Gunn High School's Student Newspaper
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[10/12] Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers with 5,000 teens ages 16 to 20 dying from fatal crashes anuualy. That may not sound like much given the size of the American population, but anyone could be a part of that statistic. In a society where every life counts, raising the driving age will help save lives in the future.
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[Forum] Getting the latest scoop—the scramble for the most luscious and deliciously satisfying morsels of information—is characteristic of tabloids today. However, there is a dark line between this paparazzi mentality of trying to ferret out any potentially publishable information and professional journalism. It is an ethical journalist’s duty to report accurate information from reliable and credible sources, while still respecting the interviewee’s privacy. In the modern day and age however, personal motives have often distorted such moral standards. Though journalism is a business, and competition for the best stories will always exist, journalists must maintain upheld ethics. —Linda Yu
[Forum] Most schools have little tolerance for substance abuse, on-campus violence or weapons and cyber-bullying. In such cases they resort to immediate disciplinary measures like suspension and expulsion. These shortsighted and draconian forms of punishment ultimately fail to discourage unethical behavior because they do more harm than good.—Regina Ahn
[Forum] Drug use and cheating are a pervasive problem in many high schools. Offenders are often rightfully punished with a quick lash of consequences. Cheating and drug use may seem like two completely different subjects, but they share similar concepts. Both are against the rules and, in most cases, can become habit forming if not dealt with quickly and firmly. Consequences of these infractions often entail contacting the student’s guardian, and in the case of drug use, could include police involvement. Harsh punishments should be given to students who break rules in order to teach them that their actions are unacceptable. —Colin Chen
[Forum] In the early 1920s, it was not uncommon for many white actors to mock African-Americans by donning makeup to make their skin tones look darker. These “blackface” actors enforced early stereotypes of African-Americans; living in squalid conditions, eating fried chicken and usually acting idiotic. While this blunt racism has been pushed out of the media, subtle racism remains prevalent and pernicious.—Arjun Bharadwaj
[Forum] No, I’m not referring to the common teenage reaction to academic stress or social drama. This is about the more vulgar practice of “freaking.” —Sophie Cheng
[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] Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers with 5,000 teens ages 16 to 20 dying from fatal crashes anuualy. That may not sound like much given the size of the American population, but anyone could be a part of that statistic. In a society where every life counts, raising the driving age will help save lives in the future.—Alvin Man
[Forum] Grades. Tests. Homework. APs. College. The very utterance of these words quickens heartbeats and causes students to groan with anxiety, fatigue or dread. They are the reasons why many sacrifice their social lives and free time in exchange for hitting the books. Grades are curious things—they can cause nervous breakdowns or elation, but most of the time they simply cause stress. In Gunn’s highly academic climate, grades can be a sensitive topic and consequently should be kept as confidential as possible.—Nicola Park
[Forum] Obama’s summer proposal poses a threat to personal growth and possible future success—
[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] I enjoy nice restaurants, good food and the soft music. I do not enjoy rude waiters who botch my orders and treat their mistakes with indifference. In most cases, waiters are tipped whether or not they deserve the tip. As the tip is generally a reflection of the level of the service received, diners should feel comfortable not leaving a tip if the service is poor. —Melissa Chan
[Forum] The topic of nuclear weaponry is often considered taboo. Taking the first steps in ending nuclear proliferation is a clear opportunity for the United States to demonstrate its diplomatic leadership, and to take a monumental step towards improving its global relations. In order for international security to be maintained, nuclear weapons must be safely eradicated. This, of course, will not be easy, and requires complete international commitment. —Eugenah Chou
[Forum] Americans have always valued freedom of choice as an inalienable right. However, the health care reform Obama is proposing will actually limit our health care options. Universal health care sounds great in theory, but the way Obama plans to meet reform demands is questionable. The fine print of the new plan indicates restrictions in choice of your own plan as well as on rewards for healthy living. We are in desperate need of reform, but there are other ways to change the system that will preserve the rights of the people. —Nicola Park
[Forum] The new Obama administration is finally bringing the U.S. health care system under scrutiny. The broken system is inefficient, has wrong intentions and is too costly. The price Americans pay for this hole-ridden system is more than just money—it’s American lives. The newly proposed bill is a step in the right direction to combat the ills in the health care system and ensure that Americans receive the treatment they need. —Joyce Liu
[Forum] Americans often view slavery as a thing of the past—something that has long ago been abolished. But the terrible truth is that slavery is more prominent today than it ever has been before. According to the 2009 State Department Trafficking in Persons Report, human trafficking is currently the world’s fastest growing industry.—Emily Zheng
[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] Faulty city plan seeks to bring automobile traffic down to a standstill to improve pedestrian safety—
[Forum] Gentlemen of Gunn High School! I am here to give the rallying cry for those of us who call ourselves true men. We have a crisis on our hands—a clothing pandemic so sinister, it threatens to change our common identity as upstanding males. The threat is clear to the collective dignity we hold dear! I speak of sagging pants.—Casey O'Connell
[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
[Forum] Decent people wear clothes to cover themselves up. Girls who wear too little clothing and show too much skin are the target of negative feedback. “Slut”, “skanky” and “whore” are just some adjectives commonly hurled at scantily clothed women. Frankly these are not words anyone would want to be associated with. So girls, cover up! —Alvin Man