October 2012 Volume 14, Issue 1The Urban School of San FranciscoThe Urban School of San Francisco

INSIDE

www.urbanlegendnews.org

- page 2 - page 4 & 5 - page 6

� ,I�WKH�ODWHVW�ÀHOG�SROO�E\�The New York Times’ Nate Silver is DQ� DFFXUDWH� UHSUHVHQWDWLRQ� RI�(OHFWLRQ�'D\�UHVXOWV��WKHQ�&DOL-IRUQLDQV�DUH�����SHUFHQW�OLNHO\�WR�FDVW�WKHLU�HOHFWRUDO�YRWHV�IRU�3UHVLGHQW� 2EDPD� LQ� WKH� �����HOHFWLRQ��� %XW�WKDW·V�QRW�WKH�RQO\�EDWWOH�RQ�WKH�EDOORW��2Q�1RY�����&DOL-IRUQLDQV�DOVR�KDYH�D�FKDQFH�WR�YRWH�DQG�GHFLGH�RQ�DQ�DUUD\�RI�VLJQLÀFDQW�LVVXHV�PXFK�FORVHU�WR�KRPH���� :LWK�IRXU�RI����EDOORW�PHD-VXUHV�LQFOXGHG�LQ�3URSRVLWLRQV����WR����IRFXVLQJ�RQ�WD[HV�DQG�VSHQGLQJ�� LW·V� IDLU� WR� VD\� WKDW�&DOLIRUQLD·V� EXGJHW� GHÀFLW� LV�DW�WKH�KHDUW�RI�WKLV�1RYHPEHU·V�EDOORW�

� &DOLIRUQLD�LV�QRZ�´IDFLQJ�D�����ELOOLRQ�VKRUWIDOO��QRW�WKH����ELOOLRQ�ZH�WKRXJKW�LQ�-DQXDU\���*RY��-HUU\�%URZQ�DQQRXQFHG�LQ�D�<RX7XEH�YLGHR�SRVWHG�RQ�0D\������7KLV�PHDQV�ZH�ZLOO�KDYH�WR�JR�PXFK�IXUWKHU�DQG�PDNH�FXWV�IDU�JUHDWHU�WKDQ�,�DVNHG�IRU�DW�WKH�EHJLQQLQJ�RI�WKH�\HDU��� :LWK� WKUHH� SURSRVHG� WD[�LQFUHDVHV� DQG� D�PHDVXUH� WKDW�ZRXOG�UHSHDO�WKH�GHDWK�SHQDOW\��&DOLIRUQLDQV� KDYH� WKH� RSSRU-WXQLW\� WR� DOWHU� KRZ� WKH� VWDWH�VSHQGV�WD[SD\HU�GROODUV���� *RY�� %URZQ� KDV� SURSRVHG�3URSRVLWLRQ� ���� ZKLFK� ZRXOG�LQFUHDVH� RI� LQFRPH� WD[� UDWHV�IRU�&DOLIRUQLDQV�PDNLQJ�PRUH�WKDQ����������D�\HDU�IRU�WKH�QH[W�VHYHQ�\HDUV�DV�ZHOO�DV�UDLVLQJ�WKH�VDOH�DQG�XVH�WD[�E\�õ�FHQW�IRU�IRXU�\HDUV��� 7KH�VWDWH�EXGJHW�VLJQHG�E\�%URZQ�LQ�-XQH�UHOLHV�RQ����ELO-OLRQ�RI�UHYHQXH�IURP�WKHVH�WD[�LQFUHDVHV��,I�WKH�WD[�KLNHV�GR�QRW�SDVV�� LW� ZRXOG� DXWRPDWLFDOO\�WULJJHU� ����� ELOOLRQ� LQ� FXWV� WR�&DOLIRUQLD·V�SXEOLF�VFKRROV�� .\OH�&KRQJ� �·���� VXSSRUWV�3URS� ��� EHFDXVH� KH� ´EHOLHYHV�WKDW� WD[HV� VKRXOG� EH� SURSRU-WLRQDO�WR�LQFRPH��DQG�WKDW�WKH�ZHDOWK\� VKRXOG� FRQWULEXWH� DV�WKH\�DUH�DEOH�WR�µ� $V�RI�6HSW������WKLV�VR�FDOOHG�´0LOOLRQDLUHV·� 7D[µ� UHPDLQV�

Budget de!citoccupies centerof California's propositions

Is it bad luck, or global warming?Extreme weather sparks concern

AMERICA'S CUP

� 'LHKDUG�VDLOLQJ�IDQV�DQG�FXULRXV�ORFDOV�ÁRFNHG�WR�WKH�VKRUHV�RI�6DQ�)UDQFLVFR·V�0DULQD�RQ�2FW����WR�ZDWFK�WKH�$PHULFD·V�&XS�ÁHHW�UDFH�ÀQDOV��ZKLFK�ZHUH�KHOG�HDFK�GD\�IURP�2FW����WR�2FW������ ´,�HQMR\�WKLV�EHFDXVH�WKHVH�VDLORUV�KHUH�DUH�DW�WKHLU�EHVW�µ�VDLG�$QGUHZ�3HMDFN������ZKR�LV�D�VDLORU�DQG�WKH�FDSWDLQ�RI�KLV�VKLS��7KH�6ZDQ��´,W�UHDOO\�LV�VHULRXV�EXVLQHVV�RXW�KHUH��DQG�WKDW·V�ZKDW�,�OLNH�DERXW�VDLOLQJ��WKHUH·V�QR��EXOOVKLW���<RX�

UHDOO\�JRW�WR�NQRZ�ZKDW�\RX�DUH�GRLQJ��7KHUH·V�QR�VFUHZLQJ�DURXQG��EXW�LW�LV�D�ORW�RI�IXQ��,W�EULQJV�RXW�WKH�EHVW�LQ�SHRSOH�µ� 3HMDFN��ZKR�KDV�IROORZHG�VDLOLQJ�KLV�ZKROH�OLIH��VDLG�KH�KDV�EHHQ�ORRNLQJ�IRUZDUG�WR�WKH�$PHULFD·V�&XS�WDNLQJ�SODFH�LQ�6DQ�)UDQFLVFR�%D\�HYHU�VLQFH�LW�ZDV�RFLDOO\�DQQRXQFHG�RQ�'HF������������ 7KH�VKRUHV�RI�WKH�0DULQD�ZHUH�DOVR�SDFNHG�ZLWK�SHRSOH�ZKR�ZHUH�QHZ�WR�WKH�VSRUW�RI�VDLOLQJ��� ´0\�ZLIH�GUDJJHG�PH�KHUH�µ�VDLG�%DUU�%DXHU������D�6DQ�

Sailing community descends upon Bay Area

NAVIGATING THE BAY 6SHFWDWRUV�ÁRFN�WR�WKH�6DQ�)UDQFLVFRV�0DULQD�*UHHQ�RQ�2FW����WR�ZDWFK�WKH�,WDOLDQ��$PHULFDQ��DQG�6ZHGHQ�VDLOLQJ�WHDPV�EROW�SDVW�$OFDWUD]�,VODQG�LQ�$PHULFDV�&XS�ÁHHW�UDFH�ÀQDOV�� photo by Jessica King Fredel

by Jessica King Fredel and Jonathan BaerSta" Writers

by Mara PleasureSta" Writer

by Jonathan BaerSta" Writer

see PROPS page 5

see CUP page 8

see WEATHER page 2

� .DWULQD��,VDDF��'HDQ��DQG�)HOL[��1R��WKH\·UH�QRW�WKH�QDPHV�RI�\RXU�IHOORZ� 8UEDQ� VWXGHQWV�� 7KH\·UH�WKH� QDPHV� RI� IRXU� GHYDVWDWLQJ�KXUULFDQHV�WKDW�KDYH�RFFXUUHG�LQ�WKH�8QLWHG�6WDWHV�GXULQJ�WKH�ODVW����\HDUV��FDXVLQJ�ELOOLRQV�RI�GROODUV�LQ�GDPDJH�� 7RUQDGRV��GURXJKWV�DQG�ÁRRGV�KDYH�FDXVHG�RUGLQDU\�$PHULFDQV�DQG�UHVHDUFKHUV�WR�VSHFXODWH�DERXW�WKH�FDXVH�RI�WKHVH�QDWXUDO�GLVDVWHUV�� $W�WKH�8QLYHUVLW\�RI�$ODEDPD�LQ�+XQWVYLOOH��WKH�'HSDUWPHQW�RI�$WPRVSKHULF� 6FLHQFH� KDV� VSHQW����\HDUV�FKDVLQJ�WRUQDGRV�DURXQG�WKH�VRXWKHDVWHUQ�8�6��ZLWK�D�FRQ-YHUWHG�DPEXODQFH��5HVHDUFKHUV�XVH�0RELOH�$ODEDPD�;�%DQG�5DGDU��D�0RELOH� ,QWHJUDWHG� 3URÀOLQJ� 6\V-

WHP��DQG�D�0RELOH�0HWHRURORJLFDO�0HDVXUHPHQW�9HKLFOH��� 7KH�LQFUHDVLQJ�IUHTXHQF\�RI�EDG�ZHDWKHU� HYHQWV� LVQ·W� QHFHVVDULO\�D�EDG� WKLQJ�³� IRU�8QLYHUVLW\�RI�$ODEDPD� DFDGHPLFV�� LW·V� PRUH�ILHOGZRUN�� +RZHYHU�� $QWKRQ\�/\]D�� UHVHDUFK� DVVLVWDQW� IRU� WKH�6HYHUH�:HDWKHU�*URXS�DW�WKH�'H-SDUWPHQW�RI�$WPRVSKHULF�6FLHQFH��EHOLHYHV� WKDW� WKH� UHFHQW� VSHOO� RI�VHYHUH�ZHDWKHU�LV�MXVW�EDG�OXFN��� /DVW�\HDU��D�\HDU�WKDW�UHVXOWHG�LQ�����IDWDOLWLHV�IURP�WRUQDGRV��́ ZDV�QRW�XQSUHFHGHQWHG�������DQG������ZHUH�VLPLODU�\HDUV�µ�VDLG�/\]D��,Q�������WKH�VR�FDOOHG�:DFR�7RUQDGR�7UDJHG\�KLW�DOO�RYHU�WKH�6RXWKZHVW��UHVXOWLQJ�LQ�����GHDWKV�DQG�������ZLWK�PRUH�VHYHUH�WRUQDGRV�UDWHG�)��DQG�)��WKDQ�HYHU�UHFRUGHG��� $FFRUGLQJ�WR�/\]D��WKH�UHDVRQ�ZK\�UHFHQW�ZHDWKHU�HYHQWV�VHHP�VR�

H[WUHPH�LV�EHFDXVH�VHYHUH�VWRUPV�DQG� WRUQDGRV� KDYH� KLW� DUHDV� RI�JUHDWHU�SRSXODWLRQ� WKDQ� LQ�\HDUV�SDVW��FDXVLQJ�PRUH�ORVV�RI�KXPDQ�OLYHV�DQG�SURSHUW\��� ´7KH�RQO\�PDMRU�KXUULFDQH�WR�KLW�WKH�8QLWHG�6WDWHV�ZDV�+XUULFDQH�2SDO� �LQ� ������µ� /\]D� VDLG�� DQG�

WKDW� WRXFKHG� GRZQ� LQ� WKH� WKHQ�UHODWLYHO\� XQSRSXODWHG� )ORULGD�3DQKDQGOH�� $V�WKH�LPSDFW�RI�EDG�ZHDWKHU�KDV� LQFUHDVHG�� ZHDWKHU� WUDFNLQJ�KDV�EHFRPH�PRUH�SUHYDOHQW��7KH�

BAD WEATHER BLUES $�KHDW�ZDYH�VSUHDGV�DFURVV�$PHULFD�WKH�ÀUVW�ZHHN�RI�2FWREHU��5HG�DUHDV�DUH�WKRVH�RI�KLJKHVW�KHDW��8QXVXDO�ZHDWKHU�SDWWHUQV�KDYH�EHFRPH�PRUH�FRPPRQ�LQ�WKH�ODVW����\HDUV�

photo by National Digital Forecast Database/U.S. government work

PUSSY RIOT VS. RUSSIAPrison sentences trigger international backlash

IS HATE SPEECH FREE?U.S. and the Middle East clash on rightto expression after YouTube video

POLITICS AT URBANUrban students ponder 2012 presidential election

"Taxes should be proportional to

income."—Kyle Chong ('13)

Newsurbanlegendnews.org

2October 2012

The Urban Legend

"Innocence" !lm triggers global debate over free, hate speech

Does our right to free speech give us the right to spread hate?That is the question many Ameri-cans are asking after an Egyptian television station played a clip of D�FRQWURYHUVLDO�DQWL�0XVOLP�ÀOP�LQ�September, sparking international protests and the killing of a U.S. ambassador in Libya. Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a Egyptian Christian living in the Los Angeles area, produced WKH�ÀOP��WLWOHG�WKH�´,QQRFHQFH�RI�0XVOLPV�µ�,W�LQVXOWV�0XVOLPV�DQG�portrays Mohammed as a homo-sexual and pederast. � $V� QHZV� RI� WKH� ÀOP� VSUHDG��DW�ÀUVW�SURWHVWHUV�WKURXJKRXW�WKH�Arab world remained relatively peaceful, chanting for the de-VWUXFWLRQ�RI� WKH�ÀOP�DQG�\HOOLQJ�anti-American slurs. Then on the 11th anniversary of 9/11, mobs became violent. Militants possibly linked to Al-Qaeda descended upon American

consulates. Protests began in Cairo, and subsequently spread across 61 countries, according to a Legend analysis, climaxing when a mob in Benghazi murdered J. Christopher Stevens, U.S. ambassador to Libya. The attacks raised questions in the international community over WKH�ULJKW�RI�ÀOPV� OLNH� WKH�´,QQR-FHQFHµ�WR�H[LVW��2WKHU�DQWL�,VODPLF�depictions have sparked violence. ,Q�������'DQLVK�HPEDVVLHV�ZRUOG-wide were attacked after a Danish newspaper published cartoons of Mohammed. � 2Q�6HSW������(J\SW·V�SUHVLGHQW��Mohamed Morsi, told the United Nations General Assembly that ´(J\SW�UHVSHFWV�IUHHGRP�RI�H[SUHV-sion — freedom of expression that is not used to incite hatred against anyone.” � ´:H� H[SHFW� IURP� RWKHUV�� DV�they expect from us, that they UHVSHFW�RXU�FXOWXUDO�VSHFLÀFV�DQG�religious references, and not im-pose concepts or cultures that are unacceptable to us,” said Morsi,

as reported by Neil MacFarquar in The New York Times. Similarly, Osama Siblani, a pub-lisher for The Arab-American News, LQ�'HDUERUQ��0LFK���LGHQWLÀHG�´D�need for deterrent legal measures against those individuals or groups that want to damage rela-tions between people, spread hate and incite violence,” as reported in The Detroit News. However, Ban Ki-moon, the 81·V�6HFUHWDU\�*HQHUDO��VDLG�WKDW�´,QQRFHQFHµ� PXVW� EH� SURWHFWHG�under freedom of speech laws, WKRXJK�KH�DOVR�FDOOHG�LW�́ D�GLVJUDFH-ful act of insensitivity” when he spoke to the General Assembly RQ�6HSW����� Later that day, President Obama also sympathized with reaction in the Arab world, but went on to argue that the video should be protected speech. � ´:H� �SURWHFW� WKH� ULJKW� WR� IUHH�speech) because in a diverse so-FLHW\��HͿRUWV�WR�UHVWULFW�VSHHFK�FDQ�become a tool to silence critics, or

oppress minorities,” Obama said, as reported by The New York Times. Obama noted that free speech DͿHFWV�KLP�SHUVRQDOO\��´$V�SUHVL-dent of our country, and com-PDQGHU�LQ�FKLHI�RI�RXU�PLOLWDU\��,�accept that people are going to call PH�DZIXO�WKLQJV�HYHU\�GD\��DQG�,�will defend their right to do so.” Presidential hopeful Mitt 5RPQH\�DJUHHG��´8QGHU�WKH�)LUVW�Amendment, people are allowed to do what they feel they want to do,” he told 7KH�+XQJWRQ�3RVW�� ,Q�D�6HSW�����Legend survey, ap-SUR[LPDWHO\����SHUFHQW�RI�WKH����Urban students who responded DJUHHG�WKDW�́ ,QQRFHQFHµ�KDV�D�ULJKW�WR� H[LVW�� ,Q� DGGLWLRQ�� ��� SHUFHQW�thought free speech should never be limited. The survey was anonymous, though students' comments evoked both sides of the free-speech issue. � ´<RX� FDQ·W� KDYH� SRVLWLYH� IUHH�speech without allowing even the most wretched of opinions,” one

student wrote. � $QRWKHU�GLVDJUHHG��´0RFNLQJ�the prophet should be treated like \HOOLQJ� ÀUH� LQ� D� PRYLH� WKHDWUH�ZKHQ�WKHUH�LV�QR�ÀUH��%RWK�DUH�YHU\�dangerous things to do and should therefore be limited.” Even in a country that has a First Amendment, expressing hate can be complicated. From WKH� ����� 6XSUHPH� &RXUW� UXOLQJ�permitting Nazis to march through the predominantly Jewish suburb RI�6NRNLH�� ,OO��� WR�������ZKHQ�WKH�´6RXWK�3DUNµ�WHOHYLVLRQ�SURJUDP�depicted the prophet Moham-med hidden in a bear costume, Americans have struggled over free speech versus hate speech.� %XW�LQ�$PHULFD��́ ZH�GRQW�QHHG�the First Amendment to celebrate motherhood or apple pie,” noted *UHJ�0RQÀOV��KLVWRU\�DQG�(QJOLVK�teacher at Urban. � ´7KH�)LUVW�$PHQGPHQW�H[LVWV�so that unpopular views will be stated, because people have a right to their opinions.”

How often do you pay the extra dollar per pound for those crisp organic apples? As it turns out, according to a Stanford Medical School study released Sept. 4, RUJDQLF� SURGXFH� LVQ·W� KHDOWKLHU�than the conventional kind. So is WKH�WHUP�́ RUJDQLFµ�D�GHVLJQHU�ODEHO�to get us to pay more? A rigorous, four-decade-long Stanford Medical study led by 'HDQ�%UDYDWD��VHQLRU�DOLDWH�ZLWK�6WDQIRUG·V�&HQWHU�IRU�+HDOWK�3ROLF\��and Crystal Smith-Spangler, a Stanford instructor in the Division of General Medical Disciplines and a physician-investigator at VA Palo Alto Health Care System, showed that organic foods are not more nutritious than conventional foods. The study compared nutri-ent levels along with the bacterial, fungal or pesticide contamination in produce, grains, and animal products. � 7KH� DQDO\VLV� IRXQG� ´OLWWOH�VLJQLÀFDQW� GLͿHUHQFH� LQ� KHDOWK�benefits between organic and FRQYHQWLRQDO�IRRGVµ�DQG�́ QR�FRQ-VLVWHQW�GLͿHUHQFHVµ�ZKHQ�LW�FDPH�to vitamins, apart from the bone-building nutrient phosphorus, ZKLFK� ´ZDV� VLJQLÀFDQWO\� KLJKHU�in organic versus conventionally

Study questions value of organicsgrown produce.” There was also no SURWHLQ�RU�IDW�GLͿHUHQFH�EHWZHHQ�organic and non-organic milk. Urban students are split on whether or ot organic food lives up to its expectations. � ´2UJDQLF� LV� D� JRRG� LGHD� LQ�theory, and is a good starting point for sustainable eating,” said 6RSKLH�'UXNPDQ�)HOGVWHLQ� �·�����´0\� IDPLO\� WULHV� WR� HDW� RUJDQLF��DQG��ZH�JHQHUDOO\�SULRULWL]H�ORFDO�food over organic food, because the transportation of food over long distances is terrible for the environment.”� %XW�6DP�'HQWRQ��·����GLVDJUHHG��´,�WKLQN�RUJDQLF�IRRG�LV�D�ZDVWH�RI�money — it tastes the same.”� ´2UJDQLF��SURGXFH��LV�PRUH�HFR-ORJLFDOO\�VXVWDLQDEOH�µ�VDLG�*HRͿ�Ruth, Urban science teacher, junior and senior dean, and former head RI�8UEDQ·V�*UHHQ�7HDP��� ´,W·V�DOVR�EHWWHU�IRU�IDUPHU�ZRUN-HUV� EHFDXVH� WKH\� DUHQ·W� H[SRVHG�to pesticides and herbicides, so WKHUH·V� VRUW� RI� WKLV� VRFLDO� MXVWLFH�aspect of it.” � (YHQ�VR��´FOHDUO\�LW·V�EHWWHU�WR�buy locally grown oranges that have pesticides on them then buy-ing oranges from Chile at some WLPH�ZKHQ�RUDQJHV�DUHQ·W�DYDLODEOH�here that are organic,” said Ruth. � ,Q� D� Legend blind taste test,

staffers picked conventionally grown apples over the organic kind, but organic strawberries over conventional strawberries. The choice of blueberries — organic or not — was a draw.� :KLOH�WKH�QXWULWLRQDO�YDOXH�DQG�HYHQ� WKH� ÁDYRU� RI� RUJDQLF� IRRG�PD\�QRW�EH�GLͿHUHQW�IURP�LWV�FRQ-ventional counterparts, there are other reasons to dish out the extra cash. Community Supported Ag-ULFXOWXUH��&6$���ER[HV�KHOS�VPDOO�farms stay in business: A typical ER[�LV�DERXW�����DQG�KDV�HQRXJK�fruits and vegetables to feed two to four people for a week. On the other hand, families could buy the same amount of conventional fruits and vegetables for about half the price at Safeway. � 7KH�EHVW�VROXWLRQ"�́ *URZ�\RXU�own food if you can,” advised 5XWK��+LV�JDUGHQ�DW�KRPH�LV�́ SUHWW\�KXJH�«�ZH�KDYHQ·W�ERXJKW�IUXLW�LQ��like, three weeks.” But if growing \RXU�RZQ�IRRG�LVQ·W�DQ�RSWLRQ�´JR�WR� VRPH�RI� WKH� IDUPHU·V�PDUNHWV�that are cheaper,” Ruth advises.� ´,�EHOLHYH�WKDW�RUJDQLF�IRRG�LV�worth the extra money if you have the extra money,” said Drukman-Feldstein. � ´7KH� IDFW� LV�� LQ� WKLV� VRFLHW\��healthy and ethical food is a privi-lege … this needs to change.”

by Tessa PetrichSta" Writer

by Jacob WinickSta" Writer

TESSA'S TASTE TEST Legend�VWDͿ�ZULWHU�7HVVD�3HWULFK��IDU�ULJKW��NHHSV�WUDFN�RI�Legend�VWDͿHUV�DV�WKH\�eat their way through organic and non-organic strawberries, apples and plums on Oct 4.

Photo by Aideen Murphy

University of Alabama has an en-tire department devoted to severe weather and atmospheric science, including tracking and predicting where it will hit. � 7KRXJK� /\]D� GRHVQ·W� EHOLHYH�that our weather is getting worse, others disagree. Sarah Clowes, Ur-EDQ·V�*UHHQ�7HDP�IDFXOW\�DGYLVHU��VDLG�WKDW�´DV�ZH�HPLW�JUHHQKRXVH�gases into the atmosphere, we change the climate and how water moves.”� 6LPLODUO\�� PDQ\� VFLHQWLVWV·�global warming models have predicted extreme storms and droughts. A senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research claimed in the September issue of National Geographic that ´JUHHQKRXVH�JDVHV�DUH�WKH�VWHURLGV�of the climate system.”

Though global warming may not be the only reason for severe ZHDWKHU��D�VLJQLÀFDQW�QXPEHU�RI�scientists agree that it is making typhoons and hurricanes dramati-cally worse. As the climate heats up, more water vapor is produced, resulting in more severe hurricanes and longer rainstorms. Besides the increase in water vapor, the climate has gone up almost one degree Fahrenheit. Seems small, right? But scientists say this is enough of a climate change to increase the H[WHQW�RI�ZLOGÀUHV�DQG�GURXJKWV��� 7KHUH� KDV� EHHQ� D� ��� SHUFHQW�increase in cost of disasters since ������DFFRUGLQJ�WR�́ :HDWKHU�*RQH�:LOG�µ�LQ�WKH�6HSWHPEHU������LVVXH�RI�1DWLRQDO�*HRJUDSKLF��:KHWKHU�bad luck or global warming causes it, one thing seems certain: severe weather has become the new nor-PDO��´:H�FDQ�H[SHFW�PRUH�VHYHUH�weather,” Clowes said.

from page 1

WEATHER: Global temps making weather worse

THE BLUES EMBRACE THE ORANGEUrban students and faculty cheer the San Francisco Giants on Oct. 11 as they beat the Cincinnati Reds to advance to the National League Championship Series.

UrbanItems

Photo by Eli Dinklespiel

Featureswww.urbanlegendnews.org

3October 2012

The Urban Legend

11/7

11/2Lindley Meadow:

Cross Country BCL Championship

4:00 p.m.

Fall Production "Spelling Bee"Free Preview

4:30 p.m.

BY THECALENDAR

READY TO EAT Bags of MSG at New May Cheung Co., a grocery store on Irving Street, are a best-selling product at $1.69 each.

by Aideen MurphySta! Writer

Although it is terribly clichéd, the saying “you are what you eat” holds great truth. But do you know what you eat away from home? In two weeks, Californians will vote on Proposition 37, which would require companies to label packaged food when it contains JHQHWLFDOO\� PRGLÀHG� RUJDQLVPV��Unfortunately, Prop 37 exempts restaurants. And monosodium glutamate, a widely used food additive, is not covered by the proposed legislation. So even if Prop 37 passes, diners won't know how much MSG they're eating MSG is one of the most com-monly used food additives. A revolutionary sodium salt of a glutamate acid, it is a naturally occurring non-essential amino acid, which enhances the taste of food and is used as a salt substi-tute. MSG is used for tenderizing

meat, soups, salad dressings and is added to countless other foods. Despite growing calls for the labeling of genetically engineered food, no such awareness seems to be evident when it comes to MSG. Interviews with food merchants on Haight Street revealed a lack of knowledge about the additive. “Isn’t that illegal?” asked Me-gan Mayer, a concierge at the Red Victorian Café located on Haight and Cole streets. Though many Urban students don’t know how common MSG is, some say they have felt side HͿHFWV�DIWHU�HDWLQJ�IRRG�WKDW�FRQ-tains it. Symptoms of MSG intake can include headaches, rapid heartbeat, blood pressure, diges-tive problems, induced asthma, numbness, nausea, drowsiness, and weakness. “After I eat MSG I get really tired, like falling asleep, standing-up tired. I also get headaches and sometimes stomachaches. It’s not

fun,” said Mackenzie Kwok (’14). Although the Federal Drug Administration recognizes MSG as safe in certain amounts, scientists have linked it to obesity. “MSG is not toxic, but now the question is: Is it healthy?" asked researcher Ka He, in The New York Times. At Marnee Thai, a restaurant located at 2225 Irving St., an un-LGHQWLÀHG�ZDLWUHVV�DFNQRZOHGJHG�that MSG is used in their food. Yet there is no mention of MSG in the awards and recommendations that the restaurant has reaped, from reliable sources like Zagat and Yelp. Daniel Chang, a manager at Little Paris 2, 2305 Irving Street, said that MSG was commonly used in all restaurants, and especially in Asian cuisine. The ignorance of MSG is so great that sometimes even the servers are unaware of the use of MSG in their restaurant or of its

existence. Asked if chicken at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restau-rant located at 1900 Irving Street FRQWDLQHG�06*�� DQ� XQLGHQWLÀHG�server replied, “no, I’m sure we don’t.” Yet KFC is one of the big-gest users of MSG, according to msgtruth.org. At the Pork Store, located at 1451 Haight St., waitresses said they did not know of the substance. Unfortunately, even restaurants can be the last to know if MSG has been added to the ingredients they use in their dishes. “We don’t add MSG in our food, but we don’t know if it has been previously added to the food,” said a server at the Red Victorian Café. While California’s Prop 37 is a step in the right direction towards more consumer awareness, it is still important for citizens to be informed of MSG and genetically PRGLÀHG�IRRG��)RU�PRUH�LQIRUPD-tion on the subject, visit truthinla-beling.org or msgtruth.org.

So long At the end of the 37th season of “Saturday Night Live,” view-HUV�ZLWQHVVHG� D�ÀUVW��$�ÀQDOH�dedicated to the farewell of one of their most well-known cast members, Kristen Wiig. Wiig was welcomed onstage by host Mick Jagger (of Rolling Stones fame), who said she was “leaving this summer to become a nun.” The mood soon became se-rious, with Wiig holding back her tears as she shared a dance with each of the cast members to “She’s a Rainbow” and “Ruby Tuesday,” played by Arcade Fire. It was an unforgettable SNL moment. But Wiig’s goodbye was not the only one. Andy Samberg, who brought the popular “Lonely Island” digital shorts to the show, aired “Lazy Sunday ��µ�D�VHTXHO�WR�WKH�ÀUVW�GLJLWDO�short, “Lazy Sunday.” The previous week brought “100th Digital Short”, an amalgama-tion of several shorts, including

“Dick in a Box,” “I’m on a Boat,” and “Threw it on the Ground.” Both Wiig, who was on SNL for seven years, and Andy Samberg, a Berkeley native and also a seven-year veteran, were key members of the SNL FDVW��'XULQJ�WKH�ÀQDOH�WKH\�ERWK�starred in the hilarious skit “The Californians,” along with Abby Elliot, who also left SNL after last season. Despite the loss of two key members of the SNL ensemble, the new season of SNL holds a great deal of promise. At the end of last season, new cast member Kate McKin-QRQ� VKRZHG� RͿ� KHU� IDQWDVWLF�impression of “Helga Lately,” a Swedish Chelsea Lately, and she has gone on to replace Wiig in portraying Ann Romney. Cecily Strong, Aidy Bryant, and Tim Robinson join McKin-non on SNL, whose historic cast includes legendary comedians such as Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Bill Murray.

So far, Strong has portrayed the sassy “Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started A Conversation With at a Party.” She has also appeared alongside castmate Seth Meyers during a Weekend Update, and as a deceptively intelligent-looking business-woman in the “Undecided Voter” commercial. Bryant has played “Saucy Maggie” in “Working Class 'UDPD�µ�D�ÀJXUH�ZKR�KLWV�RQ�host Daniel Craig (the star of the James Bond franchise) in an Irish bar. It’s comedic, but not for every taste. However, she showed prom-ise in the skit “First Date,” where every character is mak-ing impersonations. She excit-edly approaches a couple and

after politely complimenting the woman’s dress, she says, “Listen to me, I’m all I WANT TO BECOME YOU,” tying it together with a winning smile. Robinson’s most memorable character to date was his role in “Undecided Voter,” in which he asks ,“How long is a president’s WHUP� RI� RFH��2QH� \HDU�� WZR�years, three years, or life?” In the 38th season premiere on Sept. 15, the comedians showed that despite the loss of two of SNL’s most important ac-tors, the show would continue to meet the standards for skit comedy set over the last 37 years. “That was the best (episode) I’ve ever seen ever,” Mina Rich-ard (’14) said.

by Ella McLeodSta! Writer

SNLPhoto by Tabercil/Creative Commons licensed

10/26Mission District: Lost

Weekend Video's new Cinecave "Fresh Like Cadaver" with live riff

of "Warlock"

11/2Lower Haight:

Urban Air + Block Party, featuring

independent green designers

Check out SF CITYtrips on Facebook for more upcoming events.

Sources: sf.funcheap.com, lostweekendvideo.com,

events.sfgate.com, urbanschool.org

Got MSG? Prop 37's promise to label

food that contains GMOs

will not apply to restaurants

where MSG is often used.

What do you need

to know?

Photo by Aideen Murphy

"I believe that

the idea that

humans are

intrinsically

good or bad

is a myth. I

believe we

learn...

...and develop into blobs of opinions based on what we take from the world around us. So what have I taken in; what have I learned and grown to believe? I have lived my life by the moral codes I have taken from church, my family, my school, and my summer camp. I have worked hard, practiced kindness and UHVSHFW��DQG�OLYHG�D�KDSS\�DQG�IXOÀOOLQJ�OLIH�WKXV�IDU��,�GR�QRW�FUHGLW�DOO�RI�P\�KDSSLQHVV�RU�IXOÀOOPHQW�WR�how I have chosen to live my life; I also credit the ÀUVW�ZRUOG��XSSHU�PLGGOH�FODVV��ZKLWH��VWUDLJKW��DOO�and any types of privilege that I have. This awareness I have gained of my privilege paired with my strongest guiding belief of compas�sion yield my passion for equality. This compassion guides most of my political opinions. I struggle to disconnect almost any aspect of politics from people, individual lives, and from social justice issues."

ELECTION

"This I Believe": Urban Students' statements Of Political Belief

"We all know

that the

government

is a highly

inefficient

organization.

Every little

piece....

EXPLORING The

���WKDW�ZRUNV�LV�JULQGLQJ�DJDLQVW�ÀYH�WKDW�GRQ·W��DQG�we can either throw our hands up in the air or we can ask ourselves why. I believe we can blame compro�mise. Now let me make a distinction between col�laboration and compromise. Compromise is when HYHU\RQH�ORRVHV��(YHU\RQH·V�JODVV�LV�PRUH�WKDQ�KDOI�HPSW\��DQG�QR�RQH�LV�VDWLVÀHG��&RPSURPLVH�LV�ZKDW�FUHDWHV�KDOI�EDNHG��ZDWHUHG�GRZQ�OHJLVODWLRQ�WKDW�LV�VR�ELIRFDO�LWV�OLPLWDWLRQV�H[FHHG�LWV�SXUSRVHV��,W·V�WKH�UHVXOW�RI�SROLWLFDO�URZV�DQG�ÀOLEXVWHULQJ��SURGXFLQJ�things like our current farm subsidies or, in the worst FDVH��ODZV�OLNH�WKH�WKUHH�ÀIWKV�UXOH�� But on the other hand we have collaboration. This is when both sides of an argument come to�gether and produce a solution together. Everyone can get more than half of what they want, for adapting expectations without changing principles is almost always possible."

Sabraj Gill ('13) Isabel Langen ('13)

"For me,

American

politics and

history have

always been

inherently

linked to the

people who

have led.

But my interest is not solely dependent on these individuals. The majority of my political enthu�siasm revolves around my passion for social issues and equality and people themselves, so it makes VHQVH�WKDW�,�DP�GUDZQ�WR�KLVWRULFDO�ÀJXUHV�WKDW�PDNH�American history human. These people represent so many of my values: Hillary Clinton demonstrates independence and the empowerment of women, Barack Obama, VHQVLWLYLW\�DQG�DZDUHQHVV��-DPHV�*DUÀHOG��D�WKLUVW�IRU�knowledge, and John Brown, a passion for equality. I believe in these people because they em�body the parts of American history I like, but do not avoid the aspects that make me uncomfortable; LQVWHDG�WKH\�HPEUDFH�GLFXOWLHV�DQG�H[SUHVV�EHOLHIV�that nothing other than an individual human being, with a personality and with unique ideas, can do."

Spread design by Charles Cody Siler

4

at URBANPRops (Cont. From Page one)...popular with 51 percent of Californians, while 36 percent remain against it, according to a poll by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California at Berkeley. Two more tax propositions are in play. Proposition 38 proposes increased income tax rates for almost all Californians, which would bring in an additional $10 billion in revenue for California, according to the California Legislative $QDO\VW·V�2FH��6L[W\�SHUFHQW�RI�WKLV�UHYHQXH�ZLOO�JR�WR�.����VFKRROV�����SHUFHQW�ZLOO�JR�WR�UHSD\LQJ�state debt, and 10 percent will go to early child�hood programs. Joe Arellano, a spokes�man for Proposition 38, posted RQ�KLV�)DFHERRN�SDJH�RQ�6HSW�����WKDW�3URSRVLWLRQ�����EHQHÀWV�ORFDO�schools, not Sacramento, and our poll numbers will begin to rise." So far, polls for Proposi�WLRQ����DUH�QRW�PHHWLQJ�$UHOODQR·V�expectations. According to a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll UHOHDVHG�RQ�6HSW���������SHUFHQW�RI�UHJLVWHUHG�YRWHV�VXSSRUW�3URSRVLWLRQ�����ZKLOH����SHUFHQW�RSSRVH�it. Unlike Propositions 30 and 38, Proposi�WLRQ����LV�D�EXVLQHVV�WD[�WKDW�ZRXOG�EULQJ�LQ�DQ�DG�GLWLRQDO����ELOOLRQ�LQ�UHYHQXH��DFFRUGLQJ�WR�ÀVFDO�HVWLPDWHV�E\�WKH�&DOLIRUQLD�/HJLVODWLYH�$QDO\VW·V�2FH��+DOI�RI�WKLV�QHZ�UHYHQXH�ZRXOG�EH�SXW�LQWR�HQHUJ\�HFLHQF\�DQG�DOWHUQDWLYH�HQHUJ\�SURMHFWV��whereas the other half would be spent on public schools and community colleges. Chong, who supports the tax increases of 3URSV����DQG�����GRHV�QRW�VXSSRUW�3URS����“I think businesses should be able to choose where they pay taxes, because the money is still (being taxed),” said Chong. If Californians pass Props 30, 38, and ����WD[HV�ZRXOG�EH�VLJQLÀFDQWO\�KLJKHU�IRU�QHDUO\�

HYHU\RQH��%XW�ZLWK�D�VWDWH�GHEW�FORVLQJ�LQ�RQ������million, some think extra revenue is what Califor�nia needs most. In addition to tax increases, another RSWLRQ�RQ�WKH�EDOORW�FRXOG�KHOS�&DOLIRUQLD·V�ÀV�FDO�ZRHV�²�3URSRVLWLRQ�����ZKLFK�ZRXOG�HQG�WKH�death penalty and replace it with life without parole. This has been one of the most heated SURSRVLWLRQV�IRU�WKLV�\HDU·V�EDOORW��ZLWK�DGYRFDWHV�on both sides actively weighing in. � ´3URS�����OHWV�VHULDO�NLOOHUV��FRS�NLOOHUV��

child killers, and those who kill the elderly, escape justice," writes the ´9RWH�1R�RQ���µ�FDPSDLJQ�RQ�LWV�website. "Proponents don't acknowl�edge that when California's death penalty was eliminated before, condemned criminals were released only to rape and kill again! Voters had to restore capital punishment to restore justice." � 3URSRQHQWV�RI�3URSRVLWLRQ����

ZLHOG�PRUH�RI�D�ÀVFDO�DUJXPHQW��´%\�UHSODFLQJ�WKH�death penalty with life in prison without possibil�ity of parole,” writes Save California, a “Yes on ��µ�DGYRFDF\�JURXS��RQ�LWV�ZHEVLWH��´&DOLIRUQLD�taxpayers would save well over $100 million every year, as well as hundreds of millions in RQH�WLPH�VDYLQJV�µ�7KH�ZHEVLWHV�JRHV�RQ�WR�ODEHO�&DOLIRUQLD·V�GHDWK�SHQDOW\�V\VWHP�´EURNHQ�EH\RQG�repair.” With four measures on the ballot focused on cutting spending or increasing tax revenues, WKH�IXWXUH�FRQGLWLRQ�RI�&DOLIRUQLD·V�EXGJHW�OLHV�LQ�the hands of California voters. “The fact is, California has been living EH\RQG�LWV�PHDQV�µ�VDLG�%URZQ�RQ�0D\�����DV�reported by The New York Times. “(The California budget) is a pretzel palace of incredible complex�ity.”

Which Party do you consider yourself affiliated with?

What is the Biggest Issue in the 2012 Election?

Has your political ideology changed over the course of the class?

We asked 64 urban students in the Elections CLasses several questions about their politics. All of them responded to our Anonymous survey. Below is our analysis of their replies.

If yes, please specify:

"Yes... After seeing the debates neither candidate ap-

peals to me anymore."

"The prolonged political exposure and discourse gave

me a chance to explore conservatism in a way that I

wouldn't normally be able to sustain."

"My liberal viewpoint has gotten stronger as i've

gotten more passionate about the issues I discuss in

class."

Mabel Taylor ('12)

Political strategist and Urban alum Michael Terris addresses Urban students in the Gumption Theater on Oct 11. About a third of the

student body is taking one of Urban's four Election class electives, which focus on current events and aim to help students develop

their own political identities by studying the 2012 presidential election. Photo by Jessica King Fredel

The Middle East: 3.1%

Healthcare: 7.8%

Other: 17.2%

The Economy: 71.9%

Democrat: 76.6%

Independent: 17.2%

REpublican: 3.1%

other: 3.1%

Yes: 57.8%

No:42.2%

5

"(The budget) is

a pretzel palace

of incredible

complexity"

-Gov. Jerry Brown

THE URBAN LEGENDhe Urban Legend is a vehicle of student freedom of expression and a public forum for The Urban School community. It is produced several times per year during the aca-demic term by the journalism class. We also publish an online version of the Legend

at www.urbanlegendnews.org. We welcome feedback about our articles and encourage readers to contact us directly with tips or ideas concerning future coverage. Our mailing address is The Urban School of San Francisco, 1563 Page St., San Francisco, CA 94117. Our e-mail address is urbanlegend-sta!@gmail.com. The Legend publishes letters on topics of concern to the Urban community. Letters must be signed; requests for anonymity will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Letters may be sent electronically to urbanlegendsta!@gmail.com. Hard-copy letters may be sent to the Legend care of The Urban School. Guest opinion columns also may be submitted electronically or in hard copy. We reserve the right to edit for space and language. Signed articles or opinion pieces represent the views of the writer only, Unsigned editorials re"ect a consensus opinion of the newspaper sta!.

T Editors-in-ChiefJonathan Baer (News)Cody Siler (Design and Folio)David Immerman (Website)Jessica King-Fredel (Visuals)

Section EditorsTessa Petrich (Arts)Ella McLeod (Features)Eli Dinkelspiel (Sports)Cody Siler (Spread)Jonathan Baer (Opinion)

WritersMarney KlineAideen MurphyJacob WinickHannah BerkMara Pleasure

ContributorsKyle Chong (Photo)Alex Johnson

AdviserBeatrice Motamedi

The Urban LegendOctober 2012

Voting. It’s the most treasured cornerstone of our representative democracy, the way citizens decide who governs them and what polices they’ll employ. It’s a fundamental part of being American. But the sacredness of voting is being threatened. Recent laws and restrictions passed in many states, aimed at eliminating voter IUDXG��DUH�GHYDOXLQJ�RXU�GHÀQLWLRQ�RI�D�UHSXEOLF� The 2008 presidential election saw the highest voter turnout ever, with more than 130 million people showing up at the polls, according to the Census Bureau. President Obama gained two-thirds of voters aged 18 to 29, 95 percent of blacks, and 55 percent of Hispanics, said politico.com. Obama needed these groups to win. So Republican-controlled state legislatures made it harder for these groups to vote. In a supposed attempt to eliminate voter fraud, Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Florida passed strict photo-ID voter laws requiring YRWHUV�WR�SURYLGH�VSHFLÀF�W\SHV�RI�LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ�DW�SROOLQJ�SODFHV��U.S. News & World Report wrote in September that a Republican-led investigation found “less than one-tenth of 1 percent of all registered voters” to be registered illegally. Politically, it’s ingenious. But voter suppression is also how UDFLVW�SROLWLFLDQV�VWD\HG� LQ�RFH� LQ� WKH�6RXWK�XQWLO� WKH�9RWLQJ�Rights Act of 1965, which banned literacy tests and other barriers. Pennsylvania tried to implement one of the strictest voter ID laws in the country, which would require voters to bring an up-to-date, Pennsylvania-issued driver’s license, or a current U.S. passport, or a state voter ID card to the polls, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. However, in order to JHW�D�YRWHU�,'�FDUG��RQH�PXVW�SURYLGH�D�ELUWK�FHUWLÀFDWH��ZKLFK�FRVWV�$PHULFDQV������DQG�FDQ�EH�GLFXOW�WR�REWDLQ�IRU�WKRVH�ERUQ�abroad), a social security card (which requires several other docu-ments) and two proofs of residency. “The concept is unconstitutional and will suppress the vote of minorities, students, the poor, and the elderly,” wrote California State Senator Leland Yee, in an interview with the Legend. “Many people do not have government issued IDs – they may be older and not drive or they may live in a city with public transit. In addition, there is a cost to an ID, in essence creating a poll tax which the courts rightfully threw out generations ago.” Yee authored a recent law in the Golden State to register online and on Election Day. “As a model example of a democratic government, it is embar-rassing that our voter participation rates are as low as they are,” Yee noted. As students, it’s our responsibility to set the tone of our gen-eration by encouraging our peers to get involved. “The more individuals who vote, the more likely elected RFLDOV�ZLOO� DGGUHVV� WKH� FRQFHUQV� RI� WKRVH�SHRSOH�µ� VDLG�<HH��“Many people died for the right to vote and I believe we all have a responsibility to participate in our democracy.” Voting: It shouldn’t be part of a political agenda. Wherever you live and whatever you believe, you should be able to do it.

Just Do It

Editorial

www.urbanlegendnews.org

6

When most Americans are deciding whom to vote for this fall, they will see two candidates: Barack Obama, our Democratic president, and Mitt Romney, his Republican contender. Unfortunately that means third-party candidates will be overlooked. Americans tend to vote for the candidate they think will win, which rules out any candidate who is not a Democrat or a Republican. But if we elected presidents on the basis of a popular vote only, rather than the Electoral College, everyone’s vote would count. Even if third-party candidates did not win the election, they would get enough votes to attract media attention, and more people would hear about their platforms, which could possibly result in future victories. The presidential election now underway features a range of candidates with straightforward stances on the most talked-about issues. Gary Johnson, two-time governor of New Mexico, is the Libertarian presidential nominee. � ´+H·V� ÀVFDOO\� FRQVHUYDWLYH�� DQG� VRFLDOO\�«� FRRO�µ�raves a video complete with country western back-ground music that automatically plays when you visit his website. Johnson supports small government and believes that it should stay out of health care, arguing that com-SHWLWLRQ��SULFH�WUDQVSDUHQF\��DQG�LQQRYDWLRQ�ZLOO�À[�WKH�problem of uninsured Americans. While he supports conventionally conservative causes, such as the right to bear arms, he also takes some more liberal stances, such as being pro-choice and supporting marriage equality. His three-step plan to heal the economy consists of cutting spending, cutting taxes, and reducing federal LQYROYHPHQW�LQ�WKH�HFRQRP\��+LV�YLHZV�FRXOG�UHÁHFW�

those of millions of Americans, yet he remains a ghost in the current election because he is not af-ÀOLDWHG�ZLWK�WKH�5HSXEOLFDQ�RU�'HPRFUDWLF�3DUW\��� Then there’s Jill Stein, the Green Party nominee, whose platform revolves around what is called the “New Green Deal.” Based on the plan that rescued the economy after the Great Depression, it has its own green twist. � 7KH�ÀUVW�VWHS�RI�6WHLQ·V�SODQ�LV�WR�FUHDWH����PLOOLRQ�jobs in sustainable energy. The plan also involves breaking up big banks and giving workers the right to a living wage. Stein has proposed to create tuition-free education from kindergarten through college, a Medicare-for-all insurance program and access to birth control. She also supports marriage equality, and an immediate moratorium on foreclosures and evictions. An improved global economy, she argues, ZLOO�UHGXFH�WKH�ÁRZ�RI�LPPLJUDWLRQ�� Virgil Goode, the presidential nominee of the Constitution Party, is in a category of his own. 1RW�RQO\�GRHV�*RRGH�VXSSRUW�(QJOLVK�DV�WKH�RFLDO�language of the United States; he also believes cuts should be made to the No Child Left Behind educa-tion law and The National Endowment for the Arts pending a revived economy. Goode also wants to put a moratorium on green cards ”until our unemployment rate is under 5 percent,” according to his website at goodeforpresi-dent2012.com. He also opposes gay marriage, and believes Planned Parenthood should receive zero funding. I’m not saying that third party candidates are the answer to the recession we are attempting to overcome. But there are other options out there, which are overlooked but could be viable. Until then, third-party candidates have little except the mantra of the 2008 campaign: Hope.

Third-party torch-bearers get no love in national campaignsby Ella McLeod

Sta! Writer

editorial cartoon by Tessa Petrich

"Silenced"

The Urban Legend has been QRPLQDWHG�DV�D�ÀQDOLVW�IRU�D�1HZVSDSHU�3DFHPDNHU��ZKLFK�ZLOO�EH�DZDUGHG�RQ�Nov. 17 in San Antonio.

Opinions

Mystery man Rodriguez catches spotlight

ARTSwww.urbanlegendnews.org

7October 2012

The Urban Legend

Uproar grows over Pussy Riot sentence

by Hannah BerkStaff Writer

Videos of the now-infamous Russian feminist band Pussy Riot’s performance at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ in February show three women wearing color-ful balaclavas and dresses, jump-ing around stage, and screaming lyrics that have been heard around the world. The 90 second “punk prayer” has garnered attention from the likes of Madonna and Paul Mc-Cartney. Protests throughout the West-ern world show supporters wear-ing balaclavas and holding signs urging the Russian government to “Free Pussy Riot.” It’s a catchy phrase that sums up the band itself, with nods to the rebellious punk of the 1970s, the riot grrrls of the 1990s, and a reclaiming of the female body. Two of the three women – Maria Alyokhina, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova – have been sentenced to two years in prison for “hooliganism” motivated by religious hatred. Samutsevich was released Oct. 10 after an appeals court suspended her sentence. Their performance in the Moscow church included lyrics like “don’t upset His Saintship, ladies/stick to making love and babies” and urging the Virgin

Mary to “be a feminist, we pray thee” and to “put Putin away, put Putin away.” Marina Syrova, the judge who convicted the women in August, described them as having commit-ted crimes including “the insult and humiliation of the Christian faith and inciting religious hatred.” While it’s debatable whether or not the performance would draw attention in the United States, the music carried a sense of urgency, danger, and political change that has been long absent from the mu-sic scene in democratic countries. Canada Choate (’13) says that while the women’s sentence is not proportional to their crime, “either way they’ve won.” “Even if they’re going to be in jail for two years, they’ve reached a huge audience,” said Choate. She said the performance “wasn’t disrespectful, but a productive and modern way to use religion.” Mabel Taylor (’14) was frus-trated by the sentence, saying that “what the (Russian government) labeled the crimes was harsh.” Indeed, the two-year sentence has been much contested by Western commentators. Catherine Ashton, high representative for the European Union, was quoted as saying she was disappointed by the verdict. "It puts a serious question mark over Russia's respect for international obligations of fair,

transparent, and independent legal process,” Ashton said in a statement released in Brussels on Aug. 17. On the same day, a spokes-woman for the State Department told reporters that the U.S. "urges Russian authorities to review this case and ensure that the right to

RIOT GRRRLS Members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot wear coloful, hand-knitted balaclavas to preserve their anonymity. Three of the band's 12 members have been sentenced to prison.

by Jessica King FredelStaff Writer

Photo by Игорь Мухин at Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons

freedom of expression is upheld." As of print time, the group’s appeal has been postponed due WR�RQH�RI�WKH�GHIHQGDQWV�ÀULQJ�KHU�lawyer. Elizabeth Johnson (’15), a member of SWEAR, sums up her feelings about the case: “being half Russian, I am extremely ashamed

of my country when I see what horrible and outrageous things the government is doing. It seems like Russia is taking a huge step back again, and it hurts me to see that happening.”

For more information, including rally locations, head to freepussyriot.org.

To South African music lov-ers, he is a legend. But to most American listeners, Sixto Diaz Rodriguez is a mystery. Little do these Americans know that Rodriguez revolutionized South Africa during apartheid. On July 27, a documentary about Rodriguez called “Search-ing for Sugar Man” was released in the United States. The movie received positive reviews and will be in the Sundance Film Festival,

RODRIGUEZ RISING The singer sold out his San Francisco show on

Sept 29. His songs are politically oriented, like those of Bob Dylan.

Photo by Victor Gringas at Flickr.com /Creative Commons

which begins Jan. 17. Rodriguez was born in De-troit, Mich., and is the youngest of six siblings. Growing up, he played the guitar in local clubs while working on the side and doing odd jobs. It wasn’t until 1967 when Rodriguez was 25 years old that he released the song, “I’ll Slip Away.” In 1970 KH�UHOHDVHG�́ &ROG�)DFW�µ�KLV�ÀUVW�album, on the Sussex label. Many called Rodriguez ahead of his time because his music was so inspiring, yet he was unknown to Americans.

“Rodriguez’s recording career was over before it began,” Michael Phillips wrote in an article for the Chicago Tribune on Aug. 1. Time passed and few re-cords were sold in America. 7KHQ�́ &ROG�)DFWµ�FDXJKW�ÀUH�in South Africa. Some South Africans made bootleg copies of Ro-driguez’s albums, so they were available in most music stores. The song “Establish-ment Blues” particularly resonated with many liberal listeners. Rodriguez’s lyrics were edgy and questioned the government, which at-tracted many anti-apartheid activists: “Garbage ain’t collected, women ain’t pro-tected/Politicians using, people WKH\·UH� DEXVLQJ�7KH� PDÀD·V�getting bigger, like pollution in the river/And you tell me that this is where it’s at.” With such lyrics, it wasn’t long before Rodriguez became known as a political singer. “I Wonder” is another song that touches on sensi-tive political subjects in an emotional way: “I wonder about the tears in children's eyes/And I wonder about the soldier that dies/I wonder will this hatred ever end/I wonder and worry my friend/I wonder I wonder wonder don't you?” These bold lyrics caused people all over South Africa to think about what they would tolerate. More and more people started listening, and soon Rodriguez became a No. 1 hit in South Africa.

The government soon heard about Rodriguez and quickly put a stop to him. They went through the vinyl records that were sold and scratched out the song “Sugar Man,” one of Rodriguez’s top hits. This did not stop South Africans, though; people found other ways of getting his music. The government could not prevent it and a revolution was on its way. Apartheid ended in 1990 and in 1994 Nelson Man-GHOD�EHFDPH�WKH�ÀUVW�EODFN�president of South Africa. Rodriguez is often com-pared to Bob Dylan and sometimes even called the Elvis of South Africa. Yet he was not well known in America. Rodriguez is "a man who lives his whole life in Detroit working as a construction worker, really hard manual labor, without knowing that at the very same time he's more famous than Elvis Presley in another part of the world,” said Malik Bendjel-loul, director of “Searching for Sugar Man,” in a CNN report that aired on Aug. 15. “I thought it was the most beautiful story I've ever heard in my life." After years of singing in the shadows, Rodriguez’s FRQFHUWV� LQ�$PHULFD�DUH�À-nally selling out. He recently played at Bimbos 365 in San Francisco, where tickets were sold out a month before his show. Rodriguez is now on tour and his next concert is Oct. 25 in Toronto.

Students and teachers told us

the names of their favorite politi-

cal songs. Here they are:

"Get Up, Stand Up," Bob

Marley

— Scott Foster, music teacher

"For What It's Worth," Bruce

Springsteen

— Sam Dobrow ('14)

"Hurricane," Bob Dylan

— Simone Enderlin ('13)

"Beasts of No Nation," Fela

Kuti — Clarke Weatherspoon,

history teacher

"...And Justice For All," Metal-

lica — Evan Gallagher ('13)

See the website for more favorite

political songs.

a political playlistSouth African fans no longer the only ones; SF visit is a sellout

Photo by Jurston at Flickr.com/Creative Commons licensed

Sports 8The Urban Legend

City's Marina Green is front-row seat for America's Cup crowd

What sport do you play?

Three athletes, three questions: Read what they had to say.

From left: David Shostack ('16), Corey Smith ('16),

and Zach Thomson ('13). Photos courtesy of Yearbook.

Varsity soccerHorseback ridingVarsity soccer

Favorite member of the British Royal Family?

The Queen... she still rocks and skydives

out of airplanes.

Prince Harry of Wales. He's a bold man

with great aspirations.

Kate Middleton; she's pretty.

Out of all the teachers, who would win in a battle royale?

Scott (Nelson); I feel like he'd follow prison rules.

Amanda Moore would win. She would just use her

superpowers, like making great metaphors for caves.

Matthew Casey, because he knows how to !y an

airplane.

Francisco native who does not follow sailing. “We sat down in the bleachers and we could keep track of what was going on with our all-important binoculars, and I really started to understand what they were doing.” The Oracle Team USA boat GRPLQDWHG�WKH�ÁHHW�UDFH�RQ�2FW�����WDNLQJ�ÀUVW�SODFH�DQG�ZLQQLQJ����SRLQWV��)ROORZLQJ�WKH�ÁHHW�UDFH�week, the Oracle Team came out on top with 79 points after seven races. “Hopefully (Oracle’s success) inspires people,” said Pejack. “Inspires people to learn about the rich tradition that this country has (in sailing), and then when the big races come next year, people will get more interested in it. � ´,�VDZ�KRFNH\�ÁRXULVK�LQ�&DOL-fornia, so why not sailing?”

from page 1

Clockwise from top left: Spectators watch the race with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background; the Swedish and British sailboats go head to head; avid sailing fan Andrew Pejack stands in front of the bay after the race; a fan follows the sailboats closely with the help of binoculars.

top photo by Jonathan Baer; photos below by Jessica King Fredel

For current, up-to-date sports news, log on to www.urbanlegendnews.org

October 2012urbanlegendstaff@gmail.com