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Cheerleading as a Sport

As cheerleading gains in popularity, the controversy rages on about whether or not it is a sport. There are rarely any questions about the athleticism of cheerleaders, so are cheerleaders athletes without playing a “real” sport?

In a dictionary you may find the word “sport” defined as a “physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.” It is the last part of the definition “engaged in competitively” that makes considering cheerleading a sport difficult. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation the following criteria has to be met to be considered a sport: “A physical activity which involves propelling a mass through space or overcoming the resistance of a mass. A contest or competition against or with an opponent is governed by rules which explicitly define the time, space and purpose of the contest and the conditions under which a winner is declared. The acknowledged primary purpose of the competition is a comparison of the relative skills of the participants.” What is cheerleading?

With the criteria above in mind, is the primary purpose of cheerleading to compete? Well, presently no. Their sole purpose is to entertain, motivate, and unite spectators of other athletic teams that are competing. Cheerleading is most often defined as the “act of leading organized cheering, as at sports events.”

What would officially make cheerleading a sport? This one isn’t so easy to work out. First, there is the question of who gets to choose? State athletic associations and state boards of education can make the call. In fact, the University Interscholastic League in Texas has recently ruled to classify ‘Game Day Cheer’ as a sport.

The debates about cheerleading also raise questions about the lack of standardized scoring systems at competitions. I remember when your score had more to do with spirit and overall impression than skills and execution. While competition companies have come a long way by introducing grids and scoring based on easily identifiable criteria (i.e. presence of level 3 skills, deductions for falls, etc.), each company still has their own distinct system. They aren’t using one system and one score sheet. In addition, the sheer number of competitions has also been a factor in the decision not to award cheerleading sport status. Think about it: in pretty much every other sport, there is a series of games played which gradually narrows down to the final ‘best of the best’ match. There is only one Super Bowl. Cheerleading does have Worlds, but with so many cheerleading competition companies out there, the setup can be a bit confusing for anyone who hasn’t done their share of competitions. Believe it or not, some people think that even though you lift each other into impressive pyramids and tumble at a high rate of speed down the field, the fact that you are doing it beside a game makes you nothing more than an entertainer. Carolyn Pradie (17) said, “I love cheer and it’s a very real sport. Like a sport it brought people very close, our cheer team is the closest family on earth, I never could wish for something better. It’s all about giving everyone cheer spirit.”

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GiGi Garcia

Last year was a huge year for McClatchy: our Women’s basketball team proved just how truly amazing they are by winning the State Championship. They were led by their star player, now senior, Gabriella Garcia, who has proven herself to be an exceptional player. However, this year’s women’s team has suffered some grave losses: last year’s seniors Lauren Nubla, Destiny Lee, and Alex Washington have now graduated, and Gigi is unable to play her last high school season due to a tear in her ACL and meniscus. But this is only a minor setback for Garcia. She still has a bright future ahead of her, and her next journey will be at the University of Washington, where she has recently committed and received a full ride scholarship. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Gigi leading up to this unforgettable moment in her life, but without the ups and downs of her journey, she believes this remarkable moment would have never happened.

Gabriella Garcia started playing basketball when she was four years old, although she didn’t really play seriously until her freshman year, here at CKM. Basketball hasn’t been the only sport Gigi has excelled at. GiGi used to play soccer, and wishes she would have stuck with it. Gigi made the decision to focus on basketball in high school so she could excel at it and try and get a scholarship. Choosing basketball was probably one of the best decisions she ever made. She chose basketball over other sports because, “It’s something that I’m really passionate about, and I love the competitiveness but also the team aspect of it. And it’s something I’m really good at.” And being 6’2” definitely helps!
This also isn’t the first time GiGi has been hurt. She’s been majorly hurt two other times, and although this recent injury is preventing her from playing with the girl’s basketball team for her last year of high school, Gigi still has faith that her team can succeed without her. Gigi says, “It is a struggle everyday not being able to play with my team. I still go out and watch their practices to support them.” She believes the team will do fine, but says, “It might be a little bit hard for them to adjust without a big [player].” Gigi has to wait 10 months for her injury to heal, and is currently doing physical therapy. But in less than 10 months she will be ready to play once again, however this time as a Husky and not a Lion.

Although she had many offers including University Southern California, GiGi chose the University of Washington. At her signing Gigi’s dad talked about how their whole family bought USC gear, and it came as a complete shock when Gigi chose Washington. But only Gigi knows what’s best for her, and she chose Washington because of the culture and family environment. No matter the school, Gigi Garcia will succeed anywhere she goes and she has a bright future ahead of her. When asked about her future GiGi replied, “I hope to be healthy throughout college and play, and then I would love to go on after that and play professional.” All of us from McClatchy wish you the best of luck Gigi! Once a Lion, always a Lion!

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ISIS City

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) claims religious, political, and military authority over Muslims worldwide. Over the past year, they have received international scrutiny for committing horrendous acts in their Syrian stronghold, such as slaughtering children, kidnapping and selling women, trafficking human organs, and recruiting child soldiers. They have also maintained their own city, Raqqa, complete with borders and careful watch over the people settled inside it. It is hard to get information out of Raqqa because of the extreme surveillance that goes on there, so the information given by CNN was provided by an activist group in Raqqa called Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently.
Raqqa, located in northern Syria, has become the capital of ISIS since the terrorist group seized it in 2013. According to the reportage given by CNN, school is now banned, and small luxuries cannot be afforded because most people no longer have jobs. Thousands of people are forced to live under the Islamic State’s rule, even though many of them do not have anything to do with the group. They are unable to leave due to checkpoints at every corner within the city, closed roads, and constant surveillance. Even their Internet activity is monitored by ISIS. The punishments for those who try to escape are brutal and can include anything from physical mutilation to medieval death sentences of stoning or crucifixion. There is violence in the streets every day, and bombs, from both Western groups committed to ending ISIS and the Syrian government run by the dictator Bashar al-Assad, fall from the sky.

For many in Raqqa, all they want to do is to live a normal life. “I want to enter university […] work and earn money, make a family and have a free country,” a woman from Raqqa told CNN. “Help us find a life” she added. People are still hoping for salvation from ISIS.
Since September 2014, the United States has been leading the effort to drop bombs inside Syria. France, Russia, and the United Kingdom have sent their own warplanes as well, many of which are targeting Raqqa. CNN interviewed a 27-year-old-woman whose neighborhood was hit by Russian bombs; she said that even though most of it is still standing up, it is like a “ghost town” with no electricity. “I see nothing … in the sky [there are] some drones,” she said. People have started wondering if ISIS is ever going to abandon the city. Whenever bombings occur, the streets and markets are emptied and everyone withdraws from the targeted areas.

Because of the incessant warfare, many of Raqqa’s heritage symbols have become threatened. These include the Baghdad Gate, which dates back to the 12th century, and is one of the only surviving fortifications of the city. Once-vibrant parks and gardens have received almost no visitors since the ISIS takeover.

Things under the rule of Syrian president, Bashar Al-Assad, were not perfect, but Raqqa was once known for being one of Syria’s most liberal cities. An activist from the citizens’ journalism effort, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), told CNN, “[Under the regime] the security forces used to arrest people; now al-Husbah [the Islamic police] is doing so. We used to salute the president leader, now we are saluting the Califa.” Things changed rapidly when ISIS took over in 2013 and took down the statue of former president Hafez Al-Assad and imposed Islamic Law. Activists told CNN that an “authoritative decision, or ruling – known as ‘bayanaat’ – would appear on the city’s walls, often limiting a woman’s right to walk alone, personal style, or even show their hair. Other edicts came by word of mouth: smoking was banned, followed by the use of cameras. Fear gripped the city, and behind most of it were the radicals of ISIS.”

Spanish teacher at McClatchy, Mr. Antonio Villarreal said, “It’s a tragedy that these people have to live under violence. Unfortunately, their government doesn’t have the capacity to help in the way that it is needed. They have to suffer and escape from their homeland. Because of what’s happening in their country, everyone thinks they’re all the same; they’re all terrorists or criminals. When they enter another country, they don’t want them there. It’s very difficult to be almost like banished; they’re only looking for an opportunity”

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Hey Man, Nice Hot Dog, Not A Sandwich Though

The Earl of Sandwich invented the sandwich to eat meat while gambling, and not get meat juice all over the cards and money. That is why they call him the Earl of Sandwich. He did not invent the hotdog. Hotdogs are not sandwiches. Hotdogs are not sandwiches! Really! They just plainly are not. Anybody who says hotdogs are sandwiches is mean. If a hotdog is a sandwich then a taco is a sandwich. When you eat a sandwich the bread part is not on the sides. It is on the top and bottom. Even if you separate the bun into two pieces you still have the issue of the food’s orientation. I suppose if you separated the bun into two pieces, and then ate the hotdog with the two pieces of bun on the top and bottom of the hotdog, then we could have a conversation about the “sandwichness” of your hotdog.

Then the shape is the problem. Sandwiches are not that skinny and long. The last thing I would want to hear is, “hey do you want a bite of my sandwich”, followed by someone offering me a piece of their damn dog. Hot dogs do not occupy the same ontological space as sandwiches, culturally. They do not share the sandwich’s societal experience. If we ask a friend to bring sandwiches to a party and they bring hot dogs then they can consider themselves no longer a friend of ours. The confusion that arises from our predispositions about what sandwiches are and are not rules out the hotdog, or even, dare I say the hamburger, from being a sandwich, even though technically there is an argument to be made there.

I am writing this quote opinion unquote piece to clear this up and prevent such trickery from occurring ever again. If anyone tries to portray a mere hotdog as a sandwich they will invoke the mighty wrath of the Prospector and all its affiliates.

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Drought Update

This January, Californians saw something pretty unusual: rain. The past few weeks have been delightfully soggy, with many McClatchy students running to dust off their old umbrellas. But the question still remains, does this newfound moisture mean the drought is over? Don’t buy new rain boots just yet.

In an article written by the San Jose Mercury News, according to California state climatologist Mike Anderson, “One week of rain doesn’t make up for years of historic drought. We are in a very deep hole.” This is due in part to the large size of California. Because it is such a big state, much more rain water is needed. Even though this rain is a great help, it is nowhere close to what is needed to get the state back on track.

But many others have different opinions on what constitutes the end of the drought. Some experts believe that the drought will be over when the reservoirs are full, because this will be when the water would overflow onto the roads. Others think that it will take “billions of gallons of overpumped groundwater to have a true recovery” (Mercury News).

The variation of rain in the state has also proven a challenge for water conservation efforts. Because many regions are getting enough rain, they may believe that the drought is over and thus be less inclined to take shorter showers or turn off the running sink. So the recent increase in water may be detrimental after all.

The final opinion on the matter will come from Governor Jerry Brown. He declared a statewide drought emergency on January 17, 2014. State officials meet every week as a part of the drought task force. They primarily discuss the water levels, but the members of this committee will give him their recommendation as to whether or not the drought can be officially declared over. It will be up to him to declare the drought over. Until then, any water is welcome.

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Kids Can (And Did!) Food Drive

Everyone at McClatchy has heard of the Kids Can Food Drive, but do you know exactly the weight of its significance? The KCRA 3 Kids Can Food Drive has been conducted for over 20 years now. People donate canned and nonperishable foods that go to struggling families. Canned foods can be dropped off at schools, food banks, and other approved donating locations. Once the canned food is collected it is distributed to food banks across Sacramento and to those in need of food. The food goes mainly to families, but single individuals get help, too. At McClatchy, students participate by filling boxes in every class and the main hall with nonperishable items from October 12 to November 13 every year.

KCRA asks people to bring healthy, unopened, and unbreakable, packaged food with the expiration date on the package. They request canned meats, canned vegetables, pasta, sauce, beans, rice, healthy cereals, peanut butter, and baby food.

KCRA 3 works with the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services to put on a collection of food for those in need. All over Sacramento, people come together to help other people who need support, especially during the holidays when food is so abundant for some. McClatchy High School joins in on the giving and contributes a good chunk to the program.

Jada Paddock, a senior, currently directs the drive at McClatchy and before her, various students would carry the program. She says each year the students collect around 20 to 30 boxes of canned and nonperishable foods. She explains why the drive is perfect for McClatchy and a great cause, “It’s a simple way for people at our school to help out. Most students are so busy they don’t have a lot of time for contributing to a cause but, a lot of people have cans just sitting around the house that they can give. It’s an easy way and a lot of help to someone who needs it.”

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My Opinion of Pens and Pencils

As my handwriting has grown increasingly smaller during my years at high school, I have found that regular .7 lead pencils or even pens hardly make the cut anymore, instead they turn my page into undecipherable scribbles similar to that of a six-year-old. This, evidently becomes a problem as not only does my writing become drastically appaling to the eye, but reading critical class notes also becomes impossible and (if it were possible) more of a displeasure.
Obviously then, I believe that thinner lead, or pen tips are better, because not only are they easier to use but they also make one’s handwriting look much more professional without any extra care from the writer. Yes, .5 is great, especially on pencils that have a harder lead, but on pens because they have the habit of bleeding into the paper, .5 again will fail you.

For pens I would go nowhere else but to a .35 or lower. True, one could write for their entire life using only a sharpie, but if you have a choice, why would you? Yes, the horridness might just start with the pens, but who knows where it will go? One’s writing is the presentation of ideas and in a sense, identity, which is why it must not be written with a sharpie, for then it has the presence of a six year old’s drawing on the refrigerator: cute, but juvenile and sloppy.
So where should one get such magnificent writing utensils? Honestly, you can get .5 lead pretty much anywhere where they have more than a couple boxes of pencils, though it is harder to find than the massively consumed basic .7 lead. However, for the pens you might have to go out of your way, I would suggest any local arts and crafts stores or the internet; Target won’t have them.

My favorite is the Sakura Pigma Micron pen which comes in sizes .5-.2 mm. Although you may not see the problem now, you will when you start using these.

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Sacramento’s Mayoral Race

This year, for the first time since 2008, Sacramento will be electing a new mayor. Current mayor Kevin Johnson has declined to run for a third term, leaving the position to be filled by a new candidate. Three prominent Sacramentans have already joined the race.

The first, currently betting favorite for the position, is seven year veteran of the California State Senate, President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg. Steinberg declared his run shortly after Mayor Johnson announced he would not be seeking a third term.

Steinberg is best known for authoring bills such as AB 34, which created an integration program in 1999 aimed at aiding and assimilating the large homeless populations of Sacramento, Stanislaus, and Los Angeles counties. The program was a success, effectively reducing the hospitalization and incarceration rates of homeless people in those three counties. Steinberg is now running on a platform that focuses on aiding the homeless and those with mental health issues.
The second candidate, Angelique Ashby, is a two term city councilwoman and, unlike the other two candidates, is running as a nonpartisan with “democratic leanings,” according to her website. Like Steinberg, Ashby’s campaign has declared its focus on fighting homelessness, as well as lowering Sacramento’s increasing crime rate.

Since her entrance into the mayoral race, Ashby has received support from the fire department and law enforcement unions.
The final candidate, and the only Republican to have declared candidacy, is former two time International Boxing Federation World Super Featherweight champion and former World Boxing Association World Lightweight champion, Tony “The Tiger” Lopez. Lopez is a Sacramento native, who after retiring from his boxing career, opened a bail bond agency, Tony Lopez Bail Bonds, in his hometown. Lopez stated in an interview with the Sacramento Bee that, despite his lack of political experience, his 50 years of living in Sacramento gives him intimate knowledge of what needs to be done. Lopez says that, if elected, he would do all he can to combat homelessness, gang violence, and drug issues that have plagued Sacramento for years.

However, only time will tell as to who will be the next mayor of our great city.

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What does “closed campus” mean?

There are a plethora of restaurants surrounding McClatchy. We have Oscar’s, Quickly, Sugars and Sweets, Mcdonald’s, Round Table, Subway, Freeport Bakery, Taylor’s, and only a little further away: Big Spoon, Sandwich Spot, and Chipotle. The list goes on and on. So much so, that it seems silly to keep students at school for lunch. However, there are benefits to keeping kids on campus.

Mr. Lambert explains that a closed campus means, “Students are not allowed to leave for lunch and during the day. Once they leave their day is ended. You don’t get to come and go on and off campus.” Basically, students are not allowed to leave school grounds from the time they arrive in the morning until school is over, unless they have parental permission. “You are expected to be here and in attendance for the duration of the day.” For things such as dentist or doctor appointments, work programs, or class at the city college, permission needs to be granted to the students.

“It also means visitors cannot just come on and off campus,” Mr. Lambert adds. People cannot use the campus throughout the day while school is in session. “So it works both ways.” Having a closed campus is really for safety reasons. With an open campus it would be much easier for anyone to come to McClatchy and do whatever they feel like. And that is a scary thought.
Safety is the school’s number one concern for its students. The school is responsible for the students. This means if we get lost or hurt it is the school’s responsibility. Or if we hurt something or someone it is the school’s responsibility. They need to be aware of where students are so if parents call they can assure them that their child is safe.

But look out of any of the windows in the front of the school, and you’ll see Oscar’s. And you’ll see escaped students with their burritos and their drinks. And you’ll shed a single tear for the burrito you could be enjoying, but unfortunately are not.
A funny thing is that Mr. Lambert’s graduating class was the last in his North Carolina school to be allowed to leave campus for lunch. Though off campus lunch restrictions are not Mr. Lambert’s doing, this brings up a question: all the adults keeping us at school during our lunch period were able to leave during their own lunch, why can’t we?

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Global Gun Control

With the recent shooting in San Bernardino, gun control has once again been front and center of all presidential debates. Most Americans are all too aware of the state of gun control in the United States, and one cannot help but wonder about the gun policies of other countries.

Australia is often the most used example in the case for gun control. In 1996, following a shooting in Port Arthur where 35 people died and 23 were wounded, Prime Minister John Howard enacted sweeping gun reform in which there was an imposed buyback of all semiautomatic weapons, while heavily regulating the further purchase and storage of other firearms. The laws proved effective as there have been zero gun massacres in the 19 years since the reform. The rate of homicide and suicide by gun has also declined by approximately 50 percent.

Besides Australia, many other countries’ policies on control could be sampled by the United States. According to an article written in Newsweek, in Germany, anyone under 25 who wants to buy a gun must pass a psychological evaluation. Had this been present in the United States, the murders of people in Charleston, South Carolina by Dylann Roof in June could have been avoided.

In France, to obtain a firearm one must have no criminal record, and pass mental, criminal, and physical background checks.
In England and Japan, handguns are illegal for private citizens. And for these countries, the laws have proven effective. In a report done by the New York Times, in Germany, the probability of being killed by a gun is the same likelihood as being killed by a falling object in the United States (2.1 percent). In Japan, the probability of being killed by a gun is the same as being struck by lightning in the United States (0.1 percent).
So maybe it is just an American thing.