Gun Control Special: by The Standard

The Emergence of a Movement A Standard Special Edition

THE EMERGENCE OF A MOVEMENT Rising from the tragedy of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a movement has emerged from the surviving students. The Stoneman Douglas students have been resilient in their refusal to lie down or be forgotten. They are calling for change in gun legislation, change in government funding and change so that students do not have to fear the prospect of going to school. Instead of thoughts and prayers, they are demanding action and reform. This is the ASL community’s take on the events, and how the gun control movement has transcended borders and is a worldwide concern. 3

Amending America’s divide

Security headline

4&5 7

8&9 10 11

Finding their voices

Beyond a virtual reality By the numbers

Dwyane Wade honors shooting victim

Former Vice President Dan Quayle on Activism and American Politics

Hitting closer to home

A promising future

Defining what is different

Searching for a solution

The Standard The Standard staff and adviser are dedicated to creating a collaborative, open forum that cultivates productive dialogue within the School community by publishing exemplary student news media according to the strictest standards of journalistic integrity.

MICHAELA TOWFIGHI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: PRINT ANANYA PRAKASH MANAGING EDITOR: PRINT CAM CAMPILI LEAD NEWS EDITOR ISABELLE LHUILIER NEWS EDITOR ALEXANDRA GERS LEAD FEATURES EDITOR SOPHIE ASHLEY OPINIONS EDITOR MARTHA DUFF FEATURES EDITOR JOHN TOWFIGHI FEATURES EDITOR PHAEDRA LETROU CULTURE EDITOR QUINN WHITMAN CULTURE EDITOR JONATHAN NOVAK SPORTS EDITOR JONATHAN SHEVES SPORTS EDITOR IMOGEN WEISS ONLINE EDITOR OLIVIA ABRAMS MEDIA EDITOR

STAFF WRITERS Estee Jorgensen, Lena Levey, Jonathan Philips, Lucas Romualdo, Lily Whitman CARTOONISTS Gaby Iwegbue, Stella Jorgensen SHANNON MILLER ADVISER

Amending America’s divide The ASL community discusses where to draw the line on gun control and how to remedy the U.S. gun violence epidemic. ESTEE JORGENSEN STAFF WRITER

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LENA LEVEY STAFF WRITER

“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

Second Amendment to the United States Constitution

n the aftermath of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, numerous survivors have advocated for stricter gun control. In a speech after the shooting, Marjory Stoneman senior Emma González said, “[Nikolas Cruz] would not have harmed that many students with a knife.” In response to the student’s activism, some Congressmen and members of the National Rifle Association (NRA) have rebutted, arguing that guns are not the cause of these shootings: mental illness and violent media are. These representatives claim that gun control would not only infringe on Second Amendment rights but would also increase mass shootings, as people would be unable to protect themselves. As a result, conversations about preventing future tragedies and the place of guns in the U.S. are at the forefront of minds both within and outside of the ASL community. Sophia Christodoulou (’21), believe that America needs to take larger steps in order to prevent further tragedy through gun violence. She recognizes the importance of strict background checks and a semi-automatic rifle ban. “America is leading in mass shootings and I think that should be a sign that [the U.S. Government] need to do something about their gun control laws,” Christodoulou said. However, students like Tucker Moran (’19), don’t think that prohibiting guns in their entirety would solve the gun violence, as it is a Constitutional right. “I don’t think banning guns is a good solution at all. If you look at something like Prohibition where [the government] banned alcohol, it still found its way back into the country. There were underground ways which were less regulated and more unsafe,” Moran said. Moran feels that the main reason gun control is such a large issue is because of the conflict be-

tween the right for American citizens to bear arms and keeping people safe. “It’s a tough decision because it’s between fighting the Constitutional rights of American citizens and finding a good balance between that and the health and safety of each individual citizen, because death is the ultimate removal of liberty,” Moran said. Social Studies Teacher Michael McGowan believes that over time the Second Amendment has been “misinterpreted” from its original wording when applying it to modern day arguments. He believes the Second Amendment permits guns for organized militias and not individual use. Christodoulou believes that when the Constitution was written, people at the time did not imagine

While some victims of the shooting demanded gun control, the White House’s response has been mainly focused on reforming mental health care within the U.S. The day after the Parkland school shooting, in a statement from the White House, President Donald Trump stated that he was “committed to working with state and local leaders to help secure schools and tackle the difficult issue of mental health.” Despite this apparent focus on mental health, in the early weeks of his presidency, Trump repealed a law from the Obama administration that kept those who were “mentally incapable” from being able to buy a gun. Many advocates of gun control such as González believe that this is because in the 2016 election campaign Trump benefited from over $31 million from the NRA. But in the weeks after the Parkland shooting, Trump has spoken out directly against the NRA’s influence. For Connor Eaton (’21), it is evident that lawmakers who deflect conversations about guns are doing so because they receive funding from the NRA, and feels that lobbying is a contributor to mass shootings. “The most logical thing we can hope for is that the NRA will hold back on its agenda of blocking all bills that enable gun control,” Eaton said. “America also needs to crack down on the NRA. [The NRA’s heavy lobbying] is one of the failures of our system. Groups like the NRA can keep any meaningful change from happening.” Eaton thinks that the best way to bring about change is to regulate lobbying. “It happens on both sides of the aisle.... There’s a lot of ‘legal bribing’ that goes on within the government, and I think that needs to be evaluated too because that’s stopping justice from being carried out,” he said. “We need to evaluate that along with our preposterously thin gun safety laws.”

“It’s a tough decision because it’s between fighting the Constitutional rights of American citizens and finding a good balance between that and the health and safety of each individual citizen.” Tucker Moran (’19)

MARCH 2018

the technological advances guns would have in the following years. “[When the Constitution was written], they were talking about muskets... It wasn’t a machine gun where you could go around shooting, it was a whole process and it’s a completely different technology [now],” she said. With the contentious interpretation of the Second Amendment, McGowan believes that the country’s easy access to guns is what fuels violent events, such as Parkland, rather than mental illness. He argued that since America isn’t the only country with mentally ill people, yet they have more gun violence than other developed nations, mental illness could not be the only factor. “The United States didn’t monopolize mental illness,” he said.

Finding their voices

MARTHA DUFF FEATURES EDITOR • ALEXANDRA GERS LEAD FEATURES EDITOR MICHAELA TOWFIGHI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: PRINT

Parkland, Florida. This town has become synonymous with two things: A devastating school shooting, and a wave of youth activism calling for gun reform. On February 21, a handful of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students sat down with President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. to mourn their fallen classmates and discuss possible gun reform legislation. They are the voice of a nation; however teen activism did not begin with the students of Marjory Stoneman, it is a movement on the rise as of late.

or Caroline Harms (’19), being an activist is “championing a cause.” Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, Harms was outraged. “[Mass shootings] have gone on hundreds of times and nothing’s been done about it,” she said. “Gun control is just a really common sense idea and it should be implemented and I don’t understand why it wouldn’t.” Harms’ anger over the shooting has since fueled a call for change. She was inspired by Stoneman Douglas student Emma González’s speech at a gun control rally on February 17. “Hearing everyone else speak, especially Emma González, something needs to be done and it hasn’t been so far. Maybe my efforts could help bring an end to [gun violence],” she said. Similarly to Harms, Shaurya Prakash (’18) found immediate inspiration from the Stoneman Douglas students “who are so confident and who have spoken to the President and are encouraging this reform.” However, due to the growing prevalence of gun violence in the U.S., when Prakash initially read about the incident in Parkland, he was not shocked. “The first time I heard about the Parkland shooting [I thought] ‘this is just another shooting,’ and it’s so sad that that happens but I think that is the reality of the situation that people are so immune to [it],” Prakash said. Ryan Lazar (’19) was also further inspired to take

a political stand following the Parkland shooting, something that she has continuously done since the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. It was after that when Lazar, alongside friends and family, joined the London Think Tank, a community group dedicated to political activism. “The Think Tank finds so many opportunities to show activism and brings together large groups of people to go to these marches,” she said. “You feel like you are in a larger community than just yourself and it shows you how many people care about your issue even if it might feel like you are the only one who cares.” After joining the Think Tank, Lazar was presented with the opportunity to invite Run for Something Founder Amanda Litman, someone who epitomizes the rise of teenage activism. to come speak to students at ASL. Through Run for Something, Litman encourages and aids U.S. citizens to run for local office.“I thought [Litman] was a really inspirational person and very good speaker and just the idea that she doesn’t care if you are young, you can still make an impact from a young age,” she said. Through groups like the London Think Tank, the community is still presented with the opportunity to be politically and socially active, despite being overseas. However, Prakash feels that because of living in London, students have become desensitized to the

cycle of news following school shootings in America. However, Harms did not let the fact that she does not live in the U.S. determine whether or not she participated in the London March for Our Lives event on March 24. “I saw [information about the march] on Facebook, which I was really excited about because I thought… it would be really cool if [gun law reform] could get an international following, just to show that [the shooting] affects more than the people just in the U.S.,” Harms said. Similarly, Social Justice Council (SJC) member Micaella Lavi (’21) was adamant about bringing the issue of gun control reform to ASL. Upon first seeing the news of the shooting, Lavi immediately wanted to do something. As a result, she suggested doing a schoolwide walkout to the Student Council with SJC, which took place on March 14. “I think we are in this community that you are able to go out and put your voice out there and there will be people who will stand behind you, especially at a school like ASL,” she said. Lavi, who also planned on attending, the March for Our Lives explains, “I don’t know what is going to come from it but I just want to hold up a poster. It is showing that everyone cares about this across the world, or the Western World at least, and that people care and will support others and I think that is something really beautiful,” she said. THE STANDARD

“I know teenagers can get pushed aside and it is nerve wracking. We are teenagers, you can make a difference. You don’t have to sit on the sidelines” MICAELLA LAVI (’21)

Lazar also believes the voices of the Stoneman Douglas students have mobilized teenagers to take a stand, and be taken more seriously in their activism for gun law reform. “I think up until recently teenagers have been lumped into a movement without having a voice, but I think after the school shooting in Florida people are taking teens a lot more seriously,” she said. “Now people are seeing that teens do know what they are talking about and they want changes as well.” Sustainability Council Advisor Marisa Wilson was also incredibly impressed with the level of student activism occurring as a result of the Parkland shooting. “Looking at ... the voice that students have right now, and how much the debate about gun control has changed as a result of that new, loud, clear, articulate student voice, is really exciting,” she said. Wilson hopes to cultivate the same level of activism from the students on the Sustainability Council as that of Stoneman Douglas students. She stresses the need to be well-researched and educated about the cause you fight for – not just “speaking entirely from the heart. You’ve got to bring the head and the heart together,” she said. Wilson believes that occasionally, adults will think that because they are older, they have more experience than students do. “Adults sometimes think that students don’t have enough experience MARCH 2018

to be able to form valid opinions,” she said. “For that very reason it’s really important for students to make sure that they really understand the issue, really do the research.” Although Harms finds joy and pride in taking part in activist movements, she also acknowledges how as a young person standing up for any cause, it is not always easy. “It’s really important to stand up for what you believe in because that is you essentially, you should really put yourself out there, there are a lot of people who are like-mind-

ed and it will invoke change if you can do that,” Harms said. Lavi agrees and explains that the most inspiring part of the Stoneman Douglas students’ efforts have been their ability to stand up for what is right, even if they are not adults. “I know teenagers can get pushed aside and it is nerve wracking. We are teenagers, you can make a difference you don’t have to sit on the sidelines.” She said. “We can still make a difference, and be the change, like Gandhi said, ‘be the change you want to see in the world’.”

“It’s really important to stand up for what you believe in because that is you essentially, you should put yourself out there.” CAROLINE HARMS (’18)

The High School Walkout in protest of gun reform on March 14. PHOTOS BY EMILY FORGASH, ADDIE GRIGGS, CHRISTINA LEONARD AND OLIVIA ABRAMS

Securing the school Lead News Editor Cam Campili, News Editor Isabelle Lhuilier and Staff Writer Lily Whitman discuss the current security measures in place with Head of School Robin Appleby and Head of Security Roi Yefet.

“We are very lucky in this country that the risk of [a school shooting] is much lower because there is gun control here.” Robin Appleby, Head of School

lthough the tragic Parkland shooting on February 14 shocked the ASL community, no extra security procedures were put in place, as the school already considers similar threats when planning security measures. “We are very lucky in this country that the risk of [a school shooting] is much, much lower because there is gun control here,” Head of School Robin Appleby said. “We have already taken into our planning the low possibility of something like that happening here.” Agreeing with Appleby’s sentiment, Head of Security Roi Yefet believes that the U.K.’s strict gun laws make ASL much safer from the gun violence epidemic plaguing the U.S. “We don’t have it here, but [we] have policies and protocols in place,” he said. “The law here is very simple which is good for us. You’re not allowed the bear guns no matter whether you’re a police officer or a normal person.” The school has an emergency lockdown procedure which is practiced twice a year through the shelter in place drills. “There are all sorts of safety measures that are in place around the school that would make it very

difficult for an intruder to get in. If one were to get in, we would know exactly what we would do in order to close it down.” Appleby said. The shelter in place drills are held twice a year in the school and are utilized as a precaution if an intruder is inside the building. “The drill is very important because the security is very well drilled, but for the students and the staff it’s so important. We accommodate it twice a year just to make sure we are on the safe side regardless of what is happening in America,” Yefet said. The security team is also able to trigger all outside doors to lock down automatically in under a second to prevent an intruder entering the campus. Additionally, all glass across the campus is bulletproof. Furthermore, with established security measures, Appleby feel that an improved entrance system, requiring High School students to use ID cards, has allowed for a closer observation of who comes in and out of the school. The gate which was open to Middle School and Lower School children, is now closed. “We didn’t really like having that gate open be-

cause it makes it easier for anyone who shouldn’t be here to get through. Now that is closed because High School students and parents all have to have a card,” Appleby said. Appleby feels that, at the moment, if she were a headmistress at a school in the U.S. that she would be concerned about its security. “Every school that I have worked at in America … has had very robust plans to prevent these kinds of things from happening,” she said. “Particularly, you have to look at the structure of your campus, whether your doors are open and closed, you have to look at your security protocols, you have to make a decision as to whether or not you want armed guards on campus or not.” Similarly, Yefet believes that although more could be done to ensure security at these schools, it’s the Second Amendment which is holding back any major progress. “I don’t think that they need to put arches [metal detectors] within every building and university because it will keep happening again unfortunately,” Yefet said. “I think someone really has to change something… They just need more precautions.”

“We accommodate [the shelter in place drill] twice a year to ensure we are on the safe side regardless of what's going on in America.” Roi Yefet, Head of Security

Top Left: Security guard walks down Waverley steps. Bottom right: Access Control Officer Bhupendra Patel sits at the front desk monitoring the entrance gate. PHOTOS BY ANANYA PRAKASH

THE STANDARD

Beyond a virtual reality An examination of the correlation between mass shootings and violent video games and the extent to which these games are influencing young people. IMOGEN WEISS ONLINE EDITOR

n response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14, President Donald Trump and several other members of the National Rifle Association (NRA) have drawn strong correlations between violent video games and mass shootings. In a statement following the shooting, Trump said, “I’m hearing more and more people say the level of violence in video games is really shaping young people’s thoughts.” However, according to The Washington Post and The Guardian, reports have shown that there is no direct correlation between playing video games and an increase in violent behavior. Computer Science Teacher Livia Santos also believes that there is no link between playing video games and someone acting violently. “I think that is a ridiculous statement. If you think about the rest of the world, the closest neighbor to the U.S. is Canada. A lot of teenagers there play the same games [in Canada], and there are far less shootings,” she said. MILL Co-Teacher Colin McCarty, echos Santos emphasizing the disconnect between the two entities. “The big studies have shown that actually the adolescents who don’t play video games are more prone to acting out because they are out of the group,” he said. “They don’t have that social capital and are unable to connect with their peers.” Gavin Mackay ('19), who is enrolled in the Game Design and App Development course, believes that violence in video games can be a form of “escapism” that allows the player to release their emotions. “Violence in video games is often an opportunity to take out aggression and fears that you have that you can’t necessarily express to other people in

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QUINN WHITMAN CULTURE EDITOR

real life; it wouldn’t be acceptable,” he said. “But a lot of times, [violence] is an aspect of the video game that is there for enjoyment.” Also enrolled in the Game Design course, Zoé Rose ('18) agrees with Mackay, believing that violence in video games is a way to escape the consequences violence has in society. “I think everybody likes a good escapist fantasy, where you’re a total bad*** and you can do whatever you want, you can punch people and kill people, that is such an idealized concept in our society,” she said. “If you go to any of these superhero movies, it is always action

just a game and I know I’m not hurting anybody...There are a lot of people that say if you are playing a game where you are shooting others that you would be ok with shooting humans, but I’ve never felt that way, ” she said. However, Santos thinks the reason people assume that there is a correlation between playing video games and violence is because “people are just playing the blame game. They are trying to find something to blame that is not taking away their guns.” She believes that video games are not the problem when it comes to violent behavior, but the true issue lies within the judicial system in the United States which allows people to possess lethal weapons like guns. “My family is from Texas, where several people are pro-gun, but my parents and I are super against guns. They always told me that the only reason to have a gun is for one reason and that’s to kill,” she said. “If you don’t consider yourself a murderer of humans and animals, then why would you have a gun?” The only time Santos believes playing a video game could potentially make one act violently is if they have a mental illness. “Violent video games might make someone who has a mental disability want to do what they see in a video game in real life, but the mental illness is the problem, not the video game,” she said. Mackay believes that age guidelines for video games are important in safeguarding the well-being of young people. “I definitely think that the age guidelines and central regulations set in place are things that should be obeyed. An R-rated or 18-rated game for an 8-year-old is unacceptable if we are trying to move away from events like this,” he said.

“Violence in video games is often an opportunity to take out aggression and fears that you have that you can’t necessarily express to other people in real life.” Gavin Mackay (’19) and beating people up, some people could say ‘I want to do that.’ You can’t because that is fiction, but video games provide an opportunity to be able to do that to an extent.” Santos has been an avid player of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (a multi-player first person-shooter video game) for years. She enjoys the fun, interactive and social aspects the game has to offer, and believes they overpower the violent nature of the game. “For me it’s

GAME OVER? MARCH 2018

Gun

BY THE

For every 100 people in the U.S., there are 89 guns

The U.S. consists of less than 5% of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population, but has 31% of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mass shooters.

Women The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of a women being killed by five times. In an average month, 50 women are shot to death by intimate partners in the U.S. Data from everytownresearch.org, the University of Alabama 2016, federal data from the Centers of Disease Control, maplight.org, CNN.com

Violence

NUMBERS There are

13,000

gun homicides in the U.S. every year.

The NRA

The National Rifle Association (NRA) and its employees have contributed so far to candidates running for federal office in the 2018 election cycle. Almost all of the contributions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; went to Republicans.

$160,400

Americans are killed with guns on an average day.

Children 7 children and teenagers are killed

with guns in the U.S. on average every day.

62 children aged 14 or younger were accidentally shot and killed on average every year between 2007 and 2011.

97%

Commentary

A movement beyond the court:

Dwyane Wade honors shooting victim Sports Editor Jonathan Sheves discusses the impact of Joaquin Oliver’s death on the sporting world and athletes’ capability to make a substantial impact outside of the sporting stage.

mongst the 17 victims named in the Marjory Stone School shooting was Joaquin Oliver. A 17-yearold born in Venezuela but of American citizenship, Oliver was an avid fan of all things related to Miami sports, especially the Miami Heat and their legendary small forward, Dwyane Wade. Last month, Wade made a shock return to Miami after spending five months with the Cleveland Cavaliers, beating the National Basketball Association trade deadline by a matter of hours. In an interview with Univision, Oliver’s father explained how ecstatic the 17-year-old was at the news. “‘Dad, guess who’s coming back? Guess who’s coming home?’,” Oliver’s father remembered him saying. “‘Wade is coming back. I need that jersey!’” Oliver’s funeral was a sight to behold for sporting fans around the world. As a tribute to his everlasting love for

Dwyane Wade has worn shoes with the name of the school shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School victim, Joaquin Oliver, on two different occasions in honor of his death. Oliver’s death was recognized throughout the sporting community due to his love of sports, so much so that at his funeral many of those attended wore sports jerseys. PHOTOS FROM TWITTER.COM/@DWYANEWADE

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Wade has once again proved that athletes aren’t merely one dimensional, and have the power to alter lives for the better athletics, hundreds in attendance wore sports jerseys. It was his burial, however, that triggered the emotions of Wade. Oliver’s parents decided that it would be fitting for him to be buried wearing Wade’s famed number-3 Miami Heat jersey as a testament of Oliver’s admiration for the player. Wade, a player that has not only been renowned for his abilities on the court but also for his maturity and leadership off it, has truly led by example. Identifying the fragility and sensitivity of the matter, Wade recognized his ability to provide relief for not only the family, but also the surrounding areas in South Florida that have been plagued with distress. In the aftermath of the shooting, Wade put a lot of effort into the recuperation effort by inviting the Oliver family to stand alongside him in remembrance of the victims at a Miami Heat game and by giving them a personalized pair of his shoes, emblazoned

with Oliver’s name on them. Additionally, Wade took initiative by making a surprise visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on March 7 to offer words of encouragement and support to the surviving students. “As someone out here in the public eye I’m proud to say I’m from this state,” he said to students during the visit. “Because of you guys and because [you’re] the future of this world... I just say thank you, man.” In times where even the most powerful athletes have been undermined for their abilities, such as LeBron James being told to “shut up and dribble”, after his remarks on America’s president, Donald Trump, with other NBA star, Kevin Durant. Wade has once again proved that athletes aren’t merely one-dimensional, and have the power to alter lives for the better. He has set an example for athletes all around the world, using his fame and popularity for the right reasons.

Wade also visited the Stoneman Douglas high school and took photos with the students. Wade also met with Joaquin Oliver’s brothers, Julien and Darius, as well as giving a speech to the students in Parkland, Florida. In his speech, Wade said “I’m proud to say I’m from this state [Florida] because of you guys, because of the future of this world... I just say thank you, man, and I appreciate you.” PHOTO FROM TWITTER.COM/@REVERENDROS

THE STANDARD

Former Vice President Dan Quayle on activism and American politics Former Vice President Dan Quayle has tea with Media Editor Olivia Abrams and Editor-in-Chief: Print Michaela Towfighi to discuss his political career, the importance of bi-partisan politics and the power of student voice.

ormer Vice President Dan Quayle entered the reading room at the Claridges Hotel as the piano played softly in the background. After introducing himself to us, he took a seat and jokingly inquired about the absence of our “Make America Great Again” badges. Quayle’s political inclination was prominent from a young age: with his father in the newspaper business, and his mother as an active member of the Republican party, Quayle grew up in a politically minded family. “My first real campaigning was when I was 11 years old, passing out Barry Goldwater campaign literature at the Arizona State Fairground,” he said. But his budding interest did not stop there. He credits attending law school at Indiana University for his time spent in the Attorney General’s office and Governor’s office, before

becoming the youngest Senator in Indiana state history at age 33. Quayle emerged from the Senate in 1989 as Former President George H. W. Bush’s Vice President. With his noteworthy political track record, Quayle acknowledges his role as Vice President was to push forward President George H. W. Bush’s agenda and persuade the Senate to vote with him. He recalls a bill that passed unanimously in the Senate, proposed by himself and Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy. “I was a conservative Republican and he was a liberal Democrat and the Senate figured out that if Quayle and Kennedy agreed on something there wasn’t much room to disagree, so it passed the Senate unanimously,” he said. Although he noticed a partisan divide in the Senate during his time

“I have a great deal of hope for the American people. We have an unbelievable [will] to get things done.” Former Vice President Dan Quayle

MARCH 2018

ILLUSTRATION BY STELLA JORGENSEN

as Vice President, today he believes the Senate remains even more divided, with the divisive nature overpowering all decisions. “Today it is a very partisan atmosphere unfortunately and when I was there we all had a [some] partisanship, but we knew we had to get things done for the country and we did,” he said. After serving his term as the vice president, Quayle departed from the world of politics and his outlook on legislation today has been shaped by his political experience. Since his departure, Quayle has been the standing global chairman to Cerberus, a private investment firm based in New York City. Quayle also addressed the advancement of technology and social media, and its expanding influence in the realm of politics. “Journalism has taken a pounding. We have a war going on right now between [President] Trump and the media… He’s at war with them, they are at war with him... As the war continues, they are both going to suffer,” he said. However, Quayle also recognizes that the power of news distribution and consumption will only continue to

strengthen, saying that “the media is going to be around a lot longer than [the President] is.” Quayle is a firm supporter of the recent involvement of students as social activists. Following the Parkland shooting, Quayle believes that the future of American politics is in the hands of Generation Z. “They are the ones who are going to grow up and have children and grandchildren, I’ve already done that,” he said. “I find the younger people today like public service... We need people to actually run for office.” When discussing the necessity for increased adolescent involvement in public office, Quayle referenced a quote by philosopher Edmund Burke, saying “if good people do nothing, evil will triumph.” In order for true impactful change to be made, however, the Former Vice President urges the millennial generation to take action and stand strong. “Get in the arena, get your nose bloody,” he said. Quayle remains hopeful for the future. “I have a great deal of hope for the American people. We have an unbelievable [will] to get things done,” he said.

Commentary

Hitting closer to home Scott Beigel was a victim of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. For Media Editor Olivia Abrams, this news hit close to home as she knew Beigel as a division leader from her time at Camp Starlight in Pennsylvania. Here, she remembers his legacy and discusses the impacts of this tragedy.

amp Starlight has always been my escape; the place I would return to for seven summers in order to distance myself from all the hatred and cruelty that is coupled with reality. On February 14, 2018, these feelings of safety were disrupted by a senseless act of violence that took away 17 innocent lives. One of the lives lost was Scott Beigel, the senior boys division leader at my camp, and a true character. Numerous shootings in 2018 alone have put the topic of gun violence on an international stage, and a day that was once associated with love, was suddenly overtaken by hate. W h e n the news of yet another shooting surfaced, I found it difficult to sit with myself. While the names and faces of victims often feel so distant and far removed, a consequence of the normaliation of gun violence, this time things were different. The name and face on my television screen already existed in my mind. Scott Beigel possessed a certain sarcastic humor and kindness that is uncommon in most. Young campers were captivated by his ability to find light in any situation, and make your laughter uncontainable. These characteristics were further validated by Facebook posts I saw in my feed in his name, calling him a hero, friend and role model. Beigel was a geography teacher and cross-country coach at Stoneman Douglas, and it was no surprise to me that he died protecting the lives of his students. I am hopeful for change, not because of federal or state laws, but because individuals are taking a stand: banding together in the name of liberty and justice. I have realized that often the most profound change doesn't occur top down, but rather ground up.

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Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the nation's largest sport stores, is putting an end to the sale of all assault-style weapons. Shortly after this decision was made public, Walmart stood with the sports distributor, raising the minimum age of purchasing a firearm to 21. This will not fix the issue of gun violence in the U.S., but it could be the start of a ripple effect: a change in the endless pattern of violence that the United States is consistently plagued with. It is hard to break the cycle. It is hard to maintain humanity and remain unphased when it seems as though every week more lives are lost to gun violence. The regular occurrence of these events allows them to seem normal, but nothing about this is normal, and my use of the word “another” addresses this broken pattern that is detri-

No student should have to fear the attendance of school, or question the sound of a fire alarm, something created for the sole intention of protection.

mental to every human life. It makes me question everything about the current condition of the U.S., my birthplace and home to my family and loved ones. I want my children and grandchildren to know a time when the use of guns does not threaten their education. Recently I came across a post on Facebook by a high school teacher from Atlanta, Georgia. On February 22, a fire alarm went off in her school, but no one followed the regular safety procedures. Instead, the hallways were empty as students faced confusion, dread and fear. Students agonized over the possibility that the alarm could be set up for a shooting. “This is the climate in schools around the country right now,” read the post. No student should have to fear the attendance of school, or question the sound of a fire alarm, something created for the sole intention of protection. The National Rifle Association goes silent, and politicians tweet their “prayers,” but there is no change made in the name of gun laws. Everyday activities that once felt so casual are now taken with extreme caution and paranoia. No person should feel unsafe at a school, movie theater, concert or female reproductive clinic. I stand in solidarity for every innocent life lost to gun violence, and with Camp Starlight, the place that gave me so much.

Former President Barack Obama offers his condolences to Scott Beigel’s family in a handwritten letter. The Scott J Beigel Memorial Fund will provide scholarships to underprivileged children to attend summer camp. IMAGE FROM FACEBOOK.COM/SCOTTJBEIGELMEMORIALFUND

THE STANDARD

Commentary

Defining what is different Choral Director Lisa Ross reflects on the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado and how reactions to mass shootings have changed since.

Mourners visit a memorial with flowers and cards to honor the Columbine High School shooting of 1999. The shooting took the lives of 13 people. PHOTO FROM TRUE CRIME MAGAZINE

hat's different this time? I recall many emotions after the morning of the Columbine shooting, a school 20 minutes up the road from mine: fear of being next in a series of Colorado shootings, an acute awareness of my school’s hiding spots, and gossip over what “type” of kids in our freshmen class might be similar to the two boys who opened fire, to name a few. Despite feeling close to the horrific event, both myself and my peers did nothing. We were paralyzed, infantilized, and told by the adults in charge to accept the inevitability of political inaction. As we all know, the school shootings carried on across America. Now, I proudly watch the tear-stained faces of high school students in Parkland, Florida, speaking out eloquently and fearlessly about the state of gun culture in America, bravely pointing fingers and “calling B.S.” They are the ultimate up-standers, sick and tired of being told that nothing can change. Why didn’t we do that? What is it about this time that is empowering students to become leaders in one of the most stagnant and unyielding debates in American politics? Today’s students have grown up with access to

MARCH 2018

The March on Washington for Gun Control took place on January 26, 2013, in Washington, D.C. The March occurred with the hopes of amending gun control laws. PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14, 2018, students have protested across the U.S. PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

more information in their pocket than I had in my entire school library. They are deeply connected with each other through their digital selves, and have experienced a lifetime of access to social media, politics, entertainment, trolls, debates, followers and “likes." They are students at a time when education highlights inquiry, problem-solving, and investigation. They have been told that their future careers may not be invented yet, and that they will do more with technology than we can imagine, if they dream big. Millennials are often demonized for their over-confidence, lack of deference and need to stand out and be “special.” But it is because of this that they were ready for this debate. Their cry for gun reform is fresh, raw and unapologetically youthful. I am anti-gun, but that’s not why these students inspire me. They inspire me because they took to a microphone before anyone gave them permission, without an adult paving the way. They channelled their emotion, grief and pain into action, discourse, and debate. They are using their resources and technological savviness to organize, and to employ others around the world to do the same.

I look to these students as a beacon of hope, but not one isolated to Florida or restricted to the topic of gun reform. The students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are proving that there is a new voice to be heard, and one that must be involved in the choices our legislators are making. Adults have helped shape today’s students into free thinkers with infinite information at their fingertips, and this is the brave new result. It is obvious to me, from the recent National Rifle Association video release with Dana Loesch and other postings, that gun advocates are scared, sensing that reform may be imminent. With many large businesses changing assault rifle sale policies, we can see a commercial reaction to the movement afoot. So, to all of the adults who claim these kids are being used as pawns of the left, or that they shouldn’t have a voice at all, I say shame on you. After Columbine, my generation went back to class and sat down, waiting silently for change that never came. Today, the class of 2018 has stood up and demanded better. Bewildered and silent, though I was at 15, I join in today saying defiantly, “Not one more.”

Commentary

A promising future Staff Writer Lucas Romualdo discusses the need to reform gun legislation and the steps Republicans and the private sector are taking to ensure it happens.

ince the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newton, Connecticut in 2012, there have been 239 school shootings across the U.S. according to the New York Times. Despite the high number of gun-related deaths, as well as overwhelming public support for more serious gun control measures, hardly any legislation pertaining to gun control has been passed at the federal level. If anything, gun regulations have been loosened, with the Hearing Pro-

to prevent further mass shootings, and, at last, progress has begun on that front. No one needs a semi-automatic rifle for hunting or self-defense. Just as someone can’t purchase a machine gun or a bazooka, why should any adult be able to purchase a semi-automatic rifle that can inflict almost as much damage? Why shouldn’t citizens be required to pass a test and get a license? We require the same if people want to drive, perform surgery, or practice law. It may be true that gun control

self a “Big Second Amendment Person” to CNN in 2015, is now supporting policies that the National Rifle Association (NRA) opposes, despite their donations to his party in excess of $50 million. This is a step forward for Republicans, whose former presidential frontrunner, Jeb Bush, once said “stuff happens” in response to a mass shooting on CNN. Similarly to Trump, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who has recently found himself in the spotlight in the wake of the Parkland incident, has expressed

of Representatives. Their power and support could lead to real regulations to stop the horrific pattern of mass shootings. The reaction of the private business sector toward the NRA’s inaction when it comes to stopping school shootings is also a promising sign. Many companies, such as Delta Airlines, have removed discounts and rewards programs for NRA members. Even facing backlash from the Georgia State Senate through removal of tax benefits, Delta has reCARTOON BY GABY IWEGBUE

tection Act of 2017, which makes it easier to buy gun accessories, such as silencers and suppressors. Opponents of gun control have cited hunting culture and self-defense as the primary beneficiaries of the Second Amendment, claiming that by restricting gun usage, law abiding citizen’s rights would also be compromised. There are also opponents of gun control that argue that it doesn’t really work. After all, the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 occurred during the assault weapons ban, which prohibited the purchase of high-capacity, rapid-fire weapons. Gun crimes in Chicago remain very high, despite strict gun regulations. Even in states that have age limits and background checks for gun purchases, mass shootings still seem to occur. The reality is, we need gun control

doesn’t work. But until serious gun control measures are passed, at both the state and federal levels, we won’t be able to find out. There is reason for hope, however. President Donald Trump, as well as several Republican legislators, have ex-

his support for more gun control laws, especially background checks and restricting the age of purchase for a gun to 21. As someone who once deemed gun control laws “ineffective”, Rubio’s new stance is a change for his Republican policy.

It may be true that gun control doesn’t work. But until serious gun control measures are passed, at both the state and federal levels, we won’t be able to find out. pressed their support for stricter background checks and age requirements for gun purchases. While some may think this the only sensible option, it is important to recall how large a step forward this is. Trump, who once declared him-

The new-found support for gun control within the Republican Party means that gun control laws will be far more likely to have a real chance in Congress and state legislatures, as the Republican party now holds majority in the House

mained firm in their opposition to the NRA’s position on gun control. Similarly, Dick’s Sporting Goods, a leading sports department store, has announced that they will stop selling semi automatic rifles, as well as high capacity magazines, a firearm magazine which has the ability to hold more than the standard number of rounds created by the designer. Even if the government and NRA are unwilling to do anything about gun control, it is refreshing to see that the private sector, especially companies that sell guns, are taking responsibility where the government has come up short. The Republican reaction to the Stoneman Douglas shooting, as well as the response from private companies, is promising for the future safety of all Americans, especially children who fear school due to gun violence. THE STANDARD

Commentary

Searching for a solution Staff Writer Jonathan Philips discusses the necessity for gun reform in the U.S., and potential paths to achieve this goal.

here are few topics more polarizing than the Second Amendment in the United States. Many people believe that it is an inalienable right to be able to defend your family, your property and your person with arms, while others find this a uniquely American problem. However, regardless of your political leanings, all Americans must agree that there are far too many school shootings. The problem of America’s gun epidemic is that there is no perfect solution. A popular plan, often cited by Democrats, is the Australia Plan; however, not everyone in Congress is so keen. After Australia’s last mass shooting in 1996, the government started a mass buy-back program and banned several calibres of weapons. There has not been a mass shooting since. This plan remains popular in Australia and appears to be effective. For now, let’s put aside the Second Amendment and talk only about the practicality and worth of Australia’s gun control policy which presents instant flaws. Firstly, the term “buy-back” is misleading, as law-abiding citizens were forced to hand in their weapons. This is not a buy-back, but rather a forceful seizure with some compensation at the end. The flaws of this plan go beyond the ethical and into the practical. The plan simply would not work in the U.S. In Australia, 700,000 legally owned firearms, mainly semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, were seized by the authorities; there were roughly 3,000,000 guns in circulation at the time. Only certain weapons were targeted for seizure. If this plan were to be executed perfectly in the U.S., with no resistance (which is a debate in itself), Professor of Law at Fordham University Nicholas Johnson estimates that there would still be 200,000,000 guns left in the country. Additionally, most of the seizures would be of semi-automatic rifles, leaving handguns to remain widely in circulation, despite accounting for 80 percent of gun deaths in the U.S. What this plan amounts to is an unconstitutional, ineffective farce. MARCH 2018

Another common solution to ending mass shootings is an assault weapon ban. This seems logical: ban the guns that are used in shootings. The problem with an assault weapons ban is that it doesn’t do that. According to the State of Connecticut, from 1999 to 2013 there were 10 mass shootings which involved an assault rifle nationwide, 10 that involved a shotgun, and more than 42 mass shootings where a handgun was used. Therefore, using the same logic as the Assault Rifle Ban, it would make sense to ban handguns, because they are clearly the problem. That fact is that banning certain guns is not an effective way to stop shootings. The Virginia Tech shooting of 2007, which at a death count of 32 was one of the deadliest single-shooter shooting in U.S. history, was carried out with a handgun. Former Democratic Senator Howard Metzenbaum said, “If you don’t ban all guns you might as well ban none of them.” That view-point was, and remains, unpopular as well as unconstitutional. We need to protect students and people rather than ban an arbitrary class of weapon. Yet, not all hope is lost. I certainly think that there are other, more effective school security measures. There are some solutions that could effectively stop massacres while still

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respecting the Second Amendment, and do not induce a collective punishment. In the aftermath of the shooting, President Donald Trump suggested that arming trained teachers was a possibility. I am not against that, as we already trust teachers to protect children, although, many teachers have come out against carrying a weapon. At the end of the day, however, if teachers are becoming human shields for students we ought to at least offer them the tools to handle the situation. Perhaps a way to boost school security is to have school security. Having an armed security guard in front of every school in the nation should, at the very least, act as a deterrent. We need to make schools a harder target; we protect banks because what is inside those vaults is valuable. However, it is our children who are truly precious. We ought to protect them above all else. Another reform that would have likely stopped several mass shootings, including but certainly not limited to the Parkland shooting, is the Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO). David French, a writer for the National Review, describes GVROs “as a local-court order that allows law enforcement to temporarily remove guns from a potential shooter’s home.” It is worth noting that if a GVRO is ordered

and guns are seized, the person who the order is directed at has the right to appeal. If solid proof of dangerous behavior cannot be mustered, then the guns are returned. This is to ensure that the GVRO doesn’t unfairly deprive someone’s constitutional rights, while still having the chance to spare the lives of others. After almost every shooting, grievances about the shooter’s mental state or violent tendencies surface that go back months, if not years; a GVRO would have allowed local law enforcement to do something about these complaints and provided necessary tools to courts. Few states have GVROs, too few. Parents, close friends and teachers should all be empowered to act on suspicions they already have about a potential shooter. Whatever your age, sex or political leanings, it is time for Americans to come together on this issue. We may have different ideas to solutions to problems, but we all are working towards the same thing – fewer shootings, fewer gun deaths. We have to stop calling the other side ignorant, or ‘part of the problem.’ It is only when we understand where the other side is coming from that we can come together as a nation, and our Congress can make popular, meaningful change.

We need to make schools a harder target; we protect banks because what is inside those vaults is valuable. However, it is our children who are truly precious. We ought to protect them above all else. 15

the Standard

On March 14, approximately 300 students and teachers participated in a walkout from 10 - 10:17 a.m. The protest commemorated the lives of the 17 people killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, on February 14. In a show of solidarity with other students around the world, participants wore orange, the color of the gun law reform movement. Students wearing a ribbon are pictured here to represent the 17 victims.