Back to Artwork Line Back to Sections Kimberly Shrestha - What is Line By Kimberly Shresta November 1, 2020 Marker Volume 1 Issue 1

Back to Artwork The Memory Project Back to Sections Amna Faisal - Memory Project By Amna Faisal March 18, 2021 Volume 1 Issue 6

Back to Artwork Nostalgic Musings Back to Sections Shehar Bano - Nostalgic Musings - 1 By Shehar Bano February 10, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 4

Back to Articles Sports Back to Sections Lessons Learned in the Pool By Angelina Somma Volume 1 Issue 3 December 16, 2020 Image provided by the Long Island Aquatic Club Upon entering the Long Island Aquatic Club Freedom pool, your eyes are immediately drawn to the patriotic-colored banners hanging from the ceiling.  The words GRIT, FRIENDSHIP, and COMPETITIVE GREATNESS printed in bold letters across these banners describe the three greatest lessons I have learned from competitive swimming. The quality of one’s swim practice is determined by yardage and speed. The accepted notion is that yardage and speed equate to strength and ultimately success. I spend fourteen and half hours each week in the pool.  During each practice, I swim seven to eight thousand yards at a considerable speed.  After a week of this training, my arms and legs ache, my mind and body crave sleep.  I often find myself questioning whether I can complete another week of training.  However, I continue training in the pursuit of a successful swim meet.  At certain meets I race my best, and in others I don’t.  When falling short of my best, I question why I train.  In those moments the words “grit,” “friendship,” and “competitive greatness” become a source of great encouragement.  I have learned to confront the challenge, to surround myself with friends for support, and to rise to the occasion. The swim community to which I belong has shaped the person I am today in many ways. Many view athletics as just a method of staying in shape or a hobby. However, each sport provides athletes with a unique community: a community to learn from and to rely on. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Feature Back to Sections Veteran's Day Leah Ally Volume 5 Issue 2 November 25, 2024 Image Provided by Elaine Ching As Veterans Day approaches on November 11th, it is crucial to understand its importance, how to celebrate it, and its origins. Veterans Day is a time of honor and celebration for the men and women who have served in the armed forces. Recognizing their sacrifice, courage, and commitment to the United States truly reinforces how important Veterans Day is. This important day of commemoration stems from a rich history from the early 1900s and has since continually reminded citizens of the people who have fought for our freedoms. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Day was heavily influenced by World War I, also known as the Great War. It began after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914. This catapulted a war as Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire (the Central Powers) fought against Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Canada, Japan, and the United States (the Allied Powers). This resulted in incomprehensible technological warfare that would cause World War I to be one of the most devastating conflicts in history. It ended with millions of casualties between both sides’ civilians and soldiers. The conflict officially stopped on November 11, 1918. However, the Allied Powers would go on to create the Treaty of Versailles around a year later to fully mark the beginning of peace. By signing the treaty, the Central Powers would go on to lose territories, reduce military forces, and pay reparations to the Allied powers. However, the original date of ceased fire, November 11th, would become the official date for Armistice Day. Armistice means to “stand still arms” in Latin. However, the holiday itself had the same meaning it does today where the heroic acts of soldiers were celebrated and recognized by the public. According to the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum it was stated, “In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the Veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word 'Armistice' and inserting in its place the word 'Veterans.' With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.” In other words, instead of only celebrating soldiers from World War I, Armistice Day was reformed and expanded to celebrate all people who were involved in the armed forces. President Dwight D. Eisenhower is credited with this change, and it has ever since remained the same. When people think of Veterans Day they may not immediately think of celebrations; however, there are various ways in which it is honored around communities. Some common ways include parades, ceremonies, and personal tributes. Parades give a light-heartedness to Veterans Day as it allows for those who have served to march and be recognized as a hero. Additionally, it encourages young kids to better understand and participate in the holiday. On the other hand, ceremonies and personal tributes are more intimate ways of honoring Veterans Day as they bring attention to those who lost their lives while in service. These can include visiting memorials or hearing various speeches from loved ones or veterans. Both celebrations are a part of Veterans Day and prove to be important in awareness and honor. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, other countries also celebrate very similarly to honor their nation’s former armed forces and take the time to visit church services on what is known as “Remembrance Day.” All in all, Veterans Day is a solemn yet celebratory day honored by American citizens. As we recognize the upcoming November 11th, let us remember both the veterans who are still living and those who have passed to truly show our gratitude. Sources: Veterans Day Facts and Information - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs The History of Veterans Day | ASOMF Treaty of Versailles World War I: Summary, Causes & Facts | HISTORY History of Veterans Day - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles Polaris Back to Sections The Golden Tragedy By Catherine Duong Volume 2 Issue 1 October 8, 2021 Image provided by TGC company (Sky: CotL), photo editing by Catherine Duong Author’s note: This short story is fan fiction based on a game called Sky: Children of the Light (Sky: CotL), made by the TGC company. In addition, the story is heavily inspired by the 9/11 tragedy, celebrating its 20th anniversary and thanking the front lines for their service, the brave citizens who stepped up to help others and mourning those who lost their lives. The battlefield terrain, being next to the Golden Wasteland temple, represents the scene when both the Twin towers were struck by two hijacked planes from terrorists, in which the dark dragons in the photo above (krills) represent the planes and the remaining pillars after the tragedy in the story represents the 9/11 memorial. Other special thanks to Butter, Estella, and Nicole for helping out with the story cover above and photo editing from Catherine Duong. Keywords: 1 Krill - A hostile creature in Golden Wastelands; also known as the dark dragon 2 Golden Wastelands - the 5th realm in the sky realm, are best known for their hostile creatures and dark plants. “You, go to the left side! And you, try to distract the krill (1) at the right!” The soldiers briefly nodded, and flew towards the chaotic scene, then disappeared into the smoke and ashes once I pointed the direction to go to. All I heard in the background were the roars of the dark dragons attacking the temple in Golden Wastelands (2) and innocent people screaming for help. It was a tragedy to remember; it felt like I could still hear the scene echoing in my ears. Yet, when hope was fading citizens, in the sky realm stepped up. I saw people going through the rubble and helping out or getting them out of the disaster safely. It showed that front-liners like us aren’t the only ones to be called heroes. The people in the sky realm are heroes too by helping one another and saving a few lives with their good deeds. Hence, the tragedy was named The Golden Tragedy, it was a terrible moment, yet the “golden” part was the moment for average citizens to be recognized as heroes. Now it’s been 20 years ever since it happened. I’ve revisited the same site every year on the same day, looking at the rebuilt temple in front of me, but the remains of the old pillars, still chipped and worn, are still there. Each post had the name of the person who died during the scene. As I scanned through each pillar, a name or two caught my eye, which I readily recognized who they were. They were one of my close friends whom I had for many years. I held back my tears, clenching my fists. After the scene and everything was resolved, I left with my friend’s souls high up in the clouds, hopefully in a better place now. BACK TO TOP

Back to Articles News Back to Sections California Wildfires Sahar Ali Volume 5 Issue 4 April 8, 2025 On January 7th, California’s powerful winds mixed with dry conditions created the perfect conditions for a wildfire to ignite around the Los Angeles area, specifically the Palisades and Eaton. The Palisades Fire ignited in the early morning of January 7th, as a brush fire according to NBC News. Eventually, the brush fire engulfed 23,448 acres of land and destroyed more than 5,000 buildings in its path (NBC News). Regardless of firefighters’ greatest efforts, the fires began to spread throughout the Los Angeles area; only hours after the Palisades Fire ignited, the Eaton Fire was set ablaze, covering 14,021 acres and damaged more than 10,000 structures according to NBC News. Unfortunately, Los Angeles County officials have confirmed that the fires took the lives of 29 people. The Los Angeles medical examiner’s office claims that the Eaton Fire caused least 17 deaths while the Palisades Fire caused the other 12 deaths; however, the medical examiner’s office asserted that it could take weeks to verify the identities of the victims. Recently, California’s department of forestry and fire protection announced that the Palisades and Eaton Fires have been contained completely, three weeks after the fires initially went ablaze. Even though the fires are no longer raging throughout Southern California, Los Angeles must rebuild its cities; however, the Los Angeles Times claims that the total economic loss and expected damage to be between $250 billion and $275 billion according to AccuWeather, a forecasting service. The cost of repercussions makes the natural disaster one of the worst in the history of the United States (Los Angeles Times). Yet, the initial cause of the fires remains unclear. However, drought-like conditions are one of the main factors as Southern California “has had less than 10% of average rainfall since Oct. 1” (NBC News). Mix these conditions with powerful offshore winds, and you have perfect conditions to start a fire. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist, brought attention to California’s weather in recent years that was highlighted by drought or heavy rainfall, both of which “are a key element of the fire weather gripping the region” (NBC News). Swain additionally asserts that even though the warming climate results in drier conditions, the constantly varying weather in the state creates a risk in the Southern California area. Climate change, an issue affecting the world severely, may be a factor for the fires, but it is unclear to say if the changes in the ever-changing environment played a vital role in the blaze. Recent studies find that climate change worsens already extreme conditions such as those that had started the fires in California (NPR). Human activity is also a factor that led to the Palisades and Eaton Fires as “there were no lightning storms at the time that would have sparked the fires” (NPR). UCLA’s director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Alex Hall, claims that the “ignitions were undoubtedly due to human activity” (NPR). The Palisades and Eaton Fires have affected almost 200,000 people and many people lost their homes and business. There are multiple resources that we can use to support those in California. This website provides links to donation centers that are working to help those affected by the natural disaster. Through our donations, we can help Los Angeles build up the beautiful city it used to be, along with providing California residents with hope for the future. SOURCES: California wildfires: What we know about L.A.-area fires, what caused them, who is affected and more Estimated cost of fire damage balloons to more than $250 billion Los Angeles’ Palisades and Eaton wildfires are now fully contained Here's how climate change fueled the Los Angeles fires BACK TO TOP

Back to Artwork Nostalgic Musings Back to Sections Sophia Song - Nostalgic Musings - 2 By Sophia Song February 10, 2022 Photography Volume 2 Issue 4

Back to Artwork Nostalgic Musings Back to Sections Javoni Roberts - Nostalgic Musings By Javoni Roberts February 10, 2022 Mixed Media Volume 2 Issue 4

Back to Articles Editorial Back to Sections Intersectional Feminism By Sumaiya Ramsaroop Volume 1 Issue 6 March 18, 2021 Image provided by Adobe Stock Intersectionality As human beings, we are naturally multifaceted; race, gender, sexuality, class, ability or disability, we are individually composed of infinite intricacies that merge to form a whole person. However, when speaking about inequality, we tend to separate out our race, gender, class, etc. -- we split up race inequality from gender inequality from class inequality, as if oppression only targets parts of a person, and not the whole person. The reality is, people are uniquely oppressed at the intersection of their many identities. The inequality experienced by white women is not equal in magnitude to the inequality experienced by indigenous transgender women, for example. In order to combat oppressive systems, we must adopt intersectional thinking and acknowledge the unique lived experience created by our individual intersections. Kimberlé Crenshaw, UCLA and Columbia law professor, lawyer, and civil rights proponent, coined the term “intersectionality” in 1989 to explain how systems of oppression work together to invoke distinct experiences unto people with multiple identity groupings (The Editors). She describes intersectionality as “a prism, for seeing the way in which various forms of inequality often operate together and exacerbate each other” (Steinmetz). Her founding work primarily encompasses Black women, whose oppression was neither fully acknowledged nor embraced by the feminist movement, nor by antiracist initiatives. Being Black and being a woman were presented as mutually exclusive, when Black womanhood is, holistically, a unique experience on its own. Intersectionality becomes relevant when we understand that “all inequality is not created equal,” as asserted by Crenshaw (UN Women). By adopting an intersectional approach to conquering inequality, we shed light upon discrimination and oppression magnified under overlapping social identities, and we amplify the voices of those overlapping individuals. First-wave Feminism Feminism is one ideology in dire need of intersectional revision, for it has centered the voices of cisgender, straight, white women since its origin at the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848. Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Mary M’Clintock, Martha Coffin Wright, and Jane Hunt, the convention was both spearheaded and attended by upper and middle-class white women. Women of color were largely missing from the event, and Black women were not invited (Brown). When asked to prioritize Black men’s voting rights above women’s suffrage, social reformer Susan B. Anthony proclaimed, “I will cut off this right arm of mine before I will ever work or demand the ballot for the Negro and not the woman” (Wilson & Russell). The once-united women’s suffrage movement and Black male suffrage movement diverged as emancipated Black men rallied for and ultimately received voting rights under the 15th Amendment, while women remained disenfranchised. However, this divergence further sidelined Black women’s voting rights. Sojourner Truth, a former slave and advocate for women’s suffrage, disassociated herself from Frederick Douglass’s voting rights advocacy, for he emphasized Black male suffrage as more pressing than women’s suffrage. Though befriended by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Truth also distanced herself from the white-led women’s suffrage movement, as she did not agree with Stanton’s opposition to the 15th Amendment. In an 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, Truth delivered an impassioned speech titled, “Ain’t I a Woman?” (Reilly). In her speech, she brought awareness to the “double-burden” women of color, particularly Black women, endured while fighting for both civil rights and gender equality––a burden amplified by the two movements’ divergence nearly two decades later (Reilly). Voting rights for women of color remained deprioritized through the remainder of the women’s suffrage movement and well after the ratification of the 19th Amendment. While we can celebrate the achievements of the women’s suffrage movement (“first-wave feminism”), we must also recognize that it principally fought for a white woman’s right to vote, and continually disregarded––and oftentimes silenced––the intersectional, overlapping woman. The 19th Amendment states that the right to vote shall not be abridged on the basis of sex; while a pivotal achievement, this classification benefitted white women unburdened by state-sanctioned racial discrimination (Not All Women Gained). Therefore, by accepting that all women gained suffrage in 1920, we are participating in a white washing of history. Indigenous women earned the right to vote in 1924. Asian women earned the right to vote in 1952. Black and Latina women earned the right to vote in 1965 (Panetta, Reany, Lakritz). And while these years mark the passing of legislation that legalized such marginalized women’s voting rights, these women remained largely disenfranchised by state interference decades subsequent. Second-Wave Feminism Forty years after the 19th Amendment’s ratification, a new incarnation of the women’s movement arose, known as “second-wave feminism.” Lasting from the 60s into the 80s, the movement shed light upon women’s cultural, political, and economic inequality by bridging the gap between women’s personal matters and sexist societal power structures (Drucker). Second-wave feminism broadened the scope of gender inequalities and discrimination, as it drew attention to issues such as reproductive rights, family, the workplace, sexuality, domestic violence, custody and divorce laws, sexual assault, and women’s shelters. However, like first-wave feminism, it was critiqued for disproportionately elevating white, upper and middle-class women. Writer and activist Audre Lorde, known as the mother of intersectional feminism, advocated for feminism which transcended society’s incessant need for categorization (Liberman). She celebrated individual and communal differences while highlighting the exclusive nature of second-wave feminism. At a NYU conference in 1979, Lorde introduced a speech entitled “The Master’s Tool Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” by announcing, “I stand here as a Black lesbian feminist within the only panel where the input of Black feminists and lesbians is represented” (Liberman). She emphasized a gaping intersectional hole in a movement that claimed to advocate for all women, and––she got to work. In a 1981 interview transcribed in The Denver Quarterly , Lorde pointed out, “There’s always someone asking you to underline a piece of yourself” (Liberman). In this request, however, they often dismiss everything else about an individual; Lorde described this fatal flaw as the center for her intersectional endeavors. While calling upon the role white feminists played in perpetuating exclusive feminism, Lorde also acknowledged in her “The Master’s Tool” speech, “As women, we have been taught to either ignore our differences, or to view them as causes for separation and suspicion rather than as forces for change” (Liberman). Lorde not only advocated for intersectionality, but she championed interdependency among all people to prompt the transition from second-wave feminism to intersectional feminism. Third-Wave Feminism Modern “third-wave feminism” carries on the fight of second-wave feminism in a more inclusive light, but still demands that women disregard their intersectional identities linger, to center their womanness in the name of gender equality. However, as Lorde and Crenshaw both noted, gender inequality and oppression cannot be separated from other inequalities and forms of oppression. While LGBTQIA+ women, women of color, disabled women, and non-binary people remain overlooked in the modern-day feminist movement, blooming intersectional efforts seek to transform feminism as we know it by including all women. If feminism is going to intrinsically progress, intersectionality should take root in our thoughts and especially the actions we take towards creating a more equitable, inclusive world, where all marginalized voices can be heard. We must commit ourselves to seeing each other as whole individuals––some elevated by systems which cater to their privileges and others oppressed by power structures which target their intersections. As Audre Lorde proclaimed in a speech entitled, “Learning from the 60s,” “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives” (Blackpast). As long as we adhere to a “one size fits all” mentality when addressing and fighting to mend inequalities, we continue to turn a blind eye to the injustices that thrive at intersections. Let us see each other for who we are, and not merely for the aspects of one another we can relate to. Let us celebrate intersectionality, for our commitment to intersectional thinking is the means by which we can achieve gender equality for all women. And let us reclaim third-wave feminism from the exclusive legacy of its predecessors by centering marginalized voices in our efforts towards equality. After all, “if it’s not intersectional, it’s not feminism.” Works Cited Blackpast. "(1982) AUDRE LORDE, 'LEARNING FROM THE 60S.'" Blackpast , 12 Aug. 2012, www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/1982-audre-lorde-learning-60s/. Black Women & The Suffrage Movement: 1848-1923." Wesleyan University , www.wesleyan.edu/mlk/posters/suffrage.html. Brown, Tammy L. "Celebrate Women's Suffrage, but Don't Whitewash the Movement's RacismCelebrate Women's Suffrage, but Don't Whitewash the Movement's Racism." ACLU , 24 Aug. 2018, www.aclu.org/blog/womens-rights/celebrate-womens-suffrage-dont-whitewash-movements-racism. Brzustowicz, Victoria. "Susan B. Anthony—still controversial after all these years." Susan B. Anthony Museum & House , 26 Sept. 2018, susanbanthonyhouse.org/blog/tag/stand-against-racism/. Drucker, Sally Ann. "Betty Friedan: The Three Waves of Feminism." Ohio Humanities , Apr. 2018, www.ohiohumanities.org/betty-friedan-the-three-waves-of-feminism/. The Editors. "Kimberlé Crenshaw's Intersectional Feminism." JSTOR Daily , Aug. 2020, daily.jstor.org/kimberle-crenshaws-intersectional-feminism/. Lieberman, Charlotte. "The Essential Audre Lorde." Writing on Glass , www.writingonglass.com/audre-lorde. "Not All Women Gained the Vote in 1920." Pbs.org , 6 July 2020, www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/vote-not-all-women-gained-right-to-vote-in-1920/. Onion, Amanda, et al. "Seneca Falls Convention." History.com , 10 Nov. 2017, www.history.com/topics/womens-rights/seneca-falls-convention. Panetta, Grace, et al. "The 19th Amendment passed 100 years ago today. The evolution of American voting rights in 244 years shows how far we've come — and how far we still have to go." Business Insider , Aug. 2020, www.businessinsider.com/when-women-got-the-right-to-vote-american-voting-rights-timeline-2018-10. Reilly, Maura. "Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth and Ida B Wells: Mothers of the Movement for Women's Equality." Medium , 8 May 2020, medium.com/@representwomen/elizabeth-cady-stanton-sojourner-truth-and-ida-b-wells-mothers-of-the-movement-for-womens-904a77665f4b. Steinmetz, Katy. "She Coined the Term 'Intersectionality' Over 30 Years Ago. Here's What It Means to Her Today." Time , 20 Feb. 2020, time.com/5786710/kimberle-crenshaw-intersectionality/. UN Women. "Intersectional feminism: what it means and why it matters right now." UN Women , 1 July 2020, www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/6/explainer-intersectional-feminism-what-it-means-and-why-it-matters. BACK TO TOP