SECTION c FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 SUMMIT HIGH SCHOOL features VOL 15, ISSUE 4 thePINNACLE STAND UPMore than 100 people rally in downtown Bend, Ore. to protest the death of LaVoy Finicum, an occupier at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of Jarod Opperman, The Bulletin grace boyle Similar to the University of Missouri protest, News Editor at Yale University, students were offended by the of college students seek to increase Where does the line between freedom of speech fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) for racist 38% the diversity of professors. and overly coddled minds exist? Are there unsaid actions over Halloween. SAE turned down Black rules we must abide by to remain lawful and loyal women trying to enter their Halloween party and to our country? College students attend school to said “White girls only.” learn all aspects of everyday life without bias and Yale student, Neema Githere, was outraged simply to increase exposure to new culture. A fresh and took action by creating an event on Facebook. of college students want training to topic throughout the U.S. regards college students The page shared the incident at the SAE fraternity diversify faculty member beliefs. as sensitive, sheltered children. party which went viral on social media. 35% Student protests around the country, primarily “I’d just like to take a moment to give a shoutout at University of Missouri and Yale, expose how to the member of Yale’s SAE chapter who turned students respond to change. Face to face with away a group of girls from their party last night, racism, sexism and other discriminations that may explaining that admittance was on a ‘White-Girls- or may not have been present in their high schools, Only’ basis; and a belated shoutout to the SAE of college students desire funding for college students have recently began peaceful member who turned me and my friends away for 25% cultural centers on campus. protests to encourage change. the same reason last year. God Bless the USA,” “I don’t think college students are too sensitive. Githere said. As long as laws are obeyed, student protesting Several teachers at Yale did not, however, is completely legal. These students believe they feel there was an issue. Some have suggested can make an impact, so let them do so,” said the nationwide trend currently is the alleged sophomore Aiden Haley. “Personally if I were to “Coddling of the American Mind,” as written protest, it would be to help prevent the occurrence in the Atlantic by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan of domestic violence.” Haidt. Basically, the theory states that the new A number of college students attended protests generations of students are far too sensitive and across the country regarding Ferguson, Mo., for cannot “take a joke.” Likewise, that students waste the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed Black too much energy on superfluous protesting. man shot by a White police officer. On campus at Yale professor Erika Christakis wrote a letter Mizzou, students were outraged due to the fact 42% to the students in response to their protesting. that, following the incident in Ferguson, racial “Is there no room anymore for a child or young of Summit tensions were not eased by the administration. person to be a little bit obnoxious—a little bit students witness The student body president, Payton Head, said inappropriate or provocative or, yes, offensive?” he was walking on campus when several students asked Christakis. 700 students from Yale signed an discrimination shouted racial slurs at him. Similarly, on campus at open letter in protest of the professor’s response. regarding gender, Mizzou, a few students were play-practicing when An outrage erupted from Christakis’s response; socioeconomics a White man walked by while yelling racist terms students set out to have her fired, along with her at the students. husband, who also teaches at Yale. Controversies or race at school. The last straw for these students was when regarding free speech were tossed around a swastika was created out of feces on a dorm at throughout the country as well. President of Yale Mizzou. Widespread campus protests ensued. Peter Salovey responded by promising to fund In the extreme case at Mizzou in Nov. 2015, over cultural centers and hire four diverse faculty 17% 76% thirty football players refused to play until the members, as requested by the student protesters. of Summit of Summit president of the school was fired. A student named “I fully support students taking charge for what students feel students claim Jonathan Butler persisted through a week long they believe in. For me, gender inequality is an hunger strike to prove his passion for equality. issue I feel strongly about,” senior Merritt Allen they have been they would President Tim Wolfe wrote a letter and spoke out said. “Although I am for change, I also have a fear personally protest an on the swastika incident occurring at the school. that students could have all of the power which discriminated issue they feel “Racism exists at MU. I want to make it clear sounds dangerous. It’s a tough situation.” that we do not tolerate racism and prejudice on Student protesting around the country against at school. strongly about. our campus. We will identify this individual from encouraged the faculty of colleges to change last night, and this person will be disciplined,” staff, curriculum and treatment in schools. And Wolfe said. Shortly following the protests, Wolfe many of these peaceful protests have achieved YOUR VOICE resigned and Butler ended the strike. accomplishments likely to live on nationwide. 500 students polled brown amherst siena cincinnati oberlin Following a police incident, the The students arranged to vote Siena College students protested An unarmed black man was A petition was created by the students organized a blackout and propose a new mascot gender inequality seen in an shot and killed by a University students of Oberlin College in on the green in which they to the board of trustees. Lord advertisement by Teakwood of Cincinnati police officer. In order to change the menu at the wore black and spoke into a Jeff, the mascot, was said to using the phrase “your wife response, the students formed cafeteria. A complaint is that microphone about times they have given Native Americans wants me,” next to the picture of the “Irate 8” and demanding there is not enough “American have been discriminated against. smallpox-infected blankets. a kitchen. progressive curriculum change. food,” such as fried chicken. C2 FEATURES FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 Natalie Burdsall Staff Writer I am happy being deaf because it is part of who I am,” THE BURDSALL FAMILY AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE ALPHABET Burdsall said. Burdsall’s deafness not only changed her life, but The typical American family is generally associated helped shape mine. Exposed to a world of stereotypes with a stay-at-home mom, working father and two and the necessity to adapt, I have developed a perspective children. Although social norms have shifted to the focused on the idea that achievement is not limited, point to where it is common not to follow such cultural while also expanding my understanding of other people stereotypes, my family dynamic is not quite as typical. and the struggles they may be facing. My mother, Monica Burdsall, is deaf. Although I have been repeatedly asked how I can live Suffering from hearing loss prior to birth caused by with something so seemingly alien, I have never known German measles (a viral infection), her parents had not anything else; it has always been my reality. While I may been aware of the hearing deficit until she was three not be able to have a conversation across the room or years old. By this time, a major language barrier had share my passion for music, having a deaf mother has formed between Burdsall and the hearing world. allowed me to become who I am today. With 10 other children, Burdsall’s parents were not able to learn sign language and instead placed her in an Intervention Program for deaf preschool students, THE HERZIG FAMILY designed to help children develop oral speaking skills through consistent repetition and practice. She entered While having a disabled parent is not necessarily kindergarten two years later in a hearing school, with ordinary, I am not the only student at our school in this little cognitive knowledge of the English language. type of situation. “I was totally at a loss with words when learning When freshman Nick Herzig was only three years and struggled through reading and math. Going to old, his father, Steve, was in a serious bike accident, a mainstream school was not beneficial for me,” said paralyzing him from the neck down. Although he Burdsall. has retained some movement and can walk with the Without the ability to speak English fluently, Burdsall assistance of trekking poles, the way he and his family repeated the second grade, categorized as a “mildly go about everyday activities has changed. retarded and nonfunctional student.” Despite this, she “It was difficult when I was younger since I didn’t continued to be put through an oral method of learning, get to do many things with him. I couldn’t play sports up until Signed Exact English became readily available with him or do other things most kids would take for in middle school. granted,” Nick said. “We also had to take our time to go With a system of manual communication and a anywhere and develop a lot of patience.” near exact representation of the English vocabulary Successfully selling real estate across the nation, and grammar, Burdsall was able to communicate more Steve has retained his individuality and has not let his efficiently, but still lacked key learning skills.