Raven Report Sequoia High School
Volume IX, Issue 5
1201 Brewster Ave. Redwood City, CA 94062
February 3, 2016
Stratospheric explorer pushes students to fly to new heights By AVIVA FUTORNICK Staff Reporter
Photo by Maddie Pei
Africause hosted dance instructor Jess Adomako for a traditional Ghanaian dance workshop Friday Jan. 22. Adomako has been featured on Good Morning America and was trained in Rome, New York and Accra, Ghana.
Teachers, rather than students, often absent
Disruptive construction continues
By LEIGH ALLEY and GLENN BILLMAN Staff Reporter and Executive Editor English teacher Jose Rosario often finds himself subbing for the class next door, not because the teacher is sick, but because there isn’t one. An English 1 ICAP class has lacked a permanent teacher all year. Sub after sub has flowed through the classroom, with six teachers thus far going in and out of rotation. Even the location changes: it was in a temporary portable classroom for the entire first semester before switching to the B-wing. Similarly, an English 2 class has had at least three teachers, and other classes have had multiple substitutes due to teachers on extended leave. As a result, Rosario and other teachers have had to make lesson plans for classes they do not teach. For the month of January, an average of 14 substitute teachers were needed every day, whereas an average of 16 substitutes were called in every day in January 2015. According to Elvira Macias, the secretary for the Instructional Vice Principal’s office, the real issue this year is finding permenant teachers for the English department. “It’s that quick turnaround of teachers that we hire and then they leave, we hire another one, and they leave,” Macias said. “So we need to cover those classes in addition to the regular.”
Photo by Maddie Pei
By MATT EISENBERG Staff Reporter Ominous smells and loud noises have been have been disrupting classrooms as construction workers have been busy renovating and updating campus. While the possibility of new classrooms and other future projects are exciting prospects, students and teachers are being forced to endure the inconveniences caused by the construction. There have been several complaints involving the new location of the portables and the construction team’s persistent noise. “It is really distracting,” physics teacher Allison Stafford said. “It’s hard to think when people are hammering and sawing off sand.” Due to the construction, the gate by the quad has been shut, which adds
Feature:
Special: Let’s talk about sex
Page 4-5
Guessing the Grammys
Page 2
much time to many students commutes. “I have a class that’s really close to that area,” senior Erika Yao said. Yao is one of many students who sometimes opts to park in residential areas, as she fears that she will be late for her first class if she waits to get into the lot and then walks around the construction site. “Even if I am on time, it often takes a while getting into the parking lot.” The new building will hold a teacher’s lounge as well as the ten classrooms and will have a modern feel, while maintaining the current Spanish architectural style. This building and the remodel of rooms comprise phase one. Two more phases are planned for future projects that the Site Master Committee is currently at work designing.
Twenty-six miles, 15 minutes, 821 miles per hour and another layer of the Earth’s atmosphere: Alan Eustace made history Oct. 24, 2014 after making the world’s highest freefall. Eustace spoke at Sequoia Jan. 29 to talk to students about his journey out of this world. “[I thought,] what would it be like to hang out in the stratosphere and take in the beautiful sights of the Earth,” Eustace said. Stratospheric explorer, retired Google executive and daredevil Eustace holds the world records for highest-altitude free-fall jump and total free-fall distance after jumping from the top of the stratosphere. His wife, Kathy Kwan, is friends with principal Sean Priest, which allowed Eustace to come to Sequoia. “When you love someone enough you have to let them have their adventure,” Kwan said. “For us it was more like the biggest mid-life crisis ever.” Eustace decided to pursue the jump in 2011 after combining his three specialties: flying planes, engineering and skydiving. Working with World View Experience, a life support system was created so Eustace could still breathe. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in India then created a balloon for Eustace to make his ascent in. “There’s a lot of science to it,” Eustace said. “I wanted to see if it was possible.” To complete this journey, Kwan had a few tasks for Eustace to complete. He had to first complete his will, write his own obituary and make a video to his kids explaining why he wanted to do that if anything had happened to him. Departing from Roswell, New Mexico, Eustace began his approximately two-hour ascent early Oct. 24, 2014. Eustace reached a maximum altitude of 135,908 feet, a little over 25 miles and reached peak speeds of 821.45 mph during his 15-minute descent. Eustace’s achievement, to be able to return human beings from the edge of space using only a minimal life-support system, created a new era of balloonbased space tourism, where ordinary people have a chance to take part in this record-breaking feat. “I’ve been a skydiver since I was 13, a pilot since I was 25 and an engineer my whole life,” Eustace said. “I just thought it would be fun.”
By the numbers
$3,730
Lowest price for Super Bowl ticket available on StubHub
2
Feature
Students anticipate films on the silver screen This year is going to be filled with new movies from superheroes to remakes of childhood classics. We surveyed 152 students to find out their favorites.
February 3, 2016
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Nominees: “Sound & Color” by Alabama Shakes, “To Pimp A Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar, “1989” by Taylor Swift, “Traveller” by Chris Stapleton, “Beauty Behind the Madness” by The Weeknd Who Will Win: “To Pimp A Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar. If The Recording Academy has any sense, this will win. It’s the best album lyrically and very culturally relevant.
Going for
RECORD OF THE YEAR The Nominees: “Really Love” by D’Angelo and the Vanguard, “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift, “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd Who Will Win: “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift. It got the most airtime, and Taylor Swift wins a lot of awards. She’ll still act surprised, though.
Grammy gold:
who will win big on Monday, Feb. 15? — Compiled by Leigh Alley and Alex Vick
Superheroes fight for favor By ADDISON HOLMAN
Staff Reporter
Superhero movies are some of the biggest box office hits with iconic franchises like “Batman,” “Ironman,” “Avengers,” and “X-men.” It can be hard to decide which ones are your favorites. I love superheroes because they have deep personalities, and their fighting abilities are pretty awesome. To determine which superheroes are the best, I comprised a list of my favorites and ranked their best qualitites.
Natasha Romanoff is a master assassin with a dark past. Costume: The leather cat suit is a bit impractical, but she has so many weapons. Personality: She can be a bit too serious at times, but her dry wit is pretty funny. Crime Fighting Ability: Her fighting technique is great, but she might have trouble against superpowers.
He was played by Chris Evans and is a super soldier who fought in World War II where he defeated the leader of Hydra. Costume: He wears a star-spangled outfit and, although the vibranium shield is a great addition, it does not make up for the uniform as a whole. Personality: While it is admirable that he is an all-around good guy, a dark side would help round him out. Crime Fighting Ability: He is super strong and a natural leader.
Also known as Peter Parker, he is a teenager with a sarcastic outlook and spidey powers. Costume: It’s somewhat useless except to make sure people call him Spider Man and to hide his secret identity. Personality: He is sarcastic and witty yet also has a sensitive side that makes him awesome and relatable. Crime Fighting Ability: He is great a taking them down but can not protect those he cares about.
He was played by Robert Downey Jr. and was one of Marvel’s first superhero franchises. Costume: He wears a high-tech super suit he created himself was first built in a cave. Personality: Although his personality is interesting and funny, Tony Stark acts like a jerk most of the time. Crime Fighting Ability: He does a really good job but he seems to only fight personal villains.
He has been played by many people over the years and is a pop culture icon. Costume: His utility belt is just a little too convenient. Personality: He is smart and has a brooding personality. Crime Fighting Ability: He beats his foes, but they tend to come back and he really limits himself to Gotham City.
BEST NEW ARTIST The Nominees: Courtney Barnett, James Bay, Sam Hunt, Tori Kelly, Meghan Trainor Who Will Win: James Bay. Process of elimination (if Meghan Trainor wins the world will spontaneously combust).
— Compiled by Emily Ducker
SONG OF THE YEAR
The Nominees: “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar, “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift, “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town, “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth Who Will Win: “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar. This category is about songwriting, and this song is the only one in the category with a clear message that comes through.
Sequoia High School 2015-2016
Raven Report
Executive Editors Glenn Billman, Claire Bugos, Carmen Vescia Opinion Editor Abigail Wang Entertainment Editor Emily Ducker Sports Editor Trevor Crowell Copy Editor Philip Tyson Page Editors Zack Rosenblatt, Mars Svec-Burdick
Staff Reporters Nicholas Abraham, Leigh Alley, Xavi Boluña, Beatrice Bugos, Brighid Bugos, Mackenzie Clarke, Matthew Eisenberg, Zoey Fletcher, Aviva Futornick, Addison Holman, Benjy Jude, Maddie Pei, Maddie Reynolds, Rio Popper, Alex Vick Adviser Kim Vinh
Printing and web hosting funded by
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Feature
February 3, 2016
Peace out America:
Teachers find themselves at core of spreading global awareness By TREVOR CROWELL
Sports Editor From saving a pig trapped in the bars of its pen only to kill it for its meat later on, to throwing a party that drew hundreds of locals or asking students to bring their machetes to class to work in the garden, the years spent in the Peace Corps for David Weyant, Lisa Gleaton and Joshua Yezerski proved to be a time of endless surprises and unique, unorthodox situations. “When I graduated from college I knew I didn’t want to work in an office,” said Yezerski, who spent three years teaching math and HIV/AIDS awareness in Guinea, West Africa before coming to Sequoia. “I wanted some sort of unique and cross-cultural experience.” The Peace Corps was founded in 1961 to promote public service, provide aid and work towards substantial change in the world. Since then, the Peace Corps has employed hundreds of thousands of Americans who commit to 27 months of tackling current issues and helping development in over 130 countries. This organization appealed to several Sequoia teachers. “Every day here can be mundane because we are so used to everything happening,” said Weyant, who teaches Psychology
Photos courtesy of Lisa Gleaton
Teacher Lisa Gleaton was a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, where she taught agriculture. and BUILD and spent two years teaching English in Hungary. “There, every day you woke up and never knew where the adventure was going to take you.” A Peace Corps volunteer must undergo a process of applications, health history forms, basic personal skills questionnaires, interviews, recommendations, medical clearance and finally initial training in the United States. Although this system may seem cumbersome, volunteers found the application process well worth it. “When I left I was so stressed out about missing two years of life in America,” Weyant said. “But what I gained in two years of life abroad was so many new perspectives, just by travelling through central Europe.”
The skills acquired while Volunteers have fond, longabroad have shaped participants’ lasting memories. lives and had a positive impact on “What you notice when you the native people. go to Africa is that the people “When you’re spoiled, you are so poor, but are also so genfreak out about every tiny thing, erous,” Yezerski said. “They take and you can get so bummed out you in, they feed you, they give really quickly,” you whatevsaid Gleaton, er you need. who teaches “Every day here can be mundane The culture English and because we are so used to every- is vibrant Theory of thing happening. There, every and the K n o w l e d g e day you woke up and never knew whole expeand spent a where the adventure was going to rience just year teaching take you.” opens your —David Weyant, eyes to how agriculture in Togo, West Psychology and BUILD teacher much we Africa. “And have in this here are these country.” people who have absolutely nothTimes of service in the Peace ing compared to us, but they get Corps could also be full of hardso happy and [do] not have any ships and surprises. sense of worry at all.” “Being away from home was
the hardest thing. All of a sudden you have to become an adult in a completely different, alien country,” Gleaton said. “It’s hard enough to become an adult, but in a place where the language is different, the culture is different and you have no money—that really makes you learn a lot about yourself.” For those who now teach at Sequoia, Peace Corps service was not only a time that encouraged individual growth, but also paved the way to a future career in teaching. “One of the periods of my life that was the most impactful in terms of personal and emotional growth was my two years in the Peace Corps,” Weyant said. “[It] pointed me in the direction of teaching and it gave me a better level of understanding of who I am and what I can do.” From becoming global citizens to taking part in a wide variety of developmental projects around the world, the skills obtained and the memories made working in the Peace Corps have made it the experience of a lifetime for all who have taken part. “While working for the Peace Corps in third world countries, you realize that nothing is that important,” Gleaton said. “I miss being in a place where you have no idea what is going on in the rest of the world and it doesn’t matter.”
Presence of weapons in classrooms debated for school safety By MACKENZIE CLARKE
Staff Reporter On the teacher’s desk, there is a pile of homework to grade, a week-old cup of coffee, a framed family picture and a box of ammunition for the handgun in the holster around her waist. Though at Sequoia, that is a far cry from reality. California’s Gun-Free School Zone Act prohibits the possession of firearms within 1,000 feet of school campuses, excluding campus security officers. “I would refuse to carry a gun, absolutely. The idea is insane to me,” history teacher Nancy Berry said. However, in 28 states, it is legal for any adult with a permit for a concealed weapon to carry a loaded gun on a school campus. Right after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting tragedy in 2012, Alabama, Kansas, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas passed laws allowing teachers and staff to possess firearms. In those states, teachers who have concealed carry permits can have loaded guns in classrooms without informing parents. Within the last 100 years, there have been 36 school shootings in California, 25 of which resulted in multiple fatalities. In the last two years, there have been at least 162 school shootings nationwide. Jan. 14, Sequoia practiced its annual active shooter drill through a designated safety procedure. Students practiced building barricades around all entry points in classrooms. As students sat in complete,
tense silence, the only sound in the halls was administrators and police officers. Currently at Sequoia, there is only one staff member who is allowed to carry a weapon on campus under California laws. Diana Ruiz-Jara, the school resource officer, carries both a gun and taser. Her dayto-day job includes ensuring the school’s overall safety, engaging with students and staff to help deal with conflicts that arise at home or at school and creating healthy relationships with students. “My goal is to bridge the gap, that oldschool conspiracy that police are to be feared or you just call them when you have an issue,” Ruiz-Jara said. “A lot of negative connotations come with law enforcement, and I want it to be more of a supportive environment rather than a punishment. ” Ruiz-Jara hopes students view law enforcement as people who are there to help. “I want students to see that I’m an individual and so much more than just a walking badge and gun, not someone to be feared,” Ruiz-Jara said. The main justification for Ruiz to be armed is that it’s her job to protect students in the event of an intruder. Part of her training with the Redwood City Police Department (RCPD) includes emergency procedures in the event of a hostile figure on campus. The RCPD participates in all emergency drills and knows the schools in the district inside out: entry points, where to move kids safely and where to bring in ambulances and other assistance. Although she carries a weapon, Ruiz-Ja-
Photo By Mackenzie Clarke
Officer Diana Ruiz-Jara is equipped with a gun and taser. As the campus security officer, she is the only person allowed to carry a firearm. ra does not advocate their use by teachers. “We should [not] drive ourselves towards the point of having 20 to 30 loaded weapons on campus; That [doesn’t] guarantee safety,” Ruiz-Jara said. “There would be more chaos and more friendly fire. Presidential candidates Ben Carson and Donald Trump believed that arming teachers would make schools safer. At a campaign rally in Vermont, Trump said, “There will be no more ‘gun-free zones.’ You know what a gun-free zone is to a sicko? That’s bait. My first day, [a law permitting teachers to carry weapons]gets signed.” School shootings are a serious problem, but many believe that arming teachers isn’t the right solution. The National Parent-Teacher Associa-
tion agrees that teachers should try to keep students safe, but voiced in a press release that schools should remain gun-free. “I would not feel comfortable [if ] my teachers [carried] weapons,” sophomore Clara MacAvoy said. “It’s absolutely ludicrous.” Whether or not a law is implemented across the nation, violence in schools is still prevalent. In a time of chaos, a secure school environment is emphasized. “Sequoia is the biggest school that the RCPD covers, so if we were to have a major incident, there would be a lot on my shoulders,”Ruiz-Jara said. “There is a lot expected of me, and with that comes a lot of responsibility. My one focus is the safety of this school.”
Special
4
LET’s TALK AbOUT
Even Romeo and Juliet did it: teenagers have been having sex since the dawn of time taboo and a crime in the eyes of the law. We explored Teen Talk at Sequoia, the T Center and Planned Parenthood, and we decided to break the censorship.
—Compiled by MARS SVE
Teen Talk program stimulates open conversation about sex Back in his day, Human Biology teacher and Sciupperclassmen also take a refresher course. ence Department Chair Mitch Weathers received 50 Juniors and seniors in Human Biology recently minutes of sex education in Driver’s Ed. completed a two-week version of the refresher pro“There were two main topics I recall [the instrucgram. Junior Kacie Beth, recalled one particularly tor] teaching. The boys were generally asking: what’s memorable lesson. it like to wear a tampon? The girls were generally ask“We were each given styrofoam penises and we ing: what’s it like to having an erection? She obviously had a race, girls vs. guys, to see who could put on a could [only] answer one of those, condom the fastest,” Beth said. “The and that was it, that was the engirls won.” “These conversations are so tirety of our sex ed unit,” Weathers Health Connected, also known said. “We moved on, and there was important, and I think so few as Teen Talk, brings Peer Supporters no other discussion, which does people have them with young to teach the class an extensive range absolutely nothing to help young people.” of topics, from STIs and birth con—Mitch Weathers, trol to sexuality and consent. people learn about safe sex.” Science Department Chair Now, Sequoia students get a A typical lesson for Weathers’ more complete education. Over the class starts with answering questions course of this year, 38 classes at will from the anonymous question box. have a sex ed unit, including English language learners “Even if it’s like a super awkward question, the inand students in special education. For freshmen, an structors don’t get awkward about it. They say everyintroduction to sexual health is mandatory, and some thing very matter-of-factly, and they always have an
Since there are no federal laws concerning sex education, states can determine their own
answer, no matter what we ask,” Beth said. According to Weathers, few juniors and seniors are shy about the birds and the bees and most are engaged. He’s never had a student opt out of the unit. “I didn’t realize how many people have STI’s until we learned about the percentages and how common they are,” Beth said. “I didn’t realize how easy it is to catch something, or how important it is to have safe sex.” When Weather first started teaching at Sequoia, it had one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the county. During his time here, he’s been an advocate for revisiting sex ed multiple times in high school. “These conversations are so important, and I think so few people have them with young people. For some people, it seems that it’s kind of taboo to talk that way,” Weathers said. “I want people to walk out of this reproductive systems unit feeling empowered around their own body, and making better decisions because of that.”
California fits into all categories below except states that have to stress abstinence
Planned Parenth ood plans more than parenth ood A short two miles away from campus, Planned Parenthood is larger than the Teen Wellness Center (TWC), and so is the scale of its resources. Planned Parenthood might be the TWC’s go-to reference for a patient who wants to terminate a pregnancy, but contrary to recent rumors, abortions are only 3 percent of what they do. Planned Parenthood offers a vast range of health care services for nsured, including physicals, vaccines and every genre of birth control. At the Redwood City location, which used to be a Chevy’s Mexican restaurant, Assistant Center Manager Leslie MacConnell sees anywhere from 10 to 30 young adults come in per week. In the rare case a teenager does come in for an abortion, clinicians recommend at least one session with their on-site Behavioral Health Clinician Felicia
Felock before the procedure. “We ask a lot of questions, like ‘are you really confident in your decision?’ and ‘do you feel like you’ve had enough time to think about this?’ We inform them how much time they have to make a decision, so that they don’t feel pressured to do it right that day,” MacConnell said. Especially during an election year when reproductive choice is a hot-button issue, slanderous political discourse can be an obstacle for young people reaching out for help. MacConnell encourages both sides to agree to disagree. “It really doesn’t get us anywhere to keep fighting,” MacConnell said. “I think we need to remember that everybody’s own body is their own choice, and that a lot people don’t know what they would do in a situation until they’re in it.”
For MacConnell, who has worked in the field for a decade, the mission of her job is supporting reproductive rights for everyone, everywhere. “Sometimes, working with patients, you’re seeing them on one of the hardest days of their lives, hearing about something that they’ve never told anybody else,” MacConnell said. “I think it takes a certain type of person to work here.” Her biggest moment of understanding why reproductive health was so crucial was in 2004, when she was a senior in high school and went to the March for Women’s Lives, with five million other activists. “It was one of the most empowering moments of my whole life walking in a crowd that big. And even though the streets were lined with protesters, the amount of energy and passion that we had as a group was really life changing. You could feel your impact.”
Feature
5 Statistics courtesy of the 2014 Teen Resource Center Needs Assesment Survey
T SeX
How Around 925 students from all grade levels were surveyed much education about sexual transmitted diseases (STIs)have you received at Sequoia?
65.9%
e. Yet it’s still Teen Wellness
32%
Enough or Too Much
EC-BURDICK and CARMEN VESCIA with Graphics by MADDIE PEI
20.9%
13.2% None
Enough or Too Much
62.2%
How much education about sexual decision making have you received at Sequoia?
Too Little
None
Too Little
13.4%
24.4%
42%
Of students have been sexually active this past year
Were sexually active before this school year
Never
19% Sometimes
If you are sexually active, how often have you and your partner used condoms?
20.1%
38.8% Always
Most of the time
22%
Teen Wellnes s Center provide s counsel ing, condoms and confide ntialit y Windows are tinted, voices are low, and complimentary condoms are available upon request. Welcome to the Teen Wellness Center, where teens can come in for safe, secret sexual health services. As we stepped inside the warm atmosphere of the clinic, we were greeted by a waiting room like any other: magazines, other patients, posters detailing the “ABC’s of Abstinence.” As journalists, we came with no secrets, but if you desire more privacy, a list on the front desk of every service the clinic provides a silent way of communicating to the receptionist what kind of care you came seeking. According to registered nurse Patricia, high school students in the district come in most often for emergency contraception, followed by pregnancy and STI
tests. The clinic, on Sequoias’ campus off of James Street, also offers counselling, sports physicals and other medical services for students who may not have insurance coverage elsewhere. If desired, confidentiality is assured. “Don’t be timid to come in,” said Janette, the clinic’s receptionist. “Nothing’s ever embarrassing to us.” Patients range in age from 12-22 and come from the school district and surrounding areas. The clinic’s main demographic is females ages 15-17, but male visitors are becoming more frequent. “We’re happy when we see males because they’re also sexually active and can be confidentially tested for STIs and treated here. Even if they aren’t going to get pregnant, there is still the possibility of [STI’s] they can obtain and pass on,”
Patricia said. HIV/AIDS cases are rare for pregnancy tests and receive a posiin Redwood City, but the risk of gon- tive result, the clinic has a counselor orrhea and chlamydia—two of the most who can offer support and guidance. If commonly-reported STIs in the United the patient would like to terminate the States— is real, according to the Center pregnancy, the clinic refers her to the for Disease Control. nearby Planned Parenthood. For the female patients who come in What happens in the Teen Wellness for emergency conCenter stays in the Teen traception, Patricia “Whatever students need, we’re here. Wellness Center. dispenses the med- Our doors are open, so feel free to “You’re not going to ication, and then stop by and make an appointment.” be judged, and we prohelps them get on tect your privacy,” Patri—Patricia, a long term birth cia said. “Whatever stuRegistered Nurse dents need, we’re here. control method, most often birth Our doors are open, so control pills. Stufeel free to stop by and dents don’t need parental permission, make an appointment.” and the clinic can provide confidential Last names have been omitted for insurance. For the female patients who come in privacy reasons
6
Opinion
Eight ways to tell twins apart By BRIGHID BUGOS
Staff Reporter I’m Brighid. Not Beatrice, not Thing 1 or Thing 2. Just Brighid. Beatrice and I know, like many other identical twins, that it’s a constant annoyance going through life living with two names. Getting names wrong isn’t necessarily the annoying part: what is annoying is when people don’t try to get twins’ names correct. Especially if you’ve known them for awhile. As a twin, I’ve learned a couple of tricks that help distinguish twin from twin, along with some information about twins. 1. A constant misconception is that identical twins are exactly, exactly alike: same clothes, same classes, same friends, any difference however minor makes us not alike. So let’s just clear this up, identical twins have the same exact DNA. No matter how different they end up looking they are still identical. And they do not have to have all the same interests. 2. All twins have heard “oh, sorry. You guys just look so alike” multiple times a day when some-
Take note of individual likes and dislikes
Be aware of different hair styles
Notice what clothes, colors and styles each twin wears
Observe how tone, vocabulary and cadence may vary
Beatrice
Brighid Photos by Brighid and Beatrice Bugos
one calls us by the wrong name. If you’re someone who just met a pair of twins, don’t worry about it. But if you’ve known them for over a year and a half, it’s time to get on it. 3. Don’t be afraid to ask how to tell twins apart; it’s better than struggling for a longer time. If you don’t feel comfortable asking them directly, then ask one of their friends or family members; they usually have a tip to help you. 4. One of the easiest things is to observe them. Notice what they wear, who they hang out with, what their interests are,
what classes they’re in and how they talk. It will come with time, but you can learn more about them. 5. If they are similar in those ways like Beatrice and I, then turn to more permanent physical attributes like haircuts, birthmarks, freckles and height. 6. The worst thing you could do is to give up and stop trying. It’s better to keep guessing and get it wrong then not to try at all. At least with guessing you have a 50/50 chance. 7. As a twin, many times the best thing you can do when someone calls you the wrong name is to
correct them politely and tell them a way to tell you apart. It may be something that they’re uncomfortable to ask, so point out obvious, permanent attributes that define you two as unique beings. 8. Remember that it takes time to learn things, some people more than others. Just be patient. But do yourself and the twins around you a favor: learn their names. If you aren’t part of the 0.2 percent of the population that is a twin, give twins the respect they deserve and treat them like the individual human beings they are.
Time to redefine reading in a redefined world By RIO POPPER Staff Reporter Over the past 20 years, our world has been changed: the introduction of the Internet, social media, Netflix and other advancements in technology have altered almost everything. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the magical ability some people have to lose themselves behind the covers of a good book. “I love to read,” freshman Maya Donovan said. “I read for the characters, and the story, and just the different world that’s in a book.” Donovan is lucky: she can read for pleasure. For other students, reading isn’t effortless and amazing. But with the Internet, iTunes, Kindles and other devices, reading, when done properly, isn’t work. It’s just about finding the right way to read. Since I’m blind, when I was younger, my parents and teachers were strict about reading—I had to read in Braille, and I wasn’t allowed
Graphic by GLENN BILLMAN
to listen to audiobooks (or books that my talking computer read out loud) except for special treats. When I was forced to read in Braille, it was work—grueling, boring work. In middle school, I wanted to be able to read the way kids like Donovan can; I wanted to meet imaginary friends and fight imaginary wars and live in imaginary worlds, and I realized that I couldn’t do that in Braille. I started listening to my books instead of reading them. I loved it. Now, I
can “read” like Donovan. I can live in those amazing imaginary worlds. I refuse to believe that my kind of reading is inferior (despite my mother claiming that I’m illiterate). Like Donovan, I am able to draw connections, enjoy characters, and live in worlds apart from our own. Reading isn’t the physical action of flipping pages and using your eyes to read tiny letters. If you want to read using audio books, or using a kindle, that’s fine too.
For me, audiobooks are the best way to enjoy literature. Others are different— Donovan prefers paper. “For some people, audiobooks are great,” she said. “But, I don’t know why, I just love a paper book.” The medium is unimportant, I’ve come to decide, so long as one is able to love the different worlds that books offer. If you can do that, you can read. It doesn’t matter if that is on a laptop, by listening, or in a hardcover.
February 3, 2016
Fear prejudice, not Muslim neighbors By NICK ABRAHAM
Staff Reporter All it took was a casual conversation in P.E. among friends for the dreaded subject to arise: Donald Trump’s proposed policy to ban Muslims from entering the US. Even among people who agree that Trump’s proposal is extreme, many share his fear of Islam, and disproportionately blame its supporters for global terror attacks. As an Arab-American with strong Muslim lineage, I find this devastating, because the Islam that I know preaches peace and tolerance. I myself have been asked whether or not I or my friends and family support attacks like the one in Paris. This is equivalent to asking a Christian whether or not they think the Planned Parenthood shooting was justified. It is the same as asking a Jew whether or not they support attacks on innocent Palestinians. Just because I am Arab, and just because my relatives are Muslim, that does not make us supporters of senseless violence. A 2014 study done by the University of North Carolina showed that less than 0.0002 percent of homicides in Just because I the US since 9/11 am Arab, and just bewere committed cause my relatives are Musby Muslims. Still, the image lim, that does not make us of Muslims as tersupporters of senseless rorists persists. violence. The mainstream media is to blame, as it only wreports on Islamic activity when it’s related to terrorist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda, which neither follow nor represent the ideals of Islam. News networks do not report on mosques feeding the poor or partnering with other religions to do charity work. They did not report on the Muslim organization that donated 30,000 bottles of water to Flint, Michigan amidst a water crisis. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world. To paint them all with a broad brush means criticizing peaceful people who should be allowed to practice their religion freely, just like anyone else. Muslims should not have to constantly defend the integrity of their religion. “Many people have a predisposed idea of what Islam is without actually knowing what it is,” said freshman Yasemin Agi, a practicing Muslim. “Islam is not a violent religion, and when people say that, they usually quote the Quran out of context.” Every major religion has extremists, but they are a miniscule minority, and we cannot condemn Islam for the actions of a few violent radicals. Furthermore, anti-Islam rhetoric doesn’t help defeat terrorism, it helps terrorist organizations radicalize other Muslims. Recently, a Somalian AlQaeda propaganda video used a video of Trump’s call to ban Muslims as a form of recruitment. Islamophobes are playing into the hands of groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram, by making it seem like the West is at war with Islam. “If we’re worried about ISIS, hating mainstream, peace-loving Muslims feeds into their machine,” history teacher Lydia Cuffman said. “It hurts us, it hurts the view the rest of the world has of us, and it makes us look like really big hypocrites.” The values that we take the most pride in at Sequoia are those of diversity and universal equal treatment, regardless of race, sexuality, or gender. To uphold these values, we, not only as Sequoia students, but as Americans and as humans, need to recognize that religous diversity deserves the same respect. In order for our local community, our country and our world to be safer for everyone, we need to stop profiling others just because they wear a headscarf or worship a different God.
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Sports
February 3, 2016
Energy and sports drinks have disputed benefits By BEATRICE BUGOS
Staff Reporter Walking around campus, you might see athletes sipping Gatorade or gulping down protein shakes. Sport drinks are hugely advertised and sold, but contain high levels of sugar. An eightounce Gatorade D has 26.8 grams of sugar. Coaches often offer advice to athletes on what to consume. “You [can] get away from [sport drinks because of ] the heavy level of sugar. Then [there is the] electrolyte issue,” PE teacher Rob Poulos said. “When you sweat you are also losing minerals, not just water.” Electrolytes affect the amount of water in your body, the pH level in your blood and muscle function, according to the United States National Library of Medicine. But unless you’re doing a high-intensity workout, avoid
them. According to “The Daily Meal,” added nutrients in sport drinks are not beneficial to the average person, and they can lead to weight gain over time. “Gatorade has positive effects while you’re doing something,
but I don’t suggest drinking it regularly. It is just full of sugar and unhealthy if you’re consuming it not for athletic purposes,” junior wrestler and lacrosse player Hannah Dosen said.
“[Any]thing you consume diet-wise can also have an effect on your energy levels, not necessarily just energy supplements,” Dosen said. An alternative is protein supplements, especially in pow-
der form, which are becoming more popular every day. According to Euromonitor, the sales of protein supplements has risen by 40 percent since 2008 and is estimated to rise another 40 percent by 2018. “Protein powder enhances my recovery [and] allows me to get the protein [my body] needs after my workout,” senior weightlifter Wes Goldberg said. “In the first 15 minutes your body absorbs the most protein.” Whey-based protein powder can have many benefits, such as supplying the body with amino acids and preventing muscle breakdown. Also, it can ensure that cells have a steady supply of nutrients. However, since it is easy to consume, it is easy to go overboard, resulting in the protein being stored as fat. “The energy drink issue mirrors the U.S. as a whole. Everything has sugar in it now,” Poulos said. “People like sweet stuff, so they’re providing it.”
Staff Reporter
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It’s right before practice and you need some quick energy, so you grab a PowerBar. Then, you open the refrigerator to grab a bottled smoothie. These might not be the healthiest options. According to The Guardian, fruit juices and smoothies are risky to good health because of the amount of sugar they contain. Store-bought smoothies can contain fruit syrups or canned fruit rather than whole fruit. Commercially made smoothies from restaurants such as Dairy Queen, Sonic, Panera and even Jamba Juice are laden with processed sugar and high fructose corn syrup. The smallest size, a 16 oz serving of an Aloha Pineapple Smoothie from Jamba Juice has 67 grams of sugar. The maximum amount of added sugar is between 25-37.5 grams daily, according to the American Heart Association
(AHA). Football coach Rob Poulos advocates for more natural food. “[The football team and I] do more natural routes,” Poulos said. “We do fruit; oranges and bananas cut up. We have [the players] eat that at half time.” Similarly, PowerBars are a common choice among Sequoia athletes. In a survey of 42 athletes, 37.2 percent said they eat PowerBars on a regular basis. A PowerBar Performance Energy bar provides 240 calories per bar, and they are considered natural products. Yet only 5 percent of the ingredients in these products need to be natural for it to be considered a natural product. “It’s so important to read labels because so often you do think you’re eating healthy or you’re doing things right, then you really look at what’s in them and you’re like ‘Oh,’” Foods and Nutrition teacher Laura Kuras said. “The best source of nutrients and [replenishment] is natural and straight-up foods. That is
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Natural food products not always a healthy option
always the best way to go.” “I think that’s kind of insane. I mean we live in California—we have so many resources available to us,” said sophomore Morgan Taradash, who often uses
natural supplements like pea protein. “I don’t think that for something to be considered natural it should only have five percent. It seems like it should be way more.”
8 SPORTS From classroom to Super Bowl, Chemistry teacher does it all Beacom said. “They asked me if I wanted to do it full time and I said ‘OK.’” Page Editor In addition to working at the Super Chemistry teacher Jamie Beacom and Bowl this year, Beacom has had experifootball fans from all over the country ence working on the chain crew at other will descend on Santa Clara, Feb. 7 for high stakes football games. To keep games the 50th Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium. secure and make sure the chain crew Beacom will be on the sidelines moving is familiar with the stadium, all games at Levi’s the chains Stadium for the bigand old gest sportCandleing event of stick park the year. have used Beacom, Beacom’s who has c h a i n worked for crew. This the 49ers has given for 28 Beacom years, will oppor tufinally get nities to to live out work at his dream college of working football in a Super games, Bowl. He such as will work the Pacalongside 12 Chamseven othpionship er friends Game as who have Photo Courtesy of Jamie beacom well as NFL all worked on the “chain Beacom, back left, holds the down box during games. “[Our crew” togeth- the 49ers 2015 opening game against the chain crew er for most Minnesota Vikings. has] done it of Beacom’s for so long. experience. Beacom originally started work on They don’t want to bring in new crews the 49ers chain crew as a substitute for because they don’t want to have to train chain crew members that were sick or on new people how to do it,” Beacom said. vacation during a game. At one presea- “Plus, for obvious security reasons, they son game in 1988, Beacom was called in do not want outside people on the field.” There are eight chain crew jobs to do to substitute. “While we were in the locker room at the Super Bowl. The group of eight are before the game, the referees came in split into a group of five and a group of and announced that there is a new rule three. Five people will work on the “ofchange and there would need to be an ficial” side of the chains. Beacom’s Super extra guy permanently on the chains,” Bowl job is to be the “down box” oper-
February 3, 2016
By ZACK ROSENBLATT
Infographic By Philip Tyson
ator on the auxiliary side. He will signal to the team benches and the players on the field what down it is before every play. He does this by sliding a number in a glass box to the current down. This glass box is held up on a pole for spectators and players to see as a reference. For many students, the Super Bowl is one of their favorite events. From creative and funny commercials, to the halftime show, to the actual football being
played, this championship game attracts younger audiences. This makes students enjoy having a teacher that is not only into the “Super Bowl hype” but will be on the field during the game. “It’s pretty cool that he gets to get into the Super Bowl for free and watch it for free on the field,” sophomore Kyle Tarzon said. “I am going to be looking out for him on TV so hopefully I will be able to see him in action.”
Banners hang with glory of championships won in Gym 1 By BEATRICE BUGOS
Staff Reporter The Sequoia Boosters Club celebrated Sequoia’s many league championships over the past 125 years by hanging banners in Gym 1 over the course of November and December to fulfill last year’s annual FundA-Need (FAN) project. They cost $10,571 in total. FAN projects are one-time projects that address unmet needs decided by Sequoia Boosters Club, the administration and the athletic director. One of the past projects that FAN has supported was painting the purple stirp on the inside of Gym 1. “[We hung the banners] to show school spirit and support all the teams. That was [Boosters’] mission,” said Boosters President Judy Sloan. The Boosters felt that the walls looked bare with just the purple strip on them, and they
Photo by Aviva Futornick
Sequoia’s dance team performs at the Winter rally in Gym 1 with the sport banners shown in the background. saw it as their duty to finish decorating the gym. The inspiration came from other gyms in the Sequoia Union High School District. Gym 1 was chosen as the place to hang the banners because “most of the competitive sports play games [there] and it is a spectator gym,” said Boost-
ers Member and 2015 FAN Coordinator, Jennifer Webb. There are 27 banners representing all the sports that Sequoia has to offer or has offered, and 22 of them have championship dates on them. The dates were initially printed directly on the banners and will be updated by placing stickers
of the numbers on the banners. A date represents the year a particular sport won a league championship. The purple banners are 6’8”-by-3’9”, hang in all the corners of the gym and are equal height of the windows. FAN is funded by the annual Crab Dinner and Auction, sales
of Sequoia paraphernalia, spirit items sales and email donators. This fund was able to cover most of the cost and Boosters picked up the rest of it. In the future, FAN is working towards an outdoor mural on the Terremere Field side of Gym 1 and is still deciding on this year’s project.