Big Change Comes to Stuco Hours Before the Shooting, Agh- Dam Was Practicing at a Gun Range
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Riverfield Bands rockin’ it at llamapalooza … PHOTOS COURTESY RIVERFIELD ROCKS Published biweekly by and for the Upper School students of Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa, OK APRILMAY 11,3, 2015 2018 THE COMMONS Tragedy occurs at YouTube HQ By Logan Payne NEWS EDITOR On April 3, a woman identi- fied by the police as Nasim Aghdam shot three people at the YouTube headquarters in San Bruno, California before turning the gun on herself. She opened fire at a group of people eating lunch outside in the café, according to CNN. Law enforcement said the shooter is believed to have known at least one of the peo- ple, but the motive of this shoot- ing is something many people 2018-19 STUCO President Sydney Sowell (left), Secretary Dylan Briggs (middle), and Vice President Kendall Clary (right). Not pictured couldn’t believe. are Treasurer Robert Hale and Social Chair Braden Bates. PHOTO BY BRENDEN PAUL and ANDREW JORDAN Aghdam shot up the YouTube HQ because she was angry with the practices and policies the company has been implementing for its site users. The police said that nine Big change comes to stuco hours before the shooting, Agh- dam was practicing at a gun range. She used a 9mm Smith & By Andrew Jordan a representative for their grade. Wesson semi-automatic pistol STAFF WRITER The argument is that a person who has experience in a to open fire at YouTube. STUCO position would be better suited for the higher offices A 36-year-old man was left ith the Student Council elections just because they already know what is going on in the Council. It in critical condition, a 32-year- finished, the new officers are getting ensures more continuity in the overall Council organization. old man was in serious condi- ready for their positions next year. But However, there is some backlash to this new amendment. tion, and a 27-year old-man was one big thing is happening with STUCO Some in the student body argue that this is biased and caters to in fair condition after arriving at — the amending of their constitution. the current officers, eliminating opposition in the future. the hospital. W Many suggested this amendment after last year’s election, Both sides are adamant about their arguments, but it looks Since this incident, shoot- and the amendment is in the process of being voted into the as though the amendment is going to pass. Most likely it will ings in the U.S. have calmed constitution. The amendment states that any person running be a good thing. With the new officers in place and the new down quite a bit, particularly for a high position (President or Vice President) needs to have amendment, the council will likely be more efficient in the because it was such a stupid at least one year of Student Council experience, such as being years to come. move to put people’s lives in danger simply because she did- n’t like YouTube’s terms and conditions. Aghdam had taken her own life by the time police arrived Education funding is at stake around nation on the scene. One person said that he didn’t even realize a By Jack Jones out. West Virginia was the first. This has been a very bad However, there is also the shooting was happening. He STAFF WRITER They had a statewide teacher decade for education funding, possibility that it won’t happen. thought it was balloons popping strike from Feb. 23 to March 7. with many schools dropping If funding does not increase, until everyone began running One of the biggest conflicts At the time of this writing, around 7% of their total funding schools will need to find a way and scrambling. in the United States lately has Arizona is in the middle of a per student, sometimes more. to adapt to the budget cuts. been the debate over education similar walkout to Oklahoma’s. However, nationwide, school There is also the possibility that funding. This issue has been Colorado, North Carolina and funding has been gradually re- funding cuts could keep occur- especially relevant to those liv- Kentucky have also coordinated pairing itself since 2015. ring, which would be a huge ing in Oklahoma. protests and walkouts on a If school funding continues blow to public education. FINALS SCHEDULE Oklahoma public schools smaller scale. to improve in this manner, it is The issue of education fund- began a teacher walkout on What does all of this mean? entirely possible that it will ing is something that needs to Monday, 5/15 -———- 9-11 History 1-3 English April 2 that lasted for nine days. Everyone has heard plenty reach its previous levels, and be dealt with. Education can be They secured a $405 million about the budget-related issues education will go on as if noth- properly funded, but only if Tuesday, 5/16 —–— 9-11 For. Lang. 1-3 Mathematics raise in public school funding. concerning public schools, but ing happened. Based on recent both the schools and state gov- But Oklahoma is not the what does it mean? Will it affect events, there is a promising ernments are willing to do what Wednesday, 5/17 -—— 9-11 Science only state to experience a walk- you? Well, maybe. chance that it could happen. is necessary. THE COMMONS is published biweekly dur- SPRING 2018 STAFF VOLUME XII ISSUE 13 ing the school year by the Upper School Newspaper elective class at Riverfield Country Day School, 2433 W. 61st Street, Tulsa, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ................. James Morley FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2018 Oklahoma 74132. The staff reserves the right to edit any article or MANAGING EDITOR ............. Brenden Paul letter submitted for publication. Send all submissions to the Editor-in-Chief at NEWS EDITORS ...................... Logan Payne, Jack Bluhm [email protected]. All opinions SPORTS EDITORS .................. Noah Laubach, Brady Heinig DESIGN EDITORS................... Jake O’Shaughnessy, expressed are those of the individual writ- OPINIONS EDITORS .............. Quinten Nokes .................................................... Jack Jones, Mason Malloy ers and do not reflect positions of the staff, A&E EDITORS ......................... Connor Keesling, Kip Derryberry GRAPHICS EDITOR ............... Elise Wagoner adviser, or school administration. REVIEWS EDITORS ............... Alex Milton, Andrew Jordan COLUMNISTS .......................... Grace Clark, Grant Heinig, Online: riverfield.org/community/student-newspapers.cfm FEATURES EDITOR ............... Will Dozier, Hana Saad .................................................... Alexis Lipe, Adaira Reid THE COMMONS Friday, May 11, 2018 CONGRATS TO GRACE CLARK, WHO PLACED 8TH AT #1 SINGLES at the SPORTS State tennis tournament! Good luck to the boys this weekend ... 2 NBA’s MVP Race down to James vs. Harden By Logan Payne past years. He averaged 27 had an truly astonishing ceil- STAFF WRITER points per game, eight rebounds ing, leading his team to the No. and nine assists. These numbers 1 seed in the East, and five and The MVP candidates for are fantastic and show that he is a half games in front of the the NBA were quite impres- the most dynamic player in the best team to play in a decade, sive this year. league. He has averaged more the Golden State Warriors. Those in the race for MVP assists than most point guards Harden averaged 30 points, were LeBron James and James and more rebounds than some five rebounds and eight assists Harden. Both have played at centers. per game. peak performance this year. But James’ team is strug- Harden has dominated the Karsten and Grace have left a legacy of excellence for next year’s teams. PHOTOS BY BRADY HEINIG They have been the best play- gling hard with the loss of Kyrie competition this year. Nothing ers on their teams as well as Irving and the injuries of Kevin has gotten in his way to lead the two best players in the Love. The loss of these players his team to greatness. Don’t be league. has greatly hurt the team, alt- surprised if they go to the fi- Knutsen and clark lead LeBron James led his team hough an analyst cannot blame nals this year with one of the to the No. 4 seed this year, him for his team doing badly. hottest offensives in the varsity tennis teams extremely low compared to his James Harden, though, has league. to State tournament Major League baseball starts Riverfield tennis has had a great season this year, and both Most By James Morley the best lineup in the league. going to be open for a long time the Varsity Boys and Varsity STAFF WRITER This offseason the Yankees add- because of their dominant start- Girls teams are positioned to Valuable ed Giancarlo Stanton, the Na- ing rotation, their bullpen, and make a splash at the State tour- If you’re anything like me, tional League MVP who bat- their young core of power hit- nament this year. Both teams Players this is the best time of the year. ted .281 and hit 59 homeruns. ters. Despite losing to the Astros Baseball season is finally back. The Yankees certainly are a are led by a great group of sen- By James Morley in the World Series last year, iors. On the Boys’ side there is The Houston Astros took force to be reckoned with this they have a good chance of Karsten Knutsen, and Grace home the 2017 World Series year, but they may not be the making it back this year. Clark leads the Girls. seniors and juniors. The Varsity Trophy, and many teams are best team in the AL. The Astros, Despite barely missing the Grace Clark — Grace is in Boys team recently moved up to hungry for theirs this year.