Obama Out
A farewell to the legacy | P. 2
THE LEDGER UWT’S FREE WEEKLY PUBLICATION Jan. 17, 2017 | Volume 21, Issue 13 thetacomaledger.com
Controversy surrounds conservative speaker’s visit to UW | P. 5
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The Ledger UWT’s weekly student publication Jan. 17, 2017 | Vol. 21, Issue 13 Please send all feedback and submissions to: ledger@uw.edu
Editors
Staff Writers News Reporter ............... Jude Hanno News Reporter ............. Brisa Mendez Opinion Columnist ........ Esti Izuagbe Opinion Columnist ... Julianna Siemssen Opinion Columnist .... Noah Wingard A&E Columnist ................ Annie Dontula A&E Columnist .......... Derek Downey
Art Illustrator ........................ Alexx Elder Photo Editor ................. Anna Howell
Page Design Layout Manager ............ Avery Parker Page Designer ................. Angela Wild Page Designer .............. Jessika Foust
Advertisements Web Manager .................. Sasha Penn Ads Manager .................... Luke Alger
Advisor Publications Manager .. Elizabeth Hansen
Cover Art
by Lance Cpl. Michael J. Ayotte
The Ledger. January 17, 2017 | Volume 21 | Issue 13
Thank you President Obama
The nation’s most greatly respected leader in a final, emotional speech to the nation pushes values and prodded the public to continue to embrace his our visions of progress for America. By Angela Suresh News Editor
Editor-in-Chief .......... Daniel Barnett News Editor ................ Angela Suresh Opinion Editor .. Sean Gill-MacDonald Managing Editor ......... Dalana Dailey
SPOTLIGHT
It was a little more than eight years ago when President Barack Obama embraced his promise to lead the nation. On Jan. 11, President Obama melted hearts around the nation with his emotional, memorable and final farewell address at Chicago’s Grant Park where he held his victory celebration on election night back in 2008. His hair grayer, his tone somber — yet the passion and hope he continues to have for the nation radiated. In his speech, he recited a litany of not only his, but also the nation’s proudest achievements. Among them, the economic recovery from the Great Recession, the diplomatic outreach to Cuba and Iran, the death of Osama bin Laden, and the expansion of health care coverage to 20 million people and more (which by most calculations and sources, brought the U.S. uninsured rate to a historic low). And he even argued that if he or anyone else ever crafted a plan that was more cost effective and provided healthcare to more people, he himself would endorse it. “That’s what we did,” he said to a
jubilant crowd. “That’s what you did. You were the change. Because of you, by almost every measure, America is a stronger, better place than it was when we started.” He also outlined the challenges of his eight years in offices and spoke of what he sees as the greatest threats to our democracy and both paid tribute to his supporters and colleagues while urging them to keep fighting for what they believe in. “I’m asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change — but in yours,” he said. While he never mentioned the name of his successor — even amid the loud, noted boos from the Chicago crowd — his words were gracious. But the bulk of his rhetoric felt like a defiant reproval of the controversial political ideology that the president-elect adopted both during and since the general election. “We cannot withdraw from global fights — to expand democracy, and human rights, women’s rights, and LGBT rights — no matter how imperfect our efforts, no matter how the expedient ignoring of such values may seem,” said Obama.
President Obama made it patently clear that he will not tolerate any sort of discrimination against undocumented immigrants or Muslims and he will stand in opposition to any efforts which may potentially divide Americans along the lines of race, gender, sexuality or economic class — and he defended those who made their dissidence known through peaceful protest saying, “They’re not demanding special treatment, but equal treatment.” “Show up. Dive in. Persevere. Sometimes you’ll win. Sometimes you’ll lose. Presuming a reservoir of goodness in others can be a risk, and there will be times when the process disappoints you. But for those of us fortunate enough to have been a part of this work, to see it up close, let me tell you, it can energize and inspire,” said Obama. It’s without a doubt that President Obama has a charismatic, genial nature about him and always knows how to convey his point — even through laughter. Obama presented the way which Americans have self-segregated themselves in terms of the news they consume and do not spend enough time
heeding the Atticus Finch character’s advice from “To Kill a Mockingbird.” “If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the Internet, try to talk with one in real life … you never will understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … until you climb into his skin and walk around in it,” Obama said. Whether you like or disliked the man, he built a legacy that will be hard to forget. He instilled hope in this nation, and he believes that the millennial generation will preserve and protect his values — not just as the president of the United States — but as a human. All said and done, President Barack Obama is human — his genuine, heartfelt tribute to his wife, kids and staff brought forth tears and a standing ovation to all those watching. Being the president of the nation was indeed something he will take pride in — but Obama himself stated his proudest achievement was being a father to his daughters. He may no longer have any campaigns to run, but he pledged to be “right there with you” as a private citizen of this nation.
Homelessness in Pierce County on the rise
The increase in homelessness is making it harder for shelters to house all people in need. Check out all the stories printed here plus more content online! thetacomaledger.com facebook.com/uwtledger twitter.com/UWTLedger Office: MAT 151 Phone: 253-692-4428 Email: ledger@uw.edu
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By Jude Hanno News Reporter According to the Pierce County homelessness Point-in-Time report, the area has approximately 1,762 homeless people in its vacinity, and the numbers continue to increase every year. Tess Colby, the housing, homelessness and community development manager for Pierce County Community Connections, told the News Tribune that “homelessness is definitely increasing. It is, in my opinion, a crisis in our community.” Although there are many efforts to make sure the homeless are well taken care of — these past few months mark the way for major setbacks. In a News Tribune article written by John Gillie, churches and groups who attempt to house homeless people overnight during the cold for their Freezing
Nights program are struggling. “Paula Anderson, director of Puyallup’s New Hope Resource Center, said the center is scrambling to meet its monthly $7,800 expenses budget. Some donations have disappeared and two churches that previously shared the task of providing evening meals and overnight accommodations for up to 80 homeless people nightly have quit the program after more than a dozen years,” reported Gillie. Those two churches dropping out leave seven days a month empty for their Freezing Night’s program. This leaves homeless people in Puyallup with nowhere to stay warm during the nighttime. Each night houses between 50-80 people. The setbacks in taking care of the community’s homeless has only made the efforts stronger. There are still coalitions and programs designated in fight-
PHOTO BY ANGELA SURESH
ing for those who have no homes. Pierce County offers many different resources for homeless people in the county. The Freezing Night’s program is still up and running for the rest of their months. With 10 churches still participating in the program, homeless people can find shelter for the majority of their month. The coordinated entry program of-
fered by Pierce County was completely changed in January of 2016 to accommodate for a higher percentage of the homeless. The Pierce County site says, “We have implemented new screening procedures and have begun providing expanded problem solving and housing counseling services to people who enroll in coordinated entry or stay at emergency shelters.”
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The Ledger. January 17, 2017 | Volume 21 | Issue 13
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PHOTO BY ANNA HOWELL
Ramio Alvarez named his store — La Brisa’s Boutique — after his niece, who is a cancer survivor.
A one of a kind business with a one of a kind backstory
A south Seattle boutique boasts some of the most beautiful ball gowns — and a more interesting history. By Brisa Mendez News Reporter
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he mannequins are draped with glamorous dresses behind the glass windows. The chandelier’s crystal lights hang from the ceiling and glisten through the brightly-lit gallery. The large logo painted in the wall of a women standing tall with confidence draped in a bright red dress represents the store as a whole. It’s an elegant place where anybody can find the dress of their dreams. Two towering mirrors show off the exquisite selection on the guests — sparkling through the shimmering chandelier above. While the women take their time browsing through the infinite amount of doll-like dresses— the husbands and children are seated in the couch area near the mirrors where they are served tea, coffee or water while kids get candy. The delicate smell of vanilla bean fills the store with a sweet aroma of vanilla baked cookies. Ramiro Alvarez— the store owner— stands at the front greets his guests with “How can I help you today? Looking for anything in specific?” Nestled away in south Seattle lies
La Brisa’s Boutique. This little store offers some of the most unique dresses and tuxedos — and one of the most unique stories. Ramiro Alvarez was born and raised in Mexico and immigrated to the United States in 1989 at age 18. He decided to move to the United States in hope of a better future than the one Mexico offered. But his path wasn’t easy. Alvarez lived with 11 siblings and his parents in a single room. His father — a violent alcoholic — forced Alvarez away from the home. Instead of playing with toys, he played with bottle caps and dirt. “My dad was an alcoholic and violent, [he] came home and fought with my mother [and] threatened to kill her with a machete or gun. He chased her down the streets. It was there when I cried because I was afraid that he would kill her and my mom would never come back home again.” The only place where Alvarez found peace was at the beach — a three hour walk. Alvarez looked at the beach houses and yearned for a stable life. He figured if they could attain such great wealth, then he could too.
“There I realized that one could live better because I would see others that were economically stable and that gave me motivation to work hard and live better to reach my goals.” Alvarez decided his best option was to move to the U.S. “I was still in high school and wanted to attend the university but didn’t have the money, so I was looking for a job to pay the education for architecture.” His brother — who lived in Seattle — had promised to provide free shelter with no cost so he could save money for his education. When he arrived, however, his brother charged him rent and made him help pay the bills. Alvarez ended up moving out and losing the vision of the goal — but he never lost his aspiration. “There was two things that I always wanted and I swore to myself that I would fight to get one of the two, a degree in architecture or my own business.” Despite his initial rough experiences, he started working in the orchards — picking fruit for $4.75 an hour. While working, he also went to a nearby school where he learned Eng-
lish. He knew learning the language would improve his chances to get a better job. After leaving the orchards, Alvarez decided to open a Taco Truck in Aurora near his apartment. The truck failed, however, as he received little business. He had used all his savings and, frustrated, started searching for jobs again. Soon enough, he found a restaurant which he believed was stable. The job was not what he expected, however, as he was harassed by his supervisor for his ethnic background. Tired of being abused, he left the restaurant upset. It was then where he decided to open his cleaning business with the savings he had earned from both previous jobs. “I couldn’t believe there was a lot of authority abuse, I left the job crying, I couldn’t believe the racism. I said to myself no more and started working by myself cleaning houses.” Alvarez opened his company — Rosita House Cleaning — which was named after his mother. Alvarez printed flyers and handed them out around Seattle. Surprisingly, homeowners took notice to the flyers and started contacting him. His business quickly expanded, and soon Al-
varez began hiring in additional help. After roughly five years, Alvarez had a fully-functioning cleaning service with a large employee base — and an even larger clientele base. “During that time, I was teaching choreographies for quinceañeras and cleaning houses to pay for the cleaning supplies and bills. I then realized that by teaching others there was a big business opportunity” Alvarez decided to open a boutique that specializes in quinceañera decorations. As the store progressed, however, the boutique began specializing in elegant dresses — specifically for quinceañeras. The result was his dream store — La Brisa’s Boutique. The boutique is named after his niece — who is a cancer survivor. The store’s name represents not only the struggle his niece went through, but also the struggle Alvarez went through. The store took pure hope and happiness to succeed, and in the end, Alvarez survived through positivity and hope. Alvarez took the hard way to success — but he never gave up hope or lost his drive to succeed. “I feel very happy and proud of myself for this achievement.”
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The Ledger. January 17, 2017 | Volume 21 | Issue 13
Natives from Standing Rock Sioux Tribe speak at UWT
Hosted by the Center for Equity and Inclusion, the Center for Service and Leadership, and the Urban Studies Department – students will have the opportunity to hear from protectors of the reservation. By Angela Suresh News Editor The University of Washington Tacoma’s Centers for Equity and Inclusion and Service and Leadership, along with the Urban Studies Department will be hosting an event bringing in two speakers who have bore witness to the widespread movement known as the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Dakota Access Pipeline has been in no way shy of the news. This billion dollar project has brought a wave of protests, especially from those of the Sioux tribe. Retha of the Lakota Sioux tribe and Tulámiἠ of the local Okanogan and Wenatchi Salish tribes will be share their experiences as Water Protectors at Standing Rock. They will be sharing months of on the ground experiences along with what this movement means to them as indigenous people. “I wanted to be a part of history and to stop the government that is doing things under table,” Retha said. “They say they are taking action to help the people, but they really aren’t. Hiring private security and flying planes without lights that are spraying some hazardous gas upon the
“The most important thing about this movement is standing up to corporate greed for the protection of mother earth.” -Tulámi peaceful protests on their protected land is not taking action. These are the stories that the media isn’t telling and I vow to do so.” Both of the protectors only wish to tell the truth and remind people to help protect the virginity of the land and its elements. “The most important thing about this movement is standing up to corporate greed for the protection of mother earth. Now more than ever, we as human beings are causing the devastation of our planet with our mismanagement of natural resources and our disruption of natural order,” said Tulámiἠ. “This was not a goal or our intention, but now that many see what is happening we are trying to put a stop to these things and pos-
COURTESY OF PAX AHIMSA GETHEN
sibly reverse the effects of our wrongdoing. The sad thing about it is... corporations and politicians do not care about what’s right. They only care for the money involved — and that’s what they don’t understand. It’s no longer about money, it’s simply a matter of global life or death.” Two events will take place on Jan.
18 in order to accommodate students and their class schedules. The first event is to take place in Joy 117 from 12:25 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. and the second in BHS 106 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Students will be able to ask questions following the events. Retha wants to give the message, “Victories are danced on the back of
sacrifice,” and this battle is far from over. Those wondering how to help, but may not be able to travel out to the mid-west can visit gofundme.com/ heyokawarriors. It has been set up to procure donations in order to support and protect the supplies of warriors on the ground.
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The Ledger. January 17, 2017 | Volume 21 | Issue 13
Opinion: Why Milo should speak at UW
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The conservative journalist brings rarely heard viewpoints to Seattle’s progressive campus.
By Noah Wingard Opinion Columnist
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f you’re looking for social or political dialogue that’s equal parts snark, humor and candor, look no further than media firebrand and senior editor for Breitbart News, Milo Yiannopoulos. Yiannopoulos, a gay man that hails from London who started as a tech editor and writer for Breitbart News and became popular after calling out the “Gamergate” controversy, deducing a feminist bias among different gaming media outlets. He has since become a notable political commentator with a libertarian-conservative point of view, and is noted for being a “free speech fundamentalist” and “cultural libertarian.” He directs much of his criticisms toward modern feminism, Islam, political correctness, and other viewpoints he deems to be authoritarian-left. Despite his tongue-in-cheek humor and sharply-quipped statistics and arguments, Yiannopoulos has attracted a negative reputation among many people. He is known for offending those in the political left — and some conservatives — for having certain opinions about race, class, sexuality, gender, and his notable adoration of President-elect Trump. He believes Black Lives Matter does a poor job of improving the lives of African-Americans or healing race relations, citing that a gross majority of black homicides are committed by other blacks (according to homicide
statistics released by the FBI), and that many traditionally democratic cities have high rates of poverty for AfricanAmericans. Instead, Yiannopoulos states that certain issues in the AfricanAmerican community, such as fatherlessness, poor relations with law enforcement and a lack of political diversity are a greater threat to communities of color than what Black Lives Matter claims. Yiannopoulos believes that thirdwave feminism fails to better the lives of women, specifically citing its failures in confronting developing nation’s oppression of women. Despite the trivial pursuits of modern feminists to point out first world grievances, Yiannopoulos states that women in developed, European or North American countries have far better living conditions for women, while modern feminism attempts to censor contrary opinions. He believes the political left’s methods of political discourse have failed, and that by entrenching into identity politics and political correctness — rather than focusing on the concerns of their own country — they have abandoned large swaths of constituents and weakened our civic nationalism as a whole. These, amongst many other notable opinions, make Yiannopoulos a “cultural libertarian” icon for challenging commonly accepted ideas about cultural relations and politics. While Yiannopoulos has been recognized by many as a notable reporter and a mischievous political commenta-
tor, many on the political left strongly disapprove of his beliefs, protesting his campus visits or public forums. One notable case was Yiannopoulos’ visit to UCLA with feminist writer Christina Hoff Sommers and conservative commentator Steven Crowder, where hecklers lengthened the time of the event and frequently interrupted the speakers. While Yiannopoulos was visiting DePaul University for his “Dangerous Faggot Tour,” Black Lives Matter protesters surrounded the stage, took a microphone and halted the talk altogether. Now protesters are starting GoFundMe pages and writing to the University of Washington in Seattle in hopes of canceling Yiannopoulos’ visit, stating that someone with his opinions isn’t welcome on their campus. However, Yiannopoulos’ visit could benefit the campus by highlighting someone that breaks the mould of what it means to be politically diverse and openminded to opinions not often examined or discussed. While poking fun at certain dissidents, professors and politicians, Yiannopoulos backs up his opinions with primary sources on cultural and political relations. For this reason, asking the University of Washington to ban his visit would be detrimental to all students. Freedom of expression — no matter how controversial or unpopular the expression may be — is important to maintaining a politically and intellectually diverse campus. Yiannopoulos is as educational as he is humorous, and
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Yiannopoulos spoke at the LeWeb Conference in London, 2013. His previous work regarding the Gamergate scandal pushed him from tech editor to a political commentator and conservative media icon.
his delivery can provide a stark contrast to the monotone and scripted feeling of many current political commentators. Even if there are some who disagree with his beliefs, they should feel all the more welcome to visit the talk and have a discussion with Yiannopoulos. Many think Yiannopoulos is somehow dangerous to students, but creating echo chambers where certain opinions or beliefs cannot be openly stated or discussed is the only danger. During a visit to the University of Massachusetts, Yiannopoulos said, “It’s
important to give platforms to all speech, because sunlight is the best disinfectant … the best way to deal with people that you don’t agree with, whether they are conservative or progressive, is the full glare of the spotlight, because you should have confidence in your own opinions and you should have the fortitude and courage to believe that you can beat them in a fair open marketplace of ideas. If you believe those things, you should have nothing to fear from any speaker.” If we want to regard freedom of speech as important on any UW campus, let Yiannopoulos speak.
Opinion: NASA’s 13th zodiac sign may not mean much A lot of people have received new zodiac signs and have chosen to ignore NASA’s discovery. There’s a really good reason why. By Esti Izuagbe Opinion Columnist “What’s your zodiac sign?” That’s a question most people have heard at least once before. Reactions vary, from really enthusiastic responses to irritated eyerolls. Recently, NASA discovered a 13th zodiac sign called Ophiuchus which is Latin for “serpent bearer.” It’s supposed to represent people born between November 30th and December 17th. People who are aware of this have either chosen to ignore it or become even more skeptical. In the early origins of astrology, it was known to be the search for human meaning in the sky. When I ask for someone’s zodiac sign, I feel like I’m getting a sense for who they are. Not everyone with the same zodiac sign is exactly the same. Certain components — like their moon sign and their rising sign — supposedly play a part in their personality. I also use horoscopes as
ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXX ELDER
The 13th zodiac sign Ophiuchus, discovered by NASA, has raised questions for both astrology fans and astrology critics.
something to reflect on, but it’s definitely not something I would live my life by. Tauruses tend to be stubborn, prac-
tical, and independent. They are also very blunt and aggressive, and if something rubs them the wrong way, they’ll let you know. From what I noticed
about the Tauruses that I’ve met, I’d say this was true. My father — a Taurus — fits the description very well. He’s always been the type to not take things very lightly and is very serious about things that matter to him — like work and family. I am interested in astrology because it gives me something to identify with. I’m a Scorpio and I feel like I identify with my sign very strongly. The new 13th sign classifies me as a Libra, but I don’t feel a connection with that sign at all. Libra’s are very go-with-the-flow. They supposedly keep the peace and are very kind. They are also considered one of the more sophisticated signs. I’m not saying that I’m not any of those things. I could be considered any of those traits, but I feel like those aren’t the first traits that come to mind I have to describe myself. But the description of the Scorpio being moody, impulsive and passionate sounds like something I agree with. They are also considered very intel-
lectual and deep. All water signs tend to be emotional, yet Scorpios are supposed to be a little more aggressive than the rest. Scorpios are often called obsessive — I like to say that I’m very passionate about things that I like or care about. If I’m really into something, I’ll talk about it and try to participate as much as possible. If it’s something I don’t particularly care for, you’ll never hear me say a word about it. On NASA’s Tumblr page they said, “So, we didn’t change any zodiac signs … we did just did the math.” This was NASA’s response to distraught astrology followers when it came to the change in the stars. Additionally, the 13th sign made Scorpio’s cycle only six days long. It doesn’t make much sense for a sign to have such a small “season.” So everyone who has their sign tattooed on them does not need to worry. We can go back to reading our horoscopes in peace.
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The Ledger. January 17, 2017 | Volume 21 | Issue 13
Opinion: Grades versus sanity — how school makes me crazy The importance of a quality education should not be underestimated, but what happens when the importance of good grades overtakes practical skills?
By Sean Gill-MacDonald Opinion Editor
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f somebody asked me today about my biggest priorities in college, I’d probably say, “Connections, hands-on experience and learning about subjects that pertain to my interests.” But while I provide that same wellrehearsed answer for that question each time I’m asked, my brain — the organ responsible for getting me through college — disagrees. To my brain, my biggest college priority is getting as close to near-perfect grades as possible. Don’t get me wrong — I want the practical experience to feel as worthwhile as the grades. Practical, hands-on experience takes precedent over perfect grades in the real world. With that in mind, why does my brain prioritize high marks like an aggravating obsession? It’s not just me — many of my peers experience this obsession as well. And no matter how many times our grandparents, Huffington Post articles or TED talks remind us of the importance of practical skills versus perfect grades, the obsession still nags us like an inoperable brain cyst. So, what’s the deal? I blame the traditional school system. Throughout elementary, middle and high school, our superiors sell us a simple algorithm: The highest grades provide us the greatest opportunities for continued life success. The lowest grades, conversely, equate to a lack of success, academic failure and — worst of all — the threat of never graduating or having to repeat a grade. Some parents impose the harsh pen-
In short, students are interpolated into a society where high grades are alluring and desirable while low grades must be avoided.
alty of grounding or the loss of video games to further cultivate the fear of low grades. By the end of high school, prestigious universities court students in the upper grade point average echelon, offering them full-ride scholarships in the major of their choosing. In short, students are interpolated into a society where high grades are alluring and desirable while low grades must be avoided. In a society where the best grades are exchanged like currency for better opportunities, who wants to be a failure? This sweeping generalization of traditional schooling might sound like common sense, but I believe it’s important to stop and really question ourselves: Do we want to achieve the best grades because we genuinely want them or because our society wants them? One of my regular customers at work is the father of a fellow Communications major, who took the same class I took during Autumn Quarter. He asked me, “What grade did you get in your video class?” “A 3.6,” I answered. “Oh, well, my daughter got a 3.9 out of that class,” he said. Knowing that not studying for a couple quizzes resulted in my lower grade, I told him, “Sounds like she studied for her quizzes. I didn’t do enough of that.” Autumn Quarter didn’t make my life easy: I searched for a new place to live, moved into that place, started a writing job here at The Ledger, and still juggled full-time school with my part-time retail job to keep a roof over my head. As a result, that quarter felt like ten weeks of burnout. My inner monologue ran through every excuse, including thinking her final project was as good as mine because her group didn’t try as hard to push the envelope as my group did. More importantly: Why in the heck did I even care? Considering my life circumstances, a 3.6 GPA felt an accomplishment. A 3.6 grade is still an A-minus. An A-minus is still an “A” grade. Regardless, I felt less accomplished because I received a lower grade than somebody I barely even know.
Society tends to fixate itself on the alluring and desirable qualities of high grades due to their perceived association with high intelligence, better career opportunities and the promise of financial security. Many students fear failing grades because they don’t want to be left behind by society. Some students just want to become doctors, lawyers or engineers for the sake of job security. For me, I want good grades because I hope for something better than what I have, but also to prove to myself — and others — that I can see my ambitions through to the end. Sadly, I’ve always feared failing grades because I don’t want my family and peers to think I’m stupid and worthless. Here’s another personal example: When I was in eighth grade, my grades were consistently terrible. So bad, in fact, that I forged my mom’s signature onto my first progress report — which led to much yelling and reaming when I got caught. I intercepted the mailed midterm report cards from our mailbox throughout the year, shoved them behind my dresser until somebody brought up “mailed report cards” to my mom. When confronted about it, I came clean about my poor grades and revealed the intercepted report cards. Two conferences later, I squeaked out of middle school with a D-average. My fear of failure — coupled with a fear of my mom’s reaction to my failure — led
Do we want to achieve the best grades because we genuinely want them or because our society wants them? me to hide from an academic problem that could have been remedied with the first report card I tried to forge. Instead, I ran away from my failing grades, more terrified about being seen as a failure than accepting it and moving on. Thankfully, as a college senior, I take my education far more seriously than my younger self. I still fall back into the same escapist habits — like playing too many video games — but being responsible for my own self allows me to prioritize better. I compile good grades and useful skills in college in hope for a more fulfilling future — especially after working in retail for 12 years. While I realize the occasional less-than-perfect grade won’t impact the cumulative value of my education, the grades themselves still make me a little crazy. And when they do, it’s good to ask myself the same question I asked before: Am I doing this for me or for everybody else?
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Does the dreaded “F” written in red ink mean something more to students than just being a bad grade?
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The Ledger. January 17, 2017 | Volume 21 | Issue 13
Opinion: Heroin’s history provides lessons for today
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Politics has long trumped evidence in shaping American drug policy.
By Julianna Siemssen Opinion Columnist In the late 1800s, a flood of Chinese workers entered the United States to help with the construction of railroads, working longer, more dangerous and lower-paying jobs than white workers. But when the railroads were completed, white Americans grew afraid that the Chinese immigrants — who needed other jobs — would push them out of employment. This resulted in a backlash of anti-Chinese racism, which culminated in the Chinese Exclusion Act, a law that banned Chinese immigrants from entering the U.S. Around the same time, Britain wanted to trade with China, but China didn’t want to buy much of anything Britain had to sell. So when Britain realized that Chinese customers were willing to purchase opium, they began importing it from their colonies in India and exporting it to China. The U.S., who also wanted what China had to offer, started importing opium from other countries and exporting it to China as well. While Americans profited from opium addiction in China, they also used it to fuel racist stereotypes against Chinese workers. Tabloids and political cartoons depicted Chinese immigrants as opium addicts who lured white women into opium dens. The govern-
Racism against Chinese immigrants fueled the criminalization of drugs.
ment responded by banning the smoking of opium in 1875. Other preparations derived from opium, such as morphine and laudanum, remained legal — and were more commonly used by upper-class whites. When heroin was first developed in 1895, it was marketed as a non-addictive alternative to morphine. As we know now, this is not the case. As hospitals began to fill up with heroin-addicted patients, Americans began to
recognize that heroin addiction was a serious problem. Heroin was subsequently banned in 1924. Some people kept using heroin anyway. Because selling heroin could no longer take place in legal markets, it became the province of organized crime syndicates, who began marketing it to black Americans. In the 1920s, a thriving community of black intellectuals sprang up in Harlem, New York. Some of them experimented with
The rise and fall of ‘Pokémon Go’
ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXX ELDER
heroin, which further increased the false perception that heroin addiction was predominantly associated with black people. The 1960s were a time of great social upheaval, where movements against war and for racial and gender equality shaped American politics. A conservative backlash ensued, and conservative politicians were happy to use countercultural youths’ openness toward drug use against them.
“The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people,” admitted John Ehrlichman, an adviser to former president Richard Nixon, in an interview for Harper’s Magazine. “We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.” Today, heroin use has risen sharply among white people. While stereotypes about addiction, poverty, and Appalachia still taint public perception of the epidemic, it has been received with relative sympathy. And sympathy for addicts is undoubtedly helpful. But it needs to be accompanied by an understanding of how our punitive drug laws came about, and a willingness to extend similar standards to similar situations. Today, Latin Americans face many of the same stereotypes that Chinese workers in 1875 dealt with. As we work toward the repeal of laws put in place for unjust reasons, we should also be alert for sensationalism and stereotypes in our current political discourse.
While the much-hyped game started out well, it didn’t continue in that direction.
By Sasha Penn Web Manager “Pokémon Go’s” company, Niantic, did a lot of things right in the beginning. Niantic generated a lot of interest and hype for the game, resulting in an explosion of 45 million people playing upon release of the game. With the huge player base — “Pokémon Go” generated $600 million in revenue within the first 90 days. The parks and other Pokémon-dense areas were flooded with people. So much so that some areas attempted to restrict people from playing the game. In Des Moines, Washington, the community requested Niantic remove the Pokémon stops (locations in the game that are linked to places in real life, which attract Pokémon) from the Des Moines Marina. Federal Way also posted notices at the parks, stating that playing “Pokémon Go” was prohibited. While other places, particularly churches and some businesses, encouraged the traffic by offering promotions and welcoming players. Since Niantic released “Pokémon Go” before it was ready, it caused the app to
crash frequently. In the beginning players didn’t mind and avidly continued playing through the hardships. But Niantic began to release updates that players didn’t like. For example, a tracking feature was removed with the only explanation being that it was ‘broken.’ Secondary sites stepped up to provide a tracking feature, but Niantic went after those companies and told them to cease operations. Since tracking was still unavailable in the game, players began requesting refunds and “Pokémon Go” started losing players in droves. Niantic continued with decisions that resulted in a loss of players, as rooted phones were blocked to prevent cheating, and an annoying pop-up asking you to confirm that you are a passenger was introduced in the game. Additionally, Niantic reduced the spawn rates of Pokémon and implemented speed caps, making it more difficult to play on the ‘Go.’ They also left their players in the dark for the future of the game. Instead of fixing known issues, Niantic focused on rolling out their broken game to other regions. Now they are trying to remedy their
The majority of people who left the game did not go back to playing “Pokémon Go.” losses — but for many, the effort is too little too late. In their attempt to attract players, they have made several updates allowing players to have a Pokémon as a ‘buddy,’ which benefits from distances walked with the buddy. Niantic’s most recent push was to create events for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. These events upped the spawn rates of certain Pokémon, gave increased benefits and made the game fun to play again for the duration of the events. Even with the events, the majority of people who left the game did not go back to playing “Pokémon Go.” The parks are practically empty of Pokémon players, and they are continuing to lose players left and right. While they still make a tidy profit — the future of “Pokémon Go” doesn’t look bright.
COURTESY OF NIANTIC
This was the loading screen for the Pokémon Go New Year’s event, meant to attract more interest when the game was starting to lose popularity.
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NEWS
OPINION ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
SPOTLIGHT
The Ledger. January 17, 2017 | Volume 21 | Issue 13
Spring break 2017: Arizona’s amazing Antelope Canyon! Antelope Canyon is an affordable and fun spring break destination.
By Annie Dontula A&E Columnist
A
ntelope Canyon — located in Page, Arizona — is a slot canyon known for the beams of light that shine through cracks in its swirling sandstone walls. Slot canyons tend to be more narrow than wide because they are made by water rushing through rock. It was discovered by a young Navajo girl in 1931 when she was herding sheep. Visitors tend to go between April and October but early spring offers crisp weather and less crowding. If you decide to go during the month of March, pack a few sweaters, jeans and comfortable shoes. The canyon is split into two different slot canyons. The first — the upper canyon — is the most popular due to the easy walks along its sandy floor. The second — the lower canyon — is more demanding and requires a little more stamina. There are ladders to help people go up and down the canyon walls. Unless you decide to go with a tour, you won’t pay much for your stay. Most tour prices in the lower canyon are between $25 and $50 and last around two hours. Most places also offer a photography tour which
is slightly more expensive. But, people tend to get better photos and more guidance on these tours. The cost of entrance to the park is $6 per person without a vehicle. Because of the flash flood danger in the canyon, all visitors are required to travel with a guide. Tours in the upper canyon cost around the same price as the lower but, in the more popular months, can rise up to $60. After visiting the canyon, you can go to Lake Powell to sightsee or camp, or to Horseshoe Bend — which is a sharp meander near Page — and take the short hike around the bend. There are few hotels near Page, and even fewer if you’re on a budget. America’s Best Value Inn and Rhodeway Inn are both less than $60 per night. Both hotels include breakfast. Restaurants and hotels near the canyon are limited, and the closest shopping center is located in Page, where there is also a Walmart. To stay on a budget, get some groceries at the Walmart for your entire trip. Airfare is usually the most expensive part of a trip. Because Page is such an isolated town, there aren’t many ways to get there. There is only one small airport nearby and tickets usually range from $200 to $800. The
This destination is a great option for those interested in photography and hiking. first option is to fly from SeattleTacoma Airport to Denver Airport and take another flight to Page. The total cost of this option is around $450. The second option is to take a flight from Seattle-Tacoma Airport to Denver Airport, and then take a Greyhound bus to Flagstaff. From Flagstaff there is a Destination Services taxi into Page which costs around $150 for five people. However, the price remains the same even if there’s just one person travelling. The total cost of the second option for a group of three is $280 per person roundtrip. If you call ahead and book in advance, Destination Services can go as low as $225, which is around $75 for the ride to and from Flagstaff. Antelope Canyon isn’t the only place to head to for your spring break, but it’s a great option for those interested in photography and hiking. It’s family friendly and offers visitors the chance to make great memories.
COURTESY OF LUCAS LÖFFLER
Rays of sunlight that slip between the rocks in the canyon attract many visitors.
Review: ‘Passengers’ tries to find love amongst despair This film is ultimately a forgettable experience due to the bland execution of the main themes, isolation and love.
“Passengers” ★★★★★
By Derek Downey A&E Columnist Imagine being alone in space with nothing meaningful to do and no one to interact with. Now extend that feeling to the remainder of your life. ‘Passengers’ is a sci-fi romance thriller that tries to implement elements of isolation with a romantic relationship between the two lead characters, Jim Preston, played by Chris Pratt, and Aurora, played by Jennifer Lawrence. The movie, ultimately, is a bland experience with a poorly executed narrative. Preston and Aurora are passengers aboard a spaceship known as the Avalon on its way to colonize a new planet due to the overpopulation of Earth. The voyage was supposed to take 120 years, but 30 years in, Preston is accidentally awoken and cannot be refrozen back into cryo-sleep. Preston is the only one awake, and since the journey has another 90 years left, Preston knows he will not live to
REVIEW
The Good: • The first half of the film that deals with Pratt being alone is executed nicely and is arguably the best part of the film. • The acting is decent.
COURTESY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES
see it completed. This was the strongest part of the film. Preston grapples with the knowledge that he will have to spend the remainder of his life alone, and this gives the film a sense of dread and helplessness. Preston copes with this despair by rummaging around the ship, drinking and eating the food and alcohol.
After some time passes, Preston comes across the still-sleeping Aurora and awakes her. The second part of the movie builds this relationship between Preston and Aurora, and this is by far the weakest part of the film. The romance-building between these two characters is nothing special and has been done countless times in other films, and “Passengers” fails to
add or change anything to the romance genre. “Passengers” is a film that tries to portray feelings of isolation and romance but fails to do anything creative with it. The romance in the film is nothing new, and in the end the movie is a forgettable yet somewhat enjoyable experience, if only for the first half of the film.
The Bad: • The dialogue falls flat throughout the entire movie, making for a forgettable experience. • The story is mundane, with the elements of romance being done before in previous films and failing to add anything new.