Michelle Obama's legacy will not be forgotten
Published by Leea Ivanel on December 15, 2016 -- OPINION
While Michelle Obama may be leaving the White House, her legacy never will.
On Nov. 4, 2008, Michelle became America’s first African American First Lady — a historical moment in a country whose Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X only ended a mere 48 years ago.
Throughout the eight years she has been in the White House, Michelle has been a model to women and girls all around the world, and a reminder for everyone of the true power and potential of a woman.
While there were many moments during these past years when I found her to be great, perhaps the moment that struck me the most was during the speech she gave regarding Donald Trump’s sexual behavior during his campaign. For months, news stations and radio shows were constantly talking about Trump’s deplorable actions towards women, from his suggestion that Megan Kelly was on her period to calling Alicia Machado Miss Housekeeping because she is Latina. Soon after, an audio recording of him claiming to “grab women by the pu**y,” amongst other degrading things, came out, and the media blew up.
However, in the midst of Trump supporters claiming this was acceptable “locker room talk” and women shouting the word “pu**y” on live TV, Michelle Obama’s speech came as a ray of hope and human decency.
Hearing Michelle say that Trump’s behavior is not normal and that it should not be accepted by society gave me a powerful reminder that, truly, the madness that was all around was not the norm and that decent people still existed.
Michelle also said, “…I can tell you that the men in my life do not talk about women like this. And to dismiss this as everyday locker-room talk is an insult to decent men everywhere,” reminding me, as well as many other women, that Donald Trump is not the norm for men, but rather a disgusting exception.
While the First Lady has had several great speeches, there is much more to her than just her words — she has lived up to her message of equity between the sexes and female empowerment.
In March 2015, Michelle and Barack Obama launched Let Girls Learn, a U.S.-founded international organization aiming to provide education to girls from all countries. Michelle traveled the world raising funds and support for women’s education programs associated with Let Girls Learn, impacting the lives of thousands of girls forever.
Michelle also helped children back in America through the implementation of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which increased portions of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in school meals while limited the number of calories in an attempt to stop schools from selling fast foods.
To put it simply, Michelle Obama is a woman to look up to.
In the eight years she has severed as First Lady she has not only been an inspiration and role model, but also a source of hope to women everywhere. I personally see her as an embodiment of what hard work, effort, and passion can accomplish, and as an example of a powerful, intelligent woman, who despite being a minority and coming from not the richest of families, became a self-made international leader.
Truly, she left a great legacy behind her — one that will not be forgotten.
On Nov. 4, 2008, Michelle became America’s first African American First Lady — a historical moment in a country whose Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X only ended a mere 48 years ago.
Throughout the eight years she has been in the White House, Michelle has been a model to women and girls all around the world, and a reminder for everyone of the true power and potential of a woman.
While there were many moments during these past years when I found her to be great, perhaps the moment that struck me the most was during the speech she gave regarding Donald Trump’s sexual behavior during his campaign. For months, news stations and radio shows were constantly talking about Trump’s deplorable actions towards women, from his suggestion that Megan Kelly was on her period to calling Alicia Machado Miss Housekeeping because she is Latina. Soon after, an audio recording of him claiming to “grab women by the pu**y,” amongst other degrading things, came out, and the media blew up.
However, in the midst of Trump supporters claiming this was acceptable “locker room talk” and women shouting the word “pu**y” on live TV, Michelle Obama’s speech came as a ray of hope and human decency.
Hearing Michelle say that Trump’s behavior is not normal and that it should not be accepted by society gave me a powerful reminder that, truly, the madness that was all around was not the norm and that decent people still existed.
Michelle also said, “…I can tell you that the men in my life do not talk about women like this. And to dismiss this as everyday locker-room talk is an insult to decent men everywhere,” reminding me, as well as many other women, that Donald Trump is not the norm for men, but rather a disgusting exception.
While the First Lady has had several great speeches, there is much more to her than just her words — she has lived up to her message of equity between the sexes and female empowerment.
In March 2015, Michelle and Barack Obama launched Let Girls Learn, a U.S.-founded international organization aiming to provide education to girls from all countries. Michelle traveled the world raising funds and support for women’s education programs associated with Let Girls Learn, impacting the lives of thousands of girls forever.
Michelle also helped children back in America through the implementation of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, which increased portions of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in school meals while limited the number of calories in an attempt to stop schools from selling fast foods.
To put it simply, Michelle Obama is a woman to look up to.
In the eight years she has severed as First Lady she has not only been an inspiration and role model, but also a source of hope to women everywhere. I personally see her as an embodiment of what hard work, effort, and passion can accomplish, and as an example of a powerful, intelligent woman, who despite being a minority and coming from not the richest of families, became a self-made international leader.
Truly, she left a great legacy behind her — one that will not be forgotten.
North Dakota Natives protest for their land
Published by Leea Ivanel on August 21, 2016 -- OPINION
They have had almost everything taken from them, and yet people are asking for more.
On Sept. 9, North Dakota will rule in favor for or against building an oil pipeline through the sacred lands of Native Americas.
Energy Transfer Partners is an engineering company which runs a program called the Dakota Access. The program aims to build a 1,170-mile-long oil pipeline that will bring in more than 400,000 barrels of oil a day, or approximately $15.6 million dollars. Thus, it is easy to see how the company would profit.
However, there have been several objections to the construction of this pipeline, and for good reason, too.
Native Americans, mainly from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, have been gathering outside of a small town named Cannon Ball by the thousands to protest against the construction which is taking place just north of a reservation. They have set up camps and spend the days peacefully protesting and praying.
The main arguments they bring forth are not only that the pipeline will traverse the sacred lands their ancestors walked, but also that it poses a huge environmental threat.
And they are right.
In recent history, there have been several horrific oil spills which have clearly shown just how dangerous oil extraction can be both for the environment and for humans.
It would be disastrous if the Dakota Access pipeline were to malfunction. Millions of gallons of oil would likely pour into the Missouri River and surrounding lands, harming the wildlife and the water, which is used by the Natives in the reservation as well as by some companies.
According to The Guardian, Vincent Night Horse Fox, a Native from North Dakota, said, “I come to support Standing Rock to fight against the pipeline. I want clean water for my family and all living things that walk on mother Earth.”
Many of those who have gathered share Fox’s views, and many more should. Events like the Flint water crisis and the effects that oil spills have on the environment should make us all wary of a giant pipeline that will cross the Missouri River.
Plus, the pipeline will transverse the sacred lands of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe which, while not part of their reservation, were originally their lands before colonization, and hold the burial sites of their ancestors. The Natives deserve respect and a say in this project, if only to show a bit of consideration for their history.
Their opinion on the project, as well as the environmental threat, should definitely be taken into account by the judge. Hopefully, for the sake of the people as well as the environment, the construction will be delayed until a compromise can be reached.
Energy Transfer Partners should make an effort to work with the Natives to do their best to avoid certain sacred areas and to do as little damage to the land as possible. The project should also be put off until better technology is available to ensure that the Missouri River will not be forever ruined.
The outcome of this case will affect every one of us as it will set a basis for future with potentially destructive construction, even here in California.
But more than that, it will show how much respect we have for the Natives whose land we are standing on, and hopefully, how much society has progressed.
On Sept. 9, North Dakota will rule in favor for or against building an oil pipeline through the sacred lands of Native Americas.
Energy Transfer Partners is an engineering company which runs a program called the Dakota Access. The program aims to build a 1,170-mile-long oil pipeline that will bring in more than 400,000 barrels of oil a day, or approximately $15.6 million dollars. Thus, it is easy to see how the company would profit.
However, there have been several objections to the construction of this pipeline, and for good reason, too.
Native Americans, mainly from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, have been gathering outside of a small town named Cannon Ball by the thousands to protest against the construction which is taking place just north of a reservation. They have set up camps and spend the days peacefully protesting and praying.
The main arguments they bring forth are not only that the pipeline will traverse the sacred lands their ancestors walked, but also that it poses a huge environmental threat.
And they are right.
In recent history, there have been several horrific oil spills which have clearly shown just how dangerous oil extraction can be both for the environment and for humans.
It would be disastrous if the Dakota Access pipeline were to malfunction. Millions of gallons of oil would likely pour into the Missouri River and surrounding lands, harming the wildlife and the water, which is used by the Natives in the reservation as well as by some companies.
According to The Guardian, Vincent Night Horse Fox, a Native from North Dakota, said, “I come to support Standing Rock to fight against the pipeline. I want clean water for my family and all living things that walk on mother Earth.”
Many of those who have gathered share Fox’s views, and many more should. Events like the Flint water crisis and the effects that oil spills have on the environment should make us all wary of a giant pipeline that will cross the Missouri River.
Plus, the pipeline will transverse the sacred lands of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe which, while not part of their reservation, were originally their lands before colonization, and hold the burial sites of their ancestors. The Natives deserve respect and a say in this project, if only to show a bit of consideration for their history.
Their opinion on the project, as well as the environmental threat, should definitely be taken into account by the judge. Hopefully, for the sake of the people as well as the environment, the construction will be delayed until a compromise can be reached.
Energy Transfer Partners should make an effort to work with the Natives to do their best to avoid certain sacred areas and to do as little damage to the land as possible. The project should also be put off until better technology is available to ensure that the Missouri River will not be forever ruined.
The outcome of this case will affect every one of us as it will set a basis for future with potentially destructive construction, even here in California.
But more than that, it will show how much respect we have for the Natives whose land we are standing on, and hopefully, how much society has progressed.
Trump is president; Get over it
Published by Leea Ivanel on December 1, 2016 -- OPINION
From the first day since Donald Trump’s presidency was announced, tens of thousands of people have been pouring into the streets to protest the Electoral College’s decision.
They advocated for a recount of votes, called the Electoral College unjust, and held up signs reading “Love trumps hate” and “Not my president.”
The outcry only increased since Hillary Clinton swept the popular vote with two million more votes than Trump, but according to CNN, lost by 74 electoral votes.
Despite more than two weeks passing since the election, not everyone has been able to accept these results. For example, Green Party candidate Jill Stein advocated for a recount of votes in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania: three states that could potentially give Clinton the election. Starting on Dec. 2, 2016 the votes in Wisconsin will be recounted, and Stein is hoping to raise up to $7 million for the other two states.
In my opinion, the recount in Wisconsin, or any recount, is useless at this point.
Unfortunately, it’s time for us all to face the truth: while Donald Trump was elected by only 47 percent of the country, he is our president whether we like it or not, and no amount of “Not my president!” chanting is going to change that. The United States was build on the concept of a peaceful transition of power that is accepted by all the people, as it has been since the end of the Civil War.
Still, “accepting” Trump as our president does not mean laying down quietly and waiting for him, his government, or some of his supporters to potentially take away our rights. It does not mean standing powerlessly in the face of what is to come. What it means is picking our battles.
Tens of thousands of people did not go out into the streets because they thought it would be fun — they did it because they are afraid and worried for their future. Not only was Trump’s presidency endorsed by the KKK, but recent video footage of a neo-Nazi “alt-right” gathering hailing Trump was broadcasted on news stations, demonstrating the rise of the nationalistic, white-supremacist movement. Considering that most of Trump’s campaign was run on blatant sexism, racism, Islamophobia, and ableism combined with conservative ideals, this development comes as little surprise.
There has also been an outburst of hate crimes throughout the country since the election, ranging from mosques receiving letters threatening genocide to water fountains at schools being labeled as “white” and “colored.”
As someone who is a minority, I understand the anxiety and at times sheer terror regarding this situation, as well as the backlash to the “just give Donald Trump a chance” ideology. However, we need to realize by this point that these recounts are most likely not going to change anything, and that regardless of the results, getting all three states to elect Hillary is not only improbable but would actually cause more chaos than this election did in the first place.
Right now, we need to look to what we can actually do to protect our rights.
We need to continue staying informed about both Donald Trump’s plans and the plans of his government so that if any radical or oppressive law does attempt to pass, we will know. We also need to realize that while he is our president, we still have our state and city governments in power, and we still have the right to write and call our representatives and make sure our concerns are heard.
It’s also important to note that by the time the next election will come along, most of us will be able to vote and have an actual impact on the future of our country. By that time, some of us could even get the opportunity to start participating in the country’s legal affairs by working in law.
The biggest thing we can do now, however, is to make an effort to make sure that our community, both inside and outside of school, is a welcoming and supportive place. That means a place where people do not have to worry about being judged and discriminated against simply because they are part of a minority group in this country.
The only way that is all going to happen in the most efficient way possible is if we stop focusing our energy on a fight that has already been lost, accept that Trump is now president, and move on to ensuring that worse things don’t happen.
They advocated for a recount of votes, called the Electoral College unjust, and held up signs reading “Love trumps hate” and “Not my president.”
The outcry only increased since Hillary Clinton swept the popular vote with two million more votes than Trump, but according to CNN, lost by 74 electoral votes.
Despite more than two weeks passing since the election, not everyone has been able to accept these results. For example, Green Party candidate Jill Stein advocated for a recount of votes in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania: three states that could potentially give Clinton the election. Starting on Dec. 2, 2016 the votes in Wisconsin will be recounted, and Stein is hoping to raise up to $7 million for the other two states.
In my opinion, the recount in Wisconsin, or any recount, is useless at this point.
Unfortunately, it’s time for us all to face the truth: while Donald Trump was elected by only 47 percent of the country, he is our president whether we like it or not, and no amount of “Not my president!” chanting is going to change that. The United States was build on the concept of a peaceful transition of power that is accepted by all the people, as it has been since the end of the Civil War.
Still, “accepting” Trump as our president does not mean laying down quietly and waiting for him, his government, or some of his supporters to potentially take away our rights. It does not mean standing powerlessly in the face of what is to come. What it means is picking our battles.
Tens of thousands of people did not go out into the streets because they thought it would be fun — they did it because they are afraid and worried for their future. Not only was Trump’s presidency endorsed by the KKK, but recent video footage of a neo-Nazi “alt-right” gathering hailing Trump was broadcasted on news stations, demonstrating the rise of the nationalistic, white-supremacist movement. Considering that most of Trump’s campaign was run on blatant sexism, racism, Islamophobia, and ableism combined with conservative ideals, this development comes as little surprise.
There has also been an outburst of hate crimes throughout the country since the election, ranging from mosques receiving letters threatening genocide to water fountains at schools being labeled as “white” and “colored.”
As someone who is a minority, I understand the anxiety and at times sheer terror regarding this situation, as well as the backlash to the “just give Donald Trump a chance” ideology. However, we need to realize by this point that these recounts are most likely not going to change anything, and that regardless of the results, getting all three states to elect Hillary is not only improbable but would actually cause more chaos than this election did in the first place.
Right now, we need to look to what we can actually do to protect our rights.
We need to continue staying informed about both Donald Trump’s plans and the plans of his government so that if any radical or oppressive law does attempt to pass, we will know. We also need to realize that while he is our president, we still have our state and city governments in power, and we still have the right to write and call our representatives and make sure our concerns are heard.
It’s also important to note that by the time the next election will come along, most of us will be able to vote and have an actual impact on the future of our country. By that time, some of us could even get the opportunity to start participating in the country’s legal affairs by working in law.
The biggest thing we can do now, however, is to make an effort to make sure that our community, both inside and outside of school, is a welcoming and supportive place. That means a place where people do not have to worry about being judged and discriminated against simply because they are part of a minority group in this country.
The only way that is all going to happen in the most efficient way possible is if we stop focusing our energy on a fight that has already been lost, accept that Trump is now president, and move on to ensuring that worse things don’t happen.
Current generation driven out by housing prices
Published by Leea Ivanel on October 18, 2016 -- OPINION
Whether you are a freshman or a senior, chances are you have already asked yourself the questions, “What will I do after high school? What will I do after college?”
If we were to follow the “American Dream,” the answer would be getting a job, buying a house, and eventually raising a family.
However, for most of us in the Bay Area, that dream could most likely never be fulfilled if we chose to stay in our hometowns. Why? Because even with a high-paying job, it’s nearly impossible to buy a house here.
A house in Belmont costs a median of around $1.5 million, and a house in Redwood Shores costs a median of around $1.2 million. San Francisco isn’t much better off either, with the median cost of a house being $1.1 million. To put that in perspective, the median cost of a house in Texas is only $159,000, and that is considered a high price for Texas. In other words, the Bay Area is incredibly expensive to live in, even for a stable adult with a job such as a Google employee or a doctor.
In fact, there are some Google employees that live in RVs parked in the company’s parking lot — and these are people that make an average of over $100,000 a year in their first years of employment.
The bad news doesn’t stop there — after getting a job, most of us won’t even attempt to buy a house and live the “American Dream,” simply because that would be unrealistic for most. Instead, most of us will try to rent an apartment or condo so we can still live independently.
Unfortunately, that seems nearly impossible nowadays in the Bay Area, at least for young adults.
The prices of living in the Bay Area have gotten so ridiculous over the past years that there was actually an offer for $900 a month to live in the tent in someone’s backyard in Mountain View, just 30 minutes from Carlmont High School. You were even allowed to shower once a day!
Considering that you can’t really find any decent apartments to rent in Belmont under $2000, perhaps that isn’t such a bad deal.
Still, if you thought that was a lot of money — rent isn’t the only thing we have to worry about. After college, most of us are going to graduate with a massive debt and there’s still the cost of living and taxes to take into consideration.
Overall, the verdict is quite clear: most of us are not going to be able to remain in our hometowns after we graduate. Even if we do get jobs in big IT companies in the Bay Area such as Facebook, Apple, Oracle, and Google, or other high-paying jobs such as being a doctor or lawyer, it will be almost impossible to be able to pay both the cost of housing and the cost of living.
We, the adolescents of the Bay Area, are going to go on a house-market induced exodus after we graduate — not because we will want to, but because we will have to.
If we were to follow the “American Dream,” the answer would be getting a job, buying a house, and eventually raising a family.
However, for most of us in the Bay Area, that dream could most likely never be fulfilled if we chose to stay in our hometowns. Why? Because even with a high-paying job, it’s nearly impossible to buy a house here.
A house in Belmont costs a median of around $1.5 million, and a house in Redwood Shores costs a median of around $1.2 million. San Francisco isn’t much better off either, with the median cost of a house being $1.1 million. To put that in perspective, the median cost of a house in Texas is only $159,000, and that is considered a high price for Texas. In other words, the Bay Area is incredibly expensive to live in, even for a stable adult with a job such as a Google employee or a doctor.
In fact, there are some Google employees that live in RVs parked in the company’s parking lot — and these are people that make an average of over $100,000 a year in their first years of employment.
The bad news doesn’t stop there — after getting a job, most of us won’t even attempt to buy a house and live the “American Dream,” simply because that would be unrealistic for most. Instead, most of us will try to rent an apartment or condo so we can still live independently.
Unfortunately, that seems nearly impossible nowadays in the Bay Area, at least for young adults.
The prices of living in the Bay Area have gotten so ridiculous over the past years that there was actually an offer for $900 a month to live in the tent in someone’s backyard in Mountain View, just 30 minutes from Carlmont High School. You were even allowed to shower once a day!
Considering that you can’t really find any decent apartments to rent in Belmont under $2000, perhaps that isn’t such a bad deal.
Still, if you thought that was a lot of money — rent isn’t the only thing we have to worry about. After college, most of us are going to graduate with a massive debt and there’s still the cost of living and taxes to take into consideration.
Overall, the verdict is quite clear: most of us are not going to be able to remain in our hometowns after we graduate. Even if we do get jobs in big IT companies in the Bay Area such as Facebook, Apple, Oracle, and Google, or other high-paying jobs such as being a doctor or lawyer, it will be almost impossible to be able to pay both the cost of housing and the cost of living.
We, the adolescents of the Bay Area, are going to go on a house-market induced exodus after we graduate — not because we will want to, but because we will have to.
Rape survivor changes California sexual assault laws
Published by Leea Ivanel on November 8, 2016 -- OPINION
“Victims are not victims, not some fragile, sorrowful aftermath. Victims are survivors, and survivors are going to be doing a hell of a lot more than surviving.”
These are the inspiring words of the woman who has only been known as “Emily Doe,” but whose story caused the change of rape laws in California.
On Jan. 18, 2015, Brock Turner was found sexually assaulting Doe as she lay unconscious behind a dumpster. The surprising thing, however, is that Turner was not just some brute from the streets or some uncivilized lowlife — he was a freshman student at Stanford and a valued athlete on their swimming team.
News of the rape sparked nationwide discussion, and the controversy quickly escalated when Turner was sentenced to only six months in jail by Judge Aaron Persky, who claimed a longer sentence would “have a severe impact on [Turner].” Doe has to spend the rest of her life living with what happened, while Turner lost only a couple of months of his summer.
Things only went downhill when Turner was released three months early from prison, because, according to the New York Post, he displayed “good behavior.” While California can put someone in jail for six months just for smoking marijuana, a rapist can get out in three months — calling the justice system “unjust” would be an understatement.
Doe, however, did not let that be the end. On Nov. 1, 2016 she submitted an essay to Glamour, documenting her experience.
Doe wrote, “From the beginning, I was told I was a best case scenario. I had forensic evidence, sober unbiased witnesses, a slurred voice mail, police at the scene. I had everything, and I was still told it was not a slam dunk. I thought, if this is what having it good looks like, what other hells are survivors living?”
Thankfully, there is a ray of hope on the horizon. Doe’s case was more than just another unfortunate event in a sea of similar ones — her case led to the change of rape laws in California.
“Rape is rape, and rapists like Brock Turner shouldn’t be let off with a slap on the wrist,” said Assemblyman Evan Low, who co-introduced the new rape laws. “While we can’t go back and change what happened, we can make sure it never happens again.”
With Doe’s case fresh in mind, the California’s State Assembly, led by Governor Jerry Brown, unanimously signed Assembly Bills 2888 and 701 into law. Before the bills were passed, California law stated that those convicted of raping and sexual assaulting a conscious adult or child would have to serve a prison sentence and would not be permissible for probation.
Because the laws did not include acts of rape committed on unconscious persons, Turner managed to get out of his already ridiculously short sentence. The two bills, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017, will close this legal loophole, as well as add a mandatory three-year prison sentence for any case of rape.
As a woman, I welcome all laws that aim to prevent rape and punish those who commit it, and I find it wonderful that the two bills were passed. It’s hard to believe that there was even a time when California considered one type of rape to be lesser than another.
Hopefully, these two bills will lead to similar ones being passed in other states and maybe even nationwide someday. After all, nearly one in every five women in the United States report to have been sexually assaulted — it’s clear that we still have a lot of progress to make.
It’s also empowering to know that Doe’s voice and story was heard. After getting contacted by news organizations who wished to release her court statement, Doe’s message was spread all over the world and soon women were reaching out to her internationally. Vice President Joe Biden even sent her a letter, saying she was a warrior.
Really, Doe is not just a role model for sexual assault survivors; she is a role model for all women who have ever been oppressed and whose voice society chose to ignore.
Doe stayed strong despite going through one of the most degrading experiences someone can go through — she not only spoke out, but she spoke loud enough that her message was heard worldwide. Her voice even led to the change of rape laws in California, which will hopefully prevent other women from going through what she went through.
For that, Glamour named Doe “Woman of the Year,” and rightfully so.
Doe wrote, “So now to the one who said, I hope my daughter never ends up like her, I am learning to say, I hope you end up like me, meaning, I hope you end up like me strong. I hope you end up like me proud of who I’m becoming.”
These are the inspiring words of the woman who has only been known as “Emily Doe,” but whose story caused the change of rape laws in California.
On Jan. 18, 2015, Brock Turner was found sexually assaulting Doe as she lay unconscious behind a dumpster. The surprising thing, however, is that Turner was not just some brute from the streets or some uncivilized lowlife — he was a freshman student at Stanford and a valued athlete on their swimming team.
News of the rape sparked nationwide discussion, and the controversy quickly escalated when Turner was sentenced to only six months in jail by Judge Aaron Persky, who claimed a longer sentence would “have a severe impact on [Turner].” Doe has to spend the rest of her life living with what happened, while Turner lost only a couple of months of his summer.
Things only went downhill when Turner was released three months early from prison, because, according to the New York Post, he displayed “good behavior.” While California can put someone in jail for six months just for smoking marijuana, a rapist can get out in three months — calling the justice system “unjust” would be an understatement.
Doe, however, did not let that be the end. On Nov. 1, 2016 she submitted an essay to Glamour, documenting her experience.
Doe wrote, “From the beginning, I was told I was a best case scenario. I had forensic evidence, sober unbiased witnesses, a slurred voice mail, police at the scene. I had everything, and I was still told it was not a slam dunk. I thought, if this is what having it good looks like, what other hells are survivors living?”
Thankfully, there is a ray of hope on the horizon. Doe’s case was more than just another unfortunate event in a sea of similar ones — her case led to the change of rape laws in California.
“Rape is rape, and rapists like Brock Turner shouldn’t be let off with a slap on the wrist,” said Assemblyman Evan Low, who co-introduced the new rape laws. “While we can’t go back and change what happened, we can make sure it never happens again.”
With Doe’s case fresh in mind, the California’s State Assembly, led by Governor Jerry Brown, unanimously signed Assembly Bills 2888 and 701 into law. Before the bills were passed, California law stated that those convicted of raping and sexual assaulting a conscious adult or child would have to serve a prison sentence and would not be permissible for probation.
Because the laws did not include acts of rape committed on unconscious persons, Turner managed to get out of his already ridiculously short sentence. The two bills, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017, will close this legal loophole, as well as add a mandatory three-year prison sentence for any case of rape.
As a woman, I welcome all laws that aim to prevent rape and punish those who commit it, and I find it wonderful that the two bills were passed. It’s hard to believe that there was even a time when California considered one type of rape to be lesser than another.
Hopefully, these two bills will lead to similar ones being passed in other states and maybe even nationwide someday. After all, nearly one in every five women in the United States report to have been sexually assaulted — it’s clear that we still have a lot of progress to make.
It’s also empowering to know that Doe’s voice and story was heard. After getting contacted by news organizations who wished to release her court statement, Doe’s message was spread all over the world and soon women were reaching out to her internationally. Vice President Joe Biden even sent her a letter, saying she was a warrior.
Really, Doe is not just a role model for sexual assault survivors; she is a role model for all women who have ever been oppressed and whose voice society chose to ignore.
Doe stayed strong despite going through one of the most degrading experiences someone can go through — she not only spoke out, but she spoke loud enough that her message was heard worldwide. Her voice even led to the change of rape laws in California, which will hopefully prevent other women from going through what she went through.
For that, Glamour named Doe “Woman of the Year,” and rightfully so.
Doe wrote, “So now to the one who said, I hope my daughter never ends up like her, I am learning to say, I hope you end up like me, meaning, I hope you end up like me strong. I hope you end up like me proud of who I’m becoming.”
Fear of school can be an advantage
Published by Leea Ivanel on October 25, 2016 -- OPINION
“What are you afraid of?”
Most people would answer with “death” or “a zombie apocalypse.” However, for an increasing number of high school students, the answer might turn out to be “school.”
This comes as little surprise. After all, we live in a competitive society in which schools push us to do our best. While encouragement isn’t bad — in fact, it teaches us that we should try to be the best versions of ourselves — the constant drive to be as good as possible can take a toll on students.
Speaking from personal experience, the expectation of getting straight A’s, doing extracurricular activities, being a leader, taking all AP classes, having unique talents, and speaking three languages all at the same time just to get into a decently good college is ridiculous. In short, it causes me to live in a constant state of severe anxiety, even when I’m not thinking about school. It also brings about a very real terror of failure.
Unfortunately, I’m not the only one who feels this pressure. Two studies showed that the stress levels of students today are higher than the stress levels of psychiatric patients in the 1950s.
Still, our fear and anxiety regarding school and failure is not all bad — it can be quite practical if we learn how to use it to our advantage.
Fear can be a big motivator to getting things done. The fear of getting a bad grade keeps us from turning in late assignments, which can save our grades and allow us to have more opportunities after high school.
While fear shouldn’t be the only reason we try hard in school, most of us would be unable to keep our grades and studies up just through pure motivation to succeed. However, letting our fear become our sole motivator is dangerous as it could ultimately damage our mental health. A lot of us already have the stress levels of psychiatric patients; we don’t need to make it worse.
Ultimately, we need to learn to balance the fear and anxiety we feel surrounding school. Too much fear is harmful, but too little fear might cause us to slack off, hurting us in the end as well.
We need to find the middle ground in which we use our fear to motivate us while understanding that school isn’t everything. The world doesn’t end when we get a bad grade.
If we don’t, our well-being, as well as our grades, will both continue to suffer.
Most people would answer with “death” or “a zombie apocalypse.” However, for an increasing number of high school students, the answer might turn out to be “school.”
This comes as little surprise. After all, we live in a competitive society in which schools push us to do our best. While encouragement isn’t bad — in fact, it teaches us that we should try to be the best versions of ourselves — the constant drive to be as good as possible can take a toll on students.
Speaking from personal experience, the expectation of getting straight A’s, doing extracurricular activities, being a leader, taking all AP classes, having unique talents, and speaking three languages all at the same time just to get into a decently good college is ridiculous. In short, it causes me to live in a constant state of severe anxiety, even when I’m not thinking about school. It also brings about a very real terror of failure.
Unfortunately, I’m not the only one who feels this pressure. Two studies showed that the stress levels of students today are higher than the stress levels of psychiatric patients in the 1950s.
Still, our fear and anxiety regarding school and failure is not all bad — it can be quite practical if we learn how to use it to our advantage.
Fear can be a big motivator to getting things done. The fear of getting a bad grade keeps us from turning in late assignments, which can save our grades and allow us to have more opportunities after high school.
While fear shouldn’t be the only reason we try hard in school, most of us would be unable to keep our grades and studies up just through pure motivation to succeed. However, letting our fear become our sole motivator is dangerous as it could ultimately damage our mental health. A lot of us already have the stress levels of psychiatric patients; we don’t need to make it worse.
Ultimately, we need to learn to balance the fear and anxiety we feel surrounding school. Too much fear is harmful, but too little fear might cause us to slack off, hurting us in the end as well.
We need to find the middle ground in which we use our fear to motivate us while understanding that school isn’t everything. The world doesn’t end when we get a bad grade.
If we don’t, our well-being, as well as our grades, will both continue to suffer.
Why we should all be ‘tree huggers’
Published by Leea Ivanel on September 30, 2016 -- OPINION
The term “tree hugger” tends to hold a negative connotation today.
Tree huggers are usually seen as bohemian-obsessed hippies who yell if someone uses more than one piece of paper and faint if you don’t recycle a tissue box.
However, the truth is that no matter what the stereotype is, we should all be tree huggers. Trees have a huge influence on our lives. They are a lot more than just pretty decorations for parks and sidewalks.
Perhaps the most important thing about trees is that they are the biggest oxygen-producing plants on Earth. According to an article written by the US Embassy, one mature tree is capable of producing enough oxygen for 18 people. Trees, along with other terrestrial plants, are responsible for around 20 percent of Earth’s oxygen alone.
Trees have another great function: they clean the air around us and help balance out the damage that humans cause. They inhale the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and release oxygen, making them vital players in the cycle of carbon dioxide and oxygen. While humans are producing carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil in massive amounts, trees are slowly undoing that damage.
Still, those are just the best-known attributes of trees: the type that appear on every “I Love Trees” pamphlet and commercial.
Trees have many other benefits for humanity that are not often brought up.
Some trees have amazing medicinal purposes.
For example, the bark of the tree Prunus Africana is used to cure malaria, fever, kidney disease, urinary tract infections and prostate cancer — truly an amazing range of diseases. Its bark is worth $200 million on international markets annually. However, the trees are declining in numbers due to the harmful methods used to extract their bark.
Trees also serve a big role in preventing landslides and the erosion of soil. According to an article on The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, trees prevent soil erosion by keeping the soil from overwatering because they compacting the soil and bind it together with their roots.
All of this is just what benefits us as humans, not the rest of the planet. Trees are essential to the survival of diverse life forms and the preservation of their environments. If it wasn’t for the trees we wouldn’t have forests, and if it wasn’t for the forests we wouldn’t have the thousands of animals we grew up drawing and learning about.
With 15.3 billion trees cut down each year, the drastic increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, and the steady rise of the global temperature, it’s clear that we should be protecting our trees more than ever. With less trees we will get less oxygen, less clean air, and less medicine. Our soil will also become more unstable and give way to more floods and landslides.
Considering how important trees are, we should all be calling ourselves “tree huggers.”
Even if that means being considered a hippie.
Tree huggers are usually seen as bohemian-obsessed hippies who yell if someone uses more than one piece of paper and faint if you don’t recycle a tissue box.
However, the truth is that no matter what the stereotype is, we should all be tree huggers. Trees have a huge influence on our lives. They are a lot more than just pretty decorations for parks and sidewalks.
Perhaps the most important thing about trees is that they are the biggest oxygen-producing plants on Earth. According to an article written by the US Embassy, one mature tree is capable of producing enough oxygen for 18 people. Trees, along with other terrestrial plants, are responsible for around 20 percent of Earth’s oxygen alone.
Trees have another great function: they clean the air around us and help balance out the damage that humans cause. They inhale the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and release oxygen, making them vital players in the cycle of carbon dioxide and oxygen. While humans are producing carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil in massive amounts, trees are slowly undoing that damage.
Still, those are just the best-known attributes of trees: the type that appear on every “I Love Trees” pamphlet and commercial.
Trees have many other benefits for humanity that are not often brought up.
Some trees have amazing medicinal purposes.
For example, the bark of the tree Prunus Africana is used to cure malaria, fever, kidney disease, urinary tract infections and prostate cancer — truly an amazing range of diseases. Its bark is worth $200 million on international markets annually. However, the trees are declining in numbers due to the harmful methods used to extract their bark.
Trees also serve a big role in preventing landslides and the erosion of soil. According to an article on The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, trees prevent soil erosion by keeping the soil from overwatering because they compacting the soil and bind it together with their roots.
All of this is just what benefits us as humans, not the rest of the planet. Trees are essential to the survival of diverse life forms and the preservation of their environments. If it wasn’t for the trees we wouldn’t have forests, and if it wasn’t for the forests we wouldn’t have the thousands of animals we grew up drawing and learning about.
With 15.3 billion trees cut down each year, the drastic increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, and the steady rise of the global temperature, it’s clear that we should be protecting our trees more than ever. With less trees we will get less oxygen, less clean air, and less medicine. Our soil will also become more unstable and give way to more floods and landslides.
Considering how important trees are, we should all be calling ourselves “tree huggers.”
Even if that means being considered a hippie.