Home of the Delta Kings
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Vol. 60 No. 6
03.03.17
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School 1621 Brookside Rd. Stockton, CA 95207
Difficult experiences severely impact teens’ minds SamanthaBaker
INSIDE: Students share personal stories of how trauma has affected their lives. See pages 4 and 5
The metallic taste of blood. The stench of alcohol. The shattered glass across the floor. For some, these words may be nothing but a mere description. For others, these words can trigger a flashback of an impactful experience in their lives. Trauma like this has far-reaching effects that are especially prevalent in children and teenagers because of their developing brains. Effects of trauma can include difficulties with developing healthy relationships, managing emotions, low self-esteem, depression and attention span. One in four students will witness or experience a traumatic event before the age of 4, and approximately two-thirds by the age of 16. This can be especial-
ly devastating when it comes to school, where students are expected to remain attentive and behave despite what they may be experiencing outside of school. Students may not show symptoms of trauma, but that doesn’t mean they are not experiencing them. “If we look like we’re okay, then we assume we’re okay,” said Tashante McCoy, a case manager at the Stockton Trauma Recovery Center. The TRC operates through Fathers and Families of San Joaquin, an agency striving to help families in need living in Stockton and San Joaquin Valley. It is located downtown, within walking distance of the bus station. Those living in high-poverty communities are more likely to be affected by trauma because
of their increased chance of worrying about food, housing and stressed parents. In Stockton, a city known for its high crime rates and poverty-stricken neighborhoods, youth are significantly affected. As a result, many traumatized teenagers fuel the school-to-prison pipeline. Trauma can be caused an event that creates physical, emotional, spiritual, and/or psychological harm. These events include rape, domestic violence, death of a loved one, neglect or even witnessing violence. Signs that someone may be suffering from trauma vary from anxiety in the form of nightmares, irritability, mood swings, disorientation and withdrawn states. Despite the horrible effects, trauma can be treated. The most
Study group helps students prep for tests
&
ACTIVISM
Students find ways to craft unity in a divided world
JuliaRosete
StephanieMatsumoto
A
T A TIME WHEN THIS country is being ripped apart by racial tensions, people of all backgrounds are untiting not only through protests but through painting. Fathers and Families of San Joaquin on Feb. 17 put on “For the Love of Soul,” an art show focusing on diverse works of art and appearances from local African-American artists in honor of Black History Month. Next to the building, the Mexican Heritage Center was also holding an art exhibit, “Artistas Unidos,” from Feb. 7-24, inviting local artists. Randolph Holman, a junior, is part of the Black Student Union on campus. He describes how the club talks in depth about what African Americans have accomplished and the impact they’ve had on this country outside slavery. They also discuss college opportunities as well as travel to black college expos around Northern California. “It’s very useful for people who want to get to college but don’t really know where to go or what they want to major in and it’s for any ethnicity, not just blacks,” Holman said. For Shania Larkin, a junior, the club not only helps her to learn more about colleges, but it’s also a chance to meet more people from different schools and other ethnicities. “We socialize with other African-American students in other schools for BSU all around Northern California and I love that it’s actually diverse also.” As students in Black Student Union come together for a safe space in their club, others are banding together to make change in a different way. On Feb. 16, many Hispanic students and their families refused to go to school, work, or other non-Hispanic establishments all throughout the country. These students were participating in “A Day Without Immigrants,” a protest against President Trump’s immigrant agenda that includes his plan to put a ban on travel to seven predominantly-Muslim countries and to shut the U.S. border with Mexico. Isis Rocha, a junior, participated in the strike along with her whole family. After seeing a post about it on Facebook, Rocha’s family, except for her sister, decided to stay home that day. They were able to make dinner only using what they had in their house since no one would leave to buy groceries at a nearby store. Despite being a U.S. citizen Rocha
effective form of treatment is therapy. “We are able to offer our counselees free therapy,” said TRC program assistant Missy Rae Magdalera, who added that both clinicians are Stockton natives who earned degrees from Sacramento State and chose to return to their community. Through psychotherapy, individuals are able to process and understand their situation better. By learning safety and coping methods and receiving support and resources, they can better deal with their trauma. “We want to give them ways to want to live,” said Brandon Cooper, conflict resolution manager at the TRC. “We’re like a no hope center. If you think there’s no hope, come to us.”
PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE MATSUMOTO (Top) Alana Marquez, Michelle Ruiz-Marquez, and Hanna Marquez look at an art piece for “Artistas Unidos.” (Middle) Terri Grace, a local artist, finger paints a face at “For the Love of Soul.” (Bottom) Brandon James plays the guitar as Rebekah Thomas sings for the Artist Reception at the Mexican Heritage Center on Feb. 17. says that what Trump is doing isn’t right and those who don’t think it’s right should stand up and do something against it. “My parents were all for it and they were like, ‘If no one does it then we’re not really proving a point.’” Though some may use this event as a chance to skip out on school, others like Rocha participate in
Bottom Line MTSS study center
Scholly scholarships
March 6-10 schedule
The library is now hosting students, especially juniors and sophomores, in need of SAT, AP and SBAC review. The next two sesssions will take place on March 7 and 28. Students who missed the first two sessions are still encouraged to attend.
The mayor’s office and SUSD have partnered with Scholly to provide students with premium access to the financial aid app. Visit https://app.myscholly. com/reinventstockton to create an account. Registration is open until June 1.
To accommodate special assemblies next week, there will be block schedules every day except Tuesday. Monday/Thursday 1-3-5 Wednesday/Friday 2-4-6 Tuesday 1-6 minimum day
order to show people like Trump that immigrants have an important part in America, and without them it wouldn’t be the same. “They were posting a lot of pictures and you could see the difference of what it would be like without immigrants,” Rocha said. “We’re all uniting behind the idea and standing for what we believe in.”
For junior Karen Cervantes, going about studying for her SAT and AP tests was a daunting task. She was lost in the confusion that the tests bring to students. When she heard about the MTSS study sessions for these tests, she jumped at the opportunity to get started on studying and be exposed to different learning resources, like Khan Academy and Flocabulary. “Going to these types of things is the first step,” Cervantes said. “They give you a rough outline of what you should do.” Every Tuesday minimum day in the library, the school offers these preparation sessions for juniors and honors-level sophomores. During this time, students receive assistance and advice from seniors who were in their situation in past years. “They’ve already been through the experience so they can share their experience with us,” junior Luis Moreno said. “That way, we can have an easier time going through it.” The seniors’ guidance also sparked some students, like junior Sarai Luna, to study more than she already was.“They did emphasize the fact that you need to study beforehand,” she said. Assistant Principal Felicia Bailey-Carr is in charge of overseeing the study groups, her goal being to not only prepare students for these tests but for their future as well. “Every year, the expectation is that we make these growths,” she said. However, she didn’t see as much enrichment at the school, other than some specialty programs on campus, compared to others she researched and personally experienced. “In elementary schools, you have Academic Pentathlon,” Bailey-Carr said. “When I came here, they they didn’t have Academic Decathlon. I just didn’t see a lot of enrichments.” She said she wanted to give students the assistance they need to get higher test scores. Senior Vernesha Shaw, one of the tutors, wishes that she had this when she was trying to prepare last year. “The biggest thing is it initiates studying,” she said. “It brings a lot of serious people in together to be able to help each other out.”
PHOTOS BY JULIA ROSETE Senior Samuel Cornelison assists juniors Kevin Phan, Bryanna Rodriguez, Karen Cervantez, and Edwin Hidalgo (left to right) with AP Physics.
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2
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
STAFF EDITORIAL
Opinion
The Stagg Line
03.03.17
One-on-one therapy allows healing
R
estorative justice, pairing people together to work out their issues, isn’t a new idea. Typically it is used in elementary school with a bully and victim who talk through their problem with a counselor present. However, as time passes and the issues escalate in severity, this system of counseling is replaced by police intervention. Restorative justice is meant to heal both the perpetrator and the victim, creating a healthier, judgment-free environment. In this sanctuary, both parties are able to meet at a middle ground and find a real solution. The practice stems from the idea that those who hurt others have been hurt themselves, and that even those not directly involved, such as friends and family, are affected and need to be a part of the healing process. Using restorative justice techniques to address discipline concerns would make Stagg a safer and healthier place to grow and learn. The system currently in place does not permit this necessary healing process to take place. Instead, administrative action is taken: police are involved, investigations are started and students become entrapped in this process. Depending on the severity of the act,
PHOTO BY JEFFERSON LEIVA On the hallway windows, students who are part of Peer Leaders Uniting Students (PLUS) write inspirational or motivating quotes for others to see as they pass by to their next class.
students can be moved to in-school suspension, sit down with campus police or even given out-of-school suspension.
Victims and perpetrators are dealt with separately, as though they are both liabilities in the student body. Victims are treated like children; sent to a Healthy Start counselor or to a police officer on campus. Maybe they go through a few sessions, but there is no real closure. Perpetrators are at the mercy of administration. They determine whether the students are yanked from their classes to sulk in ISS, whether they serve community service or whether police are to get involved. This hardline procedure is not the best way to teach lasting lessons. Resources are wasted in the hope that the perpetrator learns that “hurting people will get you punished.” Restorative justice is crucial to ensure that victims can heal and perpetrators realize the human consequences of their actions. What is being used now does not teach, does not heal, it only punishes. Yes, restorative justice can be difficult to put into effect, but it is worth it. The extra effort put into healing can prevent people from having to face it again. It helps them move beyond. Restorative justice can heals both parties for the better, regardless of who did what. It betters them at their core instead of momentarily cleaning up their act.
Players shouldn’t be dismissed A teacher’s value because they need P.E. credits should be on what they teach A “ I s I’m cleaning turf and mud off my cleats and folding my jersey, I find myself reminiscing. I stare blankly at the boys varsity soccer crest. I think back to the styrofoam smell of turf and the cannon fire of balls firing across the field. I can almost distinctly remember each apple I’ve eaten before and after practice and the way my bed welcomed me once I got home. I hadn’t touched a soccer ball in four years so it’s surprising that I played on the team this past season. I didn’t sustain some crazy, career killing injury or have a terrible experience with a losing team. I had simply lost interest. So why, in my last year of high school, did I dig up the ol’ cleats again and hit the field?
MatteoDanforth Because I needed the credit. Yes, I was behind on physical education credits. Sue me. That was my mentality for most of the season. “I need the credit.” I remembering trotting past the condescending eyes
into those first practices. “I’m just here to get my credit and I’m out,” I repeated to myself. I didn’t care that I wasn’t the best player on the team. I showed up to practice, ran the drills, and came dressed on game day. For those first few games I´d sit on the sidelines, watch our starters play their hearts out and leave without a single bead of sweat on my brow. It was humiliating. I felt like just a space on a bench. And then I got my shot. I played the last five minutes in a preseason game against Weston Ranch. I finally had some had mud-stained and sweat-soaked clothes. I left that game as a newly baptized member of the team. From that game on, I wore my jersey with a little more
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE MATSUMOTO Swimmers practice diving into the water by jumping off the diving blocks. While many students try out for the sport, even some just for the credits, all student athletes have to go and improves at different types of strokes.
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.
It was no longer about earning credit but earning the right to wear number 21 on game day.”
pride in the hallways as I walked from class to class. I enjoyed being at the practices and shaking my teammates’ hands when I showed up and left. It was no longer about earning credit but earning the right to wear number 21 on game day. Hearing people say “I need the credit” now is like a fork scraping on a plate. I find myself shaking my head when I hear people say about certain players “they’re not important, they’re just here for the credit.” Why is there a prejudice against students who join a sport for this reason? Is it the fear that they won’t put in the same effort as the top level starters? That they don’t have the skill set to keep up with everyone else? That because of their sub-par skills they’ll consequently make the team look bad? When people fall victim to these degrading judgments, they’re losing the true meaning of being on a sports team. Playing a sport and being on a team is designed to build a sense of comradery. When these labels and excuses cloud your vision, you lose sight of this and miss out on the full experience of being a part of a team. Yes, some students join a sport because they need to graduate. But a true player takes that field for his teammates, his coach and his school.
REPORTERS SamanthaBaker AmberlyButler MariaCastillo LeslieCoronado LouisFuentez KevinGutierrez ErnestoHarwell TristenTucker AlbertoValencia AaronVang AngelVasquez MarkWalding
was sitting in my English class when the teacher handed us a white slip. It was the time of month when students vote for their favorite teacher. My peers and I got into a discussion of whether our vote mattered because our favorite teachers were usually AP, or honors, and taught a smaller amount of students. Then we started to talk about what made a teacher so important, what LeslieCoronado made someone qualified to be a teacher of the month. What are the traits of a teacher that make a student like them, or enjoy their class? Sometimes it’s the teaching method. Students are able to remember the content of the class because it was interesting, enjoyable, exciting, and/or funny. It could also be the amount of work that the teacher pours into their job, like staying till 7 p.m. to help their students. However, it’s not always about the content taught that makes a teacher memorable. A student might also just like the teacher because of the person they are, like crying when reading poetry. Or they show care towards a student. Other times it’s the fact that a teacher invested a part of themselves into their students, even helping them out in college when they have trouble with their course work. They also do their best to support their students and try to help them out as much as they can, like going as far as to teach in the student’s native language to make sure they were able to completely understand the material. A teacher may even influence a student’s career choice, pushing them to take it to the next level, like encouraging them to become a doctor instead of a nurse or a dentist instead of a hygienist. They may even inspire them to become a teacher themselves. Teachers hold so much influence over a student’s life and have the opportunity to make positive impacts on them. When a teacher cares for a student it’s then that can make a difference in the person’s education and life, pushing them to go to college and do something. A teacher can be important in many ways, but it’s mostly due to the time that they put into their students, how they encourage them, support them, and get to know them. I feel that there are many teachers who do this, and while they may not always be experts in their content area, they are the best types of teachers because they make a direct impact on the student. They create a positive experience with students, in general, and in education, and the best gift they can give you is a passion for learning.
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
03.03.17
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Opinion
3
The Stagg Line
Women don’t have to meet men’s standards I
remember growing up and “If a guy was to talk down on thinking that no one could me I would feel insecure,” junior ever make me feel less of a De’lilah Vega said. “I would try person. I remember growing up to change myself to meet their and thinking that just because standards.” you didn’t look like the girl next “Meet their standards.” to you, that didn’t mean you This is the type of thing I don’t were ugly. I remember growing understand. Why do guys have up and thinking that everyone is to set these “standards”? It’s beautiful in their own way and morally wrong to make a girl feel we should all be accepting of one less of a person just because she another. doesn’t look like the girls on TV But now I’m grown, and I no or someone you personally want longer think the same. her to look like. Walking around school I see I understand as you grow SaraAbdeltawab many couples. Whether it’s in your perspective on things, or the hallway, in a classroom, in on people in this case, changes. the gym, or even sitting around Yet I don’t understand why on the benches, there’s a couple. specifically guys have these And I’ve realized a lot of the standards that they want most time people start dating because girls to live up to. Especially if they have a lot in common and it’s someone you’re already in a they’re accepting of each other. relationship with. It just doesn’t They’re accepting of seem to make sense to me. As how they act, what they look I’ve grown up I’ve noticed that like, and even what type of not only guys but society as a background they come from. whole sets these standards for Yet, what happens when the women and young girls. person you found a close Since the 19th century girls connection with all of a sudden have always had standards set starts talking negatively about for them. If you were a girl you you? Talking about how he doesn’t like the way couldn’t vote and all you were known for doing you dress, or how you look some days versus was housework and cooking. And now, it’s certain others. ways men and or boys want women to dress, Those views men have of women demoralize standards are set on our personality and the way them and not only that but make a lot of girls feel we look that people want us to live up to. What like they aren’t good enough and need to change. year does it have to be for girls to not have to go Imagine hearing or finding out your boyfriend out of their way to make others happy and just be or one of your guy friends said, “I hate how you able to be happy in their own skin? dress. You need to dress nicer.” Or even worse “When I hear guys talk negatively about girls, “She needs to change the way she does her hair. It’s it makes me feel like I need to change because I’m starting to disgust me.” doing something wrong,” junior Hammeeda Khan I have heard this being said about girls I said. personally know, and it sickens me. But, some We girls don’t have to change ourselves to rather than being sickened, tend to believe the reach standards for guys that won’t even matter in words. the next few years.
“
We girls don’t have to change ourselves to reach standards for guys that won’t even matter in the next few years.”
Looking at memes for news is misleading B
y scrolling through Twitter, Instagram, and just about any other form of social media, you’re bound to find memes. Memes, a humorous video, image, or piece of text, can be spread throughout these sites quickly and become a trend in a matter of hours. Despite how harmless they may seem, memes play a big part in society and how people receive their news. A prime example of this is about President Trump’s Feb. 13 meeting with Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister, at the White House. The pictures trending are of Trudeau giving a questioning look at Trump’s hand as Trump tries to give a handshake. They are posted on sites with titles such as “We are all Justin Trudeau,” or they are edited to have Trump holding something in his outstretched hand with another amusing caption of some sort along with it. While it’s all good fun to laugh at those posts, it’s another thing to assume you’re learning anything from them. As real as the pictures may be, they can be misleading. They’re taken out of context for the sake of a few laughing emojis or retweets. The gravity of an event like this can’t be captured in just one photo. The two prominent figures talked about trade and immigration at this joint press conference. While there was some shared interests, the two had drastically different perspectives on the subject. Trump had defended his executive order banning people from several predominantly Muslim nations to enter the U.S. by saying that he couldn’t risk letting the wrong people in. Trudeau didn’t agree with Trump’s policies but had said that “the last thing Canadians expect is for me to come down and lecture another country on how they choose to govern themselves.” Despite the opposing views, they weren’t going to let that get in the way of a healthy relationship between the two. However, the memes we see tell a different story. The look of Trudeau’s face makes it seem like he’s slightly disgusted at the thought of touching Trump’s hand. Trudeau’s hands are also tightly wound together as if he’s in deep consideration of what to do. He doesn’t want to touch Trump’s hand because he must have something against him right?
ART BY AMBERLY BUTLER
Protests are necessary
People are fighting for their rights that are being threatened, just like history taught us
A
n important reason why history is taught to young students like us is so we don’t do the same idiotic things we did in the past. We StephanieMatsumoto are meant to learn from our mistakes. From slavery to yellow journalism to being ruled by hateful tyrants, they’re all lessons to be learned. We wouldn’t want history repeating itself. Yet people cannot seem to learn. EstefanyNunez If we also look back at history and observe where not giving up their need to be change happens, we can come heard. If anything, this new era to realize that radical change is allowing people to realize the happens when the people significance of their voices being involved come together. heard. With the beginning of a They are beginning to new presidential term, people realize the importance of taking have been protesting nonstop. action. There’s a lot to oppose in It may be the only thing On Feb. 13, Canadian Prime Minister and U.S. society right now. we have during this time. It’s President Donald Trump met at the White Whether it be banning necessary to protest, especially House for a joint conference. There, they refugees from entering the when we see history happening talked about important issues between the two United States to threatening gay all over again and our country countries. rights to opposing the Dakota taking steps back, instead of Access pipelines, people are taking steps forward. The photos are giving people the message that there might be discord between the two men, which is far from what actually is happening. It’s not right to assume so much in just one picture and then share it to many more people who will share it to many more people and so forth. This is false information, which has become more than popular in today’s society, especially in news. People can be fast to point out and complain about media being false but what if they’re the ones creating and sharing false news as well? That’s what I feel is happening here. The most popular picture being shared of the meeting is a split second chance photo right before Trudeau gladly went out to shake Trump’s hand, made to be funny and have their audience know something that isn’t true. Getting news off of social media is normal and even getting it from memes is okay too, but we should all want to know the truth behind an image. PROTEST AT JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERATIONAL AIRPORT BY A picture of the two talking at podiums with RHODODENDRITES (CC BY-SA) a caption explaining what they’re talking about A protest in New York City against Donald Trump’s executive might not be funny, but it’s more important than order signed in January 2017 banning citizens of seven countries any meme will be. We can all laugh and share, from traveling to the United States (the executive order is also but digging deeper and knowing the actual issue known as “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into allows us to be aware of what’s going on. the United States”).
The Women’s March held on Jan. 21, a day after the inauguration, drew crowds of millions from all around the world. People have not stopped talking about it. Some may say that protesters are not giving the new president a fair chance but to completely disregard the dangerous lessons of history is foolish. Whether it be staying home from school on the Day Without Immigrants or screaming at the top of your lungs downtown at a rally, protests are meant to be inconvenient. There’s really no such thing as a “peaceful protest.” Rarely is a protest really about people sitting around, holding each other’s hands, and singing “Kumbaya.” At the same time, that doesn’t mean they are organized for the sake of angering people or for causing violence. Protests are about fighting for justice, whether that is convenient for the masses or not. It’s one thing to be unhappy with a president due to a few beliefs not aligning with one another, but it becomes a completely different situation when people begin to live in fear of him. People put their lives in danger attending protests. A lot of tension has risen in the past couple of months between protesters and police. Because of this tension, some tend to see protesters as troublemakers and inciters of violence. But vandalism and violence are never the answer, and resorting to those acts is counterproductive. Still, people will protest. And others will want the protests to be peaceful and out of their way. It is tough to balance these two desires, but it is not tough to determine where the First Amendment stands on the issue.
4
Features
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
THE PAIN OF REMEMBERING...
PHOTO BY ESTEFANY NUNEZ
These are the memories locked away: the bullet holes, the blood, the tears. Memories too painful to bring to the surface. The wounds of trauma are slow to heal and more easily ignored than dealt with. But just as any physical wound, when ignored, these emotional wounds fester and worsen. Students dealing with trauma can become distracted and feel overwhelmed, and trying to heal can be a painful soul-purging process. The scars of trauma are permanent markers of growth and strength on the heart and mind. The process is taxing, but it’s necessary for the well being of victims, perpetrators and the families of both.
Drive-by leaves void in family
LouisFuentez
He remembers hearing nonstop buzzing on his phone. He saw it was his mom and answered the phone. The news he gets is not what he or anyone was hoping for. “Why?” was all he thought about. How come it had to happen to someone that meant so much to him? As the day passed, he looked at no one. With his hood covering his eyes, he barely uttered a word. Taking a glance at senior Garonn Wilbon, you see a guy who is not very talkative but still will be interacting with friends most times. But on the day of Nov. 21, 2015, his outlook on life changed when tragedy hit his family. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I sat there thinking, this can’t be true, we’re going to the mall later today.” In the early morning of that day Wilbon’s older brother Gilbert was killed in a gang-related homicide. It was a shock to most in his family and it was tough blow to Wilbon as well. This happened during Thanksgiving break of last school year, which made the holiday a troubled one. There was one empty chair where a funny and outgoing person should have been. “It hurt so much that I really could not say anything and I kept to myself,” Wilbon said. “What made it real was when my mom called crying because really it was her stepson.”
‘Fight-or-flight’ leads to close call AngelVasquez
PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ Garonn Wilbon, to this day, makes sure to keep the memory of his brother alive by commemorating him with a custom made sweater. Healthy Start coordinator Judy Rauzi leads a group that helps teens deal with losses to their family. That group meets on campus Thursdays. “It’s not healthy to put something that big away and cause emotional stress to the person,” she said. Although Wilbon has avoided any kind of therapy sessions in the 15 months since the incident, he insists that he rarely loses his cool or even shows an emotion besides laughter. He feels constant heartache, but he continues to strive to do his best for his nephew and his family. He looks at his nephew who now is five and sees a very similar to his lost brother and it gives him even the more reason to continue to do his best. “Honestly what really brought me to peace was football and continuing to play for him because he would never want me to quit,” he said. “I do it for his son too because I want him to see there is someone he can look up to.” Wilbon feels that people never really get over of losing a family member because the memory of them will always be present.
Their hearts pounded against their chest while they desperately looked for a place to hide to stay alive. Ears rang from the echoing gunshots, and adrenaline pumped through their veins. For Peter (name changed to protect his safety), this frightening experience has been vividly embedded into his mind for the past two years. Peter recalls that evening two years ago walking to the store. He was 13 and his brother was 11 when a small group of men started shouting at them. Understandably, this already was enough to strike fear deep within the two young boys, but when the group started to approach Peter and his brother, he felt as if his blood ran cold — he was petrified. “Immediately, my fightor-flight kicked in,” Peter said. “Unfortunately, I picked fight.” Peter claimed to have felt like he needed to protect his younger brother, even if it meant fighting the group to the best of his ability and risking his own life. But what he did not know was that a few members of the group were carrying guns. As Peter and the group of men began to engage in a verbal confrontation, some members started to flash their guns. Knowing that he could not
“
Now, when walking down the street, Peter can’t help but look over his shoulder, or flinch at people yelling. He walks in a hurry to get home, afraid of what might happen when he’s alone.
protect his brother from the fatal weapon, he decided to run. “All I could think about was keeping my brother safe,” Peter said. The pair started running as fast as they could, and all was well until they heard the deafening sound of gunshots being fired. Without a second thought, Peter took cover behind a nearby car, holding his brother close to him in an attempt to protect him from any stray bullets. “As my heartbeat got faster, time seemed to slow down,” Peter said. “I thought I was going to die.” Shaking with his brother in his arms, still hiding behind the car, Peter could hear the loud voices of the men, and the scraping of their feet on the cement
as they looked for Peter and his brother. As time passed by, daylight started to fade, and Peter knew he had to get home as soon as he possibly could. He calmed himself down as to the best of his ability, and waited for the right moment to run. “Now that I look back at it, I don’t know why I didn’t call the police,” Peter said with a laugh. “But I guess I can’t go back in time and change it.” Peter waited until he was sure that none of the guys were around, then he gripped his brother’s hand and ran home. As he recalls this incident from two years ago, he says he would have changed many things that happened that day if he was able to. Ultimately, though, he is happy he and his brother left the situation physically unscathed, but unfortunately they were mentally traumatized. “If it weren’t for my brother being there, I probably wouldn’t have ran,” Peter said. “In a way, it’s a mix of good and bad that he was there with me.” Now, when walking down the street, Peter can not help but look over his shoulder, or flinch at people yelling. He walks in a hurry to get home, afraid of what might happen when he’s alone. “It’s just not the same,” Peter said. “That experience left me shaken, and a bit traumatized.”
The Stagg Line
5
03.03.17
Trauma Center provides aid to victims SaraAbdeltawab
Wishing he would’ve died, he did not want to wake up and face reality. But he did wake up. He even remembers the doctor telling him he was lucky to make it out alive. Founder of Fathers and Families Sammy Nunez says he doesn’t want what happened to him to happen to others without having someone to turn to. “Being shot in the neighborhood I lived in was something normal,” Nunez said. “But there wasn’t a trauma center like now that I could go to and talk about what happened.” With the amount of violence that goes on around certain communities not everyone can sit down and talk about how they’re feeling or how the trauma is affecting them throughout their daily life, but that’s what the Trauma Recovery Center is for. Father’s and Families is located a block west of the bus station downtown. Most of the workers at the TRC have either experienced trauma in their life, been incarcerated or both. Their goal is to show the youth, adults, and elders as well that juvenile hall and/or prison is not a fun place as well as showing them there are licensed clinicians who will sit down and talk about what’s affecting them in their life. Within the Fathers and Families program TRC offers therapy for free for women, children, and men who have been through some kind of trauma in their life such as gun violence, homicide, and domestic violence. Not only does Fathers and Families have the TRC program, but the organization helps clients with food, housing and clothing. These programs they offer help with the healing process that their clients, who have been through traumatic events or live in harsh environments, experience under their care. “If you don’t have food, shelter, and clothing how are you supposed to heal?” program assistant Missy Rae Magdalera said. A lot of their services are free, unlike other
sightings that will charge big money for clients to talk about their problems. Tashante McCoy, a case manager, says there are times when people who have gone through trauma are rejected at other therapy sightings or can’t afford them, but at TRC everyone is welcome. Not only is it their goal to help people heal, but Raymond Aguilar, one of the workers at Fathers and Families, says they want to be more engaged in Stockton Unified schools to prevent violence and keep more students in school and out of prison. Aguilar says just like some of his other coworkers the has been through the incarceration process and knows how bad it could be, which is why the wants to keep their youth away from things like that. “We want the schools to call us instead of the SUSD Police,” Aguilar said. “We want to keep the youth engaged and raise awareness.” Aguilar went on to say that high schools tend to call SUSD police in situations where the police are not very much needed. “They (the schools) need to not call the authorities but call counselors and families as well as Fathers and Families,” Aguilar said. Aguilar said that kids go to school, some are failing, some are getting bullied, and others don’t know what’s being taught half the time because they don’t speak the common language, but no one knows it’s affecting them because no one ever asks. “What does that say about a school if you don’t reach all standards for all kids?” Aguilar said. Fathers and Families also provides an after-school program. For example, if kids want to go in and do their homework or just have someone to open up and talk about things to TRC is there. Aguilar said they want to “push that line and hold space with kids.” He also said he and others at TRC want to go to classes and sports practices, because “that’s where you hear the voices.” As McCoy says, “No matter how hard you think your life is, there’s always a way to get you out of the darkness.”
PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE MATSUMOTO In order to get the community more involved in aiding one another to heal, the Stockton Trauma Recovery Center hosts several events. In honor of Black History Month, an art gallery was held free of charge to the public. People of all ages attended to check out the art created locally. Events like these are often held at their location downtown or all over the city.
Loss of Near-death experience brother leaves permanent mark motivates MarkWalding
MariaCastillo
Remembering one’s childhood can either bring smiles to our faces or tears to our eyes. For Barbara (name changed to protect her safety), remembering her childhood is bittersweet. “My childhood ended early. I started realizing that I was surrounded by drugs and gang violence when I was about 4,” Barbara said. Although there are times about which she wouldn’t want to reminisce, Barbara said, “It made me who I am. It made me stronger.” Throughout her life she has been more concerned about her brothers than herself. Barbara remembers playing basketball and four square outside with her neighborhood friends, and suddenly hearing gunshots at the corner. At that moment two of her brothers ran out of their house and a car began to come towards them. Her brothers expected their arrival, but didn’t think it’d happen so soon. Panic broke out and everyone ran inside the house, except for her brothers. They stayed out so they could shoot back at the people in the car, to defend their family and themselves. Barbara’s older sister tried to keep the kids calm while reminding them to duck for safety. Barbara vividly remembers the fear that filled up her friends’ faces, “It sounds weird but I was never really scared. I was mainly worried about my brothers being okay.” She remembers her older sister demanding her to duck, but Barbara couldn’t help but keep peeking through the window trying to catch a glimpse of her brothers, so her sister pushed her down for Barbara’s own safety. Even though Barbara’s brothers were about 8 to 10 years apart from her, she saw them as father figures. Her brothers would teach her to learn from
their mistakes, and right from wrong. “Even though they did a lot of wrong, they taught me to do right.” Nov. 25, 2013, seemed like an ordinary day to 12 year old Barbara, never expecting that it would be the day she lost not only one of her best friends but her 16 year old brother whom she had a closest bond with. It was a nice start to the day hanging out with her brother and close family friends. They were at his friend’s house watching TV having a good time. Her brother was called outside by a friend to go do some business. Suddenly a gunshot was heard. Barbara sprinted out the door, her heart pounding, pushing others out of her way. Trembling head to toe, she came to a sight no one wants to see — her brother lying in his blood, dead. “I was in so much shock I couldn’t even cry. I couldn’t believe it.” It started sinking in when she saw her brother’s body being put in a bag. That’s when Barbara’s world came crumbling down, realizing her brother was gone. “He was the one who knew everything about me. Since he was the youngest of my brothers it was easier for him to relate to me,” Barbara said, “When he died it was like my breaking point.” She had trouble going a day without having the agony of “what’s going to happen next?” Barbara said, “It got to a point where I would be so scared to walk out my house. But mostly I feared for my other brothers. Just last summer I started realizing that my situation has made me a stronger person.” Barabara used to think that if no one else was doing better why should she. After her brother’s death she got motivated to be a better person, improve in her school work, and to improve her attendance because she used to ditch quite often.
Firework or gunshots? This thought was running through young Desjmond Grays’ head on July 2, 2012. He was taking a shower when he first heard what sounded like a gun. The first thing that went through his mind was the safety of his brother and pregnant mother. He was stuck in the bathtub and wanted to make sure they were both safe. A gang-related fight had started right outside his house that soon escalated into something much worse. The bullets first hit the front door as well as the side of the house. After the first shots were fired, Grays left the safety of the bathtub to find out if anyone was hit, but before he could leave the bathroom his mother screamed for him to stay inside. Before he could even shut the door another round of firing had started. This time the bullets went through windows hitting multiple objects in the house. Fearing for the safety of his mother and brother, Grays yelled out to see if they were okay.
The family photo above his mother’s head was hit and shattered. His mother, now fearing for their lives more than ever, rushed herself and Grays’ younger brother into the bathroom. As the gunshots continued, the screaming from his younger brother only got louder. Being older Grays could only think to comfort his younger brother, but it was hard for him to do that since he was in shock himself. After the gunshots stopped, his mother left the safety of the bathroom to make sure it was over. Grays followed her only to see the devastating aftermath of what had just happened. His mother dropped to her knees in pain seeing the priceless photos of family and her fine china broken and ruined pieces all over the floor, items that could not be replaced. This incident affected Grays in ways that not even he could have thought. Within the month Grays and his family moved out of the neighborhood out of fear that what just happened might happen again. It hurt Grays and his mother the
most, Grays having to move to a new school right after just starting to make friends and his mother having to leave the house she grew up in and loved so much. Weeks later Grays started to have nightmares about the shooting. “Every time I heard gunfire or fireworks while I was in the house I started to have panic attacks and flashbacks of when I was stuck in the bathroom,” Grays, now a sophomore, said. Grays went months keeping it in, not wanting to tell anybody, scared that someone would make fun of him. He finally reached out to a school teacher to ask about what he should do about the nightmares. Grays continued to talk to his teacher once a week, and after about a month the nightmares stopped and Grays began to feel like his old self again. The healing process for such trauma is not easy but extremely necessary to ensure the health of those affected.
“
Every time I heard gunfire or fireworks while I was in the house I started to have panic attacks and flashbacks of when I was stuck in the bathroom.” Desjmond Grays Sophomore
PHOTO BY MARK WALDING
6
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Entertainment
The Stagg Line
03.03.17
‘The Sun is Also a Star’ brings light to controversial topics in society Dream Ice Cream serves up new creations EstefanyNunez
Upon sitting down and reading the first few pages of this novel at the bookstore, I knew this experience was going to be special. I mean, the cover alone is gorgeous. It’s made out of a real string art. In a section where young adult books usually consist of cheesy love stories filled with vampires, werewolves and dystopian worlds, “The Sun is Also a Star” stands out. Unlike the other books, it feels like a crime to simply label TSAAS as just a romance when it offers so much more. Up until TSAAS, I didn’t know it was possible to experience butterflies when reading a book. Nicola Yoon depicts the story of Natasha Kingsley and Daniel Bae who are both having a hell of a day. Natasha, for one, is attempting to not have her family deported back to Jamaica in a matter of hours. Meanwhile, Daniel is being highly pressured by his Korean family to not fail his interview with a college he’s not so sure he wants to attend. They meet and embark on a New York City adventure. The catch? They’re polar opposites. Natasha prefers the stone cold facts and science and not getting her hopes up. Daniel, on the other hand, is an aspiring poet, a dreamer and a believer of a love at first sight. In addition to the story being told from the perspectives of the two protagonists, it also splits into the other random perspectives. One chapter could be dedicated to an excerpt on the origin of a Jamaican phrase and then go to the security guard’s point of view and then to Daniel’s brother. While this could have been overwhelming, it actually is endearing. The different narratives somehow have a connection one way or another and allow readers to understand the concept of not knowing what everyone is going through. That was brilliant. Yoon has a sweet and simple writing style, but she’s incredibly talented. The characters’ dynamic is beautifully written. These two characters contrast each other so much to the point that they complement each other in incredible ways. One has to wonder about how this is so brilliantly put together in less than 400 pages. I was able to finish this book in one sitting. The majority of the book is set in the span of a couple of hours in New York so it is fast-paced. TSAAS has plenty of romantic scenes that can lead the readers to swoon, but it does not shy away from some harsh reality. Of course, there are some scenes that can cause an eye roll but it is adolescent love so it’s inevitable. This book offers insight on immigration, racial prejudice, mental health, grief and betrayal. It’s refreshing to have the opportunity to read about real life, diverse people in a young adult book. I, for one, am completely for this new wave of diverse books sharing our stories. Yes, one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but one should also know that Nicola Yoon doesn’t disappoint.
during wave of chilled desserts popularity
PhillicityUriarte-Jones
The past year has featured a sudden surge in the amount of restaurants in Stockton. With the opening of Rita’s and House of Ice Cream, establishments that specialize in the frozen treat have made a name for themselves, and the attention decorative ice cream based treats have gained on social media has aided in their popularity. While these tasty treats typically gain traction as the temperature rises, Dream Ice Cream, tucked away in a shopping center on West Lane, opened Jan. 21. Despite the unconventional grand opening date, Dream has been successful due to the type of marketing they utilized. Most of it was done on social media, PHOTO BY ALBERTO VALENCIA through locals with high follower counts or prominent memAt Dream Ice Cream Parlor, they offer a variety of sweet treats, such as an “Iceberg,” seen in the bers of the community posting middle, and a “Puffle,” seen in the background. The store is located at 5052 N. West Lane and is pictures of attractive ice creams, open from 12-10:30 pm every day of the week. commonly “puffles” (an egg puff would be. wrapped around a scoop of ice The inside of the building complements the colorful ice creams cream with two toppings of the customer’s choice). with light blues and an airy feel, the experience accented with a For those that are looking to share, an “iceberg” is recommendsprinkle of laughter. Customers commonly play the available board ed (a thick cut of honey butter brick toast) to accompany their games while enjoying their ice scoops of ice cream. Though they still do offer the typical scoops of cream, Jenga and Uno being the ice cream with optional cones and so on, these uncommon options most popular. Seating options add something special to a typical treat. The ice cream industry is are spaced nicely with tables always looking for new ways to “spice up” an old product, so this lining the left wall, with a smallStockton original ice cream parlor is bound to be successful. They er, more intimate seating area hit marks other places may not think to even brush against, as well near the front to the right. The as hit the same audience that is interested in the various boba places atmosphere is pleasant, providin Stockton. The ice cream itself is all that one would hope it to be. No com- ing a warmth that makes eating ice cream in the cold months of plaints of it being too frozen or the flavors being lackluster. While their selection is not as extensive as the 31 flavors of Baskin Robbins, winter not only bearable, but comfortable. there are quite a few appealing or unconventional flavors one would Customer service is wondernot expect at other ice cream parlors. As well as typical flavors such as Cookies and Creme and Straw- ful. Those behind the counter will happily help you choose an berry, there is Thai tea, Ube, and Green Tea ice cream, all of which order that fits you, willingly ofadd a welcome deviation from what is expected. The Asian flare is prominent and appreciated, with flavors and options one would not fering samples and offering their opinions when asked. find, or expect, elsewhere. Though the location is a bit However, unlike the typical grievances consumers have of the north, it is definitely worth the advertised product being dissimilar to the real thing, the ice creams drive. offered look just as colorful and fun as the pictures implied they
Check out staggonline.net for a video about Dream Ice Cream.
‘24: Legacy’ full of thrills, action despite ill-timed stereotypes
AngelVasquez
Despite being a romance novel, issues like racial stereotypes, immigration and skepticism are successfully tackled. Its ability to intertwine all these subjects into one book makes its originality even more special.
“24: Legacy” has all the right makings for a classic action show: a heroic main character who won’t let anything get in the way of achieving justice, a hunt for a mole within the counter terrorist unit, a secondary character to provide comedic relief, an abundance of action-packed scenes and an intriguing plot to keep the viewers invested. The hero is Eric Carter (played by Corey Hawkins), who led a squad of Rangers who killed the terrorist Bin-Khalid in a mission to prevent an attack on the United States. For the safety of Eric and the other Rangers, their identities were changed, and they were given jobs. Soon, Eric discovers that everyone but he and fellow squad member Ben Grimes (Charlie Hofheimer), has been tracked down and killed. As the show progresses, the viewers discover that the men are less interested in getting revenge and killing the squad of Rangers but rather retrieving something that was supposedly taken during the Bin-Khalid raid. The unique format of “24” is each episode is supposed to represent real time. One thing,
SOURCE: IMDB though, that seems to be missing in comparison to the original “24” is the use of torture to get information. Do not get me wrong, the show is still quite action-packed and there are some intense scenes, but it would still be nice to have the occasional gruesome scene to keep me on edge. With all of these elements and a strong plot to add, “24: Legacy” seems like it would be a hit, but unfortunately, it is a miss. It is not necessarily the plot or the actors, but rather the timing of the show’s premiere. Due to the recent events in our
country relating to Muslims and Islamic people, I could not help but watch the show with critical eyes as I began to notice that the majority of the antagonists were Muslim. Unfortunately, the show’s stereotypes did not end there. The other surviving Ranger, Ben Grimes, is portrayed as a homeless veteran with a bad case of post traumatic stress disorder. Instead of taking the time to build up his character and provide insight as to how he got PTSD, he is immediately painted as a corrupt bad guy to the viewers. The hero Eric Car-
ter, who is black, has an older brother who is a gang leader, who sells and runs drugs and guns in the city. The show tends to have a lot of stereotypes with its characters, something I hope the writers did not intend. Despite these faults, the show is not all that bad. “24: Legacy” still has a gripping tension and eye catching action scenes that go along with the ticking 24 hour clock and splitscreen transitions as the show runs in real time. There is the classic mole hunt that keeps not only the agents on edge, but also the viewers. Even the political plot that was woven into the story keeps viewer’s attention. There is a nice feminist update in comparison to the last original “24.” As Rebecca Ingram (Miranda Otto), struggles with her promise to step down from head of CTU to aid her husband, John Donovan (Jimmy Smits), to campaign for President of the United States, I became invested in what was going to happen next with her dilemma. “24: Legacy” is a good show, and not a cliched action show like I assumed it would be. It could be better, but unfortunately it is premiering at a time that is not so great.
03.03.17
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
Sports
Actions speak louder
Girls basketball finishes season with 0-10 record, but players are proud of what they accomplished
MatteoDanforth
On their senior night, the girls varsity basketball team played a highly contested game against Chavez until the final buzzer sounded. Final score: 4832. The players didn’t bother looking at the yellow LEDs of the scoreboard to tell them they lost. They knew they had fought hard for every shot, every rebound, every fastbreak. They weren’t fazed by the Chavez team who cheered “playoffs” as they left the gym. The girls closed out their season not dwelling on their 0-10 league record but admiring each other’s undying effort. “That’s what matters,” senior Janet Jones said. “If we give it everything we got, we have nothing to be ashamed of.” At the beginning of the season, each player entered into this unspoken pact. Instead of letting the fear of failure consume them, they recited this mantra to themselves. As the season tipped off, senior Julieana Nincioni knew it would be grueling. “Coach was building a new, young team,” she explained. Not only were the girls learning new plays but they were adapting to an entirely different way of playing basketball. Coach Shannon Markley wanted to form offensive and defensive play around a “read and react” style rather than grooming players for positions. Those that couldn’t adjust quit, but the rest stayed open minded. “I trust my coach,” senior Jessica Chavarin said. “The new play style allowed more people a chance to shine.” Yet after the first few losses, the degrading comments devastated players like senior Adreanna Tei. She recalled how emotional she was the night after a loss as the hurtful words tormented her. “I tried to let my effort keep my mind off the losses,” the senior said. Tei knew that after playing for six years, she couldn’t allow the thoughts of others keep her from the sport she loves. In those moments of overwhelming doubt, when she thought she couldn’t make it down court or couldn’t make a shot, Tei thought
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The Stagg Line
Playing soccer strengthens brotherly bond AmberlyButler
Growing up as cousins in a latino community all they knew was soccer. How to play it, every little detail that came with it, as well as the rules. Little did they know that as they grew older soccer would turn into more than just a family tradition. Being on the field together daily is what inspired cousins Juan Raya, Francisco Raya, and Demetrio Delgado to retire their careers as student athletes during their senior year. They dedicated themselves to trying their hardest to make their last high school season a good one. Soccer was a sport that both Francisco and Juan’s parents played when they were students in high school, so they agreed to put the boys into a soccer league when they were young. “Soccer was in our blood. It wasn’t just a sport, it was like a religion,” senior Juan Raya said. They grew up playing in the same league, but not always the same team. All three went to different high schools so, unlike previous years, they no longer practiced together. It wasn’t until recently that Juan and Francisco came to Stagg and joined Demetrio on the soccer team. To Juan this was “perfect, considering that we are all seniors, and we were able to sort of finish off our seasons together.” They play different positions on the field. Demetrio is goalie, Juan plays defender and Francisco plays midfield. Though the positions are completely different, they still find ways to work with each other, motivating and pushing one another to reach their potential. With the help of their teammates, they were able to make their last year a great one. The team finished 6-0-4 in league and was able to make it to playoffs against Napa High. Though they lost to Napa, it was still a great fight, and they were still able to take first place in the SJAA. Junior Felix Molina recognized Francisco as a strong player individually, saying “he is underestimated by opponents because of his size, but in the same way he demonstrates that looks can be deceiving.” According to junior David Zermeno,“they take on this leadership role, not only do they motivate and help each other but they push the whole team.” The three cousins set the bars high for each other and their teammates, to keep them striving for bigger and better goals. Juan is the only one of the three that will be continuing his career after he graduates.
PHOTO BY STEPHANIE JIMENEZ Junior Montserrat Reteguin, junior Phyllis Strother, and senior Kochia Anderson sit anxiously on the bench cheering on their team during the final league game against Chavez. Stagg lost, 48-32. of her father sick at home. “I knew in my mind he was there,” the senior said. “He was my motivation to stay on that court.” The girls team maintained this shared motivation throughout the season. Jones, or “mama bear” as she’s known for her words of encouragement, enforced the idea of always finishing strong. “Even if we knew going in we didn’t have a chance,” Jones said, “we’re going to fight.”
Chavarin’s dedication to her teammates fueled her motivation. “If I didn’t give it everything I had, I felt like I let them down,” she said. Chavarin hoped that her own determination and positivity in failure inspired her team to push through. On that last night, junior Aliyaah Wilson-Mercado was “hoping for a win for the seniors. I was frustrated because people don’t know the story behind (our games).” However, Wilson-Mercado was reassured by the fulfill-
ment being on the team offered. But there is a unanimous feeling on the team that their effort goes unrecognized, that the losses trump the hours of dedication they each put in. “They (other people) aren’t on the court or at our practices,” Nincioni said. “They don’t see how hard we work to make our school proud.” Instead of a game lost, they see a learning experience gained. “After each defeat,” Nincioni said, “ we knew we overcame and accomplished something.”
PHOTO BY AMBERLY BUTLER Seniors Francisco Garcia, Demetrio Delgato, and Juan Raya warm up together during their last practice of the season, in which as a team they went to playoffs but lost against Napa High School.
Lopez persists through team adversity MariaCastillo
ART BY AMBERLY BUTLER
Most relationships can be rocky. Communication could be a struggle, and lack of participation could lead to people just wanting to give up. As for Paula Lopez’s relationship with her soccer teammates, it has been very rocky. Nevertheless, she is not about to give up on it keeping their relationship close. Growing up she used to see soccer as just something to do with family, not necessarily something she’d see herself competing in. She remembers getting down and dirty with her cousins, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the grass stains on her jeans. Soccer became a way of life for Lopez, now a sophomore. When she was in middle school, she knew she would be playing for the high school soccer team. Knowing she had a love for the sport, she wanted to feel what it would be like to be on a structured and successful team. To her disappointment, her first year of soccer was not what she wished it would have been.
“Everyone (her teammates) wanted to do whatever they wanted to do. They didn’t play as a team.” Lopez noticed how some of her teammates would unfortunately bring drama onto the field. “Everyone would get frustrated with each other,” Lopez said, “stopping us from playing the game to our full potential.”
“
I couldn’t just leave my team. I had to be with them win or lose.” PaulaLopez Sophomore
The constant drama caused them to not want to cooperate with the other team members, as she saw it. Greed would get in the way of them passing the ball to each other, which would keep the whole team from excelling. Lopez said, “Some girls didn’t understand that it doesn’t matter who makes the goal. The point is for all the team.” She found herself getting sucked into the negativity. Lopez said, “Since no one else wanted to do their job, I started feeling discouraged to do mine.” Despite the conflicts in the team last year, Lo-
pez decided to join the team again this season. “It was a lot better than last season because we learned to keep our differences off the field,” Lopez said. “My teammates and I knew that we didn’t have to be friends outside the team, but once we’re on the field we’re going to play as what we are. A team.” Even though the drama among the girls this season was not a problem, the team had trouble winning. The team completed their season 2-8 in league. Frustrated, Lopez began to lose hope in her team. Becoming upset at the fact that the team had almost no triumphs this season, Lopez had thoughts about quitting her team, but she started thinking about how she would feel if she really did decide to leave the team. Communication is what improved the team this year, according to Lopez. “Things were different last year. We didn’t really communicate out on the field,” she said. To Lopez, communication as far as who is going for the ball is key. Lopez says every time she steps onto the field she could feel the adrenaline rush through her. Although her first few years of soccer haven’t been successful her interest in soccer still has not left. She continues to support her team regardless of the circumstances, as well as continuing to have a love for the sport. “I couldn’t just leave my team. I had to be with them win or lose.”
News Campus hopes to add restorative justice 8
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
JeffersonLeiva A headline on the Stockton Unified School District’s website reads “Restorative Justice Improving School Climates.” According to the district, several “comprehensive high schools have reported success with restorative justice in the past three years.” The district highlights Harrison Elementary school, which saw a 70 percent decrease in suspensions upon implementing the mindset of restorative justice practices when regarding disciplinary actions. Harrison Principal Dan Wright, along with Assistant Principal Dana Warford jumpstarted their restorative justice program five years ago when they observed 207 suspensions. Last year, that number dropped to 40. “The whole goal there is to get the kids talking about the issues in the classroom,” Wright said. “If you get them caring about each other, then getting them to that point where they can problem-solve the issues gets a lot easier.” Stagg hopes to follow in the footsteps of schools like Harrison, but Assistant Principal Felicia Bailey-Carr points out that “in a elementary school, you have control over the whole day. In high school we have different time demands and time constraints.” Warford stressed that to change the school climate, ad-
03.03.17
The Stagg Line
“
PLUS examines students’ well-being
I love the whole philosophy, the approach.”
PLUS conducts a monthly survey to get a feel of the school’s current climate. They hold small forums to resolve some of the issues highlighted on these surveys and to give recommendations to the administration. These results come from the forum held Jan. 25. Of the 26
14 feel they
students surveyed ... 1 reported having been bullied on cam-
FeliciaBailey-Carr Assistant Principal
pus in the past 30 days.
have friends their age that care about them.
46.2%
1 reported to have stayed home in the
past 30 days because they felt unsafe on campus or on their way to school.
1 reported to believe there are tesions
53.8%
between different cultures, races, or ethnicities.
Yes Responses No Responses
11.5%
23 feel they
4 reported to have been made fun of by a teacher in the past 30 days.
5 reported that they do not participate in
have teachers or an adult that care about them.
activities on campus becasue they do not have anyone to go with. 88.5%
ministration and teachers need to change their approach. “We are de-escalating situations,” she said. “Asking what’s going on, are you having any problem, is there any way we can help is making a significant impact.” Wright also notes that “when a kid is misbehaving, the question to ask is not ‘what’s wrong with you?’ but ‘are you okay?’”
GRAPHIC BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ With a bigger campus, large diverse communities and a wider range of social circles, “we don’t have that model,” Carr said. “We haven’t had time to find that high school model and say, that is my North Star.” The PLUS program here, while it doesn’t directly influence restorative justice measures, does aim to improve the general cli-
mate of the campus. PLUS students can be found drawing inspirational quotes on the hallway windows. Or perhaps at a forum, passing out surveys, taking the temperature of the school’s climate. “We are writing simple messages that come from the heart,” said PLUS student Andrew Calderon, a senior. “We are trying to
get the message through that this is a safe place to talk to your students, your peers.” Calderon acknowledges that while training PLUS students to become future conflict mediators will occur later this year, they are primarily focused on bridging the gap between students and the administration. Stagg’s Healthy Start also offers a peer to peer counseling program, conflict mediation. Healthy Start Coordinator Judy Rauzi agrees that conflict mediation “deters (students) from getting suspended.... It allows them to have a conversation.” Rauzi expressed her concern of the lack of funding to train mediators. “Last year we had roughly 20 conflict mediators,” Rauzi said. “This year, I grabbed two of my best T.A’s who had been trained for conflict mediation.” This year conflict mediation is only offered during third period. PLUS adviser Mary Stoner is
GSA travels to promote pride, learn
planning to train her students to become conflict mediators. PLUS has also been conducting surveys to get a sense of how students feel. Earlier this year almost everyone on campus took an anonymous survey. With 1,142 responses, PLUS had to categorize and archive this data to see how student feelings regarding their school shifted. Calderon notes that during the past few surveys, students have come forth, admitting using of marijuana. “Two issues that have recently affected students according to the surveys are the election and the legalization of marijuana,” Calderon said. Carr remains hopeful that Stagg may see a restorative justice mindset in the future. “I love the whole philosophy, the approach,” Carr said. “But we just have to figure out the logistics of when and how to get the body in and where to start.”
Music classes combine next week for largest choir concert
StephanieJimenez
LeslieCoronado
Members of Gay Straight Alliance Clubs all over the county stood united despite contrasting backgrounds, beliefs and sexualities as part of a daylong field trip to San Francisco on Feb. 11. Once all GSA schools were gathered at Buena Vista Park, everyone participated in the “A Great Wind Blows To” activity. By sharing similarities and accepting differences, the activity works to unite, a key moment in this trip. Among the chaperones there was Lange Luntao, a teacher from Langston Hughes and member of the school board. Luntao discussed the importance of having a GSA Club in every high school with the group. “My first GSA meeting was 10 years ago, my junior year in Lincoln High School. I was scared to walk into the room, I wasn’t ready to acknowledge who I was,” he said. Luntao is the first openly gay member of the Stockton Unified School District school board. To Luntao, having a GSA Club allows students to find out who they truly are. “Students learn from each other and support each other,” he said. Students were provided lunch before heading to the GLBT History Museum. Schools like Sierra, Edison, Lincoln, Stockton Collegiate, Langston Hughes, McNair and ABLE Charter were all gathered at the museum to hear Bill Lipsky speak about significant figures that were part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning community. “Knowing our history makes us understand
The idea of a 300 student choir concert had come from the fact that the music program has the largest amount of singers in all of San Joaquin County. Planning for the concert has been in motion since October, when Joseph Updegraff, band director, and Mark Swope, choir teacher, began discussing whether the gym was available. “I was standing in front of my third period where classes were combined and I said, ‘Look at how many singers we have here, there’s like 90 here in the classroom, just in the classroom,’” Swope said. “Then I thought, ‘What if we had the rest of the singers together, wouldn’t that be just amazing?’” They started by picking everyday music that students would sing in class. Updegraff and Swope would merge their classes to practice those songs, focusing on tone quality, and memorizing lyrics verbatim instead of reading the music. The students have practiced everyday. “They all know the same songs, so just sharpen them up and we could have the most dynamic group ever right here in Stockton,” Swope said. However, the students that are participating have not practiced together as a whole. They have only gotten the chance to practice with the other coinciding classes during their music period. The only time the group of 300 will practice together will be Tuesday at 4:00 p.m., three hours before the concert. Still, the teachers remain optimistic with the progress of the event, with Swope believing “it’s going to come together really well.” To publicize the event, the music teachers have been contacting radio stations, like KWIN and KJOY, to broadcast public service announcements. The two teachers have also been advertising through the Stockton’s Children Home. Not only will the orphanage benefit from the advertising, but all of the profit gained from the concert will go to the Stockton Children’s Home. The concert itself will go from 7-8 p.m., featuring 13 songs, including a solo by Josh Hughes who will be performing a cover of “Space Oddity” by David Bowie.
PHOTO BY JEFFERSON LEIVA Sophomore Alustra Dominguez-Meyer (left) and Tracy West High freshman Lukas Whipples (right) both participate in Gay Straight Alliance clubs at their schools. They made the trip to San Francisco to meet up with other GSA members and hear how they deal with LGBTQ+ issues.
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Going to the museum gives us an opportunity to learn how bad people struggled with being themselves.” AlustraDominguez-Meyer Sophomore
who we are,” Lipsky said. “Going to the museum gives us an opportunity to learn how bad people struggled with being themselves,” sophomore and second-year member Alustra Dominguez-Meyer said. Like many other GSA members, the sophomore feels that schools have benefited from the club’s presence. “School becomes a more accepting place, for students like myself,” Dominguez-Meyer said. Meyer, an active member who constantly interacts with the Stockton Pride Center, said the trip was like a reward for the students. “Students are work-
ing hard in the community and making school a better place,” she said. The group was able to shop on Haight Street, which allowed the multiple schools present to mingle and interact. “We’re all part of a GSA so it gives us something to talk about,” Dominguez-Meyer said. Not all high schools offer the support and mentorship a GSA Club provides. Because of that matter, Dominguez-Meyer is thankful that there’s one on campus. “Students should know they’re accepted regardless of their sexuality.” Senior and first-year member Gilbert Palacio joined GSA Club to broaden his views. “Being born in San Francisco and being exposed to the gay culture expanded my knowledge,” Palacio said. To senior and second-year member Julia Hernandez the trip will always be memorable. “Walking the streets of San Francisco made me realize that if you’re gay it’s okay.” GSA Club meets weekly on Thursday in B-3.
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PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE JIMENEZ Choir teacher Mark Swope conducts for his students. He constantly demands more energy and enthusiasm will maintain a beautiful tone.