staggline
the Nov. 14, 2014 Vol. 58 Issue 3
Fear story
With the busiest shopping day of the year coming soon, many people are gearing up for the day’s shopping spree. Retail salesmen, store managers, security guards and more will be suiting up for that Friday — and don’t forget the plumbers. Yes, the day after Thanksgiving isn’t just the busiest day for stores but plumbers as well. •
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Isis Rocha
Thanksgiving Break Monday, Nov. 24, is the start of Thanksgiving Break. School will be back in session Monday, Dec. 1.
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A.A Stagg High 1621 Brookside Stockton, CA 95207
jadajohnson want to gamble her life, she said. “Human beings are scared of what When a student threatened on Oct. 20 they don’t know about,” psychology teachto open fire at school the next day, students er Ryan Berg said. When a person is uninfled for safety under the impression that formed and doesn’t research something like their lives were truly in danger. No gunshots Ebola, he said, a person could become vicwere ever fired, and, according to Principal tim of baseless fear or even paranoia. Berg Andre Phillips, no one was ever in danger. sees this as being the reason humans are Yet 322 students stayed home Oct. 21. The afraid of death. “We don’t know what will day after, that number decreased to 83. happen after we die,” he said. This link be Many students found out about the sit- tween a lack of knowledge and fear can also uation through Twitter and some through explain things like prejudice, where people a fake Instagram account are afraid of something difunder the name “anferent because of a lack of gelflores22” with a post exposure. stating, “If you go to Fear escalates quickly in Stagg stay out of my way. a group of people, potenThe person who bullied tially becoming “mass hysme is going to pay.” teria.” Because there are so Flores, a senior, said many different contributors he was “hurt” that peoon social media sites, “People, even his friends, ple begin to feed off of each would believe that he other’s fears,” Berg said. would do something of This is what makes posts that manner. so believable, according to “The whole situation freshman Robin Brand. The was a misunderstandfreshman infamous Illuminati video ing,” he said. He recalls still “gets her going” in an the day the word spread anxious manner. and says that he never had any intention Associate Professor of Psychology Carof hurting anyone. He said he was merely olynn Kohn from University of the Pacific reading a meme and his words were taken said with all of the new technology, anxitoo seriously. ety is impossible to escape. “Most people Because Twitter reaches, according to find fear as being uncomfortable,” she said. the Pew Research website, 18 percent of the “Even the tiniest organism will try to avoid American population — more than 50 mil- anything they are afraid of.” When a situlion people — it is a main source for news. ation is inescapable, anxiety continues to But is it a reliable source, or do people re- build, “wearing out” a person even more. main in the dark about the facts and begin Brand agrees. She sees a way to rid to believe the conspiracies, false accounts, this unrelenting anxiety. “People need to and untrustworthy information, leaving research instead of thinking about things them living in fear? that may happen,” she said. “Find out the “The Internet (allows people to) blow truth.” things out of proportion,” senior Tyrell “AIDS caused a lot of fear when it first Snyder said. Snyder showed up to school broke out. It’s still here in 2014 yet no one because the rumors about Flores, whom is afraid of it,” despite the fact that we have Snyder knows fairly well, to him were just a higher chance of getting AIDS than Ebothat. “The fake Instagram didn’t even have la, he said. a profile picture,” he said. “I never believed Fear is a necessary evil, in his opinion. it.” “We can’t get rid of fear,” he said. “We need Freshman Isis Rocha, who didn’t know our fears to make us take chances,” and to who Angel Flores was, was one of the 322 know when not to. Rather than spreading who stayed home.” Social media gets in your the conspiracies, knowledge and facts are mind,” she said. “Things have changed,” she what the public should be feeding into, said, referencing past school shootings. Berg said. “There was a 50/50 chance that some- “I feel like the world shouldn’t be lied thing was going to happen.” She didn’t to,” Snyder said.
Social media gets in your mind. Things have changed.”
Roto Rooter, the largest plumbing company in North America, gets 50% more calls on that day due to people pouring turkey grease, bones, and other food products into the garbage disposal. Toilets also experience problems due to households being filled with extended family members who must share one or two bathrooms. Pipes are often already slightly clogged but the mass of products thrown into them cause a complete backup, and a phone call to the plumber.
UC deadlines Sunday, Nov. 30, is the last day to submit all University of California and California State University applications for the fall semester of 2015.
Media causes panic among teens today
graphic by Jerry Garcia, My’Kayla Moore, and Sathina Flores
Active shooter training helps staff prepare for worst celinelopez Will you run, hide or fight? Teachers and faculty were asked just that at their most recent faculty meeting, Oct. 28. Because of recent news and local threats of school shootings, teachers and faculty were required to attend an active shooter training in which they were presented a video informing them on the procedures during a campus shooting. They were given three options: run, hide or fight. Run is the best option when there is no immediate danger, and fight is a last resort. Procedures of lockdown and evacuation were reviewed, and teachers and faculty were warned to be mentally prepared for panic, fear and even death.
Marcus Omlin, the district’s emergency service school safety program coordinator, presented here and will continue with other Stockton Unified high schools. He also investigated the recent shooting threat and evaluated it as low-risk. “We take every threat seriously,” he said. “SUSD has an all-hazard approach; Active-shooter is always a concern.” He says that the program aims to maintain “best practice” by paying attention to shootings that happen and then considering what could’ve been done differently. The training video produced solemn faces among the teachers. Afterwards, they were asked to share what they would do in an active-shooter situation. One teacher, however, already knew the experience.
While teaching at a middle school on the East Coast, English teacher Marc Glassberg opened his classroom door only to meet a SWAT member ordering him to close it and stay inside. “I was clueless at first and I just followed orders,” Glassberg said, remembering how he advised his students to stay quiet. A harassed substitute teacher invaded the campus with a rifle and held the class he taught hostage in revenge. One boy was shot in the stomach, and the principal, who peeked through the classroom window, was also shot at, the bullet grazing his ear. The rest of the school was evacuated into the auditorium and later released as the hostage situation continued for hours. Although police saved the hostages, the at-
Marc Glassberg, English teacher, knows the importance of campus crisis training.
tacker ended up shooting himself. Glassberg said the training helped best prepare the staff for any campus emergencies. The most important thing he learned is to remain aware and not to panic. “Everyday we have emergencies. It’s part of the administration’s responsibility to be able to assess them,” he said. “Unfortunately, that’s a part of our society.”
Project raises interest in politics esmeraldamascorro Senior Zariah Gonzales intensively watched the news of the 2014 midterm election results. The game was now on. Students with the most accurate predictions will have the first draft pick. The project that started out as an assignment is now a thriving interest among the Advanced Placement Government classes. AP Government teacher Tara Hayes found out about the project from a teacher’s Facebook page, where other AP Government teachers share ideas. Fantasy Congress is a project composed of five assignments between Oct. 31 and Jan. 23. The first assignment, midterm elections, requires students to make their predictions on who would win, which would then determine who would be given the first draft pick. After all the teams are as-
sembled, each group of students will have “I really like this assignment; she should three senators and 12 members of Con- keep doing it,” Gonzales said. “Wherever gress. However, they will only be able to she got it from, she should keep looking.” have two active senators and eight active Gonzales is among the students who have congressmen. been closely engaged to the political proj After making the startect. ing lineup, students will She has been watching the then create a player profile. elections vigorously all sumThis profile will consist of mer. But it wasn’t until she precise Congress informawas assigned the political tion. Students will then fiproject that she opened her nalize their player’s profile eyes to politics. After hearby giving evidence of points ing the results she predictthat were earned. Points can ed come true, she couldn’t be earned when a congress- Senior Zariah Gonzahelp but feel accomplished man sponsors a bill, gets a les said she watched with her accuracy. However, bill passed, or is in the me- elections, but never a troubled feeling also swept dia. In the end, the players really felt the impact of over her. with the most points will win politics until this project With a GOP triumph in if they are able to provide ev- started. the Senate, Gonzales is woridence for their team. ried that they will put Ameri-
ca in a hole with ISIS. She also is further in her predictions as to say that the predominantly Republican Congress will pave the way for a Hillary Clinton presidential candidacy. The whole purpose of fantasy Congress was to try to get students to pay more attention to Congress and learn who are the players in Washington. This year, Hayes is also giving quizzes to students every day. “I learned that unless you make students study, they won’t,” she said. This new project and system of quizzes won’t guarantee that more students will pass the AP test this year. However, it is showing an increasing amount of participation. “Getting students to pay attention to what’s going on in the news gets them to connect things,” Hayes said. “And then the lightbulb goes off.”
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A.A Stagg High 1621 Brookside Stockton, CA 95207 Editorial Policy 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 a story published or any school issue. We will make every effort to print any letter that is not libelous. Letters longer than 250 words may be edited for length. Letters must be signed to be printed. Letters may be given to a staff member, delivered to A-10 or emailed to dbott@ stockton.k12.ca.us. Awards/Recognitions The Stagg Line is a member of National Scholastic Press Association, whose awards and recognitions include the following: ff 20 consecutive All American rankings. ff Hall of Fame ff First Place Best of Show five times ff National Newspaper Pacemaker Award seven 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. Editors Jada Johnson Devin Wickstrom co editors in chief Veronica Vargo web editor Marcella Hawkins news editor Michealla Foules opinion editor Alexus Plascencia features editor Baylin Moran entertainment editor Araceli Valencia sports editor Esmeralda Mascorro photo editor Marleene Pheav graphics editor Angel Gonzalez video editor Nuvia Cervantes copy editor Reporters Matteo Danforth Jenifer Flores Sathina Flores Louis Fuentez Jerry Garcia Fernando Gonzalez Celine Lopez My’Kayla Moore Trisha Newman Estefany Nunez Vanessa Salcedo Arriana Smith Luci Tomas Phillicity Uriarte-Jones Follow us
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opinion
stagg line
Editorial
Nov. 14, 2014
Concert entertains, educates
In last week’s EduConcert, the drama class performed a skit that went into depth about how credit cards may be nice to have but could potentially get you into big trouble if you don’t pay off your bills. The concert also went into the importance of managing money and how creating a budget could be really helpful. Although some students didn’t take advantage of this learning opportunity a lot of good information was taught, in the form of funny skits and a slideshow. Many of us didn’t even know we had a FICO score. The concert made us aware of things that are sometimes overlooked like, when handling a credit card and you buy something, you’re borrowing money that has to be paid back. These concerts have been happening for a while, and through the years, significant information has gone out, from the history of Halloween to the Great Depression. We think this a creative way to teach students.
The EduConcert is also an effective way for the music department to showcase its hard work. The concert incorporated orchestra, concert band, choir, jazz band, and drama. It made learning about money engaging and fun, and learning should always be fun. Conflict mediation also gives presentations about bullying and how to prevent it. It would be wonderful if other programs did something similar. Maybe MESA could do a workshop and teach students how to build something or possibly allow others to watch them build something. That way students see everything that goes into what they create. Art classes could also do something along the same lines as the concert, like maybe an art show. They could make art that showcases a specific time period and could explain the type of art that was popular during that time or highlight a specific artist. It’s really great that our school
photo by Fernando Gonzalez
Mark Swope directs the choir during the EduConcert. The choir performs “Royals,” “Price Tag,”and, “I’m Busted.”
has programs like these and events like the EduConcert to educate students. This makes for a more informed campus and creates more learning opportunities. These presentations are sometimes brushed off as a waste of time, but we can see the value in them. Teachers are finding new ways to get material across to students. Assigning things that are a
little more hands on makes learning fun and it tempts students to want to be involved in that learning. The EduConcert shows a different style of teaching, one that is more entertaining. We understand that all lessons can’t be performed in skits and with orchestras, bands and a choir, but with the right touch they can be just as fun.
No generation is better than the other
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ur youth now loves luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers. This isn’t some elder comtrishanewman plaining about today’s youth. This was said by the famous philosopher Socrates, more than 2,500 years ago. Not much has changed since this was written, but it is an overstatement. Socrates reminds me of the old man down the street yelling at the kids to “get off of his damn lawn,” but he was the grouchy old man that had some truth in his words. “History repeats itself ” would be the easy way to summarize this. Each generation is raised with different assumptions and norms. I always assumed that the past was better, based off what my grandparents have told me.
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You know the usual, “Back in my day...” or “Well, when I was your age…” spiel you get from elders. Well, it was a different time, a different situation when they were my age. I’m aware there wasn’t always the technology that we have now, and fun was defined in different ways then. But that is not the way it is anymore. I thank and appreciate the older generation, for living then and helping create my generation and for going through those experiences. But this generation lives now and creates the future. They like saying something was better when they were young so they can remember how much they enjoyed those things— despite the negatives that might have tagged along with it. Nostalgia can be fun, but misleading. Sometimes that is the only reason why the elder bother to even pick up with the activity again. To get the same emotion they once had years ago.
The undeniable challenge that remains between generations is what creates progress. Because of what has occurred in past years or mistakes that have taken place, we, the young, now have higher expectations set on our shoulders. But we are not given the benefit of the doubt. Competition has risen for this generation. Over 40,000 people applied to a UC and about 20,000 were accepted in 1989— that’s half of the applicants. In 2013, approximately 99,000 people applied and 33,000 were accepted— thats less than half. Only onethird of the applicants are accepted, according to ucop. edu. It’s harder to get into a UC now than it was 25 years ago. Though our generation may sometimes be deaf to the words of our elders right now, when we get older we will be preaching the same thing.
THe undeniable challenge that remains between generations is what creates progress.”
Twin defines herself as an individual
eople estefanynunez always ask me, “Why didn’t you tell me you had a twin brother?” Well, I wouldn’t usually say, “Hello, my name is Estefany and I have a twin brother.” Being a twin comes with the stereotypical questions that are asked a little too often: Which twin is older? What’s it like being a twin? Can you feel each other’s pain? It’s amusing how much people are fascinated. Which twin is older? That would be me. People assume that I am, based off of my maturity level (science has proved that girls do mature faster than boys). No, I can’t feel my brother’s pain or talk to him telepathically. Although, when we were younger, we did have this odd connection. Whether Javier was crying or overjoyed, I could sense his emotions, and my brother would be able to feel when I was physically hurt. If I fell off my bike and scraped my knee, he would feel something tingling at the exact same place. I constantly find myself in a ball of confusion and internal conflict when people would ask me, “How is it like to be a twin?” This life I have is the only life I’ve ever known. It does get frustrating when people ask me this but I understand and I’ve learned to tolerate the ignorant curiosity. Growing up, I just laughed at those silly questions.
photo courtesy of Nunez family
Estefany and Javier have been attending the same school since elementary, and continue their journey together through high school. Estefany hopes to attend a four-year university.
Just like every other pair of siblings out there, we argue. It’s nearly impossible for us to stay angry each other for more than five minutes, though. My mother finds it extremely frustrating when one minute we would be wanting to choke each other’s brains out and the next acting as if nothing happened, straight back to normal. Still, Javier and I are complete opposites. While he spends his free time catching up on his TV shows or playing video games, I usually have my head stuck in a
book or at my laptop, writing away. My brother has always had more luck with math while I struggle with it. I naturally am more fluent and love anything that has to do with literature. When Javier and I were in orchestra together, he favored the big instruments, taking on the bass and the cello, while I challenged myself to learn the beautiful viola. He’s more outgoing, loud, and optimistic while I’m more reserved, opinionated and witty. I tend to get sick about every two
months while Javier only falls ill about twice a year, and only because he was contaminated by me. Javier’s a little healthy bean while I have problems with anxiety, allergies and asthma. My grandfather likes to call the healthier twin “the alpha twin,” which Javier loves to tease me about. Javier and I have complementing dimples, as well. I have one dimple on my right cheek and he has one dimple on his left cheek. Pretty crazy, right? We like hanging out with each other, we buy each other Christmas presents and we watch every new Marvel movie together. I’m complicated, with my passion for reading, assertive personality, and my hard working goals, but my brother has gotten used to it all, and vice versa. I find myself lucky because I’ve always had someone there with me. Things aren’t as nerve-wracking and scary as they are when my brother is there by my side. Yes, I am a twin, but that shouldn’t affect how people perceive me. Looking back, I’m grateful for all the experiences and moments I’ve shared with my brother. Sooner or later, high school is going to come to an end, and we will most likely be searching for separate colleges. I want to pursue my future as a strong, independent and confident woman and as I do, I’ll always have my brother there supporting me.
opinion staggline 3 Sports teams School shootings are becoming too common give off wrong S messages Nov. 14, 2014
lithering ings that he hid so well in through public, yet no one seemed hallways, to pay attention to that side it searches for of Jaylen Fryberg. its next victim. They only saw the boy Many who had a lot of friends, students have was popular, and always already fallen seemed happy. victim to it. Reviewing his tweets The real threat, made me think of the the even countless times I’ve seen bigger enemy on celinelopez my close friends and classcampus, has already accumulatmates tweet similar messages. ed more casualties than a mass Whether they’re overstressed shooting could ever toll. from school, having trouble in Depression. relationships, or simply posting According to TeenHelp. vague messages of frustration or com, about 20 percent of teens sadness, there’s always someone will experience depression before on my timeline conveying these adulthood. feelings. To everyone close to him, But how often are people Jaylen Fryberg seemed fine — reaching out to these grieving until, on Oct. 24, he opened teens? fire at the school lunchroom in The tweets are there, and Washington, killing four stusurely people are seeing them, dents and himself. but instead they continue to Homecoming prince, footscroll down their feed to find ball player, one of the popular something entertaining. Like a kids, his high school status might meme or a Vine video. have masked the pain he carried, Sure, I’ve seen the occasional but his posts on Twitter didn’t. reply of a heart emoji and some “It won’t last…. It’ll never clichéd message along the lines last….” was tweeted just the day of “stay strong, things will get before. More tweets dating back better!” to June reveal anger and frustra- Yeah, in a lot of cases that’s tion from Fryberg. true. But things did not get The news of this shooting better for Jaylen Fryberg. They caught my attention more than also didn’t get better for the apothers. The attacker wasn’t a proximate 4,600 teens who kill crazed man who decided to take themselves every year, according his anger out on innocent stuto the Centers for Disease Condents, but a student — a student trol and Prevention. who walked among others every What I want to know is how day, putting on a false face, fool- often these teens are actually ing everybody to think that he referred to help. was fine when he really carried According to PsychCentral. some sort of angst. com, depression is actually one And almost every night, he of the most treatable disorders, consistently tweeted the feelbut only a third of depressed
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art by Celine Lopez and Marleene Pheav
people actually seek help or are properly diagnosed. There’s a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and others that help with depression. Media likes to cover news of mass shootings and other attacks and depict the attackers as depressed or mentally ill, and tally up the numbers of depressed teenagers and victims of suicide, but what I hear less of are the declines in these rates from the increase of action in anti-bullying, depression treatment, suicide prevention. In the past couple months alone, I’ve heard three threats of school shootings — two in Stockton and one in Sacramen-
to — and one actual attack in Washington. High school massacres have become way too common to be ignored. Statistics. Death tolls. The media is covering it all, but what are we doing to lower those numbers? We can’t ignore them. We can’t push aside the depressed as attention-seeking. Instead of ignoring these tweets and other signs of depression, we have to make the effort to communicate and find out what’s bothering them. There’s a lot of help to offer, so we should offer it. If we don’t, the death toll will continue to rise.
orruption. It is commonly associated with politics or even maybe business, but it is often closer than that. Sports, professional and amateur, can be home to corruption as well. An example is when professional football player Ray Rice was only suspended for two games for a domestic violence charge. After the video of him knocking his wife out cold was released, his suspension was extended to a year. louisfuentez When this was seen, the National Football League gave the suspension and the Baltimore Ravens released him almost simultaneously. But what if the video hadn’t been shown? He would be playing right now. Too many teams rely on the fact that their best player is the most untouchable person in the league. These players should not be untouchable when it comes to policy or law. Like the case of Florida State quarterback James Winston, who is facing up to four student conduct violations including sexual assault, which is a huge offense even in the NFL. Winston is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and because of this he is still playing. In high school the offenses are not as big, but it is the principle and if students break the rules, then they should be held accountable for their actions. They should not have special privileges because of their athletic ability. As Martin Bagnasco, English teacher, said, “Just because the student was the best player on my team does not mean I would have kept them in the game. If they messed up in school or off the court, they would sit a game or two if it was necessary.” Bagnasco was a respected coach and now a referee for volleyball. He knows a thing or two about coaching star athletes since he has had a good handful of players go on to play for college. Students here can see this almost every day and sometimes these athletes get away with their rude comments to teammates and even coaches on the team. Don’t get me wrong, players do not go around beating up girls or having sexual assault charges pressed against them, but sometimes some will break school policy. And just like any other student, they should be dealt with fairly. They should not be just another case thrown away because the coaches need the student to play. We underclassmen look up to these players and we expect to witness the results of their wise decisions. Instead we are being guided the wrong way. The term “student athlete” is what we hold ourselves to be, meaning above any athletics, we are always students first.
America is the land of great opportunities
Immigrated family inspires and brings pride to be American
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early every year, I find myself crossing paths with someone who immigrated to America. With packed bags, they moved away in hope of a better life. But it’s not just some common story. It is the story of my ancestors, and many more esmeraldamascorro like them. For many immigrants, hope is all that exists. Their hope would be America, to have the common rights of man: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I recall a time when I met a man who only had $2 to his name when he stepped onto American soil. And my heart sunk, I felt my arms begin to weaken, to see the light he had in his eyes just
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to be stuck in a soup kitchen. For him that was all the glory he needed. He was filled with joy and humility. “Llegué a los Estados Unidos; todo va estar bien.” “I arrived in the United States; everything will be okay,” he said, as he called his family in his native country. I didn’t dare ask his name. This moment is so vivid in my memory even today. How could a man with so little be so content? But there are many more untold stories like his. The past generations in my family are made up of immigrants just like this nameless man, but today, I say with pride and honor that I am American. My ancestors fought like many others so that I may have the right to belong. Blood dripped down from my great-grandfather’s face and sweat filled his clothes as he ran for his life to cross the American-Mexican border. He came and brought the foundation from which my family was formed. And even more so today, people cross that
same border to form a foundation for their future generations— that they might have the chance to live a life of freedom, safety and security. But nothing is given that easy, and hard work must always be instilled. America is just the bridge that helps a person prosper. The person must have the initiative to walk across that bridge. So when I hear the phrase “America is not the greatest country in the world,” I feel nothing but anger and frustration. For me, the world would not be where it is today without her. I have seen so many people grow in love, maturity, and success with all the opportunities that this land has to offer. People like my ancestors come here because nowhere else in the world can you go from picking cherries and fruits to being at the zenith of a respected profession. The problem is that many people don’t take advantage of the opportunities that are offered here. Thus, they are unable to see just how giving
and hope-filled America really is. So my question is, why do thousands of people come every year risking their lives? And yet, others can only complain about the flaws here. In a recollection of history, I gather my deepest gratitude for my country. If it were not for the American blood and strength that was shown throughout Europe as we the people fought against Nazi Germany, where would we be? The truth is that the freedoms that Americans have are often overlooked. Many Americans are ungrateful and don’t see how blessed they really are. There is a reason why people die to come here. Our Constitution works. Our Bill of Rights work. Prosperity is seen when America is mentioned in the eyes of those immigrants. I wonder if people could see the sweat of their own ancestors, would they have a different perception of America.
Ebola disease should not be joked about
loud sneeeze fills the room. Most would say a simple “bless you” just to be polite. But then there’s that one kid who has to snicker, “Ew get away from me! You have Ebola!” Then my’kaylamoore everyone laughs. Ebola is an infectious disease that causes blisters to be filled with blood, which is coughed up. As terrible as it sounds, a mere handful of people in the United States are affected by it. No one knows exactly where this disease came from, but has been said to be originated from animals, along with other conspiracies and theories. Wherever it might have come from, we need to recognize that it is real. There are many people, teenagers mostly, who like to joke about the disease. Sure, it’s funny the first few times, but once you’ve been hearing it nonstop for a solid month, it can get pretty annoying. People are always trying to be the “funny guy” and say offensive things for laughs, but there are others who take it seriously, and for some, the fear has taken over their entire life.
No one should be afraid to fly on an airplane or ride on other forms of public transportation because they’re afraid to get a disease just because somebody coughed. It’s perfectly OK to be aware of the the situation and be cautious that it’s happening, but first of all, it’s not airborne. Catching Ebola from someone else requires “close and direct” contact with infected body fluids, so you could really only get it from drinking from the same water or soda bottle as others. Second, what are the odds of you just randomly catching Ebola one day? Slim to none. People who make these jokes may act this way about the disease because they just want to make light of a serious situation. Maybe they do it because they’re also afraid of Ebola and they’re trying to put on a front to disguise the fact that they really do care and they really are scared. Joking is just a way of covering it up. For others, however, Ebola is not a joking matter. They’re not leaving their houses and are making sure no one sneezes, coughs, or even breathes on them to be sure they don’t catch it, which is unnecessary. According to USA Today, approximately 5,000 people have died from an outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. West Africa. Not Stockton, California. People are making it more of a threat
to themselves than it really is. Yes, it’s really repulsive, and yes, a large number of people have died from it in other parts of the world, but you really don’t need to be paranoid about the situation until you find out if it has spread to your state or not. Patrick Sawyer, a 40-year-old who lived in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, went to Liberia and came back only to get infected by and die from Ebola. CNN says that Sawyer is the only American to have died from Ebola outside of three west African countries; Guinea, where it began, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Sawyer is the first American to die from what health officials are calling the “deadliest Ebola outbreak in history.” His death has caused people to become concerned that the virus could potentially spread to the United States. “No one really took Ebola seriously until it hit Patrick,” says Sawyer’s wife Decontee, which is somewhat true. If you ask the average person what they think of the whole Ebola virus, they may say something like, “Not my problem,” and that’s true. It’s not their problem. At the end of the day, Ebola is something that should kind of just sit in the back of your mind. To those people who are deathly afraid of this disease and are trying to make it something it’s not, don’t be afraid to leave your house.
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There have been many rumors about how Ebola is spread, and many are taking precautions to the extreme. Here are facts regarding the disease. XX The current outbreak in west Africa is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976. There have been more cases and deaths in this outbreak than all others combined. XX Doctors believe the first patient became infected through contact with infected animals, such as fruit bats or primates (apes or monkeys). XX Once infected, it can be spread through humans by direct contact of broken or open skin wounds or body fluids. XX Symptoms appear eight to 10 days after incubation period and can span from two to 21 days. XX There is no cure for Ebola. Source: World Health Organization
infographic by Marleene Pheav
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from the PRESS BOX to the CLASSROOM “There’s a long drive... it’s gonna be, I believe... The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!” “The Shot Heard Round the World,” one of the famous calls in the history of games, happened on October 3, 1951. It is also one of the most famous moments of sports broadcasting. So students, hold onto your seats and welcome this years’ player of America’s pastime radio talk show host in the Bay Area, English teacher Lowell Tuckerman! “Media happens to be something that appealed to me because I really love sports, and media and sports really go hand in hand,” Tuckerman said. He’s going in! He’s in! And he made it! Tuckerman is succeeding in one of the most difficult jobs in the field with the ability to present information in an enthusiastic way. Since 2008 he has been able to go out, be in the press box, and provide coverage of sporting events using a variety of different media outlets — radio, television, and hand-held microphones to interview. Folks, this is going to be a hard one. Tuckerman takes his seat and
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prepares for the tense and difficult part. Notepad out, pen in hand, and eyes set on the field. He’s ready to multi-task. And the game begins! He has been in the press box regularly since then: two A’s, two Giants, 10 Warriors, three Raiders, and two 49er games. Every press box is from a different angle. Behind home plate for baseball, at the 50 yard line for football, and half court for basketball. Tuckerman described the press box as exclusive and like hanging out in a lounge. “In the press box we are not allowed to take pictures, cheer, and no team wear,” he said. “It was initially difficult but now I’ve gotten to the point where I mirror the others.” At times Tuckerman gets the urge to cheer but remembers that it isn’t allowed. Ahhh! Could it be! He wants to but he’s not! Will he! And he misses! He ignores the urge! All is well. “When I first started I thought that I’d never get used to it, but I’m used to it now,” he said, “but now it’s more business as usual.” If violation is made toward any of the rules, he said that they will look down on you. However this year was Tuckerman’s first chance to cover a World Series in press box. Giants
vs Royals. “It felt very festive yet intense.” Being in the press box gave Tuckerman a different view rather than being in the stands. “You can’t top that — World Series.” Realizing that it was difficult to go into the radio full time, he did it part time and decided to become a teacher. The decision was made after he subbed last year to have a feeling of what teaching was like. Being an English teacher, he still is able to use his skills of persuasion and making the subject interesting. In the summer Tuckerman stays in radio that’s located in San Jose. The radio station is an Indo-American station and 500,000 Indo-Americans view it. Because it is only a seasonal job he needed one that is more permanent and securing. So being a teacher was the way to go for Tuckerman. However, he plans on never leaving media completely. But he plans on bringing media into his teaching on campus next year and with that he said, “I will use this opportunity to teach what I teach best — media.” And there he goes, he sends it home, Tuckerman has done it again. Tuckerman ends with this, “I want to bring something new.”
Gaining confidence through dancing
“Tamarii Matairea” and has performed numerous times since she has begun. At one of her first per Sophomore Alyssa Martinez stepped out of her formances, “Heiva Maohi o’ Patitifa,” she received a comfort zone and tried something different, and second place award out of 15 other competing girls. that was Polynesian dancing. Then Martinez started attending Stagg and The fast-paced drums, the sense that you’re in a continued dancing. But as an incoming freshman, different culture and all the heritage behind every- it was harder to balance regular classes, extra curthing, she finds amazing. ricular activities and the occasional gym outside of She started four years ago and it’s something school and still maintain her passion for dancing. she has never regretted. “Of course it’s hard when you try to balance “Polynesian dancing is very different, and the out everything, but it’s worth it. Nothing can stop culture is explained through every song,” Martinez me from dancing,” she said. said. “My cousin actually introduced me to it, since Her freshman year was fairly easy compared to we have Hawaiian Culture and background.” this year, as she has had to balance out her dancing Polynesian dancing requires a lot of practice, as with yearbook and this past volleyball season. with any other physical activity. A majority of the The new schedule she’s now accustomed to time is dancing to the fast paced drums and not leaves her with little to no time to rest or stop for a missing a beat. break. Along with that, the dancers often move their “The only time I get to complete any homearms and hands as well. work is either at school or late at night when I get “A majority of the movements we do often back from practice,” she said. “But it’s good still, resemble an event or symbolize something for the I’m happy that I stay busy and able to keep my culture,” Martinez said. grades up.” Martinez is part of a family oriented group called Another obstacle Martinez runs into a lot is criticism, from the little things to the more noticeable things as well. “I often get criticized for not having the perfect body as some of the others do in our group,” Martinez explains. “Most of the time it’s from the audience, but it’s alright. I’m not there to impress every single person there, I’m there to try my all and express myself.” Martinez hopes that after high school, she can advance with her group to do more and better performances. “It’s all I think about when I hear ‘What you’re doing after high school?’ type questions,” she said. “Like for me, I can see myself eventually getting better and then be known for this. I want to make it a family thing, too. It’s photo courtsey of Alyssa Martinez something I would even want my future kids to be a part of, it’s a When it comes to Polynesian dancing, sophomore Alyssa part of me.” Martinez doesn’t let anything get in the way. She has her
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mind set on expressing herself.
Nov. 14, 2014
English teacher Lowell Tuckerman runs radio talkshow in the bay during breaks
photo courtesy of Lowell Tuckerman
English teacher Lowell Tuckerman visits different stadiums such as the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Although he gets the opportunity to attend different games, it is all strictly business.
A combination of colors create a story nuviacervantes Senior Aylin Murillo loves to plunge into the deepest chapters of a novel and explore the vast worlds of music, but what she indulges herself in more than anything is art. Learning at a young age gave her the advantage of refining the skill throughout the years, through which she built up certain characteristics that are present in most of her art. “When I draw I feel calm, like there’s a lot of positive energy flowing through my work.” There is no real reason why she draws, just that it comes as a natural talent for her. “I’ll just be sitting there, watching television, and my hand will start itching.” One of the earliest influences on Murillo’s art comes from her uncles. They were tattoo artists whose work often reflected the Aztec culture. As she grew, the impact of that culture began to reflect itself in her work. When one looks at her art now, they can easily see the Aztec influence deeply rooted within. “When I draw, I start with photo by Alexus Plascencia lines and shapes and don’t know Senior Aylin Murillo began her drawing as a fishbowl but inwhat it’ll end up being.” Murillo stead created something that represented her overthinking. is obsessed with integrating trischool gave her many other things to focus her time angles, flowers, and lines in her work. These symbols push their way into her water- on. Yet she still stuck to drawing. “Art still can be a way to make a living,” she colors as well as her drawings. After every drawing she finishes she takes a step said. “When people say you can’t make money off back and observes them carefully. “I always think, it, it’s the same thing as people asking, ‘Why be a mathematician when there’s robots now that carry ‘What could I have done to make it better?’” JoAnn Sagaral, however, has always had the out the calculations?’” She wholeheartedly believes skill of an artist. It is something the junior is really that people should do what they love, especially if they’re really good at it, and hers just happens to be good at and absolutely loves to do. When she was younger, she used to go to the art. Jagged Lines of Imagination art academy. It is an So even if people cue into their artistic abilities organization that provides the community with years into their life or begin to show such abilities training to promote art as an important factor to since the time they are able to write, it is the passion for art that can become a major driving force in life. help people express themselves. “I didn’t really go there for the classes, I went Murillo and Sagaral both feel it, maybe on different there to see how they formatted comics.” Before ends of an art spectrum, but both definitely display high school, Sagaral was involved in creating her a way to express themselves through their art. own comic but had to stop the project because
features
Nov. 14, 2014
Underlying drug world takes a toll on campus Students share common interest through use of marijuana
who deal or just have something to do with weed,” he said. “I’m not the only grower on campus. I won’t stop (smoking).” Not arriving at Hiding behind hallways, classrooms, and textbooks is a diverse home daily until around 9 or 10 at night, the producer and dealer network of consumers, dealers, and producers. Students are report- finds that weed makes him feel “chill” just like all other six interedly participating in daily drug activities on campus while teachers viewed students said. and other faculty have yet to establish a way, other than random K-9 The “chill” feeling they experience while they are over activating searches, to calm the traffic. their endocannabinoid system is A PLUS forum survey rea euphoria, commonly known vealed that during the month of as getting “high.” The marijuaOctober, 60 percent of students na plant carries a chemical called had seen other students engage Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol, in alcohol or drugs on campus. also known as THC, which afThe National Institute on Drug • Marijuana use by adolescents declined from fects brain development, causing Abuse announced that since problems such as not being able the late 1990s until the mid-to-late 2000s, 2007 young people make up the to remember things. majority of marijuana consum This memory failure is one but has been on the increase since then. ers, and the number of users is reason for the administration’s • In 2013, 18.0 percent of 10th graders and steadily increasing. proactive approach to on-campus 22.7 percent of 12th graders used marijuana drug dealing and use. A female student (whose name, like all students for this “When a student is in the past month. story, has been withheld) is an caught, depending on quantity, avid smoker who claims the • Daily use has also increased; 6.5 percent of the typical punishment is suspendrug’s high helps her focus. She sion,” Melissa Beattie, assistant 12th graders now use marijuana every day, began to smoke before her freshprincipal, said. “The parents will compared to 5 percent in the mid-2000s. man year but didn’t make a habit be contacted and the student will of it until the following year. be referred to Healthy Start for Now a senior and a returnintervention.” Beattie said that ing church member, she was SOURCE: DRUGABUSE.GOV since marijuana use is becoming once tempted to break the chain much more common now, stopwhen she arrived home from a ping this trend is much harder. religious retreat and was passed a “blunt.” Some parents may smoke marijuana for medicinal purposes, and this “I just looked at it for a minute, I really felt guilty, asking myself, environment influences students to believe that smoking is acceptable ‘Should I hit this?’ but I did anyway.” and they may start to bring this mindset outside the home, specifical A male sophomore on campus was passed a “joint” but instead of ly to school. giving in, he thought about what he was gaining from it. “I don’t want One senior proves this statement to be correct as being a marito disrespect my dad,” he said. The student has altered his smoking juana consumer is common in her family. “All of my family does it, lifestyle to only consuming once or twice a week. “My main focus is so I do it,” she said. “Before I started smoking less, I went to Oakland to sell and save up my money,” he said. “I make about $60 to $100 a with my aunt and we ‘hot boxed’ all the way over there.” ‘Hot boxing’ day just selling here (on campus). I put half on my brother’s (prison) is a term that means smoking in a car, with the windows up and the books and the rest I spend on family or myself.” He doesn’t feel the doors closed, to keep the smoke inside and to keep what is called a need to smoke, saying he is not addicted, but the obligation to his “contact high.” Now a retired smoker, she feels that the “chill” sensafamily has encouraged him to continue dealing. tion of smoking weed helped her cope with her mother’s death. Unlike him, a junior female is constantly looking over her shoul- “It made me less sad, not crying. I was calm and able to enjoy der for her parents’ watchful eyes. her.” Six students share the individual paths they take as part of the “They were disappointed when they found out,” she said. “So I underlying drug world on campus. The large scale of drug use and come to school and hop in another car with my friends to go smoke the general growing acceptance of the marijuana makes the situation and hang out.” In hopes that her parents do not catch her again, she more difficult to contain. said she uses school as a shield. “This is already affecting education,” Beattie said. “The students It was almost a year ago when a senior student discovered the aren’t retaining the knowledge they learn in school if they’re high, and power of selling at school. “There are so many people on campus that’s one of the long term consequences.”
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MARIJUANA USAGE IN SCHOOL
Landmarks on campus prove to be more than decorations marleenepheav Stagg is known for its historical background and how much they’ve improved since. Trophies and other significant items are showcased in display cases around the campus, along with landmarks and plaques. But do the students and faculty know what they are, or why they are there? One of the landmarks, the Stagg drinking fountain, was designed by Spencer Tracy. It still works and sits behind the Administration office (E-wing.) Another is the Senior Bench, which was contributed by the class of 1962. It was falling apart but has been restored. The bronze dedication plaque has, unfortunately, been stolen. There are many more landmarks spread across the campus that hold meaningful history. For more information about the exact locations and history behind the other various landmarks, visit the Stagg Line website (staggonline.net) where an interactive map of the campus is displayed.
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Student from Africa excels with languages
phillicityuriarte-jones Multilinguists are rare. A mere 3 percent of the world population speaks more than four languages, with the majority of people being either monolingual or bilingual. Teresa Joao belongs to that rare group. Joao originated in Africa but moved to Modesto when she was 12 due to her father’s work. At the time she only spoke Lingala, an African dialect. This caused a wall to form between her and other students as she could not communicate with them at all. This included the students learning English alongside her, as most if not all of them spoke solely Spanish. That is the reason she knows Spanish now, as she was taught English and Spanish simultaneously at Mary Lu Elementary School due to the majority of her English development classmates being Hispanic. “It was different, but I liked learning new things,” Joao said. She believes her path to learning more languages than most had already been paved for her. Claiming that with her parents already speaking seven languages, she was bound to have a few under her belt. “I speak Lingala, English, Spanish and Portuguese fluently,” said Joao, “and I am learning French right now.” In addition to taking a French class, her parents teach her at home. Joao’s parents also speak these languages, all fluently, as well as different African dialects. At home, her parents don’t speak just one language, but all
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of the ones she knows or is familiar with. They like to switch it up for her and her two sisters, making them notorious for changing languages in the middle of a conversation. Her parents also encourage her to have high aspirations and assist her in any way they can. This is why in addition to learning several different languages, Joao maintains a 4.0 grade-point average, classifying her as a “Superqueen” at the recent assembly. “I’m a fast learner,” she said. However, her academic world does not revolve around languages. Her favorite subjects are actually biology, English and algebra. Her quest for knowledge does not mean all she wishes to do is have her head in a textbook, but finds that is often the case. She does little else but go to school and go home during a day, something she says didn’t happen often in Africa. Her spending the majority of her time in class and at school in general contributes to her need to get the most out of what school has to offer her. Being a junior, college is always in the back of her mind and she wishes to attend school here in America. She plans to stay local to Stockton as well, her top choices being Fresno State or Sacramento State. However, she does not plan to stay much longer after that. Since she is the youngest of three, her and her family will be moving back to Africa after she has finished her studies. She admits to missing the liveliness of Africa and looks forward to speaking Lingala with her friends and family upon her return.
Do you know your
LANDMARKS? 1 out of 5 students know what the Senior Bench is. 0 out of 5 students know that the Senior Bench and the Senior Walk are separate. 2 out of 5 students are aware of the trees, shrubs, and benches that are dedicated to deceased students and teachers. 3 out of 5 students are aware of the class plaques in front of the office. 0 out of 5 students know that the “Delta Kings” mascot was chosen by the class of 1959.
photo by Celine Lopez
Located near the small gym, a rock is presented by class of 1971.
the
graphic by Marleene Pheav
“
photo by Alexus Plascencia
I speak Lingala, English, Spanish and Portuguese fluently and I am learning French right now.”
Teresa Joao junior
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entertainment
Nov. 14, 2014
Queer baiting shows diversity aracelivalencia
“We are all human, everyone should be equal,” said Alexis Lovecchio, a junior. This opinion represents a social change that’s happening with television shows and movies. More of them are now including samesex relationships to please their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transvestite viewers but are also trying to maintain indifferent and even homophobic viewers. TV shows like “The Fosters,” “Orange Is The New Black,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Sherlock,” and many more take advantage of what is called “queer baiting.” “It’s similar to (mixing) people with different races,” said Alex Qualls, sophomore. “You have to include it.” Queer baiting offers another perspective to viewers. It lets them know that being a part of the LGBT community is okay. For example, in the show “Pretty Little Liars,” Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell) comes out of the closet. After doing so, there are many scenes of her and her loved one kissing and holding hands. Now, is it morally right to put emphasis on the LGBT community? There is a big social divide on this topic and several students have a strong stand for or against it. “It’s the same as a boy and a girl doing it,” Qualls said. “It’s healthy and should be mentioned; people shouldn’t ignore it.”
As for other students, they disapprove of the whole queer baiting. “Overall it’s awkward because if you’re sitting with your parents, they won’t let you watch it,” Aylin Murillo, a senior, said. “It’s uncomfortable and inappropriate in a sense.” Some people disagree with queer baiting for their own reasons: their family isn’t used to seeing some scenes or they just aren’t comfortable with the whole topic. This divide is quickly growing on social media. For example, when the Disney channel show, “Good Luck Charlie,” came out with an episode of mothers of the same sex, social media began to explode with this controversial topic. Some thought that children need to know, because it’s a really big part of life, while others thought it was unnecessary and confusing to young children. This disagreement goes beyond the TV show or movie and into the actor’s personal life. Actors play a major role in queer baiting. For example, Stef and Lena Foster (Teri Polo and Sherri Saum), in the show “The Fosters,” are a married couple on the screen but off it they go back to being friends with different lives and marriages. However, some actors, like James Franco, get criticism for supporting queer baiting and since he lives with a male roommate, fans are
Making mad beats
Music artist shows his potential and pride
questioning his sexuality. Queer baiting is a growing trend in the film industry to help support homosexuality. Although it may not yet be accepted by a majority of viewers, movies and shows are beginning to involve this to raise their ratings. “You see people of different sex kissing and it’s okay,” said Lovecchio. “When people of the same sex do it, it’s not okay?”
art by Sathina Flores and Marleene Pheav
Jhene Aiko gives soulful performance micheallafoules
photo by Jerry Garcia
Anthony Guerrero is working on creating new music and continues to pursue his dreams of becoming a music producer.
vanessasalcedo Teenagers live and breathe for their music. The excitement of when we hear the first few seconds of our favorite song, recognizing it by just the beat is ecstatic. We sing along to our favorite lyrics but let us not forget as our hand taps away at our thighs in sync with the beat. That beat is what sets the entire mood, it’s what begins our excitement and follows through for the rest of the song. All of his life senior Anthony Guerrero has been exposed to a wide variety of music genres. His entire family listened to completely different things, such as rap with artists like Snoop Dogg, Tupac, or Dr. Dre, opening him to a whole new world of music and ideas. At 13, Guerrero decided to make something out of his unique ideas for music with just an app. A year later his app turned into an old laptop with a broken screen that needed a monitor connected to it to work. “It’s like rapping,” Guerrero said. “If you’re really good at it you’ll be good regardless of your equipment.” One day, out of boredom, Guerrero asked to borrow a program from his friend that
As his second album, “Nostalgia 2,” portrays, he used the sound of a VHS in one of his beats which gave off an old distorted sound that suited the entire feel of the album. “Music production is just an emotional output,” Magana said. “If you’re sad, then you produce sad stuff. It’s like making an untold story waiting for someone to read it. You would think it’s just a beat out of boredom but it’s actually something Anthony Guerrero you put yourself into, it’s a part of senior you.” In March allowed him to create beats. Guerrero was contacted by rap Now Guerrero has released per A$AP Rocky’s manager, who three albums and is currently found Guerrero through his first working on a fourth. album and wants him to help “When I listen to Anthony’s produce a mixtape. beats I’m suddenly in space,” “It’s a really fast life,” senior Braulio Magana said. Guerrero said. “Not now when “Somewhere deep in the dark everything’s just starting but nebula.” once it all blows up you’ll never Guerrero is inspired by be home and everything just average and overlooked things. goes by really fast.”
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Regardless of what you do you’re going to get feedback, positive and negative. You just have to take it and build off of it, make it better.”
Including friends. With his mind set on music Guerrero says he lacks time for people in his life, except family. “With the money I make off my beats I help my mom with the bills,” Guerrero said. “I can make about $6,000 a month, even though I undersell my beats considering they can go from $100 to $1,000 each.” As a 17 year old Guerrero is not always taken seriously by his peers. “That doesn’t bother me, though,” Guerrero said. “I’ve met older producers who say my beats are better than people that they know who have been doing this for a long time. Regardless of what you do you’re going to get feedback, positive and negative. You just have to take it and build off of it, make it better.” Guerrero is determined to make it in producing music, to go big, but to always leave his mark where he comes from. “I want people to know that I came from Stockton,” Guerrero said. “To know that you can have nothing and still go far, because it doesn’t matter where you come from, it only matters where you’re going. All you can do is work hard, if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.”
A lot can happen in 10 years. It has been 10 years since Jhenè Aiko’s debut single “NO L.O.V.E” was released, when she was 15. Since then she has been working with R&B artists, producing, ghost writing music and featuring her vocals on collaborations. Along the way, Aiko has also recorded her debut mixtape, “Sailing Soul(s).” And finally, this fall she has released her first studio album, “Souled Out,” in September. In this album, Aiko sings about love, hate, and pain, along with relationships, and sharing her own experience of a young girl maturing into a woman. Each track on the album is a story, significant to herself, in duality of hip hop rap and R&B beats with her soulful vocals. With her stories, she enlightens us with wisdom and inspiration. Whenever I hear the song “W.A.Y.S,” it never fails to uplift my mood. It’s a great song to listen to when life is bringing you down. The title of her song is an acronym, which stands for “Why aren’t you smiling?” These were the last words tweeted by her older brother, who lost his battle to cancer a couple of years ago. And several years before her brother’s death, when she was about 20 years old, Aiko was forced to make a decision to abort her baby or not. Eventually, she gave birth to her daughter, Namiko, and is a devoted single mother, as it is evident in this album. “This is for my brother, I do this for my daughter/ That’s why I keep going/ I gotta keep going.” This is chanted throughout the song. Aiko’s insightful lyrics tell us that nothing is destined for us; we choose our own paths. Life is unpredictable, and we have to face whatever it throws at us. Along the way, we can’t forget to smile. “So why aren’t you smiling?” A similar song is “Eternal Sunshine.” Aiko encourages us to seek the good things in life and to maintain positivity. The song starts in soothing melodies and a slower tempo, already putting us in a peaceful place. Then her serene voice pulls us in. “Is it strange for me to say that/ If I were to die today/ There’s not a thing that I would change/ I’ve lived well/ Maybe I have made mistakes and been through my fair share of pain/ But all in all, it’s been okay, I’ve lived well.” Despite her mistakes and the pain she’s endured, “of all the many things [she] can recall/ All of the good things, only the good things.” With songs that are so enlightening, Aiko also includes pieces on this album for you to listen to when you need someone to understand the heartache, or if you’re just feeling for stories of distress and complicated relationships. In her song “Brave,” she needs a man who isn’t afraid or discouraged of her past, and will accept her despite the facts. The second verse gives it away, “Please don’t take my hand unless you plan to/ Take a stand and be a man who/ Understands that I’m no walk in the park/ All these scars on my heart/ It’s so dark yeah/ But if you’re a warrior, there’s nothing to fear.” Aiko’s symbolism and metaphors in her lyricism create beautifully crafted stories, and the touch of hip hop beats and temponic bass develops a different sound. Aiko’s uniqueness shines through the album, making it enjoyable to listen to.
‘Souled Out’ says it all Jhene Aiko shows soul Overall, her debut album is impressive. Her lyricism crafts stories and her music has a unique sound, blending hip hop and soul.
sports
Nov. 14, 2014
the
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Taking advantage of the new league
Teams head to playoffs devinwickstrom
Two years ago at the Fall Sports Banquet, James Marrone gave a little speech before he handed out the season’s awards. He didn’t look at the crowd yet, but instead gazed in awe at the athletic banners hanging in the gymnasium; he had the microphone in his hand, but he wasn’t talking to the onlookers. Instead, he seemed to be almost talking to himself. At the end of his summary of the season, while still looking at the banners the soccer coach said, “It’s time for us to get another banner in here.” On Tuesday Oct. 28, that’s exactly what they did. The team has been very successful in the past. Four to five years ago were good times for the program because the team won several league championships in a row. But times changed over the years and the boys couldn’t keep up anymore. “Because we had great success four years ago, it was a hard fall,” Marrone said. But the team got its championship back this year. But this wasn’t supposed to be the year. “We won only one game last
year,” Marrone said. “I mean, I knew we had the ability to do well, but not this well.” He said the team needed this year to get the program back on its feet again and to help the seniors forget about last year’s record. The league game against Chavez was a nail-biter and unlike any other game in the season. The bleachers were packed, the opposing crowds were roaring back and forth, elbows were thrown, and eyes were cut. The most thrilling of all: not a single point was scored in the varsity match. Both teams battled and never gave up, but Stagg had the most league points so the championship was given to them. This win and persistence is due to the team’s unusual approach to the season. Marrone said that he is normally a control-freak, but this year he let his two co-captains run the team. “There are times in games where they look unstoppable,” he said. “So I let them take charge.” One of them, senior Jose Chavez, has played for Stagg all four years while also playing for several off-season teams.
“We had some lazy moments during the season,” he said. “Sometimes it was during practice and other times it was during games. We just had to get past it.” The midfielder also said that it was frustrating because the team was used to losing constantly, but they just had to stay positive and learn. For those who are not familiar with the soccer team, it’s a very close group of friends but more of a family. Each member is born with a new name upon entrance to the home and they all call each other “brothers.” In fact, most of the team is related; according to Marrone, the soccer team has had more siblings on varsity and junior varsity than ever before, which helps with the team chemistry. This is the first thing the team masters before moving on to the next skill set. “You can do what you want to win with talent,” Marrone said. “But you need a little bit more than that. We incorporated family and gave the players pride in being a king.” Marrone knew at some point the team would get a banner,
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photo by michealla foules
Senior Jose Chavez enjoys the SJAA win against Chavez. The team went on to win the first round of playoffs the following week.
he just didn’t expect it this year. “They didn’t want to let their brothers down,” he said. “This is the greatest group of young men to work with, and now they have something to latch on to.”
To see the interview of Oliver Perez after is injury,
Visit staggonline.net
Girls tennis team makes history after tie arrianasmith
photo by jeniferflores
Senior Claudette Caceres has played tennis for Stagg since her freshman year and is now the co-captain.
Top
s r e y pla Hard work and dedication has paid off for these athletes in the new San Joaquin Athletic Association. These are the top all-around players and performances.
There are flames in their eyes as the players remember what their coach told them. “Fight ‘til the very end.” As the ball flies back and forth over the net, the rest of the players wait anxiously to see which team is taking the victory. Stagg was tied with Edison 4-4, and this last game would determine the victor. If Edison won, they would take sole possession of first place in the San Joaquin Athletic Association league. The girls team had to win in order to share the title with Edison. Suddenly, all of the conditioning and practicing paid off. For the first time in history, the girls tennis team will receive a banner that will be added to the collection displayed in the gymnasium. “I felt relieved,” senior co-captain Claudette Caceres said. “There was so much anticipation put on this particular match.” Junior co-captain Guadalupe Barbosa recalls
the event as not only exciting but a thrill to know that after all their work they were being rewarded with the first place title. Nicole Richards, junior, was worried whether her team would take the win, but after the coach gave a pre-game encouragement, she had no doubts about them being victorious. “I can’t describe the win,” she said. “We just found this motivation hidden inside us.” The first game of the season was one of the most important. In their first match against Edison, they needed to win in order to take first place. After that match the team was left disappointed and discouraged. However, they muddled through the hurt of that first loss. The only hope left was beating Edison the next time they played them in order to tie. They wanted to win, not only as a team but as a family. Caceres, speaking on behalf of the team, admits that they started out the season pretty slow.
Boys and girls water polo
Golf
Jasmine Williams, senior SJAA champion record of 91
Samuel Cornelison, sophomore 23 goals
Gabby Beutel, junior 80 goals
After that first loss, the team felt defeated. They took it extremely hard, but didn’t give up. The team strived to do better and began to give it their all. “It was heartbreaking to see our coach so torn up, because we could have tried harder to prepare for this match,” Barbosa said. “She’s a great coach, when we first lost she took it especially hard because she wants us to win,” said junior Leslie Lopez. “But she also wants us to have fun.” “Knowing that I had a part in getting that banner up there, it’s crazy,” Richards said. The whole team is now anticipating the hanging of the banner. This experience has not only made history but has made some of the players feel closer to their teammates. The journey this season took them on with tying for first place and achieving the banner will connect them forever. They certainly fought ‘til the very end.
Football
Tennis
Tristen Taylor, senior Full ride scholarship to Washington
Claudette Caceres, senior SJAA tournament champion, 14-0
not photographed: Volleyball: Jasmine Pharms, junior 126 kills; Cross country: James Garcia, junior 15:47 time for three miles
graphic by the staggline
Abdallah overcomes his limits with aquatics lucithomas
To this day, junior Giacomo Abdallah clearly remembers the moment he was relaxing at his home. He grabbed one of his favorite snacks and laid back on his couch to watch television. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his back. This horrific pain lasted for three days to the point where he couldn’t walk. Thereafter, he was rushed to the emergency room to see what the cause of the severe pain was. His vertebrae was fractured near his spine. As soon as Abdallah heard the news of his fractured vertebrae, he was aware that the only way to relieve his pain would be to undergo surgery. “I knew I needed surgery and I pushed for it, but I was still scared,” said Abdallah. It was difficult for him to go through both the back surgery and the recovery process, especially as a sophomore then. “I was very scared for the surgery, because they promised me medicine which didn’t help the pain,” said Abdallah. The recovery process was the hardest thing he had to overcome in his life. The surgery affected him both mentally and physically. He had to basically start over again. “I had to learn how to walk again and find my own limits,” said Abdallah. During the time he was in bed the rest of his family was at his side, helping him move around the house. Abdallah’s biggest obstacle was coming to school in a wheelchair. He wasn’t sure how people would react seeing him. Although it was mandatory for Abdallah to recover for the first few months in a wheelchair, he felt weak. He said that some people wouldn’t talk to him anymore, even the people he was close with, as if he were a different person. But these obstacles didn’t get in the way of Abdallah’s interest in playing water polo. He joined the team in the beginning of his junior
year. “I have always enjoyed swimming and I wanted to try something new.” He gained a great amount of knowledge joining the team and found out that there aren’t any limits because he is in water. “You have to learn how to pace yourself and build up stamina,” he said. Abdallah’s coach, Marcus Sherman, gave him a good piece of advice, “Don’t be scared to shoot.” He took his coach’s advice into consideration by putting forth his best ability each game. With determination, Abdallah dived into the water, got the ball passed to him, and struck. He made his very first goal against McNair High School with excitement running through his body. In a few words Abdullah described the moment. “It just happened slowly.” One of the things he puts in mind is staying positive during practices and games. “As soon as you put in doubts, then you know it is not going photo by aracelivalencia to be a good game,” said Abdallah. He doesn’t think Although Junior Giacomo Abdallah had a life changing back surgery, he is about his back problems throughout his time in the now playing water polo. water. He mainly focuses on improving his skills as being a part of the team was a great experience and that he will defithe wing player. Coming from a tough surgery into recovery is difficult, but join- nitely join the swimming team because of the love he has for aquatic ing a sport after an injury shows motivation. Despite Abdallah’s dif- sports. His fellow teammate, junior Parker Spurlin, said, “He’s tough; ficulties, he came out with perseverance and made a huge impact on no matter what, he’ll help the team. Being together in water polo, we his water polo team. Now that the season is over, Abdullah adds that grew a long-lasting friendship.”
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Nov. 14, 2014
Music delivers information, fun
EduConcert teaches students importance of a budget
Competition conflicts with prom
Finding the fun in money veronicavargo
Two days, 10 concerts, more than 100 performers. For many years the music program has put on annual concerts, but unlike last year’s fun spooky theme, music teachers Mark Swope and Joseph Updegraff crafted a concert with a more identifiable educational twist. “Every year we have a discussion and see what (students) want to do,” Swope said. “Last year they came up with this and it takes about a year to plan.” After the final performance from the jazz band, concert band, show choir, and orchestra, Swope and his “team” started working on a new theme. This year’s comeback of the EduConcert featured a storyline of a single minimum wage earning worker named Sasha, played by sophomore Andrea Voller. “It was hard doing a boring topic like money and making it entertaining,” Updegraff said. The music pieces were crammed in between each scene, turning the “boring” topic into an exciting one. Voller’s character had to pay bills using dollars and learn to use credit as well as how to run and recover her credit and FICO score. While the scenes were being performed, there was a slideshow presentation alongside the stage with more in-depth information and definitions regarding the skit’s content. Playing the main role, Voller feels like she is smarter with her money. “I don’t want to just waste my money,” Voller said. “When I get a job, I’m going to save my money now that I know more.” Junior Roger Morales attended the concert four times and really understood the message after seeing it twice. “It taught me to manage my money and to not go over my credit limit, basically not to spend a lot if I can’t afford it,” he said. Swope’s goal with the theme of “Money! Money! Money!” was to “spark curiosity in (students) and to get them thinking about things they might not have thought about before.” Narrator Parker Spurlin, a junior, told the story thoroughly since the actors had no dialogue. “I felt some (students) comprehended,” Spurlin said. “I can’t get everyone to listen, but I felt like a lot were listening to the message that we were trying to convey.” Performing for approximately 1,200 students, Updegraff said, “I feel like we didn’t really think about the flow of the whole show ‘til the last minute, but we definitely will next year.” The music directors hope to choose pieces for the next EduConcert that incorporates both the skills that they are learning in the classroom, not just thinking about the theme. After two months of practice, two days, and 10 concerts, the last thing left to do is cash out and “collapse.”
angelgonzalez
The EduConcert consisted of orchestra, concert band, jazz band, choir, and drama performing songs and skits relating to this year’s theme, “Money! Money! Money!” photos by Jerry Garcia
People in choir and band who plan to go to prom all have the same predicament to overcome. Prom has been planned on the same day as a concert field trip that band and choir have on April 25. “It’s really frustrating,” said senior Nancie Tapo. “I really don’t know what I am going to do.” Mark Swope, choir teacher, Joseph Updegraff, band teacher, and Ryan Berg, ASB adviser, all say they followed the correct procedures for scheduling their events but it just so happened they were scheduled for the same dates. Berg has been planning all of the prom events since the end of the last school year. He has been working to make it better for the people who are allowed to go by improving the things that people have said needed to be changed. For example, some people have been complaining about how prom has been at the Scottish Rite Temple for multiple years. Students wanted a new setting, so ASB relocated the event to a winery in Lodi. Updegraff and Swope have planned to take their departments to Six Flags: Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo for the day. This was planned in the beginning of this year. Updegraff and Swope wish that they could have received a notification that April 25 was the same day as prom. But they weren’t, and now the trip cannot be changed or moved and neither can prom. These events are leaving students, especially seniors, to try and find out how they can go to both events. “Singing means a lot to me, but at the same time this is high school and this is prom,” said Tapo. “I’m really frustrated because I am a senior and I haven’t been to any proms and I am really looking forward to it because it is my senior year.” For her, there is no way to get back in time for the prom because the busses are not leaving until 10 p.m. This is making her have to decide which event to attend. Nguyen Hoang, senior, isn’t worried. “I’m not the type of person that takes forever to get ready,” she said. “All I have to do is go home and get dressed real quick, and we are allowed to get out early.” She is one of the students that is making it work so that she can go to both. Hoang actually seems to prefer having something to do on the day of prom. “Usually I would just sit all day waiting for the day to pass by to get ready for prom, and I figure that if I go to Six Flags and I spend all day there and go home and get changed real quick (then I can make it to prom on time),” she said. “We can make something work.”
Hard time VUEing grades for all teachers mattdanforth
photo by Esmeralda Mascorro
Junior Marco Medina checks his grades regularly and finds it frustrating when the grade he is looking for isn’t updated on StudentVUE. He said that at least two of his teachers do not update grades on a regular basis.
For many students, knowing their grades has become a must. Whether they have to know in order to try out for a sport, for their parents, or just to know how well they are doing. Checking and knowing grades has become so essential that it has become a part of a student’s life to login to Synergy’s StudentVUE. However, grades aren’t always so up-to-date, said junior Daniel Diep. “My grades are never updated and I don’t find out my grade until I have to turn in a grade check or I get my progress report.” When it comes to inputting grades for StudentVUE, there are two types of teachers, students say. One updates grades as soon as assignments are turned in and they encourage students to discuss any problems or questions they may have with their current grade. The other is a student’s worst nightmare when their parents ask to see their grades.
“My teacher doesn’t put in my current grade until the end of the quarter,” said sophomore Jordyn Garcia. Several teachers like this have been labeled by students for their reluctance and what they consider to be complete disregard for posting grades. For junior Marco Medina, he said this is the case. “All my other grades are updated on StudentVUE except for one. I turn in all the work, and I get it back graded but it doesn’t show online.” The junior goes on and says that he talks to his teacher constantly, asking to get his grade updated, but that these talks yield no results. “If my grade doesn’t get updated, I could get in trouble from my parents and I won’t be able to play this season,” he said. Even though students perceive this as neglect, math teacher Kathy Sady said, “Students forget we have things to do other than update grades constantly. The main problem with today’s society is
(the desire for) instant gratification.” Sady said that there is no patience when it comes to grades but that students shouldn’t worry if their grades have changed everyday “because it probably won’t have.” Students should note that teachers are only required by the district to update grades before progress reports and report cards are to be sent out. However, assistant principal Gamal Salama said, “We (administrators) are pushing teachers to update their grades every one or two weeks.” Salama explains how teachers attended workshops to inform them on how to use the online grade book and push for more frequent updates. “(Students) should know that our teachers make mistakes, they are human,” he said. “When it comes to grades, there might be a slight error, but we are working to help both teachers and students with this situation.”
#SourcesYouShouldFollow
News networks and schools have joined social media to provide quicker information to a variety of audiences. Here are some sources that may help with college information and school assignments such as current events. @AP
News and insight from The Associated Press.
@FAFSA
Provides easy access information about grants, loans and work-study for college.
@stocktonbuzz
Informs about local art shows and events that happen in Stockton. graphic by Jenifer Flores