“Wokeness” isn’t about being “woke”
Anika Garg, Features Editor
October 12, 2019
We were sitting outside in a circle on the concrete floor, enjoying the cool shade outside of our school’s front gates. There were five of us in leisurely conversation, turning our heads every so often to check if our parents had arrived to pick us up yet. When the conversation’s topic shifted to politics, I be...
Between Us: an introduction
Daniel Shen, Editor-in-Chief
October 8, 2019
Dear Reader, School, extracurriculars, friends, family, food and sleep. This is your average high school student. Replace school and extracurriculars with work, and you have your average adult. Characterized this way, life seems pretty simple. School is for learning, and extracur...
Illusions and Ironies: an introduction
Sraavya Sambara, Editor-in-Chief
October 8, 2019
Dear Reader, Sometimes I feel like I’m locked in a room of fun-house mirrors and the only way I can stop dissecting myself is if I close my eyes. I loom out in front of myself in odd proportions and angles, and I psychoanalyze everything I see until I’ve descended into a rabbit ho...
Trump administration repeats the cycle of book burning
Drishti Upadhyaya, Arts and Graphics Editor
October 6, 2019
History repeats itself as the Trump administration ventures into book burning, though not in the literal sense. Trump and his administration have enforced xenophobic laws since first coming into power. In 2017, Trump issued Executive Order 13769, commonly known as the Muslim ban, which suspended entry o...
Streetwear clothing reigns supreme in high school halls: the materialistic mindset of teenagers
Riya Mehta and Helen Kang
October 2, 2019
Although considered “street” wear clothing, skateboard brands such as Supreme, Vans, and Champion have found their way into Dougherty halls. Designed for comfort yet fashionable to say the least, these trendy pieces of clothing have raised their prices to match designer brands such as Gucci, causing t...
September 11, 2001: Who controls the narrative?
October 2, 2019
18 years ago, two towers came crashing down. 17 years ago, a never-ending stream of drone missiles began to rain down on the Middle East. As of today, millions of innocent civilians are dead in the name of false peace. Seven years ago I was in a certain teacher’s sixth grade Core class. During the ...
The fear of failure is failing women
Sanjana Ranganathan, Opinions Editor
October 1, 2019
Living in Silicon Valley has provided me with an abundance of female role models. From women like Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook), who break the glass ceiling on the daily, to powerful and empowering organizations such as Girls Who Code, I find the pinnacles of female empowerment within 30 miles of ...
A deep dive into the dark side of Nextdoor
Oce Bohra, Copy Editor
May 20, 2019
The Nextdoor post looked normal enough: “Bad odor in the air,” a new neighbor wondered. “Does anyone know what it is?” another chimed. The responses started pinging in. “That is the conscience of our current city council and mayor dying as they still consider selling the golf course ...
Embracing the vision of bivisibility
Caroline Lobel, Managing Editor
May 15, 2019
“Just pick a side,” “you can’t like both,” “it’s a phase,” “you’re just confused.” Bisexual people are too familiar with these phrases and more. Whether it be falsely perceiving people who identify as bisexual or ignoring them altogether, there’s a disregard for bisexuals in ...
What’s in a name?
Drishti Upadhyaya, Arts and Graphics Editor
May 13, 2019
I don’t know how to pronounce my own name. I know exactly how my name should sound, though. I know how my parents and relatives say it. I’ve tried to mimic their pronunciation for years, but I can’t quite say it. These two, short syllables have made me feel like an impostor in my own skin. I h...
Decolonizing the Indian LGBT+ reform movement
Pranav Chillappagari, Public Relations Manager
May 7, 2019
Being religious and being queer can often times come into conflict with each other. I am often told that my religion does not justify a “certain, unnatural way of life.” But as a Hindu, I find this connection false and ignorant, explained by a westernized change of Hinduism. The term “wester...
Asian-American backlash against race-conscious admissions threatens future of all minorities
Vivian Kuang, Public Relations Editor
May 2, 2019
As the nerve-wracking period of college decisions begins at Dougherty Valley and schools around the nation, many seniors rejected from their dream schools will feel bewilderment, wondering what more they could have done to gain that prized acceptance letter. While these emotions are understandable, recent...