August 2014
VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1
2014 FIFA
World Cup
The effect on Brazil and future tournaments
ISRAEL V. GAZA
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AS WELL AS: Common Core, 4-5 Illegal Immigration, 10 #BringBackOurGirls, 13
THE CHARIOT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kathleen Xue SENIOR EDITOR Gabriel Alon COPY EDITOR Maggie Wang FUNDRAISING DIRECTOR Katina Yong CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Isha Gupta Stephen Lee Xavier Loinaz Grace Park Daniel Rutenburg Ricky Shin Shannon Yang Dave Zhu
DEAR READERS,
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ver the summer thirty-two nations around the world congregated in Brazil to contend over the World Cup. Tensions leading up to and taking place during the event now bring yet another interesting perception to what seems on the surface as a cooperative sporting competition. Meanwhile, in Gaza, sectarian violence has risen to such an extreme that it has called the attention of surrounding countries and has induced attempts of facilitated peace talks ending only in indecision. The nature of this issue is so convoluted that there is no black or white; heroes and villains are both obliterated and it is necessary but almost impossible to view the situation from the standpoint of an objective third party. But we must not forget the problems plaguing our very own country. The recent surge of illegal immigrants and the state of which our citizens now view our president are among the most worrisome, spurring lively debate and more polarized statements and beliefs than ever before. Taking all of this into consideration, The Chariot has dedicated this issue to addressing as many pressing topics as possible and answering politically delicate questions presented by the general populace. This year especially, The Chariot will focus on current events happening on the national and international levels. We will continue to cover local and cultural topics of interest, but that will not be the spotlight of our publication. Moreover, it is essential for us to provide both accurate information as well as our own stances on certain facets of current events, in the hope that you, the readers, may take from these articles both a newfound knowledge on matters of utmost concern as well as your own belief on such controversial subjects. Our purpose is to open your eyes to the various affairs all around you that may not be observed otherwise, and possibly, even stimulate some of the bright minds within this campus to begin to think not only on the national level, but on the global level as well.
The Chariot would like to thank the following sponsors and patrons:
Sincerely,
Kathleen Xue
FOUNDATION/GROUP SPONSORS Adobe Systems • Daughters of the American Revolution • Palo Alto Lions Club
PATRONS ($100+) Lauren Michals and Vinod Bharadwaj • Patricia Bruegger • Steven Guggenheim • Yajun Liu and Shirley Zeng
The Chariot would also like to thank Advisor Marc Igler for his support.
Editor-In-Chief Front cover artwork is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution. ABOUT US The Chariot is intended to create and promote political discussion at Gunn and make people aware of issues that matter. We ask that you respect all opinions which are reflected in our publication, and write letters to the editors if you wish to voice your opinion. The views expressed do not reflect that of The Chariot, but rather those of the individual writers. The Chariot was originally founded in 2001 as The Partisan Review by Gunn alumni Ilan Wurman (‘06), Channing Hancock (‘06), and Sarah McDermott (‘05). Visit our website, www.issuu.com/thechariot if you wish to view any issues from previous years or for more information about us. Any questions, comments, suggestions, or requests to join can be sent to gunnchariot@gmail.com. If you’d like to make a donation or subscribe, please send checks to: Marc Igler Re: The Gunn Chariot 780 Arastradero Road Palo Alto, CA 94306 Checks can be made out to Gunn High School with “The Chariot” on the memo.
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NEW CULTURE
THROUGH TWEETS
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
$7.25 an hour just isn’t enough. It’s time to #RaisetheWage
BOOKS
MUSIC
– Barack Obama @BarackObama August 6
Written by Haruki Murakami, translated by Philip Gabriel Published Aug 12, 2014 by Alfred A. Knopf
After Murakami’s release of 1Q84 in the English markets, he shot to new levels of literary stardom-now a new Murakami work is available for English readers complete with his heavy peppering with Easter eggs from his previous books. When first published in Japan more than a million copies were sold during the first week, a number equal to roughly 1% of the population. All in all, the story looks to be one about the journey from youth to adulthood.
Hard Choices Written by Hillary Rodham Clinton
Image taken from Rolling Stone
Ultraviolence Written by Lana Del Rey and Dan Auerbach
Released June 13, 2014
Lana Del Rey follows her debut album with a more mellow and somber release illustrating in melodic imagery the vicissitudes of abusive relationships, revealing a much deeper and darker side to love. Del Rey thoroughly bewitches the listener with her rich and heart-rending voice coupled with poetic lyrics and backed by simple yet haunting harmony.
Published June 10, 2014 by Simon & Schuster
Hillary Clinton recounts various foreign policy situations as difficult choices during her time as Secretary of State, focusing on events in the Middle East and the Arab Spring, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Russia as well as the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. Special attention is paid to describing the 2012 Benghazi attack in which several Americans as well as the US ambassador were killed. Beyond her professional career, Clinton also describes her personal life as well as her thoughts during the 2008 elections against Barack Obama. Though a long read (635 pages), Hard Choices proves to be both informative and riveting, giving the reader a better idea of what seemed to be complex issues during a time of turmoil.
Erdogan’s victory will have a profound impact on the future of Turkey’s shaky democracy –The Economist @TheEconomist August 11
WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan: #Ebola in West #Africa is a Public Health Emergency of Intl Concern #alert –WHO @WHO August 7 Russia sending aid convoy to Ukraine despite Western warnings of invasion pretext –Reuters Top News @Reuters August 11
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Image taken from Billboard
Written by Ed Sheeran Released June 20, 2014
Ed Sheeran’s sophomore album contains as much innocent sweetness as +, but with a few more daring singles pushing the edges of his previously dulcet signature. Sheeran successfully uses his abilities to create catchy yet pertinent tunes. August 2014
Why was #ISIS (ISI) so effective in #Mosul? Its networks were already there –WikiLeaks @WikiLeaks August 9 “We just want to be together and not be afraid.” (Erbil, Iraq) –Brandon Stanton @HumansofNY August 11
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THE CHARIOT
DEBATE: BENEFITS AND DISAD
Long-term benefits outweigh short-term risks
dards is that it does not allow for teachers to cater their teaching habits to the student’s needs. However, the Common Core Standards have been designed to leave room for tailoring to specific state
Maggie Wang Copy Editor
The Common Core Standards have been designed to leave room for tailoring to specific state populations.
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aunched in 2009 by the National Governors Association Center (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the Common Core State Standards Initiative was created with the vision of bringing America up to the level of other countries, standardizing education throughout the various states, and preparing students for higher education and the job market. Since its implementation, there have been many positive results from schools nationwide. As the first state to adopt the Common Core standards, Kentucky high school graduation rates rose from 80 percent in 2010 to 86 percent in 2013. Extensive research has been done in the decade leading up to this case study to minimize detrimental effects. One of the biggest concerns for those who oppose the Common Core Stan-
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populations (states must adopt at least 85% of the standards, leaving 15% to tweak), giving schools flexibility in their courses. Schools can add on subjects that are not a part of these standards, and modify areas of study that they feel could be improved upon. In this way, the Common Core Standards is merely a guideline but not a means for restriction. The Common Core does not tell teachers what to teach and merely outlines what the students should know and is not limited to other knowledge such as creative writing. The Common Core Standards is a set of standards, not a curriculum intended for teachers to follow. Common Core has been developed with the input of various teachers, researchers, and leading education experts August 2014
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across the country. Although there no doubt is still room for the standards to develop, they were developed with careful research and practice over a dozen years. While the English standards draw on the NAEP frameworks in reading and writing, the mathematics standards are based on studies of high-performing countries. Countrywide academic standardization is highly beneficial for those who move from school to school or state to state. Instead of having to constantly review topics they have already learned or skipping topics they have not yet covered, these students can now move to different schools with less disruption of their academic flow. A single set of standards is also useful to compare the quality of education from state to state and therefore help out the states that are having trouble. Contrary to popular belief, Common Core will not need to lower standards of high achieving states, As with many new systems, the implementation of the Common Core will take time, and energy, and is sure to be a long and rocky road. However, after students, teachers, administrators, and parents properly adjust to these standards, they will lead to ultimate academic success for all areas in the United States.
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DVANTAGES OF COMMON CORE Too early to implement Kathleen Xue Editor-in-Chief
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hough Common Core State Standards seem only beneficial on paper, closer scrutiny suggests that there are certain flaws it does not address and that there is even a whole topic of traditional education that is cut off in favor of preparing students solely for the career world. Certainly the new Common Core initiative has been shown to increase high school graduation rates of previously low-education states such as Kentucky (which has increased its graduation rate
COMMON CORE TIMELINE 2007
Nov: Common Core standards first discussed in CCSSO’s Annual Policy Forum
2008
Dec: Governors and state education chiefs release report encouraging Common Core
2009
Apr: Common Core Standards development officially begins
2010
Jun: K-12 college and career readiness final standards released to public
2011
States and territories individually review and discuss adopting standards
2012
2013
2014
Dec: 45 states adopt Common Core State Standards Jun: 43 states adopt Common Core State Standards
SOURCE: Common Core State Standards
from 80% to 86% within three years), but test scores may not necessarily be able to as it is a set framework to be gradually gauge students’ readiness. implemented by all the states of America, The most troubling issue with the originally high-education states would Common Core State Standards Initiative need to lower their standards to fit the is the fact that it almost completely oblitnew education system as well, which is in erates creative writing from its curricuessence a reversal in educational progress. lum. According to the official website, This is extremely unfair for the already es- “the standards’ focus on evidence-based tablished education institutions that have writing along with the ability to inform been successfully instructing students to and persuade is a significant shift from be amply ready for adulthood and career current practice”, but it does not add any paths with more effective methods than details about a creative writing section to those that Common Core offers. More- the program whereas it outlines an exover, schools with originally lower stan- tensive nonfiction and persuasive writing dards are seen to be struggling with the structure. This may be helpful for a future new heightened standards and rushing to of technical employment, but having a fit one year’s worth of content into the complete lack of creative writing not only grade below, further skewing the students’ limits students’ thinking capacities but grasp of the various disciplines. Though also decreases their freedom to explore the graduation percentage in Kentucky in school, which in turn would produce a has increased in piloting Common Core, magnitude of diligent but unimaginative at the same time the proficiency levels minds. The Common Core standard that dropped by 30-40%. This is an effect of comes closest to describing creative writa completely foreign curriculum being ing is its narrative writing section, which tested on live subjects, which, considering is still focused on career and college readthe stakes being placed, is an extremely iness and decreases as the grade levels unwise decision. advance, thus discouraging the innovative Though the Common Core State Stan- thinking that has driven America for the dards Initiative first began in 2009 before past several centuries. the Obama administration came into ofThere are many admirable aspects of fice, it worked with the government to the Common Core State Standards Initiaexpand its influtive that may possibly ence and with bring about academthe help of Presic success in America When dealing with the next ident Obama it within the next five generation, even the smallest created the govto ten years. Howevmiscalculations could cause a ernment-funded er, when dealing with widespread failure. Race to the Top the development of (RTT) grants on the next generation, July 24, 2009 to even the smallest incentivize states to adopt the standards miscalculations could cause a widespread in a timely manner. This may seem ad- failure. Not only is testing this curricuvantageous, but it actually takes the focus lum live on current American citizens a off of education and instead places it on huge risk, but the setup of the system is improving test scores in order for states flawed in its focus and there are areas that to obtain funding from RTT. Doing so it does not cover at all. Therefore, it is in would make preparing students for higher the NGA and CCSSO’s best interest to education and careers ineffective because reconsider the details of their new initiathese projected goals require compre- tive to limit its deleterious short-term and hensive education, and high standardized long-term effects. August 2014
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THE CHARIOT
Vergara v. California effect on teacher tenure
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Shannon Yang Contributing Writer
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n June 10 a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles ruled in Vergara v. California that the laws governing tenure, seniority, and firing for K-12 public school teachers all across “The quality of teachers affected my eduthe state are unconstitutional. This lawsuit cation a lot, despite using the same curwas filed in 2012 by Students Matter, a riculums.” nonprofit organization, on behalf of nine On the other hand, not everyone public school students. The state is obli- thinks the that harm in tenure outweighs gated to provide access to a good educa- the benefits. Teachers’ unions, like the tion; however, these students claim that California Teachers Association and the teacher tenure California Federastands in the way, tion of Teachers, disproportionhave challenged the “It will probably help the stuately harming judge’s decision, dents by making teaching a underprivileged making the Vergara more competitive profession.” students, such as v. California ruling minorities or the tentative. The case poor. is pending an apSeveral Gunn students support the peal, which may take anywhere from a judge’s decision to side with the plaintiffs. few months to a several years. Sophomore Marc de Lecea believes that Junior Brian Hill assesses the effect because Palo Alto is very isolated, the of job security. “You need something to change will not impact Gunn. “Our disget smart people to teach, otherwise you trict for sure [would not be impacted], but have constantly changing, inconsistent in other, more segregated and poor comteachers, which can be damaging to the munities, it will probably help the stuschool,” he said.. “The benefit of tenure dents by making teaching a more competis that teachers feel safe in their jobs and itive profession, at first raising classroom will want to continue teaching. It would sizes, but eventually making teaching be hard to attract people to a job without much more profitable and worth doing,” that promise of consistency.” he said. “It encourages people to go into “I’d be surprised if many teachers teaching because it’s good for skilled, new would say that they would want to elimiteachers.” nate tenure. I think that’s something that Sophomore Lucy Fan agreed, believis a valuable part of your job,” says Speing that effective education should be encial Education and Living Skills teacher titled to students. “Students should have Joanna Hubenthal. Hubenthal, who is the right to a good education,” she said. tenured, says that tenure is important but
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that the system has flaws. According to Hubenthal, Gunn has let go of tenured teachers in the past, therefore it is not completely impossible in situations where a grossly ineffective teacher is hired and tenured. Because hiring and firing will be based on quality instead of time if tenure is ultimately eliminated, districts may need to improve their assessment methods. According to de Lecea, who believes there will not be huge shifts, “A teacher can’t pretend to teach well an entire year, and the administration would get complaints if the teacher was really doing something wrong.” Hubenthal has a similar perspective on assessment. “Teachers are continually assessed, so I think they would just continue to do that,” she said. “They might take it a little more seriously.” Assessments are based off classroom observation, such as environment and lesson planning, rather than test scores. Some believe similar cases as Vergara v. California could spread to other states and revolutionize the education systems there. “If it really makes a big change in the quality of the job and of the attractiveness of having better teachers, then it will slowly spread, but not quickly,” de Lecea said. For now, however, teacher tenure continues to be a system with areas of needed improvement.
CONCERNS
WWW.GUNNCHARIOT.COM
President Obama least popular since WWII
fordable Care Act, in which he not only a short term solution at best, and at worst wrote an esoteric thousand-page volume may instead outsource jobs and decrease impacting the entire nation, but which the quality of the average employee. Though President also did not gain Obama publicly bipartisan supadvocated helping port—creating Such rash actions cannot be tolthe middle class, further dissatiserated as they affect not only the his business polifaction over the current nation, but also generacies have only enalready contentions after. couraged increased tious act. The Kathleen Xue unemployment and ACA, though in Editor-in-Chief dependency on the long term did government benefits. His overall failure n July 30 President Barack bring a little but visible improvement on Obama was authorized to ap- the American economy, was not effec- to level the trading platform and invigopear in federal court by the tively implemented and proved detrimen- rate diligence has caused widespread unGOP-led House for making several unlaw- tal to many middle-class citizens’ health rest among the citizens. ful executive orders, bypassing Congress care. What was more offensive, however, Several other concerning aspects of to pass legislation such as the Affordable was the multiple lies President Obama President Obama’s term only continues Care Act. It is not only the GOP that is spread in order to gain support for the to bring to light the foundering of his discontented with President Obama’s poli- ACA—stating that previous healthcare presidency. The same leader who actively cies, but there has been a general trend of plans bailed out on pre-existing condi- promoted transparency of intelligence decline in his favor among the citizens of tions, and that citizens content with their took President Bush’s PRISM and exAmerica. current plans would be allowed to keep panded it without our knowing until EdNow within the last two years of these plans until 2015—when neither of ward Snowden leaked the extent of this his term in office, President Obama is these proclamations were true, thus fur- domestic surveillance program. Morethe least popular ther discounting over, resentment over Obama’s flamboyAmerican presiant speeches but stark lack of action in his integrity. dent since the secNext comes situations of international crises has not President Obama’s policies have ond World War, the discovery that helped his case. Though these flaws can made him the least businessseeing higher disPresident Obama’s easily be attributed to President Obama’s approval rates than friendly president in the history policies have made idealist disposition, as head of the execuboth George W. of America. him the least tive branch of the United States, such Bush and Richbusiness-friendly rash decisions cannot be tolerated as they ard Nixon. There president in the affect not only the current nation, but is a plethora of history of America. Considering the na- also generations after. reasons for this drastic decline in favor, tion’s traditional value of laissez-faire and In an era of tenuous international rebut to find the root of this disaster one capitalism, this goes completely against lationships and a nation on the brink of must observe President Obama’s govern- the founding principles that initially dis- collapse, when the leader fails to provide ing stance over the course of his past six tinguished our country. President Obama this promised support, he is criticized. In years in the Oval Office. Though it is true has made several attempts to control and President Obama’s case, though it was unthat Obama has inherited the nation at a stimulate the economy through govern- fortunate that he entered office at a time time of economic crisis and brutal parti- mental efforts, beginning with his Stimu- of a national low, he did not improve the san conflict, it was possible to overcome lus Plan (American Recovery and Rein- situation of our country, and has disapthese obstacles—but he failed to prove vestment Act) in 2009. He has shown a pointed the 300 million people he vowed this promised competence. tendency to use government funding to to serve—thus there is good reason that The most controversial policy made create jobs, to increase wages and to revi- he is now seen as the least popular presiduring Obama’s reign has been his Af- talize the market when this could only be dent since the second World War.
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THE CHARIOT
Donald Sterling
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Xavier Loinaz Contributing Writer
nitially, former Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s lifetime ban from the NBA due to allegedly making racist comments against African-Americans and Latinos in late April seemed overly harsh. In what was possibly one of the most brutal punishments in professional sports history, Sterling was fined $2.5 million, stripped of any sort of control he previously had over the Clippers, and also prohibited from attending any future NBA games. All of this merely stemmed from a few racist comments Sterling had made in (what he had thought to be) a private setting with his close friend V. Stiviano. But upon further analysis, one actually realizes that the NBA could have been even more severe on Sterling. By being forced to sell the team, Sterling ended up making a massive profit, as he netted nearly $2 billion, thus completely obliterating the $2.5 million NBA maximum fine. And as for having to give up his ownership and ability to attend games, it is not as harsh
NATIONAL C as meets the eye. Whenever bans like this take place in professional sports, it always seems devastating because often that person’s life centers around that particular sport. Documentaries like Eight Men Out (which is about the 1919 White Sox fixing the World Series) have portrayed lifetime bans as relentless and extremely unfair to the victims of the ban who lived and breathed their respective sports. However, in Sterling’s case, his life did not necessarily revolve as much around basketball as it did around money. Practically swimming in wealth, he was only made richer following his sale of the team. As past owner of the Clippers for thirty-three years, Sterling did not necessarily form a personal bond with the team that he may have had he been an actual team player or coach. Instead, he was only responsible for owning this franchise of the NBA, not actually experiencing a career on the team—thus a lifetime ban from the NBA would not truly have as profound an effect as it may seem. On the other hand, Sterling’s cutting remarks did in fact affect a large portion of the predominantly African-American NBA personally. So how could Sterling’s ban be made even more severe? It is difficult for a league to issue much more than a hefty fine and
a lifetime ban. Although this may be completely illegal, the league should have received all the money Sterling obtained from selling the Clippers, and in addition should have issued not a $2.5 million fine, but a $100 million fine. This may seem exceedingly extreme, but firstly, the original disciplining of Sterling, as explained before, probably did not affect Sterling negatively all that much. Also, it is important that all public racism and discrimination among NBA executives, coaches, and players is terminated once and for all. By banning Sterling in extreme fashion, it would almost certainly eliminate all future discrimination in the NBA out of fear of being caught. That is exactly what the harsh ban in Eight Men Out did—no sort of gambling or fixing of games took place in the following 50-plus years. There is no room for racism in a game where many of the biggest fans are merely children. In the end, although Sterling’s ban seemed brutal at first, it actually really was not, and should have been more relentless. And by possibly making the punishment for Sterling more severe, it could potentially create a future era in which racism and discrimination would not be a part of the NBA.
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CONCERNS
King of the taxis Gabriel Alon Senior Editor
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t will soon be possible to completely avoid cab drivers. The same app that allows the everyday man to become a part-time taxi driver, also allows him to get rides when and where taxis aren’t available. Uber is the San Francisco firm competing with the likes of Lyft, Sidecar and Hailo to disrupt the taxicab industry. The economic benefits of these companies have already taken effect, as drivers can make from 35 to 50 USD per hour, and DUIs in the City of Philadelphia have plummeted by 11 percent per year. Uber stands out from its competition because it has raised over 1.5 billion USD from investors, in contrast to Lyft’s 300 million USD. These investors include Google Ventures and Goldman Sachs, who are betting that Uber’s value is going to skyrocket. Google Ventures invested 86 percent of their annual budget, or 260 million USD, into the startup. But skeptics such as NYU Finance Professor Aswath Damodaran, value the company at 6 billion USD instead of the current 17 billion
USD. According to Damodaran’s analysis, the entire global taxicab market adjusted for growth could not possibly justify the company’s current value. But, according to an Uber investor on Business Insider, “You have to take into account shorter pick-up times, larger coverage areas, and ease of payment…all of those factors lead to people using Uber in ways they hadn’t with taxis and black cars”. The excessive investment in the company could be justified if Uber continues to grow at a rate of 18% per month, from it current level of servicing 800,000 rides each week. The cash is currently being used by Uber to snuff out its competition. Uber has been stealing drivers and riders from competing services using financial incentives. Both Uber and Lyft keep a quarter of the revenue from each transaction. Because of the widespread adoption of GPS devices, taxi drivers no longer have a competitive advantage over other drivers in offering their services. Yet, taxi cab drivers in London still have to pass an archaic test known as ‘The Knowledge’ which requires an encyclopedic memory of London’s streets. Now, such effort is vestigial, as Uber drivers do not have endure that nonsense. Also, the livelihoods of the taxi drivers are at stake because part-time drivAugust 2014
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ers could take over the market. Moreover, cab drivers are being affected by regulations that do not cover Uber drivers. In Palo Alto, taxi drivers cannot use parking spots to wait for customers, since they are regulated under municipal codes, while ride sharing apps are protected under the California Public Utilities Commision. Thus a leader of a cab driver protest in Palo Alto cited “higher insurance costs, the background check process, random drug and alcohol tests, yearly inspections and other costs associated with operating under the city’s purview” as being unfair in comparison to the laxity on Uber drivers. Legitimate concerns are being raised about the safety of Uber rides. In California, convicted felons were able to sign up as drivers, and the company exempted its drivers from having their own insurance; which wreaked havoc when an Uber driver in San Francisco ran over an entire family between rides. Regulation and reform to increase safety needs to take place to improve the Uber. For now, though, taxi cab drivers themselves have started to migrate to the app as a result of the demand, thereby ensuring that customer satisfaction with the driver will take an ever increasing precedence on any driver’s future revenue.
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INTERNATION
Influx of illegal immigrants due to flawed system Grace Park Contributing Writer
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he average Mexican makes about $4.15 an hour in Mexico. To put that in perspective, California’s minimum wage is more than two times that amount, at $9.00 per hour. For the 53.5 million Mexicans entrenched in poverty, the chance to earn more money is a motivation powerful enough for them to uproot their entire lives and travel—sometimes hundreds of miles—to a different country. For others, it’s the drug-related gang violence that drives them to the US. Caught between the largest producers in the world (countries like Bolivia and Colombia) and the largest consumer in the world (the US), Central America has some of the world’s highest murder rates. Weak and corrupt governments offer little resistance to organized crime, frequent civil war (Guatemala) creates a flood loosely regulated guns, and high poverty rates ensure plenty of recruits. The truth is that most people crossing the US border do so
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for better wages or to flee violence. But illegal immigration is nothing new. The new focus is on the surge of more than 52,000 predominantly Central American children that have crossed the border in the last nine months. The question politicians (and we, as a society) face is: why the US, and why now? There may seem to be many factors acting upon this, but the chief reason is that the US’s delayed and inefficient system of dealing with trafficked children and Central American migrants facilitated this massive influx of illegal immigrants. In the case of Mexican child migrants, US law allows for them to be efficiently returned to their families back in Mexico. Child migrants from Central America, however, must be given a court hearing before they are either deported or allowed to stay in the US. In either case, the backlog ensures that children will wait years for a hearing. But even this isn’t a new law; the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act was passed in 2008. In 2014, the number of illegal immigrants taken into custody over less than a year nearly doubled 2013’s total and was ten times 2009’s. The Obama administration cites a recent spike in gang violence as the reason, which corresponds to a UN High Commissioner for Refugees study showing that 60% of these children are fleeing from
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gang violence spurred by the illegal drug trade. However, the Border Patrol disagreed in an internal intelligence memo saying that illegal immigrants are crossing the border in response to the rumor of ‘permisos’. These legal documents, which place the receiver on deportation proceedings, are supposedly given to non-Mexican illegal immigrants, at which point they can disappear into the populace while waiting for a court date. The Senate Judiciary Committee discussed ‘permisos’ in a hearing on June 9. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has refuted the claim that permisos or the Obama administration’s immigration policy are the main reason for the influx of child migrants, going so far as to write a letter to the Spanish media, claiming that these free passes don’t exist. Secretary Johnson went on to detail the humanitarian risk migrant children face, including death, rape and human trafficking, for an uncertain goal. While the idea of permisos are certainly a factor in the increase of immigrants, the fact that these are mostly children indicates that gang violence is the primary factor. There is a simple way to find out. According to the Border Patrol’s memo, migrants were being urged to cross the border before the end of June 2014, which was supposedly when the US government would stop issuing permisos. If the flow of illegal immigrants decreases considerably in the next few months, it is likely that permisos were the cause of the influx. For now, however, it is clear that the issue at hand must be solved not by letting civilians cross with measures of sending them back, but rather solving the problem at its root and preventing civilians from illegally immigrating in the first place. Either way, the current administration’s policy on illegal immigration is flawed in many areas and requires a considerable amount of revision.
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NAL AFFAIRS Bombing Gaza is Israel’s defense Daniel Rutenburg Contributing Writer
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e all know how it goes. Hamas fires a rocket into Israel. Israel retaliates. Civilians on both sides die. Within minutes, every major news network is covering the appalling actions of the evil apartheid state called Israel. There is no investigation, no international inquiry. When Gazans die, Israel seems to always be to blame. This double standard is unfair to Israel for several reasons. First, some background. Ever since Jews were expelled from the ancient kingdom of Israel 2000 years ago, they have aspired to return to their homeland. The modern state of Israel was founded in 1948 with UN approval on land that the UK willingly gave up to fulfill this goal. At the time, roughly 30% of the population of that area was Jewish. The rest was Muslim Arabs. Israel’s founders wanted to create a nation that included both Jews and Arabs. The constitution of the new state made sure that anyone, including non-Jews, who lived in the new Israel would have equal rights and freedoms. Many Arabs accepted this with open arms. However, an even greater number flat-out rejected the state of Israel, starting war after war in an effort to destroy the new nation. Since then, the country has fractured into the state of Israel as we know it, and into the disputed regions of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, both of which have Arab majorities. In 2005, Israel withdrew from Gaza, leaving it up to its residents to govern themselves. In 2007, those residents democratically elected an organization called Hamas as their leader.
Hamas is not a government; it is a terrorist organization. Its stated goal is to destroy Israel. Since Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Hamas has fired over 11,000 rockets out of Gaza into Israel, and was responsible for countless bombings, kidnappings, and murders. Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorism, especially when its only purpose is to kill Israeli civilians. If this were taken into the context of America, imagine if Mexico fired multiple rockets into the US daily. These rockets, just like the ones fired from Gaza, would be capable of reaching almost anywhere in America, including Washington DC with only a sixty-second warning time to notify citizens of these attacks. Of course the US would do everything it could to protect its citizens, the first of which would be invading Mexico as they are the perpetrators. Thus, the same idea can be applied to Israel. Many people point to the high death toll in Gaza as a sign of Israel abusing its power and unnecessarily killing civilians in its effort to put a stop to Hamas’ terrorism. This is simply untrue. The Israeli army goes way beyond any other army when it comes to protecting enemy civilians. Before every bombing, Israel showers the area with leaflets, warning the people of the area way ahead of time to evacuate. The government sends the civilians text messages, and uses loudspeakers to get it across to the people that their area is going to be bombed and that they need to leave. And yet, civilians die. Why is that? Civilians die because Hamas uses its own people as human shields. Hamas is notorious for placing its rocket launching sites in places where the highest numAugust 2014
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ber of civilians would be killed if Israel bombed them. When the inevitable happens, it uses images of the dead children that the Hamas itself indirectly caused in order to drum up sympathy from the international community. Often, Hamas rocket launch sites are found in everything from hospitals to schools to children’s bedrooms. Thus, though it is a tragedy when Palestinians die, but Israel is not at fault. Every government has a responsibility to protect its citizens. By targeting known terrorists and rocket launching sites, the Israeli government is fulfilling that commitment. By placing those sites in the homes of their citizens and in hospitals, Hamas is doing the exact opposite. This total disregard for human life accurately illustrates whom Israel is dealing with. When discussing the Arab-Israeli conflict, people often ask, “why can’t they just get along?”, or, “all I want is peace in the Middle East”. Peace is a two-way street, and the truth is that Israel does not have a partner for peace. Hamas has made countless peace treaties with Israel, but has broken the majority of them. The recent escalation of violence is a perfect example. As the people of Gaza keep electing governments like Hamas, peace in the Middle East is highly unlikely in the near future.
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T O T A L
WORLD CUP EXPENSES
STADIUM CONSTRUCTION $3.4 billion
URBAN MOBILITY PROJECTS $3.4 billion
AIRPORT UPGRADES $2.6 billion
PUBLIC SECURITY AND MILITARY DEFENSE FORCES $797 million
PORT INFRASTRUCTURE $249 million
TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS AND SERVICES $171 million COMPLEMENTARY WORK FOR CONFEDERATIONS CUP $88 million
TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE $76 million
INTERNAT
2014 World Cup effect on Brazil
flamboyant spending stems from the disproportion of allotment as compared to that of other major departments and sects essential to societal functions. For example, while the overall cost of hosting the World Cup was $11.3 billion, it was a sizeable portion as compared with Brazil’s annual expenditures on public education, Gabriel Alon which was $19.3 billion. Education, which Senior Editor will yield much more benefits in the long ermany won its fourth FIFA run than one sports event held every four World Cup trophy in Brazil years, should be taken much more seriousthis summer in a tournament ly than the World Cup, and seeing the govthat ended brutally for some of the best ernment overspends on such occasions historical performers. Host country Brazil, has angered the citizens especially when which has five World Cup trophies, was taking into account the wide rift between scored on by Germany 4 times in a span rich and poor that is currently plaguing the of 6 minutes, and ultimately lost 7-1 in the Brazilian economy. Though the total event made FIFA $4 semi-final match. The last time that Brabillion in revenue, in a survey of Brazilzil lost by that margin was in 1920, not to mention that it had not lost a match on ian business owners, only 47 percent of its home turf in the last forty years. The them believed that the overall profit of match was Germany’s fourth semifinal the World Cup would benefit the Brazilappearance in a row, while Brazil had not ian economy, and only one third of the 47 reached the semifinal stage since it won percent believed the profit would benefit the tournament in 2002. Brazil had prayed them directly. The main point for many that the $11.3 billion spent on infrastruc- of the citizens isn’t about the net gain out of the World Cup, ture to host the tournabut the ridiculous ment would end in a vicamount of emphasis World Cup: 11.3 billion USD tory. However, Brazilian put on such an event v. rioters who protested when there are many Education: 19.3 billion USD against the governother pressing issues ment’s spending in the Brazil is highest World Cup would have spender on the FIFA World Cup in hisbeen right all along even if Brazil had won tory, and this trend will most likely conthe World Cup. Four of the arenas were tinue; the host of the 2018 World Cup built in cities without club teams to make them profitable in the future, and half of would have a high probability of outthe proposed public spending projects that spending Brazil, and the following World were intended to be investments in Brazil’s Cup would spend even more. It may be future were not completed. It would cer- inflation that is causing this increase, or it tainly have been more graceful if Brazil’s may be the pride of each nation to host defensive line had not given up around the the most elaborate event yet that causes twentieth minute of the match after letting each World Cup to be costlier than the in their second goal to Germany and be- previous. Either way, as seen in Brazil, fuing scored on three times more in quick ture World Cups may also cause contention over its detrimental economic effects succession. Much of the discontent over Brazil’s and disproportionate emphasis.
G
SOURCE: Statista
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TIONAL AFFAIRS #BringBackOurGirls Isha Gupta Contributing Writer
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elebrities and politicians all over the world, from Justin Timberlake to Michelle Obama, have shared #BringBackOurGirls on their Facebook and Twitter accounts. On May 7, 2014, #BringBackOurGirls passed one million tweets on Twitter. The frenzy is over the two hundred Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by terrorist organization Boko Haram on April 14th. This incident has highlighted the growing incompetence of the Nigerian government, and served as yet another example of the lunacy of radical Islamists. In English, Boko Haram translates roughly into “Western education is a sin”. The formal Arabic name for the group is Jama’atu Alis Sunna Lidda’awati Wal-Jihad or “People committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s teachings and jihad”. Based on its nickname, it is apparent that Boko Haram’s true purpose is to spread an extreme interpretation of Islam through attacking western institutions. The State Department classified it as a terrorist group in 2013, simply stating: “Boko Haram is a Nigeriabased militant group…in the Islamic Maghreb that is responsible for thousands of deaths in northeast and central Nigeria over the last several years including targeted killings of civilians”. Boko Haram has ties to several other terrorist groups, including Kenya-based alShabbab and Al Qaeda, and aims to create its own Islamic state. Nigeria, located in Western Africa, is half Muslim and half Christian.
Parents and girls from a school in Chibok, located in the Nigerian northeastern state of Borno, reported the abduction of at least 200 girls on the April 15th, 2014. Escapees also recount the same story. The first government response came from local officials, who put the missing count as about one hundred girls. The number of missing girls, according to government figures, has inexplicably fluctuated over time, which in turn has deepened resentment against the government. Nigeria’s state of turmoil has been outrageous before the rise of Boko Haram. According to the Human Rights Watch, the Nigerian military has a record of human rights violations; including child abuse during wartime, and failing to conduct justice through courts of law. The Kibaku Area Development Association in Nigeria, reported that there was advanced notice of the kidnapping. Despite the warning, the military took no action to stop the terrorists. A supposed obstacle for the Nigerian military is its lack of weapons. Nigerian soldiers claim they are unequipped despite having a security budget of more than $6 billion.
The first tweet came on April 23, 2014, when lawyer and former Federal Minister of Justice for Nigeria, Ibrahim Abdullahi, echoed the sentiments of concerned Nigerian citizens and posted a tweet using #BringBackOurGirls. A week later, protests erupt in Abuja with hundreds marching on the street to demand a more effective solution to the pending crisis. While Nigeria has reluctantly accepted military support and aid from the United States, still nobody is convinced that the Nigerian military has tried hard enough to locate or fight the girls’ captors. Boko Haram has made several online statements regarding the kidnapping taunting the west. On May 5, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau uploaded a video threatening to “sell” the abducted girls as “slaves”. In more recent weeks, Boko Haram has considering the release of the girls in exchange for fighters held by the government. However, President Jonathan refused the offer. One week after Abubakar Shekau’s video was released, new footage was uploaded of 130 of the missing girls at an undisclosed location wearing traditional Muslim hijabs.
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THE CHARIOT
INTERNATIO
Space exploration shift to privatized companies Maggie Wang Copy Editor
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s funding for NASA has declined, private corporations have tried to fill up the gap created by the lack of federal funding for space exploration. These private companies, including SpaceX, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and Boeing, plan to send people to Mars, commercialize space flight, carry cargo and people to the International Space Station (ISS), and develop reusable rockets—ultimately shifting space exploration from a government-funded institu-
tion to privately owned companies. These companies take such risks because their leaders believe in the significance of space exploration for knowledge, and the future of humanity. Inevitably, we will have to rely on space for resources to survive as a species. Rare but essential materials seldom found on Earth but bountiful in outer space will be mined for the benefit of humanity. Investment in space research has proven extremely cost-effective in the past in that it not only brought about a plethora of resource discoveries, but also increased awareness on medicine, health, information technology, communications, the environment, transportation and public safety. However, many Americans do not feel the need for space exploration. Only 50% of Americans believe that space exploration is important, the other 50% feeling it unnecessary to continue funding space research. Since Congress determines the distribution of funds for all federal public works, the public must be made aware of
the significance space exploration has in our lives in the past, present, and future. Without the support of the public, NASA is unable to progress as quickly and as smoothly as it could. However, the dwindling governmentallocated funds for NASA may not be a bad thing. Due to a lack of federal support for space exploration, there is a shift from NASA to privatized companies in space exploration. On August 6 SpaceX launched AsiaSat 8, a telecommunications satellite, to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. This was done on a private basis, as many companies have realized that in order to lead space exploration it is no longer enough to rely on federal funding. At first, NASA was the “missionary”. Now, the initial idea is being spearheaded by capitalist ventures and improving technology at an unprecedented speed. Separating space initiatives from the government may not be detrimental, but may actually be advantageous in the long run.
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ONAL AFFAIRS Chinese companies in the US market
GDP growth 2013
CHINA VS
USA 1.9%
USA
Katina Yong Fundraising Director
A
libaba, one of the largest ecommerce companies in the world, services small suppliers in China looking to ship to foreign markets, money transfers through Alipay, and consumer-consumer markets through Taobao. The value of the transactions going through Alibaba is worth over 1.1 trillion yuan (170 billion USD). What is interesting is that Alibaba’s transaction value exceeds its next two global competitors, Amazon and Ebay, combined. Alibaba is currently seeking to IPO in the United States after failing to reach a deal with Hong Kong regulators over creating a share structure that would enable the CEO, Jack Ma, and his cohorts to maintain control of the company. Alibaba’s IPO is set to become one of the largest in US markets with estimates of the company’s value hovering between 130-150 billion USD. For the company to list on US markets it must skirt around regulations prohibiting foreign ownership of Chinese assets. To do so, it plans on setting up a variable interest entity. Profits from Alibaba will be transferred to a Cayman Islands holding titled Alibaba Group Holding Limited. Investors will merely be purchasing a stake in the holding company rather than Alibaba China. Like the controversial structure suggests, there are numerous risks involved in investing in an Alibaba IPO. Although Chinese companies have long used the V.I.E. structure to circumvent restrictions, Chinese courts have previously ruled against the structure. Such a large
China 7.7% GDP per capita 2012 Government budget 2013
China 9,100 USD
China 193 bn USD
Market capitalization (% of GDP) 2011
USA
104.3%
USA
49,800
USD
China 46.3%
USA
-440 bn
USD
SOURCES: World Bank, The Guardian
initial public offering will likely provoke Chinese regulators to take action against Alibaba. Other companies have used Cayman Islands Holdings before and have dodged attempts by investors to take over company through majority stakes. As the executive of the company, Ma will retain August 2014
most of the control and could shift the company around if displeased by shareholder action. In addition, Chinese courts have previously ruled against Western shareholders, making it difficult for Americans to hold Alibaba’s leadership accountable for earnings and losses.
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MARKETPLACE No longer net neutrality
backed down from contributing to the le- dent Barack Obama’s campaign pledges. Comcast spent over $18 million last year gal battle. John Oliver’s thirteen-minute tirade on to lobby Congress; second only to military contractor Northrop his show and on YouGrumman. President tube ridicules the FCC, Barack Obama recently and pleads to viewers to Gabriel Alon For the first time in remarked how much complain on the FCC’s Senior Editor FCC’s history, its servers time he had spent as a website. For the first crashed from comment guest at the house of Usain Bolt or Usain bolted to an time in the FCC’s hisoverload. Comcast’s CEO: “The anchor” is HBO Last Week To- tory, its servers crashed only thing I haven’t night host John Oliver’s take on from comment overdone in this house is the Federal Communications Commission load. Over 600,000 (FCC)’s new rules on net neutrality. Inter- comments were made on net neutrality, have seder dinner”. Broader Internet concerns are Comnet service providers such as Comcast and but this spirit of reform did not amount Time Warner are now allowed to treat ev- to anything substantial. The comments cast’s questionable tactics during negotiaery demand for Internet access unequally. section was intended for suggestions for tions with Netflix, and its proposed mergIf one watches a video on an extremely how the FCC could improve within its le- er with competitor Time Warner Cable has gal bounds. This yet to be approved. On Comcast gouging popular Internet was fulfilled by Netflix during payment negotiations while video website such the Internet ser- net neutrality is still in place for them until Innovation is also being threatened, as Netflix, rather vice providers, 2018, Consumerist made a notable analothan on one’s homesince startup companies may not be who each sub- gy: “Imagine a restaurant has an incredibly made videos webable to afford the new costs for large mitted several popular dish that everyone wants to order. site, Netflix’s speeds amounts of Internet traffic. hundred pages of The kitchen has no problem meeting that will be far slower if legal arguments. demand, but orders aren’t getting to diners’ it doesn’t pay each service provider extra to fix the conges- Oliver failed to point out to his viewers tables in time. If that slowdown is because tion. Innovation is also being threatened, that it was not the FCC’s choice to end the waiters decide customers shouldn’t get since startup companies may not be able net neutrality, but rather a Federal Court that particular menu item, or that there are to afford the new costs for large amounts that ruled against them regulating Internet other menu items that should be delivered of Internet traffic. Large corporations like providers in the same manner as telephone in a more timely manner — that’s a net Google, Netflix, Facebook and Amazon providers. Congress would have to amend neutrality issue. But if that awesome food have all signed a letter to the FCC support- the law, which is unlikely because of lob- is slow to the table because there simply ing net neutrality, though they have since bying and the House’s hostility to Presi- aren’t enough waiters…[it’s not]”.
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