Aries

March 21-April 19

Aries, “ram” in Latin, is the first of the zodiac signs. People with Aries signs are typically courageous, competitive and energetic. Aries share a sign with actor Jim Parsons.

Taurus

April 20-May 20

Taurus, the bull, is  a more noticeable constellation. Tauruses are often patient, diligent and resourceful. They share a sign with the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Gemini

May 21-June 21

The twin constellation, Gemini, is defined by two key stars: Castor
and Pollux. Geminis are usually sweet, outgoing and affectionate. They share a sign with actors Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen.

Cancer

June 22-July 22

Those born between June 22 and July 22 have the crab horoscope. Cancers are typically nurturing, loyal people with a great sense of humor. They share a sign with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter.

Leo

July 23-Aug. 22

Leo, the lion, can be seen from all parts of the world except for Antarctica. Leos are often generous and confident. They share a sign with golfer Nelly Korda.

Virgo

Aug. 23-Sept. 22

Virgo is the second largest zodiac constellation in the sky. Virgos are usually intelligent and hardworking. They share a sign with actor Jack Black.

Libra

Sept. 23-Oct. 23

The weighing scales, Libra, is the only constellation in the night sky to be named after an object. As the name suggests, Libras are usually honest and fair. They share a sign with dancer Isabella Boylston.

Scorpio

Oct. 24-Nov. 21

According to Greek mythology, Zeus put Scorpius, the scorpion, in the sky to pursue Orion, the hunter. Scorpios are often intuitive and brave. They share a sign with actor Ryan Gosling.

Sagittarius

Nov. 22-Dec. 21

Sagittarius, the archer, is said to have turned himself into a constellation to escape a Titan. Sagittariuses are humorous, adventurous and optimistic. They share a sign with scientist Bill Nye.

Capricorn

Dec. 22-Jan. 19

Capricornus, the sea-goat, is one of the fainter constellation in the night sky. Capricorns tend to be hardworking and responsible. They share a sign with former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Aquarius

Jan. 20-Feb. 18

One of the oldest constellations, Aquarius is Latin for “water-carrier.” Aquariuses tend to be open-minded and independent. They share a sign with soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo.

Pisces

Feb. 19-March 20

Pisces, the fish, is the last of the signs. The constellation is faint, but its distinct V-shape makes it easier to spot. Pisces are typically artistic, forgiving and compassionate. They share a sign with writer Lois Lowry.

My decision to watch the April 8 solar eclipse at the center of the path of totality stems from a family tradition: After traveling to Missouri to see the 2017 solar eclipse, my family followed this year’s eclipse to the beautiful beaches of Mazatlan, Mexico, where we saw all four minutes and 26 seconds of totality as the moon’s shadow came in over the western coast.

If you are in the path of totality like I was, after second contact — when the leading edge of the moon hits the leading edge of the sun — the moon directly overlaps with the sun and you can take off your protective eyewear to stare directly at the sun. It truly is a moment that a camera cannot do justice — the split-second transition from watching the tiny, orange sliver of sun wane away to observing the breathtaking faux sunset over the ocean, the sun a brilliant halo encompassing the pure black circle of the moon.

While I don’t believe in astrology, I can see how some would want feel a spiritual connection to totality. Astrology, in its original form, is an attempt to find personal meaning in the cosmos — a way to use the stars to explain what seems inexplicable. And even though we now have scientific explanations for why it looks like “the sun has been eaten” (according to some of the earliest carvings of eclipses), it can be fun — and for some, meaningful — to attach personal significance to the event.

Across the U.S., astrology believers have connected this event to horoscopes and omens. Following the April 5 New York and New Jersey earthquake, netizens took to Twitter claiming that the earthquake was a bad omen. According to CBS, a Philadelphia astrologist said that the eclipse would be extra meaningful to people with certain zodiac signs and signify different life moments for them.

At the same time, our fascination with eclipses has also led to advances in astronomy, as they are key moments to study the moon, the sun, light and orbits. A 1919 eclipse confirmed Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity three years after its publication. During this year’s eclipse, NASA sent out more scientific instruments by rocket to collect data on the eclipse’s effect on Earth.

Whether people look up at the skies to study the sun, find an astrological connection or take in the beauty of an infrequent natural occurrence, they gain appreciation for and curiosity about our world. While rare, eclipses are worthwhile and a reminder to reach for the sky. See you in Spain for the next one in 2026!

At the heart of this dilemma is the oversimplification of astrology. While astrology is not truly scientific, authentic practice demands detailed calculations, profound understandings of celestial movements and nuanced interpretations of their potential impact on human life. However, this depth is often reduced to mere caricature on social media. Such a simplistic approach not only misleads viewers but neglects the discipline’s historical importance.

Astrology has been a pivotal cultural and scientific endeavor across civilizations, influencing everything from agricultural cycles to political strategies. Originating in ancient Mesopotamia, astrology played a crucial role in agriculture, guiding farmers on when to plant and harvest — essential for food security in their unpredictable climate. Astrology was also deeply connected to medicine, with practitioners using celestial charts to diagnose and treat illnesses, believing the stars at one’s birth impacted their health.

Astrology also has ties to other intellectual fields. For instance, Galileo Galilei, a key figure in the Scientific Revolution known for his advocacy of heliocentrism, engaged in astrological practices. He conducted astrological readings for wealthy clients and even incorporated astrology into his teachings, illustrating the discipline’s prevalence in the academic and intellectual circles of his time.

To grasp the essence of the current astrological revival, it’s essential to delve into the broader societal trends fueling its resurgence. The confluence of digital culture with the ancient art of astrology presents a compelling modern paradox: A practice rooted in detailed charts and celestial observations now intersects with the immediacy of the digital age. Alongside increased accessibility, this fusion elevates its allure as a medium for personal introspection and identity exploration in today’s era. During periods of personal or societal upheaval, people are naturally drawn to methodologies that provide a semblance of control or comprehension over their predicaments. The global pandemic’s profound impact on mental health and societal norms has notably increased astrology’s appeal as a beacon of certainty amidst uncertainty, offering many a personalized narrative of solace.

Moreover, platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have repackaged astrology as a mainstream, shareable element of online personas. The repercussions of this shift are significant, altering both the public’s perception of astrology and comprehension by newer generations. As content creators vie for attention in the digital expanse, the intricate details that define astrological practice are often obscured, supplanted by broad- stroke generalizations and sensational interpretations. In the quest for digital visibility, content creators often distill complex astrological concepts into simplified, engaging content. For instance, intricate personality analyses are reduced to sun sign attributes, neglecting the depth provided by moon and rising signs. This approach not only generalizes personalities based on a singular aspect of an astrological chart but overlooks nuanced insights into individual behavior and compatibility. Such broad, sensational interpretations risk diluting the detailed nature of traditional astrological practices.

Astrology’s migration from ancient archives to the screens of millions is a testament to its lasting appeal. The spread of superficial astrological content across social media platforms dilutes the core of the practice and promotes a misleading portrayal of astrology as a tool for amusement or a self-indulgent gimmick. This phenomenon is indicative of a broader trend of digital misinformation, where the quest for social media engagement often overshadows a commitment to thoroughness and substance.

The challenge, therefore, extends beyond merely addressing rampant misinformation on social media. It involves fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of this age-old practice. Students must differentiate between the oversimplified, often inaccurate astrological content aimed at quick consumption and the thoughtful, comprehensive analysis that, while recognizing astrology’s lack of scientific rigor, respects its complexity and historical roots. Engaging critically with astrological content — questioning its origins, recognizing its limitations and valuing the insights beyond the memes — can help reinstate a level of respect for a discipline that, in many respects, has been co-opted by the relentless demand for digital content.

PC graphics by Jesse Li

“(When my sister went) off to college and she was like, ‘Want to play Mario Kart?’ all the boys were surprised,” he said. “They were like, ‘What, you know how to play this? But you’re a girl!’”

This sentiment still persists. Marginalized individuals who play video games in the modern day face toxicity and harassment from other gamers much more frequently than their non-marginalized peers. A 2021 study by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, an organization that works to reduce negative stereotyping in entertainment and media, found that 50% of gamers between the ages of 16 and 19 witnessed homophobic language while playing video games. Of the same age group, 47% witnessed racist language, 41% reported seeing sexist language and 41% reported ableist language.

Female gamers today are often forced to guard themselves from sexist and sexual comments from men. According to the 2021 Geena Davis Institute study, men “were found to feel more entitled to express social dominance in the virtual world than in the real world, because men outnumber women in networked video games and masculine behavior is typically rewarded.”

Special Education Instructional Lead and English teacher Briana Gonzalez has been harassed on the basis of her gender by fellow gamers.

“Far Cry: New Dawn had a co-op option that I really enjoyed, and unfortunately I just don’t participate in it anymore, just because the moment they hear my voice, it’s just really inappropriate,” Gonzalez said. “I unfortunately have experienced sexual harassment through online gaming.”

Senior Emma Cao, who is experienced with online gaming, has also found the world of gaming to be dangerous. She takes measures to minimize her chances of being harassed when interacting with other gamers online, though they are not foolproof.

“I protect myself a lot — like I don’t talk when I don’t need to,” she said. “I speak in a lower intonation. It sucks that (harassment) happens. You just have to pray that the loser named CatWoman420 doesn’t choose to hate you.”

Ableist language is also abundant in gaming communities. Senior Vincent Boling, who is autistic, has experienced hostility from other gamers because of his neurodivergence.

“(If) I was trying to communicate with my teammates, and I was maybe a little sloppy, or I was not always picking up on the implications of the signals, then I would definitely get pretty ragged on for that and called a lot of slurs and stuff,” Boling said. “There’s a lot of ignorance surrounding neurodiversity, and they definitely weaponize that.”

According to Kitada, video games’ allowance of anonymity facilitates online misbehavior and harassment.

“If you can’t see the reaction of the person you’re hurting, then it’s the sense of, ‘Oh, I can say whatever I want and just be as mean as I want,’” he said.

Despite the rampant negativity from other gamers, marginalized groups can find safe havens by forming sub-communities with gaming as a mutual interest. Gonzalez was a part of one such group.

“I found a really unique community at my undergrad: other people just like me, other girls also interested in gaming,” she said. “I could talk about Call of Duty: Black Ops, and before, that would never happen.”

Increasing the diversity of video game characters may also help marginalized gamers feel welcome in online spaces. In many games, character customization options are limited and don’t allow marginalized players to accurately represent themselves in the game.

“Especially if your characters are supposed to serve as your avatar, you’re supposed to create somebody who looks like you, right?” Kitada said. “What are the character creation options, or is it just standard like a bald, young white man? So many FPS (first-person shooter) games have that kind of character who’s the standard avatar. You’re like, ‘That’s not me.’”

One way to improve representation in video games is to introduce more diverse viewpoints into the game development process. The field is currently heavily male and white dominated, with 62% of developers identifying as male and 78% identifying as white, according to the International Game Developers Association 2021 Developer Satisfaction Survey.

“I just feel like companies need to be a part of this (diversification) process and re-evaluate their own culture and their own hiring practices,” Gonzalez said. “Because as long as you’re only hiring a certain group of people, that’s the content you’re gonna get in turn.”

According to Boling, harmful comments online often come from miseducation rather than malice. As such, these instances of bullying can be sometimes leveraged as opportunities for growth.

“A medium like a video game where you’re cooperating is a good time for people to learn and grow,” Boling said. “A lot of gamers are stubborn and old and terrible, but most of them aren’t. Most of them are just kind of cranky, but are genuinely willing to listen.”

This longstanding relationship has fostered educational and cultural exchanges. Stanford professors pilot curricula in PAUSD schools, PAUSD students attend Stanford summer programs and many Stanford faculty members double as PAUSD parents.

According to Social Studies Instructional Lead Jeff Patrick, however, Stanford’s influence is strongest in the realm of teacher education. Many PAUSD teachers are trained through Stanford’s 12-month, full-time Stanford Teacher Education Program.

“The program exposes them to some of the resources that Stanford has, as well as some other approaches to teaching,” Patrick said.

Gunn departments also draw on Stanford’s resources for lesson plans. Originally founded at Stanford, the Digital Inquiry Group — previously known as the Stanford History Education Group — provides supplemental lesson plans for Gunn social studies classes. YouCubed, an organization founded by Stanford’s Dr. Jo Boaler, provides the curriculum for Gunn’s Introduction to Data Science course.

According to Gunn alumna and current Stanford freshman Olivia Pham, Stanford’s and Gunn’s educational approaches share striking similarities beyond curricula.

“There’s a strong emphasis on not just understanding concepts, but being able to apply them in slightly different ways you’ve never seen before,” she said. “While friends here have told me that math here at Stanford is much more rigorous than at their a pretty smooth transition between Gunn and Stanford.”

In that way, Stanford influences Palo Alto’s culture of — and value for — educational excellence. Gunn alumnus and current Stanford freshman Jules Lustig noted that Gunn and Stanford have the same “grind culture”: an atmosphere of constant drive, strict discipline and high standards.

During Gunn alumnus and current Stanford sophomore Alex Gu’s time with Gunn Math Circle, he took part in the Stanford Math Tournament, a nationwide high-school competition hosted by the Stanford University Math Organization. Student involvement extends beyond STEM, however: Current Gunn sophomore Emerson Chang took part in the Stanford Humanities Circle and found herself interested by the discussion-based, grade-free nature of the program.

“Stanford provides Gunn students with many educational opportunities outside of high school, which allows them to explore their personal interests in unique ways,” Chang said.

Gunn alumnus and current Stanford freshman Jude Hardan hopes for further cooperation between Gunn and Stanford.

“Having such a prestigious academic institution close to Gunn and not using it for collaborations to enhance the educational experience is not the best use of resources for students,” he said.

Lustig echoed this sentiment, adding that he’d like to see a Stanford-Gunn course centered around eliminating students’ fear of failure and instead inculcating love for a subject or field.

“It would be really cool to facilitate some sort of program out of class,” Lustig said. “Something that involves getting away from the numerical grade that is not a measure of intelligence and not a measure of how successful you are in any way.”

These resignations reflect increasing turmoil in higher education. Although controversy on college campuses is nothing new, the Israel-Hamas war and the Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action have precipitated a new wave of battles for institutions. As accusations, controversies and resignations play out, the future of free speech, inclusion and academic integrity.

The Limits of Free Speech

On Dec. 5, three elite U.S. university presidents — Gay, Magill and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth — testified before the U.S. Congress on the topic of campus antisemitism following the onset of the Israel-Hamas war. While the presidents recognized the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia on their campuses and said they were taking steps to address the issue, their answers were widely condemned. When asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools’ codes of conduct, the presidents failed to provide clear answers, saying that it depended on context and whether the speech was reflected in conduct.

Politicians, alumni and university donors alike attacked their legalistic, ambiguous responses, leading to calls for the presidents’ resignations. Both Gay and Magill resigned within a month, with Gay’s resignation marking the shortest presidential tenure in Harvard’s history. Currently, Kornbluth retains her position as MIT’s president.

The congressional hearing had implications extending beyond the three university campuses, fueling debates over which forms of speech are protected by the First Amendment — especially at educational institutions dedicated to diversity of thought and perspective. Social studies teacher Laurel Howard highlighted the difficulties in navigating conversations about geopolitical conflicts like the Israel-Hamas war.

“We used to say when you’re talking about these polarized issues, you have to have both sides represented,” she said. “But as these kinds of conflicts come up, when you say you support one side, people immediately assume that means you want the death of another group. We jump to these extremes really quickly, and that makes it a really dangerous thing to have these open conversations even though they’re so important to be having.”

She explained that even with legal guidelines, there is not always a clear-cut answer for what constitutes free speech.

“We do have guidance in our constitution and in the Supreme Court cases about free speech that say if it’s speech that immediately leads to violence, it is not protected,” she said. “So that’s what I come back to personally. Is this speech trying to incite violence against another group? If so, we probably should not be protecting it. The larger conversation is, when are we getting to that point? At what point does my language lead directly to violence, and how do we determine that collectively?”

Gunn alumna and current UPenn sophomore Sage Leland believes that there’s an important distinction between legally sanctioned and morally permissible speech.

“I think that distinction is something that the university should try to make, where it’s not so much restricting speech but drawing the line of community-minded speech,” she said. “Even if legally you could say something, is it the right thing to say? Should you be saying it?”

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Gay was Harvard’s first Black president, and her resignation fueled the on-going conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion — or DEI — in higher education. Since early last year, conservative lawmakers and academics have sought to undermine colleges’ DEI efforts, with anti-DEI legislation being introduced in at least 21 states since 2021, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The bills aim to ban diversity training, employment and funding for DEI offices, and the use of diversity statements and identity-based preferences in admissions and employment.

As white men continue to constitute the majority of U.S. college presidents, Howard noted the intense pressure on university officials such as Gay who come from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

“Nobody wants to be reduced to just their racial identity or just their gender identity,” she said. “It shows that the bar is so high, and there’s so much scrutiny on people who are thought to have received those positions because of their identity.”

Debates over systemic DEI are not new, but recent events have resulted in further polarization. According to social studies teacher Tara Firenzi, DEI should come naturally, and conflicts can easily be avoided.

“This question of diversity, equity and inclusion really should be a no-brainer for everybody,” she said. “It’s been manipulated in order to inspire passionate responses that often end up falling along political lines to benefit certain political actors. It goes back to a lot of the ideals of our country. We should make amends for injustices of the past in ways that are fair and equitable. These are things that most of us can agree on.”

Although Leland recognizes UPenn’s efforts to support DEI, she doesn’t always feel or see the effects as a student.

“I think meaningful diversity, equity and inclusion work that addresses all marginalized communities — not just focusing on one — and that reaches more individual students is something that is super important, instead of just pledging to do something and not actually doing it,” she said.

Academic Integrity

In addition to the controversy from the congressional hearing, Gay’s resignation resulted from an investigation of plagiarism during her academic career. The fallout was similar to that of Tessier-Lavigne’s resignation in August 2023 after he was accused of academic misconduct in and mismanagement of his past studies. More recently, former MIT professor Neri Oxman was found to have plagiarized sources such as Wikipedia in her dissertation. Oxman’s husband, billionaire and hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman, was one of Gay’s most notable critics and had tried to remove Gay from Harvard’s board, according to the New York Times.

This recent pattern of events brings an underlying crisis of academic integrity to light. Yet situations like Oxman’s and Gay’s make it clear that plagiarism accusations are not entirely apolitical: They have become entangled with debates over free speech and DEI. In an interview with Politico, published on Jan. 3, conservative activist Christopher Rufo acknowledged that the plagiarism allegations against Gay were made by specific figures and news outlets to dismantle her legitimacy, especially regarding new DEI programs.

Many of these attacks stemmed from not blatant plagiarism but subtle replication of ideas with a lack of citation. Because the line be-
tween plagiarism and originality can be murky, Howard urges all of her students to be safe rather than sorry.

“It’s really common if you’re doing a lot of research to accidentally replicate something,” Howard said. “Obviously, if you’re pulling from another person’s work and if your thoughts directly match their progression, even if you use your own words, it’s really important to cite that kind of thing.”

Firenzi believes that intentionality is the key distinguisher of plagiarism.

“I think plagiarism is when you knowingly and intentionally are taking someone else’s work and representing it as your own,” Firenzi said. “And that can be verbatim or it can be in substance. I think it’s not as black-and-white as it may seem to a lot of people.”

These attacks on university leadership have brought along another wave of skepticism toward educational institutions: The percentage of young adults believing in the importance of a college degree has fallen from 74% in the early 2010s to about 40% in recent years, according to the New York Times. Still, some have questioned whether these resignations were necessary and if the backlash was too harsh.

“In all of these cases, the question of degree has been at the heart of the debate,” Firenzi said. “It really behooves everyone to be extremely careful about any time you’re using someone else’s work, and making absolutely sure that you’re giving all the credit that you can for it and not cutting corners.”

Furthermore, Firenzi highlighted the importance of understanding the nuances of these issues — from academic integrity to free speech — in Palo Alto, a highly educated community.

“These things are probably felt more prominently here than they are in a lot of other places,” she said. “That brings with it an awareness that ultimately benefits our students — that you do have to do these things in a way that puts both integrity, equity and inclusion front and center and ensures that proper credit is given for ideas and words to the authors that created them.”

The federal government first recognized Native American Heritage Month in 1990. Since 1994, presidents have issued
proclamations each November to recognize the month. In 2009, President Barack Obama signed a resolution establishing the day after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day.

According to history teacher Chris Johnson, in the 26 years he has been teaching, minority representation has always been on the state’s social studies standards. In practice, however, it varies from teacher to teacher.

“It was often at the discretion of the teacher as to how much material they brought in regarding minority groups,” he said. “I always try to include as many different ethnic groups as possible within the amount of time we have to cover everything.”

Johnson, who has taken multiple Native American studies classes at Foothill College, believes that through investigating U.S. policy regarding indigenous people, the destruction of their cultures and the influence of these communities on colonists and the modern world, students gain a better understanding of American history.

“I think that what a lot of white people don’t often realize is that even what’s considered to be American culture has been so heavily influenced by all the different types of people who have been here — that not everything is just based upon Anglo culture,” Johnson said.

Last year, history teacher David Bisbee introduced Native American Heritage Month projects to both his World History and U.S. Government classes. Each student is tasked with researching and presenting about the history of and an important figure from a federally recognized indigenous community. Bisbee hopes that these projects will increase students’ awareness and appreciation of other cultures.

“The U.S. puts out a number of heritage months, and some will get more attention than others,” he said. “That’s why I believe it’s important to look at what the state says is being recognized, and I’m doing my part to make sure these communities are being recognized in class.”

Still, Gunn alumnus Thomas Li noted areas of instructional weakness in a 2021 Advanced Authentic Research paper on indigenous representation in PAUSD K-12 curricula. Among these flaws were a lack of contemporary Native American history and the use of narratives that exclusively emphasize on disparity rather than celebrate the resilience and strength of Native Americans.

To improve the curriculum, Li proposed highlighting ongoing Native American events, bringing in guest speakers of indigenous heritage and engaging in conversation about underrepresented groups in the district.

“We don’t have to single these students out, but I think we can make an effort to promote their stories and provide a more balanced representation,” Li said.