Category: Opinion

By JAZUI MEJIA

CollegeBoard suffered through two grueling years, but alas, high school juniors are taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test once again. As students bubble in their information on their registration papers, they chat amongst themselves, many admitting that whatever score they receive on the exam, they will not be submitting to colleges. 

If the pandemic brought students one benefit, it was the test-optional phenomenon where universities now give first-year applicants the option to not submit their SAT if they do not believe it will reflect their strengths as a student. All University of California schools and California State Universities officially do not require SAT or ACT scores and private institutions vary. Nonetheless, the majority of private or out-of-state schools have gone test-optional, from schools like the University of Redlands to the infamous Harvard University. If this is the case, why are a concerning number of students reporting that their teachers are claiming that private and out-of-state schools do require the exam for admission? 

Paige Williams, a senior at Redlands High School was recently accepted into the University of Redlands, yet she has never taken the SAT. “I would say that the experience of applying to colleges has been much less stressful. I don’t think that standardized testing such as the SAT should be used to gauge a student’s academic ability and intelligence” says Willaims. She goes on to argue that, “Colleges and universities should start to use SAT scores as placement tools rather than admissions criteria.”

Once again, the same question is asked: why are educators lying to their students about the college admissions process despite having access to the most accurate information and the latest resources for this matter? There can only be a couple of answers, and those answers reveal the grueling realities of our educational system. First, educators around the nation could be inheriting the responsibility of saving the CollegeBoard’s SAT as it quickly declines in popularity and need. Second, educators hold an internal stigma against this unconventional route of applying for college and are not ready to see a holistic approach to college admissions. Now, what exactly is a “holistic approach”? When it comes to college admissions, this means that college admissions officers will look closely at a student’s extracurriculars and accomplishments outside of the classroom as opposed to a student’s test scores or grades. In essence, taking holistic approaches can benefit both students and colleges, as they will be providing broader opportunities for students based on their character and how that character melts in with the culture of a particular school. 

During these crucial times when the SAT is constantly being challenged or debated, it is imperative that students understand what options are available to them and how necessary the SAT is for them personally. The same should apply to colleges, considering that looking at a student’s personal accomplishments is much more telling than any other aspect of their application. For example, an NYU applicant with a score of 1500 on the SAT can ironically never guarantee that the student understands gentrification in New York City. However, a different applicant’s involvement in a social justice-based club is more likely to comprehend not only gentrification, but a variety of other social issues on college campuses and can perhaps even be of great assistance to that institution’s community one day. If such methods of admission are practiced constantly, colleges will secure an enriched student body because their students have been and will continue making the world a better place. 

This shift in mindset should not just take place amongst college administrators, it must be promoted primarily at high schools. Encouraging AP classes and the SAT/ACT make up the majority of a school’s recommendations for college-bound students while participation in activities or community service is nothing more than an afterthought. Instead of meeting with students to only discuss their class choices, counselors should get to know their students and inform them of clubs or service opportunities that align with their interests. Counselors should also speak with students on how they can highlight the extracurriculars they are a part of on their application with more intention, Many times, students do not realize the power of extracurriculars until they reach their senior year and are scrambling to engage in any activity that will allow them to access to scholarships and grants. Nonetheless, students can only be blamed so much when schools are telling them that by solely focusing on their endeavors within the classroom, they are on the perfect path to their dream school. 

Changing systems is never an easy task, but with the concept of the “new normal” reaching the college admissions process, there is simply no other choice. Each group, be it students, teachers, or administrators all have a role to play in making the college process the best it can be. All groups should align themselves with the holistic review, inform each other on what that looks like, and feel confident in the unique abilities of each applicant. It will be a collective effort to unlearn any internal stigmas and detach from fiercely competitive academics, but it will surely result in students seeing intentional (and mentally stable) professional futures. 

By CRAIG MORRISON

Is college the only choice after high school?

In most schools, there is too much of an emphasis on a four-year university and not enough on other opportunities. Some of these opportunities could include trade schools or jobs that only require a high school diploma. Receiving a college education can create a huge student loan debt and this can take a while to pay off.  

One negative aspect of a four-year university is the student loan debt. The price of a universities’ degree can be massive, even with financial aid. According to U.S. News, most college graduates have around $30,000 student loan debt. EducationData says it takes an average of 20 years to pay off. These numbers can be persuasive in the argument questioning the necessity of college.

An alternative to going to college is getting a job with a high school diploma. Jobs such as plumbers, insurance sales agents, patrol officers and electricians all require only a high school diploma. These jobs range from 30K-50K without the need for a college degree, as reported by U.S. News. The money made from this also won’t be going towards paying off the college debt; another reason for its benefit.

Another opportunity besides a university is a trade school. At a trade school, people can earn an associates degree in two years and then start their skilled profession. This is much faster than a four year university and it will provide you with more hands-on experience. The price varies by school but they cost an average of $33,000, according to BestColleges. They can last from three months to a year for a diploma and 18 months to 24 months for an associate degree. This is a noteworthy alternative that is not discussed much in high schools.

In schools, students need to be more aware of these opportunities that they have. Counselors and teachers are more focused on promoting college pathways for students, rather than trade schools or jobs. This can be fixed by integrating discussions about trade schools or having pamphlets with job information available. This would allow students to gain the information they need while also keeping the college pathway available.

In most high schools, there is too much focus on attending a four-year university. There is little talk about opportunities such as trade schools and jobs that require a high school diploma. These options can be more beneficial or attractive to a student, but many are not aware of them. This can be fixed with information available in pamphlets and discussions about alternatives to college in schools. It is always important to know that there are options.

By NATHAN DENNIS

Many teachers don’t get the recognition for their work to educate their students in class, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when it’s even more difficult to teach students. Many teachers provide time for students that need help before and after school outside of their scheduled hours. Teachers’ salaries are too low considering the time, dedication and effort taken to educate their students. 

The Redlands Unified School District typically does not provide supplies except the bare necessities like pencils and computers. If teachers want to purchase other supplies, such as colored pencils, markers, whiteboard markers, erasers, notebooks and paper, they have to use their own money. 

Outside of their scheduled hours, teachers grade work, volunteer for school-related activities and events without any additional pay and provide a flexible time for tutoring test make ups, before school, during lunch and after school.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an additional hurdle that has hindered teachers ability to teach. During distance learning, teachers tried as much as possible to communicate and interact with their students. Teachers provided time for students that did not understand the material being taught to give additional support before and after school, using video conferencing platforms such as Google Meet and Zoom.

According to the RUSD Management Team Salary Schedule, a staff member’s education, experience and position in the school affects their salary.

“Teachers aren’t paid nearly enough, and they feel less appreciated, more stressed, and less supported than they have in the past,” The National Education Association says. 

Considering all the extra time, money and effort teachers give to their school and students, they all deserve an increased salary. A teacher’s pay is not enough for the many things they do for their students. 

Link of Certified :  CEAppA-1.20.21.8.11.20.pdf, 

Lea este artículo en español aquí: https://ethic-news.org/2021/10/16/opinion-los-profesores-tienen-un-salario-demasiado-bajo/

By EMMA MILLER

As new and old movements are spreading all across America, it may seem hard to keep track. One helpful way to encourage and uplift these movements is by speaking about them and listening to their voices. Genuine support is not easy; it takes both time and effort. This also means not trading one movement for another when a newer movement starts “trending.”

In a time when racial division is on the rise, it is necessary that each person and group stands and lifts up the other. But be careful not to replace one movement with another; following only the latest movement is not the step forward you may think it is. The “Black Lives Matter” movement is still necessary and is not over despite the victory in the Derek Chauven case. And all the same, the “Protect Asian Lives” movement is still necessary despite the killer in the Atlanta shooting being caught. When we simply replace the names of movements with others instead of acknowledging and battling each issue simultaneously, it creates a cycle where we do not ever solve any problems. This makes serious and important issues into trends to follow and forget when the next “trend” or issue comes up. 

Lives are being threatened and or made more difficult daily due to the fluctuation in hate crimes in the past year. According to an Anti-Asian Prejudice March 2021 Fact Sheet produced by the California State University of San Bernardino’s Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, in the year 2020, reported hate crimes against Asians have risen by 145%. This is simply the data collected of the reported cases and presumably, many hate crimes have been committed under the radar. 

An example of people seeing these movements as a trend was the Black Lives Matter Movement. Many people chose to use tokens that showed their support for the movement, but did not truly help. People who use serious issues as aesthetics, trends, or accessories are almost as detrimental as the people who oppose those issues. It makes a mockery of them and brings them down to simply being a phase. An opinion piece, “The problem of performative activism,” for Aljazeera written by John Metta says, “Today, it is common to see businesses with Black Lives Matter signs in their windows, but so much of the current support coincides with public announcements that feel more like marketing than social action. It seems that every company is proclaiming how strong their involvement is, while so much of their action is limited to words.”

However, while it is helpful to raise awareness about the problems, one thing many people often mistake is their ways of supporting. For example, on the surface it might seem like a minor issue to interchange names between different organizations; like replacing “Protect Asian Lives” with “Asian Lives Matter”; however, many problems do arise from this. Each movement’s name has an important origin, and just filling in the blank with another group makes the movements seem interchangeable, when each is unique and important.

This is in no way, shape, or form attempting to sway people away from supporting Black Lives Matter or Protect Asian Lives, but to encourage those who wish to make a difference to do so in helpful and constructive ways that are ongoing. A great example of a positive way to help this movement is to visit blacklivesmatter.com and look at the resources they have listed there. To learn more about how to stop hate against the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community, there is information and resources on the following two websites; https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/  https://stopasianhate.carrd.co/# . 

By SPENCER MOORE

Distance learning is a struggle for many parties involved. Whether it’s distracting surroundings, intense workloads, or technical difficulties, parents, students, and teachers all agree that it is not the optimal way to learn and develop interests and skills.

While the focus of struggles is often placed on student’s and their difficulties, teachers also have all of the aforementioned issues. Whether it is helping their children with their schooling, intense grading workloads, or technical difficulties, teachers have issues with distance learning, sometimes arguably even greater than students. However, with all of these responsibilities, there is one role that sometimes finds itself being the subject of teacher procrastination, grading.

 Grading on time is a crucial portion to a successful teachers’ career and their students.

While teachers understand that things should be returned in a timely manner, what sometimes ends up happening is that, like students with their assignments, they get behind in grading; which in turn creates the action of not grading many, or in some extreme cases, any assignments until the end of the quarter or semester. What this does is cause stress in the student’s life and in certain cases, discourages them from even turning in work on time. This develops a habit of procrastination as opposed to a habit of proactivity in learning, which is one of the largest reasons students must attend schools. 

When asked about his thoughts on distance learning in general, Sophomore Max Cannon says, “It is the best that we can do regarding the times we live in. Although class would be significantly more engaging if the focus was on the learning as opposed to the assignments.’’

Many times, the reason for a teacher’s late grading is completely justified. Some of these reasons include childcare, technical issues, or unfamiliarity with the new distance learning protocol and software. The job of teachers is to have their student’s best interest at heart, and will often work to help the students become the best version of themselves they can be. According to edsource.org, in the Los Angeles School District alone, D’s and F’s have increased by a metric of 8.7%. This shows, in the simplest of terms, that teachers are not adjusting to their new responsibilities appropriately.

As distance learning has progressed, teachers have gained a better grasp of the softwares used for our benefit, both through training programs and trial and error. Unfortunately, some teachers do not want to expend the extra effort required to have the students comprehend and retain information while using these new softwares.

Teacher’s are not perfect when it comes to grading, and some can even be resistant to new ways of teaching. However, it is still important to give all people a fair chance to improve on themselves. Distance learning is difficult at times, and everyone involved has their personal difficulties, but it is still the educator’s responsibility to ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible, especially when it comes to grading.

By ERICA BAUER

Despite the Redlands Unified School Board’s decision to freeze grades as of April 19, as distance learning continues, one thing is on student’s and teacher’s minds alike: grading. With a widespread pandemic taking the world by storm, most outside of the educational system are shocked to hear this, but yes, grading is one of the most stressful topics for staff, students, and parents. 

Unfortunately, as more and more work is assigned, both teachers and students often times fall behind. This brings even more stress into their daily lives on top of the chaos that is the early 2020’s. For teachers, grading has become a nightmare. With software not functioning properly, and having a certain curriculum they must follow, teachers are learning to adjust to the struggles of distance learning. As a result, students find themselves working day in and day out with little motivation. This is causing work to be rushed and inevitably pushed to the side, only adding to the workload. Grading and due dates during this period of distance learning is a huge trial for all involved.

“I wouldn’t say grading is more difficult necessarily, but rather more time-consuming,” said Danielle Persing Biology teacher at Redlands East Valley High School, “Significantly more time-consuming.”

“Instead of a stack of papers that I can easily shift through and organize, we have different tabs and links that we click through,” said Persing. “When you have 100+ assignments to grade, it takes time; and usually, the internet has other plans and takes a minute or so to even open a new tab or an assignment, making it take even longer.”

With distance learning continuing with no end in sight, many students find themselves in an endless sea of questions, “When will my work be graded?’’ ‘‘What will my grades be?’’, ‘‘Will my teacher be as understanding of my extenuating circumstances as they would in person?,” ‘‘ Will I be swarmed with homework on top of the extracurricular activities I already  have going on?” “ How am I supposed to finish all of this by Friday?” 

With all of these thoughts going through a student’s head, oftentimes there is a hidden variable that those involved tend to subconsciously ignore, the work done by teachers. 

“I want my students to have timely and meaningful feedback, but it’s easier said than done,” said Persing, “There are some assignments I’m able to return to students within a day or so, but then I’m not leaving any feedback for them to improve. So, every now and then I set aside a couple of hours after school to do so, but just like most students, having to stare at a screen takes its toll on you.” 

Their rules, beliefs, and expectations can tend to go far above what is achievable for students during this difficult time. Teachers have to grade all that they assign, and when they do not maintain consistency in their grading, it creates a tremendous amount of work they have to complete by the quarter’s end.

“I’m also constantly thinking of and planning ways to make DL more interesting and engaging to keep up student motivation,” said Persing, “so time must be set aside for that as well. It’s a balance that’s difficult to find.” 

The question left wondering is, “Who’s responsible for all the stress and anxiety surrounding grading?” Teachers… right? Contrary to popular belief, I think that responsibility falls on students. Students often go to parents, friends, and even other staff members offering excuses as to why they have missing work and grades that stray from what they hoped to see on their report cards. Instead of simply being honest with themselves by taking responsibility for their forgetfulness or lack of motivation. With distance learning, parents, siblings, friends, and all of the other chaos that happens in a student’s life- school can sometimes be left out of the equation. However, students also often procrastinate, forget, and simply just get tired of all the work. 

Yet this still leaves us with the question, “Who is to be held responsible for the stress of grading and school?” The impossible question can not be answered with a single person or people, but a simple truth. With the world on lockdown and going a million miles per hour, all need to try their best to be understanding of one another’s circumstances. Students are expected to turn in their assignments on time, and to the best of their ability. While teachers should be held accountable for grading the work they assign in a timely manner- the best they can. Distance learning can be extremely difficult for anyone, but everyone must work together to make things the best they can be. 

By JASMINE ROSALES

Growing up in this generation is very different than it used to be. Most parents say they spent their time outside playing rather than being inside with a screen in their face. Many adults say that video games are bad for children for different reasons, but what do they really do? Do they have a positive or negative effect on the mental health of children?

Some may use their electronics to stay productive, while others use it as a distraction. They seem like the same thing, but, from a different perspective, they are two different things. Electronics can keep someone busy if they have free time, either as a distraction or a way to escape one’s reality.

Eva Valtierrez, a sophomore from Redlands East Valley, says, “Video games make me feel excited in a way, but also kind of destroys my procrastination because I am so focused on the game, but mentally puts me in a good state of mind.” Video games can provide an escape from reality for short periods of time when a person is stressed or overwhelmed.

If they are intended for entertainment, how do video games take a toll on someone’s mental health? There are different genres of gaming and ways to play, whether it’s alone or online. While playing online, players can work together with other people which can provide a form of social interaction. Playing a game stimulates the mind to focus on the goal and makes players aware of what’s happening on the screen.

Showing how video games can have a positive influence on players. Some positive influences that video games can hold are problem solving, social connections, and focus on a particular goal (Artwork by Mia Aranda)

Communicating with others can be rather difficult at times. In a tense situation, disagreements with other players can lead to arguments. This can take a toll on one’s emotions. Jenna Tampubolon, a freshman at Citrus Valley High School, says. “I feel like when people play video games, they worry less about their problems and then eventually isolate themselves from everyone which could lead to anger and or being depressed.” 

Some players say they love the rush of tense situations because it makes them feel alive or captured into the game, but sometimes it can be a bit much. Comparing some of these emotions to how it affects mental health still leaves the question as to what exactly provokes it besides playing with others.

In 1958, William Higinbotham created the game Pong–the very first video game. This game brought a lot of joy to those who got to play it. Fast-forwarding 63 years, video games have come a long way, as graphics, fundamentals and mechanics have improved vastly. As video games became more popular, other creators pitched in and went through different routes to create different games in order to expand the video game community. Varying from adventure, puzzle, horror and roleplay, the genres are endless. Even so, they all collectively provide entertainment to people all around the world. 

On the other hand, what do they do for us mentally? In a typical math class, the brains of students work to add up numbers to find the sum. It’s similar to video games, such as how in puzzle games, players have to think of possible scenarios as to which pieces would work and how to ultimately complete the task at hand. 

Adventure games are made to help you build on strategic thinking and memory formation, while horror games help build awareness and focus. Many who have played a game multiple times have more than likely memorized patterns and strategies throughout the entirety of their playthrough. This particular fundamental is important because many adults still believe video games are not a productive activity. Nonetheless, they still work out the brain and also how well one can remember things. 

Whether it’s making players smarter academically or makes them better people by learning from a character’s struggles in their own perspective, video games do have their benefits and positive impacts. However, the longer a person tends to use them as an escape, the more negative habits tend to emerge in the lifestyle of the person. Staying on a game for too long can severely damage a person’s mental health because that can be all that a player thinks about or looks forward to. Staying up all night while staring at the screen will not only tire the average person but will also make players seem out of touch with reality.

Many people have had to adapt to staying indoors and have naturally gravitated towards video games. Some parents have had to deal with their children being on video games too much since they have so much free time and causing a lot of emotion and stress on relationships. Many people have complained about video games causing their children to become upset and violent and withdrawn at home. 

Maria Phumirat, a concerned mother, says, “When I was younger, I would play outside until the sun went down and nowadays kids just stare at a screen and don’t even do their homework when they get home because they go straight to the computer.”

Overall mental health is the most important thing to maintain. Being emotionally involved with video games can sometimes take a toll on a person’s life. It is best to call it a day and take a break from the game from time to time, as video games are ultimately meant to be enjoyed. As long as players have self-control and manage their time effectively, video games are a perfectly acceptable activity for anyone to indulge in.

Originally published in La Plaza Press

By ISAAC MEJIA, MIA ARANDA, and LILY SHAW 

Following the violence at Capitol Hill, Parler, a conservative social networking service, suffered a fatal blow. Approximately twenty-four hours after President Trump was banned from Twitter for “[inspiring] others to replicate the violent acts” that transpired at the Capitol, several big tech companies removed Parler from their app stores. 

Parler app logo shown on an iPhone on Jan. 25, 2020. Parler is known for its largely conservative platform and loose moderation guidelines. (MIA ARANDA/ La Plaza photo)

Companies such as Google, Amazon, and Apple supported the app, supplying it with storage to support its large quantity of servers and providing the platform through which the public could access the app. Even though Parler reached number one on the app store with one and half million downloads, these companies still chose to ban the app from their stores. 

They claim that Parler’s users helped coordinate the storming of Capitol Hill and contributed to the event by promoting violence and illegal activity. In regards to the justification of the app’s shutdown, the two sides of the political aisle hold a different perspective. 

Chief Executive Officer perspective

In a Fox News interview with John Matze, CEO of Parler, Matze labeled the app’s shutdown as an “assault on everybody.” According to Matze, every vendor of the app is unwilling to work with them because Apple and Amazon do not approve of the app. They “falsely claim” that Parler was responsible for the incident at the Capitol; however, Matze professed that the app has “never allowed violence” and does not even “have a way to coordinate an event” like the violence that occured on Jan. 6. 

Giant corporations like Apple and Amazon possess great power and influence over other companies. They are well aware that their statements of support or disapproval resonate loudly across the nation. If the app is portrayed as a bad investment for the upper echelon of the business world, it is perceived as a bad investment for every other company as well. They have the ability to destroy the app, and it seems likely that they are using their influence to portray the app in a negative light. 

Since their condemnation of the app, it is nearly impossible for Matze to gain any support from investors who have the ability to fund them. In a different press interview, Matze explained that since Scylla Enterprise has stopped backing them, the app “can no longer process ads and have revenue.” In addition, “no one can pay for anything to Parler with American Express.” As more and more companies dissociate themselves from Parler, its survival is unlikely. It cannot function without the help of other companies. Even though Matze renounced all claims linking the app with the Capitol attack, the largest corporations still chose to terminate their involvement with Parler, figuratively jumping off of a sinking ship and dragging it down with them. Matze believes that they are using the storming of the Capitol as an “excuse to silence free speech.” 

Liberal perspective

The Capitol Hill riot is one of the most blatant displays of White supremacy in American history, and the app Parler played a pivotal role in planning and encouraging it. 

Parler prides itself on promoting free speech due to their minimal regulations, persuading many conservatives and Trump supporters to flock to the app to voice their opinions. According to Wired, prior to the Capitol Hill riot, Parler COO Jeffrey Wernick said, “Parler doesn’t have a hate speech policy. Hate speech has no definition, okay? It’s not a legal term,” which has become an appeal to the app for many. 

According to ABC News, many extremists posted memes with intentional war imagery, hashtags such as #FightForTrump and #TheStormIsHere and even named specific politicians to target on Parler, promoting the vicious Capitol breach. 

Pro-Trump rioters were able to push past police lines, scale balconies, smash windows and breach Capitol barricades prompting the Capitol to lock down and the Senate Chamber to evacuate its members. 

U.S. representative Pramila Jayapal tweeted on Jan. 6, “I was one of a dozen Representatives in the gallery above the House floor. We pulled out gas masks and had to get down on the ground. Capitol police barricaded the doors and had guns drawn. We were eventually told that we had to quickly exit.”

Michelle Obama wrote in her response on Jan. 7 to this event: “They desecrated the center of American government. And once authorities finally gained control of the situation, these rioters and gang members were led out of the building not in handcuffs, but free to carry on with their days.”

After the insurrection took place and flooded social media, non-Trump supporters were horrified by the insecurity and use of gentle police force at Capitol Hill. They were quick to contrast the harsh reality of the police force on people of color to white people in America. Viral clips circulated through social media of police willingly taking selfies with the rioters and even opening a gate for them. 

The surge of Black Lives Matters protests in the summer of 2020 were monumental in demanding racial justice and equality. However, protestors have criticized the police for using unnecessary force on them. Throughout the summer, peaceful protests were met with tear gas and rubber bullets, both of which can create serious injury. 

According to USA Today, Charlie Mesloh, a certified instructor on the use of police projectiles and a professor at Northern Michigan University, said, “On day one of training, they tell you, ‘Don’t shoot anywhere near the head or neck.’ That’s considered deadly force.” 

In response to Capitol Hill, President Joe Biden addressed the inequality from law enforcement on Jan. 7 in which he said, “No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesting yesterday, they wouldn’t have been treated very differently than the mob of thugs that stormed the Capitol.”

The chaos imposed by the pro-Trump groups on Jan. 6 highlights the evident double standards that continue to exist in the United States of how law enforcement view whites versus people of color. Some have noted that police forces don’t view white Americans as terrorists simply due to their skin color. 

Former president Donald Trump is responsible for encouraging white supremacists to raid the Capitol as he had posted on Twitter on Jan. 3: “See you in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6. Don’t miss it! More information to follow.” 

This event has led Trump into another impeachment trial as well as a permanent suspension from all major social media platforms in order to prevent further incitement of violence. 

With a large conservative platform, if Parler had strict content moderation guidelines, like Facebook, the promotion of an event like this may have been avoided, averting destruction, fear and violence. Due to Parler’s shutdown, conservatives and Trump supporters may have no choice but to return to their Twitter and Facebook accounts. 

Overall, this can aid in preventing another planned insurrection due to Facebook and Twitter guidelines; one of Twitter’s safety rules specifically states “You may not threaten or promote terrorism or violent extremism.” In addition, Facebook and Twitter have lower ratios of conservative to liberal users, compared to Parler’s nearly all conservative and Republican audience. 

Parler shutting down, even if temporarily, is for the best, as the country recovers from this devastating, sickening incident. An app like Parler does not deserve to be supported, for the fact that in its short existence, it has proven to be one of the all-time greatest threats to American democracy. 

Conservative perspective

Did the raiding of Capitol Hill prompt the shutdown of conservative app Parler? After former president Donald J Trump was banned from multiple social media platforms, Parler was filled with thoughts and opinions mainly from unhappy people. Not only were they expressing their feelings on Parler, but on Twitter, and out in the community. 

Ohio Republican Congressman Jim Jordan was one of many people who spoke out on the situation. He tweeted, “First, Democrats support government shutting down small business during #COVID19. Now, Democrats support big business shutting down their competition. We’d post this on Parler, but no one could see it.” 

Josh Hawley, an American attorney and politician, tweeted: “My statement on the woke mob at @simonschuster: ‘…It’s a direct assault of the First Amendment. Only approved speech can now be published…I will fight this canceled culture with everything I have. See you in court.’” With 74.7K reshares, many other conservatives replied to his tweet in agreement.

In the face of the app’s transformation from a focus on freedom of speech to government sabotage, Parler was first removed from Amazon’s app store. Later, Apple and Google removed the app on their respective platforms.

The app was taken down after it had been used to “plan and coordinate” the attack on Capitol Hill (Engineering & Technology). However, Parler was not the only app that had been used to plan the attack. Pro-Trump website, TheDonald, also had comments including explicit and highly-detailed plans. TheDonald was later taken off the internet by founder Jody Williams. Parler and TheDonald obtained receipts of storming the capital, breaking into federal buildings, and committing violence acts towards government officials and law enforcement. 

Although Parler was not the only app used to plan the raids and the app was originally created as a freedom of speech platform, it did lead to the shutdown of the app. 

Originally published in La Plaza Press

By LIZBETH BETANCOURT

The many protests about discrimination and equal rights in the country this year have highlighted issues of injustice, calling on people to act and educate. In recent months in Redlands, some students have posted “nor/mal” on their Instagrams. This has been in response to students posting their pronouns, such as “she/her” or “they/them.” Nor/mal demonstrates a discrimination over those who are in the LGBTQ+ community, specifically the transgender community.

The following artwork shows what is and isn’t accepted to put in one’s biography when regarding pronouns. (MIA ARANDA/ La Plaza art)

In the Redlands community, many students are advocating for human rights and for everyone in the LGBTQ + community. On the other hand, some students have expressed that saying “nor / mal” is fine, specifically by putting this term in their Instagram biography. It is immature of these students to do so.

Students are speaking up to show how this is discriminating against transgender people by posting educational information. The goal is for others to learn that what they are saying is very disrespectful.

“I feel like it’s a very insensitive trend that Redlands kids are doing, especially during this time when we all need to be compassionate with each other and have conversations of loneliness and acceptance,” said Redlands High School sophomore Jazui Mejia.

Students want to see a safe community. It is  necessary that we respect others so that we can create this a community for everyone.

This means that we should be united and accepting so that each person feels safe in their bodies and identities and how they use pronouns. 

A growing movement of Gen Z wants to change the future, which is why many choose to educate and inform. If we learn to respect others and show love for each other in the community, we can understand how difficult it can be for people in the LGBTQ + community to feel accepted and safe.

Students who initially had “nor / mal” have been removing it. Hopefully, this  is a sign that the effort at education is helping create more understanding, and that this will spread not only in our community but throughout the world.

By TATUM MAPES

The internet has a new favorite term: “cancel culture.” Whatever connotation this term is used with, it is inescapable. All across social media, we see celebrities, historical figures and even ordinary people get “cancelled” for actions deemed offensive or inappropriate. 

Users flood comment sections and direct messages to persuade or harass those affiliated with the cancelled person in order to cut all ties and join them in the rampage. Those who participate in cancelling often claim that it is to hold people accountable and spread awareness on certain issues. However, are these goals actually accomplished?

Here’s how the “cancellation” process usually goes. Our cancelled person will be named Bill.

1. Bill says or does something deemed by users to be offensive.
2. Multiple users and/or news outlets report on Bill’s actions and offer opinions as to why it is offensive.
3. People are encouraged to cut all ties with Bill.
4. Users flood Bill’s comment sections and direct messages, as well as those affiliated with Bill and tell them what he did wrong and why it is offensive.
5. Criticisms of Bill spread across social media and people call for an apology and/or change. 
6. Those who defend Bill are often subject to similar reactions.

It is important to hold people accountable for their actions both online and in the real world, but does this prevent them from making the same mistakes? The answer is simple: it just doesn’t give them the chance to make amends. 

During an interview about youth activism at the Obama Foundation summit, former president Barack Obama expressed his own distaste of cancel culture. “That’s not activism. That’s not bringing about change,” he said, “If all you’re doing is casting stones, you’re probably not going to get that far. That’s easy to do.”

Cancelling someone, especially a celebrity, often does not end with the apology. After “Glee” star Lea Michele tweeted a statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, former co-star Samatha Marie Ware accused her of being racist herself, making life on set “a living hell” in a tweet in response (see image below). What followed was a barrage of comments, memes, articles and tweets attacking Michele, with many deeming her a racist. HelloFresh, a company affiliated with Michele, released a statement condemning her actions and announcing the termination of the partnership. She later apologized for her actions on set and deleted her Twitter account afterwards.

Photo of the tweet shows Samantha Marie Ware accusing Lea Michele of being racist. What happens after include a plethora of comments attacking Michele, showing just how devastating the effects of canceling someone can be (Screenshot provided by Tatum Mapes / Ethic Photo).

If she apologized, why did Michele feel it necessary to delete her Twitter account? The simple answer is that she didn’t feel safe on the platform anymore. After her apology, the cancelling did not stop. Every tweet had comment sections full of faceless users calling her a racist and continued to be tagged in negative memes and posts about something she had previously apologized for. The only way for her to stop the online harassment was by leaving the site altogether. It seems as though people did not care that she apologized and merely wanted to be angry or draw attention. 

The consequences of cancel culture are different for celebrities compared to people far from the limelight. Celebrities usually get back to work after varying amounts of time. Internet influencers such as James Charles and Trisha Paytas continue to make tremendous amounts of money and influence millions of people. 

What is the effect of cancelling a non-celebrity? Without the privileges of a celebrity, being cancelled as an ordinary person can be devastating. College admissions can be revoked, jobs can be lost or may not be found for a very long time due to the backlash against the person. If word spreads of your cancellation to prospective friends or partners, the relationship may end before it is started. Essentially, a single mistake can ruin someone’s life. 

Despite the constant complaints, cancel culture is not going anywhere. However, it is not entirely a bad thing. If someone posts something offensive, they can be informed of their mistake and do better. Celebrities have to at least try to be decent people as social media platforms become more accepting and knowledgeable. More and more, hate groups are beng exposed and booted from apps such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, so that they can  never encourage violence online again.

On the other hand, cancel culture can create division and anger. There is a line between holding someone accountable online and cyberbullying–a line that is too often crossed.

If you are about to “cancel” someone, as yourself these questions:

1. Are this person’s actions directly harming a specific person or group?

This is a straightforward question. Evaluate whether or not the action is actually harmful. Look for the response(s) of the group or person, as there is a difference between the wrong opinion and a different opinion. This is to protect people who have been or could be harmed. Ultimately, it is not an excuse to argue with someone you disagree with.

2. Will reposting/sharing this help the group that has been harmed?

Think about why you are sharing this information. Is it to protect the people who have been harmed or for you to attack someone? An example of the former is directing viewers to resources meant to better their understanding. An example of the latter is sharing anything with the sole intention of humiliating someone, whether it be a meme or pure insults. These do not help anyone; insulting, doxing, and threatening, no matter how well meaning you may be, is a form of cyberbullying. 

3. Will this be important a year from now?

This is probably the most vague of these questions, but it might be the most insightful. Evaluate whether or not the actions you take will contribute to an important conversation or just a short trend. Will you look back on what you did and be happy with how you handled the situation? Will it even be important in a year? Essentially, decide whether or not it will be worth it.

While cancel culture can be a force for good, it is too often utilized to humiliate and shame rather than to educate and inform. Before you cancel someone, please ponder your reasons for doing so. The best option is often not to cancel at all and simply inform the person of their mistake and move on. 

It is also important to acknowledge that people have the ability to change. You were not the same person you were a year ago and will be a different person by the next year, as will everyone else. People can learn from their mistakes and do better, so give them a chance to do so. Bryan Stephense, author of the novel Just Mercy, said “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”

Featured Photo: Social media allows for faceless acts such as canceling and cyberbullying to occur without much penalty. It’s important to remember the golden rule: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Kite Media, Image made by Tatum Mapes / Ethic Photo).

By DESTINY RAMOS MARIN

Would you prefer to listen to an original song with explicit lyrics, or a radio-edit version?

In simple terms, censorship in music is when curse words or inappropriate lyrics are cut out to be replaced with family friendly words or phrases, sound effects, or eliminated with no replacement. Censorship is necessary and must be used on any inappropriate song lyrics, even if it makes the song “worse.”

A few song examples you can listen to that have had censorship used in them at one or more points in the song include Cee-Lo Green’s “Forget You,” Black Eyed Peas’ “Let’s get it started,” Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” The Kinks’ “Lola.” and so many more. Each of these songs have censored lyrics due to their language use, and with the censored lyrics, families are able to listen to the songs they enjoy without worrying about inappropriate language. 

Most of the censorship in music is done because of how it affects people, mostly children and tenagers. The use of inappropriate language can lead to children using bad words, not knowing what they mean of course, and could get them in trouble. 

People of all ages appreciate censorship in music. It allows young people to listen to songs that might otherwise get them in trouble with their parents. At the same time, they recognize that it has its downfalls too.

Leah Cuevas, 15, says, “I believe music censorship is needed due to profanity in songs. I don’t think their parents want their children to repeat what they hear on the radio. Besides that, I usually think censorship ruins the song.” 

Christina Marin, 31, says, “Regardless of what you censor, it has the same meaning. So it doesn’t exactly matter. To me, at least”. 

Yolanda Munoz, 59, says, ”Do you hear the music without [censoring]? Do you hear the words they are saying? Like, very inappropriate. No. I would never play [those] songs without it [censored] like that.”

For those who prefer edited songs, streaming services are making it easier to find that option. In a New York Times student opinion article, “How do you feel about censored Music,” Nicole Daniels explains new options for censoring song lyrics. “Music’s consumer landscape is now rife with family streaming plans and parental content-filtering,” Daniel writes. “For customers who set their devices to weed out explicit material, Apple and Amazon automatically substitute edited versions of songs when they are available, and skip them altogether when they aren’t.”

Even though censorship is for a friendly and useful purpose, many people believe that song lyrics should be left alone and played on the radio, regardless of explicit content in the song, simply because they believe it ruins the original when it’s changed.

This can be because many people listen to the original song on other music platforms that allow explicit language and get used to the original lyric. When it is heard in public, such as the radio, with censorship,  it will not be the same as listening to it with it’s original lyrics. 

For others, it may simply just sound unnatural and they could lose their interest in the song.

The same could be said for a person who finds their interest in the song because of the censorship, and their perspective of the song could be changed when they learn those are not the original lyrics. 

For those who prefer music without censorship, there are always the streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, TIDAL, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Soundcloud, and Google Play Music. And for those who prefer censored lyrics, Deezer, Slacker Radio, and of course, the live radio are perfect.

No matter how you look at the situation, it seems that as you get older, you wouldn’t want to hear words or language that you would have as a teenager. Teenagers will listen to anything and not care about the lyrics, as where adults care way more about what a song has to say and will not deal with inappropriate language used in music.

Music listeners of different ages have different preferences, but this will not change that censorship will continue to be used in songs now and in the future songs to come.  Even if radio stations censor music, they can’t censor people’s opinion about it.

Featured Photo: A screenshot of the Spotify account of Destiny Ramos Marin, displaying a song that has a warning of explicit content. (Destiny Ramos Marin/ Ethic Photo)

By DANIELA MORA and LILY SHAW

It’s important to note that Covid-19 has caused a shift in today’s way of life by keeping humanity apart. Requirements to social distance and stay inside has caused many to severely limit communication with family and friends. Self quarantine has also limited the ability to interact with one another. People no longer get to see loved ones or spend quality time with the elders of their families due to fear of getting them sick. The virus has built societal walls, separating what used to be a united country.

With all of this separation, something has to be used to keep everyone together while still being safe from the virus outside our door. Social media, a platform in which different people from all around the world can share their pictures and moments with their followers. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat are all being used to communicate by using DMs (direct messages) or IMs (instant messages) to chat with someone else on the platform. Ryder Lee, a freshman at RHS, says that he has come in contact with around 100 influencers who have helped him branch out. He has received constructive criticism from them to help his future career come to life. The great thing about social media is the engagement with one another, even if no one is physically near. Social media is a place to see peers without having them physically next to us.

Social media not only has brought people closer together with friends, but it also provides opportunities to meet new people through them. Ivy Walker, a freshman at REV, says that over quarantine she has “reunited with old friends and met new ones.” For example, Instagram has a suggested feature where it shows the profiles of people who are followed by the users one already follows. One can also see other users’ posts on the Explore page if the user is a public account instead of private. 

Similarly to Instagram’s Explore page, TikTok has a For You page, where one can find any and all videos of interest based on an algorithm. On the other hand, if the users have a private account they can only be searched up by their username and will not come up on the For You page. These accounts will have to be requested in order to be able to follow them. Once this is done and the request has been accepted, one can easily send a message and begin a conversation with friends while keeping both parties safe and healthy. 

Digital social platforms have not only brought friendships to life and helped families and friends stay in touch, but it has saved many people. California has experienced many fires in the last few months. All it takes is one click of the “share” button and word spreads fast. Shelters, food drives, and pet evacuation centers have been set up all over and have been reposted thousands of times by the communities. Missing people have also been found through reposting on social media. The world can be a dangerous place sometimes, and hitting the share button helps a lot. 

In the end, social media has affected our life in many ways, some good and some bad. Covid may stop us from interacting with one another in person, but not digitally.

Originally published in La Plaza Press

By DANIEL WATERS

In an effort to support low-income students and those impacted by school closures in the wake of COVID-19, the U.C. system is taking action to reduce the importance of standardized testing, namely the SAT and ACT exams offered by the College Board and the American College Testing (ACT) organization respectively. UC will be test optional for 2021 and 2022 applicants and test blind in 2023 and 2024. UC President Janet Napolitano sent out a memo to the U.C. Board of Regents detailing a plan for UC to find or create a standardized exam that more accurately tests what U.C. schools expect by 2025. However, this test may be given to California students only. Napolitano says, “If U.C. is unable to either modify or create a test that meets these criteria and can be available for applicants for fall 2025, U.C. will eliminate altogether the use of the ACT/SAT for freshman admissions”. According to the memo, the options for out-of-state applicants will be determined in 2025. 

The largest issue with U.C.’s plan is that the SAT and ACT are the most objective predictors of academic success in college. It is true that higher-income students have an advantage in standardized testing, but this edge exists in all facets of college applications. Richer students are also more likely to get better grades, be involved in more extracurriculars, win more awards, and have access to more resources that aid them in the application process. The difference between standardized testing and the other aspects is in the name: standardized testing is standard for everyone. This cannot be said for any other factor that colleges may consider. One’s grades are additionally impacted by their teachers, course difficulty, and other factors which create grade inflation or deflation. If a student’s GPA was 3.95 unweighted, but they scored a 1150 on the SAT, it would be evident to colleges that the student benefited from grade inflation and is not as prepared for college as their GPA would suggest. Because the U.C. system is removing their benchmark of comparison, unqualified students such as the one previously detailed have a greater chance of acceptance. Conversely, a student that was hurt by grade deflation (3.7 unweighted GPA and a 1500 SAT for example) is more likely to get rejected than they should be. A wealthy student is presumably going to live in a wealthier area where extracurriculars are easier to access than in a lower-income area. It goes without saying that awards directly correlate with wealth as richer students are going to have better grades and test scores. Wealth also ensures the ability to pay for standardized tests, have a good home situation, purchase review materials, and even hire tutors. Yet, the U.C. system has not elected to stop considering these relatively unreliable, unfair aspects of college applications. 

Clearly, family income has a significant impact on a student’s SAT score. These scores fall on a 600-2400 scale, but the College Board now uses a 400-1600 scale. The 1300-1700 score range shown in the chart translates to a 870-1150 score range on the modern scale. In 2019, the average SAT score was 1060. (via The Washington Post)

If U.C. comes up with a test by 2025, it will have the same problems as the SAT and ACT. There is no way that U.C. can compensate for inequity in test scores caused by discrepancies in wealth. In fact, it will put even more stress on students applying to a variety of schools, some of which might still consider the SAT and ACT for admission. In that scenario, students would have to prepare and pay for at least two of those exams. Again, wealthier students would still have the ability to take the tests multiple times and access better resources. It would be even harder for low-income students to pay for all the tests they need to take and study for all of them adequately. The U.C. system must also ensure that any test they use must be equivalent in difficulty to the SAT and ACT. If out-of-state students have to send SAT/ACT scores while in-state residents submit U.C. exam scores, the tests must be comparable to avoid any more inequality.

As U.C. Berkeley Chancellor Carol T. Christ said in November 2019, “[The SAT and ACT] really contribute to the inequities of [the U.C.] system.” Unfortunately, U.C.’s solution to the least flawed aspect of their system fails to address these inequities while creating even more problems for the low-income students it is supposed to benefit.

By MIA DELMONICO & AZRIEL OLMEDO

Children learn at a young age that growing up is part of the journey. While this is true, growing up too fast can be harmful to their growing minds. For many, it feels as if their childhood is taken away or at the least cut short. This pattern is most commonly observed with high school students.

High school students are often overwhelmed by the high standards they have to meet and obtaining good grades in their classes. Stress, anxiety and misery are obstacles that every student experiences on their path towards graduation. At least once, many students find themselves asking, “Why am I here?” or “Why am I doing this?”

Teachers often try to persuade their students to always do better than their best; to keep pushing. They sometimes expect too much from their students without considering what will become of the seemingly endless supply of work and studies they are given. Evidently, if a train were to continue moving at high speeds without rest, it would eventually derail from its path. 

Students should strive to focus on their wellbeing over trying to fix that one A- in Calculus in order to enjoy their childhood before it is completely gone. Students should strive to avoid derailment.

The mental strain on growing teenagers in school is different for everyone, but harmful all the same. Over time, continuous strain on the body and mind can cause stress which in some cases can lead to mental illness. Factors that contribute to stress and worry can range from chapter tests or quizzes to state testing and the SAT. 

Stress can also be induced outside the classroom. Certain instances where students might find it difficult or unenjoyable to go outside and socialize with others are often caused by bullying, rudeness, an overall sense of isolation. A student can feel isolated when they are tasked with many things all at one time, which can ultimately result in derailment.

The amount of work that students receive on a daily basis is enough to break the spirit and sanity of the student if left unchecked. It seems that high schoolers are constantly occupied with school work. Though this is not the case for all students, the vast majority receive loads of work each week. This hinders their ability to have the opportunity to do other things such as athletics, music, and simple teenage outings. 

While in check, this can help young adults learn to balance their time and activities in preparation for adulthood and a career. However, students often become extremely overwhelmed by the overload of school work, practices, jobs, family, and a social scene at this time in their lives.

High school students should still be able to enjoy the remaining years of their childhoods and the immense amount of school work and high expectations makes this difficult. For example, many students spend their weekends doing homework and projects instead of being outdoors and involved with community groups or social circles. While it is definitely important to have responsibilities to tend to, these required tasks can sometime take over the remaining years of a high schooler’s childhood. Students may refrain from partaking in other activities because they are worried and preoccupied with academic endeavours. 

Avoiding derailment and improving one’s well being does not justify doing nothing in school. Many students often mistake advice such as “take a break to rest” and reword it as “skip the paper and go out” or “don’t do the homework.” While it doesn’t hurt to do something else from time to time, it is important for students to learn how to manage their time. Simply setting it aside until the last minute does more harm than good. The goal of avoiding derailment is to learn how to find a balance between school and self, and to not allow one side to overwhelm the other.

Though the large amount of work assigned on a daily basis can often contribute to student’s high stress levels and in some cases anxiety, it is important for high school teachers to prepare their students for college. If a student chooses to continue their education at a college or university after being assigned a lot of work on a regular basis, they will most likely be more successful than if they were not exposed to a high level and great amount of work in high school. If this work was not given, students may be shocked and extremely overwhelmed by the sudden growth of expectations. Even though this work load can become too much at times, it is better than not being able to complete or keep up with the amount of time and effort required later in life in order to pursue a career path.

Overall, the high standards and large loads of work expected from high schoolers can be unrealistic and even unbearable. Though such things do contribute to advancing life skills and career adeptness, it is important for high school students to enjoy what little time is left in their childhood.

By SOFIA DICARLO

The “Ok Boomer” phrase, which was introduced through social media in the fall of 2019, has become quite popular among the younger generations of our society. “Ok Boomer” is a passive-aggressive insult used by younger generations to mock and dismiss an action or statement made by an older person that is considered “outdated” or “not in the loop.” 

It started to gain traction after an unnamed man in a Baseball Cap posted a Tik Tok claiming that “the Millennials in Generation Z have the “Peter Pan Syndrome”– they don’t ever want to grow up.” He argued that Millennials would go into adulthood expecting for their “utopian ideals from their childhood to translate” into society.

It seemed like that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, for the video sparked a mass-response from other users, where they used the audio as a background while they either listed the economic and societal problems caused by Baby Boomers, or they created a project that simply said “ok boomer.”

On Twitter, a user by the name of “Ok Boober” posted a screenshot of his girlfriend [@ok_girlfriend on Twitter]’s spot-on explanation of why “Ok Boomer” gained as much traction as it did:

This explanation hit the nail on the head. For years, older generations have dumped their problems onto millennial’s backs and have expected them to fix them, but it is not their job.

A multitude of articles have been published in the past few years arguing that “Millennials Have Ruined [blank]” or “Millennials Have Killed [blank].” But, the research shows that our economic and political state is because of the Baby Boomer Generation. In the article “The Boomers Ruined Everything,” written by Lyman Stone, they explained that the reason for why America’s policies and politics seem like they are at a standstill “is simply that Americans got older… [w]hen a society gets older, its politics change. Older voters have different interests than younger voters… excessive student debt, climate change, and low birth rates are more easily ignored.” 

People who have started to use “Ok Boomer” “is a result of the frustration of younger generations who are tired of being bullied,” says @TheGallowBoob or “Ok Boober” on Twitter. 

The “Ok Boomer” trend is a direct result of millennials frustration of being called “lazy and unproductive” from their elders, and have turned it into a “last-hurrah” attempt to shut them down with baseless insults, for the majority of so-called Boomers are unwilling to listen to reason. 

Featured Image: The TikTok app opening page on student Lilian Mohr’s phone. (Lilian Mohr/ Ethic Photo)

By AVALON SALVADORE

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, outstanding student loan debt in the United States ranges between $902 billion and $1 trillion with around $864 billion in federal student loan debt. “You don’t want to get a loan because in the future you’ll always be paying it off,” said Kelly Johnston, a senior at Citrus Valley High School. (Avalon Salvadore / Ethic Photo)

Almost every student has dreamt of going to college. As a little kid, college is idealised as a place filled with people and experiences meant to help you on your journey to adulthood. But the reality is far different than expectation. First, there’s application fees and then the big kahuna, tuition itself.

Thousands of dollars are spent on tuition even without room and board. Kids from middle class or impoverished families can not reasonably pay for themselves to attend exorbitantly priced college on their own without loans or scholarships. This disadvantage is especially exacerbated by a global economy wherein almost every profession requires a degree for the job.

Right now, the student loan debt in the United States is over a trillion dollars,;this debt has become the largest household debt in America since the recession. 

However, there have been strides to make public universities more affordable such as the Free College Promise in California, making community colleges free for the first two years. This program offers an affordable alternative to brand-name colleges that cost upwards of $40,000 per year.

But most kids are pressured to jump straight from high school into a 4-year university. From the start of high school, kids are influenced to think that a prominent future is dependent on what college they attend. Millions of students stress about being accepted to UCLA or USC, and if they are accepted then they are faced with the exorbitant student loans needed to attend these brand-name schools. There’s an unfortunately high chance that it may not end up being a fruitful investment in the future.  

Though career school is still an are option, the only way to succeed in today’s society requires some level of a degree. Schools need offer more accessible options for less fortunate students and maintain an inclusive atmosphere wherein everyone has a chance to succeed in a world where education is the greatest commodity a person could have.

By RAYYAN ABDO

After much heated debate and public outcry, Sony Pictures and Walt Disney reach a deal to continue Spider-Man movie partnership. (Credit to Marvel Studios)

A few months ago, a disagreement between Disney and Sony Pictures occurred over a certain superhero; the fight seems to be leaning in Disney’s favor as they have expanded the character in the Marvel films.

Fan-favorite Spider-Man is being pulled around like a rope in a game of tug-of-war in this custody battle between Disney and Sony Pictures. Like most disputes, this quarrel started over money. After seeing how much money the Spider-Man movies brought in with their involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)—roughly $2 billion combined with both solo movies—Sony decided that they wanted him back. Spider-Man, currently played by actor Tom Holland, has been through three remakes and remains one of the most beloved superheroes in the movie business. After viewing the father-son interactions between Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark and Holland’s Spider-Man, many Marvel fans have grown attached to the slightly awkward but likeable Spider-Man they have seen on screen. Now, imagine the horror and devastation Spidey fans felt when they heard he would be taken out of the MCU, especially after he was turned to dust in “Avengers: Infinity War.”

The first deal struck between Sony and Marvel Studios was in 2015, which allowed Spider-Man to be portrayed in several Disney movies such as “Captain America: Civil War,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame.” However, Sony was still in control of the financing and distribution of the content. Tom Holland starred in two solo movies that were produced by Marvel, but owned by Sony. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Sony released a statement on Aug. 20, 2019, that expressed their disappointment over Disney’s demand for greater shares of the movies and announced Sony’s split with Disney. Soon after this statement was released, actor Jeremy Renner, who plays Hawkeye in several of the Avengers movies, posted on Instagram saying, “Hey @sonypictures we want Spider-Man back to @therealstanlee and @marvel please, thank you.” This statement perfectly encapsulates how this corporate fight has caused outrage  both inside and outside of Marvel Studios.

However, the fighting was far from over, and Sony was getting the bigger part of the blame from the press than Disney. The head of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, expressed his sadness over potentially losing the rights for Spider-Man in the MCU, but also looked on the bright side. He told Entertainment Weekly, “It was a dream that I never thought would happen. It was never meant to last forever.” Tom Holland also added, “The future of Spider-Man will be different, but it will be equally as awesome and amazing, and we’ll find new ways to make it even cooler.” 

Thankfully this didn’t come to pass, as Peter Parker swung in to save the day, as always. Holland gave a heartwarming message to his fans that spurred an uprising. “It’s been a crazy week, but I want to let you know I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart. I love you 3,000,” said Holland, which inadvertently rallied MCU and Spidey fans to take to Twitter and make the hashtag SaveSpiderMan go viral. Finally, on Sept. 27, Sony and Disney announced that Spider-Man would star in one more Marvel film, most likely Avengers 5 or another upcoming film. This news also confirmed that there will be several more solo movies made with Tom Holland as the beloved web-shooting hero. 

Disney and Sony’s reconciliation prompted actor Ben Mendelsohn to tell Metro News, “Boy, I could name 30 [characters] that you could quite comfortably lose before you start thinking about losing Spider-Man. In fact, I cannot think of a single character who’s more important to Marvel than Spider-Man. You’ve got Hulk, you’ve got Thor…none of them are as important as Spider-Man. None of them.” And Mendelsohn knows Spider-Man well, having appeared as Talos the Skrull in “Spider-Man: Far From Home” after debuting in “Captain Marvel.”

So with all this, it is obvious that losing our dear Spider-Man would hurt everyone, including Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie who “hate” Holland with a passion. “We love you, little Tom,” said Mackie in a Variety interview alongside Stan, pointing to his heart. Here’s a toast to Disney, for pushing for a new deal and saving Spider-Man from being removed from the Marvel Universe forever.