Camp X-Ray Space X

Review Developments
Kristen Stewart confronts Elon Musk’s journey to
dehumanization in Guan- Mars.
tanamo Bay.
Forum - Page 3 News - Page 6

✦ e cineribus et ad abstra ✦
aPRil • vol. 36, sPRing issuE acton-boXboRough REgional high school www.thespectrumabrhs.com

Headlines
Good News
A break from depress-
ing current events.

Introduction -
Page 2

Appropriation vs.
Appreciation
Sometimes our good
intentions are
inappropriate.

Forum - Page 3

Internet and
Democracy
PSA: Don’t trust
everything you read
online.

News - Page 5

Evolving Fashion
One day you’re in,
the next day you’re out.

Awareness - Page 5 Photos from this year’s Science March in Boston.

NALA WU / Correspondent

French Elections
Besides croissants and
Trump’s Budget Against the Environment
By jasminE mangat of Defense, Homeland Security, claims that these agencies are for not living up to the administra-
baguettes, what’s going and Veterans Affairs. Budget cuts “lower priority,” but they are in fact tion’s promises. Yet the proposal
Editor-in-Chief
on in France? would take 54 billion dollars away of critical importance. According exemplifies how one leader’s ef-
from other programs, including to NASA, there is a 97% consen- forts could slow down the fight to
In 1916, Congress created the the EPA and similar initiatives that sus amongst scientists that global prevent a potential catastrophe.
National Park Service. In 1970,
Awareness - Page 5 President Nixon created the En-
raise awareness and take action warming is a phenomenon caused Among Americans, 70% believe
against climate change. Further, by humans. The EPA says that global warming currently exists and
vironmental Protection Agency the budget cuts halt former Presi- climate change has major effects 55% believe that it is mostly caused
(EPA) and Earth Day was cel-
The Patriots ebrated for the first time. In 2016,
dent Obama’s deal with the United on precipitation, crop conditions, by humans. Considering that most
Nations, in which the US pledged health, and ecosystems. These con- Americans are concerned about
Five-time Super Bowl then-presidential candidate Don- 3 billion dollars to the Green Cli- sequences of climate change will climate change, these budget cuts
winner and what else? ald Trump tweeted that the idea mate Fund to aid poorer countries impact many parts of the economy. go against not only science itself
of global warming “was created by in controlling rising temperatures. For example, with an increase in but also the beliefs of citizens. Dur-
and for the Chinese.” Not only will the budget stop temperature and natural disasters ing conflicts in which the leader
Regardless of President Trump’s
News - Page 6 blustering tweets, there is a great
agencies that spread awareness and each year, there will be a greater of the government’s beliefs do not
take actions to stop climate change, amount of structural and environ- align with those of the rest of the
deal of evidence that the Earth but it will also prevent funding for mental damage, affecting infra- country, it is hard to imagine where
is warming and that the cause is
Evolution of the human activity. Many organiza-
research. Research facilities such as structure and the safety of citizens. a citizen’s role in democracy lies
the Department of Energy, which Without sufficient government as they are unable to overrule the
AB Student tions have been working to clean helps programs develop advance- funding, efforts to prevent further administration’s priorities. With
up the environment and create a
From Freshman ments in clean energy, are the un- damage from climate change will an administration that does not
safer future, but it ultimately falls fortunate victims of these cutbacks. have limited success. support the EPA and a president
Backpack to to Trump, as commande, to shape In addition, smaller programs such The proposed budget cuts to that deems global warming to be a
Senior Slide policy on global warming. as the Great Lakes Restoration Ini- major environmental programs are Chinese hoax, the onus is on all of
Donald Trump’s 2017 budget tiative and Chesapeake Bay cleanup not a surprise from the Trump ad- us as citizens to protect the environ-
proposal for Congress fails to ad- efforts will suffer a severe decrease ministration. However, the budget ment, and, equally importantly, to
Off Topic - Page 8 dress this issue: it seems he wants in funding—the allotted spending is still only a proposal. Congress vote in the next elections.
to take a step back in global efforts for the cleanup of the bay, formerly ultimately has the power to decide
to prevent further damage to the cli- 73 million dollars, will decrease to 5 where government money goes,
mate. The proposal focuses govern- million dollars. and many Democrats and Repub-
ment funding on the Departments In the budget report, Trump licans have criticized the proposal See Awareness / page 4
 Intro
Page 2 The Spectrum April 2017

Letter from the EIC ed, and dedicated, and there are The Spectrum Olivia Marble
News Editor
By Poojitha Jonnavithula Samantha Whittle
Editor-in-Chief
so many of them! When I walked Founded 1982
into the Mac Lab today, I genuinely Forum Editor
Ahhh, spring. A time of re- thought another club had beaten us
e cineribus et ad abstra
birth, renewal, and runny noses. I to the computers. Yet, this is The
Jonathan Liu
think The Spectrum has grown the Spectrum now; we have members Pooji Jonnavithula Chief Layout Editor
most this season, and I’ve never who care about the paper and its Editor-in-Chief Copy Editors:
been more proud. As I write this success, and that alone makes me Mira Mulgund, Sydney Smith*, Kavya Uddaraju*
letter during our final layout day, happy.
I’m shocked at the numbers we’ve This issue’s theme is Awareness, Geo Lee
Photographers:
pulled in. The publicity and finance discussed in articles about race, the Chief Managing Editor
Luka Ilic, Olivia Olayiwole
team is giggling and planning away, role of media, fashion, and the en- Off Topic Editor
the layout editors are stress-eating, vironment. Each article tackles a Layout Editors:
the copy editors are going through different aspect of the world around Megan Zhou
Grace Du, Maxwell Kim*, Jessica Luo*
every. single. article. And the new us and how we all can make a dif- Chief Copy Editor
Editors-in-Chief are doing a phe- ference. I’ve truly enjoyed seeing Staff:
nomenal job of managing the entire new and old staff work together to Nithyani Anandakugan*, Annabella Chen, Katherine Chen,
crew. create a nuanced and balanced is- Genevieve Hammond
Michael Cheng, David Damiano, Sonali Deshpande, Ana
The new staff is tremendous— sue. We hope you enjoy this spring Faculty Advisor Escobedo, Matt Fleming, Serena Han*, Matt Jarvis, Kirtana
each member is so unique, talent- issue and learn something new! Krishnakumar*, Daven Lagu, Jasmine Mangat*, Ethan Mur-
36 Charter Road phy, Srija Nagireddy, Olivia Olayiwole, Akansha Pandey,
Acton, MA 01720 Anjali Raman*, Mila Rushkin, Shaina Sikka, Vera Tsang*,
Serena Verma, Alicia Wong, Michael Xu*
www.abspectrum.com *New Chief Staff

Good News not really care about you” by the ers in Nanjing will feature a vertical
By Olivia Marble
Washington Post have left cat lov- forest. Over 2,500 plants and 1,000
News Editor
ers devastated, but a new study trees will grow from the buildings.
Ban on Outdoor Advertising published in Behavioral Processes The greenery will absorb carbon
The French city Grenoble will may give them hope. The study dioxide, therefore reducing the
become the first city to totally ban showed that, when given the choice amount of smog.
outdoor advertising. The Green between social interaction, food, Building Solar Panels
Party mayor, Eric Piolle, plans to scent, or toys, cats were more likely Soon-to-be graduates, take note.
replace all of its billboards with to choose snuggling with their hu- Over 200 college students from fif-
trees and art. He made a public man. teen schools spent their spring break
statement that the billboards did Birds for Peace volunteering for Grid Alternatives,
not “[correspond] to the expecta- In times of division, nature can an organization that installs over
tions of the inhabitants who want bring us together. Farmers in Israel, 200 solar panels annually for low-
to reclaim public space,” according Palestine, and Jordan were using income families. The solar panels
to the Telegraph. About 326 adver- poison to kill rats, not realizing that save each family about 80% on their
tising signs will be removed, and lo- this poison was also killing preda- electric bill.
cal cultural and social groups will tory birds such as owls. Yossi Lesh- Sweaters for Chickens
be offered the free space. em created a project called “Birds Local retirees knitted sweat-
Back from Extinction Know No Boundaries” with the ers for chickens who struggled
After nearly half a century, a purpose of both protecting these against the winter cold. Erica
wild dog thought to be extinct was birds and encouraging communi- Max of the Mary M. B. Wake-
spotted in New Guinea. Dr. I. Lehr cation between people. Over the field Charitable Trust stumbled
Brisbin of the University of Geor- years, members of this organiza- upon women from the Fuller
gia conducted a rapid assessment tion have become good friends, a Village retirement home in Mil-
survey of isolated locations in the sign that there is hope for peace in ton selling their knitted goods at
mountains. He found that there are the Middle East. a local fair. She asked them to
still at least fifteen of these wild City Forests knit sweaters for the Malaysian
dogs, and he even caught a picture Chinese cities have found a cre- chickens at the Wakefield Estate.
of one of them. ative solution to their smog prob- The result? Fashionable, snuggly
Cats Love You lem. Architect Stefano Boeri has chickens, and a fun pastime for
Articles such as “Your cat might revealed that his plan for two tow- the ladies.
 Forum
April 2017 The Spectrum Page 3

Appropriation: When OMG You’ll NEVER Believe This!!

is it Appropriate?
By Alicia Wong Massachusetts, that’s not particu- demonizing the other side and ex-
larly a hard sell either. As of Feb- aggerating the story to fit the liberal
Correspondent
ruary 2016, excluding the unaffili- or conservative bias each site pan-
nature because she ultimately Since President Trump’s as- ated, the majority of Massachusetts ders to.
By Anjali Raman is aligned to the Democratic party- But really, sensationalist yel-
“dressed up” as an African Ameri- tounding victory, the media has
News Editor a whopping 1,490,335 compared low journalism like this has been
can for a day. Being black is not a been abuzz. Sensational political
costume for African Americans: it scandals light each page while his to 468,295 registered Republicans around since World War I. Do not
There is no denying that a mul-
is an identity. Non-black celebrities, Twitter feed explodes. It seems like (Commonwealth of Massachu- let it fool you now. Many of those
titude of cultures exists on our
on the other hand, who choose to the end of the free world is coming setts). Essentially, we are mostly a lost protesters are now asking what
planet. As a melting pot of tradi-
do blackface can simply become as each story flashes before our eyes. like-minded socially progressive, they can do. Many do not have
tions and ideas, the United States
“un-black” again. Blackface not “Gag order placed on the EPA!” democratic flock. a niche role, such as the lawyers
empowers and embraces other
only demeans African Americans: “ACA to be repealed!” “Russians Therefore, the titles that attract that now camp at airports to help
peoples and nations. However, in
it minimizes black experiences to a hacked our election!” “Wall to cost us are those of Tufts University’s inbound travelers stopped by the
a time when many consider them-
mere costume. In today’s day and over 25 billion!” “Travel Ban is- EPIIC symposium, “The End of travel ban. So, they sit, glued to
selves “aware”—especially pop cul-
age, African Americans still face sued!” “National Security Advisor the Liberal World Order.” Even the the screen, reading headline after
ture icons—people often take on or
the prejudice of centuries of rac- a threat to national security!” introductions of the event “Order headline of overblown news. Here
appropriate aspects of culture with-
ist legislature and ideology, from In the first few days, there were and Chaos” were clearly outlined is what you should do.
out fully understanding them. They
police brutality to institutional op- huge protests, highways were with the new populist movements We must realize that sensational-
display a lack of education at best;
pression. While the richness of Af- blocked, people called days off as the chaos the world is currently ist news is what takes up space from
otherwise, they exude disrespect.
rican American culture should be in protest: it was simply despair. facing. Attending this event, I re- actual, important information. To
Though some equate this appropri-
celebrated to the fullest extent, the This apocalyptic gloom that hung member a student saying that “[it’s simply name a few, while Trump
ation to acceptance, its message to
issues faced by the black commu- over the Democrats who voted for scary] that other people are seeing was blasting away on Twitter, and all
those who idolize these “aware” ce-
nity cannot be ignored. A culture Clinton seemed to magnify. These such a different America than real- major news sources eating up stories
lebrities creates undeniably stereo-
can’t be understood and properly events became the central focus of ity.” of it, while Conway sat awkwardly
typical visions of global cultures.
celebrated without an understand- the media, and it has only just be- BreitbartNews, pulled out of the on a couch and the internet blew up,
The Sydney Morning Herald de-
ing of the issues its people face. gun to die down. fringe by Trump’s election, panders the real legislative power in the gov-
fines cultural appropriation as “the
Lady Gaga received tremendous Yet, when all the tears and to its own audience. They put out ernment, our Congress, passed over
adoption of or use of the elements
amounts of backlash for her song screaming finished, and the protest- titles saying that if Obama had is- twenty bills in a few short months
of one culture by members of an-
“Aura” from the album ARTPOP. ers went home, what happened? sued the travel ban, it would be con- over controversial issues without any
other, resulting in the loss or dis-
The lyrics heavily sexualize Islamic Many people seemed exhausted. It stitutional, and that the refugees in major news coverage. From the de-
tortion of elements of the culture’s
women who wear a veil. Such lyr- was a cycle, and everything seemed Europe are all Muslim, and there- funding of Planned Parenthood, to
portrayal.” Nobody discourages
ics include, “Do you want to touch hopeless. More titles from the me- fore rapists. Yet, some are still sup- the disbanding of the Department
cultural appreciation. However,
me…behind the burqa?” Many dia continued to flood us. We were ported by legitimate interviews or of Education and the EPA by 2018,
critics discourage the unintended
Western lines of thought interpret told the Secretary of Education had other news sources. These articles, there have been major changes that
negative consequences of these acts
the veil as a means of dehumaniza- never so much as been in a public or news stories however, would are not well covered in the media be-
of appreciation.
tion. However, the burqa is a gar- school, the advisor of the White never appear on another site, such cause no one wants to read about it.
In the March 2017 Vogue shoot
ment that women choose to wear; House disgracefully had her feet on as CNN or MSNBC. I would bet As media stays biased and ful-
for the main spread of the “diversi-
it is neither a sign of oppression the couch, and also that our Presi- the latter two are frequented news fills its role in feeding us informa-
ty” issue, international supermodel
(unless enforced against the will of dent accused our former President sites by many of you, while few of tion it believes we, the consumers,
Karlie Kloss dressed as a geisha—a
the wearer) nor a sign of sexualiza- of wiretapping. you would even think to visit Breit- will buy, we must consult multiple
Japanese hostess trained to enter-
tion. The burqa and other veils cel- Something we forget is that me- bart or Fox News. sources before making any judge-
tain men with conversation, dance,
ebrate a private intimacy and faith. dia, and all other news sources, are After all, no one wants to hear ments and visit news stations that
and song. While some applauded
Additionally, after the 9/11 attacks, businesses. They have employees rationale regarding the other side: are either mostly impartial, or two
Vogue for their “inclusion” of other
many Islamic women faced threats and directors that need to make we want to hear about what we fear. on extreme ends. Most importantly,
cultures, many felt offended that
because of their coverings and their money. Our media delivers what Our news sources play to this, and we need to stop being the kind of
Kloss, a white woman, took on
associated religion: examples of a sells, and today with the polariza- while it may profit them, it slowly audience that makes it profitable to
the role. Her depiction contributes
culture that is unfamiliar to West- tion of parties, it consists of two wreaks havoc on the population. sell such inadequate journalism to;
to the overly sexualized and white-
erners. This ignorance leads to ste- things: ideas that we can agree with We become locked in our own echo we need to start investigating the
washed image Asian women hold
reotypical misinterpretations and or those that make us outraged. In chambers of sensationalist news, complete picture from all angles.
in Western culture. The Chicago

Camp X-Ray Movie Review

Monitor stated that “when [Karlie blanket statements of Muslims. In
Kloss] abuses her societal privilege this way, misunderstandings are
as a white woman and associates created, which is equally as harm-
geishas with unconditional love, ful as a photo shoot or a Halloween By Ana Escobedo
she reinforces the patriarchal and costume.
Entertainment Columnist
Orientalist idea that Asian women Celebrities often have a privilege
are passive, docile, and childlike in that many minorities do not—they
“I don’t know why you guys
their servitude to men.” There was can draw on an aspect of another
culture and abandon it when they - You don’t like to talk with us.
also outrage that no Asian women
were included in the spread, es- see fit. Close-minded ideas about You and us - we are both stuck
pecially in a diversity issue. Su- culture, like those propagated by here.” - Ali Amir
permodel Liu Wen, though not Vogue’s “diversity” issue, Hough’s
Japanese, did appear on the cover, Halloween costume, and Lady I was only two years old when
which led readers to question why Gaga’s “Aura,” create misinformed the planes crashed into the Twin
she was not offered the photoshoot. opinions of those who must already Towers. Despite not remember-
In 2013, Dancing With the Stars’ deal with preset obstacles. There- ing the event, I’ve been raised in a
Julianne Hough used Crazy Eyes, fore, the manner in which appreci- time where issues surrounding im-
an African American from Orange ation occurs must be examined. To migration, terrorism, and Islam are
is the New Black, for her Halloween be able to celebrate the world’s mul- the forefront of American policy Camp X-Ray is a film based on a dentention facility in Guantanamo Bay.
ONLINE SOURCE
costume. Hough’s costume includ- ticulturality is to be respectful and and media. Even with all the atten-
ed blackface, a means of darkening educated about different cultures’ tion dedicated to terrorist groups, tion facility operates in a moral from her fellow soldiers. One day,
the skin. The costume appeared practices; our world can become I know Middle Eastern terrorism gray area by keeping suspected ter- Corporal Randy Ransdell, Cole’s
comical, yet it was offensive in much richer in this way. only as a group of unidentifiable rorists in tiny cells indefinitely with- superior, forces her to watch Amir
faces. By focusing on an often for- out trial. Peyman Moaadi plays a shower, violating Standard Oper-
gotten war zone located in Guan- detainee, Ali Amir, who has been ating Procedure and Arabic social
tanamo Bay, Cuba, the film Camp imprisoned for years. He catches norms to make her uncomfort-
X-Ray forced me to remember that Cole off-guard by explaining that able. After Cole reports Ransdell,
a member of Al-Qaeda or ISIS is he was a university graduate in Ger- she finds that she has become the
as human as I am. Kristen Stew- many, and that after being taken to victim of the dehumanization. Her
art plays Amy Cole, a fresh recruit Guantanamo Bay, the only thing he commanding officer ignores Cole’s
shipped into the detention camp to has looked forward to is the release report of the breach, asks her, “Are
guard the inmates that have been of the final Harry Potter book. Both you a soldier, or are you a female
cut off from the surrounding world Cole and Amir suffer from their soldier?,” and moves her onto the
for years. We quickly get a sense own kinds of isolation, and they night shift as a form of punishment.
that Cole is almost as isolated as the find a human connection with the Cole realizes that she has been de-
people she’s guarding. person standing on the other side of nied justice as well and that in order
The movie opens by juxtaposing the chain-link fence. The film aims for the camp to run smoothly, every-
video footage of one of the Twin to show the conflicting sides of the one has to see themselves as a sol-
Towers on 9/11 with a Muslim war in the Middle East by casting dier first and a human being second.
man peacefully praying before be- the enemy in a different light. How Camp X-Ray is supposed to
ing abducted and forcefully taken to can we be “[h]onor bound to de- make the audience uncomfortable.
Guantanamo. Within five minutes fend freedom,” as Cole says each It forces us to face what we’ve been
of Camp X-Ray, director and writer morning, when the camp not only ignoring: the side of the war that is
Peter Sattler has reframed our ideas strives to strip away the detainees’ hidden away. The film has no an-
of who is terrorizing whom. The rights but their humanity itself ? swers for us. It makes today’s issues
rest of the film continues in this As Cole continues to connect more complex and some of Amer-
sense, focusing on how the deten- with Amir, she drifts further away ica’s past actions harder to defend.
Page 4 The Spectrum April 2017

Awareness
Trump’s Budget Against the
Environment (Continued)
Frontpage/ from page 1
The graphic to the
right shows the depart-
ments cut and the depart-
ments with increased
funds in Trump’s budget
proposal.
Considering that the
US already allocated a
large portion of its funds
to Defense and Home-
land Security and only
1% to Energy and Sci-
ence, it is surprising that
Trump wants to increase “Why... did [Brazil] fail to live up to its potential?”
ONLINE SOURCE
defense funding and
further cut departments
which assist with envi-
ronmental development.
Awareness of Brazil
This matter reflects the By matthEW jaRvis settlement used by the Iberian na-
flaws of Trump’s pro- Spectrum Staff tions, with the Spanish pillaging the
posal, which many feel Mesoamerican and Incan empires
does not reflect their Every force has an equal and op- for all of their riches and the Portu-
needs as the American posite reaction. However, the realm guese implementing brutal exploit-
people. of politics is an exception to this ative policies in Brazil, Africa, and
rule. There is no counterweight to the Eastern Indies.
Trump's overall budget proposal.
ONLINE SOURCE the United States’ power and global Brazil was founded as a series of
reach; it exists as the center of the captaincy colonies—disorganized
global system. Was this inevitable, operations characterized by rapa-
or was there a dark horse that could cious exploration and feudal “cap-
have overtaken the United States? tains”—solely to enrich the ruling
One must only look southward to families of the era. In the north,
find the answer. brutal taskmasters controlled vast
Brazil is the result of several plantations and killed slaves with
hundred years of Portuguese colo- impunity. The scale and brutality
nization and rapid settler expan- of these operations make the slav-
sion. It had issues with slavery—the ery of the United States look like
South was industrial and the North child’s play. The southern econo-
was slaveholding—and with native mies relied on the mining economy
Brazilians on the frontiers. In many of the state of Minas Gerais, and
ways, it is a richer country than the “Cafe com Leite” politics dominat-
United States. The average climate ed, with coffee and milk production
is warmer, allowing cultivation of a making up the remainder of the re-
wider variety of crops. The Sertão, gional economy.
the hinterlands between the jungle Notice here the lack of settler
and the coasts, are rich in mineral economies in any region of Brazil.
resources. In short, Brazil has a All who came to Brazil were driven
similar past to the United States by reasons of personal benefit or
and it is richer in natural resources. wished to advance Portuguese in-
Why, then, did it fail to live up to terests. The motive for settlement
its fullest potential in terms of mod- was fundamentally short-sighted
ern-day power? and failed to consider the future
People came to the United of the burgeoning country. The
States out of a desire to start fresh American colonies were envisioned
and build a new society, so the as places to be settled and lived in,
President Trump’s flawed environmental policies. colonies prospered. Despite its whereas Brazil was fundamentally
Annabella Chen / Cartoonist

A So-Called War on the Press

resource-poor location, Boston a money-making scheme for the
eventually became one of the larg- Portuguese Empire.
est cities in the British Empire. In In a place where there are vast
By nithyani anandakugan lack the necessary information and reviewing the case, the Supreme contrast, Jamestown in Virginia natural resources, a people power-
education. To this end, the press Court decided that the Constitution emerged because of a profit mo- ful enough to exploit them, and
Editor-in-Chief
informs the public. Its obstruction protects even false statements under tive. It quickly faltered and had to no effective opposition, settlers
“The leaks are real, the news is robs Americans of the ability to the First Amendment, so long as no rely on Native Americans’ help to can reap the benefits of the institu-
fake,” claimed Donald Trump in his contribute effectively to their na- intent to harm exists. The Court get by. Today, Boston is one of the tions created across the sea in their
February press conference. Trump tion: a hindered press limits the subsequently developed standards most important cities in the United homelands to dominate the new
condemned the media with the government’s full potential. Thus, of actual malice in press: defama- States, while Jamestown is super- land. The United States combined
hostile rhetoric typical of him since the press must remain free to pre- tion and libel are protected under seded by the nearby suburban city the political and cultural heritages
his electoral victory. As Trump per- serve a functional democracy. the presumption that the writer of Hampton, a strip-mall-studded of England and other European na-
ceives dishonesty in reporters, his And so it has. Standards of free intended no harm and showed no wreck. tions with the resources needed to
distaste for the news has grown. He press have evolved through his- “reckless disregard” of evidence. The fundamental difference be- build the most powerful empire in
has labelled The New York Times as tory. The majority opinion of New This development lifted restrictions tween settler colonies and profit- the history of the world. Brazil had
“failing” and called the media “the York Times v. Sullivan, for instance, on the press, thus encouraging re- driven colonies is that the former all the resources of America, but
enemy of the people.” He has dam- expanded the media’s rights and porters to inform the public more looks to the long term, while the was not settled to exploit them to
aged its reputation. In short, he has favored more liberty in reporting. freely. latter seeks to exploit the land as a maximal effect. Therefore, Brazil
launched a war on the press. In this landmark case, Officer L. B. Today, the press is essential to much as possible. The profit-driven could never reach the commanding
Donald Trump has repeatedly Sullivan sued The New York Times American democracy. With rising colony was the primary method of height of the United States in terms
taken to Twitter to berate report- for an advertisement that suggested tensions between national leaders
ers, particularly those who criticize that Martin Luther King Jr.’s arrest and reporters, the media suffers
him. His anti-media attitude threat- was intended to deter his efforts in threats to its credibility. Although
ens the free press. US government the Civil Rights Movement. Sulli- President Trump condemns and
depends on an educated public; van argued that the New York Times undermines the media, it must per-
without democratized access to the piece attacked him personally, and sist in its purpose—to convey news
news, Americans cannot partici- Alabama law allowed him to assert and educate the public. The in-
pate in their society because they these claims without proof. Upon creased presence of falsehoods and
“alternative facts” has added new
depth to the media. It becomes the
only filter to public understanding
of current events and social issues.
The free press is key to a func-
tional society: it must prevail.
The free press is key to a functional society.
ONLINE SOURCE
April 2017 The Spectrum Page 5

Awareness
Modern Inclusion in Fashion Orchestra Group including her experience at R.J.
By Olivia Olayiwole By Micheal Xu
Grey. But she has more than just a
Fashion Columnist Off Topic Editor
passion for strings: “I’m a mom, a
triathlon and race enthusiast, and
“As you know in fashion, one The AB Orchestra—the startup I love sailing and skiing” is her
day you’re in, and the next day group of eleven students and a new description of herself. One of her
you’re out,” says Heidi Klum in teacher as a conductor—has per- hopes for the future is “to grow the
pretty much every episode of her formed at two exhilarating venues program and expose string players
show, Project Runway. It’s a quote thus far. This new elective class was to a variety of quality music so they
that testifies to the fickle and capri- created when the superintendent love it for their whole lives.”
cious nature of the fashion indus- requested a string group based on Ms. Greene currently leads the
try. The fashion industry is, in fact, the feedback of students and par- orchestra group and the middle
fickle, and it’s always been known ents who played string instruments. school group over at R.J. Grey.
to be a hard industry to get into. When there was no immediate ac- Although the group is small now,
However, recently that has begun tion, the students took charge and participation and overall aware-
to change. Even though 2016 may created the club Eat, Play, Love. As ness will surely grow. String in-
probably be remembered as a hor- a member said, “It was a big factor strument lessons begin in middle
rible year by a majority of people, Natural hair appreciation in mainstream media. showing that there were students at schools, and usually participation
many good things have come out of ONLINE SOURCE AB that wanted to play together. It decreases each year, but AB has be-
the year as well, one of them being with Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, does today. It has never been con- basically showed that we needed gun to embrace the string program.
inclusion in the fashion industry. Cushnie et Ochs Carly Cushnie and sidered beautiful because it does not an orchestra.” Eat, Play, Love was Sarah Jackman, a current senior
Over the last few years, and in 2016 Michelle Ochs, and Hood By Air’s always appear long and straight, as started by a former senior who at ABRHS, said that music usu-
especially, more people of varying Shayne Oliver. This also includes a majority of other ethnic hair types wanted to play music with others ally “starts from younger kids,” and
color and sizes have participated celebrities like Kanye West with do. I remember as a young girl feel- that would also enjoy it. Those the new program encouraged those
in fashion shows than ever before. his Yeezy line and Rihanna with ing fear of being judged every time who participate in the orchestra who admired the middle school
This is socially progressive because her partnership with Puma, Fen- I wore my natural hair to school, and Eat, Play, Love are examples program to convince the superin-
the true state of diversity is over- tyxPuma. Models have been able but thankfully, things are moving of the dedication and the amount tendent to invest in strings. Sarah
looked too often, and historically, to change the fashion industry as forward. All of this shows incred- of hard work that students are will- said that “it shows the impact that
people with “typical” qualities are well. Ashley Graham became be- ible change in the fashion industry, ing to go through to do something students can have,” and the fact
made to be presented as more beau- came the first plus-sized model to change that many have been proud they love. Schoolwork may be chal- that students could make such a
tiful than others. In the most recent be on the cover of Sports Illustrated, to see. lenging and midyears may be stress- significant change brings hope for
New York Fashion Week, every and Liu Wen became China’s first While this is amazing progress, ful, but ultimately, people just want the future. When she heard the an-
show included at least one person supermodel. In the NYFW show there’s still quite a long way for the to do something that makes them nouncement that there would be an
of color as a model. This is a first in for Gypsy Sport, 87% were models industry to go. In the New York happy. orchestra, she stated, “I was really
the history of runway shows. While of color. Maria Borges became the Fashion Week, there were only 60 In prior years, the music depart- happy. I texted my private lessons
this is a sad fact, it shows progress, first woman to walk a Victoria Se- shows out of 260 shows with de- ment was flooded with band stu- violin teacher and she said that she
awareness, and increasing inclusion cret Runway with her natural hair. signers of color and 4 major brands dents wanting to participate in the was really happy for me.”
in the fashion industry. For as long as anyone can remem- out of 260 with black designers. well-known marching band and The orchestra club provides a
In addition, many more design- ber, genetically African hair has ex- That isn’t enough. Hopefully, in the band class. The instructor for the stress-free environment for students
ers of color are designing and ex- perienced discrimination as well as future we can expect more change music program, Mr. Hickey, also who love music, and it all sparked
hibiting at Fashion Week, such as cultural appropriation, and it still and more diverse fashion shows. leads the band program, but the from the club Eat, Play, Love. To

The Internet & Our Democracy

new string program has introduced those who are now part of the or-
a new conductor, Ms. Greene. This chestra and the club, it is clear that
is her fifth year teaching strings, anything can happen as long as you

French Elections
By Serena Han
Publicity and Finance
manifesto focuses on French citi-
The internet provides a wide By Micheal Cheng zens over foreigners; however, her
platform for citizens to freely share Correspondent view is the opposite of EU policy.
information. As a library of infor- The National Front is suspected by
mation with practically everything French politics is under a great the media to be anti-Islamic and
we know, the internet encourages deal of stress due to the upcoming anti-semitic. However, the recent
democracy: the more knowledge- election. Populism is now prevalent attacks in Paris and Nice have in
able the general public, the more it in Western politics and is supported fact led to chaos, increased anti-
can challenge or criticize its govern- by many radicals that destroy the Islamic sentiment, and augmented
ment. Many dictatorships prevent traditional liberal approach to gov- greater support for Le Pen. Along
free access to the web, while oth- ernment. The new form of cam- with the recent election of Donald
ers censor information that could “Social media outlets do all they can to maintain power.” paign promises are an attempt to Trump in America, this election
ONLINE SOURCE
lead to potential uprisings. Under attract dissatisfied working class cit- may set a precedent for the rest of
Obama’s presidency, the Federal sentially manipulates the news per- received more social media cov- izens towards an extreme political the western world.
Communications Commission cre- ceived by the public. Political posts erage than news like this, which view. While it may seem ridiculous, Victory is possible for Le Pen be-
ated laws that enforce net neutral- mirror your and your social circle’s threatens our steps toward net neu- this is now the reality that we live in. cause public approval of the current
ity, the principle that Internet ser- views. We gravitate toward people trality and democracy offline. The citizens are not pleased,and are government—President Hollande’s
vice providers should enable access with similar interests, so the same Social media outlets do all they attempting to change the political party—has drastically sunk, caus-
to all online information. Though biased articles circle among the can to maintain power. In the ever- atmosphere. Unfortunately, change ing it to fall into disarray. Hollande
the Obama administration pushed same group of people. Facebook competitive internet market, even usually comes in shocks to the sys- is the first president since the World
for an open internet, social media further divides social groups: Dem- Twitter and Instagram switched tem as opposed to gradual changes War II to not seek reelection; only
continues to manipulate our “free” ocrats and Republicans, Christians from chronological feeds to ones in this age of political chaos. 4% of French citizens reported to
access to information. and Muslims, the poor and the rich. that resemble Facebook’s as of Most of Western Europe has re- be satisfied with his leadership, it
Early developers designed the After Barack Obama left the 2016. Due to how easy it is to scroll cently seen or is seeing right wing seems a wise decision. Accordingly,
network to be a “dumb net,” com- White House, we’ve gone back- down newsfeeds, this algorithm dis- politicians running campaigns on party leaders have decided to boy-
pletely ignorant of what its netizens ward in the net neutrality effort. tracts users from interpreting the anti-immigrant and nationalist plat- cott their own primaries and sup-
did. The idea was to encourage Trump recently signed a bill that sociopolitical landscape for them- forms, threatening international co- port former economic minister Em-
free expression, but companies like will allow internet service provid- selves. operation and endangering the EU manuel Macron instead. Macron
Google, Apple, and Facebook now ers to sell private data to the highest Our actions seem rather absurd in the process. Stability may exist in is campaigning as an independent
hold immense control over the web. bidder. They no longer need cus- when we find ourselves reading Germany due to Chancellor Angela and is one of the few candidates
In order to maintain their power, tomers’ permission to use data like Trump tweets at 1 a.m. on a Satur- Merkel’s calm administration, but unaffected by controversy. How-
they promote certain products and browsing history and medical infor- day night. Social media engineers in France this is not the case. Alle- ever, he has never won an election
try to keep users on the sites, acting mation in targeted ads. By breach- should be applauded for their abil- gations of corruption and mistrust for public office, raising concerns
as barriers between messages the ing internet users’ privacy, these ity to keep you on the site. But as have resulted in startling develop- about his ability to rally voters.
users can receive. Although these providers will join social media in writer Zeynep Tufekci stated, “it ments. Current Républicains leader Despite that lack of experience,
companies’ efforts to entertain us- tailoring what users see in ads and really feels like a waste to have this François Fillon is facing charges he has won the first round of vot-
ers are justifiable, they can shape even search results. much intelligence and smarts being for embezzlement. The politician ing, along with Marine Le Pen: as
the public’s general knowledge by As more users rely on Facebook used to figure out how to keep you is accused of illegally taking tax- no candidate captured a majority of
tweaking a few lines of code. for news, their political knowledge clicking on ten more . . . videos.” payer money to pay his wife and the popular vote, the two will face
Facebook has an ever-changing grows distorted. Facebook users are Every source has a bias. Easily- children hundreds of thousands of off in a runoff election on May 7th.
algorithm to keep its users. To de- already surrounded with opinions manipulated social media only euros for work that was never done. Most polls have Macron winning
termine what people see on their that reinforce their own. Under causes a user’s news to gravitate Previously favored to win reeclec- the presidency.
feeds, Facebook notes what a user conditions where their ideals fail toward his or her own end of the tion, these claims tanked Fillon’s After the April 20th Champs-
and their friends “like” the most to be challenged, there is potential spectrum. We need to reconsider chances and created a competitive Elysées shooting, Le Pen advocated
and uses that data to anticipate for an echo chamber of extremist how we retain news, and how heav- election season with several popu- for the closing of all “Islamist”
what that user will “like” in the fu- ideas to emerge. Instead of protest- ily we rely on social media to learn lar candidates. mosques in the country. If she is
ture, so it can show you similar con- ing Trump’s new legislation, many about it. The internet grants us the Marine Le Pen of the National elected, it will cement the recent
tent. Because nearly 50% of adults users are distracted by more minor power to maintain and improve our Front and Emmanuel Macron of rightward shift in global politics
report using Facebook as a news controversies. His accusation that democracy, but it gives us no direc- the independent party En Marche! and make nationlist policies the
source, this simple algorithm es- Obama wiretapped his microwave tion toward that ultimate goal. led the subsequent polls. Le Pen’s new norm.
 News
Page 26 The Spectrum
The Spectrum January
April 2008
2017

Patriots and President Trump come up for discussion over the last
Varsity Basketball
By Michael Cheng up. AB was a daring contender, but
few years, and it happened again
Spectrum Staff for this spectacular feat, AB needed
in mid-January when Trump said
a miracle that did not materialize.
that he received a call from Brady The fans in the parking lot be- Despite this ending, the players
before Inauguration Day. Brady fore the basketball game reminded and the crowd will be ingrained in
responded by expressing his inabil- us of the “glory days” when AB memory as a symbol of what the
ity to understand why people are culture revolved around sports. Ev- AB community can be in the future
interested that he and Trump have eryone came to support them. Even if we come together.
called each other in the past. People though Franklin was a highway’s With the amount of seniors
are interested in Trump and Brady’s drive away, people showed up. For leaving, next year will be painful in
friendship because it could cause pizza or other reasons, the Colo- some respects, but the team will still
backlash from New Englanders nials were crazy, at least for one be intact. Returning sophomore
who support Hillary Clinton but night. starting point guard Austin Zhou
cheer on the Patriots. This outlook And what a game we saw. We will be asked to take on a leader-
may not be as black and white as as fans and AB students were able ship role that is left by Giaconia,
it seems: some people believe that to witness what comes by once ev- Maddox, and Rogers in particular.
their favorite athletes should share ery so often—a season for everyone Size up front will become a prob-
the same beliefs as them, solely to cheer for. This team was led by lem next year as all three forwards
History: Trump and Brady before a game at Gillette Stadium in 2004. based on the fact that they support, a great group of seniors, with cap-
ONLINE SOURCE on the varsity squad this season are
or play on, the same team. Consid- tains DCL All-Star and team MVP gone—Rogers, Maddox, and Didi
By Niraagi Shah way to the first overtime in the his- ering that New England is one of Luke Rogers, who gave the Colo- Mathelier—but the crowd is com-
Sports Columnist tory of the NFL championship. the more liberal areas of the US, nials’ season late life vs. Franklin ing, and it could be here to stay. I
Brady and the offense kept it up in this ideology has caused tension with an 8-0 in the final quarter of was not at that penultimate game,
By the end of the first half of overtime, scoring a touchdown on among fans of the Patriots. the season, and Jack Maddox, a but I wish that I was, because it had
Super Bowl LI, it seemed clear the team’s first drive. That was it: Six members of the New Eng- consistent shooter and player who the sports fan’s dream community.
that the Atlanta Falcons would the end. The New England Patriots land Patriots said they wouldn’t gave everything he had every night. A team that you could believe in
take home the coveted ring. The executed a comeback for the ages, make the customary trip to the Overall, it was ultimately the fans, that responded to adversity: what
Falcons had a score of 21, while and Belichick and Brady received White House. Those Patriots are cheering for a team that was play- more can you wish for?
the Patriots only managed a single their fifth Super Bowl ring. tight end Martellus Bennett, safe- ing its best ball late in the season, In a game of this magnitude, a
field goal. The game continued that President Donald Trump ty Devin McCourty, linebacker that made it a season to remember. community emerges from a place
way for three quarters: Tom Brady echoed the sentiment of many Dont’a Hightower, defensive end In the first game of the season, I where the fortunes of the team and
couldn’t connect with Julian Edel- Americans after the New England Chris Long, running back LeGar- asked a friend and one of the team the fortunes of the fans are linked
man, and their first touchdown Patriots pulled off this stunning up- rette Blount and defensive tackle broadcasters (for Acton local cable and become one. There was a col-
was scored without Stephen Gos- set, tweeting: “What an amazing Alan Branch. Bennett realized that TV) in the stands of East Boston lective AB, not divided by an idea
tkowski’s extra point. When the comeback and win by the Patriots. they do not need to “bring [differ- high school whether this would be a or a grouping of people. And in
Patriots seemingly started to re- Tom Brady, Bob Kraft and Coach ent political views] to work” and “bridge year.” I was proven wrong. the wake of that experience, the
cover, barely six minutes were left B are total winners. Wow!” In an they should instead “accept people From the first defeat there at the fans can grow and bond, because
in the game. Brady and his offense interview with Bill O’Reilly, Trump for who they are.” Two others felt buzzer at Newton South, followed in this era of AB social life, dances
took every opportunity to strike, predicted the Patriots would win that the President’s “opinions by the Triple OT slog that was the are cancelled due to lack of inter-
inching closer to their opponents. by eight points. And he was shock- and prejudice” prevented them Waltham game the next night, this est, niches are carved out instead
It almost appeared as though they ingly close—New England won from feeling “accepted in the team won me over with their deter- of groups, and in reality we would
used magic to stop time and make 34-28, a six point difference. “I like White House” (McCourty) or mination. They closed the season in all rather be anywhere else than sit-
the necessary plays to pull off an [Patriots owner] Bob Kraft…Coach “welcome [there]” (Blount). The a favorable position and went into a ting around and trying to be cordial
unexpected victory. Although New Belichick and Tom Brady is my last three believed the visit would road game in the playoffs, beating with people we have never truly
England was favored going into the friend,” Trump told O’Reilly. The not be the best use of their time. the team with pure 50/50 hustle cared about.
game, a comeback, especially after president repeated his praise for the Nevertheless, Robert Kraft dis- plays. We all saw them claw for it, Though the team lost and the
lagging behind several touchdowns, three men after the Patriots pulled missed certain players’ reactions: and that’s why, when they had three crowds left shaking their heads at
was not what people expected. But off the greatest comeback in Super “Every time we’ve had the privi- minutes left, the fans still hadn’t left. what could have been, AB became,
a touchdown after the two-minute Bowl history. lege of going to the White House, We believed they could still fight for for one night to remember, some-
warning led to a two-point conver- Patriots quarterback Tom a dozen of our players don’t go. it. The only problem was that, for a thing greater than a collection of
sion. With less than a minute left, Brady’s relationship with President This is the first time it’s gotten 19-2 team, Franklin had a lot more clubs, coalitions and sports teams—
Super Bowl LI was tied and on its Donald Trump has occasionally any media attention.” pure ability than AB could muster a school with a community.

Developments in Space Travel nounced to take place in 2013, and will be the most powerful rocket
Food Extinction
By Srija Nagireddy
its maiden flight is now scheduled ever built by NASA. Currently, the
Spectrum Staff By Mila Rushkin Roche Brothers. So, what should
for this summer. Additionally, the SLS is scheduled for an unmanned
you expect?
The Mars trip will be delayed. rocket has not been deemed safe for flight in late 2018, but the possibil- Food Columnist
First of all, your favorite el-
After all, Elon Musk’s projections astronauts by NASA. ity of having a crew on it has arised, When was the last time you had ementary school lunch is now in
were extremely optimistic, and SpaceX is not the only organiza- which would push back the launch your favorite chocolate bar or ate danger. Peanuts are one of the most
humans and space are not exactly tion with goals of getting humans date. avocado toast for breakfast? Watch picky foods when it comes to tem-
compatible. But humanity is clos- on Mars in the near future. NASA Space travel is rapidly revolu- out—in a few years you might not perature and the water needed to
er than ever before to achieving has plans to send astronauts on ex- tionizing. Milestones like journey- be able eat chocolate chip cookies harvest them: they need a consis-
some of its most out-of-this-world peditions to the red planet in the ing to Mars are now just within anymore because of how difficult tent temperature over the course of
dreams, and, according to Musk, 2020s. These expeditions will be our grasp. With the work of both it is to farm chocolate. Even your five months and an average of 20-
we could make major progress by conducted to determine human private companies and the govern- favorite morning smoothie may 40 inches of rainfall. With global
2018. readiness for colonization. The ment, the future of humanity is not require new ingredients, as fruits warming, temperatures and rainfall
The official website claims that astronauts will be carried by the simply limited to Earth, but rather like bananas and strawberries are have become inconsistent, which
SpaceX is an independent space Space Launch System (SLS), which it also expands to planets previous- becoming scarce. puts peanuts at risk.
travel company “with the ultimate Global warming is the major Also, what’s better than some
goal of enabling people to live on factor causing this food epidemic. chips and guac? Guacamole is a
other planets.” Headed by Elon Although this is a term many have party essential and probably one of
Musk, this company has made am- heard before, few consider its major the best appetizers of all time, but
bitious plans to eventually send hu- effects on the food industry. Due to avocados are yet another food at
mans to colonize Mars, and they are the specific temperatures needed to risk because of extinction. Califor-
now planning to make the first step. grow most food products, global nia is the main avocado producer
The plan of sending customers past warming has caused many prob- in the world, but due to the recent
low Earth orbit for the first time in lems. Rising temperature especially drought and overall decrease in
more than 40 years would also be affects crops in colder climates, as it rainfall, the production of avocados
a first for a private company. In a reduces the amount of pests killed has been reduced.
recent conference call with report- by the cold. Droughts are also a Additionally, there is nothing
ers, Elon Musk announced plans problem that comes hand in hand like a good trip to Dunkin’, but
to send two paying tourists around with global warming—farmers coffee businesses like Dunkin’ and
the moon and back next year. The who usually depend on rainfall to Starbucks may not be around for
customers would be carried by provide water for their crops now too long. Due to changing weather
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, may have to pay for irrigation sys- patterns, pest infestations, and de-
traveling in one of their Dragon 2 tems. Some farmers may not be forestation, coffee may cease to be
capsules. While the capsules are able to afford an irrigation system an everyday drink.
automated, the tourists would still and will suffer an overall decrease Even though your favorite foods
be trained in basic emergency pro- in crop production. In turn, for the may be endangered, if the global
cedures for safety. As amazing as food industry, the prices of foods community works to counteract
this may seem, SpaceX has a histo- that are affected by global warming global warming, we can prevent
ry of not staying on schedule. The will increase, and you may have to extinction and ensure that your
Falcon Heavy journey was first an- The end goal of the SpaceX program is to colonize Mars.
ONLINE SOURCE pay a lot more on your next trip to beloved PB&J sandwiches will sur-
 News
April 2017 The Spectrum Page 7

Qualified Immunity The Demise of Uyghurstan

immunity for police officers. By
By Katherine Chen By David Damiano graphic of the province, incentiv- Such statements are quite harmful
Cornell Law definition, qualified
Politics Columnist World View Columnist izing Han Chinese to migrate to to the ETIM’s cause and thus give
immunity “protects government
the border state. The government’s legitimacy to President Xi Jinping’s
officials from lawsuits alleging that
To what extent is terrorism jus- programs seem to ostensibly benefit calls for a “great wall of iron” to
Police brutality is not a new they violated plaintiffs’ rights, only
tified? Even posing this question is Xinjiang, as they have implemented combat the ETIM.
issue, but amidst the contempo- allowing suits where officials vio-
taboo. Yet asking if it is justified for some of the most liberal reforms in The Uyghurs’ grievances are not
rary social, political, and cultural lated a ‘clearly established’ statu-
one to fight for their country’s inde- the country to attract technically unjust and are worthy of discus-
climate, it is one that has recently tory or constitutional right.” Many
pendence would never have such a talented and economically pros- sion. The label of terrorism, howev-
drawn heated controversy. Count- argue that maintaining current
connotation. We naturally consider perous Chinese. Yet many see the er, serves the Chinese well as it halts
less incidents of police violence standards of qualified immunity for
these concepts as unrelated—inde- reforms as an attempt to methodi- any further discussion on the sub-
have deeply affected the United police officers is essential to an ef-
pendence is a noble cause for the cally eradicate the Uyghurs. As ject. Yet how else will the Uyghurs
States at a national level. There fective police force. Fearing the bur-
liberation of those under oppres- it currently stands, the Uyghurs gain attention to their cause? Their
are clear underlying issues linked den of potential legal issues, many
sion, while terrorism is intended make up the majority in South Xin- land is remote and insignificant to
to police brutality that extend be- police would be more hesitant to
to harm others. In East Turkestan, jiang, while Han Chinese are the the western world and is unlikely to
yond its devastating aftermaths. To act with force, even if it would be
however, the distinction between majority in the more urban North ever garner significant international
understand these issues, we must effective in the particular situation.
these two concepts is less clear. East Xinjiang. James Leibold, an asso- attention from the United States
consider the experiences and influ- However, allowing for spontaneous
Turkestan is the largest and eastern- ciate professor and expert on Chi- or Europe. Furthermore, China’s
ences that shape the officers behind action comes with clear downfalls.
most region in China. Perhaps be- nese ethnic relations at Australia’s government has complete control
the gun. Many are advocating against the
cause of this, Xinjiang province— La Trobe University, believes that over the media and society, render-
The direct link between police police’s “safety cushion,” believ-
as it is called by the Chinese—has “[the] hukou reforms are about try- ing null any potential for news on
discrimination and minority op- ing that doing so would minimize
very few similarities with the rest of ing to encourage Han migration to this subject to spread throughout
pression has been proven time and irrational decisions by holding po-
the country. southern Xinjiang, even though it’s China. The government will never
time again. Practices such as stop- lice officers accountable for their
The natives of East Turkestan not phrased in that way,” and that yield to the ETIM’s demands and
and-frisk grant police the right to actions.
are the Uyghurs (pronounced wih- “[the] idea behind that is to encour- it will never be challenged on this
detain those who they believe are Movements regarding contem-
gerz), a Turkic people that practices age more inter-ethnic mingling and matter.
armed and dangerous. Although porary police brutality have arisen
Islam. Their inclusion in the Peo- hopefully by bringing more Han, A more academic approach to
the practice is reasonable at its core, to challenge current standards of
ple’s Republic of China can mostly the quality and the civilisation of this dilemma does provide some
the fundamental problem is the in- discriminatory police violence.
be attributed to their proximity southern Xinjiang will increase.” positivity. Conflict is always de-
herent bias against racial minori- Amongst these is Black Lives Mat-
rather than any cultural affiliation. These reforms, while veiled rived from differences amongst two
ties: such privileges empower police ter, which promotes recognition
Consequently, the population is still by the promise of prosperity, are or more groups—whether differ-
to detain individuals based on their of the broken police-citizen sys-
bitter about its annexation into the ominously congruent with more ences of religion, political ideology,
race. The New York Times presents tem and exposes accompanying
Republic in 1949 and the subse- blatant examples of ethnic cleans- or race. Culture is by far the most
statistics that indicate the dispro- discrimination towards people of
quent actions taken by the govern- ing. Regardless of how often or common source of conflict and is
portionate targeting of racial mi- color.
ment that have been perceived as a how firmly the government denies the reason for the splintered and
norities; it further reveals the highly With many successful move-
sort of ethnic cleansing. In 1955, this accusation, many Uyghurs per- jagged world map we have today.
problematic correlations between ments and campaigns comes back-
Uyghurs composed 71% of the pop- ceive themselves as the victims of As morbid as it may sound, having
the police force and structural op- lash, and Black Lives Matter is no
ulation, while today they make up Chinese aggression and have tak- an excess of different cultures has
pression. Despite Chicago’s equal exception. Counter movements
less than half of the population and en it upon themselves to see East never been beneficial to human-
white, black, and hispanic popula- such as “All Lives Matter” or
only 12.8% of the capital, Ürümqi. Turkestan free of China. However, ity as a whole. There are only two
tions, 74% of people shot by the po- “Blue Lives Matter” are built upon
The importance that Xinjiang this group’s (the East Turkestan paths that a culture can take when
lice from 2008 to 2015 were black. a foundation of misconception.
holds for Beijing increased follow- Islamic Movement, ETIM) meth- it is under threat of extinction: syn-
In addition, 46% of people stopped Black Lives Matter does not deny
ing the Soviet invasion of Afghani- ods are hard to condone, and it has thesis with the dominant culture
at traffic in 2013 were black as well. racial majorities rights, but rather,
stan in 1979, which was perceived consequently seen itself labeled as or eradication. The strength of na-
Solutions are being proposed to focuses on creating equal treatment
as an attempt by the Russians to a terrorist organization. In a video tionalism often pulls most towards
combat such conflicts in the police for people of color and fighting for
encircle China. In order to reduce put out by ISIS, a Uyghur militant the latter and more violent path,
force, including limiting qualified equality.
the chance that the Russians could vowed to return home and de- as it has done with the Uyghurs. It

Trade Protectionism
stir the sympathies of the Uyghurs clared, “In retaliation for the tears remains to be seen if the Uyghurs
in the region and gain control over that flow from the eyes of the op- and ETIM can salvage their culture,
Xinjiang province, the government pressed we will make your blood or if they will eventually fade into
make products for the best com- has attempted to change the demo- flow in rivers, by the will of God.” history.
By Ethan Murphy
panies, to ship to the highest con-
Correspondent

Aleppo: Syrian Refugee Crisis

sumers, without threat of tariffs
These days, it is hard to venture or other taxes. But this is not true.
into the world of politics without Even though the US started to trade
encountering debates over trade openly with China in the 1970s, the
policy. Some people, known as glo- opened Chinese market still affects ated such a huge gap between the Assad regime “animals” before kill-
By Vera Tsang
balists, endorse free trade among all American workers today. Accord- wealthy and the poor that citizens ing herself in order to avoid rape.
countries with the philosophy that a ing to a study published last year Forum Editor
protested. They wanted social jus- Buildings are being bombed, citi-
global market will lower prices and in the Annual Review of Economics, tice, political reform, democratic zens are killed or severely injured,
increase quality worldwide. Oth- the low-skill labor markets influ- On September 8th, 2016, Liber- representation, and more freedom. and many cannot find hospitals or
ers, known as protectionists, seek enced by job outsourcing has yet tarian presidential candidate Gary The government didn’t respond afford anaesthesia for surgery. Of-
to create trade agreements that al- to stabilize decades after the initial Johnson was interviewed on the positively. In fact, those who dared ten, civilians lose their homes, be-
low their economies and workers to job losses. Because most companies Morning Joe, a morning talk show to speak out were publicly tortured coming refugees as they seek shel-
come out on top. Donald Trump’s outsourced some jobs to the Asian well known for discussing political or even executed. In a well known ter.
campaign promised greater protec- markets, workers that would nor- issues. Everything was going well case, a 13-year old boy named The number of refugees from
tionism as one of its core principles. mally find jobs at other factories until a question was asked regard- Hamza al-Khatib was captured Syria began to quickly increase.
Naturally, there has been contro- are left jumping between temporary ing Aleppo. Instead of giving an and tortured by the Assad-regime As of 2016, about 11 million Syr-
versy over what America’s stance jobs to make ends meet, putting an articulate, confident answer, John- before being killed with three bul- ians have left their homes, and 13.5
on global trade should be, but one strain on the federal welfare sys- son stared blankly before popping lets. Slowly, the violence between million who remain in the coun-
thing remains clear: the USA is los- tem. Not only does free trade only the question: “What is Aleppo?” civilians and the government grew, try still need help. Countries such
ing on the trade front and our poli- impact the livelihood of individual Such a response sparked a great which ultimately led to the Syrian as Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey
cy needs to change. workers, but the entire country is af- amount of criticism and concern. Civil War. hold the highest proportions of
Last year, the USA’s net trade fected by its impact on the federal The refugee crisis in Syria is so se- Many of the rebels grouped to- refugees. Other Middle Eastern
deficit was over $500 billion. Over debt. rious that, according to the United gether and formed the Free Syrian countries such as Iraq and Egypt
half of this deficit came from im- The tariffs that the Trump ad- Nations, Syria now has the world’s Army while taking over the eastern also accepted refugees, as do places
porting consumer products, be- ministration has proposed might largest refugee population, the larg- half of Aleppo, the Assad-regime further north in Europe. Germany,
cause of US-based companies man- not be the answer to the problem of est number of people fleeing the taking the west. During their fight, the United Kingdom, France, and
ufacturing overseas. Due to less free trade. They will raise the prices country. The fact that not even a many countries joined the fray. The Sweden hold about 7,000-100,000
strict factory safety guidelines and of consumer goods that are import- presidential candidate was aware United States, United Kingdom, refugees, half of them under the
lower minimum wages in countries ed and create rifts with our partners of this issue is more serious than Turkey, Jordan, France, Qatar, age of 17. The United States also
like China and India, it is cheaper in the economy. However, it is clear people think. and Saudi Arabia supported and let refugees in, reaching the goal
for companies to buy raw materi- that free trade causes problems for Aleppo is a city located in Syr- supplied the rebels with weapons of admitting 10,000. Despite many
als overseas, have them assembled the American worker. Manufactur- ia. It is the most populated city in as well as training. But others like countries accepting refugees, citi-
by low-wage workers, and then ship ing jobs are moving overseas, leav- the country and is considered to be Russia, Iran, Venezuela, North Ko- zens have protested against it, call-
the final product into the US to be ing people out of work. Trump has Syria’s “economic capital.” How- rea, Iraq, and Lebanon fought with ing the refugees “terrorists” for be-
bought. This system may keep costs suggested tax breaks for companies ever, Aleppo is now toppling due to Assad. Groups like ISIL joined as ing from the Middle East or simply
down for the company and the con- that move factories back into the being the battlefield of the Syrian well, but weren’t paid much atten- being Muslim.
sumer, but it also shifts the labor country as well as for companies Civil War. tion by Assad, as his main goal was Even though the war continues,
market overseas, taking jobs away that opt to invest in the US. But be- The Syrian Civil War is an on- to defeat the rebels. a majority of the rebels have been
from the US. fore trade imbalances can truly be going battle between the rebels and From the battle, reports emerged evacuated, and Assad has claimed
Theoretically, free trade should fixed, companies must stop shifting the Assad government that began in of women, children, and men being Aleppo as a victory. This huge
be a good thing. It is touted by jobs to other countries. Once that 2011. The rebels were disappointed raped by government forces. Ac- event sparked controversy around
economists as profitable for the happens, new jobs can be created with the way Bashar al-Assad, cording to British newspaper Daily the world. The major takeaway
global economy. With free trade, and the lost workers of America Syria’s president, was governing Mirror, a female nurse wrote a sui- here is that the true enemy isn’t the
the best quality manufacturing will can find work again. their country. His dictatorship cre- cide note, calling members of the refugee, it’s the one who made them
 Off Topic
Page 8 The Spectrum April 2017

The Evolution of the AB Student

By davEn lagu these vestigial pouches ‘freshman in advance. After about a year of
Spectrum Staff backpacks.’ They serve only to fur- a stress-induced, rageful existence,
Here at The Spectrum, we strive ther slow down the easily confused these creatures transform into their
to go where no man has gone be- and illogical freshman. final stage, becoming seniors.
fore. After much discussion and After a summer period of hi- Though the seniors appear phys-
preliminary research, it is time to bernation, the freshman undergoes ically similar to the juniors, a deep
venture outside the safety of the its first major growth and enters biological shift has occurred: their
Mac Lab—armed with a rolled-up its sophomore stage. It loses the personalities are completely differ-
newspaper, just in case—and inves- freshman backpack and gains an ent. While the junior subspecies
tigate the local flora and fauna of adaptation that greatly increases its had an admirable work ethic, the
the high school at large. camouflage skills. The sophomores seniors display a tiredness and leth-
We start this quest in the wilds become so adept at blending in that argy that borders on being coma-
of AB by looking at the lowest they remain unnoticed to any other tose. They have somehow lost all
species on the food chain: the specimen. They excel at remain- motivation, spending most of their
freshman. Observing these critters ing completely unextraordinary. In free time sleeping, eating, or com-
presents many problems for our fact, the researchers of The Spectrum municating to their companions
intrepid team of scientists here at found that the sophomores are so how much they are sleeping and
The Spectrum because of their un- dull and hard to look at that they eating. The only real work they do
predictable and erratic behavior. instead chose to observe the next is for a mating event called ‘prom,’
When navigating our hallways for evolutionary stage: the juniors. which seems to involve the fear of
the umpteenth time, they still seem The juniors have undergone a being or not being asked, celebrat-
confused and tend to look around severe transformation, reaching ing the act of asking another speci-
without moving, despite knowing their maximum size and peak en- men out and paying a ridiculous
that they are interrupting the flow ergy levels. However, the most no- amount of money for a five hour
of hallway traffic. Their biology is ticeable change seems to be their ritual, all for the sake of having a
fairly complicated as well: they pos- mannerisms, as they are constantly date that they will probably never
sess a large sack on their backs in annoyed at all non-juniors in their ever see or talk to again. That be-
which they hold the absurdly large clan. They are easily agitated by ing said, these collective species are
amount of materials they think the trials they must undergo called an interesting band of misfits that
they need for their day, though we SATs, ACTs, and college visits, displays disfunction, awkward be-
have observed that most of these even though they knew these chal- havior, and antisocial tendencies—
materials are unnecessary. We call lenges were coming several years though not as much as the teachers.

Crossword Puzzle empire. the senior staircase features two of

By olivia maRblE and sa- 19 - The last name of Trump’s these.
mantha WhittlE
Attorney General 7 - PC’s next production features
Chief Staff 21- Two recent American presi- three of these.
ACROSS dents. 8 - Librarian Ms. Secino’s “of-
2 - A color that shares its name 22 - The website all juniors visit ficial” job title is ______ of the Li-
with three of AB’s teachers, at least to attempt to organize their college brary Realm.
homophonically. search. 9 - “The Harms of a Two Party
6 - “Internet and Democracy” 24 - Some lucky seniors leave System” on page 3 argues that the
on page 4 discusses how Facebook school three weeks earlier than the US needs this system of govern-
uses this to keep you interested. other seniors because they signed ment to prevent polarization (no
10 - The movie that won Best up for this. hyphen).
Picture at the 2017 Academy 25 - Why dogs come to ABRHS. 11 - The belief that a nation
Awards. 26 - British research submarine should govern itself, separate from
13 - The Norwegian television named by the internet (two words, the common interests of all nations.
show that has achieved great popu- no space). 12 - The website that President
larity in the USA. 27 - The disgraced South Ko- Trump uses to communicate with
14 - The Netherlands recently rean president (no hyphen). the general public.
voted against this ideology. DOWN 18 - AB’s science team will com-
15 - The star that has seven 1 - A popular food chain that is pete at the ______ National Tour-
Earth-like planets orbiting it (two missing from Acton. nament in mid May.
words, no space). 3 - The residents of last year’s 20 - The far end of the spectrum.
16 - What AB students need prom locale. 21 - Modern slang for a roman-
more of. 4- The number of reasons why. tic partner.
17 - A stool, but also, a recent 5 - The mural at the bottom of 23 - Who dies?

AWARENESS