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Meatless Mondays

Eco-Club has been long known as a very involved club at McClatchy. Just two years ago, Eco-Club was responsible for implementing the school’s hand dryers, automatic sinks, and flushing toilets that aid in reducing the school’s waste and water usage. However, this year, Eco-Club has found a new cause to lead: Meatless Mondays.
With the hopes of reducing our carbon footprint, Meatless Mondays does exactly what it says–it encourages people to not eat meat on Mondays. As an organization, Meatless Mondays was formed in 2003 for a variety of different reasons, from health to the environment. Healthwise, it encourages a nutritionally rich diet that can prevent heart disease and cancer. With regard to the environment, taking a break from meat for just one day a week reduces water usage, greenhouse gases, and our dependence on fuel. For these reasons, Eco-Club Co-Presidents Samantha Delfino(‘18) and Graeme Dalrymple(‘17) have decided to get involved in the cause, with the goal of banning meat from all Sacramento City Unified School District cafeterias on Mondays.
On September 27th, Samantha and Graeme attended the Sacramento City Council Meeting, where they both spoke on behalf of the organization. “We discussed the environmental effects of constant meat production, and the impact that Meatless Mondays can have on our health and our community. We also spoke about how Eco-Club is planning to further the cause this year.” Delfino stated.
Following their speeches at the City Council Meeting, Meatless Mondays was passed as a resolution. This resolution is a big step forward for the cause because it is essentially City Council recognizing the importance of reducing meat consumption in Sacramento school districts. Additionally, the publicity and exposure the organization gained from the meeting is invaluable.
While Meatless Mondays may be a new concept to Sacramentans, it is certainly not new to other cities in California. Forty-nine other school districts in the state have adopted Meatless Mondays. Notable districts include the Tracy, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco School Districts. According to Eco-Club Co-President Samantha Delfino, SCUSD is next.
This year, the club intends on lobbying the Sacramento City school district until there are no meat options available to students for breakfast or lunch on Mondays. Not only would this aid in reducing the carbon footprint of the eleventh largest school district in California, it would inform the 42,000 students of SCUSD about the benefits of healthier eating habits, and how to live an environmentally-friendly life. To Eco-Club, this year is about unleashing the potential that Meatless Mondays has to make a difference in the Sacramento area.

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McClatchy’s Take on Hillary

It’s generally understood that if Hillary Clinton wins the presidency, it won’t be by virtue of a sterling reputation. Although at the time of this writing she leads in most polls, she enjoys all the popularity of soggy brussel sprouts. The right hates, the left yawns, meme accounts roast, and the youth cringe. Her unfavorability ratings consistently surpass 50%.
So what thinketh McClatchy? Are we representative of our nation, and if not, where do we fall? In an effort to find out, I interviewed a diverse pool of fifty CKM students and faculty, of all grade levels and program-affiliations.
Of those I interviewed, 90% said they would not consider Hillary a “likable person.” What stood out most about this group was an inability to articulate the reason why. Aside from a thoughtful few, interviewees “umm”-ed prolongedly when I pressed for the reason behind their discontent with the candidate. After some time, most settled for something like “untrustworthiness,” “fakeness,” or “she tries too hard to appeal to youth.” The quick but poorly thought-out “no’s” suggest that there’s just something innately cringeworthy about the Democratic nominee.
To better understand the common, subconscious aversion to Mrs. Clinton, I dug deeper with a follow-up question: “What animal do you think represents Hillary’s personality traits?” This inquiry revealed much about people’s unflattering perceptions of her. For although most struggled to communicate their issues with Mrs. Clinton explicitly, many could identify an animal that embodied her perceived faults. One interviewee only shook his head when I asked why he didn’t like Hillary. But when I asked for an animal? “A snail, because she’s slimy.” There you go.
I got many intriguing responses. One student compared Hillary to a chipmunk, because chipmunks hold nuts in their cheeks like Hillary “holds secrets from the public.” Another likened her to a jellyfish, for “spinelessness.” A faculty member said the former Secretary of State reminded her of a sly fox. Nine of the fifty survey-takers chose a snake. Other picks included chameleon, jackal, naked mole-rat, praying mantis, and komodo dragon. You can infer the connections.
Despite all the bashing, there was some good news for Mrs. Clinton. 40 of the 50 survey-takers said they’d vote for her, despite any qualms with her personality. 37 of these 40 admitted that blocking Donald Trump from the white house was their primary motivation, however.
To put it shortly, McClatchy sees Hillary Clinton’s character as if through a “Bernie or Hillary” meme. But now that the proposition is “Donald or Hillary” instead, it would be wise to forget any petty misgivings about personality and support the lesser of two evils. Thankfully, the contrast between her likability rating and polling numbers shows our school realizes this. Come November, hopefully the rest of the nation will too. If the US hopes to save face, we must apply to Hilary’s faults Mr. Trump’s own advice – “Deal with it!”

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Typical American Volunteer

Bottles of chlorine, tubes of mosquito spray, and a fanny pack with a mix of pesos and dollar bills.
I will not deny that this was me on my trip to the Dominican Republic this summer, but I will admit that the typical American volunteer is known for much more than their over-packing. With a history of sending people all over the world, America has spread the idea that we, as privileged Americans, have a duty to help. Most of these Americans are in groups that spend a week in a hostel, taking pictures, and volunteering, spending little time with the people they are supposedly helping. But, what right do we have to help them?! They are the ones feeding us, housing us, and allowing us into their lives. I will admit, I did think I was doing something good for the world, but I quickly realized that they were doing much more for me than I could ever do for them.
I have seen articles criticizing service trips, written by people who live in the United States or by those in countries where Americans typically travel. It was almost shocking for me to read these before my own trip. “After all, my intentions aren’t bad,” I told myself. But, even if your intentions are good, your reasoning is most likely problematic. According to Ivan Illich, who has worked with religious organizations in Latin America, in his work To Hell with Good Intentions, “next to money and guns, the third largest North American export is the U.S. idealist, who turns up in every corner of the world as the teacher, the volunteer, the missionary, the community organizer, the economic developer, and the vacationing do-gooder.” Taking the role of multiple personas, the typical American uses their privilege and wealth to travel to poorer countries and “make a difference.” However, what right do we have to tell others what they need? What they should want? On my trip, I could see confusion in the eyes of the people. They asked themselves why I was there, what I could do for them. And, in that moment, I saw the importance of my skin color and nationality in leading people to assume things about me. They assumed I did not speak Spanish. They assumed I was wealthy. And, I am guessing, they assumed I was there to “help,” “make a difference,” and “change the world.” Were they wrong to assume? No. Not every white American is like this, but these are the stereotypes that they have been exposed to through intervention and television.
So, am I saying that I used my American nationality to make the Dominican Republic a better place? Absolutely not! As I happily came to discover, the Dominican Republic was already a great place, with a vibrant culture, beautiful people, and an amazing cuisine. For one month, I got a glimpse into their culture as I spent time with my host family, made new friends, and created memories that I will never forget. All I had been taught about the country before I went there was that it was next to Haiti and was poor. But, looking back, I never once felt like I was living amidst poverty. Food was offered to neighbors and friends, “holas” were shouted from inside houses, and the Disney Channel movie marathons and telenovelas reminded me of sitting with my family at home. When I tell stories to my family and friends about my experience, I don’t start with the camps I had with the children every day or how we received a grant to build a water pump in the community. Instead, I start with the wonderful people I met, the comfortable community I had begun to call home, and the lively country that I think about each and every day. I would never have had all of these experiences if I had not decided to go on this trip.
Another student at McClatchy, Eli Veazey, a junior, also went on a service trip this summer. When I asked how he felt about the criticism service trips get, he replied that it is “important for people, regardless of nationality and ethnicity, to get a better world view.”I think when we talk about service trips, this is what we have to think about. Service trips are a way to learn about different ways of life and experience new things. Yes, community service is usually involved, but as long as the community is supportive and involved in the project, then why not? I like to think of it as a two-way street. From you, they get a dedicated and interested person (hopefully) learning and immersing yourself. From them, you get an unforgettable experience. So, I encourage anyone interested in adding to their worldview to travel and to get involved, but make sure you do not impose yourself. Eat the weird foods, dance with strangers, and talk to new people. Do not go on a service trip to help or to make yourself feel good. Do not do it because your parents or church are forcing you to. And, do NOT do it for your college resumes. Do it for the possibility of new friends, new perspectives, and a new home.

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ACT vs SAT: What’s right for you?

Most college-bound Juniors and Seniors everywhere are making a significant decision that may affect which colleges they get into: should I take the SAT or the ACT? Most college applications require applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores. While some may think that these tests are the same. That is far from the truth, as they are completely different. The SAT has 4 sections: Evidence Based Reading, Writing, Math without a calculator, Math with a calculator, along with an optional essay. The ACT, too, has 4 sections but includes Reading, Math, Science, English and an optional Essay.
Just last March, the SAT changed its scoring guidelines by making it out of 1600 instead of 2400. Kalani Kanae, a Senior who has taken both tests, said, “I preferred the ACT because the questions were easier for me than the SAT, and I work quickly anyway so having less time to take it doesn’t affect me much.”
On the other hand, fellow senior Steven Gabriel, who has also taken both tests, indicated that he personally believed that the SAT was the easier of the two, stating “I thought the SAT was the easier test because I had more time to think about each individual question, and I also like that I didn’t have to take essay portion.”
If you only want to take one and can’t decided which test to take, start by taking a practice test for both the SAT and the ACT and using an online tool to compare your scores. Both tests both have pros and cons, but it is the student’s job to decide which test is the best fit.

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Kanye: Underrated?

Most people judge Kanye West, whether for his love life, extravagant personal endeavors, or the latest act of drama he has gotten into. Yet, in the wake of all the gossip circulating Kanye, his music is often harshly overlooked.
Kanye has been built up by the media to be a self loving egotistical rapper, who considers himself a “God” and superior to the rest of the world. These accusations don’t go unfulfilled, and one can see evidence of this truth in lines like “I’m my favorite rapper” or “My greatest pain in life is that I will never be able to see myself perform live.” Lines like these have caused Kanye’s outstanding music career to be swept under the rug as many don’t want to support a musician that they deem a “bad person.”
The release of Kanye West’s 2004 record College Dropout, under Rock-A-Fella records, turned the hardworking music producer who got little credit for his actions, into the hip-hop superstar we know now. The album had songs that demonstrated Kanye’s rapping and producing capabilities while revolutionizing the rap industry and changing the direction of future hip hop. For a genre which had relied heavily on homophobia and sexism, Kanye showed that rap didn’t need to be that way by featuring songs that showed very politically charged ideas like race relations and how the lower class is often depicted.
With lines like, “And I basically know now We get racially profiled ‘Cuffed up and hosed down, pimped up and ho’d down” from “Two Words” (the 18th track of College Dropout), Kanye was able to show his frustration with serious issues, without having to use offensive language.
As Kanye’s career progressed, he continued to release hard hitting albums and songs which showed originality atop commercial success which put his albums on the top of the charts. As time went by, many began to stop seeing him for his music but rather his personality. The whole world seemingly turned against him as shows like SNL wrote skits mocking him and the media started portraying him as an egotistical primadonna. Kanye turned from rap pioneer to that one dumb celebrity who thinks the world of himself.
Kanye took the change of character in stride, and wrote songs and albums to fit what he had become. For example, in “Power,” Kanye raps about coming into the eye of the public and being seen as a fool and an idiot by the public.
Though Kanye West is still very commercially successful and is still able to release songs which are viewed by an international audience, begin mocked for listening to Yeezus can be frustrating.
So next time Kanye West comes on the radio, try to listen to more than just what you have heard about him.

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Bomb Scare at McClatchy

It was around 8:05 a.m on September 22, 2016 when Principal Peter Lambert’s voice came over the school-wide intercom announcing that an “unidentified object” had been found at the front entrance of the school. From this moment forward, the immediate assumption among faculty and students was that this so-called unidentified object found at the front of the school was a bomb. For many students, this would only the beginning of a very long day. Following Lambert’s instructions, both students and staff were immediately evacuated to the back football field.
While students were not evacuated from McClatchy until 8 a.m., the unidentified object was found much earlier at 7 a.m. by campus security staff–according to the McClatchy administration. This object was a guitar case, but the uncertainty of what could be inside the case was what worried the McClatchy administration and campus security. While the campus security guard who discovered the guitar case declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation, Mr. Larry Tagg, an English teacher at McClatchy, noted that the package was left by a “transient-looking” individual. Because this guitar case was not left by a staff member, student or parent, it was treated with caution. In addition, the man that left the package mumbled something that campus security couldn’t understand, so it was perceived as a threat.
At 8:40 a.m., the Sacramento Police Department tweeted, announcing that this unidentified object was currently under investigation, and that the bomb squad was on its way “as a precaution.” Well before 10 a.m., both the McClatchy front parking lot as well as Freeport Boulevard were closed to all traffic. On a street like Freeport that is already known for extreme traffic, one can only imagine the chaos that was caused by this closure.
Meanwhile on the back football field, students and teachers sat in the cold waiting for updates from the McClatchy administration and the Sacramento Police Department. Some students enjoyed the opportunity to sit and talk with friends, while others called their parents for early dismissals as to avoid sitting on the grass any longer than necessary. “While I waited, I just hung out with friends,” Derek Lin (‘18) said. Parents lined the gate between Cal Middle School and McClatchy waiting to meet their children to take them home.
However, after close to two hours of waiting out on the football field, at 10:05 a.m. the Sacramento Police Department tweeted that the the guitar case was deemed safe, as its contents were simply two non-threatening guitar foot pedals. Soon after, the McClatchy administration ushered students back to the main building where class resumed. While some were frustrated with the extreme measures taken for this guitar case, Tagg said, “At school, the kids need to be safe. For this reason, I think the campus security did the right thing in taking precautions.”
While in the end this bomb scare ended up being nothing more than an empty guitar case, it will be a day that McClatchy students will never forget. Whether it was getting out of class for two hours or having the bomb squad stop by, this was certainly a first at McClatchy High School.

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City of Trees Music Festival

Sacramento’s City of Trees music festival brought hundreds to Bonney Field at Cal Expo, where people stuck through the extreme heat to see their favorite bands. One look at the crowd would tell you that most people at the festival were there to see Weezer and Panic! At The Disco. Even so, bands like The Unlikely Candidates, Phantogram, and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness played and absolutely rocked the main stage. The Music Discovery Stage, placed right next to the main stage, featured secondary musicians like The Struts, 888, and Kungs. These bands, although not the center of attention, matched some of the main stage bands in talent. The Struts, in particular, got the crowd on their feet and riled up. Local bands showed their skills at the Sacramento Tent. Even though these bands were extremely talented, they got less attention.
The two main highlights of the event were Weezer and Panic! At The Disco. Weezer’s performance featured some of their most famous songs like “Island in the Sun” and, of course, “Beverly Hills.” Weezer’s lead vocalist, Rivers Cuomo, had a spectacular stage presence. He had several costume changes, sporting a sombrero during one song and a crown and robe during “King of the World.”They played some of their newer songs off of their latest album, like “California Kids” and “Thank God For Girls.” Longtime Weezer fans and first-time listeners meshed into one and created an extremely enthusiastic crowd. Weezer’s performance gained them some new fans, who originally were there to see P!ATD.
After a short set by Kungs, a French DJ, Panic! At The Disco overtook the stage wildly, first singing “Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time. ”Most of the songs they sang came from their latest album, Death of a Bachelor. However, they sang the hits off of their other albums, as well. Classic P!ATD songs like “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” and “Girls/Girls/Boys” had the crowd roaring and singing along. However, I think the favorite moment for so many people was when they slowed it down to sing “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which is originally by Queen. In my opinion, it has to be one of the best covers of that song to exist. While impossible to perfect what Queen has already perfected, P!ATD pours passion into his words and turns it into something beautiful.
Many C.K. McClatchy students attended this event, mostly to see Panic! At The Disco. However, most people who went to see P!ATD ended up discovering new bands they really enjoyed. Melissa May, a junior, left City of Trees as a new fan of The Struts. “Luke Stiller was very charismatic and had a great stage presence. And he’s beautiful.” I couldn’t agree more.
City of Trees was an absolutely fantastic event. Whether you went to see one band or all of them, the vibe, the venue, and the people made it such a special experience. “I loved just being in the heat of the moment and feeling the bass – it vibrated my voice,” said Melissa May. “My favorite moment was when we got Brendon Urie [lead singer of Panic! At The Disco] to dab,” said sophomore Quinn Sherry. City of Trees, no matter your reason for attending, was an absolutely well-run and excellent event, and I could definitely see myself attending again in the future.

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The Golden Ticket to the New Arena

This year, the new Golden 1 Center seems to be the buzz around Sacramento, but what is really going on? The arena was designed by AECOM, a company responsible for the London 2012 Olympic Park, Rio 2016 Olympic Park and the Aggies Stadium at UC Davis. According to the Golden 1 Center website, the state of the art facility is estimated to cost around $507 million dollars and will open in the beginning of October. The arena will have 17,500 seats and 34 suites.
The center itself is designed to incorporate the character of Sacramento including its agriculture and technology. It features a pattern of trees on the outside of the building to celebrate our nickname as “the City of Trees,” an outdoor amphitheater, and tomato plants growing in the plaza. The building itself is considered a “smart” facility, with interactive features including postgame information and upcoming events.
Another major Sacramento charm featured in the new arena is fresh food. Most of the venue’s concessions will be grown within a 150-mile radius and are being called “local eats.” From free range chicken to quinoa, the farm to fork movement has taken over the arena. Despite sourcing local ingredients and sustainable farms, the Sac Bee claims the food sold at the venue will still be fast food. But, it will be “fun fast food.” The menu features sausages from Low Brau, tacos from Centro and burgers from Café Bernardo. The venue will also feature local breweries including Knee Deep, Track Seven and Rubicon. Many have speculated that the rise in quality will also raise the prices of food. Although the prices have not been set yet, executive chef Michael Tuohy claims, “it is looking pretty comparable” to the pricing at the Sleep Train Arena.
As for the students here at McClatchy, a few shared their opinions about the opening of the Golden 1 Arena. JC Argüello, a junior, stated, “I’m excited for the opening because I can’t wait to walk to the games instead of drive. I live in midtown so it will be fun to be close by.” Another McClatchy student living nearby the stadium, Adam Pacheco, a junior, shared his thoughts. “I think the stadium will bring Sacramento together because it is in the heart of the city. I hope more artists start playing shows in Sacramento but I hope the stadium doesn’t bring in too much traffic.”
The opening of the arena will definitely be exciting. Kings fans and concert-goers alike are ready for a central stadium in Sacramento. Only time will tell whether the millions of dollars invested in the stadium will be worth it.

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The Importance of Music

Thinking about what elective I should choose for this year, I reflected upon my experience in band from elementary and middle school. I remember the day that my elementary school sent band and orchestra flyers home. My spontaneous decision to join band in 4th grade has now allowed me to continue band seven years later.
I had never realized the true importance of music until this year. Embarrassingly, my eighth grade year I quit band because I thought it was weird, not “cool.” However, I now see that the cool thing is doing what you want, instead of doing what others find acceptable. And, for the 20 or so kids in McClatchy’s band, they want to make music. I don’t think I can accurately explain the passion and discipline it takes to be truly dedicated to an instrument, but I will say that persistence is a quality found in most people in band. I look to my left and right, and see people of all ages, attempting to come together to play a beautiful piece of work. No, it’s not perfect, but I don’t think that is the point. I think that yes, we should try to be the best we can be; but, ultimately we are learning how to correct our mistakes individually through practice at home and listening to others in class.
Many of you might ask me: why now? But, I would say, why not? Having to take an elective junior year, why was I pressured to take ceramics or graphic design? Making things with my hands, like art or drawing, never really was my strong suit. Instead, I decided to join band, something that I had loved since 4th grade. And, in those first couple of days back at school, I realized why I had joined band in the first place: because it is a way to express myself outside of writing, reading, or speaking. It is a way to escape the confines of my essays or science projects, and instead participate in an activity that requires skill and discipline, but is also fun, and loud and messy, with the only restrictions being the rhythm you are told to play.
I think band has always been an outlet for me. An outlet to be myself. An outlet to question the traditional ways of learning. An outlet to meet new people, try new things, and discover a new version of yourself. I encourage anyone interested in band, or who is on the fence, to try it! What’s the worst thing that can happen? You mess up a note? Don’t have a lot of friends in your class? You feel like you can’t do it? Well, my friend, it has happened to everyone. We all have questioned what we should do but I think when it comes down to it, do what you love and love what you do. And, when I look around the band room, I see people who love what they do. And now, I’m starting to love band again, too.

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McClatchy Mock Election

On September 23rd, McClatchy held a mock election in the library. Social science classes went to the library to cast their votes for president, U.S. senators, and various state propositions. People over 16 had the opportunity to register as voters. Voting booths were set up for each student to vote in. Once a student was done voting, it was fed into a machine that tallied up all the votes. Students received pens, stickers, and pencils for participating in the mock election.
746 ballots were submitted in total. Out of that 746, 403 students voted for Hillary Clinton. Over half of McClatchy voters want Clinton to take on the presidency in January of 2017. Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson received 90 votes. Republican nominee Donald Trump received 81 votes. 73 people voted for Jill Stein, the Green Party nominee. 56 voted for Gloria La Riva, leader of the Peace & Freedom Party. 14 votes were write-ins.
The election for a new senate member to represent California in the U.S. senator was a close one. The two candidates are Kamala Harris, the current Attorney General, and Loretta Sanchez, a congresswoman representing the 46th District of California. Sanchez took 396 votes, while 315 of the votes went to Harris.
Students had the opportunity to vote on a number of propositions and measures. Interestingly enough, all of the propositions and measures had an overwhelming majority of Yes votes over No votes. In a real election, all would have been passed. Students voted on things like an added cigarette tax, English proficiency, gun control, the death penalty procedure, a plastic bag ban, and various types of taxes. All received more Yes votes than No votes.
Hopefully, the mock election instills a desire in McClatchy students to become involved in the political system by voting in future elections. It’s never been more important that youth are involved in politics and making their voices heard. If you have the opportunity to vote this coming November, please do.