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 By Kate Voltz (editorial) As the school year comes to an end, I as an editor wanted to say a final thank you for sticking with the Crier through thick and thin. While it hasn't been easy to keep things moving virtually and in such a different format, we made it work, and we never could have done it without you, our faithful readers. Never be afraid to reach out to us with story ideas, feedback, or interest in joining the Crier staff! Our email is crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com, or you can contact me individually. I would also like to thank all the amazing writers that worked incredibly hard throughout the year, covering the news and writing about great ideas and perspectives while also working to improve their skills and make it through online school, a global pandemic, and everything else in life. We can't wait to be back fully in-person with real, printed monthly Crier editions next fall, and we hope to see you then! Have a wonderful summer. Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/light-sign-typography-lighting-519/
 By Cecilia Bahnson Julie Green is an artist, activist, and professor at Oregon State University here in Corvallis. She was born in Yokosuka, Japan and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts as well as her Masters of Fine Arts from The University of Kansas. Green’s primary medium is traditional paint and one of her most influential works is an ongoing project known as The Last Supper, which combines historical and classical painting techniques with her passion and criticism of capital punishment in the United States. In The Last Supper, Julie Green paints the final meals of death row inmates onto vintage ceramic plates, using the same blue mineral paint for each depiction.
The Last Supper was set in motion when Green was teaching in Texas. She stumbled upon a section of the morning paper which listed the final meal requests of Texan death row inmates. Since that time, Green has worked hard to educate herself and others on the issue of capital punishment, and she has added 950 painted plates to her collection-- around 50 per year. “A final meal request humanizes death row for me,” she says. With each final meal that she paints, Green also includes the date of the execution, the written meal request, and the state. She does not include the inmates’ names. Through her research and work around this topic, Julie Green also learned about what sorts of last meals are available. Many states have very limited options because there are only so many things available in the prison kitchens. Some states have restrictions on last meals for other reasons as well, for example in Texas-- a state with a huge abundance of cattle ranches-- steak is not allowed. “If you ordered steak, you got ground beef,” says Green. Green also found that among the more popular requests for comfort foods like hamburgers, fries, enchiladas, potatoes, and pizza, there were also requests for the things inmates never had the chance to try. Sugar-free black walnut ice cream, for example, or fried sac-a-lait fish with crawfish étouffée. One man asked for “justice, equality, world peace,” and another for “God’s Word.” Every choice is personal and tells a snippet of a story. Julie Green shares those stories through her art. Since Green began working on The Last Supper, the death penalty has become significantly less popular and less frequently imposed. She plans to continue until the death penalty is totally abolished, or until she has completed 1,000 plates. Whichever comes first. As of 2021, 23 states have abolished the death penalty, including Washington D.C.. Green has received plenty of criticism from the public about this project. Debates about the ethics capital punishment run fierce in this country, and Julie Green is persistently opposed to any death sentence. She’s also been accused of trying to capitalize on the death penalty, although she has stated that the project is “strictly not for profit.” David Huff, the executive director of The Arts Center, says of death row inmates and Julie Green’s work: “They may have done really bad things. But regardless of what you think about it [the death penalty], you have to accept that these are people...actual people with likes and dislikes.” From a professional point of view, Julie Green has had a very successful career as an artist. Her artwork and stories have been featured in The New York Times, PBS, Rolling Stone and Ceramics Monthly, as well as several other media outlets and exhibitions both within the United States and internationally. Nowadays Green works as a professor in the art department at OSU but devotes much of her time to her own studio, continuing her work on The Last Supper or working on her own narrative paintings. Other projects of hers include a series of large, rather charming narrative paintings called Fashion Plate, as well as a project called My New Blue Friends which explores human consumption and a unique airbrushing technique that incorporates egg tempura. My New Blue Friends draws inspiration from traditional calligraphy, the color blue, and the movement of the ocean. Julie Green lives with her husband and fellow artist Clay Lohmann, as well as their one-eyed cat. Sources: Artsy. “In Julie Green's Portland Exhibition, the Blues Are Insistent.” Artsy, 13 Dec. 2015, www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-in-julie-green-s-portland-exhibition-the-blues-are-insistent Green, Julie. Julie Green, 23 Apr. 2021, https://greenjulie.com/ Johnson, Kirk. “Dish by Dish, Art of Last Meals.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Jan. 2013, www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/arts/design/the-last-supper-by-julie-green-at-arts-center-in-oregon.html “JULIE GREEN.” UPFOR, https://upforgallery.com/julie-green “Julie Green.” College of Liberal Arts, 13 Apr. 2020, https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/julie-green “Julie Green's ‘The Last Supper ‘Depicts the Final Meals of Death Row Inmates.” Julie Green's "The Last Supper "Depicts the Final Meals of Death Row Inmates | Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, 12 June 2021, https://jsma.uoregon.edu/julie-green%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9C-last-supper-%E2%80%9Cdepicts-final-meals-death-row-inmates “My New Blue Friends.” UPFOR, https://upforgallery.com/my-new-blue-friends Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/shallow-focus-photography-of-paintbrush-102127/  By Cecilia Bahnson Being a student is hard work. We spend a huge chunk of the week at school, in class, and working on homework. On top of that, we juggle sports, extracurriculars, friends, family, relationships, and the pressures of growing and stepping up into an uncertain future. It gets a little rough sometimes, to say the least. In fact, student mental health as a topic deserves a lot more attention than it currently gets, and the lack of awareness around the struggles that so many young people face is a serious issue. Navigating things like anxiety, depression, burnout, and the pressure to look and act a certain way can have a huge negative impact on a student’s ability to meet academic expectations. Additionally, experiencing these things early-on without support can also affect a person’s future, as well as their overall mental and physical wellbeing. Struggling with mental health is not uncommon, but because of the stigma around it people often feel alone in their experiences. According to 2019 data, 9.4% of children (6.1 million) ages 3-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, 7.1% of children (4.4 million) have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and 3.2% of children (1.9 million) have been diagnosed with depression. These statistics have risen considerably in the past decade, and one of the reasons for this is the lack of accessible mental health resources in our schools. It is important to remember, however, that you do not need to have a diagnosis for your mental health challenges and experiences to be valid and deserving of support and attention. This mental health “crisis”, as some researchers are calling it, could be spurred by a variety of different things, including pressure to succeed academically and athletically. Students are expected to do and learn as much as possible in a short amount of time. In addition to that pressure to succeed, the way schools normally test and evaluate students’ competency are not always accurate indicators of each individual's true capabilities. High school students are also at the age where the press of the future is beginning to loom closer and closer. We start thinking about colleges, career paths, and entering the workforce-- which brings up a whole other stressor. Money. Finances. Finding a job, budgets, taxes, supporting yourself. It’s difficult to heap all of that on top of the already-enormous stack of schoolwork, practices, college applications, relationships, etc., especially considering our bodies, minds, and sense of self are still growing and changing and demanding our attention. All of these things can be (and usually are) very overwhelming, and it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself. Even more so when you feel alone or adrift. We already know that many students are struggling with mental health on their own, without support. Most schools do have resources for mental health, but the majority of students who need that support either choose not to, don’t feel comfortable with, or do not have the ability to utilize school resources. We should be wondering why that is, and what we can do to make mental health support more accessible. But, the first question we should be asking is “what mental health resources DO we have in our schools?” The most well-known and accessible resources are our school counselors. Our counselors provide academic and career guidance as well as personal and social support, and while that support is excellent, there are many different factors that may prevent students from reaching out to their school counselor as a mental health resource. For example, at Crescent Valley we have three counselors and somewhere well over 1,000 students. This can make it difficult to meet with your counselor on short notice, and many students have never actually spoken to their counselor personally. It can also sometimes feel awkward to speak with an adult about issues that are more related to being a student and a teenager. That’s not to say that our counselors aren’t fabulous and meaningful resources-- but the help they offer may not be what everyone needs or feels comfortable with at any given time. Other resources that we have include teachers, nurses, and social workers, but the challenge of accessibility and relatability still remains, as well as the stigma around mental health which can make students apprehensive about reaching out. So, what’s the solution? Unfortunately, dealing with mental health is a little more complicated than that. We can’t just “solve” the issue of mental health because there are so many different layers to it, and so many different experiences and challenges that cannot and should not be addressed all in the same way. However, there are some things we can do to make it easier for people to reach out, decrease stigma, and learn to cope and heal in healthy ways. One thing that would be extremely helpful would be to incorporate better mental health education into our school curriculum. We could help students throughout the day by learning coping techniques and self-care practices, and we could even prevent harmful incidents by learning the signs and symptoms of someone who may be struggling a lot or is in a mentally difficult situation. What’s more, by having conversations and learning about mental health we can combat the false idea that talking about mental health is shameful or weak-- we can work towards ending the stigma. Another thing that we as students can do to support our own mental health is to make self-care a priority, or at least check in with ourselves for a couple of minutes every once in a while. It can be difficult, but taking care of yourself is extremely important and can impact everything from sports and academics to your relationship with yourself and others. This could mean taking a break, a snack, a hike, a shower, or whatever you need to do in order to feel good. Recently, a group of students here at Crescent Valley, led by Charlie Hathaway, noticed and began taking actions to address the issue of mental health at our school. We now have the CVHS SAM Club, also known as Student Advocates for Mental Health. The SAM Club works to support, educate, and be an accessible student-led mental health resource for the CVHS student body. Right now, SAM mainly operates through Instagram under the username samclub_cvhs, and this page serves as a home-base for “all things education, inspiration, coping, and self-care.” The club also offers confidential peer-to-peer support for any and all students through the samclub_cvhs direct messaging system. There are many different things we can do to improve student mental health, and while having structured support systems and mental health education is extremely important, it's also important to take time to check in with yourself. You know yourself and your needs better than anyone else, and your story deserves to be heard. Sources Anderson, Meg, and Kavitha Cardoza. “Mental Health In Schools: A Hidden Crisis Affecting Millions Of Students.” NPR, NPR, 31 Aug. 2016, www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/08/31/464727159/mental-health-in-schools-a-hidden-crisis-affecting-millions-of-students “Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 Mar. 2021, www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.htm Hippe, Hannah, and Author Hannah Hippe. “Why Mental Health Should Be Taught in School.” Nystrom & Associates, 7 Dec. 2020, www.nystromcounseling.com/mental-health/why-mental-health-should-be-taught-in-school/ The Light Program. “The College Student Mental Health Crisis.” The Light Program, 17 Nov. 2020, https://thelightprogram.pyramidhealthcarepa.com/the-college-student-mental-health-crisis/#:~:text=What%20is%20causing%20the%20college,less%20stigma%20around%20seeking%20help Image source: Photo by Polina Zimmerman from Pexels
If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!  By Sophia Mathison (Opinion) Since March 2020, all we’ve thought about is developing a vaccine, administering the vaccine, and moving forward with our lives. However, the longer COVID-19 lasts, the more cracks appear in our way of life. It’s not very realistic that we will just go back to the way things were. Honestly, the world will never be the same. So the question arises: how do we move forward and resolve these cracks in our democracy, economy and social system? We all remember the fateful day of the death of George Floyd, and the immediate reaction it sparked. We are also all aware of the spike in brutal hate crimes committed against Asian-Americans. However, what most people don’t acknowledge is that these occurred before COVID as well. Minorities have always been in danger in this country: people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, etc. These people have been marginalized throughout American history. In a way, COVID-19 has brought these issues into the public eye more than ever before, but all it has done is exasperate preexisting disparities. Our economy has obviously crashed because of restrictions on business during the pandemic. We have seen a greater divide than ever before between the wealthy and the poor, as well as the destruction of the middle class. Rich people are getting richer, poor people are getting poorer, numbers of homeless people are rising rapidly, and there is no end in sight. With a new administration in the White House, everyone has different opinions on how these should be addressed by the government (or if that should be the body to address it at all). The bottom line is that the end of COVID is not the end of our problems. Our country and our world need to be examined and fixed, because we cannot keep living like this. In the meantime, continue to stay safe, and see you at school! If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!   By Kate Voltz (editorial) This week, the University of California (UC) school system, which serves more than 220,000 students over its 9 campuses, signed a final settlement agreeing to go completely test-optional for the next two years and completely test-blind after that. This ruling was based on a case that standardized tests discriminate against minorities and perpetuate inequities through a difference in available resources, prep, and retakes for tests like the SAT. This ruling lays out the most common arguments against considering standardized tests in college admissions: that they discriminate against minority students and only help those with the resources and support to excel. Students at CV of all ages have surely been considering applying not only to UC schools (including UC Berkeley and UCLA, some of the most influential public universities in the country) but to many other schools who may follow the lead of these institutions for fear of a similar suit against them in the years to come. In fact, both during and before the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools were choosing to transition to test-optional or test-blind admissions after criticism of testing grew; standardized tests have long been known to favor White and wealthier students over others. Regardless, this shift comes with consequences for prospective applicants. Riley Callahan, a junior at CV, is planning on applying to UC schools, namely Berkley. Of the change, he said, “I have a very competitive score, so scores weren’t something I was worried about as being a detriment—if anything, it was going to be a plus. That said, I think this is really important; the rest of my application is strong too, and I think this is for the better overall.” Another perspective applicant, Erin Smith, also a junior, explained that for some, standardized testing presents a chance to demonstrate their skills, meaning that to go completely test blind might “dissuade me [from applying], since I don’t have a perfect grade point average, so for me standardized testing would be an advantage as another chance to show that I’m not just my grades.” Others, like Yael Raich, another junior, believe that it’s a positive change: “Standardized testing isn’t for everyone. Some people can get a bad standardized test score but get good grades and otherwise be a good fit for the school, and still not get in, so I think it’s for the better” she explained. Many students are well aware of the societal implications of standardized testing. Matthew Grigsby, a senior, described his opinion thus: “I think standardized testing is an antiquated form of testing, and I think that going forward, the more we can move away from that kind of assessment, the better. It’s definitely a move forward.” Maya Schwartz, a sophomore, explained much of the rationale against standardized tests, saying “I think [the ruling on UC schools] is valid, because some people don’t have access to those types of study materials; some people can take classes or get testing books while others don’t have access to any of those resources, so it makes it more open to more students to be able to apply and have a fair chance.” Schools will likely continue to move away from standardized tests, spurred by public opinion, rulings like the recent one on UC schools, and an acknowledgement that tests may not mean everything about an applicant and their qualifications for any given school. As this shift occurs, high school students looking forward to their college applications will have to wait to see how these changes affect admissions decisions, the idea of “holistic review” of an application, and the balance of qualities in an application that can make a student most successful at the schools they’re interested in. Sources: https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2021/05/17/university-of-california-eliminates-the-sat-and-act-while-hundreds-of-colleges-stay-test-optional/?sh=29d1a9e8ab93, https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-09-25-1-600-colleges-are-now-test-optional-how-many-will-go-back, interviews with CV students in May 2021. Image sources: Photo by Zezen Mutaqin from Pexels, Photo by Jeswin Thomas from Pexels If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!  By Cecilia Bahnson Jaqui Lyn Eicher grew up in the Willamette Valley and is currently living and working as an artist right here in Corvallis! During her junior year at Western Oregon University, she truly began studying and intentionally creating artwork using watercolor and acrylic paint, as well as some work with sculpture. “Deep inside, I’ve always been an artist,” she says. Presently, the inspiration for Jaqui Eicher’s art comes from her scruffy white terrier, Pearl. When Eicher found herself without a dog for the first time in her life seven years ago, she began to paint the dogs of downtown Corvallis, including Redda at Sibling Revelry, Buddy at Troubadour Music, and many others. “I missed their company and in an effort to remain positive, I sought out all the dogs I could find.” Those paintings led to Eicher receiving commissions from pet owners for portraits of their animal friends. Jaqui Eicher is also inspired by the great artists of the past, and she has combined her love of historical artists with her love for Pearl in a large collection of paintings called “Portraits of Pearl.” These paintings, along with many others, are available to view and purchase on Eicher’s website https://www.bluepearl.store/! Through the “Portraits of Pearl” project, Jaqui Eicher discovered an artist named Anna Ancher who “can paint light and shadows like no one else I [Jaqui Eicher] have seen.” Anna Ancher’s style and story have motivated Eicher to try new things and remain persistent in the creation of art and expression. Jaqui Eicher values the kindness, truth, and perseverance of the people in her life who inspire her. The recent pandemic has had a huge impact on artists all over the world and it is no different for Jaqui Eicher. One of the most difficult things for her has been finding her sense of purpose in the world. There have been innumerable life lessons and new experiences to think about, but a quote from a Rilke’s poem “Go To The Limits Of Your Longing” has spoken to her throughout it all: “Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final.” A few of the things that have helped her and Pearl through the lockdown are routine meet ups with a friend in the morning and beautiful forest walks at Green Belt later in the afternoon. “We are so fortunate to have to have forests close by that we’ve been able to walk in throughout the pandemic.” Jaqui Eicher also runs a YouTube channel. This past year has allowed her to create videos teaching young audiences and raising awareness for mental health. She and a puppet of her dog Pearl have over 60 videos speaking about mental health under the YouTube address jaqui eicher. Another “pandemic project” that Eicher has been working on is a digital animal sanctuary, which can be viewed at her store, https://www.bluepearl.store/. The collection includes canvas paintings of several adorable animals. A message and blessing that Jaqui Eicher sends out to all of the aspiring creatives is this: “May you feel free to create art that reflects what is inside you. Just as in writing, no one else can create art like you can. What you create shows a unique perspective and adds a new dimension to the world around you. May you find the inner strength to create despite any hindrances in your path.” Sources: Eicher, Jaqui. Personal interview. 16 April 2021. Eicher, Jaqui. Artist | Bluepearl, 2021, www.bluepearl.store/ Eicher, Jaqui. “Jaqui Eicher.” YouTube, YouTube, 2021, www.youtube.com/channel/UCDsplqlNgblb7d1MWZN4m3w If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!  By Cecilia Bahnson For decades, activists and educators have been working to address the striking lack of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) representation in history. AAPI Heritage Month, which takes place during the month of May, gives us the opportunity to confront a difficult history, celebrate the AAPI community, build a more inclusive future, and hear what this month means to our own Crescent Valley students. The successes of Asian and Pacific immigrants have often been overlooked because of the “model minority” myth, and their struggles have been dismissed as ramifications or byproducts of other issues. Not only does this discredit nearly 6% of the United States population, but it also erases many acts of violent discrimination and racism against the AAPI community. During AAPI Heritage Month, we can honor the incredible accomplishments and recognize the past and present day struggles of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. It is also important to remember that Asia extends FAR beyond China and Japan, and includes everywhere from Mongolia to Vietnam to India to Singapore. The legislative founding of AAPI Heritage Month began in 1977 when New York Reps. Frank Horton introduced a resolution that would declare the first ten days of May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar resolution that same year, but neither of these resolutions passed. A year later, Reps. Horton presented a revised version of his resolution, which was passed by the House and the Senate and signed by President Carter in 1978. So the first week of May became Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. However, Horton’s resolution did not state the Heritage Week as an annual celebration, so every year the President proclaimed its existence for that given year. In 1990, after more than a decade since the original resolution, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week was extended to the entire month of May. May was chosen in memory of first known Japanese immigrants who arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, as well as the Chinese immigrants who were the backbone of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The extension of Horton’s resolution should be largely credited to Jeanie Jew and Ruby Moy, Horton’s Chief of Staff. The two women played a huge role in the efforts to create national public recognition for the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the United States. Jeanie Jew in particular was driven by her personal experiences as an Asian American. Her great-grandfather, M.Y. Lee, was a Chinese immigrant who worked on the transcontinental railroad but suffered greatly and was never recognized for his role in American history. Through Reps. Horton and his sponsors, Jeanie Jew and Ruby Moy were able to designate the entire month of May as Asian American Pacific Heritage Month in 1990, and see it become a permanent annual commemorative month in 1992. In recent months the United States has seen a swell in anti-Asian racism and many people view this as a relatively new issue, fueled by the rise of COVID-19. In reality, violence and racism against Asian and Pacific Islander communities has existed systemically throughout history. But because of the exclusive and white-washed nature of many history curriculums, we rarely have any in-depth conversations about anti-Asian regulations in the US beyond the Japanese internment camps during WWII. In reality, the United States has a very anti-Asian history, specifically in the country’s immigration policies. In the late 19th century, a rise of xenophobia (prejudice against people from other countries) from white Americans in the San Francisco bay area led to the institution of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. This was the first law in US history to exclude immigrants based on their race. The act was originally supposed to be in place for only 10 years, in order to control the amount of Chinese laborers migrating to the US. Instead, the policies were strengthened and stayed in place until 1943 (61 years later), when the Magnuson Act allowed a maximum of 105 Chinese immigrants per year. However, this new and very limited “Asian inclusion” was used to undermine other forms of activism and served only to increase the US as a global, interracial power. Asian American, African American, and Indigenous voices were smothered by the United States claiming to be and being seen by the international community as a racially inclusive nation, despite the fact that hardly anything had changed for the non-white communities who were already at an economic and environmental disadvantage because of racist systems and assumptions. Another example of deeply rooted anti-Asian racism in history is the American colonization of the Philippines in the early 20th century. Essentially, the United States was at war with Spain and Spain had control of the Philippines… so the United States defeated the Spanish presence in the Philippines and took control of the island nation with little regard for the natives who had been fighting for independence for years. This was an effort by the United States government to gain economic power through presence in the Pacific Ocean. US officials in the Philippines were extremely disparaging towards the natives, claiming that their bodies were “unclean and uncivilized.” The US government saw Filipino people as a threat to the country’s economic growth, and they used that excuse as well as their idea that islanders carried “festering tropic diseases” to continue the US colonial rule until 1946. There are also the everyday microaggressions that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders experience. Microaggressions are indirect and subtle acts or remarks of discrimination. But as we have seen with the rise of COVID-19, these little remarks can easily turn to violence. The “model minority” myth is so ingrained in our culture and society that it allows these microaggressions and acts of anti-Asian hate to be overlooked by those who are not directly affected. It indicates that Asian and Pacific communities do not have any reason to complain or fight for equity and security. The model minority myth characterizes Asian Americans as a “polite, law-abiding group who have achieved a higher level of success than the general population through innate talent and immigrant endeavours.” While this myth may seem to have some advantages, it does much more harm than good. It erases the unique differences between individuals and wipes out the diversity that exists so beautifully among Asian and Pacific American cultures. The model minority myth is dangerous in that it restricts what it means to be Asian. It tells people that if they do not fit into the strict boundaries of the “model minority,” it is because of some failure or deficiency on their part. It also ignores the differences between Asian cultures that can be detrimental to the security of a community or family, for example the model minority myth erases the fact that, on average, for every dollar a Chinese woman in America makes, an Indian American woman makes $1.20, a Pakistani woman makes $0.88, a Vietnamese woman makes $0.67, and a Burmese woman makes $0.52. The experiences of these groups and individuals are not the same, and the model minority myth invalidates all of their struggles and challenges. While it is very important to recognize the challenges and systemic hardships that the AAPI community faces, AAPI Heritage Month is also a time for celebrating culture, diversity, and success. Here are a few people to learn about and celebrate during the month of May-- people who have broken through stereotypes and made leaps and bounds in the progress of this country and the world, and who perhaps do not get enough credit for their actions. Josefa Llanes Escoda was a Filipina social worker who dedicated her life to social justice activism in the early 1900’s. Through her work with the American Red Cross, she was able to earn scholarships which allowed her to finish a master’s degree in sociology at Columbia University. She was a leader of the women’s suffrage movement and an advocate for women’s rights in the Philippines, and after collaborating with the Boy Scouts organization, she founded the Girl Scouts of the Philippines as a resource for young girls. Josefa Llanes Escoda also organized an underground network of volunteers to transport messages and essential items to war prisoners, families imprisoned in internment camps, and stranded students during WWII. She and her husband were eventually captured and executed in 1945. Yuri Kochiyama was a Japanese-American political activist from San Pedro, California. After the death of her father, Yuri Kochiyama and her family were sent to an internment camp in Arkansas for two years. When they were released, Yuri Kochiyama moved to New York and joined the growing fight for racial justice and human rights. She met Malcom X in 1963 and the two of them were essential leaders in the efforts to link political Asian American movements to Black liberation movements. Yuri Kochiyama was next to Malcolm when he was killed, and she carried his legacy and left her own mark through her constant advocacy for political prisoners and her fight for social justice. Kamala Harris is currently the 49th vice president of the United States. She is the first female vice president and has received ridicule from many conservative politicians because of her racially diverse background. Her father is a Jamaican-American professor and economist and her mother was an Indian-American scientist and leading researcher. Both parents were dedicated activists. Kamala made history in 2017 as the first Indian-American in the Senate and is the author of her memoir, The Truths We Hold: An American Journey. Here at CVHS we asked some of our own students and alumni what Asian American Pacific Heritage Month, AAPI representation, and AAPI recognition means to them. “AAPI Heritage Month is a time to celebrate all that Asian and Pacific culture is, not just what the world sees us as,” says one student. “We don’t have a ton of huge celebrations during May, but I do love that this month helps AAPI people to be heard and seen, and I’m hopeful that what we have to say will not only be heard, but listened to. Especially with all the Asian hate during the coronavirus, I want this month to signify change for AAPI communities.” Another Crescent Valley student says, “It’s pretty powerful what racial representation in media can do, especially for younger people. We spend all this time watching and reading about heroes, and it’s so important to be able to see people who look like me in a leading role. Seeing people who look like me on television in a way that’s not just a stereotype makes me believe that I can be successful and exist outside of those stereotypes.” “To me, AAPI Heritage month isn’t just a time to recognize the achievements and contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to this country but also a reminder of the immense work this nation has to ensure we don’t repeat the same mistakes of the past,” says Laura Jost. “The lack of cognizance surrounding the discriminatory and racist policies to the AAPI community deeply disturbs me and I think working to understand the roots and the intersectionality of a lot of these issues — past, present and future, is what AAPI Heritage month means to me.” This month is a time for recognition, celebration, and a push for a better future. We have the opportunity to combat historical and present-day racism, and to actively take the steps to educate ourselves and fight for equality and inclusion. Sources: Abrams, Zara. “Countering Stereotypes about Asian Americans.” Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, 2019, www.apa.org/monitor/2019/12/countering-stereotypes Blackburn, Sarah-Soonling. “What Is the Model Minority Myth?” Learning for Justice, 21 Mar. 21AD, www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/what-is-the-model-minority-myth Congress, The Library of, et al. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2020, 2020, https://asianpacificheritage.gov/about/ Ghosh, Iman. “Visualizing the U.S. Population by Race.” Visual Capitalist, 25 Jan. 2021, www.visualcapitalist.com/visualizing-u-s-population-by-race/ “Kamala Harris.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2 Apr. 2021, www.britannica.com/biography/Kamala-Harris Leon, Adrian De. “The Long History of Racism against Asian Americans in the U.S.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 9 Apr. 2020, www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/the-long-history-of-racism-against-asian-americans-in-the-u-s “List of Countries in Asia.” List of Countries in Asia in Alphabetical Order, www.countries-ofthe-world.com/countries-of-asia.html “May 19, 1921: Yuri Kochiyama Born.” Zinn Education Project, 21 Feb. 2019, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/yuri-kochiyama-was-born/ Moon, Kat. “The Story Behind Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.” Time, Time, 23 May 2019, https://time.com/5592591/asian-pacific-heritage-month-history/ Morales, Christine. “News.” Rutgers School of Social Work, 27 Oct. 2020, https://socialwork.rutgers.edu/news-events/news/filipino-heritage-month-social-worker-josefa-llanes-escoda NAPAWF. “Economic Justice.” NAPAWF, 2018, www.napawf.org/economic-justice Nguyen, Viet Thanh, et al. “How the Model Minority Myth of Asian Americans Hurts Us All.” Time, Time, 26 June 2020, https://time.com/5859206/anti-asian-racism-america/ Staff, Pacific Standard. “Why Are Asian Americans Missing From Our Textbooks?” Pacific Standard, Pacific Standard, 16 Mar. 2017, https://psmag.com/news/why-are-asian-americans-missing-from-our-textbooks YWCA Minneapolis. “20 Asian American and Pacific Islander Women to Know.” YWCA, 22 June 2020, www.ywcampls.org/all-our-voices-blog/20-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-women-to-know/ If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!   By Vincent Bottaro Each and every night, you can look up at the sky and see a beautiful arrangement of stars bedazzling the sky (unless it’s a cloudy night, which is pretty common in Oregon). While the stories and origins of the constellations are typically described by the Greco-Roman stories, there is another culture that has their own interpretations of the cosmos. China, as well as other Asian countries, have divided the night sky into many separate counterparts. In this system, the night sky is drawn in a circle, as seen from a compass rose. The four cardinal directions each have their own animal, element, season, and color associated with them. Each of these directions also has seven subdivisions in them, known as lunar mansions. The legends say that a great war was fought, and there were 28 great animal warriors who fell in battle. In order to be honored, the gods placed them in the cosmos. The Western names for the subdivisions are depicted in this chart below, showing the placement of the lodges. While north is typically thought of as the most important direction in Western culture, in the east the direction east is more important. So the path starts off with the Blue Dragon of the East, who represents the spring, as well as the Emperor. The Blue Dragon is normally depicted throughout mythology as a benevolent creature, rather than the malevolent western interpretation. The Blue Dragon is associated with the element of wood, and is responsible for all living creatures. As for the subdivisions, the House of the Blue Dragon holds the Jiao (Horn), which is the animal crocodile. Also included are the houses of Kang (Neck, dragon), Di (Root, badger), Fang (Room, hare), Xin (Heart, fox), Wei (Tail, tiger), and Ji (Winnowing basket, leopard). North is The Black Tortoise, home to the element of water. It is also known as a symbol of long life, due to the tortoise’s inherent longevity. The Black Tortoise is also shown sometimes with a snake curling around it, and these two animals working together are thought to have created the Earth as part of their Creation Mythology. The tortoise also represents winter, and the seven lunar mansions designated to this quarter of the sky can only be seen during the winter season. It contains Nan Dou (South Dipper, unicorn) , Niu (Herd Boy, buffalo/ox), Nü (Girl, bat), Xu (Emptiness, rat), Wei (Rooftop, swallow), Shi (House, pig), and Bi (Wall, porcupine). The next quarter of the night sky is home to the White Tiger of the West, who represents the season of autumn and is related to the element of metal. They are also known as the great protector, who guards the emperor’s army as well as watches over the ghosts of the dead. The White Tiger holds the houses of Kui (Legs, wolf), Lou (Bond, dog), Wei (Stomach, pheasant), Mao (Hairy Head, rooster), Bi (Net, crow), Zui (Turtle, monkey), and Shen (Three Stars, gibbon monkey). The last cardinal direction is home to the Red Bird of the South, which is typically shown as a phoenix or a roc. It represents the element of fire, as well as the season of summer. Invoking the Red Bird is typically thought to be good luck. The Red Bird is thought to represent the Empress as well, and so it is often seen in close relation with the Blue Dragon of the East. The Red Bird lords over the domains of Jing (Well, tapir), Gui (Ghost/Demon, goat), Liu (Willow, stag), Xing (Star, horse), Zhang (Extended Net, oxen), Yi (Wings, snake), and Zhen (Chariot, worm). There is one final direction that hasn’t been talked about, and it is the Center, which is ruled over by the Emperor, and is home to constellations that can be seen year-round, and is supposed to be a true reflection of what life on Earth is like. This location doesn’t have lunar mansions due to the fact you can see them represented year round, but it holds constellations such as the prince, the throne, and other royal titles. There is much more to the stories and true legends of the separation of the night sky, and I encourage you to delve deeper into this topic as I did. Each lunar lodge has specific constellations that you might be able to pick out while sitting in your own backyard. So the next time you look up at the beautiful night sky, try and think of stories from around the world. Images source: The British Library Sources: http://idp.bl.uk/4DCGI/education/astronomy/sky.html https://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/28-moon-stations.html If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!  By Althea Balisi (all copyright belongs to Althea Balisi, 2021) If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!  By Kate Voltz Book recommendation: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi Memoirs often have to do either with major historical events the author lived through or their intense coming-of-age journey. Rarely do we see writers effectively create a story that encompasses all aspects of a person's life while also capturing the tumultuous time they grew up in. Persepolis does both. This graphic novel tells the story of the author's childhood and adolescence in Iran, through the overthrow of the Shah, the Revolution, and the following war with Iraq, while also explaining her personal and familial history in Iran that intersects with the cataclysmic events going on at the time. The illustrations and story are stunning, and both relatable and unimaginable. Such subject matter sounds like an intense read, but Satrapi handles it with grace and originality, making it a celebrated and essential read. Jokes of the season: Which country's capital has the fastest growing population? - Ireland. Every day it's Dublin! I was going to make myself a belt made out of watches, but then I realized it would be a waist of time. Why do mathematicians like forests so much? - Because of all the natural logs. Book quotes to know: “Enthusiasm makes up for a host of deficiencies.” — A Promised Land, Barack Obama “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” — Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson Photo by Lum3n from Pexels Sources: https://www.rd.com/jokes/puns, https://www.rd.com/list/quotes-from-books/ If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!  By Charlotte Hathaway Would you do anything to achieve your dreams? Is there a certain place, or profession, or practice that beckons you? As the longer days, bluer skies, and greener foliage of springtime begin to show their faces again, high school students are thinking about their summer breaks and the new academic year that will follow. For many upperclassmen, this means an inevitable good, long, (and for most, terrifying) look into the near future—otherwise known as college. Collegiate athletics are a bright side for many students who also navigate the stressors of school. They can provide a sense of sportsmanship, community, and even (semi-)generous scholarships. But what if the institution behind college sports isn’t all it claims to be? Do the countless hours of free labor, apathy to injury, and violation of antitrust laws fly under the radar of the National Collegiate Athletics Association? Do they utter a word of equity to players who profit nothing where coaches and the NCAA itself make billions? Do they genuinely care about the athletic dreams and aspirations of their players? Get ready to inadvertently roll your eyes at yet another unethical practice—because despite what their website homepage might say, student-athletes are far, far away from “…the heart of NCAA’s mission." “To them nothing else matters,” writes former Division 1 athlete Cassidy Derda when describing the NCAA’s affinity with mass profits—and it’s true. In one year, the institution generates roughly 1 billion dollars from athletics, tickets, marketing deals, and more. Though one might think to call the NCAA stingy because of their attitude towards athletes, the corporation actually has no problem dividing profits when it comes to college coaches. Basketball and football coaches especially have been recorded making multimillion-dollar yearly incomes. The inequity is obvious, right? Players are constantly missing school for practice, games, and travel, which is a large part of the reason why their graduation rates are 20-30% lower than those of non-athletes. So, not only are the athletes working upwards of 40 hours a week, (rather similar to that of a paid corporate job), but they are compromising their educations to do so—with no salary to show for it. And perhaps the lack of salary isn’t even the most unethical part of this system, but rather the lack of compensation. Colleges directly profit off of the name, image, and likeness of many players, (referred to as NIL: Name, Image, Likeness). While enrolled at their school, athletes do not own their NIL, allowing the college to do with it as they please. This usually results in business deals and advertisements with big-name brands and TV networks. You might be telling yourself that athletes get a portion of this income because the college is using their own face and name, right? Unfortunately not. Though legislations arguing against this specific practice have recently been coming to light, there is yet to be an active solution. It’s hardly a revelation to recognize that America’s roots in racism, sexism, and exploitation run long and deep. They quietly, (or sometimes quite loudly), slip their way into many aspects of American life— athletics being no exception. In the realm of college sports, it is predominately women and people of color who are harmed most by the current system, making the disparity between athletes and the NCAA a civic fight, in addition to an economic one. Let us first take a look at Britney Griner, a college basketball sensation from Baylor University. After playing basketball for years with her school, Griner went on to become a professional athlete. Exciting as that must have been, her salary was still immensely dwarfed by that of male athletes playing the very same sport. Since the popularity of women’s athletics is far less than men’s, being a professional athlete, and making about 1% of what her male counterparts make, (yeah… I’m not kidding.), was the highest rank Griner could ascend to. Because of this lack of notoriety, compensation for her NIL in college may be the only chance a female athlete has to be fairly reimbursed for her time, dedication, sensation, and skill. Just to give a clearer image of that 1% statistic, it is important to note that a professional basketball player in the WNBA makes about $75,000 annually, while the same role in the NBA makes roughly $7.7 million in the same time frame. Though Title IX began the struggle towards paving a fair way for female athletes, there is still much work to be done. This need for correction extends to other aspects of the current system as well, most notably subsidized sports. The NCAA doesn’t make its mass profits from every single sport; in fact, the vast majority of that annual income is raked in by men’s football and basketball. These two sports, unlike many others, are played mostly by Black student-athletes. These players bring home large profits to the NCAA and their school, and other sports are then subsidized, or basically, paid for, because of it. These sports include golf, tennis, and other non-big-buck athletics that are played by predominately white athletes. To put it in simpler terms: Black athletes make all of the money needed for sports played mostly by white people, and they, themselves, receive hardly any of it. These injustices, thankfully, have not gone unnoticed. Though there have been many court cases involving the NCAA in the past, the most recent and most notable is Alston v. NCAA. Shawne Alston (running-back for West Virginia) argues for collegiate pay/compensation where the NCAA argues against it. The main supporters of the NCAA’s stance on this issue usually like to argue the point that a scholarship is enough payment for a student-athlete. They claim that college is a place of learning, not a job where students are paid. Personally, I couldn’t agree more—college is not a job. So really, colleges should not be profiting on the likes of their athletes in the first place if, after all, the whole point of college is education and education alone. Frankly, there is enough exploitation and abuse of power in this country, and the need for even more is slim to none. Currently, it seems the Supreme Court will take the side of student-athletes; many of the judges appear skeptical of the NCAA's claims. Interestingly enough, this issue has united both conservatives and liberals both in and outside of the courtroom. A final decision in the case is set to be decided by the end of June 2021. There are many issues in college athletics that deserve addressing, far more than I can include in one piece of writing. Though mental health, injury, sexual assault/harassment, blatant racism, predatorial, irresponsible, and overpaid coaches were not topics touched on today, it is important to remember that they are present, in addition to the problems that arise with them. I’d like to pose my beginning question for you again; would you do anything to achieve your dreams? What if those dreams crossed paths with issues of collegiate athletics? Would you be able to swallow the injustices that come alongside obtaining your goal? As you ponder your choices for the future, don’t forget that there is injustice in nearly everything, and sometimes compromises must be made. Maybe your love for your sport allows you to look past the deep problems with the association that governs it—and that’s okay. As you make decisions for your future, do not let fear of injustice stop you. After all, you have a voice, and I sure hope you aren’t afraid to use it. If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!
By Cecilia Bahnson Serves 4-6 Ingredients: 1 ½ cups chopped mango 1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes ¼ cup finely chopped red onion ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro 1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced 2 tbsp fresh lime juice ¼ tsp salt ½ tbsp olive oil 2-3 chicken breasts, cubed *use black beans and rice for a vegetarian dish* ½ tsp ground cumin A pinch of salt and pepper ½ head shredded cabbage Corn tortillas 1 sliced avocado Your favorite hot sauce! Directions:
If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!  By Valerie Delos-Reyes What do I know? I know I’m drifting; I know I’m in that dreamlike state where I can’t tell if I’m awake, the place where ideas come to me. But I know I’m awake; I can tell by the cut on my finger, the way it hurts with real pain, and I know that’s good. I know that pain and being hurt are the only ways to tell if you’ve lived a real life. I know that if I go out and live and cut and bruise myself, it won’t matter, because the rewards of having taken that step and left the safety and monotony of my house — that will be enough, more than enough. I know I will heal. I know that if I fall too hard, there are people who love me that will make it feel better. I know that if I never experience pain, I’ll never be able to appreciate the beauty and wonder and joy when it comes. I know that nature is wild and untamed, and you can get hurt there, but it’s what came before us, where we were meant to be, so I will go out there and cut my hands digging in the ground and scrape my knees running and falling, and I will get dirt under my fingernails and between my toes, but that’s all right, because life is a thing that’s worth a little pain to live. If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!  By Althea Balisi “Music is the universal language.” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Music has come a long way, and artists from different cultures and with unique experiences have created much more music over the years. Music has evolved. According to The Method Behind the Music, “the earliest forms of music drum-based, percussion instruments being the most readily available at the time. Between 4000 BCE and 3500 BCE, the Egyptians had created harps, flutes, lyres, and clarinets. By 700 BCE, there are records of songs that include vocals and instrumentals.” We could never deny the impact and importance of music in our daily lives. Many other research centers, scientists, and universities have done studies about how music can affect our brain. According to one Johns Hopkins specialist, “listening to or playing music is a great tool. It provides a total brain workout.” Here is the timeline of the evolution of music:
1950s
Sources https://www.brainfacts.org/the-brain-facts-book https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/ https://method-behind-the-music.com/history/history/ https://method-behind-the-music.com/history/history/ https://www.aimm.edu/blog/evolution-of-music-from-the-1950s-to-the-2000s Top 100 Songs of 1950’s-2010’s http://www.discjockey.org/top-100-songs-of-the-1950s/ http://www.discjockey.org/top-100-songs-of-the-1960s/ http://www.discjockey.org/top-100-songs-of-the-1970s/ http://www.discjockey.org/top-100-songs-of-the-1980s/ http://www.discjockey.org/top-100-songs-of-the-1990s/ http://www.discjockey.org/top-100-songs-of-the-2000s/ http://www.discjockey.org/top-100-songs-of-the-2010s/ Top 100 Artists of 1950’s-2010’s https://top40weekly.com/top-100-artists-of-the-50s/ https://top40weekly.com/top-100-artists-of-the-60s/ https://top40weekly.com/top-100-artists-of-the-70s/ https://top40weekly.com/top-100-artists-of-the-80s/ https://top40weekly.com/top-100-artists-of-the-90s/ https://top40weekly.com/top-100-artists-of-the-00s/ https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/top-artists If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 3pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!
By Cecilia Bahnson In the midst of a global pandemic, art has proven to be a beautiful form of expression for many students, as well as a great pastime and even a way to earn some extra cash. With more than a full year of relative isolation, there have been countless hours to fill with creative work. And while COVID-19 has been extremely hard on the artists and creators who rely on open showcase venues and small businesses, wild circumstances can often be an incredible source of inspiration. So much stunning art has come out of this pandemic and there should be an accessible way for student artists to share their work with the world, as well as view other artist’s work. Luckily, The Arts Center in Corvallis is preparing several exhibits that will be open either virtually or in person this spring and summer. Arts Center exhibits to look for! Around Oregon Annual Exhibition 2021: This exhibit will showcase selected artwork from artists all over the state of Oregon. It is an excellent opportunity to witness the diversity in Oregon’s contemporary art and get inspired! The exhibit will be up for viewing at The Arts Center from June 24 - August 7, 2021. Arts Alive! 2021: “Arts Alive is a community event focused on sharing the creative experience, including opportunities to share work and create work for both attendees and participating artists.” This is a virtual event featuring guest artists and video mentoring for all who participate. It will be held over ZOOM on August 13 & 14, 2021. What Will Nature Do?: This exhibit will be hosted in collaboration with senior climate change scientist Dr. Dominique Bachelet. Dr. Bachelet, along with several other scientists from around the country, will work with artists to create discussions and presentations around the realities and complexities of climate change. All artwork will be relevant to climate change science or one of the featured guest speaker’s presentations. Artwork will be exhibited from September 30 - November 13, 2021. Lectures and presentations from the featured scientists will be recorded and open to the public. More information about these exhibitions can be found at https://theartscenter.net/ Displaying your own art locally! Putting yourself and your art out there can be scary, but it’s also exciting! No matter how far “out there” you go, every step is an accomplishment. Luckily, Corvallis has an amazing community of artists who are willing to help each other out. The Arts Center is always a great resource for artists of all levels and ages, but there’s more! You have probably seen art displays at coffee shops such as New Morning Bakery and Imagine Coffee. Pretty much every gallery and small business in Corvallis, including coffee shops, is full of local art-- so if you have any interest in expanding your art’s publicity, consider local businesses and cafes! All you need to do is reach out. Coffee shops in particular are great places for budding artists because the space is often free or very cheap with lots of exposure. Cafe owners also benefit from this because the rotation of new art brings in more customers and fosters a creative and cozy environment. Another great way to get your artwork out into the community is through the Benton County Fair, which hosts competitions and exhibits of various categories. As of this spring, information for the 2021 fair is not available, but in the past this venue has been a popular way for high school students and artists of all ages to enter their art and win prizes. And, as always, the Crescent Crier is happy to publish any CVHS student artwork on our website for the rest of the staff and student body to admire! In addition to showcases and exhibitions, there are also art competitions held virtually through several different organizations. Many of these competitions offer scholarships, cash rewards, mentoring, and award nominations to winners and finalists. Receiving formal recognition through one of these contests can make a huge difference on college applications, regardless of what school students are applying to or what they plan to focus on in the future. Notable art competitions to explore in 2021! Celebrate the West Regional Art Competition: Celebrate the West is hosted by the Western Governors Association. High school students are invited to submit any amount of original two-dimensional artwork inspired by their home state. Finalists may receive up to $1,500 and will have the option to meet with the state governor and display their art at their state’s capitol building. This competition does not require an entry fee, and all framing and matting will be provided. The final deadline for submissions is April 30, 2021. Visit https://westgov.org/celebrate-the-west/competition/2021-competition for more info! The Artist Magazine Annual Art Competition: This is an international visual arts competition which invites student artists of 16 years or older to submit their work to one or more of the five offered categories. Categories include portraits and figures; still lifes and interiors; landscapes; abstract and experimental art; and wildlife. Prizes include cash, scholarships, and exposure through publications (winners will have their work published in The Artist Magazine). This competition requires an entry fee of $20 per piece. The final deadline for submissions is June 7, 2021. Visit https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-competitions/artists-magazine-annual/ for more info! Notable art competitions to explore in 2022 (deadlines for 2021 contests have passed)! The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards: This competition is a great opportunity for students in grades 7 through 12. The contest will likely be open for entries around September and costs include a $7 fee per entry or a $25 fee per portfolio. Financial assistance is offered. Scholastic Art and Writing judges will be looking for "work that demonstrates originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision." Prizes will include scholarships worth up to $10,000, as well as exhibition and publication opportunities. Visit https://www.artandwriting.org/ for more info! National YoungArts Foundation Competition: The National YoungArts Foundation accepts 15-18 year old visual, literary, and performing artists and musicians. Entries will likely open during the summer, and a $35 application fee is required. Finalists in each category may receive “cash awards, mentorship by accomplished artists, a lifetime of creative and professional support, a peer network of distinguished artists, nomination for U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and national recognition.” Visit http://www.youngarts.org/ for more info! No matter your level of skill, any form of art is valuable and anyone can be an artist. The most important thing to do is to make sure that you are creating art for yourself and because you love it, not solely for the purpose of outside recognition or validation. That will come, but first you’ve got to create something expressive, just for yourself! And, as always, have fun with it. Image sources: Photo by Skylar Kang from Pexels; Photo by Miesha Maiden from Pexels Sources: Amiria GaleAmiria has been an Art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Coordinator for seven years. “31 Awesome Art Competitions for High School Students (2021).” STUDENT ART GUIDE, 3 Dec. 2020, www.studentartguide.com/resources/high-school-art-competitions-list “Artists Magazine 38th Annual Art Competition.” Artists Network, Golden Peak Media, 23 Feb. 2021, https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-competitions/artists-magazine-annual/ Kevin. “The Arts Center Corvallis - Local Arts, Crafts, Gifts, Changing Exhibits.” The Arts Center, 2021, https://theartscenter.net/ “National YoungArts Foundation.” Home, 2021, www.youngarts.org/ “Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.” Home | Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, 2020, www.artandwriting.org/ Sundquist, Kate. “Prestigious Visual Arts Competitions for High School Students.” CollegeVine, 4 Mar. 2020, https://blog.collegevine.com/prestigious-visual-arts-competitions-for-high-school-students/ Western Governors Association. “Celebrate The West.” 2021 Competition | WGA, 2021, https://westgov.org/celebrate-the-west/competition/2021-competition If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!  By Vincent Bottaro With the release of all these new updating schedules during this pandemic, it may be time to wonder if we should consider other options for our school in general. Another option for our school to use would be to make the switch to a year round schedule as opposed to the current 3 month long summer schedule. There are many arguments for this, and it seems like an interesting idea. The agrarian schedule that involves a 3 month summer was originally introduced so that all the farmers in school could go home and help pick crops since summer is when most plants are ripe. This schedule worked very well when everyone was farmers, but nowadays most students, at least in the CV area, don’t work on their farm during the summer. Another thing to consider about this 3 month break is the knowledge displacement. Over half a million students reported an average of a 25% loss of what they learned last year. Multiple weeks are used at the beginning of the year to catch students up on what they forgot, and that is valuable teaching time during an already rushed class. But don’t worry about not getting a summer vacation. There are a couple different options for the schedules, with the most popular one being 60 days in school, and then 20 days off. So it's about 3 months on, and then 3 weeks off. The second most popular option is 45 days in school, and then 15 off. There are other options, but these are the most widely used. These days ultimately end up falling around winter break as well as spring break, so instead of one week off there will be three. And you will still have the same amount of time in school, because there will still be 180 days of instruction by teachers, which is the same as an agrarian schedule. While preparing to go back to in-person school, consider the possible idea of getting more constant breaks throughout the entire school year as opposed to one single long break that can be detrimental to retaining knowledge. Sources: https://www.brookings.edu/research/summer-learning-loss-what-is-it-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/ https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/fa/yr/guide.asp#:~:text=Both%20traditional%20and%20some%20year,have%20180%20days%20of%20instruction.&text=The%20most%20typical%20instructional%2Fvacation,popular%20is%20the%2045%2F15. https://www.verywellfamily.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-year-round-school-621001 If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
crescentcriernewspaper@gmail.com. Thanks for reading! |
Photos used under Creative Commons from Maria Eklind, Maria Eklind
