Month: February 2019

Categories
Sports

McClatchy Boys Soccer Team Lose In Section Playoffs, Reflect On Season

McClatchy’s boys soccer team celebrating a win in early February.
McClatchy’s boys soccer team celebrating a win in early February.

 

On Tuesday, February 19th, McClatchy’s boys varsity soccer team fell to Whitney in the section playoffs after a hard fought game, ending with a series of penalty kicks. Nevertheless, the players claim they look back on their otherwise undefeated season with pride and hope for next year.

Despite their optimism, many players  on the team expressed some of their disappointment in their ineligibility to compete for the section title.

“We were a very dominant team overall, definitely worthy of a section title,” said Kyle Helstowski (‘20). Several other players share the idea that, if they had earned the opportunity to compete for a higher ranking, their team would have succeeded.

Robbie Muchowski (‘20) claimed that low-level play caused the team’s failure to proceed in playoffs. “We lost too early. I’m pretty sure if we had played better in the game we lost we would have gone on to win the section championships.”

Jacob Rounds (‘20) even ventured to say that their final game was a “fluke.” “We should have been able to beat them, and it just came down to refereeing and us not really playing our game when it mattered most. We kind of fell apart. Key players were taken out and injured, and finally we lost in penalties,” he said.

After this letdown, many of the juniors on the team hope that they can reproduce the same level of play for a more effective season next year. However, they also recognize that it will be a challenge to do so. “Moving forward it’s going to be hard, but we had a lot of juniors on our team, and it’s about our players stepping up for next season to fill key roles left behind by some seniors,” said Rounds.

Aside from their fall to Whitney, team spirit and companionship supported the team through tough games. “We had a lot of fun along the way mostly because everyone felt they were part of a family,” said Helstowski. Some players believe this bond contributed to the team’s success, allowing each player to reach their potential.

“It’s always cool to see the guys get better individually and come together as a group,” said Kris Brown (‘19), a recent Chico State Commit.

Categories
Entertainment

Ariana Grande Queer-Baiting Controversy In “break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored” Music Video

Ariana Grande’s long awaited album thank u, next was released on February 8, 2019, and with it came a music video to one of the album’s new songs, “break up with your girlfriend i’m bored.” The video was a seductive, dramatic, and unexpected (but not unwanted) surprise for fans everywhere, but it’s mixed messages are stirring troubling accusations for the pop star.

In the video, Ariana is seen at a fancy Hollywood party up in the hills, eyeing an attractive couple before being invited to join them on the dance floor. Grande’s behavior, the visuals, as well as the lyrics, lends viewers to believe that Ariana is after the guy, but in the last two seconds of the video, Ariana appears to go after the woman instead.

Some believe the video was a way of Ariana coming out as bisexual to her fans, while others have criticizing the video as “queer-baiting” and using hints at LGBTQ themes as a way of drawing attention. The most widely believed theme of the video, however, is that of self love.

Based on the song’s title, implied message, and dramatic visuals, I understand those who believed Ariana was going for the guy and that the ending plot twist could have been a potential coming out. Even if I disagree, those who offered this interpretation were not unkind towards the suggestion, so I find it easy to forgive and move on.

I was startled to hear people’s claim that Ariana was “queer-baiting” audiences, but I can’t take the accusation lightly. If she was, in fact, using her connection to the woman in the video as a ploy to appeal to audiences, then there would certainly be a huge issue for Ariana and perhaps the video would have received more explosive backlash than it already seems to be taking.

Most of the “queer-baiting” believers seem to be in understanding that queer baiting is not in fact what the video is about. The issue is the way in which Ariana went about portraying self-love, with visuals that perhaps took it a step too far in using gay themes as an illustration of self love that was interpreted as “shock value.”

The widely accepted view of the video is that the girl in the couple is in fact Ari herself, and the video is only an interesting interpretation of Ariana looking to fulfill self-love. Ariana’s message to “break up with your girlfriend / because i’m bored” is aimed at herself, telling her to break up with her boyfriend as a means to focus on loving herself.

Aside from “thank u next” and “7 rings,” which were released prior to the album drop as standout singles, the trap beat and R&B undertones of “break up with your girlfriend i’m bored” make it one of the strongest on the album, and perhaps one of Grande’s best. And as with anything in pop culture, the song’s meaning is up to individual interpretation. Regardless of whether or not everyone agrees with Ariana Grande’s expression of self-love, the song’s place on the Top Songs Chart is certainly well-earned and well-deserved.

 

Categories
Opinion

Adam Levine’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Displays Double Standard

Photo via esquire.com

Super Bowl LII (53) took place on Sunday, February 3, 2019. The game was one of the slowest progressing and lowest scoring Super Bowl games in history. Following the first and second quarter, Pepsi’s annual Super Bowl Halftime show is most viewers highly anticipated part of the game. This year, Maroon 5, joined by Travis Scott, and Atlanta’s very own, Big Boi were set to perform.

During his performance, Adam Levine, Maroon 5’s lead singer took off his shirt to expose his chest. Many of the viewers really enjoyed that part of the performance but his actions also leave many that are familiar with the 2004 Nipple Gate curious to see what follows.

Super Bowl XXXVIII (38) took place in 2004 with Janet Jackson featuring Justin Timberlake performing during the Pepsi Halftime show. The show was also dubbed Nipple Gate because of the actions that occurred during the performance.

During the performance, a wardrobe malfunction occurred when Justin Timberlake accidentally ripped a part of Janet Jackson’s outfit causing her nipples to be exposed. Her breast were only exposed for half a second before Jackson covered her jacket over her chest. Though being an accident, the incident was ridiculed both domestically and internationally, even talks about the incident being a planned stunt surfaced.

The Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) charged CBS with a fine of $550,000 for the incident, and Janet Jackson was never asked to come back and perform. Jackson was continuously ridiculed while Timberlake, years later, was allowed to come back and headline his very own Super Bowl halftime. Twitter has now named Janet Jackson Appreciation Day the same day as Super Bowl Sunday.

Now, I don’t care about Adam Levine’s nipples, and I don’t care about Janet Jackson’s nipple either. My thought are with the few who are wondering, is the FCC going to charge CBS for the proud exposure of his chest that Levine demonstrated? Jackson was forced to apologize and her reputation was mocked for nearly a decade. A week-after the performance, there is no talk of any punishment by the FCC or CBS for Levine’s actions.

Sure, society was more conservative in 2004 about what should be shown and what shouldn’t be shown on live television, especially at one of the most viewed events on tv. But the treatment given to Jackson on her involuntary exposure is unfair. Levine is given praise for his shirtless performance. Janet Jackson fans are not having it, as the double standards was clear and thousands pointed it out on twitter.

Why can a performance from a shirtless Adam Levine be allowed but a half a second wardrobe malfunction got Jackson blacklisted from many other events? There is nothing now to fix the ridicule received by Janet Jackson. Nearly 15 years after the event, I think an apology from CBS and the FCC is appropriate especially after the actions displayed by Adam Levine.

 

Categories
Entertainment

The Importance Of Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Photo via FOX.

On January 10th, 2019, the first episode of American sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine aired on NBC and received the highest ratings it had since 2016. Millions of families and friends gathered together and tuned in to see NBC’s revamp of the original FOX show.

This past May, FOX Broadcasting revealed they had canceled Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a cop show with a diverse and lovable cast set in Brooklyn, NY, and didn’t think much would come from it. This, however, was not the case.

In a span of a little more than twenty-four hours, Brooklyn Nine-Nine went from being canceled, to being heroically rescued not only by NBC, but by the millions of outraged fans, including big names like Guillermo del Toro, Mark Hamill, Lin Manuel Miranda, and many more.

By picking up Brooklyn Nine-Nine for a 13-episode sixth season, NBC saved one of the best shows airing today and a fan-favorite all around the world. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is an incredibly important show for all kinds of people.

When it broke out that NBC was picking up Brooklyn Nine-Nine, many comedy and sitcom fans cheered for more than one reason. Not only was a spectacular show being saved, but it was being saved by sitcom (master) NBC. Parks and Recreation, The Office, Friends, Seinfeld, Superstore, and The Good Place, are just a few of the iconic sitcoms NBC has produced, and at long last, Brooklyn Nine-Nine gets to join them.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine isn’t like other cop shows on television. It skips out on the gore and intensity and instead plays up comedic aspects and twisted relationships, all with the interesting complexity of crime in New York as its backdrop.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine has an incredibly diverse cast, full of complex and lovable characters. It’s also been acknowledged that each and every possible relationship between characters has been exercised and shown throughout its first five seasons.

By saying it appeals to the LGBT community, I am mostly referring to Captain Raymond Holt, the out and proud leader of the Nine-Nine, and Detective Rosa Diaz, the mysterious, black-clad bisexual hero.

When I refer to Rosa Diaz as a hero, I mean she’s my hero. Growing up, I never saw anyone like me on television or movies. Especially as someone who is biracial, Caucasian and Mexican, and bisexual, I never saw representation or characters that I related to. That all changed in 2013 when I sat down to watch the pilot episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Rosa Diaz is a strong, complex, intelligent woman that I aspire to be like. Brooklyn Nine-Nine showed her struggle with coming out and having a less than supportive family when she did, but by having such great friends in the Nine-Nine, she felt safe and free to be herself.

Portrayed by actress Stephanie Beatriz, who, at the time of the season’s filming, was going through her own coming out story to the public as bisexual, Rosa plays a key role in Brooklyn Nine-Nine that is both realistic and thoughtful.

Overall, Brooklyn Nine-Nine continues to be a funny, lovable, and important show not only to me, members of the LGBT community, but to people all around the world. I believe Brooklyn Nine-Nine is one of the greatest sitcoms aired since Parks and Recreation and I can’t wait to see what NBC has in store next for my beloved precinct.

Categories
Features

Get To Know Adelina Hernandez, McClatchy’s New ASB President

Adelina Hernandez '20
Adelina Hernandez ’20

On Friday January 28, the long-awaited results of the ASB board elections were announced and C.K.M. welcomed their new board, including Secretary Mackenzie Crall, Treasurer Nicole Fong, and Vice President Izzy Veran. Certainly a board of capable and confident ladies, and headed by none other than Adelina Hernandez, the new ASB President.

If Adelina could tell her freshman self that she would become the ASB president in her junior year, she would be speechless.

“Some part of me had always wanted to run for president, but part of me was too intimidated to think it would become a reality,” said Hernandez. Now that it has in fact transformed into reality, she realizes that her newly established confidence in her leadership skills came from being captain of the JV girls water polo team and having in-class presentations.

Being ASB president is not Adelina’s first time in a leadership role. “I was a part of my middle school’s student council, however, it held much less responsibility than ASB does,” she said. “My sophomore year at C.K.M. I was captain of the JV team. For the past two years I have worked as a coach for the American River Water Polo Club where I ran the noodle ball portion (kids 8 years and under) by myself.”

Her qualifications for the role of ASB president did not stop with coaching gigs. Over the summer, she attended the Sacramento Leadership Conference as a part of the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project (CLYLP). One of the workshops she participated in included a mock campaign for a hypothetical school, in which she was one of four candidates that presented to a panel of judges that ranked the mock campaign as a whole.

At the conference’s conclusion, Adelina was runner up for the Ambassador of the Sacramento Region for the CLYLP class of 2018. “[It was] an opportunity that I would recommend to all Latino/a sophomores and juniors interested in political careers or academia,” she said.

During her campaign for president, Adelina says she didn’t face as many challenges as one would expect. “I ran against Jayden Greenfield, who is one of my good friends, and there were no hard feelings or any drama during the campaign period,” said Hernandez. “Jayden ran a good campaign and I started to get nervous that I didn’t have enough posters up compared to Jayden.”

Towards the end of election campaigns, Adelina said she gradually felt less and less nervous, and soon her focus was turned away from elections and towards finals. When asked what her reaction to hearing her name on the intercom Friday morning was, Adelina exclaimed, “I was really happy and excited!”

Though it has been a few weeks since she was elected, Adelina says she is already thinking ahead for the future of C.K.M.’s class of 2020. Her first priority is reviving the financial state of the junior class by introducing more fundraising events, which she elaborates would allow more financial freedom and stress relief when we need to schedule two of high school’s most momentous events, Junior Prom and Senior Ball.

She brought up that last year, she became interested in introducing productive change to the school after the controversy surrounding a racist science project brought attention to the lack of diversity in the HISP program, a problem evident in the ASB classroom as well. “At the end of this year I want to advertise ASB as an option to anyone when choosing classes,” said Adelina. “Right now the class is HISP-dominated, leaving us without proper representation of the school.”

While taking on the responsibilities of ASB president can be no easy task, Adelina said she is already having fun despite being only a few days in. “I have a great board with Nicole as Treasurer, Mac as Secretary, and Izzy as VP. It’s a little nerve-racking having to do the announcements in the morning, especially after I dropped the phone on my first day, but the old board helped calm our nerves.” Regardless of first-day nerves, C.K.M. is certainly fortunate to have Adelina as the ASB president for the end this year and coming school year.

Categories
Entertainment

A Basic Guide To Tarot Cards

Tarot cards have long been a way of using intuition and astrology to read the future and present of questions and life situations.

To begin a basic understanding of tarot, it’s important to know that traditional decks are composed of a major arcana and a minor arcana. The major arcana cards are usually considered more significant if they show up in a reading considering there are only 22 of these as opposed to the 56 total minor arcana cards. When just starting out as a reader, one should familiarize themselves with the traditional meanings of the major arcana first. As you learn more about the meanings of different cards, it’ll become easier to intuitively read as well as take meaning from the pictures on the cards and tailor your reading to the situation. It’s also important to learn what the suits of the minor arcana symbolize.

A large part of tarot is rooted in astrology and certain metaphysical topics. To fully grasp all the elements of tarot, one should work on their knowledge and understanding of astrology. Certain cards in traditional decks are also symbolized by zodiac signs and planets. Knowing which sign is associated with a card can help further determine the energy of a reading and/or who is involved. Astrology is also useful in tarot if using cards for timing purposes in which case knowing which sign the card represents will tell you between what dates or which season something may happen. The minor arcana can also represent the four seasons with wands as summer, pentacles as fall, cups as spring, and swords as winter.

Another important facet of tarot is shuffling and selecting the cards. It’s important to note that if cards show up in the reverse position, there are different meanings than the upright. These meanings aren’t always the exact opposite of the upright, though. For example, the star card in upright is a symbol of hope, wishes, and creativity. In the reverse it tends to mean some difficulty with getting a project off the ground as well as a creative or mental block. Different readers shuffle their card differently but a common way is to do so in your hand quickly so that a card meant for you may fall out on its own. If you’re shuffling and one or two cards fall or fly out on their own, it’s a good sign from the universe that those cards are important. One can choose to select cards however they’d like, whether that be from in a row off the top or out of a full deck spread out. Some readers believe that the card left on the bottom of the deck is symbolic of the main overall energy of a reading.

Personalizing the experience in other ways depends on your beliefs and what you feel is best to ground your energy for a reading. Many use crystals, candles, prayers, and incense to get in the right zone, but it’s not always necessary for a good reading.

A great way to learn card meanings, new interpretations, and techniques is by getting your own cards read on YouTube using “pick a card” videos. There’s a large community on YouTube composed of tarot readers creating videos based on all types of life questions that can help teach meanings of cards when combined or based on love or money. These videos can be quite helpful if someone’s having trouble interpreting specific cards or if just starting out and needing an audio-visual learning experience.

Categories
News

Junior Class Scrambles To Pull Themselves Out Of Debt Before Senior Year

The junior ASB class.
The junior ASB class. Photo credit: Chris Rinetti.

 

The junior ASB class is currently $1300 in debt. This fund deficit has caused concern among many students that ASB may not be able to afford Junior Prom. The Prom is happening, but the class of 2020 went into debt to pay for it, leaving ASB leaders scrambling to come up with funds for next year’s activities.

ASB Treasurer Nicole Fong, Secretary Mackenzie Crall, and President Adelina Hernandez all pointed out that the lack of funding stems from a deeper problem in the ASB and HISP class schedules, which result in a lack of sophomore representation.

“Because all HISP sophomores have a mandatory zero period, we have a very small number of sophomores in ASB every year—this year we have about six to eight sophomores,” said Fong. “This is really bad for all classes, but especially sophomores, because that is when fundraising for Junior Prom needs to happen.”

This dilemma has caused significant debt for the class of 2020. “Freshmen year, there were a good amount of people in the 2020 [ASB] class, but sophomore year—when the HISP students have a zero period—there was a total of three sophomores in the class, and to ask three people to fundraise for the entire class is ridiculous,” said Crall.

In order to fill this funding void, ASB has begun to scramble to raise money.

“The junior class has had a lot fundraising ideas and plans. The flower grams were a huge success, Lisi Long is currently heading the planning of a bake sale, we had our yard sale and bake sale in December, and we are planning Cycle Life and Quickly fundraisers,” said Fong. “At the rate we are going right now, I have high hopes that we will be able to repay our debt.”

President Hernandez provided an update for the status of the ASB treasury. “We recently did the Valentine’s Day flower delivery, which brought in around $300. However, we are still in debt by $1300.”

The ASB class of 2020 is not only concerned about paying off debt and successfully throwing a Junior Prom. “Here’s the thing, we are having a Junior Prom. But it is going to be hard to pull of all of the events that will be happening in our senior year such as our senior gift and our ball,” said Secretary Crall.

“In order to pay off our debt and have money for all of our senior activities, we need a lot of people to go to this prom! High attendance means high ticket sales, which gives us more money to spend on our senior activities!” said Treasurer Fong.

 

Categories
Features

Stormi Webster Who? Meet Instagram’s Newest Sensation: Official C.K.M. Baby

JumanJi, better known as @officialckmbaby, poses on a McClatchy trash can.

 

With over 100 followers on instagram, @officialckmbaby has taken McClatchy seniors by storm. JumanJi, the newest C.K.M. icon, posts updates on their activities over the weekend, opinions on events, as well as important senior news.

But the rising question still remains: who runs @officialckmbaby and for what purpose?

I reached out to JumanJi through Instagram direct message, searching for any kind of clarification about the account. After receiving a handful of “goo goo, ga ga’s,” I was able to get a few questions answered.

The account would not disclose any information about themselves other than the baby has joint custody between three unidentified McClatchy seniors.

“We won’t reveal who we are,” one owner said. “Keeping the account anonymous makes it entertaining to watch everyone investigate who we are, it’s just more fun that way.”

An owner explained that “JumanJi’s upbringing was the result of an effort to create something exclusive to the class of 2019, which really just started off as a joke with a baby we bought at Walmart.”

“I thought it was kind of funny when I first saw the profile requested to follow me back in December,” said Emily Robinson (‘19). “I’ve tried to figure out who might have created it but I really have no idea and I think thats what makes the account even funnier.”

@officialckmbaby requested a disclaimer informing that it is an exclusive account for the class of 2019. “I feel like my debut in The Prospector will bring new fans and I am so ready,” said an owner. However, “JumanJi will not be accepting any accounts that do not meet the requirements, [being a McClatchy senior].”

Categories
News

Parking Crisis Returns To C.K.M.

A car parked outside of a spot in the student parking lot, due to the lack of student parking available. Photo credit: Adriana Barrios.
A car parked outside of a spot in the student parking lot, due to the lack of student parking available. Photo credit: Adriana Barrios.

 

In recent weeks, parking problems have plagued the mornings of hundreds of C.K.M. students. Students with and without parking passes have been forced to park on surrounding neighborhood streets, often earning them parking tickets and long walks to class.

The closest street on which students can legally park is Third Avenue, a ten minute walk from the school.

“I think it’s illogical, unfair, and irresponsible to expect students to walk such long distances and risk parking violations when there are so many unused spots in the staff lot,” said RJ Czajkowski (‘20).

However, even students with C.K.M. parking passes have had difficulties recently.

“Parking spots aren’t designated, so you are never assured a spot,” said Ysa Farland (‘19). “Luckily for me, I get there for zero period so the lot is empty.” Other students have not had such luck.

As April Alford (‘20) stated, “A good amount of students, who would be late if they parked on Third Avenue, park in the front of the school.”

One such student, Maddie Elkins (‘20), was called out of class to move her vehicle last week.

“I got my license and car after the school year had started, so there wasn’t an option for me to attain a parking pass,” said Elkins. “For the first few weeks, I would park on Third.”

However, walking back to her car after she finished soccer practice became unsafe in the dark, she went on to say. “That’s why I started to park at the front. When I was called out of class because I needed to move my car, I was incredibly angry because the school offered no safe, constant option for new drivers and pulled me out of class to move my car.”

Daisy Lewis (‘19) also had significant difficulty obtaining a parking pass. “Since I wasn’t there on orientation day, I wasn’t there to get a pass in person. I sent emails to admin and Hubbard, but no one responded or helped. So, I talked to Officer Graham around the first two weeks of school, and he put me on a waiting list, which had two other students on it. I was never contacted,” said Lewis. “In the beginning of the year I would drive for ten minutes to school, park on 17th, then spend fifteen minutes walking to class!”

Campus security has recently cracked down on students, only allowing those with passes to enter the lot. However, many students with parking passes do not regularly use them. “There’s no way to find out who isn’t using [their pass] because parking is unassigned,” said Alford.

This is no new issue at C.K.M., and many students have ideas of reforms that would provide better student parking situations. Czajkowski added that “After talking with Officer Graham, it’s clear that no solution will change the fact that our campus simply isn’t built to accommodate the amount of parking needed for students, staff, and visitors.”

Alford and Elkins also proposed a switch of the student and teacher parking lots. They believe this change would allow more students a safe and close place to park.  

 

Categories
Opinion

‘Stan’ Twitter’s Toxicity Forces Demi Lovato To Deactivate

Rapper Wale responds to Demi Lovato's tweet about rapper 21 Savage's deportation. Photo credit: Rolling Out.
Rapper Wale responds to Demi Lovato’s tweet about rapper 21 Savage’s deportation. Photo credit: Rolling Out.

 

During the evening of Super Bowl Sunday, news broke that 21 Savage was taken into custody by ICE because he had allegedly overstayed his visa and is actually from the U.K. instead of Atlanta, Georgia as he had originally claimed. A score of memes came out mocking his apparent British roots. A few of the memes included him writing his verses with a quill feather pen and dubbing a British rapper over videos of him rapping. It was all fun and games and it seemed as though no one was laughing at the fact he could get deported, just that he’s from the U.K.

That same evening, Demi Lovato came online to say that the jokes were funny, just like everyone else. But instead of laughing along with her, “stan” Twitter got angry with her, claiming she was making fun of him getting deported, and resorted to making fun of her drug addiction. A few called her a “crackhead,” and the hateful comments got so bad that she deactivated her account the same night.

“Stan” Twitter bullied an innocent celebrity to deactivate their account because of a misunderstanding. That kind of energy doesn’t get seem to be used against people who are actually problematic. Tomi Lahren, a known American conservative political commentator with known racist views, even took herself to Twitter to make fun of 21 Savage being deported, but she didn’t get bullied to the point of deactivation.

This energy that “stan” Twitter always puts out has grown incredibly toxic over recent years. It seems that they would rather bully an innocent celebrity into deactivating rather than actually calling out problematic people. For example, Alessia Cara, who was bullied for being a “flop” according to “stan” Twitter, went on a break off of Twitter and Instagram and even cried on stage because of how overwhelming the alleged bullying was.

It’s such an ugly thing to see people tearing women in the industries down for doing small things that could be seen as a misunderstanding or nothing serious at all, but won’t attack the men in the industries that are actually horrible people. They will stick by people like 6ix9ine, who was arrested for use of a child in a sexual performance and is known to have abused his girlfriend, praying that he will get out of prison, and then call Demi Lovato a “crackhead” over a misunderstanding. What is the difference?

The jokes of drug addiction and suicide are both overwhelming and worrying. People actually find things like that laughable when Demi is someone who’s had issues with both drugs and self harm. She even recently had to go back to rehab because of the harassment she received after the tweet. It’s hypocritical to make fun of someone’s harmful issues because they made a joke about someone else’s issues. It’s especially ridiculous when my Twitter feed was full of everyone making jokes about 21 Savage but the moment Demi says something, it causes an uproar.

I just hope that Demi takes time to herself and returns back to social media when she’s ready and that “stan” culture will change their hypocritical way of thinking.