Stagg Line
Home of the Delta Kings
Amos Alonzo Stagg High School
1621 Brookside Rd
Stockton, CA 95207
Volume 62 Issue 3
11.09.18
Teens remain unaware of the harmful effects of alternative smoking products Donavin COLLINS & Nicholas ROSETE
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ONTHS AGO, VIDEOS FLAUNTING vaping skills would have made someone a loser on social media. Now, it seems as if every classroom has a couple of vape pens lying around in bags, with some students even showing off their skills when the teacher looks away. With the tables turned, both literally and metaphorically, why has vaping become so popular despite the risks? He clicked the button, inhaled aerosol, then exhaled vapor after taking a hit from his vape pen and said, “Lung cancer is just a longterm effect.” Although knowing the risks vaping holds, the senior can’t find a valid reason to make him quit. “It’s always a good decision to quit, but it just helps me deal with the problems of my life.” Like others who use smoking products, he focuses on his current problems without worrying about the future problems he may face. But vape pens aren’t where it ends for him. He smokes marijuana and uses wax pens, which have also gaining popularity in recent months. While vape pens are usually just played around with, smokers turn to wax pens solely to get high. Although he insists he won’t “turn to hardcore drugs,” many are stumbling upon different substances after introduced to vape pens. Vape pens lead to wax pens, which can lead to smoking marijuana, which can then lead to using other dangerous drugs such as cocaine. It all starts somewhere with drug addiction, and in this current age the gateway is the vape pen. They’re sold in smoke shops, and chances are they’re sold in a class near you. In advance, most sellers post videos all over social media advertising that they have vaping products in stock. One sophomore knows the ropes of selling vape pens all too well. “I started selling vape pens around five months ago.”
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HEADLINE ART BY SERINA SIENG
PHOTO BY ANGEL VASQUEZ
Though it is illegal for minors to partake in vaping, students who do so go under the levee along with people who do other forms of smoking such as waxpens. Despite some of them knowing the risks they still decide to use these substances for personal reasons.
Even if they aren’t meant to be acquired by anyone under 18, he still finds a way to get them in his hands by asking people who are of age to buy them for him. In an average week, he reports selling about three vape pens on Stagg’s campus alone. “People usually just approach me in the hallways and I just pull it out,” he said. Despite how he can be a factor in someone’s addiction, he said he cares for only the profit. “I don’t really care because it’s them who want it in the first place. As long as I get paid, I’ll supply vape pens to anyone.” For those who don’t buy vape pens from in-person suppliers, they purchase them from the web. A senior who uses this method says the age verification steps are easy to bypass online. “When you enter the website, it asks if you’re 18 or older but anyone could lie,” she said. “All you need is a credit card and you’re set to buy as many vape pens as you want.” As easy as that, many students who sell just get their pens online. “Different from most vapers,” as she would say, that same senior decides to use nicotine-free vape pens because they are thought of as harmless and don’t get her high. “When my other friends are getting
I’ve hit my vape pen at least over a hundred times at Stagg alone, whether that’s in a classroom or at lunch. senior
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Holiday celebrates afterlife Delivery service hits the campus Maria CASTILLO
Death is often seen as something negative. However, from Oct. 31 through Nov. 2, El Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), death is
PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
Amy Harrison, first place winner of Best Catrina Costume competition, takes pictures with a young admirer from the audience. The contest consisted of the participants creating their own outfits.
celebrated. These days are to remember those who were special in one’s life and to value the beginning of their second life. People set up an altar with pictures of those who passed along with flowers, pan de muertos (bread of the dead), water to “purify” the souls, and mementos like coffee or a toy. The Mexican Heritage Center puts on the Dia de Los Muertos festival on the weekend of the Day of the Dead. The event is packed with vibrant colors, festive music, zesty foods, diverse art shows, and traditional performances. The Master of Ceremonies Gerardo Serrano said, “Events like these bring people together and it adds spice to the Mexican-American environment.” Not only does this allow the community to unite but it also educates people about the history behind the tradition. The most crucial aspect for this day is La Catrina, or the Dapper Skeleton. La Catrina represents the Mexicans’ willingness to laugh at death. Serrano said, “We embrace death not with sorrow and nostalgia, but with laughter and joy.” “Death is inevitable, so we need to live life to the fullest, but once time is up, there is no point in crying forever,” Serrano said. “We just need to remember our loved ones with happiness.” The “community fiesta” couldn’t be put on without the contribution from all the members of the Mexican Heritage Center. Those who are interested in joining can visit the center and ask for a membership application.
What’s happening? Interested in PLUS? For students interested in being part of the PLUS program next semester, applications are available in room R-16
Deadlines UC and CSU applications need to be submitted by Nov. 30. Seniors applying to various colleges or scholarships should be mindful of all deadlines.
Keep updated at our website staggonline.net — Click on the QR code to get there.
high, my vape pen makes me feel involved with them without making me feel paranoid because of the risks.” However, the Center on Addiction reported that out of 40 e-cigarette refill liquids, there was toxicity found in them regardless of the nicotine content. The other chemicals found inside vape pens, such as flavorings and aerosols, are not safe as they can lead to lung cancer, lung disease, and heart disease. With flavoring still present in nicotine-free vape pens, the risks are also present. When presented with these facts, the nicotine-free user now wants nothing to do with any type of vaping products. “I thought that there was no health risks involved with nicotine-free vape pens,” she said. “I used all of the different flavors, and didn’t even know they made it worse.” From no nicotine to full of nicotine, a different senior finds the concept of vaping not addicting. “Whenever I have my vape pen in my possession, which is usually daily, I use it,” he said. “I’ve hit my vape at least over a hundred times at Stagg alone, whether that’s in a classroom or at lunch.” Even if it seems like he is addicted to vaping, he says otherwise. “It’s not an addiction to me, I just want to enjoy the effects it brings to my body.” However, there have been multiple times when he would quit only to return to vaping.
Angel VASQUEZ
No off campus pass? No problem. This year, it seems students have found a way around not having an off campus pass and still getting their favorite foods. DoorDash, a food delivery service, has made its way onto campus and its popularity has started to rise. DoorDash was first launched in 2013, and since then it has begun to make a steady rise in popularity. In terms of affordability, DoorDash has a delivery fee depending on the distance of the order, each fee ranging from 99 cents to $8. DoorDash also delivers from a wide range of selections, and the app remembers orders that have been placed.
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ART BY JAKE MARCELINO & SERINA SIENG
For senior Junior Engaling, ordering DoorDash is a way for him to satisfy his cravings during school. “I can really just order whatever I want,” Engaling says. “It’s better than eating the food the school gives us.” DoorDash isn’t just used for satisfying student cravings, but it’s also being used as an alternative for not having a car. Senior Averie Blanco said, “Even though I qualify for an off campus pass I don’t have a car, so I can’t really go to that many places.” Blanco said that DoorDash as well as other food delivery services are helpful, and when she uses them she doesn’t have to worry about
being potentially late to her fifth period. One problem that seems to be apparent with DoorDash is the delivery. Students sometimes ask to leave class to get deliveries that come late or get delivered to the office. Senior Hailey Edwards says, “As long as you’re clear about where and when you want your food delivered there shouldn’t be a problem.” Students often avoid confusion by asking for their food to be delivered in the front parking lot during lunch time. “DoorDash really just caters to the customer’s convenience.
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The Stagg Line
EDITORIAL
Opinion
11.09.18
Free press no ‘enemy,’ should be valued
People turn to the press to find representation of their beliefs. People turn to the press to find out what exactly is going on in the world surrounding them. People turn to the press to find the truth. From the voices of people informing their country to the voices of students informing their school, the press has been planted into our society with heavy importance. After all, freedom of the press is enshrined in the First Amendment. Unfortunately, it seems as if some are forgetting, or are even against the values the press maintains. With journalists being killed in different countries, such as Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia, and many looking at press as the enemy of the people, the journalism field is declining. A recent speech from journalist Arthur Sulzberger at University of the Pacific was able to point out the importance of a free press. This declaration is especially
important considering President Donald Trump continues to refer to the press as the people’s enemy. Strong journalists are needed today to prove that journalism isn’t the bad influence that some make it out to be. There needs to be a change in how the press is being treated. Given their role, it would only make sense for journalism to be one of the most respected fields. If there was no journalism industry, people wouldn’t be informed with the news they’ve grown accustomed to hearing. There wouldn’t be any newspapers, any news channels, or any online websites to go. The government and businesses would have all the power to control what news is being put out for the people of the United States. The press is the watchdog for the people. Yes, there’s social media, but most of the time when people retweet claims, they
PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
Pamela A. Eibeck, President of Univeristy of the Pacific, interviews New York Times journalist Arthur Sulzberger Jr. at the DeRosa center. Sulzberger responds to questions about the importance of free press.
turn out to be false. With a society filled with fake news, only more problems will be created. It
would be best if news outlets were given the chance to report true facts without being called liars.
Social media sets unreal Young adults can’t avoid standards for relationships their duty to vote
Niko Rosete
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hese days, it is hard to scroll through Twitter or Instagram without seeing photos and videos showing great displays of affection for one’s significant other. It isn’t out of the ordinary to see people spending hundreds of dollars filling baskets full of gifts and giving it to their boyfriend/ girlfriend. Gone are the days of simply showing your love with your kind, caring words of affection. If it isn’t a “Twitter worthy” gift, you might as well forget about it. Typically, posts such as these will receive hundreds, if not thousands, of reposts and likes. Other users will comment on these posts about how much they want one or how nice it must be to have somebody love you so much that they would go out of their way to do such a thing for them. Some people may go as
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far as to hold their significant other to those same standards. While this is not always the case, it is simply unfair to expect your significant other to meet the expectations that you set for them based on the things you happened to see while scrolling down your timeline. After all, where are teens supposed to get the money to fund such lavish gifts? At Stagg, there are students who can’t afford to buy lunch every day. If someone struggles to provide themselves with basic
doesn’t. If a student at St. Mary’s has a partner who is demanding such gifts, that doesn’t make it okay. No matter how much money someone has, you should not require or even expect them to spend their money on such things to “prove their love” to someone. Love cannot be defined by money. Love is about the way you feel, the way you care, and the way you support your partner. Love has never truly been, or ever will be, about how much money you spend on gifts for them. And this goes beyond just high school relationships. High school relationships are essentially a step that prepares you for marriage. If you are in a high school relationship based on money and materialistic items, someday your marriage will end up the same way. And if you expect you and your partner’s love to survive off of gifts and material things, you are in for a rough time. If your partner decides to surprise you with a random gift here and there, there’s no problem with that. However, don’t allow the things you see on social media to affect the way you look at your own relationship. Just because your partner isn’t spending hundreds of dollars on you does not mean that they love you or care for you any less.
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rom a young age we have been told we are responsible for our future. It will be our generation that will be in charge of things 30 years from now having to live with the significant choices we make. One of these choices is voting. Unfortunately, voting is something millennials seem to disregard and underestimate. People we elect for office can affect our lives ranging from four years to nearly a lifetime. Young people can play a major role in electing the officials that impact our lives. So why aren’t we voting? “My vote doesn’t matter.”
“One vote will not make a difference.” “I don’t know who to vote for.” These are some of the excuses young citizens make when asked why they do not vote. Citizens in the age group 18-29 of the voting population yet they are the least likely to vote. Fewer than one in five people from the age group who are eligible to vote actually vote. Conversely, nearly half of people from the ages 45-64 vote. We represent a powerful majority and can have a huge influence on election results.
Love is about the way you feel, the way you care, and the way you support your partner. Love has never truly been, or ever will be, about how much money you spend on gifts for them. sustenance, why should they be expected to shell out hundreds of dollars that they may or may not have in order to please their partner? But let’s take money out of the equation. If money wasn’t a factor, does that justify creating an expensive display for your partner? At the end of the day, no. It
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ART BY SERINA SIENG
Brianna Rodriguez Past elections have come down to a few votes, who knows what the outcome could’ve been if a couple hundred people made the effort to make a change. Isn’t it ironic that old rich white guys who may not live to see many more elections are more committed to voting than we are? It is our generation who will see the troubling effects of climate change in the year 2070 not the Baby Boomers or people from the Silent Generation. We are the ones who will have to worry about the condition of our planet. It is crucial that we elect people in office who are aware of problems as such and find solutions. Times have changed, we need to take control of the controllables. We are all living in the same society and will be all affected by the changes to come. The older generation knows the importance of their vote and utilize that power they have to keep their lives as comfortable as possible. Young people are quick to complain about people in politics and urge solutions on issues regarding climate change, gun control, and racial injustice. We are quick to talk but reluctant to act. If we want to see results we need to at least make the effort to vote. We have the power, but only if we use it.
Who’s on staff?
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: 22 times ff Hall of Fame ff First Place, Best of Show: 6 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 and all students on campus are encouraged to volunteer ideas. 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 point of view of the writer, not the paper. 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
Current and older issue PDFs are available at issuu.com/staggline
EDITORS
REPORTERS
Maria Castillo & Kevin Gutierrez editors-in-chief / features
Shannon Bradberry
Brianna Rodriguez news
Yalie Ceesay
Oleedia Harris opinion Donavin Collins entertainment
Cevina Calderon Fine Finau Marissa Gonzales Solomon Juarez
Niko Rosete sports
Camila Kendall
Aidan Danforth web
Jake Marcelino
Carlos Davalos photo Serina Sieng graphics Don Bott adviser
Monze Martinez Krystena Meza Kenyon Pierce Angel Vasquez
Opinion
11.09.18
Victoria’s Secret needs to include plus size models
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The Stagg Line
Breast feeding in public shouldn’t be frowned upon
“ Oleedia Harris
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s the Victoria’s Secret franchise gets ready for its 2018 fashion show I have noticed that their lineup is immensely diverse. Almost half of the models come from Asian, Black, or Hispanic descent, so hooray for that. However, I have also noticed that this year along with every single previous year, no plus size women earned a spot. So much for diversity. Considering that Victoria’s Secret is a company that makes clothing up to size XL, they obviously have in mind that two out of every three of their customers wear a size 12 and above. However, it seems as if they don’t want to represent or acknowledge the majority of customers. Don’t they think it’s time for the annual fashion show to reflect that also? This year’s show has already been labeled “more diverse than ever,” but can they really say that when not one of the 52 models is plus size? Is it because designing clothes for curvy and plus size women can require more expertise? Or is it because they feel like plus size women or curvy women aren’t sexy enough? Do they think bigger women should be ashamed of their bodies? Because that certainly seems to be the message I’m receiving. Victoria’s Secret obviously wants to make profit by offering a range of sizes that include plus size women, but god forbid they make them a part of their “look.” If the marketers were smart they would set aside their pride and not only include plus size women in their fashion show but ensure that all women, regardless of size, can find a product they like. It would only be logical since the plus size fashion
Victoria’s Secret’s profits have already been declining over the years and their sales will just continue to plummet if they don’t make changes.
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industry happens to be growing faster than the women’s apparel industry as a whole. But, I’m pretty sure Victoria’s Secret already knows that. They are just refusing to represent plus size women while still expecting and wanting them to buy their products. Yet, they wonder why they haven’t been making as much profit. The brand itself is complicit in its own demise. It’s safe to assume that a significant amount of the nations women don’t fit into Victoria’s Secret’s idealistic standard of the 0-12 range. So it would only be logical that these women are represented. I mean honestly, how hard is it to incorporate plus size and curvy women into a fashion show? Victoria’s Secret’s profits have already been declining over the years and their sales will just continue to plummet if they don’t make changes. So many other fashion franchises have taken the step of a wider size range and plus size models. They will just end up stealing all the profit that could have been Victoria’s Secret’s. It’s just sad that Victoria’s Secret has to be dragged kicking and screaming into the revolutionary idea of size inclusiveness and still won’t budge. It would be in their best interest to start by including women of all shapes and sizes. After all, shouldn’t they care and want to make their consumers the happiest they can?
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ART BY SERINA SIENG
reastfeeding is such a precious and tender No woman is going to feed her child at the experience for mothers after they have a baby. workplace. These are places where it is reasonable Sadly, some people put a negative outlook on if people see breastfeeding as odd or unfit. That is the experience. not what people are arguing for. Numerous people have the mentality that this Out of the 50 states, this year Idaho became kind of public act is disturbing. Why is it that a the last state to adopt a law that protects mothers natural form of feeding offends so many people? from a violation that comes with breastfeeding in Mothers don’t display themselves for the public public. to see but to nurture their babies when they are This makes it the last state to pass the law hungry. nationwide. It’s upsetting to think mothers were People should realize that having a baby in itself unprotected before this law. is an already challenging task for new mothers and Before, however, a woman could be charged Monze Martinez more so when they are going out of their way in with indecent exposure or nudity. It’s shocking public to feed them. to know that such a violation applied to nursing They shouldn’t be tasked with yet another mothers who only wanted to feed their baby in challenge. peace. Imagine a tired mom being at a carnival, park, or shopping mall Thankfully the rest of our states have laws that give mothers the for most of the day. A baby becomes annoyed, fussy, and hungry. To right to breastfeed in public. pacify the baby’s cries, the mother does what is compassionate and It is also crucial for them to be aware that such laws exist. natural. Mothers not having the knowledge of them could be taken These same hypocrites who protest public breastfeeding would advantage of by establishments who prohibit it. also complain if the baby started crying. How do you please people Mothers should know that there are laws that protect them with such a mentality? so they are able to stand up for themselves when confronted by Some people may ask why mothers don’t feed their babies someone. formula. Perhaps what most people don’t realize is that breastfeeding No place should tell a mother that they cannot feed their baby is much healthier for a baby. A mother’s milk is more nutritious, because it is too graphic for some people to handle. helping a baby build a stronger immune system and reducing the Laws, however, cannot force everyone to be decent and not risk of a baby becoming lactose intolerant. judgmental. Mothers are just asking for a more normalized and Others may argue why mothers don’t tend to their child before compassionate view on public breastfeeding. going out, but a baby’s needs are always changing. A baby can be Most of the time they cover themselves to not call too much calm but later on can become hungry. attention. The idea of seeing mothers feeding their babies is not This is not to suggest that any public breastfeeding makes sense. wrong and shouldn’t in any way be a crime.
Modern day feminism leaves behind original ideals
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Angel Vasquez women. It seems that the fourth wave of feminism is built around the extremists who advocate for the movement; these advocates are commonly known for being “man haters.” Equality among the genders should be the premise for feminism, but it seems as if that idea no longer exists among a critical mass. Instead, the aim is to empower women over men. Because of this, I have decided not to call myself a feminist. This radical form of feminism that has taken over the movement has caused people to disassociate themselves from the title. The current wave of feminism needs to refine its focus and define a clear path in terms of what it wants to accomplish. Modern day feminists are being split because of the lack of a common goal, and in turn losing what it means to really be a
ART BY MARISSA GONZALES
early 100 years ago, women were marching the streets and demanding the right to vote. Forty years after that they would once again make their way to the streets to protest the lack of equal treatment for women in schools and in the workplace. Then, after another few decades, women once again fought against the way they were being sexualized. Feminist movements are usually separated by “waves.” The first wave, from the mid 19th century to the early 20th century, focused in on pushing for equality in politics. The second wave, which started around the 1960s and lasted into the 70s, was centered around legal equality. Lastly, the third wave, which has been running on for the past few decades, has focused on pushing for social equality. Around 2012 the third wave of feminism began to shift its focus to justice for women as well as opposition to sexual harassment and violence against women, thus creating what is now known as the fourth wave. The fourth wave in comparison to the others seems to be more open in terms of focus. The central problems of the past feminist movements are now nationally and internationally covered and commonly discussed. It is no longer considered radical to talk about the societal abuse women go through, ignored rape allegations, unfair pay and work conditions, and the overall inequality of women and men. So now, instead of focusing on just one idea, this new wave has a sort of blanketed coverage of all of the issues women are suffering through. As a woman, I completely support and advocate for these issues. I will argue until my last breath for equality among women and men. But I also tend to stray away from the idea of being labeled as a feminist. The label not only has the connotation of only being for women, but it also has become warped in terms of what exactly defines someone as a feminist. Nowadays, it seems as if it’s okay for some feminists to degrade and belittle men online, just as long as they believe in the rights of
feminist. Since the first feminist movement took place, the divide between men and women has lessened considerably. Nevertheless, there is still a need for proactive feminism and the fight for equal rights. Feminism is supposed to stand for equal rights, not the empowerment of women over men. Until the followers of the fourth wave are able to understand this, many women as well as myself will continue to stray away from being labeled as a feminist.
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The Stagg Line
Features
11.09.18
Shaddai embraces the DJ lifestyle
Senior invests time and money towards a career committed to entertaining others
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Yalie CEESAY
The energy of the crowd is how I know what song to mix next. Frederick SHADDAI senior
Loud music, strobe lights, and the party environment is what senior Frederick Shaddai fell in love with. Shaddai has had a passion for DJing since he was in the eighth grade, but that passion was hard to pursue because of age and money. Those obstacles never stopped him from learning how to improve his technique. What sparked his interest was attending his friends house party where a popular DJ had a cool setup. Shaddai was intrigued with the way the lights lit up along with the beat of the music. He said to himself, “That
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up again.” This is one of the downfalls of being a DJ, when the crowd is not having the experience they should have. Despite a couple bad reactions, most of his is so awesome. I have to do experiences have been positive that someday.” From that and he said he would relive point on the dream of being them a thousand times if he a DJ always lingered in his could. Shaddai has also worked mind. with more mainstream artists Another thing that inspired such as SOB x RBE and Lil him was watching Zac Efron’s Yase. film “We Are Your Friends.” In These artists have made his this movie the main character gigs memorable because of the aspires to be a big time type of energy that was brought Hollywood DJ, while having to the stage. The crowd impacts PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ crazy nights doing something Shaddai’s experience the most. he loved, which Shaddai could Senior Frederick Shaddai deejays at a YDSJ’s second annual Halloween party at the San Joaquin pride center. To allow smoothes transition “The energy of the crowd is inbetween songs, Shaddai adjusts tempos and other features in his set. He uses every oppurtunity to prepare him for bigger gigs. personally relate to. how I know what song to mix Shaddai started off using a next.” They are a group of young entrepreneurs “I felt so nervous starting back up again, but Hercules DJ controller in eighth “It’s all about investment,” Shaddai says grade, which allowed him to start off with the starting off in the entertainment industry. Along It was a good type of nervous.” he said. Along as he provides tips for other aspiring young basics of being a DJ, like learning how to make with YouTube, each individual has their own his side was a close family friend supporting him entertainers. “Anything you do you are going aspect of art, which are; photography, film, and throughout the night. mixes and simple transitions. to have to invest your time in. You might have Because of age he could not go out and DJ music. This influenced Shaddai to start DJing A few months ago, Shaddai had a gig with to make sacrifices, like selling some of your artists like Cool John and Dave Steezy at the parties, so he sold his Hercules controller. After once again. ShmopHouse, where he did not get the reaction most prized possessions. But It will pay off in “At the time the only thing I had was my this Shaddai put the idea of DJing behind him the long run.” he expected. pioneer controller, small speakers, and a laptop.” -- until last year. In the future Shaddai hopes to work with “I played a song someone requested and At the start of his junior year, Shaddai along But his return to DJing proved to be successful, as higher artists such as Allblack, HBK-gang, and no one in the crowd was feeling it, so I had to with a couple of friends created a YouTube right away he got his first gig hosting a graduation Kyle. transition to another song to get them hyped party. channel called “Based Media.”
Artwork auctioneer
Adams turns her love for drawing anime into a small, profitable business
Shannon BRADBERRY & Monzerrath MARTINEZ
one,” Adams said. “The next day I brought the drawing and he gave me five dollars.” This began her art business. What started as an after-school hobby People often ask her to draw anime for Nia Adams has turned into a small characters and abstract designs. Adams’ business. Recently, this senior found initial intentions were to improve her art a source of money through her love of skills and learn new styles, the profit was a art. She took up drawing when she was reward for doing something she loves. younger. “I sell sketched drawing for five Doodling was sort of a hobby for her dollars,” she said. “If people ask for color, and her best friend Caitlynn Colen, who I charge more because it’s very time is a junior. Together they helped improve consuming,” she said. basic skills and create designs. When she started selling, her price She started her sales tactic when a boy range wasn’t official until Colen helped noticed the art she had displaying in her her brainstorm a reasonable price for each binder. “He asked me if I could draw him type of drawing. Adams learned more techniques of art during her sophomore year with teacher, Chuzin Vang. One of the most important things he taught her was “Always make your art personal to you.” This helped her create a better appreciation for the details and time it takes to create a specific drawing. Colen was a big help to Adams when drawing a consumer’s choice of art. The challenging aspect of creating anime art had to do with the detail on the eyes. Her best friend showed her what to do and what not to do. Cohen played a big role in developing merchandise that people would want to buy. When trying to find customers, she displays her art in classrooms and verbally advertises to young adults. Her biggest advocates are people who have a found interest of anime. Adams wants to expand and promote this small business she PHOTO BY CARLOS DAVALOS created for herself beyond school Senior Nia Adams holds her drawing of Sans from grounds, but her lack of any Undertale, a role-playing video game, and Yokia social media holds her back from from a Japanese folktale. Adams creates her own this goal. anime and does requested recreations.
Students become ‘gear heads,’ adding car modifications Aidan DANFORTH An average consumer will be satisfied with a dealership car, a nice color, some storage space, and reliable engine. For junior Anthony Perez having a car means exactly that. This year Perez has been working tirelessly at his job paying for car modifications. He got into car modding through his father’s friend. Under his guidance he learned about the basics of car mechanics. “Switching tires and checking oils were easy to understand,” Perez said. “I wanted to play around with the way my car would look,” he said. Dreaming about his own car to customize, he searched the internet for lessons about the mechanics of a car. “It’s my passion and I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
After researching car modification and learning about the systems inside. He bought a car and put his newly developed skills for a test drive. “I liked the simple details of my new car but I wanted to mod it,” he said. Looking to enhance his engine’s performance, he started to look for engine parts. “I liked everything about modding, changing the way it sounds,” he said. He has looked for potential opportunities to buy parts for turbo.Similarly, senior Robert West has dedicated his time to car modding. Growing up, West enjoyed the different looks and styles of cars. “My dad is a mechanic for the school district and he fixes school buses,” he said. West was constantly surrounded by cars because of his father’s work. He would go with his father to fix and
learn about cars during these visits. He spent his salary for a Honda Civic and was searching for a new look. “It’s was an affordable car but I didn’t like the look of it at first,” he said. He searched through social media platforms trying to find inspiration for its design. Eventually, he stumbled upon an Instagram page that showed customization ideas for cars. He found a post that showed steps on a style that he enjoyed. He spent his paychecks on buying modifications to copy the look. “I like the process of working on it,” he said. Since then he has lowered the suspension and positioning of his tires. His plans to complete his dream car with a new paint job and added turbo. He plans on attending Universal Technical Institute to pursue his love for car modding.
PHOTO BY CARLOS DAVALOS
Senior Robert West owns a Honda Civic and is a part of the “Honda Crew” that come together and talk about their cars. They also discuss what changes they plan to make to their cars. The Crew meets about once every two weeks.
Features
11.09.18
5
The Stagg Line
WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR ? Aaron Storey Junior
Lillian Lomeli Sophomore
Show choir
Freedom
“We’re like a family and they give me confidence.”
Environment
“New people, new classes and new teachers.”
Sal Hernandez Senior
Jenissa Lockheart Junior
“I’m thankful for the new chance that I have at life.”
“My family is all that I have. They are there for me when others aren’t.”
Family
Brookelynn Siegel Junior “They’ve always supported me even if they didn’t agree with me.”
Parents
Hector Camarena Senior
Relationships
“I’m just happy to see everyone together and talk to them.”
GRAPHIC BY SOLOMON JUAREZ & CEVINA CALDERON
Pastime turns into passion
Sign language strengthens connections among family Shannon BRADBERRY
Three books a day, Lewis continues to add to her collection Cevina CALDERON Reading may not be a popular hobby but to sophomore PHOTO BY YALIE CEESAY Shermela Lewis it is everything. Since she was a little girl, Lewis Sophomore Shermela Lewis reads one of her favorite books has read books out of pure curi- “Challenger Deep” by Neal Shusterman. osity and pleasure. It is her only source of entertainment. Lewis has read a whopping 1000 books, more or less, throughout her lifetime. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center study, a person on average reads “four books per year.” This sophomore has read that, and then some. In fact, she averages a daily read of at least three books a day. Her favorite book of all time, “The Stupid Smelly School Bus” by Junie B. Jones, was the kickstart of her affinity for reading. The book’s comedy and strange plot made her desire to read grow. Of all the different genres of books out there Lewis has no preference as long as the story is not fantasy. She is fascinated by the realism of everyday As a child Lewis noticed the large stacks of books stories such as “Challenger Deep” by Neal Shuster- her father had lying around. She always wondered man. “What’s in those?” Seeing her father leave these The story showcases a teen struggling through books untouched for so long motivated her to give schizophrenia. This story captured her attention reading a try. Little did she know this would beand made her shocked to know a teen similar to come the beginning of a passion. her could struggle with such hardhships. Authors Aside from entertainment and pleasure readlike Shusterman and Stephen King are her recent ing has helped Lewis in the classroom as well. favorites because “they write interesting topics,” Reading helps her enjoy school more and be more engaged in class. Lewis said. For Lewis there is no other entertainment The stereotypical student is not usually fond besides reading. “Reading is my TV,” she said. In of being told to read in class, but this student is. fact she rarely watches TV and prefers that it stay She enjoys taking any chance she gets to read. off. To her TV is nowhere near as interesting as a Lewis will continue to be an avid reader and cherish books always. book.
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I don’t have a specific genre of books. I could read anything and everything for hours. Shermela LEWIS sophomore
Senior Alustra Dominguez has been teaching herself sign language since she was 7 years old. It’s something her family had become accustomed to when her little sister, Occeanna Curry, was born with a speech impediment. Curry couldn’t utter a single word until she was 4. Fragments of sentences were difficult for Curry to process and understand. Sign language was the only thing that helped her communicate basic needs to her family. “Mostly my whole family knows how to sign.” Dominguez explains how it didn’t necessarily change the dynamics of her household but brought her relatives closer together. Having taught herself, Dominguez placed all her trust in an abundance of YouTube videos that informed her the basics. “It took about three month to get the general essentials of the language,” she said. Dominguez, along with her
family, learned one-word phrases before they embraced the full language. Basic signs, such words as “hungry, bathroom, cold, hot,” and other words one might say on a daily basis. There are three forms of this complex language, and that was something the YouTube videos never explained to her. “The version of sign language I received isn’t usually common to more fluent speakers,” she explained. “Fluent speakers use a different syntax and their sentences seem backwards.” Her cousin, who is a sign language-trained emergency medical technician, clarified this for her. The things her cousin taught her helped her as well. Dominguez is fluent and explained how rewarding it is to know this language and communicate with her sister. Having the patience and discipline to learn sign language helped her learning process for subjects in school as well. “I’ve noticed how easy it is for me to pick up on subjects,”
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Dominguez said. “Having a passion to learn is something I apply to some of my classes.” With a new language under her belt, she hopes to acquire many more. “I have more appreciation towards languages,” she said. “Learning a new language is hard but there is a breakthrough moment that makes the frustration worth it.” The next language she’s working on is spanish. Her father’s side of the family speaks spanish and she feels it will connect them more just like sign language did. “Simply having an open mind can lead you to more opportunities,” She said “The opportunities to learn languages are endless.” She explained how grateful she is to have her hearing. “Deaf people really have to pay attention to their instructors to make out what they’re saying,” Dominguez said. “I’m sure you never get to really look down or write on paper. You could miss something so little and be off track.” Senior Alustra Dominguez teaches herself sign language through YouTube videos so she can communicate with her sister. Her sister has a speech impediment, therefore the Dominguez family has been dedicated to become familiar with sign. PHOTO BY KENYON PIERCE
What’s on your mind?
feeling SAD? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that causes people to isolate themselves during the holidays. It typically starts from late fall or early winter to spring. For someone to be diagnosed with SAD there has to be a recurring pattern of the symptoms listed to the right when seasons change, for two years.
• • • • • •
Symptoms
Depression Low energy Trouble sleeping Difficulty concentrating Isolation Loss of interest in activities you enjoy • Thoughts of suicide or self harm
Treatments
• Stay active and social (self care) • Try meditation or other relaxing activities • Seek professional help from a therapist or a doctor • Stay away from drugs, alcohol, and caffeine
Resources
• You can always go see a certified therapist • 1-800-855-4673 (Teen Help Line) • 1-800-273‑8255 (NAMI) • Healthy Start is always available to students SOURCE: MAYOCLINIC.ORG AND MENTALHEALH.NET
6The Stagg Line
Entertainment
11.09.18
Actors receive backlash from offensive roles Marissa GONZALES
As time passes, clothing is becoming less gender-assigned, allowing true expression through bold fashion choices Oleedia HARRIS & Shannon BRADBERRY As the lines between traditional male and female clothing are becoming blurred, conversation about gender-neutral clothing is starting to gain momentum. More and more designers have started to create genderneutral fashion lines. Junior Monica Hernandez applauds one of her favorite fashion designers Chelsea Bravo for combining women and men’s clothing. “I feel like people should wear whatever they want and Chelsea Bravo represents that,” she said. “Combining men and women’s clothing can give people the chance to express themself differently without the set boundaries.” Hernandez does feel like a lot of fashion lines that are trying to include unisex clothing are more invested in only masculine clothing being worn by both genders. “Females have been wearing masculine clothing for a while, but recently I’ve seen more guys stepping out of their boundaries.” She feels that brands should not claim to be progressive until expanding all of their horizons. Her predictions are that there will be even more innovation with clothing in the future. Hernandez refers to her own style as neutral. “Clothes don’t have a gender, I just wear whatever I personally feel looks good on me.” Several fashion lines such as
ART BY SERINA SIENG
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It seems like you’re going to get judged no matter what style you have. You might as well wear whatever you want. Micah ANTONIO junior
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Agender and Toogood have also been leading gender-neutral clothing in the fashion industry. Toogood emerged in 2013 and represents unisex clothing along with strong silhouettes inspired by the sisters Faye and Erica who started the business. In an interview with Leclaireur speaking about their clothing the sisters said, “The audience is ready for it: Is it cut on a man? Is it cut on a woman? It doesn’t really matter.
Is that size a man’s size or a woman’s size? It’s irrelevant now. We now know that gender-specific clothing is irrelevant for this generation.” Junior Micah Antonio agrees with the Toogood brand. He feels people who do decide to dress out of their “gender-standards” should not be harassed for doing so. “It seems like you’re going to get judged no matter what you wear or what style you have,” he said. “So you might as well wear whatever you want.” Antonio describes his own sense of fashion as particularly nice. While it seems that fashion is taking a step in the right direction, there has also been some controversy regarding genderneutral clothing lines. Senior Nico Perez has some contradictory comments towards unisex fashion. “I think we should wear things that are specific for our gender role.” Perez feels that gender-neutral clothing could come as confusing to buyers. However, despite the many people who force their opinion on the subject, Perez has no animosity towards the whole clothing experiment. He feels that people should be who they are. “I’ve seen some celebrities wearing clothes normally worn by the opposite gender and it actually look good. I personally just would not dress femininely,” Perez said. “But I would never put down others who do.”
Think of a character in a movie or television show, especially one who plays the bad guy. Now can you separate that from the actor? Many people associate actors with the characters they play and sometimes things get ugly. Actors from recognizable titles like “Thirteen Reasons Why,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Shameless,” and more receive negative feedback in real life. “Shameless” star Emmy Rossum said people yell “F*** you, Fiona, you overdosed that baby.” Timothy Granaderos from “Thirteen Reasons Why” said he’s received messages on social media saying “You have to die, even if you were acting motherf***er, poor tyler.” These are only two of countless times things like this are reported. Some actors disregard what the viewers think like Rossum saying “‘Oh, God, is everyone going to hate me?’ And then I felt like, ‘Who cares?’” while others like “Eastenders” star Robert Kazinsky went into hiding; “It made me afraid to see people and there is an ugly side to fame. People would walk up and punch me in the head.” The idea of actors being attacked for the actions their characters make leave people questioning why this happens. The fact of the matter is that the lines between real life and media are blurred. People go from watching their favorite television shows to their social media accounts and nobody knows how to answer the question of what is authentic behavior. Social media and networking are given the power to change people’s lives. Not to say that social media or television is a blindfold to real life; they just have the potential to serve as a catalyst toward what these actors experience. Very rarely when actors receive this negative response is it followed by praise for a good performance, which is obviously the goal of acting. To play a character so well that the audience can’t imagine the actor as anything else is the point of acting. However, their convincing performances are not meant to be taken as the actor’s literal personality. Rants from social media accounts have the power to destroy actors’ mentalities. Kazinsky is one of many actors who were threatened or hurt physically. It’s no wonder they become recluses. Anna Gunn from “Breaking Bad” was sent a concerning amount of sexist hate mail and pushed for the New York Times to send the message to viewers about the misogyny in the messages. Actors receiving hate for their character’s actions goes to show that media has the power to warp the lines between reality and fantasy, forcing viewers to be aware of how they treat their favorite stars.
ART BY JAKE MARCELINO
Rebooted TV shows result in mixed opinions from fans GRAPHIC BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ & CEVINA CALDERON
Donavin COLLINS TV reboots are just like twins. People may confuse them by their looks, or in this case their titles, but they certainly have different qualities to them. One may focus on being action-packed, while the other is more on the comedy side. There has been praise for reboots, though are they good enough to please that fan base from years ago while pulling in a new audience? While it may seem simple to do, not every reboot is able to live up to the original. Countless times there have been TV revivals where the fan base from before just couldn’t enjoy the reboot because it lost the elements that made the original successful. Especially in our current age, it seems as if at least half of the shows on television are a reboot of some kind. With Netflix’s “Fuller House,” a reboot of the iconic “Full House,” fans weren’t pleased because the show lost its focus on life lessons and instead put its attention more on the comedy. While comedy is a big part of TV, most viewers tuned in to “Fuller House” because they wanted a continuation with the same elements of the original. Reboots aren’t always a bad thing, and actually have a good intent. With shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Rugrats” in the process of being rebooted, they have to make sure to follow
certain guidelines while also making changes that aren’t too drastic. “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” is known for how it incorporated life lessons into such a plot that would seem nearly impossible to do so. And with these lessons, moments of comedy were slipped in to where it wasn’t distracting. The reboot cannot stray away from those lessons and force in comedy like how “Fuller House” did. What the reboot can do, however, is build a cast that’s more diverse and focus on different characters rather than replacing the originals. It’s those changes that’ll improve the show rather than destroy it. The “Rugrats” reboot also has to follow one huge guideline. It cannot change the animation style in a drastic way. With animation, viewers tend to dislike the reboot when it looks completely different from the original. Especially since they’re going to use the same characters, it would disappoint if the look was different from how fans remembered them. “Teen Titans Go,” an animated show that made this risky choice, ultimately lost long time fans and is always criticized for their choice to stray away from everything the original had created. For every reboot, it’s just a matter of bringing back elements from the original while also throwing in a few changes. The original cast returning alone will not be enough to satisfy an audience. It’s the content of the new show that decides whether it will live up to the success of the original.
What’s new in entertainment? Movies “The Grinch” (Fantasy) - Nov. 9 “Fantastic Beasts 2” (Drama) - Nov. 16 “Wreck-It Ralph 2” (Fantasy) - Nov. 21 “Creed II” (Sport) - Nov. 21 “Robin Hood” (Adventure) - Nov. 21 “Second Act” (Romance) - Dec. 14
TV Premieres “Room 104” (Season 2) - Nov. 9 “People’s Choice Awards” - Nov. 11 “The CMA Awards” - Nov. 14 “Narcos” (Season 4)- Nov. 16 “Deal or No Deal” (Season 5) - Dec. 3 “Top Chef” (Season 16) - Dec. 6
Nearby Concerts Lil Xan, Sacramento - Nov. 13 Bhad Bhabie, Chico - Nov. 17 Tori Kelly, San Francisco - Nov. 19 Justin Timberlake, Oakland - Dec. 5 Metallica, Sacramento - Dec. 7 Travis Scott, Sacramento - Dec. 15
Trending News After calling off her engagement, Ariana Grande teases a new album. Beauty guru James Charles releases a new eyeshadow pallete with Morphe. Investigation by Los Angeles County reveals that Mac Miller’s death was due to an accidental overdose.
Sports
11.09.18
The Stagg Line
7
Trifecta of tennis championships
Win against Bear Creek secures Delta Queens’ third consecutive SJAA title Fine FINAU
It’s what you do before the season that makes a champion. This year the girls tennis team made it to playoffs. They finished 10-0 in league but overall they were 11-3. They’re taking this win as a way to be better in the future. The team has put work and effort to get into playoffs. “We need to have a positive mindset, if we don’t we’re going to lose,” senior team captain Kristina Matsumoto said. Matsumoto has been playing since the sixth grade. She is the team’s No.1 single player. “Playing the best game you can means to get out of your head,” she said. A leader shows others that they’re capable of hard work. Having hope in the team is what’s best and Matsumoto agrees. “Each match I have my fingers crossed for a good game. My mindset for each game is to be ready and play my best.” The coaches always remind the team that if they have the right attitude to play, they will play the best game. Matsumoto’s teammates don’t just see her as another player but as an inspiration, and the feeling is mutual. In the future she wants to play tennis just for fun or join a club. Having a good mentality is crucial when in a match and coming to a game prepared gave her along with the rest of the team motivation to play their best. It seemed as if there was more of this which is why they kept such a good winning streak. Junior Kaylee Fetters feels like there was more drive this season because of all the support. “Motivation given by our coaches and teammates helps us do better.” Encouragement given out by the team’s supporters helped push them to improve in each game.Fetters has been playing since freshman year and has seen a difference with the coaches. “I really thank coach Shannon Markley, she showed us a lot
PHOTO BY SOLOMON JUAREZ
Coach French (left) and Coach Markley (right) present their players before their first home playoff match against Wood Creek. Stagg went on to lose 2-7.
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of different new things this year.” Fetters looks into playing tennis next year and hopes to teach the younger players what she has learned in the previous years. For now, Fetters just feels a sense of accomplishment because she was able to make it to playoffs. “With our coach’s advice on stress it helped us make it to playoffs and for that I’m grateful.” Senior Kristen Price also admires and looks up to her coach’s innovated techniques that she said helped them have such a successful season. “When the coaches saw that we needed to work on something they would split us up and then put us with the more experienced players. That way we could get a more feel of how to better ourselves,” she said. “All of the new techniques resulted in way better play.” Working as one team helped challenge the teams strengths and weaknesses spot on. She has learned to work as an individual and hopes to motivate younger classmen to exceed. Price hopes to play in college and be more effective in the future. Overall, the girls tennis team has had a fun season. Their sportsmanship showed their dedication to each other and themselves. For the new season and team, they plan to play with their hearts and not their minds, which would prepare them to start stronger and go further than they did this year.
With our coach’s advice on stress it helped us make it to playoffs and for that I’m grateful. Kaylee FETTERS junior
Senior Jasmin Luz, No. 2 singles player for girls tennis, strikes the ball on the way to beating her opponent from Wood Creek with little difficulty. After the first set resulted in a hardearned 7-6 win for Luz, she managed to shut her opponent out in the second set with a score of 6-3, winning her the match. PHOTO BY SOLOMON JUAREZ
Delta Queens volleyball recognizes its potential Brianna RODRIGUEZ Previous seasons, according to junior Annabelle Pike, consisted of lack of communication, work ethic, and selflessness. Unsure of what this season might bring, the girls varsity volleyball team came in with a positive outlook. No matter what the record was at the end, the team made sure they put their all into every set, spike and block. From winning only two league games against Franklin last year to fighting for third place a year later, the team is to say the least proud of its performance. Along with their work ethic junior Cha-
PHOTO BY KENYON PIERCE
Junior Karis Carter spikes the ball through the hands of Chavez’s defense. Stagg went on to win the game 3-1.
na Moeur says their season’s success was due to the team’s potential. “We had a great lineup, great players this year. It made us stronger than before,” Moeur said. Realizing their potential they had to put the pieces together and learned to work together as a unit. Understanding that volleyball is a team sport Pike stresses the importance of putting the team first and individual last. “We all have our strengths but if we don’t put them together it doesn’t help.” Some of the main strengths possessed by the girls are their positivity, communication, and drive. One of the team leaders is junior Karis Carter. “Her positive energy pushes us to never give up,” Pike said. “We can be far behind and she will be the first to remind us we’re still in the game.” Varsity volleyball coach Jeremy Moua identifies junior Alexis Yang as another player who shows a great deal of leadership. “Even after a loss, Karis and Alexis kept encouraging their players to push harder for the next games and practices,” Moua said. They help create and maintain a positive environment for the players which showed on the court. Being that it was Moua’s first season coaching here, he describes the obstacles he and the team had to face. “The most challenging part was that the players had to get used to me as their new coach,” he said. “We had to work harder so that we all are on the same understanding.” With much improvement in the span on a couple months, Moua plans on to continue to build a strong volleyball program. “My plan to making next season more successful is to start as early as possible with open gyms for our girls to work on their skills.”
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Italian teen becomes a Delta Queen Maria CASTILLO More than 6,000 miles away from Perugia, the city of chocolate, senior Marianna Belia joined the varsity cheer team to not feel so homesick. She was able to have this opportunity through an exchange student program at her school in Italy. They helped her get her visa and create a profile so a family in the United States would pick her to live with them. Arriving here in August, the plan was to leave in December, but because Belia has enjoyed it so much, she has extended her date to June. From the three months of being here, she has become amazed with the food, especially Mexican food. She said, “I fell in love with the Mexican food it’s so delicious.” Belia plans to travel there one day, adding it to her checklist. Belia began her traveling journey at a young age with her family. She describes them as “really passionate about exploring new places and learning their culture.” This would cause the adventurer inside her to wake up and open her curiosity. She remembers seeing cheer in movies, and something about the dance moves, atmosphere, and sisterhood fascinated her. When she heard about the cheer team, Belia knew she had to join. “When I got here I didn’t even know what football was,” she laughs. “I still don’t understand it but it’s fun.”
PHOTO BY KENYON PIERCE
Belia performs her last football game halftime routine at the senior night against Chavez. Stagg went on to lose the game 52-14.
When she first began cheer season, she struggled with the jumps. This was because she had injured her knee while playing volleyball back home. “I played volleyball since I was little,” she said, “one day I injured my knee really bad -- it has gotten better but jumping is still tough on it.” Her favorite memory so far was performing for the homecoming parade back in September. She said, “That was really special to me because it allowed me to actually be the cheerleader that I used to see on TV.” Not only does she enjoy performing, but being on the cheer team has helped her feel accepted.
Who are the award winners?
Cross Country MOST VALUABLE RUNNER Rin LE
MOST VALUABLE RUNNER Serina SIENG
Water Polo
Girls Tennis
MVP
MVP-BOYS
MVP-SINGLES
MVP OFFENSE
MOST IMPROVED
MV-GIRLS
COACH’S AWARD
MVP OFFENSE
MOST INSPIRATIONAL
Football
Girls Golf
MVP
Jabarii PHARMS Keith SMITH
Roman AMPEROSA
Camila KENDALL Oleedia HARRIS
Monica HERNANDEZ
James RENNER Crystal IBARRA
Kristina MATSUMOTO Jasmin LUZ
MOST INSPIRATIONAL Xsence PEREZ
Girls Volleyball COACH’S AWARD Alexis YANG
MOST IMPROVED Janelle PHARMS
MOST INSPIRATIONAL Karis CARTER
8
The Stagg Line
News
Free press pursues truth
Following the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in early October, former New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. speaks about the dangers that come with being a journalist today and reveals the importance of their protection.
= Krystena MEZA
PHOTO BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
Event offers info on LGBTQ rights Aidan DANFORTH
High school can be a confusing time for a teenager. Students may come to question their sexuality or gender identifications. For a student to witness others questioning themselves is also confusing. With these developing thoughts, offending someone could happen unintentionally. The Power in Pride Youth Summit is an empowerment movement for teenagers and adults. This annual event hosted by the San Joaquin Pride Center took place on Oct. 27. For five years at the Central United Methodist Church volunteers helped create this event. This year approximately 150 people attended. Attendees could learn about the LGBTQ social culture or about the protections for that community. Junior Nicholas Oden attended the event and was shocked to discover the harassment that some students face. “I was just expecting to have a fun time,” Oden said. Surrounded by center leaders, he was able to sympathize with the stories told even though, he said, he “I didn’t understand much at first.”
Spanish teacher Raquel Prado also attended, since she was curious about the gender identificationsss. “I wanted to learn more about the pronouns,” she said. But after attending other informative sessions Prado learned more about the reasoning behind gender changes. “The last thing I wanted to do was to disrespect someone,” she said. The center helped set informative event that was filled with sympathy stories. With this structure, ignorance could be tolerated and information can be passed down. There are laws that protect all students right to identify themselves that are not taught in a normal classroom setting. With these sessions students can be informed about processes in which they can change their documentmented gender. With the worry of federal laws discriminating against gender identification, students can learn about the California education laws that help protect their right to identify themselves. Tolerance is an important topic to understand and express. The youth empowerment summit helped inform the public of social legal issues in an environment that was accepting.
LGBTQ EDUCATION CODE California Education Code Section 220 Article 3 states: No one shall be discriminated by disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.
The Equal Access Act allows faith-based clubs of all religions or beliefs to be allowed to meet on campus. Included are groups that deal with Christianity, Islam, Satanism, even Atheism. It also protects the Gay-Straight Alliance.
8% of all high school students in America, report being lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
SOURCE: qz.com/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/ religioustolerance.org
What’s online?
GRAPHIC BY KEVIN GUTIERREZ
WeeklyGallery Check out our staggonline.net website for weekly galleries featuring the annual Trunkor-Treat, labs in AP Biology, and the varsity baseball team play Tokay in a fall ball game.
11.09.18
It is no surprise “fake news” is talked about so much today, according to journalist Arthur Sulzberger. The former publisher of New York Times shared a great deal of information with an audience of around 100 people at an open interview which was given by President Pamela A. Eibeck on Friday, Oct. 26. At the end of Sulzsberger’s presentation, entitled “The Impact of Media and Truth of Democracy,” he engaged with the audience in asking questions. Sulzberger explained that young upcoming journalists have power to change the way society currently looks at journalism. He
explained all the powerful factual evidence about real world situations, and how much these situations affects society. A common concern is that social media has had an enormous impact on people’s lives. It is reasonable for people to tell a lie based off what they’ve seen on social media. “Social media brings lots of lies, 70 percent of retweets are false,” Sulzberger said. Teens read “tremendous lies” on social media on a daily basis. Sulzberger shared information on the topic of ways of “becoming a great journalist” and he also gave powerful advice saying how “you make a commitment to go in depth to find information as a journalist” and to always
be aware of your surroundings. Social media, especially in the last few years, can go to political extremes. With that being said, the free press is neither Republican or Democrat. He talked about having arguments in the Oval Office with seven different presidents. “It is not healthy for citizens to hear the phrase of ‘fake news,’” he said. In the instances when journalists make mistakes they should always “own up to it, and fix their mistake” because it is a big responsibility to take on the tasks most journalists have to deal with. Most important, he emphasized the point of how important it is to dig for the the truth and to spread the truth.
Student activism booming
Seniors busy during midterms helping congressional campaign Camila KENDALL Election time is right around the corner and Stagg students are getting involved. Seniors Tiarra Preciado, Fred Shaddai, Santos Orosco, and Luciano Gonzalez all worked hands-on for the McNerney for Congress campaign. Preciado had been working on campaigns since she was in the fifth grade alongside her older sister, who is the supervisor of the campaign. “I have been doing it for a few years now to help make sure that the right person gets put into office,” she said. McNerney had been a great supporter of foundations she had been involved in such as The Young Democrats of San Joaquin. “For years now he has been a really big endorser of it so I figured I would help and work on his campaign,” she said. So she would help go around town and help put up yard signs. “All the McNerney signs you see I helped put all of them up,” she said. She also worked canvassing. She would use an app and would go door-to-door and ask people if they were supporting McNerney. Shaddai, Orosco, and Gonzalez all had contributed to the campaign. Orosco worked as a canvasser on the campaign as well as Preciado. When working on the campaign she had gotten into the whole thing through her best friend’s sister. “She’s actually the one who helps run it this year so I went and talked to her about it and she was the one who really got me into it,” she said. “I didn’t really know about McNerney when coming into working on the campaign, but I met him a few days after I had started because we were having a barbeque at the house he was at and it was really nice,” she said. She had the chance of meeting McNerney, describing him as a man who was incredibly social. “He’s a man who
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We can’t let the wrong person into office or else nothing is going to change. People need to realize their vote matters. Tiarra PRECIADO junior
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Senior Tiarra Preciado has been doing campaign work since she was 10 years old. She has recently worked in one of Jerry McNerney’s offices promoting him through yard signs, posters, and canvassing. Preciado has helped other students on campus get involved with campaigning. PHOTO BY CAMILA KENDALL
really wanted to get to know everyone and was really excited that everyone had attended.” Each of the students had different reasons why they decided to get involved. “I joined to work on the campaign because I was getting paid so I didn’t really care at first but after I had joined I met some cool people and I was able to get more engaged in the politics and everything,” Shaddai said. Once he was able to really get involved into the campaign he began to see how interesting and important it was to really involve himself into politics. Gonzalez, on the other hand, got involved because he was able to make some money while working on the campaign. Even though he had clashing viewpoints to McNerney, he still hoped to help encourage others to vote and give an awareness to upcoming voters. “I do want people to vote and really get out there instead of being lazy and end up complaining after saying that they don’t like this and they don’t like that. I want to be able to help people become encouraged to vote and just help out.” Through recent years it has been known that post millennials have been a small percentage of votings. “It’s really important for our generation to be educated and involved with our country because when working the campaign I realized that there aren’t many 18 year-olds who were voting,” said Orosco. “We can’t let the wrong person into office or else nothing is going to change,” Preciado siad. With the lack of young voters getting involved in elections, those who are 18 and older, are silencing their voice. “People need to realize that their vote matters because every single vote matters.”