06/04/24
7,
ISSUE
6
NUEVA CURRENT Photo by Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times
THE
VOLUME
NEWS Following the controversial cancellation of valedictorian and first-generation Palestinian student Asna Tabassum’s USC commencement speech, college campuses across the country became embroiled in pro-Palestine protests. [ P 4 ]
A vision
under attack Nationally, a firestorm of debate has surrounded DEI as states introduce legislation to dismantle DEI systems.
Photos by Damian Marhefka
By Gabe H.
A R T S & C U LT U R E In sequined jumpsuits, bright bandanas, and yellow swim flippers, students put on an electrifying performance of Mamma Mia. [ P 5 ]
F E AT U R E S
Collage by Anwen C.
Welcome to the Nueva Babysitters Club. Students share their experiences and adventures in babysitting, from diapers to Bluey. [ P 7]
Photo by Kayla L.
DEI under threat
OPINION
Photo by Reese G.
For far too long, female students have conformed to social pressures around menstruation. Kayla L. ’26 calls for an end to stigma around periods. [ P 14 ]
SPORTS Eight seniors have been recruited by coaches to play on college teams. Here are their stories and destinations. [ P 19 ]
“I have a friend in Arizona who was doing fantastic work in middle schools combating racialized and gendered violence,” said Director of Equity and Inclusion Shawn Taylor. “He was told last year that his contract, which ran in three-year cycles, would not be renewed. It has gotten so bad for him in the state that he and his family—his wife does similar work—are considering moving so they can continue their work.” After years of increased funding and expansion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles and programs in educational institutions and major companies, DEI initiatives are now being paused, scaled back, or dismantled. As legislators and individuals launch legal challenges and complaints against DEI efforts to foster racial equity, a national debate has been ignited around if and how DEI systems should be implemented. At Nueva, which states that its vision for students is to “enable gifted learners to make choices that benefit the world,” social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion have long been esteemed values. The message of building a Beloved Community is continually reinforced with day-long events like MLK Day, which offer workshops and presentations that examine various topics through a DEI lens. The value of
THE NUEVA SCHOOL: 131 E. 28TH AVE. SAN MATEO, CA 94403
“belonging” was named as one of the priorities in the school’s five-year strategic framework. In principle, DEI is a community practice that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion in institutions. According to Upper School English & SEL Teacher Pearl Bauer, the ultimate goal of DEI at Nueva is to promote a “sense of belonging in a beloved community.” Taylor, who began his role on May 1, said that DEI’s main emphasis is “taking into account cultural, social, economic, and gender considerations.” “It's really about what is going to make this particular student as successful as they are, and which barriers as an institution can we remove,” he added. Public discourse about the efficacy and ethicality of DEI has faced renewed contention in 2023, following the Supreme Court’s decision that overturned raceconscious admissions in higher education. According to a report by the Chronicle of Higher Education, 85 anti-DEI bills have been introduced since 2023, 14 of which have been granted final legislative approval and another 14 of which have been signed into law by a governor. These trends prevailed in the new year. In mid-February 2024, Kentucky’s senate passed a bill banning statements of DEI on campuses. On March 1, the University of Florida terminated all positions bearing any
association with DEI, including closing the office of the director and firing 13 full-time workers. An additional 15 employees with DEI appointments saw their roles shuttered. As legislative backlash to DEI has risen in recent months, the implementation of DEI practices has been on the decline during the last year. Between November 2022 and November 2023, there was a 23 percent downturn in the number of job titles bearing DEI in the description, nearly nullifying previous increases. With many states poised to strike down educational legislation in the coming months, discourse around DEI has gained momentum, including here on campus. For Mars R. ’27, race-conscious admissions, one facet of DEI, has been a divisive subject. When they engaged in a conversation with an Asian student about race-conscious admissions in higher education, they did not expect to feel isolated from their peers. The student, who does not go to Nueva, expressed that these admissions policies unfairly privilege Black people at the expense of their Asian counterparts. As a Black student, Mars was taken aback and perturbed. “I felt like she was accusing me of stealing education and access from her,” Mars said.
[ CONTINUED ON P 10 ]
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