Pageant queen: Freshman wins USOA TEEn pennsylvania 2023
Letter from the editors: over and out
Page 5 Conestoga High School, Berwyn PA, 19312
Volume 73 No. 6
April 25, 2023
Page 9
Making upgrades: ’Stoga boys’ tennis team hopes to beat longtime rival
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www.spoke.news
under scrutiny
Wave of anti-trans legislation sweeps nation Evan Lu/The SPOKE
Rallying cries: Protesters gather outside Philadelphia’s City Hall before the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy, holding signs, waving flags and chanting. Attendees sought to push back against the recent surge in anti-trans bills Congress is considering.
By Evan Lu and Hiba Samdani, Co-Editors-in-Chief Editor’s note: The Spoke talked to a Conestoga alumna who, since graduating, has transitioned to a woman. She agreed to speak on the record under the condition that The Spoke kept her identity a secret. This article refers to her by the fictional name Megan Smith.
“When trans lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back.” Hundreds of protesters chanted outside the steps of Philadelphia City Hall as evening rush hour commenced on March 31. The Philadelphia rally of the March for Queer and Trans Youth Autonomy was matched by those in cities across Pennsylvania such as Pittsburgh, Oil City and Harrisburg; similar marches took place in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
Organized by Queer Youth Assemble, a youth-led non-profit working to bring autonomy to queer youth, the protests come amidst a nationwide wave of pending legislation regarding LGBTQ and transgender policy issues. Spanning federal and state legislatures, bills and policies proposed include those regarding transgender athletic competition and censorship of LGBTQ topics in schools. Such marches are important public forums through which constituents can broadcast their
opinions. Protester Lydia Jones feels that the Philadelphia community is particularly receptive to advocacy for transgender autonomy. “I think we’re really lucky that Philly tends to have widespread support for LGBTQ rights. There are definitely places where marches like this would not have so much support and welcoming,” Jones said. “Sometimes we feel like just marching or talking to our family can’t help, but there are some really crazy bills out there,
and we need to do anything we can to prevent them from passing or staying in effect.” Protester Alex H., who requested to go by the first intial of his last name only, originally intended to attend a different march that was canceled due to worries about counter protests causing violence. “I thought to myself, ‘This is exactly what the anti-trans people want.’ They wanted that, they’re winning. So okay, if that one’s not going to hap-
pen, I’m just going to go to a different one,” Alex said. “So here I am.” While Alex maintains faith in Pennsylvania’s legislature, he worries about trans rights in other states. “I think our governor would veto all the (anti-trans) legislation, but it’s more concerning in the South. It’s government overreach and honestly a violation of human rights,” Alex said. In the coming months, bills will be considered within the
Pennsylvania state legislature. Senior Evelyn Yu echoes the sentiment expressed by Jones and Alex. “I think (anti-trans legislation) is a distressing trend that’s sweeping the United States,” Yu said. “I hope that it doesn’t come to fruition in our state because that’s a move backwards for the rights of historically overlooked groups.” Continued on page 3.
Testing center staff crack down on cheating Faith Zantua Staff Reporter
Miya Cao/The SPOKE
Dying with dignity: Pennsylvania currently has a pending bill that would provide adult, terminally ill and mentally capable patients access to medical aid in dying. Ten states already passed similar bills regarding end-of-life options.
Compassionate Aid in Dying Bill proposed Miya Cao
Staff Reporter In 1997, the first official Death with Dignity Act took effect in Oregon. Death with Dignity is a national nonprofit advocating for end-of-life policy reform. Currently, 10 states and Washington D.C. have an active statute allowing citizens to access physician assisted suicide, and Pennsylvania has plans to join them as one of 11 states with a pending bill. The Compassionate Aid in Dying Act would allow terminally ill, mentally capable adults to hasten their dying by self-administering lethal medicine. Currently, mercy killing and euthanasia are illegal in the U.S., but Pennsylvania’s Advance Directive for Health Care Act allows patients to be taken off of life-sustaining treatment if they request. The Death with Dignity website states, “We know some people die in horrible ways as their
terminal illness overtakes them. In our current healthcare landscape, that is undeniable. And, it’s unacceptable. We believe individuals with terminal illness have a right to die with the same autonomy and agency in which they lived their lives. Our work arises out of deep respect and empathy for this most intimate and personal freedom.” Medical aid in dying bills are not, however, without precedence. From 2007-2015, Pennsylvania legislators proposed seven related bills that did not advance into law. In 2017 and 2021, Pennsylvania Senators and the General Assembly sponsored official Death with Dignity Acts that also did not pass. Pennsylvania representative, Tarik Khan, Christopher Rabb, Jose Giral, Mark Rozzi, Carol Hill-Evans and Conestoga alumna Melissa Shusterman introduced the Compassionate Aid in Dying Act on March 1.
“It’s a very common sense bill. It’s already passed in multiple states,” Shusterman said. “I could only imagine the horror it would be to know you’re in excruciating pain and (that) there is no cure and that you have less than six months to live. That’s what this bill covers.” Some critics of the bill are fearful that it could lead to relaxation of the eligibility requirements, which occurred in Canada. On March 17, 2024, Canada’s Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) program will be expanded to allow individuals with mental illnesses without a foreseeable natural death to request MAID. Shusterman believes the legislative system will protect the bill from expanding. “I personally don’t think there’s a slippery slope. We’re not Canada, we’re the U.S.,” Shusterman said. “To expand the bill, it would have to go through the entire process again.”
Cheating on assessments has always been a concern amongst teachers and staff. Recently, however, some staff have noticed an increase in academic dishonesty, especially in the testing centers. The testing center staff have increased security against academic dishonesty this year. Students take assessments in the testing centers, Rooms 202 and 204, if they missed the test date and need to make up an assessment. They are open every school day from 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. and stay open until 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. According to one of the testing center proctors, Barbara
DeFeo, there has been an increase in academic dishonesty in the testing centers. Spanish teacher Ann Karcewski personally experienced this increase. “Unfortunately, these days, I feel like (cheating) is becoming more and more common,” Karcewski said. “I’m seeing an increase of it from my colleagues, (who are) saying ‘Oh, my student got caught with a cheat sheet.’ This (use of a) cheat sheet is becoming really popular. Personally I’ve had kids cheat, (and) they’re discovered by the (testing center proctor).” Unlike Karcewski, 10th grade assistant principal James Bankert does not believe the frequency of academic dishonesty has
changed significantly. Bankert oversees standardized testing and the testing centers. “I don’t think (the frequency of cheating) is higher,” Bankert said. “There is a little bit more incentive because of phones.” Students are required to put their phones in a basket at the front of the room before taking a test in the testing centers. However, electronics are not the only tools reportedly used to cheat. Karcewski has witnessed the use of notes without permission, especially in the testing centers, and believes it is associated with some students repeatedly missing school on the day of an assessment. “I think that (using a cheat sheet in the testing center) is
Faith Zantua/The SPOKE
Testing turbulence: Testing center proctor Barbara DeFeo opens a filing cabinet in the testing center in which proctors keep assessments. Due to increased concerns about the unauthorized use of notes and electronics, the testing center staff recently reminded teachers to indicate whether a student may use additional materials when testing.
a go-to plan because I feel like (the students) think they can cheat easier in a testing center,” Karcewski said. “I think because (of this) certain kids are absent every time there’s a quiz. If you’re sick, you’re sick, but when you start seeing a pattern that (the student) tends to be sick on testing days, then you get disappointed.” To prevent cheating, the testing center staff are emphasizing stricter security. Proctors check a student’s assessment to see if their teacher wrote that notes or electronics are allowed. If there is no indication, proctors assume that the student cannot use notes and devices or they contact the teacher for further confirmation. The testing center staff have used this process in the past, but they recently sent reminders to teachers to write the indications on the assessments. Additionally, they are paying more attention to any electronic devices that can be hidden, such as smart watches. “The idea is that (testing) should be fair, (but) we also understand the pressure students have,” DeFeo said. If students are caught cheating, proctors write a note on the test and give it to the student’s teacher who will pursue disciplinary action. The Code of Conduct states that the first cheating offense results in a 50% grade on the assignment and one Saturday detention. Any further offenses result in a 0% on the assignment and two Saturday detentions. “If students are caught cheating (because they are) caught under pressure, we want them to learn from their mistakes,” Bankert said. “We want students to learn and grow.”