I trust her to elect supreme court justices that will stay in that role for the rest of their lives.”
votes,” Quinones said. His wishy-washy statements have created an aura of untruthfulness and she is wary of what would happen were he to become president. Many students had hoped for and supported Bernie Sanders. When he lost the primaries to Clinton, a large group of people, especially those aiming to go to college, felt there was no more hope in this election. His supporters are predominantly dispersed through the Democratic and third-party candidates. However, unless there is enough strength behind a third party candidate, and statistically, there is not, then a lot of Americans are going to have to settle. Rodriguez dislikes this two-party system as it seems that there is almost no point to the other parties. The most wellknown parties are the Republican and Democratic. She feels Bernie Sanders was not known enough to get the nomination. Senior Brandon Jaramillo is not fully in favor of either candidate. However, he hopes that minimal damage and some good can come from a Clinton presidency. “I favor Hillary. She lied, yes, but I trust her to elect Supreme Court Justices that will stay in that role for the rest of their lives.” But is there a way to win here? Is there a way to come out of this situation unscathed? For students under the legal voting age, there seems to be little hope. ILLUSTRATION BY AMBERLY BUTLER AND MARK WALDING
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09.09.16
The Stagg Line
Emilio Brown Senior
Sophia Peck Sophomore
“I don’t like to call myself political. I watch, but I’m not old enough to vote, so what’s the point? If I was old enough I would be more involved, because I would actually have a say.”
Elizabeth Santana Senior
“I’m okay with not being able to vote in the election. The general public is split between Democratic and Republican views, so I feel there’s a chance my views will be represented even if not directly from me.” GRAPHIC BY PHILLICITY URIARTE-JONES
Voice found through internship, Young Dems JeffersonLeiva
selfish and see what a candidate can do for our community. As a Hispanic migrant, I am expected to be Political candidates are brought under a magvoiceless. According to the Public Policy Institute nifying glass during election season, but what hapfor California, adult Hispanics represent 34 percent pens after the race is over? of California’s population yet only 18 How can we ensure things will get done if we percent of eligible Latino voters are forget about them? How can we enexpected to go to the polls. sure they won’t forget about us? I can’t vote. We cannot trust one elected offi But I know I’m capable of incial to bring positive change to a spiring a political change. community by themselves. After my father was deported, No one has the ability to I withdrew into the shadows as singlehandedly “fix” or “heal” a many of us affected by a loss community. have done. If we get these people elected Yet back in 2012, when into office, we have the responPresident Obama allowed peosibility as a community to push ple like me to stay in the U.S change forward with the guidfor two-year terms, I knew I ance of these leaders. had to be more connected to poli That’s why I’m a Young Democrat of San tics. Joaquin County. We make sure that elect Before I could help this woned officials are moving forward with their derful nation, I knew I had to start policies and we help them accomplish small. Start at home. their goals via community service. My home – Stockton. We give power to politicians. The magni Superficially, some refer to potude of our voices guides politicians to make litical campaigns as a popularity decisions that ultimately affect us all. It’s contest. Who can hang the biggest when we don’t speak that we become forsign. Who can dig up the most dirt gotten. from the other candidate. Even though I can’t vote, my voice Yet, I’ve learned from working still matters. I have the power to encourage at a political campaign that people, that 34 percent to go out to the polls and in order to effect change, have to pay make their voices heard. extreme attention to the candidates As a collective, we have the power to make whether we support them or not. every single one of our voices heard. We at times need to ask those I have the power to instill a positive difficult questions that bring peochange. ple to their knees. But most importantly, you do as We sometimes have to be PHOTO BY MATTEO DANFORTH well.
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Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Entertainment
Local events to enjoy
Stocktonians remain in the dark about interesting attractions happening nearby AngelVasquez
When people talk about Stockton, one complaint that I usually hear is that Stockton is boring. Stockton may not be a tourist destination, nor is it the safest place. But what Stockton definitely is not is boring. A few years ago, the city introduced the “Stockton is Magnificent” movement. Ever since, more events and entertainment activities have arisen. These events provide recreation, insight into other cultures, and friendly environments. Most of these events are cheap, some are even free. Even with the great accessibility to these attractions, they’re not being taken advantage of. It’s not like these events are unannounced — there’s a whole calendar on the Stockton website that has all information regarding each event. Even with this provided information, attendance seems to be patchy. My family lives on a tight budget, so going out of the house is a rarity. I’ve recently started going to the Stockton events. Initially, I thought that they were going to be boring and ABOVE PHOTO BY AMBERLY BUTLER, BELOW PHOTOS BY ALBERTO VALENCIA disorganized. I was proven to be (ABOVE) Young girls from the Stockton Ballet School perform a cultural dance at the Peace and wrong. Light Festival, which was held at the Marina on Sept. 24. (BELOW) On the left, people are “peace I’m sure many families in walking” on to a dock and lighting the laterns. On the right, people begin releasing their lanterns on Stockton are held back from the Delta. going out because of financial issues. The reality is, these events spread more efficiently through social media. would be perfect for them to get out and enjoy themselves. There are some websites that have branched out into social me The Stockton events are well put together and thought through. dia to promote these events. Sites like @stocktonca on Snapchat and Police officers are almost always there, giving a sense of safety and Instagram, and @stocktonevents on Instagram help spread informasecurity. tion. Some people, such as junior Leonardo Leon, didn’t know that Even with these promotions, people are clueless about what Stockton hosts these events. “In my spare time I just go on my events are happening. phone and stay indoors a lot,” he said. “These events seem pretty These events aren’t boring. There’s actually a lot of entertainment cool, and I might consider even going to some of them.” involved with them. For example, an event that grabs the attention As for others, these events serve as an outlet for enjoyment.“I’ve of Stockton is StocktonCon. This event has a high attendance. One gone to the Greek festival before, it was fun,” said sophomore Maris- free event is the Movies at the Point. This event is held downtown at sa Gonzales. the Waterfront, and everyone is invited to come. “The food and entertainment at the festival was great. I liked That event is hardly ever packed. how the event was very organized.” I find it unfortunate, because not only is it free, but it’s also a What these events need to receive is exposure. Countless times great experience. I’ve missed an event because I didn’t know it was going on. I think Stockton may have a bad reputation, but it’s starting to improve. this is the case for other people. Instead of focusing on promoting Countless new attractions are starting to surface, and they appeal to these events through the Stockton website alone, information can everyone. Too bad they’re not given a chance.
Cinema offers up more hospitality LeslieCoronado The Regal Cinema franchise has taken a turn for the better with major renovations that will improve a moviegoer’s experience. In the lobby of the downtown theater they have the reclining chairs out for display and alcohol for sale. The reclining chairs are an example of what future auditoriums will have, and the alcohol is an example of the cinema catering to their adult customers. Within the last couple of weeks they were finishing up the renovations in the left wing, but some of the auditoriums on
that side already had the luxury chairs installed. The luxury chairs were a pleasant surprise, because it was something new and elegant, and although the movie I watched that day wasn’t memorable the brand new chairs made it such. The black recliners are more comfortable and larger than the old chairs. They’re also adjustable. Not to mention that the new arrangement took out the bother of having someone bump their legs against the back of your chair, or having the person in front of you lean back so that the chair was propped up against your knees uncomfortably and
leaving you irritated for the rest of the film. However it’s hard to enjoy these new chairs if the film isn’t playing in one of the renovated auditoriums. The first time I saw these chairs, the cinema was finishing the renovations on the right wing, they hadn’t started on the left wing yet. Some of the auditoriums had their entrances covered by a black tarp, indicating the ongoing renovations. The second time I went, the left wing was just starting to get the new renovations, as only one or two rooms were closed off at the time. The auditoriums open still had the old chairs and
NEW SEATS IN THE CINEMAS BY JON SIEDMAN (CC BY-SA 2.0)
the old arrangement. That was disappointing because the new chairs are like an added bonus and without them it’s a bit sad. It’s still understandable considering it takes time to work and install all the new features, not to mention that if the constructions is noisy the customers will complain. So constructing during business hours would be a double edged sword. Something that made me wary of the cinema renovations is the selling of beer and wine. As common as it is to see at a party or a baseball game, it’s more concerning to see it at a family-friendly place where kids and teens go to have a fun night with their friends. It was a scary thought to think of drunken adults stumbling through the lobby and possibly yelling and harassing people. It was comforting to see that the beer and wine I feared so much was served in tiny plastic cups, compared to the giant beer cans I was imagining. I think the new recliners will bring in plenty of money on their own if that’s what the cinema wants. Personally, the cinema should just stick with the renovations of the auditoriums instead of expanding to sell alcohol at the concession stand. These renovations really improved the cinema experience, and made it an extra something to look forward to when going to the cinema.
The Stagg Line
10.07.16
‘Peculiar children’ enter theaters just in time for fall StephanieMatsumoto As the fall season creeps upon us, movies that leave a chilling feeling with their audiences come along more commonly. There’s a need for something mysterious, different, unusual. Something … peculiar. To start off that time of year, “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” directed by Tim Burton, is one that should be watched. Based on a book by Ransom Riggs, the one-of-a-kind characters and bizarre yet magical setting we learned about on paper come to life with Burton’s own personal touch on the big screen. The movie begins in Florida where we follow our normal teenage protagonist, Jake (Asa Butterfield). His tedious life would be just as dull as a background character’s if it weren’t for his grandfather, Abe (Terence Stamp), who told Jake tales of his past. Abe would tell stories about his time in a foster home where peculiar children with strange abilities lived, unable to fit in with normal society. After a family tragedy sends him off to Wales in search of the foster home, Jake ends up finding the house by going back in time. There, he meets Miss Peregrine (Eva Green), the mistress of the house who also turns out to be an “ymbryne,” a type of peculiar that can turn into a bird as well as create “loops” that rewinds the last 24 hours of the day of choice. Living with her are the very kids from his grandfather’s stories including a boy who is always invisible, a girl who has pyrokinesis, a brother and sister pair with superhuman strength, a girl named Emma (Ella Purnell) who weighs less than air and many others. The whimsical touch that Burton gives his films is apparent throughout the movie. He gives us a good mixture of well-chosen scenery with computer-generated imagery that really captures the overall moods reflected in many scenes. The beautiful design of Miss Peregrine’s Victorian house combined with the overall pastel color scheme made the lighter parts of the movie feel like a fantasy while the CGI effects cause the true monsters of the movie to scare the living daylights out of anyone. However, the addition of stop-motion animation was the strangest filming decision. While it did seem a bit off-putting at some points, it can be considered as a stylistic choice for a not-so-normal movie with a not-so-normal director. Though the movie does do a good job capturing the mystical scenery that the book introduced to us, it lacks character and plot development. The two hour and seven minute run time given wasn’t nearly enough to get a deep understanding of why everything is going on and how it came to be. Questions are left unanswered and it just leaves a bitter disappointment in the end. Characters are also left cut short from their total potential. Because the main focus was on a handful of characters, others had only a few minutes of meaningful screen time that could’ve had me wondering what would happen to them if I actually had time to create any personal connection. The large cast all have certain traits that make them very different from one another, and it would have been nice to dig deeper into each individual and how they use their unique abilities. Like many book adaptations, there’s going to be flaws in the making that don’t always fit perfectly into the time frame given for a movie. Yet, with what he was given, Burton’s directing skills lead to a successful movie nevertheless that was attention grabbing and a great beginning to the fall season.
The movie accurately captures the unique essence given in the book even if there are holes in the overall plot.
10.07.16
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Sports
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The Stagg Line
COST OF BEING AN ATHLETE Athletes on campus explain how playing the sport they love comes with a price worth paying LeslieCorronado For an athlete, suiting up can require a simple trip to the ATM or in other cases a short-term loan. The money athletes have to spend on their sport depends on a variety of factors, from the absolute equipment needed and it’s cost, to how much a player is willing to invest. Golf, in total, only costs $25. The $25 pays for $180 worth of the entire uniform which includes a shirt, shorts, a custom tailored visor, and a windbreaker. The low cost is due to the golf funds from previous years of fundraising by the sport. “This year we are going to do fundraising because we want to get more stuff... like jackets and sweatpants,” said senior Sarah Mendoza The players are provided with a bag, clubs and golf balls. Additionally, the team gets a free ride to the golf course, from the coach Dannie Offield, which the school pays for. Mendoza said, “It’s reasonable considering the
clothes that we get.” Football players don’t have to pay for anything required, with the exception of cleats, being that the school pays for the basic helmets and shoulder pads, each worth $200. They do have to pay for their own cleats ($100) and any additional accessories they want, like gloves ($50), tights, wristbands, and tape ($5-10). Depending on how nice a player wants to look, the sport can cost from about $150-200, sometimes even more. “You don’t really spend the extra money based on whether or not it’s going to work.You mostly just spend it because it looks cool,” said Nathaniel Bones, a junior. ”I don't think you should be spending that much money on stuff just to make you look good.” Other times players spend more money on their equipment because they see other players spending a lot of money on football.
Although volleyball doesn’t seem to use much equipment, $75 is the total estimate for the cost of volleyball. Players don't actually need a lot of equipment to play because the school provides the volleyballs to practice and play with, they also pay for the girl’s uniform. Individually, one needs to pay for their own spandex ($20) volleyball shoes ($40-110) and kneepads ($15). Sometimes the athletes borrow the necessary items from each other in case they can’t afford them or can’t buy them. “I got (the shoes) from a friend,” said Alexis Miranda, a junior. “The overall cost doesn’t bother the girls much because it’s for the team.” Cheerleaders have to make the biggest investment, needing to spend $600 every two years for their equipment, uniform, and summer camp. $500 covers the cheerleaders uniform, bow, pom poms, shoes, and cheer bag. Although the cost is frightening, payment plans are available.
“You don’t have to pay everything just like that, you do payments,” said sophomore Aline Arias. “It depends on your parents, but it has to be in the $20s.” That makes it easier to pay for and more available for students to participate in.he other $100 goes to a cheer camp during the summer where they learn cheers and dances and bond with their team. “I don’t think it’s fair, but it’s the way it is,” Arias said. “It’s showing school spirit.” In water polo the player’s uniforms are $31, which is just a black Speedo.The equipment, and balls to play and practice with are provided by the school. “I think it’s just ridiculous,” said Blaine Beckwith, a junior. “I figured you’d get something else with that 30 bucks, but it’s just the Speedo. I think it should be cheaper.”
Athletes below give a rundown on the prices they are asked to pay in order to participate in the sports they enjoy playing. (From left) varsity football, Nate Bones; varsity volleyball, Alexis Miranda; water polo, Yadiel Manrriquez; varsity girls golf, Sarah Mendoza; JV cheer, Aline Arias
Football Cleats $100+ gloves $50+ tape $5+
Girls Volleyball $75 Volleyballs Uniform
Lineman lines up for more recognition
Cheerleaders $600 every two years $500 covers uniform bow pom poms shoes cheer bag $100 Cheercamp
Cheer shines during halftime show at Sac State EstefanyNunez
LouisFuentez Football always has exciting plays that make the crowd cheer in triumph or grieve in misery as their team goes down the field. Many include the 50 yard touchdown pass or the goal line stand between the offense and defense. These are just the few plays that cause these emotions and can make or break a team or determine the use of a player. But who gives that four-second pocket for the quarterback and also lets that running back go through a huge hole and score? The offensive linemen, probably the most underappreciated position on the entire football team. For Timothy Omstead it’s been like that for over 11 years of his life now. “It doesn’t affect me as much as people think because either way I don’t like the attention,” said Omstead, who added, “I just love to block.” Omstead has always been known as a hard worker. He’s never accepted being average and he proved that last year by being the only sophomore lineman voted First Team All-League “That was for center and I just hope to win it for left tackle now because I have a lot live up to from last year,” he said. He’s also always been the one to catch the attention of the coaches. “Timmy has always been one of those players that we’ve had year round because he really loves football.” said Anthony Lee, offensive line coach. He has seen Omstead start as a freshman starting on junior varsity. He has knows Omstead has a true passion for the sport and believes “you can see that especially in the weight room and of course the field,” he always knew he was going to be special. This faith in the athelete is not unwarranted, as he has exemplified attributes a prime athlete would. “It’s always great to have someone year round and with (Omstead) he never misses a day because
Boys waterpolo $31 includes Black Speedo
GRAPHIC BY ALBERTO VALENCIA
Girls Golf $25 includes shirt shorts visor windbreaker
PHOTO BY SARA ABDELTAWAB Junior Timothy Omstead recognizes his next blocking assignment and knows that he will block the defensive end against Christian Brothers High School from Sacramento. he’s just a one-sport type of guy.” Most linemen are not always the face of the team and consequently don’t get credited when the touchdown is scored. But in Omstead's case, he knows he is the a leader of the team and of course the line. Just as someone working behind the scenes of a movie or play, they are not in the limelight, but without him and players in the same position, the mechanics of the team would not function properly. Don Norton who was been the head coach at stagg for over 11 years said that he was one of the hardest workers and is a leader on the team. Guys his age and even older respect him for what he is and what he does. He may not get his recognition in the highlights but he is respected by his peers.
meant they had only two hours to rehearse their given cheer routine. While most teams had two weeks to learn the routine, the cheerleaders said they chose not to fret over it and rather get to work. Senior Alana Lujan believed that although they had limited time, their excitement and positive energy was the reason for their achievement. “What we had learned at practice was changed up so much when we out there.
So, we had to learn new formations and new rolls off but it was a challenge for us,” said the varsity cheerleader. “We felt good about ourselves,” Pimentel said. Overall, the positive energy the team embodied aided them in performing well. Lugo said, “I’m very proud of them for what they did. They worked real hard and got an experience of a lifetime.”
Along with a few other high schools, Stagg cheerleaders were formally invited by Sacramento State to perform during a football game’s halftime. Being part of the United Cheer Association gave the cheerleaders this opportunity. “It was a wonderful experience to be able to take the girls to (Sacramento State),” said Corene Lugo, cheerleading coach. Groups of all ages were present in the performance. Younger cheerleaders were able to associate with high school cheerleaders and likewise for high school cheerleaders with the college level cheerleaders. “It was cool to see their interaction with the players and the marching band,” said sophomore junior varsity cheerleader Marissa Pimentel. “It was a whole new experience.” Because it conflicted with the October SAT date, only a few were able to attend. Cheerleaders from both JV and varsity were involved in the grand cheer routine. “I’ve never been to a college football game let alone cheer and perform for college students was a whole different level,” senior Andrea Martinez said. The girls who were able to attend were honored and overall delighted to be the entertainment for a college audience. Still, with every good journey there are a few bumps in the road. COURTESY PHOTO BY CORENE LUGO The squad did not receive Senior varsity cheerleader Lezly Chavez is seen posing with her their routine until Thursday, fellow teammates as they await for their group performance to two days prior to the event. This begin.
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News
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
The Stagg Line
10.07.16
Trade fair reveals alternatives after high school EstefanyNunez
Have you ever wondered who creates the buildings that surround us? Who installs the wifi? Who builds the restaurants? Who conducts the smog checks? Tradesmen. They’re a prominent factor of working society and yet they hardly get talked about. If you’re not going to college after high school, then you have to work. That’s the concept that’s been ingrained into students. Pursuing work after high school can be difficult especially when the work field offers a variety of choices. Without supporting guidance, a student could never realize the potential they have. “There’s a ton of successful people in this world who didn’t go to college,” said senior Douglas Huang. “Whatever people want to pursue, they can achieve it if they work hard.” On Sept. 16, students were able to attend a hands-on fair on trade careers. The fair encouraged young students to broaden their horizons and look more into trades. “I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to directly go to a college or get into (a trade),” said senior Alysa D’Ambruoso. “I found a lot of new choices for me. I was able to see that I could learn some new skills and apply them.” Students were allowed the opportunity to build their own toolbox after checking out three different booths. Caterpillar Inc. workers, union leaders and workers themselves attended to represent the various types of careers offered. “We got to experience ourselves and decide if we liked (those careers) or not,” said senior Maria Chavez. “It gave us more of an idea of what those jobs are like. You don’t want to go into college and not have a clue of what other jobs are like.” While plenty of adults are the face of this career, employers are seeking to hire young adults. Young adults who have a wider capability of thriving in those fields with knowledge being integrated into their heads from a young age. Yet, are not as exploited in trades. The truth is, there are a variety of jobs lined up ready for young students to pursue. From electricians to cement masons to drywall lathing to bricklayers, there is a wide range of possibilities for people who are interested. As the host of the vent, the San Joaquin Area Apprenticeship Coordinators Association encouraged attendees to sign up for an apprenticeship. To sell their offer, they stressed the fact that students would get paid for learning on the job. Students who wish to go to college are often held back because of financial issues. For seniors like James Izquierdo and Ezekiel Ruiz, they’d feel more comfortable with a stable income at their side when attending college. Guidance technician Rebecca Hernandez sought out specific
PHOTO BY ESTEFANY NUNEZ There were mutiple hands-on activities available for students attending the career fair. Pictured is senior Alyssa D’Ambruoso being taught the procedures for roofing. classes in particular when promoting this trip. “I attended the fair by myself to see how it was like, and I definitely wanted students to have the opportunity,” Hernandez said. “I hope to expand the opportuni-
Program helps female students expand horizons in STEM careers StephanieMatsumoto Careers involving STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) have traditionally lacked women. However, trying to become an engineer, scientist, or computer technician may no longer have to feel dominated by males. Women are being exposed to more of these careers, and they can learn more at events such as Expanding Your Horizons. Expanding Your Horizons is an annual career conference that took place on Oct. 1 at the University of the Pacific. Young females could experience three different hands-on workshops, watch interesting as well as educational displays and demonstrations in a career fair and interact with girls from other schools that have an interest in STEM. Andrew Walter, MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science, and Academics) teacher, has been encouraging females in his classes to attend this event for several years. He has seen many girls go through the program and come back doing computer science or other careers relating to that kind of field. “The initial thing was just to expose them at a very young age to the careers and then once the exposure was made, it’s to bring
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE MATSUMOTO Maha Kamran, a freshman, squeezes a grip sensor to test her muscle strength at the physiology booth at the Expanding Your Horizons workshop at UOP. them back every year to get them Freshmen Maha Kamran excited about getting into the and Jessica Reth heard about Exfield.” panding Your Horizons through Walter sees that girls who their MESA class and decided to go to the event usually want to go. They experienced three differgo again. Girls are able to try ent workshops where they got to out different projects and exper- build a spaghetti and marshmaliments, which are changed annu- low tower, were informed more ally. about physiology through inter “We almost always have re- active booths, and learned more peat people, which is nice be- about computers by taking one cause then they get exposed to apart and reassembling it. other fields and don’t do the same While Kamran enjoyed comthing every year,” Walter said. peting to make the biggest tower “I’ve never really heard anyone out of spaghetti and marshmalcomplain that it was not interest- lows, Reth liked the computer ing.” workshop the most.
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“It made me want to learn more, putting the computer together and taking it apart,” Reth said. Expanding Your Horizons is open to all girls from sixth to 12th grade. However, some seniors and juniors that have enjoyed this event were unable to go this year due to the Scholastic Assessment Test happening the same day. Jordyn Garcia, a senior, has gone to the event from freshman to junior year and would have definitely gone if the SAT had been another weekend. Though she had fun doing the hands-on workshops, her favorite part was when the keynote speaker would talk at the beginning about their personal story relating to STEM. “I just think about what they said and the speeches they gave really opened my eyes,” said Garcia, who has been in MESA since the sixth grade and has always been open of going into a STEM career. The event caught her interest even more and helped her think of how she can use her MESA skills in the future. “Personally, I thought it was a really empowering thing to go to,” Garcia said. “It really persuaded girls, especially my age, to be interested in the STEM field.”
ty to everyone instead of a selective few because all students should broaden their horizons. They never know what is out there for them unless we show them that potential.”
‘Stagg Bucks’ promote school spirit year round MariaCastillo Stagg Bucks are wooden coins given out by administration and campus security monitors. When someone does a good deed like picking up trash or just wearing their ID, a student may be awarded a buck. Stagg Bucks aren’t a new idea from admin, though. They were already here when Bill Parks was principal several years ago. When Principal Andre Phillips came on board, he wasn’t sure how to use them.“We talked about it my first year here and we just thought and thought,” he said. Eventually Phillips thought that not only would it be a great way to encourage students to contribute around campus, but instead of administrators looking for negative things, they would be looking for positives. Students who receive Stagg Bucks need to go to M1. There, Christine Jimenez will exchange your buck for a red ticket. Every friday, ASB collects the tickets to be used in the Spirit Wheel raffle that goes on every friday. If
a student’s name is pulled, they get the chance to spin the wheel where they can win prizes such as DJ day, Otter Pops, a Stagg cup or ball, or lunch with administration. Sophomore Jacob Stillwell’s World History class has had perfect attendance for three days straight so Phillips gave the whole class Stagg Bucks. Stillwell thinks Stagg Bucks help give a more entertaining feel to school. “Like at lunch when they do the raffle and play music and games; it gets students to interact while having fun,” he said. Junior Ciera Wallace, ASB president, says that although Stagg Bucks are a great way to interact with the campus they won’t create a big difference. “I don’t think they’ll make that much of an improvement because a CSM isn’t going to catch every single person doing a good deed,” Wallace said. “They’re only going to notice one person at that moment and there’s students who have gotten no recognition for what they have done.”
WeeklyGallery Check out our website for galleries spotlighting homecoming, the green side of campus, chemistry labs and Chess Club. To see more visit staggonline.net