Striking down sexism in sports
Vivian Kuang, Public Relations Editor
December 10, 2019
A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through Instagram and came across a Bleacher Report post announcing that Elena Delle Donne had won the WNBA MVP award. “Unreal numbers,” the caption said, citing her 97.4% free throw percentage. “1st to win MVP on two different teams.” But as I scrolled through the co...
Colorism leaves a dark stain on India
Drishti Upadhyaya and Mahika Arya
December 9, 2019
Time stands still in India as people continue to judge others by the color of their skin. Colorism, or discrimination on the basis of skin tone, continues to be an issue fueled by both beauty and film industries. India’s hatred of dark skin, rooted in years of colonization, haunts naturally dark-s...
Let’s chat about WeChat
Lauren Chen, Copy Editor
November 30, 2019
Ask almost anyone in China, 2019; they’ll know WeChat is everywhere. Known in China as Weixin, WeChat was created by the Chinese tech giant Tencent. Boasting over a billion users, WeChat is a combination of a messaging app, mobile payment service and much more. However, China is utilizing the app to k...
History textbooks tell a skewed story
Sneha Cheenath, Sports Editor
November 6, 2019
History classes have the unique ability to affect the belief systems of an entire nation. They are key in establishing cultural sensitivity and bridging the gap between the past and the present. However, it is impossible for history to be portrayed in an unbiased manner. History is sourced and ...
Speaking the truth on free speech
Kavin Kumaravel and Vivian Kuang
May 30, 2019
“Free speech” has never been free. Common conceptions of free speech have always been based off the notion that speech affects each individual equally and that each individual has the same access to speak in the first place. Unfortunately, in many instances this could not be further from the truth, ...
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 ...
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...
A silent environmental crisis surrounds San Ramon
Daniela Wise, Social Media Editor
April 22, 2019
The lack of awareness surrounding environmental racism is jarring and threatens the future of our community. When one hears the term “racism,” our minds autopilot to segregation and the criminal justice system. Environmental racism is the practice of implementing policies and actions that discriminate a...
Saying “hypermasculinity” reinforces gender roles
Riya Bindlish, Features Editor
April 3, 2019
The term “hypermasculinity” is unprogressive. We say it before really analyzing its implications. When I discuss hypermasculinity, the terms I hear most often are “aggressive,” “dominant” and “privileged.” However, it is not these traits, nor any traits, that make someone hypermasculi...
Destigmatizing the period: the pink tax
Sanjana Ranganathan, Opinions Editor
April 2, 2019
In 2015, President Trump commented on Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, referring to menstruation, to CNN’s Don Lemon, “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her wherever.” Rhetoric like this further stigmatizes menstruation, causing the issues that come with it...