Gunn High School's Student Newspaper
Search results: articles by "Sarah-Jean Zubair"
[Forum] In the United States, people are surrounded by readily available edibles. From the processed junk that comes in plastic packages to beverages chock-full of high fructose corn syrup, cheapness is ubiquitous in the world of American food. This inexpensive availability encourages a high calorie intake, which has led Americans down the path to obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and various health disorders. A recent study on caloric restrictions from the University of Wisconsin concluded that over-consuming calories is detrimental to longevity and graceful aging. Clearly that the best way to reclaim personal health is to just eat less.—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[News] The Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) Board of Education approved conceptual design plans on Sept. 22 to construct two new academic buildings and a second gym at Gunn in the next 10 years. The construction will cost about $80 million and will be funded by bond Measure A, passed in June 2008. “The construction plans have our full support,” Assistant Principal of Facilities Tom Jacoubowsky said. “It is a necessary step for us to cope with Gunn’s growing enrollment.”—Sophie Cheng & Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Forum] Last September, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom stated that he would introduce legislation to impose a tax on businesses that sell sugary drinks in San Francisco to help combat obesity and associated health problems like diabetes. The tax would consist of a per-ounce extra charge on soda and sugary juices, raising the price of a purchase and theoretically reducing people’s desire to consume soda. Already instituted in some states, a soda tax should move beyond local and state governments and be implemented nationally as a part of the federal government’s attempts to help reduce obesity rates. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Forum] From overcrowded classrooms to often unpalatable cafeteria food, student complaints about Gunn abound. A popular grievance is that suggestions and opinions about these matters are not heard. But students often overlook the impact they can have on Gunn decision-making. The most major decisions are made by the Site Council and Facilities Planning Committee, collaborative groups that include district officials, administrators, faculty and students. At each Site Council and Facilities Planning Committee meeting, appointed student representatives are supposed to express student opinions about various campus affairs. It is thus unfair to say that students do not have an outlet through which the district can learn of their opinions.—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Forum] In this age of “going green” and fighting pollution, the problem of light pollution is often overlooked in lieu of fuel-guzzling cars and deforestation. Light pollution, by definition, is “the adverse effects of artificial light.” Seemingly inconsequential due to its intangibility, light pollution has detrimental effects on both humanity and the natural environment. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Forum] Some people wonder about the meaning of life. Others wonder what happens when you die. Well, I also sit and ponder late into the night over a single question: why do guys sag their pants? It is a question to which I’ve never received a satisfactory answer. Okay, I definitely don’t waste valuable sleeping time over it. But haven’t most “non-saggers” wondered at some point? Whenever I ask guys why they sag, they respond with “gangsta” and “reppin’ da hood.” —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Features] For the month of April, the English department and Gunn’s literary magazine Pandora’s Box have celebrated National Poetry Month. English Instructional Supervisor Paul Dunlap says the main idea is to spark an interest in poetry in students.—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Sports] The Oracle staff takes a look at some sports teams at Gunn. —Sophie Cheng, Rupali Raju & Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Sports] Due to the uncertain economic climate, the Stanford University Athletic Department is considering cutting multiple sports this year including fencing. Cardinal Fencing Club (CFC) coaches offered to continue running the program without Stanford funding and without personal salaries, but the fencing team still faces the possibility of being cut. “We offered to self fund our budget (through the club and camps),” Stanford fencing head coach Lisa Posthumus wrote in an e-mail. “We cannot believe they would cut a sport that would self fund.” CFC is the only Division I fencing program in the entire western half of the U.S. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[News] California budget finally passed after months of stalemate—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Features] The Oracle surveyed 144 students and 50 staff members about the issue of sleep deprivation. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[News] To begin solving the current economic crisis, President Barack Obama’s economic plan has taken the center stage of his growing agenda. His stimulus package for immediate economic relief includes tax cuts for workers, relief for homeowners hit by the housing crisis and expansion of unemployment insurance. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Features] The Oracle staff explains the different art classes that are offered at Gunn. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Forum] The holiday season conjures thoughts of friends and family converging to share time together. And the anticipation of the material gifts we love to receive is a given—we don’t even think twice about receiving during the holidays. With a warm generosity inside, we all strive to make the too perfect ending of Frank Capra’s film It’s a Wonderful Life a reality. But honestly, that’s not realistic. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Features] From Nov. 17 to Nov. 21, Gunn’s student-run branch of the non-profit organization One Dollar for Life (ODFL) held its third annual fundraising drive. ODFL was founded in 2006 by Los Altos High School teacher Robert Freeman. The organization works with Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to work on small-scale infrastructure projects in third-world countries that promote self-sustainability.—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Sports] On the evening of Dec. 10, the Los Altos Eagles defeated the Titans 2-1 in the varsity girls’ seventh match of the season. Coach Ed Cervantes said that although Los Altos took the win, Gunn played well. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[News] College aid still available despite nation’s severe economic downturn—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Features] On Nov. 21, students will gather in the Student Activities Center from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m for Gunn’s first Culture Night. The idea was proposed by the Student Executive Council (SEC) Diversity Commissioners with the intent to promote cultural diversity on campus through a monthly social event. “Each month, we will host one night dedicated to a culture,” junior Diversity Commissioner Teklehaymanot “TK” Yilma said. “We will [plan the evenings in collaboration] with the students at Gunn from that culture.”—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[News] Anne Jensen recognized by French Consulate—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Forum] It is an accepted fact that there will be grade-year restrictions on some classes. If a freshman tried to enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) Psychology, he would be rejected because he is an underclassman. But what if a non-senior student has proven himself to be capable of handling a higher class? What if the student has taken the prerequisite courses and has a recommendation from a previous teacher? He would still be rejected because he is not a senior.—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Sports] The Oracle staff takes a look at sports diets. —Shaya Christensen, Mari Ju & Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Features] The Oracle interviews fresh faces at Gunn. —Sophie Cheng, Mari Ju, Alvin Man, Jeffrey Wang, Amy Yu & Sarah-Jean Zubair
[News] According to the American Petroleum Institute, gas prices have risen steadily by an average of 27.1 percent over the past five years. Statistics from the Energy Information Administration show that gas prices have recently leapt to a national average of $3.66 for all grades of gasoline. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Forum] When shoppers enter a supermarket, they often do not know where the produce they buy originates. They could be spending money on a clove of garlic laced with poisonous pesticides or week-old fruit gleaming beneath wax and artificial hormones. Why take such health risks when there are reputable farms adhering to California agricultural regulations within one’s own community?—Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Sports] The Oracle staff looks at some ways to stay fit over the summer.—Danielle Aspitz & Sarah-Jean Zubair
[News] Nearly a year after his passing, former Academic Center Coordinator Albert Hopkins was honored on April 4, which was designated as Albert Hopkins Memorial Day. Hopkins, who passed away June 30, 2007 from a heart attack, was commemorated with a bench dedication. —Sarah-Jean Zubair
[Forum] It is often disputed whether or not marijuana should be legalized for medicinal purposes. However, there is little reason to argue due to concrete, scientific evidence of marijuana’s negative side effects. The public is, unfortunately, widely unaware of these facts due to misconceptions about marijuana and its contents. —Sarah-Jean Zubair