TRIDENT
Op-Ed APRIL 2021 STAFF
EMMA JOYCE, co-editor in chief CLAIRE QIU, co-editor in chief TARA AFSHAR, online editor NIKA AYDIN, online editor MISS KARISSA JONES, advisor
Journalists
ANGELINA JIA KAT KELLER HUNTER LEJANO NAZLI NAZEMIAN KAYDENCE OSGOOD ANABELLE TAYLOR BRITTA WOLKER
COVER ART BY CLAIRE QIU in this ISSUE 4 EDITORS’ NOTE 6 NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
On Education 7 IS COLLEGE PRESTIGE REAL? BY NAZLI NAZEMIAN
8 THE AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM, BY HUNTER LEJANO
On Law and Politics 9 DEATH ROW: CRUEL AND UNUSUAL, BY ANABELLE TAYLOR
11 YOU’RE NOT POLITICAL, YOU ONLY THINK YOU ARE, BY CLAIRE QIU
On Culture in the Twenty-First Century 13 QUEERBAITING, BY TARA AFSHAR
14 97%, BY NIKA AYDIN
17 CANCEL CANCEL CULTURE?, BY BRITTA WOLKER
19 NEWS NEGATIVITY, BY KAYDENCE OSGOOD
On Arts and Lifestyle 21 ADULTING, BY EMMA JOYCE
22 NOT JUST AN IMPULSIVE DECISION, BY ANGELINA JIA
23 FEMALE STEREOTYPES IN FILM, BY KAT KELLER TO MS. BALL
WE MISS YOU.
DISCLAIMER
TRIDENT IS A STUDENT FORUM USED TO INFORM AND ENTERTAIN THE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY OF CORONA DEL MAR HIGH SCHOOL. ALL OPINIONS AIRED IN TRIDENT ARE SOLELY THE VIEWS OF THE AUTHOR. THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE BELIEFS OF CORONA DEL MAR HIGH SCHOOL STAFF OR ADMINISTRATORS. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MAY BE SUBMITTED TO ROOM 224. TRIDENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT LETTERS BASED ON CONSIDERATION OF ACCURACY, LENGTH, CLARITY, OBSCENITY, AND LIBEL.
3 EDITORS’ NOTE ince the beginning, the goal of TRIDENT has always been to report on you, the students. As journalists, it is imperative for us to learn to report the truth, with as little bias as possible. In recent current affairs, we have seen that sometimes truth is compromised for personal benefit. SHowever, it is equally important to remember that everyone has a voice. The freedoms of speech and press are what make true democracy so covetable to man. With that in mind, we decided on an unusual theme for this issue: to give us, the journalists, a chance to air our own opinions. Whether it was on news and media, modern politics, laws, sexual harassment, female stereotyping in film, queerbaiting, or owning pets, every one of our staff had a chance to present their own views, backed up by statistics and facts.
It is our hope that this issue brings to light some perspectives for you to dwell on. All of the opinions expressed in this issue are solely the opinions of the author. We did not publish this issue with the intention of forcing our opinions on anyone. We simply hope that our writing provides some food for thought, and sparks some meaningful discussion.
And, as always, we hope you enjoy this issue.
Your editors,
Emma Joyce and Claire Qiu
4 HEY SENIORS!
TRIDENT is looking for your input for our beloved senior issue! To participate, please scan the QR codes below.
Much love and thanks from the TRIDENT staff! ACT WITH EMPATHY A NOTE FROM MR. HILL
ne of the attributes that sets CdM aside from other schools is our identification of the importance of empathy. It is rare to see that specific character trait listed in a school mission statement, but we have it in ours.
I have reflected a lot on empathy this year and feel like this year has personally given me many opportunities to practice being empathetic. Hopefully it has done so for you, too. Whether it’s disagreeing with somebody’s political Oviews or having a difference of opinion about certain decisions made by others, empathy can often be a solution to the problem, not because it makes the problems go away, but because it enables us to continue to have a relationship with someone we might disagree or be frustrated with. Empathy allows us to see things the way others see them, and then preserves or even establishes the human connection between two people.
This is also why empathy is hard. Most of us struggle to look at the world through others’ eyes because our own perception is based on our experiences. The outlook and beliefs of others are based on their own experiences. The truly empathetic person, however, is able to try to do this.
One of the best ways to be empathetic is to listen. Too often, we make assumptions about others based on things they have said or done without really taking the time to understand what is behind their actions, words, or how they arrived at their decisions and actions. To be empathetic is to take the time to ask them why they think what they think or do what they do; and to not ask this with the intent to disagree with them or argue with them, but to really understand. It might require an additional question or even a willingness to restate what they have shared in your own words.
In his 1989 book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, noted author Stephen R. Covey said, “empathy is not sympathy. Sympathy is a form of agreement, a form of judgment. And it is sometimes the more appropriate emotion and response. But people often feed on sympathy. It makes them dependent. The essence of empathic listening is not that you agree with someone; it’s that you fully, deeply, understand that person, emotionally as well as intellectually.”
Taking time to truly understand someone and not with the intent of getting what you want enables you to connect with that individual. Once that connection is established, doors open, and opportunities to engage in constructive interactions are more abundant.
As we continue to navigate the shifting landscape related to COVID-19, it’s very important that we take the time to think about and better understand those we disagree with or who disagree with us. This approach can lead to one of two outcomes: either it will enable us to better understand the other’s perspective so that we know how to better respond to further our objective or we actually change our thinking because we took the time to listen to someone else’s reasoning. Either way, the outcome is positive and can move us forward in our exchanges and relationships with others.
Whether the individual is another student, a friend, a teacher, a parent, or anyone else, I urge you to take a moment to listen, observe, question, clarify, understand, and to try to connect before you respond. To quote Covey again, “People want to be understood. And whatever investment of time it takes to do that will bring much greater returns of time as you work from an accurate understanding of the problems and issues and from the high Emotional Bank Account that results when a person feels deeply understood.”
6 ! "#$$%&%!'(%)*+&%,!-)!-*!.%/$0 WHY THE US COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ARE BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR NAZLI NAZEMIAN
!er four years of AP classes, New York- has experienced a 14% drop third-tier, commuter school stuck with an late night ACT cramming, in application numbers this year and has unattractive campus. However a!er many and running from one had a 5% increase in acceptance rates. A budget cuts and having to lay o$ university extracurricular activity logical explanation for this drop can be sta$ members due to a "nancial crisis and to another, you "nally sit the test-optional or test-blind policies of its unattractive reputation, Northeastern’s behind your computer and log onto the elite institutions. Many students applied new president at the time was able to Aapplicant portal of your dream university. to more high ranking schools as opposed signi"cantly increase funding for the With shaking hands and the pounding to having a balance between reach, safety, school by simply focusing on improving its rhythm of your heart, you click on the and match colleges. #e biggest mystery ranking; an attempt that has proven to be status update that has been posted, only to in college admissions is the question successful in drawing more students. face one of the worst words in the English of why students have become more language: rejected. So, what went wrong? obsessed with the idea of attending a Now as a senior who has been exposed prestigious university? A simple answer to the realities of college admissions, I Every year college admissions become is because prestige does matter. Contrary can only give one piece of cliche -but exponentially more selective and to what many advertise, colleges have true- advice to the reader: You will end up acceptance rates drop signi"cantly. successfully created a system in which attending the college that is meant for you. Admission to colleges that were once the ranking and reputation of the school College admissions are deemed unfair, and considered safety or match schools has that one attends can be propitious to the truthfully, they most o!en are. However, now become unattainable for many. quality of opportunities that they will the admissions process will most likely Factors such as population growth and be presented with a!er graduation. For remain the same in the years to come and more accessibility to resources among those who plan on entering the career admission will become more selective all demographics play an important world a!er receiving their bachelor’s every year. #erefore, it is important to role; however, this year an incredible degree, having the name of a prestigious remember that your e$orts did not go phenomenon ranks highest among institution on top of their resume can unseen and the college that you choose to the factors of why college admissions certainly help open bigger doors. attend can help you become a successful were so selective. Due to Covid-19 adult regardless of its ranking; more restrictions, many students were unable #e U.S News started publishing their importantly, a four year university is not to register for standardized tests. #is annual college rankings list 36 years the only path to success. allowed students who once shied away ago (1985). According to their website, from applying to ‘elite” institutions to many factors go into the making of do so and try their luck. Consequently, this list with ‘average graduation rate’ according to CollegeCon"dential, a -which calculates a successful six-year website that regularly posts updates on graduation rate- and ‘social mobility’ college admissions, higher ranked colleges ranking among the top. Another such as Harvard University experienced important indicator is the category of a shocking 42% growth in applicants; ‘undergraduate academic reputation’ making their 2021 acceptance rate just that ranks colleges based on a peer shy of 3 percent; breaking yet another low assisted survey that determines the record a!er hitting 4.5% in 2019. On the reputation of academic excellence at other hand, many lower ranked colleges a school. #e truth is, many colleges that once received a signi"cant number have found a way to make it to the list of applications due to their reputation without actually improving their school. of being safety or match schools, have An example of this can be seen with resorted to excessive marketing and Northeastern University, a school that !"#$%&!"#'(%")'21&%*&+,--').$/&*.-,00$%)0 expanding of their deadlines because of was once ranked at #162 and is now with +233*%)0&"&4,.,-'&+3$$'0'5&231'6'-7&"8'-& 39."%)%)0&:&0-"/&2"%-*&%)&.2'&;-3+'**&34&+3$$'0'& the drop in their application numbers. competing with Tulane University for <'+%*%3)*&(3).27&2'-&0-'".'*.&+3)+'-)&".&.2'& For example, SUNY - State University of #40. Northeastern was once viewed as a (3(').&%*&=)<%)0&"&2"%-*./$%*.>
7 Death Row: Cruel EVERYTHING WRONG WITH DEATH ROW
ANABELLE TAYLOR
t first glance, the death inmates spend up to 23 hours a day in tens to hundred penalty may seem fair confinement, have little to no visitation of thousands and just. However, upon rights, and no access to educational or avoiding using closer inspection, one employment programs. Furthermore, it to carry out a must realize that the death prisoners don’t know which day is going lawful, though Apenalty costs more than it’s worth, is to be their last; years of anxious waiting dubious, perhaps unconstitutional under the eighth have driven some people to insanity. sentence. And amendment, and is poorly executed. Psychologists call it the “death row all to amount phenomenon,” where an astonishing to extended, In theory, the death penalty consists of a number of inmates experience a and vastly trial, sentence, and execution for those psychotic break and become clinically unnecessary, who commit heinous crimes. In reality, insane. This is one of the reasons the cruel and criminals are kept on death row for an death penalty might be considered a unusual average of 243 months (20 years) and “cruel and unusual punishment,” which circumstances usually end up dying of natural causes is illegal under the eighth ammendment. and torture. in prison. A case which involves the Scott Dozier, an inmate on death row at If you say death penalty has numerous appeals Nevada Department of Corrections, Ely you’re going whaich requires longer, more expensive State Prison, was 47 and convicted of to f****** kill someone, you should trials to hire more lawyers and experts. two murders. He was sentenced to death f****** kill them… I would rather be Furthermore, less than 17% of prisoners in 2007. After 10 years on death row he dead than do this any longer.” sentenced to death are executed. In waved his rights to appeal and announced California there are currently 700 people in court that he was ready to die. Dozier Scott was still on death row in January on death row (the largest in the country), said: 2019, 6 years after he begged for death. but only 13 have been killed since 1977. “It isn’t that I want to die. It’s just that I’d On January 5 of that year he hung In other states, like Oklahoma, there rather be dead than do this. This should himself in his cell. He spent 12 years on have been 200 death penalty trials, have been a straightforward legal action. death row. but only 15 were sentenced and only You spend millions of dollars cramming one was executed. The only difference the death penalty down my throat. You Part of the reason Scott had to wait so between sentencing someone to death spend a million on the death chamber and long was because the state of Nevada and sentencing someone didn’t have any way of killing him. In to life in prison is the 2016 every cost of the trial. A trial supplier with death penalty of FDA- costs the state at least approved $700,000 more than lethal one without, which injection is about 3.2 times drugs more expensive. in the country Once on no death row,
9 and Unusual longer sold incentive to kill victims. Finally, extra their products trials and appeals would force the victim to prisons to recall the attack numerous times, for execution. which psychologists said would Even before these severely disrupt the healing process. companies stopped selling So, even though raping a child the injection, it was still hard is a crime worthy of death, to procure. Not only that, the for technical reasons it is no injection also resulted in 75 botched longer enacted. executions which is 7.12% of the total injection induced executions. This is method of execution as unconstitutional. While it is true that some another reason why the death penalty is Under national law, it is legal to execute criminals deserve to die, this isn’t the seen as cruel and unusual punishment in someone by firing squad, hanging, lethal way to do it. Inmates shouldn’t have to 23 states. The injection works in three gas, electrocution, and lethal injection. stay on death row for decades awaiting parts. The first shot makes the person execution. These trials need to be more unconscious, the second shot makes the Lastly, not everyone that should be concise and efficient, and therefore less body paralized, and the last one stops the sentenced to death is sentenced to death. costly. Lastly, the method of execution heart. The first shot is usually the part In 1976, the Supreme Court reinstated is not humane. The lethal injection that causes problems, so the person can the death penalty for crimes other than should be altered or taken out of rotation feel their body go into paralysis and can murder. Rape, armed robbery, and altogether until scientists can find a more feel their heart slowly stop beating- this recently, the act of selling drugs that reliable substance. In conclusion, the cost is not a humane way to kill someone, are sufficient to cause overdose are all is too high, the wait is too long, and the especially because it takes about ten seen as capital crimes (although states death is too often unethical. minutes to finally die. Even though this can decide to rule some of these out.) is an incredibly inhumane way to die, it All information from Death Penalty Currently though, all prisoners on death Information Center has not been ruled unconstitutional. In row, and all those executed in modern fact, the Supreme Court has never ruled a era, were convicted of murder. If Anabelle Taylor ‘23 was on Death Row, she would choose Canes for her Some criminals who deserve to die are last meal. not executed. For example raping a child was a capital punishment until the ruling of Kennedy v. Louisiana. Kennedy v. Louisiana was a case where Patrick Kennedy was found guilty of raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter. Although Patrick Kennedy was sentenced to death in 2004 and executed in 2008, the Supreme Court decided that the death penalty could no longer be applied unless a death occured which ruled out a lot of despicable crimes. The Supreme Court cited three reasons for no longer using the death penalty for child rape. First, applying the death penalty to rapists would worsen the problem of under reporting. Second, the death penalty would increase their
10 YOU’RE NOT POLITICAL, YOU ONLY THINK YOU ARE
POLITICS AND YOUTH IN THE MODERN ERA CLAIRE QIU
believe I spent the majority of 2017 reading newspapers. dinner table. It is 2021 now, the wall was never built, and Early into the Trump presidency, it seemed like the certainly Mexico never paid for it. headlines got bigger every day. James Comey was fired; Trump bombed Syria. He pulled out of treaties, he insulted ------Angela Merkel, he admired Putin. I read the headlines in Part of the reason why Republicans and Democrats alike were so the New York Times, standing at the kitchen counter with the intoxicated with loving or hating Trump was because he created I drama. Watching him, reading the news, was like watching a newspaper as my way of procrastinating on my homework. Most of what I felt about the news could be summed up as shock or presidential episode of the Kardashians. Even those who were disgust. It did occur to me, even then, that although Trump had repulsed by him obsessed over him. With Trump, there was spent his entire campaign promising to build a wall, there did not always something to talk about: his scandalous past, his lavish seem to be any wall. lifestyle, the type of remarks he made to Angela Merkel or Kim Jong Un. Back then, I was still young and tender and capable of feeling shock. I had just turned thirteen in June of 2016, a prestigious Ironically, it was this manipulative political strategy of always leap from tween to true teen that made me feel worldly enough to being in the spotlight that kept his devoted followers on a start caring about the world. I raged to myself about the stupidity string - and kept everyone infatuated by politics. I read Trump’s of Trump and his supporters. It didn’t occur to me that I was Wikipedia page, and Melania’s and Ivanka’s too. I read articles merely parroting what my parents often said about him at the about Mitch McConnell, and I found out that he was married to
11 Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary that, like the maternal I tracked the administration’s moves diligently, but eventually, side of my family, came from Taiwan. I gave up, as did the rest of the country. There would be no sex scandals or shaking hands with dictators in this administration. Eventually, though, somewhere between Trump’s second and Everything was progressing swimmingly, but boringly. Biden third years as president, I lost interest. By that time, I was sick was rejoining alliances. He was wearing his mask. He was of the political stage. I stopped reading newspapers. I felt, with denouncing racism and white supremacy. He was working to get a very acute, adult sense of exhaustion, that nothing could the economy back; he was delivering vaccines. shock me anymore. The year 2020 arrived, and, confined by the pandemic, I researched the backgrounds of the dwindling Meanwhile, my grandparents, both sets, got their vaccines, both Democratic candidates. I took a half-hearted interest in Pete shots. I got my first A on an APUSH essay. I failed my driving Buttigieg and Andrew Yang. Eventually Joe Biden secured test twice before getting my license, once for driving too fast the nomination. I perked up when he announced Harris as his around an elementary school, once for neglecting to look both running mate. Between a couple of friends, we adored Harris, ways before entering an intersection. At a mock cross country not because we truly understood her policies, or, for that matter, meet one chilly February morning, I nearly fainted on the even really cared that maybe her policies were too liberal for course. A visit to the doctor and then the blood lab found that I my moderate-conservative leanings, or too conservative for my was anemic. I started taking iron supplements and working out friends’ Socialist-liberal leanings. Mostly we were captivated by less, trading seven mile runs for four mile runs. The same cross her obvious intelligence, her poise, her success, and the barriers country teammate that had found my passion for the election she would break as a Black, Asian American woman. All of us baffling offered, jokingly, to melt the iron fence for me to eat. In aspired – and still aspire – to everything she represents. the throes of the election drama, I often wrote opinion articles for the High School Insider section of the Los Angeles Times, where On election night, I checked the polls, which all predicted a I would quote Plato and Jefferson and vent about how Trump Biden victory. Being in a cynical mood, I scrawled in my diary represented a shattering of society and moral principles. Swept that I would not be surprised if Trump was victorious and the by the general emotion and tension pervading the country, I had country went to hell. Earlier that day, at cross country practice, to have my say, too, and I felt like I couldn’t keep up. Tweets, I had finished my run, checked the time, and expressed aloud headlines, and political winds flew in every direction, and I was the wish that Pennsylvania would, in a burst of state pride, elect in the middle of the storm. In a way, I helped perpetuate that. Biden. Beside me, laying on the grass, someone turned his head, I was one of the gullible, engulfed by the drama, blowing up arrested, perhaps, by my passion. “Why do you care so much?” the headlines in my small little world the way Trump, ever the he asked, his tone not accusing or demeaning or bullying, merely politician, wanted all of America to do. curious. It was the same tone I would have employed to ask a waiter where the restaurant bathroom was. I don’t remember what When the winds died down, and normal, boring political answer I made, I likely said something serious and grave, because processes resumed, I had nothing to say. I didn’t know what to I felt suddenly so acutely despondent and hopeless. say. I have not written an article for the LA Times since January.
As it happened, my seemingly directionless passion would have to sustain itself for the next three days. By Thursday, John King Somewhere, I think there are young people who have thought with his magic map at CNN became my nine-year-old brother’s about the world seriously and have already determined what they hero. On Saturday morning, when the election was called, I can do to make it better. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough of was torn between wanting to cry and being confused as to why, them. And that includes me, too. Most of us who love to criticize exactly, I felt so overcome. Certainly, I did not know what Biden only criticize because we don’t really understand what’s going planned to do in office, but I knew that with him, there would on. If we did, we would fix it. I started parroting whatever my be less scandal and less drama, but would a new president really parents said about politics, and sometimes I think I am still make my life any different? mirroring them. I have not yet learned to think for myself.
It hasn’t. January 6th brought the Capitol Hill riot. I felt a vague Although, perhaps this essay will be a starting point. disgust towards the rioters and all those who were indirectly, whether by making excuses for the rioters or trying to shield the president from blame, supporting the riot and its cause. Within me there was an unidentifiable sense of something wrong and out of place with the world. On Inauguration Day, I went into Claire Qiu ‘22 would make a very bad politician. raptures over Amanda Gorman. Harris was sworn in, then Biden. Later that night, as my family gathered around the TV to watch Gorman’s interview with Anderson Cooper, followed by Tom Hanks’s “Celebrating America,” I read “The Hill We Climb” over and over again, absorbing the words, as if literary osmosis would make me brave enough to be the light. Over the next few days,
12 QUEERBAITING Progress or Exploitation? TARA AFSHAR magine if we lived in a world void believe she is using as a marketing tool This marketing tool is toxic and harmful. of advertisements. How would to reach out to her fans from multiple It is no longer just “targeting the gay our economy survive? From its demographics, especially the LGBTQIA+ dollar”, but creating extremely damaging inception, advertisements have community. Grande got immediate representation of the LGBTQIA+ been marketing tools to drive our backlash for exploiting the gay culture community. Since queerbaiting is derived Ieconomy by swaying the consumers into as a tactic to increase her album sales from the observations of non-queer buying their products and increasing their and viewership. This means of cheap populace, representation of LGBTQIA+ sales. Today, corporations use celebrities marketing tool was recently used by Rita in media often stems from stereotypes that and athletes to endorse their products in Ora, where she described relationships generalizes an entire community. These order to capitalize on their fanbase. Lately, between women in her song Girls. notions are often very inaccurate and can many stars and athletes have been accused Twitter was exploding until she publicly lead to homogenizing these detrimental of using their VIP status to gain popularity apoligized profusely on their platform, and portrayals in media. by queerbaiting, and many critics are officially came out as bisexual. questioning whether this is a sign of Using queerbaiting as a vile marketing progress or exploitation. Outside of the entertainment indus ploy might mask itself as showing try, queerbaiting is used as a marketing solidarity and inclusivity, but in reality the Queerbaiting became mainstream in tool by companies feigning solidarity LGBTQIA+ community is represented early 2010. It is described as a calculated and representation for the LGBTQIA+ only to drive market sales. How can we as marketing strategy to attract an audience community through their advertising a society not find this offensive? Rolling of multiple demographics, whilst being campaigns to garner their loyalty and out the rainbow colored merchandise in mindful of not offending the conservative consumer sales. CdM Sophomore Max retail stores just in time for the month of audience, and simultaneously signalling Fornier described queerbaiting as “when June to increase sales is not okay! We to the LGBTQIA+ community that you see same-sex characters in forms of are a free country and we must exercise you want their support as well. It is media have interactions that can be viewed our rights and advocate for our freedom. a marketing technique used to attract as romantic relations, but never do. It’s Although representation and inclusivity the LGBTQIA+ audience by hinting at like teasing the potential relationship is a goal and decree we are working on as same sex relationships and LGBTQIA+ so fans can hope, but never actually a nation, we must adhere to using art as a representation, where in actuality there is giving it”. Many businesses use gauche means to inspire, empower, comfort, and no representation. Queerbaiting is often queerbaiting tactics during the month educate the masses, instead of capitalizing seen in films, music videos, television of June, known as the gay pride month. on the on the support of LGBTQIA+ series, as well as celebrities who purposely Many corporations simply use a gay pride community for financial gains. market themselves as sexually ambiguous flag in their advertisements, using this through their body of work, or personal tactic to show their solidarity with the statements. LGBTQIA+ community. Most, but not all of these companies just jump on the Ariana Grande was accused of June gay pride bandwagon to increase queerbaiting in her song called Monopoly, their sales. The rest of the year they do not suggesting she might be bisexual. There show their support to this community that is a particular verse in her song that they are so feverishly seeking to gain as says “women and men”, which some customers.
Tara Afshar '22 hopes that companies stop using queerbaiting to take advantage of entire communities.
13 97% Sexual Harassment and Assault, Why Men Rape, Myths and Facts, and the Wise Words of Tupac NIKA AYDIN or those who do not know In my opinion, 97% is an extremely woman’s fault if a boy is looking at yet, 97% is the percentage of high number. If you think about it for her arms or collarbone? It’s not; no 1,089 18-24-year-old women a moment, almost an entire gender female has control over Boys should be in the UK that were polled has experienced sexual harassment. expected to contain themselves. Society and said they have been It is not that complicated. Women should not allow room for their lack of sexually harassed. do not feel safe. We need to fix this. self-control. Maybe the school should F Moms should not have to teach their teach the boys common decency Here are the facts: nearly 1 in every daughters to protect themselves, sons instead of telling women what they can 5 women have been raped, 97% of should be educated on how to treat a and can’t wear. women have been sexually harassed, woman. Why is it that my mom has 70% of the 97% have experienced to tell me, if you are going to a party, Another thing is that it has become sexual harassment in public, almost always grab a closed can, never a cup second nature to some women to walk 9 in 10 women feel unsafe in public with no top? When I asked why she with a key between their fingers or be spaces, every 73 seconds another said because if you leave your cup on ready to run or punch at a second’s American is sexually assaulted, 42% the table someone could put something notice. Some women have even of women who have been raped were in it. Why does she have to tell me taken self-defense classes to protect raped before the age of 18, 79.6% have to walk in a group or be with other themselves. Doing these things and been raped before the age of 25, only females at night? Why does she tell me knowing you could fight back gives 4% of women said they reported the to look around and make sure I am momentary comfort, but if you are incidents of harassment to an official safe? Why do I feel the need to be in put in a real position, could you act organization, 45% of women said they constant fear something bad is going to on it? Why is it that we need so much didn’t believe reporting would help happen? I shouldn’t have to be looking training, so many skills, in order to change anything, and 51.1% of female around and fearing that I am unsafe, walk down the street and feel safe? victims of rape reported being raped by that any moment I could be in danger. The problem is that when women are an intimate partner, and 40.8% by an My mom has to educate me on how to sexually harassed or assaulted, they acquaintance. Only 3% of 18-24 year protect myself from boys, and that is are blamed. It somehow becomes their old women have never experienced depressing. fault, because society believes we must sexual harassment. All of these facts make excuses for men who cannot were found from the National Sexual So many things are put in place to control themselves, instead of teaching Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), prevent a boy from making a mistake. them to respect women. In no way the APPG for UN Women, and The dress code; tank tops are just shirts was it the woman’s fault. No one raised Mashable SE Asia. with no sleeves. I have not heard a their hand and asked to be harassed or legitimate reason why females can’t assaulted. You cannot physically or mentally just wear tank tops to school. Just think snap back the next day and expect for a moment...what could the reason There is a stigma around people who everything will be normal. Being raped be. The reason that I was told by get sexually harassed. People think can scar you. From what I have read, teachers is that a woman’s shoulders they are asking to get raped with their the healing process can take a couple of and chest distract the boys in the class. clothes or their attitude. Just because months to the rest of your life. That makes zero sense. How is it the a woman wants to wear a skirt or
14 a dress, that does not mean she is inappropriate sexual remarks or themselves by claiming the “asking for it.” Children are raped physical advances.” For example: being assault was a drunken mistake or in their nightgowns and pajamas. catcalled, being stared at continuously, miscommunication. But research Teenagers are raped in their jeans and unwelcome touching, body rubbing, shows that the vast majority of sweatshirts. Women are raped in their or groping, in-person comments or everyday wear. It is clearly not about jokes, unwelcome sexual advances date rapists are repeat offenders. the clothes, just the lack of control for or requests for sexual favors, being These men target vulnerable a male. Furthermore, when a woman physically followed, indecent exposure, people and often ply them with is fighting back that does not mean she online comments or jokes, sharing alcohol in order to rape them. is playfighting and starts flirting, again of suggestive or indecent content Myth: It’s not rape if you’ve had that does not mean she is asking to get online or in-person, being forced sex with the person before. raped. into participating in sexual behavior and having images taken and/or Fact: Just because you’ve I want to mention Sarah Everard shared without your consent. Sexual previously consented to sex because she was walking home, assault is any type of sexual activity with someone doesn’t give them modestly dressed and she was still or contact that you do not consent to. perpetual rights to your body. If kidnapped. She was wearing a sweater, Sexual assault can happen through your spouse, boyfriend, or lover a bright green raincoat, patterned physical force or threats of force or if forces sex against your will, it’s leggings, a mask, running shoes, and the attacker gave the victim drugs or rape. a beanie with a pompom on the top. alcohol as part of the assault. Sexual Sarah was walking home alone from assault includes rape and sexual I was watching a tik tok and one of dinner at her friend’s house. She was coercion. My question is “what poses the videos I saw was a woman asking on the phone with her boyfriend for someone to do or say these things?” how females would feel if males had a about 15 minutes and spoke to him 6 pm curfew and the comment section until 9:27. She was last seen on a Here are some myths and facts from of this video was flooded with phrases doorbell camera at 9:30. Exactly a week HelpGuide: like “I would so much safer”, I wouldn’t after she was last seen, human remains be scared to walk alone”, and “this is a were found in a builder’s bag that Myth: If you didn’t fight back, you great idea.” This made me think about had been left in a town 50 miles away must not have thought it was that it; it still baffles me that women are from where she was last seen. Dental bad. scared to walk alone. I too am scared to records confirmed that it was her. walk alone. A couple of days a week in Wayne Couzens is the person charged Fact: During a sexual assault, it’s summer I would walk about 4-6 miles with her kidnapping and murder. He extremely common to freeze. to my friend’s house and back and I is a high ranking officer being charged Your brain and body shut down in unconsciously had my key in hand, not with her kidnapping and murder. A shock, making it difficult to move, in my pocket, but in hand, ready to jab male kidnapped her at night as she was speak, or think. at a moments notice; I was ready in walking alone modestly dressed. She Myth: People who are raped “ask case someone would come at me. did nothing wrong, yet she was still for it” by the way they dress or act. kidnapped. Sometimes the reason for I saw another tik tok and it was the rape is for the male to feel dominated Fact: Rape is a crime of exact opposite of making women feel or in power. Couzens is a male with opportunity. Studies show that comfortable. It was just a boy’s face an occupation in power and he abused rapists choose victims based on and the text read, “Only 3% left.” He this power to their vulnerability, not on how is referring to the 97% harassment sexy they appear or how flirtatious rate and how there was only 3% of There is a difference between sexual they are. women left to harass. This is sexism. harassment and sexual assault. The Myth: Date rape is often a Another video similar to this was a girl Oxford dictionary defines sexual trying to bring awareness to this and harassment as “behavior characterized misunderstanding. she posted a screenshot of a Snapchat by the making of unwelcome and Fact: Date rapists often defend story of two boys taking a mirror selfie
15 with a caption saying “just a couple Why do men rape? The New York our game from a woman of men tryna turn that 97% to 100%.” Academy of Sciences feature on Why I wonder why we take from our Again, what poses someone to do Men Rape was written by Randy women this? It frustrates me so much. How Thornhill and Craig T. Palmer. They Why we rape our women, do we can someone be so mean, rude, and answered the question by saying, extremely dumb all at the same time? “many social theorists view rape not hate our women? They could have posted it as a joke, but only as an ugly crime but as a symptom I think it’s time to kill for our even that is so disrespectful. There was of an unhealthy society, in which men women a video of a woman walking around fear and disrespect women. In 1975 Time to heal our women, be real New York City all day and everywhere the feminist writer Susan Brownmiller to our women she went a boy would catcall her, asserted that rape is motivated not And if we don’t we’ll have a race of follow her, or approach her. This is not by lust but by the urge to control and babies right. Everywhere she went someone dominate. In the twenty-five years would do or say something that was since, Brownmiller’s view has become That will hate the ladies, that completely inappropriate. Women are mainstream. All men feel sexual make the babies scared and uncomfortable. Boys need desire, the theory goes, but not all men And since a man can’t make one to be smarter and treat women better. rape. Rape is viewed as an unnatural He has no right to tell a woman behavior that has nothing to do with when and where to create one Another major problem is males in sex, and one that has no corollary So will the real men get up power. Politicians are the perfect in the animal world. Undoubtedly, example; just because someone has individual rapists may have a variety of I know you’re fed up ladies, but been given a job in power doesn’t motivations. A man may rape because, keep your head up” mean they can use that power in their for instance, he wants to impress Some facts and quotes were edited for personal life. So many politicians his friends by losing his virginity, or clarity. have faced sexual assault and sexual because he wants to avenge himself harassment allegations and have had against a woman who has spurned Nika Aydin‘23 hopes to live in a world to address their mistakes. How do him. But social scientists have not where she will never have to explain to so many male politicians have these convincingly demonstrated that rapists her daughter what sexual harassment allegations? What is in the air in these are not at least partly motivated by and assault are. government offices? I think when sexual desire as well. Indeed, how someone is given a job in power and could a rape take place at all without has a job where they are able to tell sexual motivation on the part of the people what to do, they implement that rapist? Isn’t sexual arousal of the rapist commanding aspect into their personal the one common factor in all rapes, lives. I think the reason why in so many including date rapes, rapes of children, movies and tv shows the politicians rapes of women under anesthetic, and have scandals or hire prostitutes is even gang rapes committed by soldiers because it is based on reality. I think during war?” The main parts that I this correlates to why politicians have took from this article were that some been accused of so many sexual assault males crave dominance and want to and harassment allegations. They feel be in control and that all rapists rape like they have the power and protection because they are sexually aroused. to do it and get away with it until someone speaks up. The males in these Tupac said it best: positions of power need to face their consequences. “And since we all came from a woman Got our name from a woman and
16 CANCEL CANCEL CULTURE? APPROACHING CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS BRITTA WOLKER
s modern society becomes my thoughts on “Should a Murderer It isn’t just comments and jokes that more mindful of the content be Murdered.” With some thoughtful can be derogatory, but moreover the presented within television thinking, and vigorous scribbling on my choices we make; will you choose to programs, news articles, videos, sticky-note, I was brave enough to unmute avoid associating yourself with a group Aand movies to respect culture, race, gender, myself. In short, I believe that some people of people because of an ill personality...or religion, appearance, debate as to whether who have done so much harm simply do because of appearance? Walking through or not something can be interpreted to not deserve to exist on this planet. When the halls of Privilegio Del Mar, what could be the slightest bit offensive is enough a topic like this is often brought up, we I possibly lose from talking to someone for an internet scandal to circulate and usually turn to reason with the killer rather new in order for them to feel comfortable rid, or what’s called “cancel” a person than the victims. Cancel Culture is out of in who they are, despite their hair or their from society. By all means, any form of question when it comes to a serious topic, clothes. The journey towards achieving discrimination is completely unacceptable; there are times when all that matters is a completely open, respectful, and anti- but for the times when we over-analyze what will ultimately serve justice, and not whatever mindset is both difficult and something unintentionally offensive, just satisfy a petty internet feud. simple. It starts with a little something who is at greater fault for bad judgement? called thinking before acting; was doing or My mother always told me that in her However, when caution crosses the line of saying that the right choice, and what can I generation, the rules were looser, no consistently finding wrong in something do to be better? cameras or internet to track your every completely innocent, it distracts us move. Something you said thirty years from shedding light on movements In conclusion, is cancel culture all that ago that was offensive is less likely to like #StopAsianhate, when deciding if bad? No. What I would advise people resurface today. With the extreme caution President Biden did in fact swear in his (and myself because I’m human too) is we exercise today, is the biggest issue latest press conference. Common sense to focus on proper reeducation to avoid our blatant unforgiveness and persistent is unfortunately not as common as it an unfortunate outcome of ignorance to surveillance, or is it completely valid and should be. An antidote to cure stupidity be repeated, rather than the heavy gossip acceptable to be rigid and stern about unfortunately does not exist, but a book culture urging you to join the debate on what is acceptable in 2021, with no mercy called “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram whether or no Charli D’amelio deserves for second chances? As always, I see both X. Kendi does. In short, it stresses the her Dunkin sponsorship. Some people sides. importance of not only being a non-racist deserve to be seriously cancelled, but we (or sexist, homophobe, etc.) but rather can all learn a thing or two from becoming It’s always difficult to know the whole an antiracist, presenting a self-critical better through accepting our mistakes, truth. I sit here thinking about all the approach to discuss deeply-seeded rather than dwindling on the hottest Youtube drama I could use as examples: thinking that can go on to cause great headlines to fend off boredom. David Dobrik and his sexual misconduct destruction. (Exhibit A: the folks involved allegations, Olivia Jade and her USC in Capitol storming; having gone out of
admittance scandal, Ellen DeGeneres their way to bring along with them their culture over discussing cancel drama. Britta Wolker ‘23 prefers 80s fashion guilty of being deemed a not-so-generous- collection of Proud Boys merchandise cold-hearted witch. My question is, why and semi-automatic rifles). The book talks do people choose to risk the destruction of about how we hold back from our own their families, job, and future endeavors all personal development when we fail to for the price of a single mistake? Why is it realize our own racist ideals, and instead that rational thinking does not exist when focus on accommodating the definition an individual expresses their honest and of ‘racist’ to blame it on others to avoid controversial opinion? imposing the question on ourselves. Deeply-seeded thinking within racist I don’t believe that second chances should ideals for example, hinders us from always exist. In fact, just a couple months moving forward in what we consider to be ago at a Speech & Debate club meeting the modern 21st century, and not the era I was very passionate about expressing of racial segregation in the 60s. 17 DRIVE IN NEW 2013-2019 HYUNDAI VEHICLES OVER 200 GOOGLE/YELP REVIEWS
OVER 20,000.00 STUDENTS GRADUATED WHY NEGATIVE NEWS IS SO COMPELLING AND DANGEROUS
KAYDENCE OSGOOD
ews organizations, on why we don’t whether it’s through like to read positive social media, online stories.Though, I publications, or an did find that there is actual newspaper, a direct correlation areN the only way we find out what between anxiety is happening in the world. These and depression organizations mostly report negative to surrounding stories. In a recent study, “Why yourself with negative news. COVID News in America is so According to an article published by Negative,” done by Bruce Sacerdote Psychology Today written by Austin and Ranjan Sehgal of Dartmouth Pearlmutter M.D., there are three College and Molly Cook of Brown ways negative news messes with our University, here it was proven that thinking. The first way is negativity “91 percent of the U.S. stories are bias, “Negativity bias refers to the classified as negative whereas 54 fact that humans focus on negative percent of the non-U.S. stories are events, information, or emotions classified as negative.” Even though more than their positive counterparts. COVID is such a devastating topic, In more dangerous times, this bias other countries were still able to find a may have provided an evolutionary way to make almost half of their news benefit...but in the modern world, our positive, so why can’t America do the preference for the negative has been same thing? harnessed to keep our attention.” The second way negative news messes According to Kinder World, studies with our thinking, is availability bias. show that headlines that contain the “Availability bias is the tendency for words “bad”, “worst”, and “never” people to overestimate the importance draw in 30 percent more readers of the examples that immediately than other headlines. A newspaper come to mind when considering a in Russia, The City Reporter, did a topic...so if you just watched a news social experiment and only published report on local robberies, and then positive news for a whole day. On were asked about problems in your that day they lost 66 percent of their town, you might say that robberies readers. There is an undeniable fact were a major issue, even if they that we want to read more about were, in general, very uncommon.” bad news than any other type. This This is something I catch myself and could stem from our internal instinct others around me doing all the time. to know about dangers around us or The third way is confirmation bias, it could be the mysterious feeling “Confirmation bias is the idea that we get when reading about a crime. we will actively seek out, remember, There are a number of reasons why and favor information that confirms we enjoy reading and hearing about something we already believe. If tragedies, but why don’t we prefer you have decided that robberies positive news? are common in your hometown, confirmation iasb makes it more likely When researching I didn’t find much for you to latch onto the data that NEWS NEGATIVITY NEWS
19 supports this belief. Your brain will negative events from a positive selectively focus on the information perspective). Maybe by doing this, that helps your preexisting theory, we can give news organizations a ignoring conflicting facts.” reason to report on happier topics Personally, I don’t watch or read and we can help lower the rising about the news very often because it anxiety and depression rates. does make me depressed. It makes me fearful of the world because Kaydence when crime happens the news only Osgood ‘24 showcases all the people affected gets irritated by the crime, not all the people who when the weren’t impacted at all. news is on and I understand that we need to know complains what is happening and I understand until it is that showcasing the people turned off or unaffected by the crime wouldn’t just leaves make sense, so instead there should the room be a better balance between negative to watch and positive news stories. We need something to hear about the tragedies, but we else. also need to hear about the triumphs. The only way that can happen is if we, as a society, stop focusing on the negative parts of life. News organizations aren’t going to give us more positive news if it hurts their company, so the only way to help with the mental health issues that stem from negative news is to start looking for positivity. I have caught myself diving deep into negative news and am trying to find more articles on things that make me happy (ex. movies I like, good acts done by others, reading about
Images courtesy of: Newspaper strip behind title: @cloudy-aesthetic on PicsArt Paint strips: @imranndemir on PicsArt Girl holding newspaper: @spencerbazar on PicsArt Picture of shoe: Kaydence Osgood’s iPhone, edited on PicsArt Picture of Kaydence Osgood (author): Landon Fichtner, edited on PicsArt Frame around picture of shoe and Kaydence: @ bts_ecstaetic
20 Adulting WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REALLY BECOME AN ADULT?
EMMA JOYCE
ndependence at the age of 18 emotionally it is still scary and creates a never said anything. depends heavily on types of control. feeling of nervousness. However, people In the US, you are legally considered live much longer than 25 so there is plenty I do like the idea of being fully an adult at 18. is entitles you to of time to gure out all of these di erent independent from my parents, as much as make your own decisions about areas of life. I love them, but know that it is not entirely your health, job, schooling, etc. At the realistic. I understand that they pay for Isame time there are things put in place that Other than the legal aspects of turning 18, everything in my life, and they should have allow your parents to step in and help, and I personally think being an 18 year old is a say in a lot of the important decisions I that will allow them to have some control not necessarily a rite of passage into full have to make. if you or they want. independence. While it is a big change in overall responsibility, most 18 year olds For example, if you attend university are still living with their parents, as well as there is a document called FERPA that relying on them for most of their nancial you must sign an exemption if you want responsibilities. My thoughts are that as your parents to be able to see your grades, long as parents are still paying for most communicate with the school about health things, they still get to have a say in their situations, nancial matters, etc. If you children’s choices, behavior, and freedoms. don’t sign the document and leave it as is, However, they de nitely need to loosen the your parents don’t have the right to see reigns a little. your grades, health records, or nances. Being aged 18–26 is a confusing time since Something that recently became relevant the law goes into these weird gray zones for me personally, and I know for many about independence, being a dependent other kids my age, is the app Life 360. Life and whatnot. is whole age group could 360 is an app that gets downloaded by have one person being married with kids teenagers as well as their parents, and it is and 100% totally independent at 24 while designed so that families can know each meanwhile someone could still be living at other’s whereabouts at all times. It also home and at the mercy of everything and has other fun features such as speeding anything their parents do. No other age noti cations, where parents can see exactly group in adult life is this varied in living how fast their kids are driving and what situations. Biologically most people’s brains the speed limit is in that location. I hated aren’t nished forming until they are 25 so everything about Life 360. Not that I was this is why o entimes people that might out and about all the time and up to no be really mature in some areas of their life good, but I really disliked the fact that and immature for other parts (having kids, the small amount of privacy I had felt like nances, relationships, time management). it was taken away from me. I also hated Emma Joyce '21 actually has a great It’s okay to be in either one of these groups. getting text messages from my mom to relationship with her parents, despite the I think that almost nobody has all of this slow down while I was driving and she fact that she wrote about this topic. gured out by 25, especially because that’s was sitting at home. So, once I turned 18, I usually the time people have recently impulsively deleted the app without saying graduated from college and are new to that anything. And either my parents didn’t way of life. Even if someone feels matured, notice or they just didn’t care because they
21 Not Just an Impulsive Decision WHY OWNING ANIMALS WITH LONG LIFESPANS SHOULD BE RESTRICTED ANGELINA JIA
he classic debate between As of 2019, the UN estimated the average will, a person’s pet can end up at a shelter owning a cat or a dog is world life expectancy for humans to be and be put up for adoption. This does not familiar to many, but what about 72.6 years of age. This means that guarantee the adoption of the pet, nor about stepping outside the someone who is 42 years old or above does it guarantee a good home in case basic options to own a parrot could potentially die before their pet the pet is adopted. In addition, even if Tor turtle? Large parrots including macaws, if they decided to get one with a long the animal ends up with family members, cockatoos, and African grey parrots, as lifespan at that stage in their life. When it could become a burden on the family well as painted and slider turtles all seem an owner dies, the animal’s emotional members to take care of. They would have like great pet options until their extensive response must be considered. While turtles to assume all financial responsibility, as lifespan is considered. These species can and tortoises do not get extremely attached well as pet maintenance in general like live 30 plus years, and it is unjust to allow to their owner, parrots can. Parrot behavior feeding and cleaning. In order to prevent them to be the casualty of someone’s consultant from berylsbirds.com Bee some of the negative consequences an impulsive decision. People should not says that after their owner passes away, owner’s death can have on their pet, action buy or adopt a pet until they are sure they “Some parrots will become introverted, should be taken beforehand that requires have the means to care for it and have not wanting to eat, not wanting to talk, the owner to provide the name and details considered how long the pet will be in not wanting to play, not wanting to come of a person who consents to and is capable their life. out of the cage. . .Some parrots will go of caring for the pet in the event of the almost wild, biting people passing the owner’s death. In this case, a written plan Before owning a pet, the cost has to cage, lunging at people passing the cage, will always be available and the person be considered. While many only look screaming a lot of the time”. These birds who will step into the role will be better at the initial cost of buying the animal can go through emotional trauma when prepared and aware of the possibility. and purchasing necessary parts to its their owner is no longer around, so by enclosure, upkeep is the most expensive choosing to own a large parrot species, While there are some restrictions on part. The cost of caring for the examples especially later in life, the bird is at risk owning pets like tortoises and large listed ranges from around $500, according of having a mental health crisis. Although parrots, the restrictions, such as the to costevaluation.com for turtles, to these things don’t always happen, they are application for ownership of a desert $1,300 a year, according to parakeethome. still serious possibilities that need to be tortoise in CA, are mainly in place to com for large parrots —assuming proper considered. If unfortunately, the bird were prevent illegal sales, breeding, and release care is being taken. This means that if the to have an episode, there are steps that into the wild. More action must be taken pet lives for 30 years—which is short for can be taken. Vets can prescribe Prozac, to ensure that animals with extensive some of the large bird species—the owner which is an antidepressant lifespans are only taken in by people would be investing between $15,000 to for birds commonly used who have a high chance $39,000 depending on the specific animal in the US and England, and of being able to provide and, possibly more if it needs special the bird can heal with time, a good quality of life for medical attention. Life is unpredictable attention, and consistency their pet during their life. and being able to consistently care for in routine. Avoiding this By buying or adopting an an animal and cover the costs is not a situation benefits all parties animal, a person is taking guarantee. Before someone obtains an involved since the family on the responsibility of animal with a long lifespan, a financial caring for that animal for doesn’t need to worry about evaluation should be made to ensure its entire life, including the a depressed bird, and the they have a strong chance of being able ones that live long lives bird doesn’t need to be at to continue providing for their pet for risk of depression. its lifetime. Someone enduring financial Angelina Jia ‘22 is an hardship shouldn’t have to stress over Another issue with the example of someone who a pet, and the pet shouldn’t have to be potential death of the owner didn’t consider the future mistreated for something it has no control is who the animal goes to. Without proper enough when she owned her first horse over. action taken before death, such as writing and panicked(like, a lot) when she had to who the pet will be passed on to in their figure out how to retire her.
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