I believe that they went too far on this case, and she should have just gotten detention or a lecture from a police officer on why damaging private property is not a good idea. This isn’t the first case like this either! In 2007, a 13 year old girl named Chelsea Fraser got arrested for writing “okay” on her desk. She was one of several students who got arrested that day. The others were arrested for putting up stickers on the wall. These are two cases where the police were asked to step in and arrest students. I believe the police shouldn’t have been involved. The principal should have just called the parents or made the students stay after school and clean the desks and walls they damaged.

 In conclusion, students should try to avoid these situations all together by not damaging property that’s not theirs. COHS students should try not to write on desks or other private property becuase of the consequences it may bring. Students never know how severe those consequences can get. From personal experience, I would recommend staying away from vandalism and graffiti becuase the consequences can be harsh. COHS students should know about this story so that they know how serious some people take vandalism. Even if the writing or drawing has no profanity or hate, people still take these situations seriously. In the end we should all learn from this story and it’s your choice whether you want avoid these types of situations or not.

I think that it is important for Cosumnes Oaks High School students to know about ROP because we all have the opportunity to get involved in ROP.  Upon the completion of the ROP course, students will receive a certificate of completion. Some of the ROP courses are UC approved, while others lead to industry certification.  It’s good to be caught up on all of the classes you need to take, and make sure you don’t need to re-take any class because when you do ROP it requires you to leave campus early, and replace a couple of your classes.

ROP classes may be taken for 1, 2, or 3 periods. Students may enroll in ROP courses for all four years of high school as long as they don’t repeat the same ROP course more than once. To register for an ROP course, see the ROP counselor or career technician for approval of the course selection and to get information about the course.  You can pick up an ROP application in the ROP office or career center, or you can download it at www.egusd.net/rop. You must fill out the application properly, including parent signatures and student ID number. Return the application to the ROP office or career center as soon as possible. This will replace your elective with your ROP course.

I think it’s a good idea for students to get involved in ROP if they want to get started early with their career. ROP also benefits you because if you think you want to do something in your future, ROP can help you be sure that this is what you want in to do in your future. It’s also a good chance to be able to leave school early if you don’t really care for school. It’s easy, and it’s fun, so you should definitely consider ROP if you want to get a head start on your career!

In many parts of the world including areas of Sierra Leone, Somalia, Egypt, Niger, and parts of Asia, female circumcision is a tradition for female children and teens between the ages of ten and fifteen. Female circumcision ranges from partial or sometimes complete removal of the prepuce (hood) of the clitoris. Many Western and European countries look at this as barbaric, and see it as a terrible thing and an ignorant ritual, but is it fair to lay judgment on other culture’s traditions? Fatmata Kabba a seventeen year old student at Valley High School told me about her experience as a female who considers herself a victim of genital mutilation, “I always used to see girls go in to the secret club (which was called Bondo), and come out really pretty and there was always a big party. All I knew was that I wanted to do it too. When I was finally old enough my mom told me it was time to go and I was so excited. The first thing that happened when I got there was my mom and grandma held me down and I remember getting a part of me cut out with a razor blade. I don’t think I’ve ever screamed so much prior to, or after that. Then they put me in hot water to stop the open bleeding and fed me hot soup. During that entire month, I was in the secret club where I learned how to cook, clean, and braid. At the end of the month I had my hair done, and my grandma made me a beautiful dress. I had the biggest feast ever, but after knowing the cost it really wasn’t worth it anymore.” Some people would say that is a horrible thing that has happened to her but others say that if that is her culture then that is her culture. Ashley Grummel puts it in her own words by saying “Every culture has their own right to do what they want, and personally I think its none of the rest of the worlds business”.

Countries like the United States and Canada protect girls who try to escape “genital mutilation” by making it an illegal practice, but is it a country’s right to tell parents what they can and cannot do with their children? Mireya Jimenez states “No, because they are the parents so they are in control even with those types of decisions.”  Another student, Garrett Bibb stated, “No if the parents think that’s what’s best for the children, then…”  I strongly agree with these two statements.  None of the intentions of female circumcision are bad, but western countries try to make it seem barbaric. Some of the reasons for female circumcision are religious rituals, hygiene, promotion of abstinence, tradition, and a passage from childhood to femininity. Female Circumcision is never used as a punishment, and parents who do this strongly believe it will benefit their young daughters. Should it be fair to call cultures that practice female circumcision ignorant? Ashley Grummel stated, “All cultures are ignorant to other cultures in the fact that they rarely change or want to listen to what another culture has to say.”  Christian Durham states, “No, I don’t think they are ignorant, but since it’s a taboo to western culture, they feel the need to denounce it.”  Both of these statements are to the entire world. Something that is unheard of or strange is usually put down by people who find it weird.

There are many risks that come from female circumcision. For example, in some countries the procedure is done with a broken piece of glass, or a sharp stone with no proper medical attention, which carries a great risk of infection and over-bleeding. In areas where there is proper medical attention, too much tissue can be removed, damaging that area of your body forever. A positive aspect female circumcision is that it is more hygienic. Many of the other positive aspects only exist in that culture such as mystical or ritualistic factors. No matter how it is done or why it is done, many western cultures think that it’s barbaric and while many other areas in the world think it is perfectly fine. In my opinion, female circumcision is something that is acceptable long as it is done safely. I don’t think it is fair for the rest of the world to judge people based on their way of life, especially if they people don’t fully comprehend why something is done. People need to understand that everybody is different, and it’s not only their way that is acceptable. Before condemning someone else’s beliefs and traditions, they should try to understand why something is being done.

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.
 Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
the bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
then the sudden smell of burning flesh.
 Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
for the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
for the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
here is a strange and bitter crop.
 By: Billie Holliday

The scent of corpses and rotten flesh still linger in our history as well as the broken tree limbs still on the ground. The pain of losing a loved one still paints the picture of our beautiful America, know as the “Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave”. I mention brave because from 1607 to 1865, many African Americans were lynched, tortured, and starved. Many of the men and women’s bodies were left to shrivel up and rot. They swayed and swayed in the wind until their very last possible moment of life remained. From 1882-1968, 4,743 lynchings had occurred in the United States. 3,446 of those people lynched were all black.  The blacks lynched accounted for 72.7% of the people lynched. However, blacks were not the only ones to be lynched. Whites accounted for 27.3 percent of lynchings, most of the time they were lynched for helping or aiding blacks. Willie Lynch was the author and creator of the word lynch, and he said, “Gentlemen, you know what your problems are: I do not need to elaborate. I am not here to enumerate your problems, I am here to introduce you to a method of solving them. In my bag here, I have a fool proof method for controlling your Black slaves. I guarantee everyone of you that if installed correctly it will control the slaves for at least 300 hundred years . My method is simple. Any member of your family or your overseer can use it.” His method was lynching. Lynching in his mind brought fear into the eyes of children and parents. By lynching parents in front of their children, this assured himself that slave masters wouldn’t have any problems for years to come. However, its 2010 and we’ve taken a half step up and gotten a black president. From lynching’s, to now having a black president.

Know your history…Black history

 Q: What school did you come from?

A:  Rahkeem- McClymonds High school in Oakland.

A: Gilbert- Arvin High School in Arvin.

Q: Did you want to come to a new school?

A:  Rahkeem-It didn’t really matter because I don’t care about changing schools, and I like meeting new people, but I don’t like being the lonely new guy.

A: Gilbert- Kind of but not really because I had friends at my old school.

Q: Which school do you like better?

A: Rahkeem- McClymonds is a lot less confusing because it’s easier to get to my classes.

A: Gilbert-Since I am brand new here, I still like Arvin better.  Maybe when I get used to COHS and have some good friends, I will feel more comfortable here.

Q: How are the students here treating you?

A: Rahkeem- Good.  It’s really heart-warming how welcoming all the ladies have been here.  Especially all the kids in my first period class.

A: Gilbert- So far everyone’s been nice.  People talk to me in class and people are not rude to me during lunch and passing periods.

Q: What is your opinion on the school?

A: Rahkeem-It’s cool because … I can’t really explain why, but this school is just “da business”, ya know what I’m sayin?

A: Gilbert- The campus is too small so that makes it feel crowded, at least compared to my old school which was a lot more spread out.

Q: Do you wish you were still at your old school?

A: Rahkeem- No, because my old school was getting boring because there was only 11th and 12th graders going there, because they were shutting down the school, so we were going to be the last graduating class. 

A: Gilbert- Yeah, because I miss my old friends.  That’s really the only reason.

Q: As a new student, how do you feel about the rules?

A: Rahkeem- The rules are fair.  They’re not really that strict, and they make sense.

A: Gilbert- They’re strict, but not really that strict.  I mean, they try to make it seem like it’s so strict here, but the rules are pretty much the same as my old school.

Q: Have you made any friends?

A: Rahkeem- Yeah, Anisse Broadway is a really cool chick.  She doesn’t ask me for change, and she always has candy, but she is pretty stingy with the candy.

A: Gilbert: Yes, Felicia from my Algebra II class.

Q: What are your goals for this year?

A: Rahkeem- Get good grades and graduate on time.

A: Gilbert- Make more friends.

Q: What are your goals in life?

A: Rahkeem- Graduate college, become a kinesieologist, and have a lot of money and cars.

A: Gilbert- Graduate high school and go to college.  After that, I would like to pursue a career as an architect.

Q: What do you do in your free time?

A: Rahkeem- I like to play sports such as basketball.  I also like to watch TV.

A: Gilbert- Texting my friends back in Arvin and going on myspace.

Q: What is your greatest fear?

A: Rahkeem- Failure.  I just don’t want to a failure to society because that doesn’t feel good and I don’t want to be a bum.

A: Gilbert- Dying a horrible death, like being murdered in my sleep.

Q: On what occasion do you lie?

A: Rahkeem- When I’m about to get in trouble and toward annoying people.

A: Gilbert- When I don’t want to say the truth and I’m talking to someone I don’t respect.

Q: Which words or phrases do you most over use?

A: Rahkeem- WTF

A: Gilbert- They are all curse words so I really can’t say.

Q: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

A: Rahkeem- My name because I hate it because it’s Muslim.  I would like to be named … anything else.

A: Gilbert- I would like to be taller, like 5′8″ would be good.

Q: What is your most treasured possession?

A: Rahkeem- My son because that’s my seed.

A: Gilbert- My cell phone because it’s my communication link to the people in Arvin.

Q: What do you most value in a friend?

A: Rahkeem- Honesty.

A: Gilbert- Honesty.

Q: Who are your heroes in real life?

A: Rahkeem- I don’t really have any heroes just yet, because no one really registers as a hero on my radar, but maybe someday I will find one.

A: Gilbert- Easy E because I like his music. 

I found out a number of things about Rahkeem and Gilbert that allowed me to get to know them better. Rahkeem and Gilbert are really nice people, so if you see them around campus, don’t forget to say hello.

The first day was dance, which was a lot harder than I thought.  I walked into the room with over 75 other people, all competing for the few leads in Annie.  We were then taught a somewhat complicated dance by Mrs. Peterson, the dance teacher here at COHS.  We got about 45 minutes to practice it and then we were all called 4 at a time to do it in front of 4 judges, which were Ms. Chun, Mrs. Peterson, Mr. Mangonon, and Mrs. Homer.  I did okay, but I missed a couple steps in the routine.  The next day of auditions was the singing audition, which was judged by the same judges of course.  I had to sing for about a minute with bright stage lights shining in my eyes.  I was very nervous at first, but once I started to sing I felt more relaxed and confident.  I think I did a good job, but Friday’s results would be the final verdict on what part I get.  The final day of auditions was the acting audition, which everyone had to do in front of everyone who got a callback for that day.  When it was my turn to go up I was surprisingly clam.  I guess having my friends in the stands helped me focus and do my best. 

There was some awesome talent throughout all three days of auditions, and I am very shocked that I even got a shot at such a big role as Daddy Warbucks with all of the talent that was there.  Honestly, this school is filled with talent, and I bet there are a ton of you out there that have some serious untapped potential.  I have never acted before in my life and I got Drake the butler, so whether you have a passion for acting or just want to try something new and have fun, I recommend auditioning for a play here at COHS.  If I can do it, so can you.

Roe v. Wade in 1973 was the case that led to the ruling which made abortion legal in the United States, and it is one of the most controversial Supreme Court cases in U.S. history.  Jane Roe, a Texas resident, sought to terminate her pregnancy by abortion. Texas law prohibited abortions except to save the pregnant woman’s life. After granting certiorari, a writ issuing from a superior court calling up the record of a proceeding in an inferior court for review, the court heard arguments twice. The court held that a woman’s right to an abortion fell within the right to privacy (recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut) protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision gave a woman total autonomy over her pregnancy during the first trimester, and defined different levels of state interest for the second and third trimesters. As a result, the laws of 46 states were affected by the court’s ruling.

I myself am pro choice. Although I am against abortion, I feel every woman should have the right to do with their bodies what they please.  Abortions are considerable under certain circumstances, like rape or failed birth control.  Even though rape pregnancies are not that common, a woman should have the right to make the choice of terminating the pregnancy because 9 times out of 10 that baby isn’t going to have a good life because it is unwanted, and some women may feel as if it is a mistake from their past.  I also feel that a young teenage girl should be able to make the choice to terminate her pregnancy without parental consent. It’s her body, her responsibility, and it should be her decision do with it what she wants.  A lot of teenage girls are unaware of the consequences of sex and have little information about birth control which results in these mishaps.  Save yourself from going through this pain and a rollercoaster of emotion, and get educated on how to prevent pregnancy.

An astonishing 1.3 million abortions occur annually in the United States. More than half of abortions yearly are by women under the age of twenty-five with the ages of eighteen and nineteen making up the highest number. Today, abortion is legal through all nine months of pregnancy and in all 50 states of the US. There are also eighteen states that do not require parent’s permission for this procedure.

Science has proven that human life does in fact begin in the moment of conception. To say that the size of an embryo determines its humanity is denying its personhood. On the first day of conception, already a one-of-a-kind individual is formed. All of its inherited features: its gender, eye color, hair color, the shape of its eyebrows and the size of its nose are all instilled in its DNA.

On Saturday, January 23, 2010, I with an estimated 30,000 other participants walked for the lives of these innocent little souls. The “Walk for Life” in San Francisco was an immense success. The crowd, young and old alike, gathered at Justin Herman Plaza to listen to the Walk for Life speakers. A mother told the amazing story of how she almost aborted her daughter, something she would have regretted all her life. Two women talked about their experience of working in an abortion clinic. They now believe in the Pro-Life movement and lead the cause to respect and protect the lives of the unborn. Through rain and shine, throngs of pro-life activists marched from Embarcadero to Marina Greens. We stood for the rights of the voiceless, for the born and the unborn alike. We walked to finally put an end to this calamity, and with the hope that 2010 will finally mark an end to this inhumane crime.

Every single living, breathing individual on this planet is a survivor of abortion. Do not allow yourself to suffer by submitting to this unfathomable injustice. No one wants to live with the guilt of terminating another human being’s life. As the great Mother Teresa said, “There are two victims in every abortion: a dead baby and a dead conscience.” It is not for us to judge whether one should live or die. It is in the hands of fate. So your mother chose life. Will you?

             Even though stress can be caused by tragic events, many people are able to control their stress. When stress is not controlled, many times stress leads to dangerous thoughts and actions from a person. In this degree, stress could end up being very precarious causing actions that could even put an immense scar in a person’s life if not controlled or stopped. That’s why it is very important to relieve stress especially in your teenage years of life, because believe it or not, our lives have just begun.

            Despite people telling you that your lives have just begun, many of you, have experienced events and issues that give your minds wisdom beyond your age. Unfortunately it also gives you a different view of life, which causes some people to become stressed out. At times like these it is always best to talk to someone you know about what you have been through and what you have experienced. It will relieve your stress and initially you will receive advice and a different view of your problems from the person you talked to. Talking to someone you trust and love is the best and foremost way to relieve the burden you have carried. Just think of it like your carrying a heavy burden of supplies for your journey, your walking alone through a rough trail tired and sad. But on the other hand if you have a companion by your side, he will carry some of the heavy load and you won’t be alone and sad, you would have someone to talk to and enjoy the journey with. Wouldn’t you rather have the second experience rather than that first one with the sad and lonely feelings?

            Even though talking about it is the best way to relieve stress, there are other ways of removing stress too. Some of these ways are meditation, engaging your-self in activities (sports, dances, clubs, etc), as well as to make sure you eat healthy and sleep well. Many other ways also include listening to your favorite music, talking to your friends (best thing if your stressed is avoid hanging out alone, having someone there would help relieve it), watching TV. Anything involving doing something you love.

           Doing all these activities, exercise, eating properly, etc. can help reduce stress but you also have to tell your mind things too, and understand yourself better. Remembering to try your best can help reduce stress at school. When you know that your doing your best and the mistakes you made in school can help the future, it can help you understand that you shouldn’t be stressing. When you make mistakes in school, either on tests or on doing something wrong, just make sure you learn from it, and you don’t make it again, it will make you smarter. Understanding that if you have family problems, there are people here for you in this world that can help you out on your problems and journeys, just remember your not the only one going through these problems, there are many others as well, but you will need to talk to someone else about it in order to find out their side of the stories. Little things and thoughts like these can help you relieve stress and make life better. There wouldn’t be life if there wasn’t its bad and good times, and you wouldn’t know what the good times were if it weren’t for the bad.

But in the aftermath of this horribly tragic event, are there fake fundraisers who are looking to profit from Haiti’s misfortune?  The answer is yes.  Many websites have popped up asking for donations to Haiti, when in reality you are giving money to an individual scam artist.  Popular sites like Facebook and Twitter are used to advertise the fake fundraisers for Haiti.  On Facebook alone, there are over 350 million users in the world, and that’s a huge audience which scammers see as a bucket of money.

So what can you do to help Haiti without being scammed?  First of all, beware of pop ups and spam.  Do not give personal information to solicitors on the web.   Simply, use common sense and carefully choose who you will donate your money to.  Make sure to donate to popular fundraisers like Red Cross.  Organizations like Red Cross are well known and trusted by millions of Americans, and your donations are guaranteed to buy needed food and shelter for the Haiti victims.  Haiti is in a disastrous state, and is in need of any help it can get.  If you can please help Haiti but beware of those scammers.