The Nueva Current
Vol. 1 Issue 4
THE NUEVA SCHOOL | 131 E. 28TH AVE. SAN MATEO, CA 94403 | TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018 | THENUEVACURRENT.COM
Prediction of big earthquake sparks preparations
Founding faculty members bid farewell
BY JORDAN M. When an earthquake happens, windows shatter, buildings collapse, and often people panic. An earthquake is inevitable in San Francisco, a city that the San Andreas fault line runs through, and many teams have conducted research that shows there will be a big one in the next 30 years. According to EarthquakeSafety.com, the future earthquake is predicted to have a magnitude of 6.7 or above, which is dangerously close to the magnitude of the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in the Bay Area. The city has launched several programs over the past five years to educate citizens about emergency preparedness (specifically for earthquakes) and require building owners to retrofit their property for earthquake safety. Past earthquakes have become part of San Francisco’s rich cultural history; and while we fear earthquakes because we know their devastating impact, we also celebrate them as part of San Francisco’s past. In 1906, at five in the morning on April 18, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake shook cities from the California-Oregon border to Los Angeles, and from the Pacific to central Nevada. In San Francisco alone, the death toll reached over 3,000, more than 28,000 buildings were destroyed, and 250,000 of the city’s 400,000 residents were left homeless. The resulting fires broke out all over the city, and destruction of the city’s main water line left firefighters powerless to contain the fires. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), damages were estimated to be about $400 million—approximately $10.6 billion now—and it was all because of a one-minute shake. Although devastating, this earthquake allowed the reconstruction of the old boomtown into the big city that it is now. CONTINUED, PAGE 10
INSIDE Café Review A review of the best of our Nueva Café foods, including tacos and hamburgers. PAGE 4
News .......................................02 Culture ...................................04 Features .................................06 Opinion.....................................11 Sports ......................................13 Entertainment.......................15
page 7
BY WILLOW C. Y. & ELIZABETH B. P.
After planting and tending seeds in the young minds of Nueva thinkers, the departing founding faculty share their favorite memories of cultivating the school we know and love today.
Cost of womanhood The financial aspect of gender discrimination BY ELIZABETH B. P. When I was little, I would sit by the counter in the dry cleaner’s near my house as my mother dropped off her clothes to be cleaned. I would make silly faces in the mirror a little way away from the counter as the clothes circulated around the place, artificial light clashing with sunlight on the top of the candy bowl I always took a handful of peppermints from. The place smelled like soap and bleach, cologne and perfume, and I didn’t learn until later that my mother was paying far more for her clothing to be washed than my father would have, just because it’s assumed that shirts owned by women are “drenched in perfume” and therefore take more to clean. How come, despite the wage gap—an average of 86 cents to every dollar, which means a given California woman will lose an average of $7,227 per year—women are still required
to pay far more for their daily expenses than men? And no, this isn’t just on things that are exclusive to people who need to pay extra for tampons, bras, and all those other commodities many people refrain from discussing because of the social discomfort they bring. Here’s a couple numbers. A good bra, sized properly at Nordstrom, costs around $72, if you’re shopping smart. Most people who wear bras have at least two (bralettes don’t count; as cheap as they are to buy, they serve little purpose for anything except aesthetic), so you’ve got to be willing to spend about $144 minimum every couple years—and that’s if you’re shopping smart. The Guardian wrote that the average woman owns nine bras at any given time. That’s somewhere between $658 and $900, depending on what kind of bra you need. It goes up a lot (and bras get less pretty, of course) if you’re in the DD+ range, and
Drawing by Amalia K.
it’s recommended that you buy a new bra or couple bras every nine or ten months. While the average Silicon Valley salary is admittedly in the six figures, the pay gap in San Francisco is around $15,000. If you’re out almost a thousand dollars for something you’re often required to wear by social standards, something is wrong. Speaking of things you’re required to wear (or not wear), we move on to the bleeding. Admittedly, this doesn’t apply to all women, but it’s still an issue for many. In many states, we don’t tax chapstick, dandruff sham-
poo, or Viagra. Thirteen states in the United States don’t tax tampons at all, and five have no sales tax. California is not in either of these categories. If you put all those weeks of bleeding—from around ten or twelve years old to somewhere in your early fifties—together, the average woman spends a total of about six years of her life on her period; that’s a lot of money. Considering that about seventy percent of women in the U.S. prefer tampons or, at least, use them regularly, it’s hard to argue that the tampon tax doesn't have a broad impact. CONTINUED, PAGE 11
Page 2 • News
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
NUEVA PROM 2018
Nueva’s prom for juniors and seniors was held on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Here’s a collection of photographs that capture the seniors’ last dance together at Nueva. LEFT: Seniors Devon H., Hilary N., Scott B., Aiden H., Sam D., and Julia R. examine the slews of photos taken throughout the night on a phone. RIGHT: Lauren H. (11) busts moves on the dance floor.
“I loved the venue; it was really pretty. Thanks to Spirit and Social for all their hard work!” LEFT: Seniors Anika K. and Talia S. danced the night away, pausing for photos at their last high school prom. RIGHT: Isha R. (12) enjoys the classic fruity punch served whie watching her friends break it down on the dance floor. BELOW: Seniors Rebecca S and Donya Z. strike a cute pose with arms interlinked while they eat their strawberry mousse, a big hit among the snacks served.
“I feel like prom is the one night where literally everyone dresses up, throws on dancing shoes, and lets loose for a night—it’s honestly so much fun to see.” —Anika K. (12)
LEFT: Old pals Megan W. and Emily W. (12) take a break from the dance floor to smile for some pictures. RIGHT: Seniors Peter E. and Jessa M. rock their spiffy outfits while refreshing themselves at the snack and drink table.
“I really liked the fact that we had time to talk and take photos and eat dessert and then later had a bunch of time to dance when it got darker. It felt like the whole experience was less rushed than last year and therefore more fun!” —Talia S. (12)
—Jessa M.(12)
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
News • Page 3
STUDENT COUNCIL
Council Updates Gitika P. (11) School Lead
Aleeha B. (10) 11th Grade Rep
“My goal for next year is to solidify the Student Council’s presence within the Nueva community. This means clearly outlining our role within the handbook, streamlining a chain of command with the administration, and remaining visible to the student body.”
“I ran because I had a lot of ideas that I wanted to implement—for example, sleep-in days. I thought that I could take my own experience and make changes based on that.”
Arun J. (11) School Lead
Beatrice S. (11) 12th Grade Rep
“The most important things I want to achieve are making progress on the dress code, Quest projects, and open-campus reform.”
“I want to lighten workload and improve teacher communication making more senior plans communicate what student body wants. I especially want to make senior year memorable and bring the class together.”
Ethan K. (11) Clubs Rep
Willow C.Y. (9) 10th Grade Rep
“I really want to improve the club system at Nueva, and am planning to work with my fellow student council members and the administration to do so. I feel that since I have experience, I will be ready to work and accomplish my goals.”
“I feel that in our grade there is a deficit of community events and going into tenth grade when we will have a lot of stressful situations and assignments to deal with we should have a outlet to alleviate stress bring together/maintain social relationships.”
Stephanie S. (9) Service Learning Rep
Jeremy D. (10) Sports Rep
“I ran because I wanted a platform to help me integrate and organize events into school. I thought the program wasn’t as effective and widespread as it could be and I wanted to improve the community aspect of the service.”
“I really like sports; I’ve played basketball for a while. I really wanted to make sure we could keep the gym open all the time and open the weight room to make it available to the whole student body.”
The Year in Review Moments to remember From natural disasters to historic meetings of world leaders, each and every occasion has impacted us in some way or another, ranging from taking action to show a message, to taking part in a national walkout to take a stand. These are a few of the biggest news stories that defined this school year:
August On Aug. 21, 2017, Americans filed outside with their store-bought and home-made safety glasses to witness a wonder in the sky above. Stretching from Oregon to South Carolina, the total solar eclipse wowed millions as the day turned to night in a matter of hours. While not rare (a total eclipse takes place around every 18 months), many total eclipses take place over the ocean, or in hard-to-reach areas of land. The next total solar eclipse will make its path from Texas to Maine on April 8, 2024.
September
After previously being battered by Hurricane Harvey, the Gulf of Mexico took another two hits with Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Irma headed straight up the coast of Florida, devastating the Keys and small towns like Fort Meade before heading inland to Georgia and Tennessee and killing 134, while Maria almost completely destroyed Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Eight months later, the region is still struggling to recover in a race against time as hurricane season starts again in June.
Audrey C. (11) Spirit and Social Rep “The most important thing that I want to accomplish is probably the events calendar as well as getting more kids in younger grades to participate in the club. Since each grade at Nueva has its own traditions and events, it is important that we have representation from all grades so that the events can happen in the first place.”
BY ISABEL C.
October
On Oct. 10, Catalonia, an autonomous community in northeast Spain with the capital of Barcelona, signed a document establishing the area as independent from the rest of the country. Despite the majority vote to leave Spain and the passing of a declaration of independence on the 27th, the hopeful new country was never recognized by any other international communities.
November
Stemming from a single New York Times article spilling countless stories of sexual assault against movie giant Harvey Weinstein in the beginning of October, through November, Hollywood and surrounding establishments both political and not continued to crumble. Throughout November, Roy Moore was called out about sexual assault with younger girls, Louis C.K. admitted to past assault, Matt Lauer was fired, and countless others stepped down from their positions, bringing to light the toxicity of workplaces in America today.
December
$52.4 billion was used as glue to stick the Walt Disney Company and 21st Century Fox tightly together last December, a deal that will close in summer of 2019. Under the agreement between the two companies, Disney will acquire most of Fox’s known shows and channels such as Hulu and FX Networks. This big news was yet another event that was eerily predicted by the Fox sitcom The Simpsons where 20 years ago, a sign read in one scene, “20th Century Fox, A Division of Walt Disney Co.”
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
February
Seventeen students were killed on Feb. 14 in Parkland, Florida, a day supposed to be aimed at love. Instead of enjoying Valentine’s Day, taking notes during a lecture, and chatting with friends at a place where students should feel safe, the school became a crime scene at 2:19 pm when a previous student entered a school building, pulled the fire alarm, and started firing. Fourteen students from all four grades and three staff members were killed.
March
At the age of 76, Stephen Hawking passed away peacefully in his home in Cambridge on March 14 due to complications of ALS. Hawking was known for his groundbreaking research in black holes and relativity, allowing new scientific breakthroughs. At the age of 22, Hawking was diagnosed with ALS and was told he only had a few more years left to live, yet Hawking pushed past that boundary and lived for another 50 years.
January
Photo courtesty of Alvin Baez for Reuters Background photo by Jasman Mander
After long-held disputes over the future of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and failure to design a government spending bill, the United States federal government shut down at midnight on Jan. 20. The shutdown closed government businesses and other big attractions like the Statue of Liberty until the government reopened in the evening of Jan. 22.
April
On April 18, AMC opened Saudi Arabia’s first movie theater in decades, ending the years-long ban on theaters. Thousands showed up for the viewing of Black Panther, the first movie to be screened in the country. AMC and the government of Saudi Arabia plan on opening at least 40 other cinemas in the next thirty years.
Page 4 • Culture
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
Food for Thought: Reviewing three of my favorite Café lunches
Q&A: Chef Robert
Forget the pizza, these underappreciated dishes are undeniably good BY ISABEL C. It’s lunch and as I walk down the staircase from my class on the third floor, I notice the lunch line. Long and windy, it snakes its way down to the staircase, weaving its way over and under the line dividers in both constant movement and traffic-jam stillness. Despite the difficulty of being able to see the menu from the staircase (it’s a solid 50 feet away), I can usually tell what it is from length of the line and the chatting of students. On most cases where the line is this long, the dishes are usually one of four—pizza, pasta, mac’n’cheese, or breakfast day—and while thoroughly delicious for a café meal, some even better dishes seem to go unappreciated at times. Here I review my top three favorite, unappreciated café meals that deserve a little more love. SALMON WITH CHIMICHURRI Infused with lemony citrus and spices, the salmon blends nicely with the green chimichurri on top. I am a fan of this dish mainly for the flavors, although the entire look of it all is nice as well. The fish breaks nicely with a tap of a fork and is always well cooked, allowing all the flavors to be noticed in a single bite. These range from the garlic in the chimichurri sauce, to the tender smokiness of the fish, to the lemon and pepper in the seasoning. The size of the fillet is a good amount—its enough to fill me up until after school, but not too much where I have to throw out the rest. The combination of the size of the fish with the amount
of chimichurri works well together as the sauce is enough to fully spread over the fish with a bit of extra for separate bites. Despite the rarity of this dish being served (the last time it was served was back in October, I checked), this is one that I will always finish and enjoy every time as each bite is filled with impeccable flavor and texture. CRUNCHY TURKEY TACOS The color of this dish really sets it off for me. Buttery yellow platters of crispy tortilla line the sides of the bowl and the light salt adds flavor to the dish. Bright, and delicate, the fresh spring greens of the avocados bring a bursting taste of summer vegetables while the deep reds and yellows of the peppers provide a subtle kick to the mix. Combined with hearty black beans, the salsa of crunchy peppers and creamy avocado flows nicely with the muted tones of the turkey. Despite the nice blend of the vegetables and the protein together, the turkey is lacking in some ways. The meat itself isn’t bad—it’s well seasoned and reminds me of a well-made meatball—it’s just that there isn’t a kick, a wow factor, an “oh my goodness this was amazing” taste to it. It’s just kind of neutral by itself. The toppings section is a little lackluster to say the least. The cheese has the plastiky taste to it, leaving your food with a stale essence, and the sour cream, while providing a cream base to mix your food together with, is a bit on the watery side. Lettuce or extra salsa in the toppings section would allow a greater
variety of flavors to be enjoyed without the extra hassle of clean-up. The presentation in a bowl allows greater mixing of food without the fear of spilling anything, and easy usage of the tortillas, as you can easily scoop the food onto the pieces with a spoon. Despite the little faults here and there, the meal wraps together nicely to form a coherent flavorful dish, filling enough to keep me going until dinnertime. ANGUS BEEF BURGERS These really aren’t anything special, but I find that they are good quality and well-made for cafeteria hamburgers. The burger is juicy and flavorful, and with the correct choice of condiments, the burger can triple in flavor and style. Despite the burger being simple, the whole-wheat bun provides a nutty flavor to the dish. This taste gives the whole plate something extra and another flavor to focus on, and with the addition of condiments, ranging from mayonnaise to pickles to lettuce, the dish blends together nicely. The side for the burger matches well to create a good blend of healthy and tasty. The potato wedges provide the essence of french fries without the excess salt and oil, and have a good starchy flavor. Because of all of the different variants of flavors in the burger, the wedges are a way to cleanse your palate before taking another bite of the main dish. This basic yet sophisticated dish allows for a tasty lunchtime meal and a good snack between classes.
What foods do you like making the most? I like to do ethnic dishes...people really like it. I like to do the ethnic dishes because people really enjoy them more than just your basic everyday stuff. People do like breakfast for lunch, people do like the mac’n’cheese, but I think when we do kind of a really cool, really authentic, off-the-charts, off-the-hook kind of ethnic dish, that’s really cool. Describe Nueva students’ food tastes in three words. Adventurous, hungry, and open. From your perspective, what do our preferences look like? I will say that at the beginning of the year the tastes are different than the end of the year because at the beginning of the year everyone is a certain size and they’re coming in and they don’t have any favorites, the seniors have some favorites, the juniors have some favorites, but by the end of the year people have developed a taste for their favorites and the freshmen are this big now so we go through almost a 30% jump in how much food we do. We do a lot more. Just because people grow so much throughout the year, in all the grades. What is something surprising about the Café/lunch prep that Nueva students would not be aware of? We go through 40 pounds of bananas in a day, 40 pounds of apples in a day, 20 pounds of mandarins in a day, 4 flats of strawberries in a day. All in the same day. We go through a lot of fruit. We go through an amazing amount of fruit. And that doesn’t include watermelon, any of the other melons, berries. What can we look forward to from the Café for next year? Here’s my vision for next year: to have more staffing to do more choices at the same time. Not necessarily throughout the year, but on a same day. So, you know we rolled out with the grab’n’go this year but staffing was an issue. I want to do a pasta station, a burger or a pizza station, and the entree station, every day, and kind of rotate things around and give people choices.
REVIEWED
Bean Scene
Putting the Bay’s most popular coffees to the taste test BY JULIANNA G.
As I’ve grown through high school, my attitude toward coffee has gone from indifferent to enthusiastic. My eyes opened up to a whole new world of countless shops and drink choices, and at times those varieties can seem daunting. Where to go? What to order? So I decided to look at some of the most iconic coffee shops the Bay Area has to offer. Here each shop is marked based on their price, menu diversity, overall flavor, ambiance, and the speed of the process, then given a star review out of 5.
PHILZ: 4.5/5 “Cozy Comfort” PRICE FOR SMALL: ~$3.50 MENU: Philz has the most varied menu of all the stops of this list, save maybe Starbucks. Each drink is easily customized, as you speak directly with your barista, so accuracy of orders is always spot-on. There’s quite a variety of snacks too, with vegan and gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions. FLAVOR: Thhe variety of coffee blends found at Philz brings so much joy to my heart. Not only do they have specialty drinks like the Mint Mojito (a sweet, creamy iced coffee with fresh mint), they have various light, dark, and medium roasts, along with a tea selection. AMBIANCE: Philz is the perfect cozy coffee spot. All locations have comfortable table and chairs for working, plus bonus points for plug strips and free WiFi. Philz is the perfect place to swing by for a study session or a coffee date. SPEED: Philz isn’t the fastest coffee stop, as each person gets to take their time getting the drink just right. Depending on when you go, the line may be long, even out the door. The system of lines can be confusing, so just remember: order first, then pay separately.
BOBA GUYS: 4/5 “Hipster Paradise” PRICE FOR SMALL: ~$3.50 MENU: Boba in my coffee? I’ll take it. You can vary sweetness and milk choice, but aside from coffee milk tea, the majority of the menu is what you would expect from a boba shop: teas (and a surprise mention, Horchata). Food varies by location, but don’t expect a full kitchen. You’ll get something from the small display case, and what you see is truly what you get. FLAVOR: While the menu may not have the variation of a coffee-dedicated stop, the flavor of the drinks at Boba Guys is top-notch, each fully fulfilling their purpose, and the customizable kinds and amounts of sugar and milk mean that this new spin on a classic drink can be just how you like it. AMBIANCE: Boba Guys is great for a study break, but not so good for actual studying. Their seating is minimal, and most locations are conducive to a social environment much more than an educational one. SPEED: Once you order a drink, you can be out the door in less than five minutes; however, with its growing popularity, it’s hard to go at a time when there isn’t a line. Your best bet if you’re in a rush is to go during off hours, but beware: boba is only served after 11 am.!
BLUE BOTTLE: 3.25/5 “Pricey Beast” PRICE FOR SMALL: ~$3.75 MENU: Blue Bottle takes the most dollar signs in this search—don’t expect to go in and spend less than $10 on your order. Blue Bottle is good for a traditional coffee lover, and the drink menu contains the classics (latte, espresso, iced coffee) but is fairly limited. You won’t find any “specialty” mixed drinks here aside from the Cascara Fizz, which is more of a soda than coffee, but you will find a nice range of snacks. Chia-seed pudding, fresh waffles, and cheesy pretzels are among the favorites of Nueva students. FLAVOR: Blue Bottle has very average coffee. Their drinks are exactly what anyone would expect, and are perfect for someone wanting the basic drinks. Overall, variation of taste between drinks is minimal, and there isn’t a broad range of creaminess or sweetness. AMBIANCE: Blue Bottle fits the growing identity of Bay Meadows: small and hipster, minimal (and minimalist) seating, with a few small tables outside. The natural light is nice for conversation. SPEED: Blue Bottle holds a place in the heart of many students at the Nueva Upper School simply because of the proximity to campus. Drinks come out within minutes of ordering, and it’s easy to get there and back during a free period or advisory.
STARBUCKS: 3/5 “Boisterous Sugar Palace” PRICE FOR SMALL: ~$2.50/3.75 MENU: The Starbucks menu is definitely the fluffiest on this list, filled with a wide variety of sugary frappuccinos. If you want to branch out from coffee, other options include peach tea, smoothies, and lemonade. FLAVOR: The wide variation of flavors on the Starbucks menu is perfect for someone looking to be introduced to coffee through a sugary pick-me-up. A mocha is perfect for this. The actual coffee is flavorful be it a bitter dark roast, fruity medium roast, or a marshmellow-y blonde, but ultimately isn’t the highlight of drinks. AMBIANCE: Starbucks comes in all shapes and sizes, but generally has a comfortable atmosphere. However, the volume can be an issue. Depending on timing, location, and such, Starbucks can get quite busy at times, so I would suggest it to be a nice social spot, but not as great for work. But hey, free WiFi! SPEED: Because it is such a large chain, Starbucks is like rolling the dice when it comes to speed. It could be that they have plenty of staff, or that they have one lonely worker handling all the orders. Timing also matters, and you can work out the best times for your local store. Overall they are quick, but no guarantees.
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
“Humanity does not ask us to be happy. It merely asks us to be brilliant on its behalf.” Ender’s Game, published in 1985 by Tor Books
“Cora didn’t know what optimistic meant. She asked the other girls that night if they were familiar with the word. None of them had heard it before. She decided that it meant trying.” The Underground Railroad, published in 2016 by Doubleday
Culture • Page 5
Bestselling Reads
“Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” Just Mercy, published in 2014 by Spiegel & Grau
CRAZY RICH ASIANS
BY KEVIN KWAN
Kevin Kwan’s debut novel, Crazy Rich Asians, follows Rachel Chu, a Chinese-American professor who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas, for a grand wedding. There she discovers he is filthy rich and that they come from two vastly different worlds. As Rachel is introduced into a realm of luxury beyond belief, she must deal with Nick’s disapproving mother, jealous socialites, and everyday life in this foreign world of opulence. The movie production of Crazy Rich Asians comes out this August, so summer is the perfect time to start reading.
“In pushing other species to extinction, humanity is busy sawing off the limb on which it perches.” The Sixth Extinction, published in 2014 by Henry Holt & Company
New this year, grade-level summer reads align by theme Selected by a faculty committee, the list of books delves into explorations of the “Other” THREE LITTLE PIGS
BY ALIYA G. During this school year, a committee of interested faculty came together to create this year’s summer reading list. It was the first time that the summer reading selection was chosen by a group of people, rather than just Jan Patton, upper school research librarian. Patton first sent out a survey, presenting options for summer reading. Options tossed around included reading memoirs, reading by grade levels, and discussion during advisory versus class camping retreats. Around 10 to 15 faculty members met to discuss the possibilities. They contemplated two themes for the reading list: “Read Different,” which would encourage students to consider books outside their usual interests; and “The Other,” which asked students to think about different perspectives, as well as relating to the idea of giftedness. The latter option won by a small margin, prompting Patton and writing teacher Jennifer Perry to provide the following constraints as they invited faculty members to contribute book title suggestions: the selections must be popular titles, available as paperbacks, and discussed on the fall class trips. Under these constraints, the committee ultimately decided upon four books, one for each grade level. These four books made the cut: 9th Grade— Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game 10th Grade — Elizabeth Kolbert’s The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History 11th Grade — Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad 12th Grade — Bryan Stevenson’s
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption “It was opinionated,” Patton said about the committee discussions. “But everyone felt pretty strongly about these four.” Ender’s Game, for rising ninth graders, plays well into the theme of the “Other.” It’s a book that many Nuevans have already read, and one that can be be reread and appreciated anew. Patton is enthusiastic about this title and also said she is “excited about the ninth graders going into a culture of reading.” The incoming class will receive their copies over the summer through mail, as well the following prompts for discussion: In what ways does the novel develop the idea of the “Other”? How does the novel develop the idea of giftedness? What challenges to gifted children face? What are the responsibilities placed upon them? The Sixth Extinction was selected for the tenth graders because it ties into two relevant aspects of sophomore year: biology and Costa Rica. It’s a nonfiction book that examines mass extinction events in history, while drawing parallels to ongoing extinctions in present day. The book won a Pulitzer Prize in 2015. Eleventh graders will read The Underground Railroad, author Colson Whitehead’s latest novel. The book is very much aligned with the “Other” theme, as well as the junior year curriculum that focuses on American history and slavery. Patton said this book is the one she is most looking forward to reading. Seniors will read Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy. Patton described
BY AGATHA CHRISTIE the memoir as “highly readable, very compelling, and more mature than the other classes’ books.” The book charts Stevenson’s law career as he sets out to defend those most desperate and in need. Some students may recognize Stevenson’s name; the author has been recently featured in the news for helping found the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Alabama, the first memorial to commemorate the victims of lynching in the U.S., which opened this year. In the past, Patton has felt that summer reading has been “a real hit or miss at Nueva.” She’s optimistic that the selections this year will engage all readers. “This year I feel very strongly that we want to promote a culture of readers. We want Nueva to be known as the school where kids read,” Patton said. She’s also prepared a checklist for the summer reading books, joking, “If you do not get your book, I will come find you. You cannot hide! I think the theme should be ‘no excuses.’” “Hopefully, this will be a really positive experience in terms of opening conversations, because even if I don’t know you, we’ve both read that book; it’s great because we already have that bond, and that’s what good writing should do,” Patton said. “If you don’t read the book, you’re not going to be able to participate in discussions. It’s like sitting down to dinner but only being able to have two bites.” Next year, she hopes to open up the selection committee to include students.
16 years after Caroline Crale has been hanged for the murder of her husband, her daughter, Carla Lemarchant, seeks out detective Hercule Poirot to investigate the case. Revealing a letter written by her mother before her execution, Carla argues that Caroline may have been innocent. As Poirot enters the case he is optimistic; yet, he soon soon worries that the initial verdict is as undeniable as it first seemed...
OPEN
BY ANDRE AGASSI In Open, beloved tennis player Andre Agassi recounts the struggles he faced on the road to becoming the best tennis player in the world. From early youth with his criticizing father to his swift climb into the spotlight, Agassi finds that the majority of his struggles were not with the sport on the tennis court, but with himself. Open chronicles the misery and unhappiness Agassi felt most of his life, and how he grew to resent the sport he had dedicated himself to.
Page 6 • Features
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
Q&A: Conversations in STEM Conversations in STEM is a column that aims to explore through interviews the latest scientific research across a variety of disciplines, including but not limited to medicine, neuroscience, engineering, physics, and mathematics. The purpose of this column is threefold: 1) to trigger students’ interest in science and scientific research, 2) to inform students about cutting-edge developments in scientific research that are usually confined to scholarly circles and journals, and 3) to provide students with valuable, practical information relating to common problems seen in both individuals and the community.
Talking PTSD with Dr. Cohen
BY ANNA K.
Dr. Beth Cohen is an internist and clinical investigator at UCSF VA Medical Center whose research focuses on health outcomes in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. She is the principal investigator of the Mind Your Heart Study, a prospective cohort study designed to examine the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder on cardiovascular health.
What initially attracted you to work in the field of medicine? I was biology major in college and, at the time, I was also doing public health volunteer work. I volunteered in the areas of HIV, so I knew I was interested in science, but I hadn’t really thought much about careers. Working with a lot of people in the public health field made me aware that medicine was a way I could combine my interest in science with my interest in working closely with people, and trying to do something to help others. And so, I gradually found myself working in medicine.
How did you happen to focus your research on the area of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? I went to medical school at UCSF. As a student you rotate at the university hospital, but you also rotate to the Veterans Hospital. I just really enjoyed working with veterans, and I continued to stay at UCSF for residency, so I continued to work at the VA. I had always been interested in mental health as well as in physical health, so I found it really interesting working with people who had issues in both of these domains. Also, it is just a really nice thing to be able to give back to people who have made sacrifices and given so much. It feels really nice.
Have you had any difficult times in your career? Primary care in particular can be challenging, because you are not focused just on a single aspect of someone’s health, but you are trying to take care of everything. Working with patients who have experienced trauma is especially difficul— they may be having physical problems, mental health problems, and social issues, so it is hard to be able to try to coordinate all of that. Sometimes it’s a pretty big task, but I found that it’s still very rewarding work to try, and be able, to help people in all of those domains. Another difficult task is research. Primarily what I do is research, and that’s really fun. However, one of the challenges is that, as a researcher, it’s almost like you are running your own small business, and you have to get your own funding for everything that you do and anyone you want to hire to help you—so sometimes that can be stressful. Like for example, during the budget crisis, scientific funding was cut back quite a bit, and so those of us who are dependent on grants for our jobs had a stressful time to fight for funding.
From 2009 to 2015, you were the principal investigator of the Mind Your Heart Study, which was funded by NIH . The general research was about exploring factors that increase chronic disease risk in patients with PTSD. Could you please explain with further specificity what this research involved? The Mind Your Heart study was what we call a cohort study—that means you follow people over time to look at different factors that might affect their health. Our intention with that study was to explore how PTSD affects people’s heart health. The reason we were
interested in this is because, clinically, we were seeing patients with PTSD who were developing heart disease risk factors and heart disease. It was really unclear… Some people were not sure whether that thing was really happening, and wondered why it was happening. “Were they smoking more, not exercising as much, or was something biologically going on in terms of how PTSD was affecting their body and also had an impact on the cardiovascular system?” Another reason we started the study is that my research mentor—Mary Whooley, who is a primary researcher in depression and heart disease—had done, with some others, a lot of research that showed a really strong link between depression and increase in risk of heart disease. So, I think that having that as a background really helped people understand the mind-body connection and the premise that mental health problems had a difficult effect on the body.
“It is just a really nice thing to be able to give back to people who have made sacrifices and given so much. It feels really nice. As you explained, traumatic stress has a long-term negative impact on health. How would you define traumatic stress? Could you provide some examples? In order for an event to be a trauma that can cause PTSD, it has to be something that involves a series of difficult injuries or harm. For example, going through a break up of a relationship, a divorce, or losin one’s job, are all things that are very, very stressful life events, and have an impact. But they are not considered traumatic in the sense that they could lead to PTSD. Events leading to PTSD would be more like experiencing or witnessing a violent action, a serious illness, a natural disaster, combat, or interpersonal violence—events that involve the stress of physical harm.
Why do some people develop posttraumatic stress disorder while others do not, although they might have experienced the same or similar stressors? That’s a really interesting question. It’s not something our research has examined but something others have examined. There are a number of things that have been identified as risk factors, including experiencing higher trauma, or having lower social support. There are some smaller studies that have suggested that there may be some biological differences; a couple of studies that we have looked at show that genetic factors may predispose people.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
I would say we are still figuring that out, but it is likely to be a combination of people’s social history as well just their biology and genes.
So according to research findings, how can we help soldiers and other people develop resilience to PTSD? By providing as much support as we can for soldiers while they are experiencing trauma in the combat field and by making sure we are reaching out to people after they return [from combat]. I think that the military has really put a lot of effort into that and we have a lot of resources available for soldiers but we still have challenges with getting patients [in]. I think there is still a lot of stigma around PTSD and mental illness where people may feel like it’s the final weakness to have this. Or they might be afraid about needing health care treatment or they might be concerned about how this might impact their career because they are still in the military or in other services. So I think we need to do a better job with trying to make people understand that there is nothing wrong with them; if they have experienced a very traumatic event that causes a number of people to unfortunately develop PTSD, it’s not a character flaw, it’s not a weakness, I think it’s helpful to try to get them to think of it just like any other medical condition, like they have high blood pressure. They wouldn’t hesitate, hopefully, to come to a provider to understand what’s happening and learn what they can do to improve it, and I would say the same should be true for mental illness. That we should all be very open about talking about it and try to be very supportive to people, try to engage them to care and meet them where they are and figure out the treatment that they ought to do to fit in with their lifestyle. A lot of therapies for PTSD involve talking about the trauma, which may be intimidating for people who may want to avoid the reminder of the traumatic event. I think the providers are very skilled at following the patients’ needs and not pushing them further until the patients are ready. So we need to bring a lot more education to help people understand and make therapy not feel like this frightening thing but make it feel like something positive and supportive.
What do you think is the most exciting emerging area in research area of post-traumatic stress disorder? Some of the studies with risk factors are very exciting, because if we can better understand what those are then we can really focus our efforts on preventing trauma. There is a lot of work going on looking at complementary and integrated therapies. I am involved in a trial that is being led by someone in combat, someone in our VA, who is creating an intervention that includes exercise with some integrated relaxation techniques. As I mentioned, we have a lot of treatments that are effective, but which for many patients are not necessarily engaging enough. So the more we have to offer—a larger menu of treatments— maybe the more people we can engage, so the more people we can successfully treat. And I think also just understanding the biology of PTSD—there is a lot of work going into understanding the brain changes that are associated with PTSD, the biochemical changes—pathways that we may be able to use for medication creation as well.
Do you have any advice for a young scientist starting a career today? I would encourage people to think about careers in science because this is one area where you can really combine helping people with creative work. It is really exciting to be able to do research—to think of a question that it is exciting and be able to find the answer to it. It’s kind of like getting to be a detective but also really getting to do something that helps people big time. The other thing that I would say is that science sometimes can be intimidating to people and I know, personally for me, part of the reason that I didn’t know that I wanted to be a doctor until college is because I really didn’t think I could be a doctor. I wondered if I was smart enough, if I could work hard enough, and I did not see many people in my family that could actually do that (be a doctor). I would say that if it is something you are interested in, believe in yourself and you can work hard, there are lots of ways to make a contribution to science. So I would encourage people to seek out role models… and go for it.
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
Features • Page 7
Founding faculty members bid farewell
Julietta Bekker describes one of her favorite memories of her time at Nueva, when for a Spanish magical realism project her students had to come up with ads to promote the statue that was at the center of the story. “[In] my favorite ad, everyone took turns describing how useful the object was because it helped them with their Spanish homework. One person included one of those really fast disclaimers on why you wouldn’t actually want to own the statue.”
They were there at the start, back when the inaugural ninth-grade class was housed at the College of San Mateo BY WILLOW C. Y. & ELIZABETH B. P. Powerful. That’s how Dean of Student Life Mike Peller describes the founding of the Upper School. “It was the first week when we were meeting, before we even had students, in one of the mod spaces on the Hillsborough campus,” Peller recalled. “We were opening up this binder that was full of four years of research done by the expansion task force to reimagine the high school experience, and I just remembered having goosebumps thinking how exciting it would be to really build and make something with these brilliant people.” Five years later, five of the founding faculty are leaving this year: Mike Peller (Dean of Student Life), Amrit Chima (Athletic Director), Julietta Bekker (US Spanish Teacher), Courtney Johnson (US Art Teacher), and Pat Goldsmith (Dean of College Counseling). Each of them remembers that first year, when the school didn’t even occupy the Bay Meadows campus yet, with the kind of fondness only parents of a project can muster. Chima recalls watching the new building being constructed while being temporarily housed over at CSM’s building 12. She remembers that Courtney Johnson “was teaching photography at the time, and we would bring her students to Bay Meadows to document the construction of the Upper School. I remember coming here with her—I would drive a van—and just watching the building grow from month to month.” One of Bekker’s favorite memories is of entering the hallway with the other teachers, trying to imagine what would fill out the space, trying to have first meetings, and anticipating having the students fill the hallways. “We started to use chalkboard paint and had painted the entire hallway, and it just made me really happy to see the space fill up with things that were from [the student’s] imagination,” Bekker said. In addition to their sweet memories of building the foundation of the school, the faculty are going to miss the Nueva community’s enthusiasm for intellectual development and passionate learning, as well as the human connection they’ve experienced in the past five
years. Peller said, “I’ve never been to a school that’s vibrating with such intellectual curiosity as this place. I find at the end of the day that I have to actively pull myself out. The conversations we have are phenomenal. It’s a humbling privilege and honor.” Chima added, “I’ll definitely miss the students I’ve formed relationships with. Some of those colleagues I’ve been with for five years now, that I feel like I know really well—I will definitely miss seeing them every day.” Similarly, Bekker said, “[I’ll miss] the people. Specifically, the spontaneous exchange of energy and ideas with any and everyone and the ease with which, you know, even people I don’t know, just having spontaneous conversations with them. Even students who have graduated.”
“I’ve never been to a school that’s vibrating with such intellectual curiosity as this place.”
These faculty members are, in a way, graduating from Nueva as well. The faculty members, although sad, are excited for the next chapters of their professional lives. Chima is looking forward to “taking breather,” but said that she, in the future, would stay “involved with athletics.” Bekker, similarly, didn’t disclose exactly what she would be doing in the future, saying that she “ha[sn’t] figured it out yet.” However, she said, “I’ve been looking at some non-classroom positions, in Ed Tech and curriculum design. I’d love it to be related to Spanish, but in the meantime I’m going to be tutoring and working on children’s books.” Peller, in contrast, knew exactly where he was going:
LEFT: Mike Peller says that when he becomes System Head of the White Mountain School, he’ll be able to apply to the school Nueva’s style of “giv[ing] meaningful, relevant feedback to students on the way they’re engaged in thinking about anchor[ing] learning experiences beyond just content.” RIGHT: Pat Goldsmith guided Nueva’s first two graduating twelfth grades through the college process.
the White Mountains in New Hampshire. He’ll be the System Head at the aptly named White Mountain School, and looks forward to transferring Nueva’s giving of, “meaningful, relevant feedback to students on the way they’re engaged in thinking about anchor[ing] learning experiences beyond just content.” As they embark on their next adventures, they hope to bring a little bit of Nueva with them. Their time at Nueva has imparted lessons and impressions that they will take with them as they move away. “When you spend a significant amount of time at an institution, it really helps you understand who you are professionally, what you need to grow and how to find that,” Chima said. “You take away the positive and the things that don’t work as well to help you figure out what you want to do in the future.” Bekker said that through her classes and her students, she has “learned how to be more flexible as an educator and how to keep more of an open mind.
“I think so frequently people feel that this is a place they want to come and don’t want to leave, and I hope it continues to be that way.”
Not only how to hold them to a higher academic standard, but also to help them take control of their learning process.” “There’s never a day that goes by when there isn’t a question being asked that is so exciting to think about, that has a nonsimple answer and a nontrivial answer,” said Peller, speaking of what he loves and will miss most about Nueva. “The first time the robotics team got their robot to move, and this was, again, year one and it was like six o’clock and all of a sudden I heard all this yelling and screaming and this robot comes, like, poorly bouncing back and forth between walls and they were screaming and came out the hall that we were renting and so excited, and almost at the same time one of the kids on the robotics team’s parents came and the kid didn’t want to go, and was like, ‘Don’t take me.’ I think so frequently people feel that this is a place they want to come and don’t want to leave, and I hope it continues to be that way.”
Page 8 • Features
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
Looking for the Happy Medium What happens when body positivity, body shaming, and health meet? Illustration by Eugenia X.
BY WILLOW C. Y.
The Nueva School • Volume 1, Issue 4
Features • Page 9
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THUS, SCROLLING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA IN THIS TIME, IN THESE BALMY, SOONTO-BE-SUMMER DAYS, CAN BE CONFUSING, THE SPECTRUM OF BODY SHAMING TO BODY POSITIVITY BOMBARDING YOU WITH WARRING MESSAGES ABOUT BEAUTY, CONFIDENCE, AND THE MOST RECENT BATTLEFIELD, HEALTH.
s summer lazily approaches, the heat of early June bears a tantalizing taste of blissful freedom. And as the temperature increases, heavy sweaters are swapped for tank tops, sweatpants for shorts, and the now-old promises of cold nights for relaxed beach days. But with those visions of the perfect summer come magazine after ad after social media post, all headlined with one relentless theme: the perfect beach body. Never to be seen without a photo of an airbrushed but undoubtedly slim supermodel in a baring-all bikini, these tips, tricks, and hacks permeate every circle of the internet. But another faction has also arisen from the din: the body positivity movement. This side dedicates itself to body acceptance and positivity; its posts are gilded with pictures of stretch marks photoshopped gold, illustrations rendering women in every size and shape; typographically colorful posts featuring motivational quotes about loving yourself, or having the right to be whatever size or shape you were born with. They are also slowly reclaiming the word “fat,” a word that has been used derogatorily for some time. These days, scrolling through social media can be confusing, the spectrum of body shaming to body positivity bombarding many a screen-scroller with warring messages about beauty, confidence, and the most recent battlefield, health. It’s no secret that the two extremes of the body weight spectrum are unhealthy—both the underweight and the obese have been linked to major physical health issues including heart disease, diabetes, certain types of cancer, pregnancy and fertility problems, and organ failure. Separately, they can cause issues with the immune system, bones, joints, and nutrition. However, even with these obvious ties to an unhealthy lifestyle, each of these body types has advocates: the media, frequently criticized as “fat-shaming,” which showcases the paper-thin model as the bodily ideal while degrading fat people, and the “profat” movement, also frequently criticized, which points to obese models as better than the aforementioned skinny ones. Although being fat was once considered by society to be desirable, immortalized in art, today’s societal body-shaming or, more specifically “fat-shaming,” is not reproaching skinny people for their thinness. No, the tables flipped within the last few centuries with the coining of the term “obesity” and the exploration of health as it relates to that. Now the overweight, once society’s ideal, are pushed into the margins of fashion, modeling, and our culture as a whole. Fat, if physically visible—as there is such a thing as “invisible” fat, which is fat build-up around the organs—is considered unhealthy, and weight and visible slimness are said to correlate directly with physical well-being. Directly at odds with the body positivity and fat acceptance movements, the arguers of this stance have found their soapboxes on the Hyde Park of miscellaneous opinions: the internet. Littered with articles like “UNPOPULAR OPINION: Body Positivity Has Become an Excuse” and “Body Positivity is Killing Women,” hosted on questionable web addresses like “babe.net,” a simple Google search for “problem with body positivity” turns up 52.7 million results in .42 seconds. On this side, fat people are often derogatorily referred to and believed simply to be lazy and unmotivated to lose weight. A 2013 controversy involved a mother and “fitness advocate,” as she calls herself, Maria Kang, posting a photo of herself (a very skinny woman) and her three children on Facebook with the phrase in big, bold letters on the picture, “What’s your excuse?” Needless to say, there are a lot of critics of this side. One of the most notable is Virgie Tovar, a self-described “fat-activist” who has promoted fat acceptance and “fat liberation,” as she calls it, with a new book out titled You Have the Right to Remain Fat. “The only time you shouldn’t be losing weight in our culture [is] if you’re recognizably anorexic,” Tovar says. “That’s the truth. Everybody is constantly pursuing weight loss, and what research has shown is that being obsessed with how much you weigh and how much you eat creates anxiety, it creates depression, it can create eating disorders, and it creates decreased happiness across the board.” Tovar is the perfect bridge to the other side of the body-image world: the side of the internet that accepts the overweight but also takes it a step further by prioritizing fat people over the skinny. This essentially creates a warped mir-
ror-image of the body-shaming customs, often called the “pro-fat” movement. (Tovar is not part of this category, as she is for the acceptance of all bodies, but she has expressed some shared opinions.) This piece of the spectrum isn’t body positivity, the appreciation and acceptance of all body types; it doesn’t even currently have a name due to its fringe status. However, regardless of the number of participants in the movement, they definitely do exist and are on the rise through social media and the internet, just like the fat-shaming group. After plus-size model Ashley Graham posted a picture of herself on Instagram, comments on the post included hate at her lost weight. As one commenter wrote, “You did lose a lot of weight. I am no longer a fan of yours. You betrayed a lot of people!” Separately, diets, cleanses, and weight-loss groups are looked down upon as bowing to society’s expectations of what women should look like—one should not change to fit the modified body shape that society points to as the ideal form. In some cases, women who do diet to lose weight, regardless of reason, are looked down upon as submitting to the patriarchy consciously or unconsciously. So, if the “pro-fat” and the fat-shaming movement both yield body-shaming ideologies, is there a happy medium? This question brings us back to body positivity, the more moderate sister of the pro-fat movement. At its core, body positivity is the acceptance and advocacy of the acceptance of all body sizes, shapes, and types, thin, medium, and fat alike. It branched off from the fat-acceptance movement of the 80’s, according to Tovar, who identifies with this fat-acceptance community and was introduced to it when she first came to college. “In 2010 [or] 2011, I was introduced to fat activism at that time while I was in graduate school during research on fat people, fat women,” Tovar says. “I started out doing fat liberation and fat activism. Body positivity wasn’t really a thing at the time. It was fat activism—if you were doing body work and it was specifically diet culture stuff, you were doing fat activism.” Since then, the body positivity and fat acceptance movements have broken off and grown in popularity. The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is marked at 11,000 active volunteers according to to Time Live; the Facebook page for the global movement The Body is Not an Apology for “radical, unapologetic self-love which translates to radical human action” has over 100,000 followers; on Instagram alone, the combined number of posts with the hashtags #bodypositive and #bodypositivity number over 7.5 million. In addition to sheer stats, more plus-size and “strongbuild” models have gotten onto the global mainstream of modeling, the most notable of whom are Ashley Graham, Lesego Legobane (known as Thick Leeyonce), and Tabria Majors; entertainment superpowers such as Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Amy Schumer, Alicia Keys, and Kelly Clarkson are also promoting the idea of body positivity. Another way body positivity has manifested in the mainstream community is through organizations furthering the body-positive agenda. One of the largest of these is a branch of the National Organization for Women (NOW) called Love Your Body, the participants of the parent institution numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Another prominent organization, and perhaps the most frequently cited, is The Body Positive, a nonprofit
“Being obsessed with how much you weigh and how much you eat creates anxiety, depression, and decreased happiness across the board. Diet culture and living that life is like agreeing to take a huge hit to your capacity for joy.” Virgie Tovar, a “fat activist” as she calls herself, is the founder of Babecamp, a fourweek, online course on how to “break up with diet culture” and the hashtag #LoseHateNotWeight. She also just recently released her book called “You Have the Right to Remain Fat.”
organization that trains and educates people about, and advocates for, body positivity. Their stance with health fits perfectly into the idea of acceptance for every type of body. “When we talk about health at The Body Positive, we talk about HAES, which is Health At Every Size. So when we talk about health, we talk about a very holistic model that looks at psychological health, social well-being, and physical health, independent of size, regardless of size,” Alessandra Jurick, a trained facilitator at the nonprofit says. Although they don’t condone dieting and and cite studies that “have shown that dieting leads to weight gain,” they do believe in following “natural hunger and full cues” to get to that healthy threshold for whatever body size. Body positivity, at least The Body Positive version of it, seems like the ideal compromise: it promotes self-love and acceptance, but also takes health and wellness into account. However, it has received criticism from the two extremes that border it. Mainstream thinks the movement is too sensitive and promotes obesity, as can be seen from the plethora of body-positivity critics online and in print. The most commonly cited criticism is that the body positivity movement is “assist[ing] in [the] denial” of obesity-related health problems as Cathy Young points out in her 2013 opinion piece for the Boston Globe, “Pro-fat an unhealthy status quo.” “While self-loathing is not a good motivation for self-improvement, neither is satisfaction with an unhealthy status quo. Of course obese people should not be bullied; but neither should they be encouraged in the delusion that they are just fine,” Young says. On the other side, the fat acceptance movement thinks that its body positivity counterpart is “is a step down from fat liberation,” as Tovar says. “There’s a lot of thin, young, white women and fat people who are fat in a very particular way: they happen to be extraordinarily beautiful with celebrity faces, and their shapes are very hourglass-y and they have no double chin. Often, if you look at their faces, they can pass as a thin person,” Tovar says. “That’s the prevailing imagery of body positivity, and I think that’s a big problem.” In the end, Tovar says, “Body positivity is a step towards fat activism. If you were serious about body justice, you will end up in fat liberation. If you are not, you will stay in body positivity.” But even as body positivity sits uncomfortably in the middle of the spectrum, its margins being pulled to either side, its striving to become the norm for the mainstream entertainment business and a close ally to the fat acceptance and liberation movement. And it’s up to that potential partnership to see if the coming almost-summers can be infused with body positivity instead of body shaming.
“[F]at acceptance is no improvement on the thinness cult. It’s hardly good that one in four overweight Americans think their weight is normal, or that most underestimate obesity’s health hazards.” Cathy Young, an American journalist, has a self-described “pro-equality point of view.” She has defended contrarian movements but identifies as a feminist herself.
Page 10 • Features
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
Always aware, always prepared Prediction of a big quake in the next 30 years shakes up San Francisco
What should you pack in your emergency go bag? 4
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BY JORDAN M. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The 6.9 magnitude earthquake on October 17, 1989, struck at 5:04 pm—just before the third game of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics. The shake caused over 60 deaths, 3,500 injuries, and more than $5 billion in damages. The quake only lasted for 15 seconds, but that was enough for a segment of the Bay Bridge’s top level and State Route 480 to collapse. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was actually scheduled for seismic retrofitting the following week—a week too late. Although many buildings withstood the earthquake because they were improved after 1906, the Marina district was (and still is) built on landfill, which is mainly comprised of loose dirt and sand, so buildings across the district collapsed to the ground. This was the earthquake that prompted seismic retrofit programs and earthquake safety education, with city officials hoping that the next quake would not hit as hard. If the next big earthquake is as big as the previous ones, its impact would be lessened unquestionably due to new technology and better construction. For many new buildings that are designed per regulations that have built-in earthquake safety requirements, like Nueva’s Bay Meadows campus, evacuations are not required or necessary unless signs of damage or collapse are visible. However, many buildings in San Francisco were built before such regulations were put in place, which means those buildings were not designed to be earthquake-resistant—and this is where the city’s seismic retrofit program comes into play. San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection (DBI) started the Mandatory Soft Story Retrofit Program in 2013. It requires that all “soft-story” buildings (a multi-level wood-framed building with little framing for support) are reinforced and retrofitted in order to transfer shock and movement back into the ground during an earthquake. By September 15, 2020, all building owners with properties in San Francisco should have work completed and a certificate of completion issued to them to show that they are in compliance with the program.
Former architect and current SFDBI Director Tom Hui joined the department one day before the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. He remembers arriving at home and seeing his family panic because they weren’t prepared for the quake. “I remember feeling the earthquake,” Hui said. “My first day was very calm, but after that, it was hectic and crazy.” Because he had his own experiences with earthquakes, Hui was very adamant that programs and ordinances should be passed to prepare San Francisco for future earthquakes. Many contractors, engineers, and construction companies in the Bay Area have familiarized themselves with seismic retrofitting to help building owners comply with the soft-story ordinance. SGDM, LLC, a contractor based in the Inner Richmond district of San Francisco, has already helped over 40 of San Francisco’s residents retrofit their buildings to make them more earthquake-resistant and safer. Anh Vu, an independent contractor for SGDM, said that they have signed over 80 contracts this year and plan to sign a total of 120 by the end of 2018. This is just a small fraction of the buildings in San Francisco that need to be retrofitted. Starting in May, the design-build company began working on five to six buildings simultaneously to maximize efficiency with the resources and contractors available. In addition to showcasing the company’s services at the annual Emergency Preparedness Fair organized by the DBI to educate building owners and residents, SGDM also co-hosts monthly workshops around the city’s 11 districts to inform San Francisco’s building owners about the soft-story retrofit program and process, and how to be prepared for earthquakes. “The more effort we put into reaching out to the community,” said Vu, “the better we can help them and provide them with services they deserve to have.” The Emergency Preparedness Fair, formerly the Earthquake Safety Fair, is held annually at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in the heart of San Francisco. Construction companies, law firms, and engineering companies all display their services and products at their individual booths throughout the building as interested visitors make their way around.
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Whistle Use it to get someone’s attention
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Flashlight You’ll need light for navigation
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First Aid Kit Just in case someone gets hurt
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Water Purification Kit In case you run out of clean water
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Non-Perishable Food Get stuff that won’t go bad or require cooking
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Crank Radio In case there is no cell coverage
The Private School Earthquake Program is another program established by San Francisco’s DBI that requires all private schools in the city to be inspected and evaluated for earthquake safety. The goal of this program according to the DBI’s website is “to ensure that all private school structures are safe for the students and staff that attend them.” This program was created because, under California law, private schools are not required to meet the same rigid safety requirements that public schools must comply with. Earthquake drills in both public and private schools, where students and faculty “duck and cover” under furniture, are required to make sure that everyone knows what to do in the event of an earthquake. The Seismic Safety Outreach Program, launched by the DBI in partnership with the Community Youth Center and Self Help for the Elderly,
aims to educate all of San Francisco’s residents with hands-on learning and curriculum regarding what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. Workshops in different languages (i.e., English, Chinese, Spanish, and Tagalog) are held in every single one of San Francisco’s 11 districts. There are five main topics that the workshops cover: emergency preparedness, first aid and CPR, earthquake mitigation, response and recovery, and fire safety. Just this year alone, the DBI has spent $1.1 million to improve and expand this program for the citizens of San Francisco. “[We] provide trainings, workshops[,] or hands-on interactive events that allow for education, awareness[,] and engagement on learning about disaster preparedness and response,” the Seismic Safety Outreach Program’s webpage says. Another topic many people are slowly being educated
about is the preparation of emergency “go bags.” The packing of these emergency backpacks is being emphasized in emergency preparedness because they contain the necessities for survival in the event of a natural disaster. A household’s go bag should have everything each member needs for at least two or three days. Even though the next big earthquake is not an immediate concern for many people because it seems so far away in time, it is vital that everyone is educated about what to do when it strikes. San Francisco’s programs aim to help residents make their homes and businesses safe, and inform them about earthquake procedures and emergency preparedness. The quake is predicted to happen within the next 30 years, not in 30 years—meaning that no one knows exactly when it will strike.
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
The Cost of Womanhood
Opinion • Page 11
BY ELIZABETH B. P.
The financial side of gender discrimination in Silicon Valley CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Studies have said that about 80% of women use birth control at some point in their lives, often to keep periods at bay, which puts you out another $12,000 over the course of your life. And if you don’t have a uterus, you probably know someone who does—maybe a mom, a sister, or a friend. Women have to pay more from when they’re young— even clothes for young girls cost about 4% more than clothes for young boys, which turns into 8% as they grow up and start wearing the clothes of adult women. For things like deodorant, it’s up as high as a 13% difference, even though the cost of making personal care items for women is the same as the cost of making them for men. We’re charged more for daily essentials, car insurance, health care, plus-size clothing, razors, mortgages (only slightly, though), dry-cleaning, cars, and more. On the one hand, it makes sense when looking at it through a psychologist’s lens. Industries in an environment such as ours will, time and time again, charge more for things if they can. It’s how capitalism works. On the other hand, sometimes it moves from opportunism to exploita-
tion, and I think that in many realms that line was crossed a long time ago. Don’t get me wrong. There are far worse things than paying a bit more per year (or, in the end, per life) for necessities, and while yes, I’m intending to point out a flawed system, it’s not my job (or my intention) to blame anyone reading this paper for increased prices, for the wage gap, or for the perpetuation of both. Yes, these are uncomfortable things to talk about for some, especially stuff that has traditionally been kept under wraps for fear that it might disgust or disturb, and bringing to light in a school newspaper might be more than a bit alarming. While that’s another point of discussion altogether, it’s not the one I’m trying to make. As much as there might be social stigma around talking about things that don’t need to be bought by roughly half the population, my point is not based around that; it’s purely a matter of financial convenience. In a place that is so affluent and, to a certain degree, elitist, people assume that those who can pay for products should and those who are unable to should find the money one
way or another. And yes, a good part of Nueva’s families are notoriously affluent, which does cause a bit of a disconnect between the expectations of the wealthier students and those of others when it comes to what everyone is able to afford, but that’s not the problem I’m trying to address here. The problem is not whether specific members of the Silicon Valley or Nueva community can afford products they need; if you’re reading this (or stopped reading it, for that matter) because you’re wondering how this specifically affects you, you may be disappointed. Maybe, in fact, it doesn’t affect you at all. Perhaps, against all laws of probability (and, in many cases, biology) you know absolutely no women. If that’s indeed the case, I’ll have a hell of a time trying to convince you to care about something you don’t have any interest in, and if you also believe a couple thousand dollars to be somewhat trivial, it might be even more difficult. If that is the case, I hope you can try to empathize for those who are not in your position. Roughly 50.8% of the world considers at least a couple of these products to be
Illustration by Elizabeth B. P.
necessary in their daily lives. Seventy-one percent of the world lives on less than $10 a day. While perhaps it isn’t a problem that affects you specifically, much of the world does struggle with making ends meet, and this is made far harder when you’re over-
charged on things you need every day. Women are out on average $1,350 more than men per year on necessities. If we’re already making about $15,000 less on average, perhaps it’s time for a change.
PERSONAL ESSAY
Four years of journeying
BY AIDEN H.
Here’s where Nueva’s trips have taken me As graduation day approaches, there comes a time for me to reflect on the past four years of my life. Nueva, while never defining me outright, has impacted me in a lot of ways. It has changed my learning and experiences on many levels, especially through the annual trips organized for every grade. I took something valuable away from each trip I went on, something distinctly Nueva, that will stick with me long after I graduate. Every Nueva freshman has a lot to unpack after their trip to Peru. I was no exception, and many of the experiences had me thinking and reflecting long after my return. The most important of these was my hike to the Sun Gate on the day we visited Machu Picchu. We were promised a tough, early-morning hike that would end with a beautiful view of the sunrise and, as we ascended the foggy trail, our expectations kept building for what we would see at the top. When reached the peak, we were surrounded completely by the
Masthead
morning mist, unable to see any of the views we had been told so much about. Any other trip would have had us hiking down immediately, disappointed and discouraged. But our chaperones told us to pause for a moment. We spent 10 minutes in complete silence, staring out at the fog-shrouded valley. In those 10 minutes of stillness, the sun slowly burned off the fog, revealing a view unlike anything I had ever seen. A deep, lush valley whose natural and manmade beauty that rivaled that of Machu Picchu itself. I don’t have any photos from after the fog cleared; I think I was too amazed to even think of lifting my phone. Afterwards, I came away with a new respect for pausing and taking a moment to absorb my surroundings, which rewarded me then and has rewarded me many times since. Costa Rica was perhaps one of the busiest trips I’ve ever been on. Every day was stuffed with lectures, hikes, and excursions of every kind. But it was the best kind of packed:
Questions or comments? We welcome your voices. Please email Editor-in-Chief scobras@ nuevaschool.org or the Newspaper Adviser lyim@nuevaschool.org; corrections will be addressed on our website and published in the subsequent issue.
I learned so much about the place I was in, and experienced so many new things. It took a tireless dedication, but I was rewarded for that hard work on the very last night. Everyone was woken up in the middle of the night and rushed in various vans to see a leatherback turtle climb up onto the beach. It was such a unique experience, seeing a massive turtle lay its eggs illuminated by a hazy red light given off by the biologist’s flashlights. Costa Rica was where I learned to put my best foot forward with these opportunities, giving me an attitude that was unfazed by the foreign environment and lack of sleep. My first and only spiritual experience came from a Nueva trip. It was a cold January in Taos, New Mexico, when my small group of eight peers and I stepped out into the frigid air. A lot was going through my head at that time. There was the general stress from junior year, college apps and tests, friends and family, and countless more things to worry about. But if I knew one thing,
The opinions expressed in The Nueva Current belong solely to the writer and are not a reflection or representation of the opinions of the school or its administrators.
it was that the trip would provide a nice break to push back against the weight of everything. I came into the trip with an open mind despite its non-flashy nature, and was rewarded in the best way possible. We spent a night at a private concert hosted by Robert Mirabal, a Grammy-winning musician. This concert was a blend of music, stories, and most importantly, meditation. Nueva’s values pushed me to experience that meditation in an open way, and I came away with revelations that guided me through the tough parts of junior year. My senior trip to Joshua Tree and the Channel Islands can be summed up in one word: Freedom. Specifically, the freedom to climb to the top of the world. Joshua Tree was a playground for the first few days of our trip, with massive rock structures that were nothing short of feats of nature. We lived and experienced Joshua Tree through a freedom few are lucky enough to have on a school trip. Nighttimes were dominated by hiking and climbing expeditions
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illuminated by nothing more than a few iPhone flashlights. We spent one evening watching the sunset over a towering rock formation in the distance, and the following night journeying across a valley to that very spot. Freedom was king at Joshua Tree, and it was through this freedom that I developed such a connection to the place. More so than hiking through on some guided tour, or reading about it in a brochure. Instead, we made history our playground. So when it actually did come time for the brochures and the tours, I had such a deep connection with the land, and learned far more than I previously thought was possible. Every time I think about my time at Nueva, there will be four flashpoints I harken back to first. Those four trips I went on changed me in big and small ways, and it always started with bringing an open mind to the experience. It sounds cheesy, but if there’s one place where Nueva’s cheesiness succeeds, its during the trips.
Sports Aiden H. Culture Isabel C. Entertainment Anna C. Staff Julianna G. Jordan M. Adviser LiAnn Yim
Page 12 • Opinion
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
EDITORIAL
A Letter from the Editor THE DECLINE OF AN INDUSTRY Online journalism is overtaking print journalism as the primary source of news, but news circulation is down overall. Photo courtesy of the Huffington Post.
Journalism is a crucial part of a functioning society, now more than ever. I say this not because we live in the age of Trump, but because for the past couple of decades, journalism has been dying. There just aren’t enough people interested in reading a print paper anymore, and that lack of readership is depleting the funding of so many papers that a few major news outlets have even been forced to close. People believe that they have all the right answers already and hardly ever look to anyone else to verify that belief. They look to their own lives for
Newspaper circulation—both print and online— has decreased by 20 million since 1990. It is now two thirds of what it was 30 years ago and is steadily declining. Pew Research Center, “Despite subscription surges for largest U.S. newspapers, circulation and revenue fall for industry overall”
ONE PERSPECTIVE Ideally, every opinion is heard and accepted. The more diverse the spread of opinions is, the more refined ideas can become. Having and articulating a perspective is one of the most valuable skills one can have in today’s society. Understanding the ideas and opinions of those around you will make you a better citizen, and prod your thinking in a more critical manner. No one should be blind to the “other side” of thinking. Unfortunately, this is not the case at Nueva. Too often, Nueva’s collective voice is far left or...nothing. We devote entire days to events like Martin Luther King Jr. day, and interrupt classes for walkouts and rallies about gun violence and International Women’s Day. Every school-wide meeting or event is overwhelmingly left,
Submissions
if not extremely leftist. Nueva lives and breathes social justice. And while social justice is a progressive vessel that can often broaden one’s mindset and worldview, in excess it can suppress opinions that many people hold at the core of their beliefs. When we drown out other voices by discounting their beliefs as invalid or disgreeable, we’re missing an opportunity to engage meaningfully and critically. Just because the loudest Nueva students may have leftist opinions and beliefs, doesn’t mean the other side of the argument should be discounted. The voices of social justice are blasting loud enough to silence voices that may lean right. Nueva leaves those without far left views unable to express themselves in the face of sheer volume.
Interested in contributing to the The Nueva Current? The Current seeks to be a forum for student writing, art, and opinion. The opinions and staff editorials contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Head of School or the Board of Trustees of The Nueva School. Letters to the editor and guest columnists are encouraged but are subject
evidence and don’t bother listening to the stories of others. I started this paper in my sophomore year in order to share those stories. When I started, it was essentially a news blog with one staff member—me. It has since grown into a burgeoning print publication with a class of its own, and we need your help to keep this momentum going. We need your participation—both as active readers and as contributors of articles and editorial cartoons—if we want our community to have the publication that it deserves.
How free is our speech? BY AIDEN H. & JULIANNA G.
WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION IF WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE PUBLICATION THAT IT DESERVES.
As it stands now, the student body largely chooses not to interact with the paper’s content, perhaps filling out the crossword or ken-ken but leaving the rest of the paper untouched. This needs to change. You deserve a better paper than the ten staff are able to give you on their own. The purpose of a newspaper is not only to inform its readers, it is also to provide a platform for discussion and discourse. It’s about sharing and openness, welcoming many voices. In a community as well-versed in intellectual debate as ours, the paper should have
a thriving Opinion section, full of student voices and the issues you care about. We want to hear what people in the community are thinking and why—we don’t get enough of that. I hope that when I visit this school in years to come I will find a paper with an active Letters to the Editor section, in which the members of our community feel comfortable in freely voicing their thoughts and discussing them with others who may not necessarily agree. I know that if any community can start a passionate and interesting debate via a Letters to the Editor section, it is this one. We have accomplished a lot in our first year as a print publication. We met the mission we laid out in the first print issue: to provide the Nueva community with a reliable source of relevant news and to provide students a platform for discourse. But what we aim to achieve is not a static target. It is constantly evolving as are the needs of our community and readers. This is why we need you. With your feedback and your readership, this paper can continue to reach for its full potential.
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE From the very core of Nueva’s being, it has tried to listen to its students and build a home away from home where they feel comfortable and safe in their expression. Alegria Barclay has made any number of attempts to open discussion between us—International Women’s Day, MLK day, and the walkouts, just to name a few. Almost every day a new topic and open forum appears, welcoming students to discuss. Just look at debate. Perhaps the most thriving community at Nueva, debate focuses on thrusting students headfirst into discussion of both sides of difficult issues. Diane and Stephen walk the halls at lunch every day, saying hello and speaking with students who approach them. This very newspaper is always asking for submissions,
to editing for reasons of clarity, space, accuracy, and good taste. Please email letters and guest columns to Editor-inChief Scott B. at scobras@nuevaschool.org or Opinions Editor Elizabeth B. P. at elibush@nuevaschool.org, or Advisor LiAnn Yim at lyim@nuevaschool.org. Letters can also be mailed to The Nueva Current, 131 E. 28th Ave., San Mateo,
along with Lit Mag and any number of other publishments waiting to arise. Nueva is built to be a place of free expression. Issues of social justice are not limited to the right and the left, they are based on the freedom and ability of humans. With all these open forums, any person has the chance to share their opinions, with their peers and community, with the utmost support and backing from staff and administration. Free speech is an important right, and in a space like Nueva everyone should feel comfortable sharing their views. It only takes one person to counter the main narrative, to shake up the core of interesting and intellectual conversation, and it is only through this that we can build deeper intellectual debates and understandings.
CA 94403. If you are interested in providing editorial illustrations for The Current, please email Editor-in-Chief Scott B. at scobras@ nuevaschool.org, and you will be added to our contributors mailing list, from which we may put out occasional calls for submission.
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
Sports • Page 13
Peter E. competing at a track meet for Nueva (photo provided by Peter E.)
From the Mavericks to the Polar Bears Student athlete Peter E. recruited to Bowdoin College In sixth grade, Peter E. (12) strapped on a pair of ugly yellow running shoes and decided to go for a run. He ran for 35 minutes in his neighborhood, not that far or that long, but he loved it. Since then, Peter has fallen in love with running; for him, it’s both an adventure and a sport. These days, throughout high school, Peter runs for much longer. He trains between 7 and 11 times each week, and his routine includes morning runs and strength conditioning four or five times—all before he even sets out for school. Peter’s passion for competitive track and cross-country truly began in his freshman year when he joined Nueva’s cross-country team. During his four years of competitive running, the team has found success like qualifying for
the California Cross Country State Championships two years in a row and earning a medal at the Central Coast Section Championships (CCS). This fall, Peter will attend Bowdoin College, located in Brunswick, Maine, where he has been offered spots on the cross-country and track teams. “I had wanted to attend Bowdoin since I visited in April of last year, and I was ecstatic to hear I would have a place on the team,” Peter said. Bowdoin College competes in 26 sports and has a total of 665 student athletes, 371 of whom are men and 294 women. Their cross-country team, home to about 60 athletes alone, boasts a successful record; last year, they sent four athletes to national championships. “Last fall, I got used to hearing
coaches from schools tell me I was too slow to make the team or not responding at all. On top of worrying about college acceptances, I was worried I would have to choose between running and academics,” Peter said. After sending his best times in various races with colleges, answering questionnaires, and personally reaching out to coaches, Peter has been successfully recruited and is looking forward to attending a school with excellent athletic and academic draws. As Peter heads from sunny California to Maine, which is known to reach sub-zero temperatures during the winter months, he will have to adjust to the new weather, terrain, and environment. The iconic six-lane all-weather “Magee Track,” located on Bowdoin campus, where Peter will spend much
Athletics: Season Highlights What was your best win?
“Against LCP, the first-place team, when after losing badly to them at first, we came around and tied with them” — Eli W. (9), Boys’ Soccer
“Neel G. because he’s supportive and really good at tennis”
“Winning girls CCS championship” — Maddie P. (10), Cross-country
“Sam D. because he’s a leader and very vocal, especially when we were losing, he still kept the same spirit we go into games with. He held our team together and we will miss his leadership”
— Tyler P. (10), Tennis
— Ben C. (11), Boys’ Soccer
— Luke M. (9), Boys’ Soccer
“We were at a tournament late, we had like 8 girls there, and were super tired from playing all day. We lay on the floor of the gym and started talking about goals for season and other stuff. We were all delirious and bonded a lot.”
Appreciate a senior on the team?
— Lily M. (9), Girls’ Basketball
“Devoted”
— James T. (9), Boys’ Basketball
“Spirited”
— Sophia Y. (11), Girls’ Soccer
“Motivated”
— Bahar J. (9), Volleyball
“I appreciate the basketball captains because they are super positive all the time. I am going to miss them next year.” — Julie R. (9), Girls’ Basketball
“I learned that waiting around for four hours isn’t so bad when you have friends there.” — Shalin Z. (9), Swimming
— Natalie H. (12), Volleyball
“Powerful”
Describe your team in one word.
time training and competing, was home to the 1972 Olympic training camp. This same track has been home to such prominent track and field athletes as Steve Prefontaine and Joan Benoit Samuelson, both of whom have participated in Olympic games and won various divisions such as the Olympic marathon. During his time at Nueva, Peter has been a prominent advocate on campus for running. “Contrary to popular belief, running is anything but monotonous. It’s one of the only sports where you can simply explore and discover new paths. To me, there is no better feeling than finding a hidden trail along a route you have been running for years,” Peter says.
BY ANNA C.
“When Eli W. (9) scored a goal in his only 20 minutes of playing time the whole season which contributed to the 8–0 win against DCP Alum Rock”
Favorite moment from this season?
BY ANAM T.
What’s one thing you learned?
“I learned how to work with people with different skill levels and play with the team seamlessly.” — Bahar J. (9), Volleyball
Page 14 • Sports
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
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Sam Darnold The youngest of the five rookies, Darnold had a stellar career at USC. After redshirting his freshman year, he led the Trojans to eight consecutive wins and the 2017 Rose Bowl championship in his first year as a starter. Darnold’s numbers dropped off a bit this past year, but he still managed to lead the team to a Pac-12 conference title and a spot in the 2018 Cotton Bowl, where USC lost to Ohio State. He declared for the NFL Draft a year early, forgoing his senior season at USC. Darnold's career stats were not as
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fered in the regular season finale against USC led to Rosen missing the Cactus Bowl. Rosen was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2018 draft and fans have lofty expectations. Arizona has been looking for a solid QB to succeed Carson Palmer and it looks like Rosen may be the long-term answer. With veteran Sam Bradford and backup Mike Glennon (formerly with the Chicago Bears), the Cardinals do not need D. Easley of As so thy Rosen to step in immediately, giving him cia mo i te yT some time to learn and develop. However, Rosen's path to the starting spot is not that tough to see either—Bradford did well in TERMINOLOGY GUIDE: Minnesota against the Saints in last year's playoffs but if he TD: Touch down stumbles and Glennon fails Completion Rate: Completed forward passes over to impress, Rosen could be total forward passes Career Passing Yards: Yards gained by an offensive starting a whole lot sooner than expected. If he is team with completed passes throughout career. pressed into service due to INT: Interception that leads to turnover poor performance or injury Quarterback Rating: Stat created to judge the he will have ultra-dependable performance of a quarterback. receiver Larry Fitzgerald as Few players return to school after a target, and Fitzgerald can winning the Heisman Trophy, but that's drafted in the first two rounds who failed make any quarterback look good. With exactly what Lamar Jackson did in to play a single down in his first two a top caliber defense and offensive pieces 2017, returning to lead Louisville after years in the league, and as such was falling into place, the Cardinals could achis 2016 Heisman, Maxwell Award, and traded to the Oakland Raiders this May. tually make some noise in the NFC West Walter Camp Trophy. He was the youngThe Jets’ long-term quarterback spot with the help of a talented quarterback. est player ever to win the Heisman, and is definitely up for grabs. Darnold will for good reason—he followed up a stellar n e o h y C o f US be competing with former Viking Teddy Ron AT by 2016 season with a solid 2017 season, o o t da Bridgewater and last year's starter ho and ended up with a career quarterJosh McCown. Bridgewater has plenty back rating of 142.9. Jackson passed of injury questions after missing two for 9,043 yards in three seasons with 69 seasons, while at age 38 McCown will TDs, 27 INTs, and an impressive 4,132 not be around forever. Although he had yards rushing. a decent year in 2017 (67.3% completion Those rushing yards, however, gave rate, 2,926 yards, 18 TDs, and 9 INTs) some NFL scouts pause. Running quarMcCown also certainly will never be conterbacks do not last long in the NFL and fused for Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. the question is whether Jackson would Darnold arrives in New York at a be able to turn into a pure passer. Cam perfect time to step in and become the Newton is a great rushing quarterback franchise savior. He has less experience but his passing numbers are decidedly than the other rookies, but he has the less impressive and it is telling that talent and playmaking ability to be sucthe Carolina Panthers have not been a Josh Allen has the weakest stat line cessful. He could benefit from a couple consistent force in the postseason. A of any of the heralded rookies, but it may years studying behind a veteran, but perennially injured quarterback does not not be much of an indicator of his NFL only time will tell whether he will have lead to prolonged postseason success, potential. Allen played for three seathat luxury. and running the football does tend to sons in Wyoming, though he appeared lead to more injuries. Moreover, Jackson by Harry How of in only two games his first season, for o t GQ o Ph ran mostly option plays in 27 total games over college, which often leads to his career. During a steep learning curve when that time, he racked it comes to the pro-style up 5,066 yards, 44 offense of the NFL. TDs, and 21 INTs Jackson, however, has the 2017 NFL Average for a quarterback luxury of being in Baltimore, rating of 137.7. His yards/game where Joe Flacco returns for biggest upside, his eleventh season. A solid however, may be his defense and a productive limitless physical offense make things easier potential. At 6' 5" for the rookie, who will not and 237 pounds, he be asked to carry the team. Average 2017 NFL impressed scouts at If Flacco does go down, the NFL combine passer rating Robert Griffin III is the #2 The first true freshman to start a with measurables man, followed by Jackson game for the UCLA Bruins, Rosen put such as a top throw and Josh Woodrum. Griffin has had an up impressive numbers over three years. velocity of 62 mph, not surprising given up-and-down career and Woodrum is not He posted a career quarterback rating his mammoth 10.125" hand size, and likely to be more impressive than Jackof 140.1 along with 9,341 career passing the ability to throw 70 yards. Though son. In any case, there is no pressure for yards, 59 TDs, and 26 INTs, but that he faced relatively weak competition immediate performance, which will give went along with occasionally abysmal at Wyoming, his good downfield vision, Jackson time to learn. He may have the performances as well and several missed ability to escape pass rushers (4.75 40best path to future success after all. games due to injury. A concussion sufyard dash), and a keen understanding of d
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flashy as Mayfield's but were still eye opening. A quarterback rating of 155.6 along with 7,229 career passing yards over two seasons and 57 TD passes got the attention of many NFL teams and the New York Jets traded up to pick him in the first round. Experts’ main concerns center around his eleven fumbles last season, especially since the Jets play in a cold-weather environment. In New York, a great majority of people are on the hot seat after a 5–11 season. Their last quarterback pick, Christian Hackenberg, is notable for being only the third quarterback ever
a pro-style offense will translate well to the NFL. After drafting Allen 7th overall, the Buffalo Bills hope he can develop into their future quarterback. After a season during which quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Nathan Peterman failed to impress, the path would seem to be clear for Allen to be a legitimate starting candidate. Taylor was traded away during the offseason and replaced by former Cincinnati Bengal A.J. McCarron. Most likely, he will be backed up by the only remaining QB from last season, Nathan Peterman, infamous for throwing five interceptions in one half in his first career start against the Chargers last year. If McCarron does not play well, he could well find Allen to be his toughest competition. For a team with little hope to improve beyond last season's first-round playoff loss, the bar is fairly low for Allen should he end up being the starter. However, with McCarron in town, Bills fans need not demand that Allen produce immediate results. At least not until his second start.
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An outstanding player by most measures, Mayfield was the first freshman walk-on quarterback to start a season opener at an FBS (Division I-A) school (Texas Tech). After an above-average season marred by injury, he transferred to Oklahoma, where he was a starter for two years. He won not only the 2017 Heisman Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in college football, but also the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Trophy. Gaudy college stats (68.6% completion rate, 14,320 yards, 129 TDs against only 29 INTs, and a quarterback rating of 176.0) do not always translate into professional success, however, and Mayfield does have his share of question marks. In the 2018 college football playoff game against Georgia, Mayfield had a decidedly sub-par game in a 54–48 loss. More troubling than his performance on the big stage might be a series of unfortunate behavioral incidents, including an arrest in February for public intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and fleeing charges (per ESPN) that raise questions about his judgment, though it could be argued those were transgressions of youth. Mayfield was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the number one overall pick in the NFL draft this past April. No matter what, he will be an upgrade for the Browns, which should be expected from a number one overall pick. Deshaun Kizer struggled last season and was twice benched in favor of backups Kevin Hogan and Cody Kessler. However, Kizer returned each time to the starting lineup when the backups were no better, despite Kizer’s 1:2 touchdown to interception ratio. Clearly, Cleveland is looking for more production at quarterback, as Kizer is now in Green Bay. Mayfield thus has an opportunity to make an immediate impact, as it is impossible to do worse than the Browns’ winless 0–16 record last season. Will his offensive line give him any protection and will the defense do their part? An easy schedule should help matters but Mayfield still has to deliver.
For much of the sports world, the approaching summer is a dead period where millions will suffer “sports withdrawal” with only MLB games to keep them company. Therefore, inevitably, these millions turn to speculation on the coming NFL season, which starts with the Hall of Fame preseason game on August 2. Much of this speculation centers on rookie players beginning their professional football careers, and of course none garner more attention than the quarterbacks. This year's crop of new quarterbacks includes five highly touted rookies who, under the right circumstances, could have a breakout rookie season. Or not. There is Cleveland’s Heisman winner Baker Mayfield, New York’s Sam Darnold, Arizona’s Josh Rosen, Buffalo’s Josh Allen, and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. Each has their strengths and weaknesses, but depending on their team’s quarterback situation, each could have a breakout rookie season. Let's look at them one by one.
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The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
Entertainment • Page 15
Summer Movie Guide
Best Movie Snacks
BY AIDEN H.
The summer is always filled with blockbusters, and expectations are appropriately high. We have sequels and prequels, originals and reboots, and everything in between this year. It can be difficult to sift through the onslaught of movies to choose from, so I’ve curated a list of the nine most potential-filled, entertainment-ready films to watch this summer.
Refreshing Vitamin water is a lighter, fruity option to help catch your breath after those intense action scenes.
It’s classic for a reason. Coca-Cola goes well with just about anything on this list.
American Animals
Mission: Impossible — Fallout
Sicario 2: Day of the Soldado
This true-story heist thriller looks to be equal parts entertaining and nuanced. College students are bent on stealing millions worth of artwork from their school, and the filmmaking presenting this true story looks to be stylized and humorous.
Whatever opinions you have about the Mission: Impossible movies will not change with this sixth installment. They deliver consistently thrilling and well-structured entries into the spy genre with no signs of letting up. Tom Cruise’s ageless charm is always the highlight, and his dedication to these films never goes unnoticed.
A direct follow-up to the tense, Oscar-caliber thriller, Sicario 2 will build off the premise of its predecessor thematically and conceptually, and utilize the same surehanded direction and acting that propelled the first one so convincingly.
June 1
July 27
The ultimate splash of sweetness and flavor; you’ll find yourself slurping this down during the tensest movie moments.
June 29
Savory Soft? Check. Greasy and salty? Check. The perfect indulgence for a long evening at the movies.
The Meg
August 10 A relatively standard monster movie that borrows heavily from Jaws. The trailer promises a combination of humor and horror, and the presence of Jason Statham is sure to up the entertainment value. Watch this with a group of friends, but clear your schedule of any beach visits afterwards.
Ant Man and the Wasp
Eighth Grade
Marvel consistently owns the summer box office, and there is no reason for this Ant Man sequel to flop. It will likely calm some nerves left over from Infinity War’s earth-shaking premise, and provide similar small-scale fun to the previous Ant Man. Always a safe bet for quality entertainment, humor, and action.
Bo Burnham’s writing is deft and heartfelt, capable of delivering a story with equal parts humor and depth. The acting, dialogue, and overall filmmaking grant an “indie breakout” feel to the film, and it could easily carry relevance into the awards season. This movie will definitely deliver some nostalgia for high schoolers and provide a valuable coming-of-age story for kids experiencing what the film’s young protagonist is.
July 6
It’s hard to go wrong with a hot dog. Endless combinations for toppings make this an ideal savory snack or meal.
July 13
Popcorn is a near-necessity for summer movies. Savor every bite for drama-filled moments or munch it down like nobody’s business in those blockbusters.
Sweet
Incredibles 2
Ocean’s 8
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Pixar’s films are almost universally enjoyed by all, and the original Incredibles was no exception. The first film was one of Pixar’s biggest departures from its formula, ditching the smaller-scale family settings in favor of a global superhero action film. In doing this, Pixar presented one of its most unique blends of humor and depth to date, and the second installment should do everything the first one did.
If you liked the first Ocean’s Eleven, you may be disappointed. The trailers make the film look like it’s diverging from the straightforward heist structure in favor of something more character and comedically driven. That’s not to say this film will be bad, but the brand of charm and comedy Sandra Bullock brings to the table is very distinct from that of the original film, which was headlined by George Clooney.
This film will be every bit the popcorn thriller its predecessor was. It will likely stick with the action above all else, and while the story beats feel oddly similar to the previous, second installment of Jurassic Park from 1997, the action and thrills will certainly still be present. Chris Pratt’s charm and the sheer excitement of watching dinosaurs tear it up should be more than enough for most viewers.
June 15
June 8
June 22
Though it may feel like you’re teeth are being glued together, the smooth chocolaty sweetness is the perfect interlude to your more sour snacks.
A crowd favorite for its distinct sequence of sour intensity followed by softer sweetness. The perfect complement to some salty popcorn.
Always reliable and minty fresh. Buy these frozen and stick them in your warm popcorn to melt them to the perfect temperature.
Page 16 • Entertainment
The Nueva Current • June 5, 2018
Four activities for a restorative summer
Step away from the laptop, computer, movie screens
Take a short trip with friends! If you’re a rising junior, senior, or college freshman, it’s likely at least one of your friends has a driver’s license by now, so a road trip might be a fun summer option to get away from home for a while and spend some of that hardearned independence that hopefully comes along with being in high school. If a road trip isn’t possible, whether it’s because nobody’s got a driver’s license yet or for any other reason, camping is often a fun and relatively inexpensive alternative. Both of these take more energy and money to plan and execute, but they’re also great ways to spend time with friends you don’t see much in school. Difficulty: High Best for: Extroverts Energy required: High—the trick is to plan a relaxing trip that isn’t so jam-packed that you’re exhausted by activities Things to bring: Friends, trip essentials, maybe a car.
PUZZLES
Ken-Ken
BY WILLOW C. Y.
Summer Sounds BY JULIANNA G.
BY ELIZABETH B. P.
Summer is careening toward us, and as we turn in our final papers and take our final exams, planning the months between June 8 and August 29 is in the back of the everyone’s minds. Will students spend their summers cramming for the PSATs and packing on community service before college applications? Interning at Silicon Valley tech companies to get some real-world experience in the fields they love before deciding on a life path several years earlier than they probably should? Or will they spend it working summer jobs at coffee shops, bookstores, or tutoring programs for younger kids, or barricading themselves in their rooms with as much junk food as they can carry as they spend the summer relaxing until summer work looms on the last week before school starts? Here is a list of four fun things to do over the summer that are in between, hopefully relaxing for people who are planning to overwork over the summer and stimulating for those who are planning to spend most of their time relaxing. Go for a picnic. Whether it’s with family, with yourself, or with friends a picnic provides you with relaxation, time outside of the house, and a way to be away from work and screens. Try local parks without the hassle of a long drive, or for a longer, higher-energy outing, maybe drive somewhere familiar but fun with family. Some parks have summer music performances, as well. If you’re not a fan of the great outdoors, you can stay a little closer to home; there’s always the option of going to the beach or even just eating in a nearby park. As for food, you don’t have to make your own food and bring it, as there’s also takeout. Get some pizza or takeout from your favorite restaurant, and invite a couple friends or family members. Difficulty: Low Best for: Ambiverts, anyone Energy required: Medium Things to bring: Food, a blanket, a good book, maybe friends.
PLAYLIST
Spend time in nature. Wait a minute before you protest the outdoors. It doesn’t have to be slashing your way through the wilderness with a machete or sweating under the sun. Spend a day at the beach, or go for a hike in the woods around Mount Tamalpais if you want to take a longer trip. Spend some time with friends exploring a part of your neighborhood you haven’t previously spent time in. Perhaps, if you’re thinking about taking that road trip with friends, try visiting places that aren’t only urban centers with a minimum of eight Starbucks shops per block. Difficulty: Medium Best for: Introverts Energy required: Medium Things to bring: Sunscreen, phone, at least one meal, a good book.
Visit downtown San Mateo or Burlingame. You can go with friends or with family, but both San Mateo and Burlingame have great options for activities that aren’t as expensive as Palo Alto, Redwood City, or San Francisco. Both have libraries for lower-energy people, as well as great (and healthy!) places to eat, frozen yogurt shops, boba shops, nice coffee shops, and two of the best bookstores in the area: Books Inc., which is a lovely chain that supports local authors, and B Street Books, which has the best and most varied selection of second-hand books for cheap. Difficulty: Low Best for: Depends on activity Energy required: Low Things to bring: Pen, wallet, keys, phone.
Crossword ACROSS: 1. “We call __,” Emma Gonzalez 3. “This __ __,” an American drama TV show 7. To share on Twitter, abbr. 8. Tooth’s partner 9. __ Lingus, the second-largest airline company in Ireland 11. 2014 teen romance film based on Gayle Forman’s book of the same name 14. “Use your __!” (brain’s synonym) 15. “Live free or die” state abbr. 16. Opposite of shake 18. Tolkien’s sentient tree species DOWN: 1. __fart 2. SNL Weekend Update recurring character reporting on “hottest tips” 3. Out’s counterpart 4. Dry, surprisingly popular cracker 5. What a customer uses to interact with the product 6. To kill a look or a person 10. Choose between kind and __ 12. António Guterres’ UN position 13. Suspicious online username 17. A uniquely Nueva ideology
Summer is my favorite season for new music releases. Every artist is trying to launch the hit that will be deemed the song of summer. Walking around at the start of summer, those rare days when the whole world seems to be filled with promise, music blasting from each car or storefront...those are the days when I can feel my heart completely full. Here’s the lowdown on what to listen to this summer.
Road Trip
Make the best of those long drives by jamming your heart out.
Crazy, Classic, Life—Janelle Monae Finesse (Remix) (feat. Cardi B)—Bruno Mars Ginger—Riton, Kah-Lo Back to You—Selena Gomez
Beach Vibes
Sun and friends by the hot sand need the perfect music to match.
Playinwitme (feat. Kehlani)—KYLE Lift Yourself—Kanye West God’s Plan—Drake Girls (feat. Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charlie XCX)— Rita Ora
Late Night Chillin’
Relax and kickback with these tunes for warm nights. Psycho—Post Malone, Ty Dolla $ign
Idle Town—Conan Gray Part of the Light—Ray LaMontagne Wild Love—James Bay
Honorable Mentions
Other picks to make your summer the best it can be. Solo (feat. Demi Lovato)—Clean Bandit Pynk (feat. Grimes)—Janelle Monae Better Now—Post Malone All the Stars (with SZA)—Kendrick Lamar
BY WILLOW C. Y.